Christmas 2002

We hosted Christmas for the extended Olson clan.
It was 12 people in a three bedroom house for five days, but somehow we're all still on excellent speaking terms!

Of course, we had our moments.

Christmas eve was the big dinner. Chris cooked a delicious roast beef, and Grace and Rose bolted from the table before the photo.

Outside it was Christmas, but in our house it was more like Lily-mas. The little pudd'n got a whole lot of family lovin'.

Christmas morning, and Cliff who has seen enough Christmases to know where to sit, dons his red vest, and stakes out the best position.

It's carpentry and karaoke time!

Avery got an enormous beef leg-bone for Christmas. Not quite believing his good fortune, he kept one eye open for a very angry three-legged cow.

In the afternoon we had our first attempt at a family portrait. Not bad, but it faded away a little towards the back. Grace and Rose played horse to get everyone in the mood.

Christmas dinner. Blessedly easy thanks to the wonders of prepared food.

Queen Nancy, and the slumbering Princess Lily

Down on the Green Lake dock the day after Christmas, setting up for family portrait attempt number two.

It's a keeper.

Fun in the basement, and sibs in the kitchen.

I took Rose and Grace to Stone Gardens the next afternoon. They were fearless and unstoppable...

... especially when it came to leaving the ropes behind and doing some bouldering.

There was a slight misunderstanding about exactly how much hair Liz wanted off.

Fun at sunset in the sculpture garden of the Museum of Glass in Tacoma on the 28th.

This is a black and white of the very striking "smoke stack" architectural feature of the museum.

These two images are from the "Glass Bridge" that links the Glass Museum to the Washington State History Museum. The first picture is a Chihully glass ceiling that covers part of the bridge.

Sunday, and only Cliff and Garnet remained. We had a fun lunch at the Leschi Cafe...

... before the two photographers in the family excused themselves for a little session outside.

Cliff, Garnet, Steve, Nancy, Lily, Liz, Jon, Emma, and Rose: thank you for being such great guests, and giving us a Christmas to remember for a long time.