The Ghosts of Christmas Cards Past

Just a little look back at some past Christmas pictures.

Christmas 2007

My goodness, I was only going to post the xmas card pics from each of the years, but they are all just so cute, I couldn’t post just one!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010

It is absolutely amazing how much changes, yet, how much stays the same!

Merry Christmas!

Oh Christmas Tree

The boys had a great time decorating the Christmas Tree this year. Boodle's methods are a bit non-traditional, but nonetheless, he had lots of fun. They also have had a lot of fun everyday since the tree has been up, undecorating and redecorating.

Decorating the Xmas Tree Boodle Style from Amanda Sidell on Vimeo.

We ended up a little top heavy on the ornaments, but believe me, it is better that way!

Oh A Caroling We Will Go…

It was another wild Friday night in the lives of the Sidell-Peterson Family.  Kevin and I decided to soak up some of that Christmas Spirit, and what better way to do this than to lock ourselves in the car with 4 very excited little boys and hop them up with sugar? 

First we brought Soren, Bodie, Nick, & Tim on a tour of the local Christmas lights in the Christmas-Mobile (aka: our van with decorated with garland and lights and blaring xmas music). 

We enjoyed some fine dining at the McDonalds drive-through. 

And then, we went to a local iconic establishment—Governors.  We let the kids pick out whatever desert they wanted out of the desert case.  We think they did a great job!

We came home and watched Toy Story 3 (which, by the way, I found to be a little dark for a G-rated movie) and ate our deserts.

Then, the kids enjoyed their first sleep over!  Everyone did great and they were in bed and asleep before 10pm (which I thought was impressive).  Of course, they were up again at 5am, but all came into our room and enjoyed an early morning movie in our bed while we got a few more zzz’s. 

Oh, but the fun didn’t stop there!  In the morning, we got up and headed to cut down our xmas tree and a tree for Grandma too!

A Poker Reunion

Happily, we celebrated a poker reunion a week ago.  For those of you who don’t know about our poker activities, here is a little history…

When Kevin and I moved back to Maine in 2005, I started working for DHHS.  It was a long story about how I ended up at DHHS, but ultimately, I grudgingly took the job.  On my first day there, I was pleasantly surprised with my fun, young, and supportive unit, who immediately not only provided me support at my new job, but became my closest friends in Maine.  And what better way to welcome a new-comer to a job, than to invite her and her husband to poker!  Our first poker game was that weekend!  We played sporadically through the fall and began our regular sessions when one of our unit members, Mark, got a new job.  From there, we got together religiously on the 3rd Saturday of every month. We didn’t miss a month for three years!  Sadly, moves, babies, new jobs, and life in general began to take over, poker fizzled out.  While we all keep in touch, I have been sad without the monthly poker visits—even if I do spend them in my new position in the “Hen House”. 

A few of the Poker Originals (in no particular order):

Renee & MarkJimmy & Dawn Ryan & Beth

Lorraine (Rainey)

Renee, Kristy, & AnneThe Girls (Danielle, Amanda, Dawn, Lorraine, Anne, & Renee)

 The infamous Elk

We have been able to watch the kids grow (and multiply) over the years.  Believe it or not, when poker first started, Cooper and Ally were the only kids!  

Callie, Cooper, Ally, Soren, & Jailyn

Jailyn & Soren

While we have lost a few:

Anne is in Germany with her new hubby, Travis

Kristy is in Massachusetts

Nate is in Washington DC

Rainey is too cool for poker

We have gained some great new members:

Liz  (sorry Liz, I don’t have your picture)

Emily & Phil

So anyway, back to the present.  We organized a game last week, and had a great turn out.  The boys and Beth got a great game in. The girls in the Hen House got some group therapy and light-hearted catching up in, and the kids tore the place apart, but had a wonderful time doing so.  After we left, I asked Soren what his favorite part of the night was and his response was “Everything! I had such a fun time Mommy!”. My goal is to do some more recruiting for some regular players and get things up and running again! 

Soren, Alexis, Callie, Bodie, Cooper, Ally, Cadence, Jailyn, & Lily

So, in summary, I would like to send a major shout out to all of my poker friends, as our return to Maine would not have been the same without you!  It is so great to know that we have such a great group of friends who can go months without talking, but get right back together without skipping a beat! 

And, if you or anyone you know, is interested in cards, food, friends, crazy crazy kids and lots of them, and a monthly get-together, let us know! 

A Sidell Family Thanksgiving

We, Maine Sidells (St. Pierres and Petersons) were lucky and happy to have the Massachusett Kettell Clan visit us for a nice long Thankgiving weekend. I think that this visit was actually more relaxed and quiet that previous visits. Perhaps because as the kids are getting older, they are really enjoying playing with one another and are able to entertain themselves. (Quite nice for us adults!)

Here are just a few of the high points of the weekend:

Thanksgiving Dinner for adults...

and for kids...

Thanksgiving Dinner from Amanda Sidell on Vimeo.

Thanksgiving Left-Over Picnic...

A Quiet Day of Playing...

(There was much more fun to share, but blogspot is not cooperating today...more to come later!)