End-of-year Odyssey

Aly and I got to see both families during the break. Some random highlights...

Construction of the Gingerbread house is underway. Jack was certainly the architect. John and I provided the grunt labor to frame the house. When it came time to decorate, the project became a team effort.


The finished product. We decided on a southwestern theme, and Jack was insistent that we maintain the integrity of our idea. When there was any suggestion of adding elements to resemble snow, Jack let us know that "this is a Wild Wild West house," and "there is no snow in the desert". Jack placed the gingerbread man sunbathing in the side yard. An idea for a pool became a jacuzzi after it was determined that I had eaten too many blue sprinkles. Aly is responsible for the perfect symmetry and repetition of the lights along the trim. Give Amy Giles credit for the green grass out front. Jake, John, Jack, Spencer, Amy, Aly, and Dawn all made significant contributions to the construction.

The Giles girls all looking sharp in new vests.


The Tomb of the Unknowns, or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We watched the guard pace back and forth across the mat. We would have stayed to watch a changing of the guard, but a December rain started to fall. According to wikipedia, the tomb has been guarded 24 hours a day uninterrupted since 1937.