Technology Naming Conventions

I really don't know where they come up with the names and naming conventions for tech companies and their products, but it was only a matter of time before something like this came along. I thought many of you would appreciate it, enjoy.

First Christmas Toys

Happy New Year to all! We're looking forward to the New Year and the many adventures and challenges it holds. I'm excited for another year with Sharon and Ira. Chritmas was great. We had a wonderful trip to Macon, Georgia and will post more pictures soon.
Ira enjoyed his first Christmas, mostly intrigued with the bows, ribbons, wrapping paper, and packaging than with the actual things inside of them. He did eventual get around to the toys though. Grandma Quinn sent this fun one which he finds entertaining now he know how it works. Enjoy the video. (For those who get this via email you might have to go to the website to watch the video.)

Memory Tree

I wrote most of this before Christmas, but ran out of time before I could finish it.  If you didn't grow up an Ellsworth, you'll probably find this more boring than sentimental.  So as always, no insult is found in skipping it.  Happy New Year everyone!

I remember going over to a friend’s house as a teenager and being blown away by her Christmas tree.  It was as if Martha Stewart herself had decorated it.  Every year her mom chose a theme: angels, Santa, stars etc.  That year it was snowmen, and there were snowmen of all sorts dotting the tree, snow women, snow families, and a snow angel at the top.  Beautiful silver ribbon encircled the branches and sparkly snow-like balls were each carefully hung by the mother of the home.

I went home anticipating the choosing and decorating of our own tree.  In a few days we’d go to the Hope’s house where my parents had helped plant Christmas trees 25 years earlier.  We’d pick out the one we liked best and place it in the corner of our downstairs living room.  We’d lug a few boxes down from the attic, turn on some Handel, and begin the process.

Our tree was never a magazine tree.  It was what my Mom called a Memory Tree, which I think means that my parents never threw away a gifted ornament in their lives.  There were lots, and each one had a happy memory or loved friend associated with it.  Branches or our tree never had room for shiny red balls, or clever themes.  From a purely aesthetic standpoint, it probably wasn’t too impressive.  It was almost like happy memories had thrown up all over the tree.  There were the crocheted angels made by adopted Grandma Althouse, the personalized clay Ellsworth family figures from the Arnolds, sea shells from vacations at cape cod, glittery preschool art projects, and of course missionary tags.   Those of us who served missions in our family had a tradition of sending home a name tag to be hung up, so that we could in a way be home for the holidays.  An Elder Ellsworth and a few Sister Ellsworth plaques could be distinguished only by the language their name was inscribed.

I remember when fairy lights rose in popularity, and their monochromatic, dainty elegance took over our neighborhood’s front porches.  But we would keep our colorful, clunky lights that looked like they fell right out of the 1950s.  They looked like huge, glowing holiday lollypops casting colors all over the room.  It was by their glow that I would write Santa every year, a wish list to lay by a sock a had dug out of my drawer.

I met a women in California who filled her home with 32 Christmas trees every year, and decorated each uniquely.  There was the kitchen themed tree, the peacock tree, the disco ball tree...  It was great fun to explore her giant house and have my picture taken with at least ten of her decorative creations.  But when I think of Donegal Place and the smell of that fresh pine, the Hallelujah Chorus and hot chocolate, the scrapple and the ornaments each reflecting happy times and wonderful people, I can’t help but wonder what my tree will look like in 20 years.  Right now it is small, smaller than Ira.  It’s artificial, and covered in fairy lights.  But it’s happy.  It’s Jean Gerdes, and pasta angel, and Pittsburgh preschool student happy.  The fact that we can’t fit all of our one string of lights on its’ small branches, is irrelevant.  I still hear Handle, can taste the scrapple, and best of all, feel the warmth of love all around me.  There will be longer branches for more memories another year. 

Neighborly Love

We've been busy getting ready for the holidays and attending festive events like Christmas Parties. It's been nice to get to know more people from church and at work. We've also had the opportunity to get to know our neighbors better. They are really cool.

Cuyler (Pronounced like Skyler, but without the S):
From the Great White North, this fun loving Canadian runs a business out of the apartment below us. He was a youth minister for a long time and has recently transitioned his energy into his business, 'Inherit The Mirth'. He is a Christian Cartoonist and 'Inherit The Mirth' is the name of the strip he publishes. You can see more of his work at his website. If you are a facebook users you can see updates and participate in the 'Caption Contests' through the facebook page. I hope he doesn't mind that I've posted one on the blog. We get along pretty well and have had a range of good conversations from health and diet to religion to pop culture and movies, like 'Strange Brew'.

James & Justine:
They live in the unit behind us. We don't really know them too well yet. James from what I know is a professional actor. He has been in some Off-Broadway productions in New York City and was a 'minor' role (I don't really know what that means) in a recent TV series on NBC called Kings (It's was taken off the air after one year, but can be seen on hulu). Justine is in school, I think she is a math major. They are both a part of a local theatre, the 'Sherman Playhouse'. We went to see "A Child's Christmas in Wales" on Friday. I've never heard of the play before, but it was a whimsical production where you feel like you are observing all the Christmas rituals and fun of a Welsh family from the perspective of a little boy. It was fun to get away from the traditional 'Nutcracker' and 'Christmas Carol'. (James in the front left of this picture)

We wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Anthony, Sharon, & Ira

Life is Beautiful

Hey Everyone!
We’ve had a busy couple of weeks.

Adventures in Babysitting

We spent a week babysitting for a couple in the ward.  They have 5 kids but fortunately took the baby twins with them to Utah.  In the end I’d say the week was a success and was actually kind of fun.  With that being said, I’m glad it’s over.  And I’m glad Heavenly Father generally sends babies to families one at a time.
I guess the word is out that we’re available because yesterday we got a call asking us to babysit for a single sister in the ward who just barely got a job and needs help watching her 2 ½ year old, from 5:30-11:30 p.m.   We’re old fogies and try to head to bed closer to 9:30, but we survived.  When it got late, this cute little girl (who is tall enough to be 5 or 6) would give me a pillow, put the blanket over me and kiss me goodnight, and Ira managed to sleep through most of our more raucous games.   Not bad considering today we heard that she usually bites someone or breaks something.

Dave

One of Anthony’s best friends, Dave stayed with us for a few days as he came back East for loads of interviews for his residency.  We think it would be fun for him to end up out here, although we definitely won’t blame him if he chooses the West.  He even joined us for the last day of babysitting, and probably scared him out of ever wanting to have that many kids.

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

…or really just Automobiles.  I couldn’t resist keeping the movie themed subtitles.  We did it.  We finally got a new old car.  Our little Pearl (93 civic) is nearing the end of her road.  It was getting a little pricey to keep her up, and having two doors isn’t loads of fun with a car seat, so we’ve been thinking about it for a while.  And then when we were driving about 60 mph up to Boston, the hood flew up and put a foot long crack in the windshield.  Anthony did a great job getting us over to the shoulder safely, and even got the now warped hood to shut somehow.  But we’re not really sure if we’ll ever get it open again, and since then it started to make a kind of funny gurgly noise.  Anyway, that brings us to yesterday’s events.  We found a 2001 Honda Civic for a little less than half the estimated value.  It has a little wear and a few scratches, but it has 4 doors, has only had one owner, and seems like it’s in great condition.  Now we can drive down to Georgia for Christmas without wondering if we need to wrap the car up in duct tape to make sure it stays together.

Baby

Ira is a little sniffley, which I’m hoping means a tooth is coming in.  I think he’s going through a growth spurt because all of a sudden I can’t snap his onesies.  He is the biggest flirt.   Every time I take him out he makes everyone melt around him, not by really smiling at people, just by staring at them.  It’s nice to have an excuse to start conversations with strangers.

That’s pretty much it.  Hope everyone’s doing well, and that Christmas preparations are enjoyably not stressful. 

Plymouth Pilgrimage

Stuffed with turkey we headed to Plymouth, MA and the Plimouth Plantation where they have a big Plymouth recreation, similar to Jamestown and Willamsburg, complete with role-players of all the people who originally came across on the Mayflower.

The Quinn Family Pilgrims

 The Village

 One of the role players, Mr. Samuel Fuller. He was the ancestor of one of the people we were with.

 Another role player, I don't remember her character name, and no one was related to her. We did get to talk to one of Sharon's ancestors, John Billington, Jr. I didn't get a picture of him though. He had some good stories and explanation as to why no one really like his father, John Billington, Sr. who was apparently the first colonists to be hanged. The role players were role playing as if it was 7 years after the landing of the Mayflower and the hanging hadn't happened yet so the son was quite taken aback by the questioning of his father being hanged.

 Sharon and Amber in the village.

 The girls sight land on after months aboard the Mayflower (II recreation)

 Ira being cute.

 Plymoth Rock, supposedly engraved when they landed, but no one mentioned it until 120 yrs later. It wasn't even in the first governors notes and he had some pretty detailed notes about what happened.

 Proof we were there.

 Mayflower II at sunset.

We even had time to swing by a light house near Cape Cod. We are already planning our return to see more of them.

Boston Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the best time of year. It's a time of

 Playing Games, Ira playing his favorite new game with mom.

Being with friends and family. Amber,thanks for a great Thanksgiving.

Giving thanks; I'm so Thankful for a beautiful family.

I'm thankful for an adventurous son who love to explore.

A time for feasting on, and giving thanks for, ...

Casseroles,

Vegetables,

Turkey and Potatoes, 

and all other steaming and delicious food. 

Happy Thanksgiving, Eat Responsibly.