The last few months of the year were up to normal...busy, busy! Rob was celebrating his 50th Birthday. To commemorate the occasion, the Peterson Family band (all of the Petersons who were able to come) gathered to perform Rob's set list of 15 songs mostly from the 80's. To the basics of piano, keyboard, drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, were added percussion (vibra slap, cowbell), violin, and banjo. There were lots of soloists and backup vocals that added to the music. So fun to participate and hear and see it all. In between rehearsals, we managed for a few of us to get pedicures and go to a football game. We also celebrated Thanksgiving with so much good food (maybe not all good for us, however) and family thankfulness to just be together.
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| Rob getting the venue set up |
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| Brewers and Petersons at Tosh's game, so cold for AZ |
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| Rob checking out the keyboard |
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| Rob and me on his 50th birthday |
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| Painted toenails for Thanksgiving celebration |
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| Tamsen making meringue crusts for pies for tomorrow |
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| Tamsen stuffing the turkey with dressing on Thanksgiving |
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Rolls lined up and rising, Julie, Alisa and me
(only a little) helped accomplish this |
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| Cousins, Danny, Joseph and Tosh awaiting dinner |
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| Girl cousins, Liv, Sofi, and Sage |
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| Alisa and Joseph getting the rolls dished up |
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And the feast begins, JaneAnne, Anders, Berit, me, Truman,
Alisa and John |
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| Orange mashed potatoes, dressing, turkey, corn, sweet potatoes |
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| The salads, green, pretzel jello, and raspberry jello with fruit and cream |
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| A better picture of green salad, greens, pomegranates, nuts |
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| Some of the eaters |
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| A plate with about all dishes sampled |
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| Sage and Joseph Peterson |
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| Rolls all put away, but won't last long |
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| John cleaning the turkey carcass clean |
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Oldest and youngest grandchildren, Emily, 32 and
Danny, 4 |
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And then there was dessert: Chocolate mousse pie,
pumpkin and lemon pies with cream, and cheesecake |
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| Peterson Family (Petersons, Olsens, Larsens, Brewers) |
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These beloved family members weren't able to join with us:
Maughans (Mike, Jana, Kate and Bella, Delaney, Stuart, Davis, Merit),
Jacob, Kenzie and Wes Peterson, Hewitt (missionary) and Lukas
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| The "set" list for the Peterson Family Band Reprise |
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| The matriarch leading off with "Edelweiss" |
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| Duerk Brewer and his rendition of "Short Skirt and Long Jacket" |
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| John singing "Sunshine on My Shoulder brought some tears |
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| A bunch of Brewers singing "Love Story" |
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Joseph singing "Brandy"
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| Cousins singing "Happy Just to Know" |
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| More cousins singing |
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| Tamsen, Alisa and JaneAnne sing "We Are Family" |
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| Berit singing "Landslide" |
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| Leif singing "Ain't No Sunshine" |
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| Tosh on the drums |
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| Tamsen with bass guitar and she sang "Harvest Moon" |
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| Anders singing "Ring of Fire" |
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| Rob doing his thing with "Steal Away" |
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| Alisa with "Silence" |
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| Playing a new game that Burke discovered, "Marbles" |
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| Julie, Ashley, Ivy, Lindsey, Alan, Josef, Liv, Sofi and Berit |
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| Our resident Classical Guitarist, Sue |
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| John and Truman |
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| Me, Emily and Julie enjoying warm Arizona |
Now onto our next event...the wedding and reception of Ashley Brewer and Nathan Bohn.
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| Ashley and Nathan just married |
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| A couple of Ashley's grandmothers |
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| Danny seems to be a little amazed at all that is going on |
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| Ashley and her brothers, Kiefer, August and Colten |
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| Peterson side of Family with Ashley and Nathan |
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| Ashley and Nathan with parents and grandparents |
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| Alisa, Sue ad Me getting ready for reception |
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| Ashley and Nathan cutting cake |
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| Table and centerpieces at wedding reception. Karlie did all the flowers |
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| The best planners and helpers, Tamsen and Sue |
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| Leaving the reception with sparklers and bubbles |
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| Trying to get the gist of blowing bubbles |
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| Truman, Danny and me |
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| What a wonderful day! |
I next headed back to Utah for a few events and the middle of the December found me winging my way to Oregon for a bunch of concerts and Christmas. Music and family is a great combination.
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| Visiting the Lai home where there were 100's of nativities on display |
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| Friends Shar and Barbara enjoying same display |
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Annual Tennis Christmas Party at Riverside CC
Terrys, Miners, Larsens, Karen, Kathy, Evensons,
Susanne, Carole, Despains, Eloise and me in front |
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| JaneAnne showing me her new red boots for Christmas |
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| Kenzie and Wes working on a treat project |
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| Plates to take to neighbors |
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| Sage, Kenzie, John |
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| Snacks for Emily |
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| Jacob, Wes and Joseph |
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| Dinner with the JD Petersons before the "cookie run" |
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| We delivered cookies and did some Christmas carol singing |
I spent the next week with the Peterson-Olsens and enjoyed a lovely Christmas Eve Dinner with the whole family (didn't take any pictures, however). We sang all the Christmas Carols in the Hymnal, so a lot! We found time to play some games and made a trip to Pittock Mansion to see the Christmas Decorations. It's a lovely, old home with a fantastic view of the Portland Skyline.
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| Leif, Emily and Anders in their Christmas plaid |
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It seems that kids (no matter how old) like to
get into narrow spaces...funny! |
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| Gifts wrapped, tree decorated, let the festivities begin! |
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Lineup youngest to oldest for Christmas morning
Berit, Leif, Delaney, Anders, David, Jody, and me |
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| Me and JaneAnne at Pittock Mansion |
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| Portland Skyline from Pittock Mansion |
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| David, Leif, Berit, Jody, me, Anders, JaneAnne |
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| David and the Mansion |
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Our lunch bunch: JaneAnne, Jody, me, Anders, Leif,
David, and Berit
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It was amazing to me how much doing could be packed into about a five week period of time. Like I've always said, family connections are priceless and whenever there's an opportunity to gather and celebrate together, do it! I'm sending wishes for a wonderful New Year to all of you! I cherish my connections with each of you, my friends and my family!
