End of an Era

After almost 11 years of service, our Sienna van ("Polly") is going to be moving on to another home.

Polly has been a fantastic vehicle. The whole family knows the license plate because there's a song that goes with it (to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle"). Everybody, sing with me:

ABZ5259

Isn't our license plate fine

The hobbitlings wanted a few last pictures with the van.

Excitedly looking in the windows of the new van. There is a fierce debate in the family over what to name the new van.

Hobbitlings checking out the new van.

Swaggerwagon x2, at least until the Mayor sells the old van this coming week.

The new van was used for the weekly Costco run, so it's officially our family van, now.

Cozy v. 4

2010

2012

2015

2020

Christmas Recap

Christmas Day began with stockings 

This year's ornaments...

...with matching kitchen towel

Everyone got LEGOS this year. Here is Eejee opening his WW2 halftrack

Here's Seimi opening his WW2 Sherman tank

Here's Ela opening a LEGO Friends set

Here is Boookie reacting with surprise when he discovers he got a LEGO model of a famous Japanese building in Kyoto.

Here is the Mayor hoisting his LEGO Colliseum - the largest LEGO set ever issued.

The aftermath.

Seimi and Eejee with their new shirts and jammies

Art time at the Cabbage

The washing machine (posthumously named "Sean Bean") died in a glorious cloud of acrid smoke, agitating a heavy load of laundry right up until the Mayor pulled the plug. A warrior's death deserves a warrior's memorial, so to paraphrase Aragorn, from 'Lament for Boromir':

O Boromir! From the laundry room I looked afar,

But you came not from the empty hamper where no towels are.'

LEGO time in the Bunker!

Screen time in the shop

New Years Eve feast!

Seasonings Greetings

Christmas preparations have been underway, such as making K-Nex mugs

Making bread

Solstice beach visits

Snow, snow, snow!

Notice how part of Seimi disappeared with the time lapse! :-)

White Christmas inside, snow on the ground outside

Magical cottage in the woods

Sasquatch tracks spotted!

Christmas corn chowder on the stove

Scalextric track set up

Presents added

Christmas Eve morning!

Construction Buddies

The Michael Delving Hobbits got Cousin M a hard hat and kid-size safety vest for Christmas. M and the Mayor have been trading construction pictures lately.

Christmas Break!

We have been savoring the beautiful moments as they come.

Christmas decorations up in the Bunker.

This year's Christmas tree.

The Mayor and Ela out at the mall.

Sharing slices of pie at our traditional spot south of where Roger's used to be.

Yet another of Seimi's wonderful K-Nex creations.

Eejee and Otter warming up by the warm sheep.

Eejee and Seimi helping the Mayor fluff up the duvet.

Boookie holding Eejee holding Otter during a movie scene that Eejee wasn't sure about.

And now it's Christmas break!

Scholarship

The Mayor forgot to post our very first official school pictures.