Gentle Years

These photos are taken between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon-proof that the winter solstice has passed and the days are already getting longer.

Today we had our celebration with "the big kids" and their families. 

GB and his family with Mom

G getting his fiber (ha-ha)

PB and her babies

LB and RB

Aidan with yet another stocking (so he wouldn't feel left out)

It is the end of the usual crazy day, though it was a little calmer than usual.  Here are pictures of various family members celebrating the holiday.

BB wearing his third outfit of the day by noon-still a cutie pie.

My third sister's two children along with my fifth brother's daughter in the middle.  Oh, and Mom to the right.

RB before the opening began.

Our son in-law (RB's dad) and a niece.

Ice Storm-Round #2.  The storm in the late '90s wasn't as bad because it was warm.  That meant we couldn't put food outside to save it, but we also weren't freezing.  Here are some pictures from this weekend:

One of the lilac bushes.

Birches laying down in the back yard.

This is the pin oak by the deck.  I love this tree because it keeps its leaves all through the winter and the sound of them rustling in the winter wind is beautiful.  If you look closely, though, you can see that every limb is coated with ice.