Norton Christmas Festivities

This evening we gathered with the Nortons for their annual book store/dinner Christmas celebrating.  Scott and Dawn always meet family at a bookstore, Scott buys everyone a book, then they share a meal.  They are always so kind to invite us to join them as their adoptee family members.  This year we met at Pioneer Books downtown, and roamed around the store looking for treasures.  As always happens, there were many to be found.  The kids got several books, among which was an enormous dictionary Blythe insisted on getting, even though we have a 12 volume OED, a Mirriam-Webster, and several foreign language dictionaries.  She wanted it, and as Grandma Dawn was more in charge than I, she got it.  Blythe and Brandt literally ran around the store with McKenna and Grayson.  My pleas to have them set a better example fell largely on deaf ears.

After book shopping we congregated at La Dolce Vita for dinner.  It's always good food there, and tonight was no exception.  We talked and laughed and passed around each other's books to autograph each other's choices.  Grandpa Gordy asked the kids who those strangers were at the other end of the table.  Those strangers were us.  I'm sure it was weird for him to see people he didn't know at a family dinner.  It used to be a bit weird for us, too, but after all these years, it feels fairly normal.

Festive tree made of books.

Festive family around festive tree made of books.

Standing: Katherine, Kylie, Gavin, Shannon, Miles, Alisa/Goose, Kent

Sitting: Blythe, Scott, Brandt, Cash, Grayson, Grandpa Gordy, Dawn, McKenna

This is a picture taken out of context of the Christmas activity.

It was at Grandpa Gordy's 90th birthday celebration some months ago 

(I don't remember when exactly).

We were there.  I don't know why he doesn't remember us!?