More Christmas Greetings From Arizona & Washington

More photos arrived on this Christmas day. Not via email. Via multiple phone text messages. 

Above, Kristin, Michele, Theo, Ruby, David, Jackie and Jack on in something called the Scottsdale Fashion Mall. Which, I guess, explains why they are all dressed so fashionably.

Earlier this Christmas day, in a blogging titled Merry Christmas Greetings From Arizona With Cousin Cade, I erroneously guessed where the Tacoma-ites were staying, and where they were desert exploring.

Well, they are not staying in a hotel in Scottsdale. They are staying at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Hotel in Chandler. And their desert exploring was not on South Mountain, but instead was at a location called Sabino Pass.

I also heard from my Skagit Valley nephews today. That would be my favorite Jason nephew and my favorite Joey nephew.

A couple photos from Joey. None from Jason.

But, Jason sent a lengthy word picture, also known as a text message. On Christmas Eve Jason went to brother Joey's house for what Jason says all thought the Christmas Eve dinner was the best any had had in a long time.

I have had multiple reports that Hank Frank's mom, Monique, is a real good cook.

Also at Joey's was Joey's mom, my favorite ex-sister-in-law, Cindy, her current husband, Asher, Hank Frank's grandpa, my little brother Jake. Apparently, Hank Frank had a lot of presents to open.

For reasons I have yet to learn, Spencer Jack, who is now 16, boycotted Christmas Eve.

Above, that is Hank Frank opening another present, or playing with one he already opened.

Grandma Cindy gave Hank Frank a wheelbarrow which he instantly liked a lot. Grandpa Jake gave Hank Frank a big rope with which a swing will be installed on one of Hank Frank's trees.

The above photo was among the ones Joey texted today. It is not a Christmas photo. It is a Thanksgiving photo.

Joey's in-laws, that being Monique's parental units, live on a ranch near Helena, Montana. Like his dad, Hank Frank is good to go on a long roadtrip, but, Joey and Monique have learned if they want a break from Hank Frank's chattering an ice cream cone will keep him silent for a few miles.

The Arizona Christmas is taking place at Cousin Cade's house, in Chandler, about three miles from Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Jack's house.

Meanwhile, in Texas, I had myself a relative-free Christmas with a Mexican food themed fiesta. The highlight of which was Tamale Pie Casserole, along with Chile Cheese Rellenos and Chicken Chimichangas...

Merry Christmas Greetings From Arizona With Cousin Cade

David, Theo and Ruby flew their parental units to Arizona, which is how they are sending greetings from that state, this Christmas morning of 2023.

Well, actually the photos arrived, via email, on Christmas Eve.

Several photos follow, with the last three photos documenting the Tacoma cousins meeting their Arizona cousin, Cade, for the first time.

The text in the next two photos said simply "From Out Hotel".

Due to the wall of rock in the background, I am guessing the hotel Ruby, Theo, David, Michele and Kristin are staying in is in Scottsdale. 

I am assuming the guy with the white beard is a desert version of Santa Claus.

The text with the next two photos asked "Where in the desert Southwest?"

I would guess they are heading to the summit of South Mountain. Which is in Phoenix.

Or maybe they have driven south to Tucson, since that is Kristin's mom, Janet, on the right of Ruby, Kristin, Theo and David.

 

That looks to be Kristin's mom, Janet, after taking off her coat, next to Ruby and Theo, with a big Saguaro cactus behind them.

And now, the newest member of the Jones/Slotemaker/Weston family, Cade Weston.

That appears to be Grandpa Jack, on the couch behind Cade and Ruby, with Uncle Jeremy on another couch, on the right.

Cade sure does look a lot like his papa, Christopher, when Christopher was a baby.

And now it is Theo's turn to hold Cousin Cade.

And, the final photo is all the Tacoma-ites, except David and Kristin, on the floor, with baby Cade.

Hope y'all have a mighty fine Merry Christmas...

David, Theo, Ruby, Michele & Kristin Somewhere In Iceland

Email this morning with 8 photos from Iceland, with the only text in the email saying "You'll have to use your sleuthing skills to figure the locations."...

Well, the first photo made it fairly easy to deduce that Theo, Ruby and David are in Iceland, about to exit the airport in, I would hazard to guess, Reykjavik.

Which leads me to guess that the above photo is in Reykjavik.

A church, I think, in, I think, also Reykavik. If not Reykavik, then maybe the biggest town outside the capital region, Akureyri.

Iceland has multiple hot springs, including the most famous one, known as The Blue Lagoon. So, I guess that would be my guess as to this location.

No clue regarding the above, other than it appears that Theo, Ruby and David are walking on thick ice.

Iceland is known for its long haired horses. That may be what we are seeing above.

The oldest known geyser in the world is in Iceland's Haukadalur Valley. That may be what David, Theo and Ruby are looking at.

Are the Tacoma Trio preparing to eat an Icelandic hot dog? Or a flatkaka (dried fish and dark rye bread traditionally baked in the ground) or the Icelandic delicacy known as Puffin? I think I'll stick with it being Icelandic hot dogs.

Theo was gungho to go to Iceland after learning one can often see the Aurora Borealis from that location. The sun is being in solar flare mode at the moment. I hope that means that Theo got to see the Northern Lights. 

After Iceland it is on to France, to Paris and Disneyland. I hope the current unrest and protests in France do not create any problems for David, Theo, Ruby and their parental units...