Neighborhood Christmas Lights

The Chestnut Hill and New Albany Area Lights

Joseph and Mary, Jesus will arrive on Christmas


Our long-time neighbors, Vic and Jane, have decorated their lawn with a lighted Nativity for as long as we have been neighbors. I am showing a daytime photo of the display as my nighttime photo did not turn out well. We share the the common belief that any Nativity scene should be completed with the Manger and Jesus on Christmas. I have been doing the same thing with my small Nativity scene.

Are we the Coca-Cola Bears?


Next door, is this fun Winter display with a Snowman and polar bears. Mike said that they look like the Coke-Cola bears and that is why I made the caption above. I am just starting our Christmas decorations and will add a photo or two in the future. And maybe a few photos of past decorations too!

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Leona’s Baptism Party

Can I have Cake Today?

The Fox and Doenges Family celebrated after Leona was baptized today after the 11:00 am Mass. Cecelia’s cousin Mary was the GodMother and Kevin’s brother Rob was the GodFather.

The Grandpas hatch a plot.


Grandpa Fox and Grandpa Doenges decided it would be fun if Leona put her imprint on the celebration cake. One thought was to put a footprint on the cake and another one was a bottom print. Both ideas were vetoed. Then the thought was to put a hand print. So, Leona’s hand was placed near the cake and at the last moment she changed her outstretched hand to a fist.

The top right piece has the fist print.


Here is the result of Leona’s fist print. Just after I took the photo of Leona and her frosted hand, She decided to spit up. So, the Grandpas had to clean up that mess and the frosted hand. Leona often stuffs her hand into her mouth and probably had a very little taste of sugar.

Little Leona is grandchild #5 for Bill and Eddie Doenges. Bill “GrandPa” shows some interesting ways to play with a baby.

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Columbus City Christmas Holiday Lights

A Night Hike with Friends and Lights

This year, Columbus finished the Scioto Mile park and the updating of Bicentennial Park. The City announced that there would a special lighting ceremony with various activities. Several of my bicycling friends decided that perhaps it would be interesting to attend and view the lights. We arrived to Bicentennial Park and didn’t see much activity.

Are these some of the Columbus Snow Warriors?


The stage in the park had an interesting lighted snowman display. Since the snowmen had brooms and shovels and made me think of the Mayor’s favorite saying to call the Snow removal workers, “Snow Warriors”. At the end of the Lighting ceremony, there was a Santa Claus sitting in the seat and the children were lined up to visit with him.
The Arbor area of Scioto Mile had white lights in the trees. The circular viewing area had lights and were illuminated with rotating color lights.

Colorful Trees


Back in the days of silver foil trees and color projectors, the light projector would consist of a white light, covered by a lens cover that rotated and had all the separate colors on it. The various trees in this photo were lit up by a square box that has multiple red, blue and green bulbs. The various bulbs would vary in their intensity so that the light mixture would make the desired color. Blue and Green would make Yellow. We normally remember how pigment primary color blend, but not light colors.

Three Turtle Doves


The old Lazarus building had a series of window decorations showing the Twelve Days of Christmas. Some of the window displays were stationary and some had movements. This is an old tradition that Department stores would do to attract customers to visit their stores during the Christmas shopping season. Shoppers would walk outside between stores, rather than being at a shopping mall.

Columbus Commons


There was a traditional Christmas tree with different colors on it in the Columbus Commons. The other trees were decorated in single colors per tree. Here is a view of various trees on the Commons.

Columbus Commons Christmas Tree


Trees in Bicentennial Park


Various trees near the amphitheater had grapevine bulb ornaments with white lights. The bases of the trees were also illuminated with rotating colors. We had a night evening and I managed to get my 10,000 steps in.

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OSU versus Michigan Game

The Game

Today was the annual OSU-Michigan Football Game. This was the first game for little Leona. Most of the time she slept or ate.

Leona rests during the game.

Cecelia has started back to work at Mount Carmel West and worked yesterday. She enjoyed a little nap too.

Cecelia enjoys cuddle time too!

This was a football battle and Michigan won 40 to 34. At least it wasn’t a blow-out win and OSU continued to play until the end.

What me worry?

Leona wore her OSU sleeper to our house. She has her bib on in these photos and make it had to see her cute outfit.

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Leona Rolls Over

Daily Tummy Time

According to Cecelia and Kevin, Leona somehow figures out how to roll over once a day. It does appear to be a random event and she doesn’t know what she has done.  Leona’s 2nd cousin, Haedyn came over to visit and watch the baby.  Haedyn brought her baby doll with her to the Fox Family Thanksgiving and was fascinated by the real thing.

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Fox Thanksgiving 2011

Fox Doenges Hughes Starkey Thanksgiving at Great-Grandpa & Great Grandma Fox House

This was an interesting Thanksgiving with a boat load of Great-Grandchildren. Danny and Jenna were able to attend with Mason and Haedyn. Jeremy and Mary brought Olivia and Kevin and Cecelia brought Leona. We had the age range of 2 1/2 months to 4 years old.

Olivia, Mason and Haedyn playing together

We had our family dinner at 1:00 pm, with turkey, stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, 7 layer salad, cranberry salad and tossed salad. For desert we had pumpkin pie and pumpkin roll. There was also mincemeat pie for Great-Grandpa. Every other holiday, we switch between the men washing the dishes and the women. This was the men’s turn, so that means we used Styrofoam plates. (We did use real utensils and not plastic ones). Cecelia and Kevin ate in shifts as little Leona was taking a nap.

Various ways to eat pumpkin pie

There is a variety of ways to eat pumpkin pie. Tim, who is barely shown on the left, eats pumpkin pie like a sandwich. Beth enjoys her pumpkin pie using a fork and shows an expression of delight in this desert.
After the dishes were done, many of us when out for some fresh air and do a few helpful activities.

Mary looks on as Cecelia gets Leona ready

Danny helps with tree cutting

Tim organized a mini-work crew to topple a couple of trees. In this photo after lunch, Danny is on the roof of the pull barn, helping to topple another tree.

 

Aunt Joyce and Uncle split wood

Aunt Joyce and Uncle Paul try their hand at splitting work to use at their house this winter. They did a great job, considering that they had never done this before. Later Kevin helped them out.

Olivia and Jeremy rest

Jeremy Starkey helped out with the tree activities and had a reward of a little nap with his daughter. The only little ones that had a nap were Leona and Olivia. The other children resisted.

Jenna plays with Leona

Haedyn watches as Jenna visits with Leona

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Coffee Time, Baby Time

Buy One Drink, Get One Free

Starbucks had a promotion from November 17th to November 20th, that if you bought one Christmas Holiday drink, you could get one free. Well, Cecelia bought a drink on Thursday and came over, so today it was my turn.
I arrived to find Leona enjoying herself in the the rumble seat. This looked like the perfect time to play with the blue toy that Grandma Doenges got for her.

Leona loves a shampoo and massage

Leona watches her Mommy intently as she has her evening bath. You can see the love in her eyes.

Clean Baby!


You can see the love of Cecelia to Leona in this photo.

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Bicycling on Three Creeks Trails to Pickerington

Monday is Three Creeks Trail Ride Day

Jeff Haven has an informal trail ride on Mondays at about 10:00 am in the Three Creeks Metro Park. This Metro Park has multiple parking lots to leave from. Our starting point is the Heron Pond parking lot.

No bike ride is complete w/o recreational bike repair.

Jeff Haven and Mary Lemke


On this particular day, we rode the Three Creeks Trail to the Blacklick Trail that leads to the leisure path bridge over SR 33 and then to Pickerington Ponds. We were riding to find a restaurant in Pickerington.

View of Leisure Path Bridge over SR33

Enjoy these video clips of Jeff and Mary on the Trail just on the other side of the bridge.

I did bike ride this day and here is the proof.


Jeff took a couple of photos. I did ride my bike and here is the proof.

Mary arrived at the end of the ride


All good things come to an end, and so this is the end of the ride and the blog.
There were many more photos taken and they can be found at the following link:Fox Family Photo Gallery Album

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A Better Biking Day and Santa Claus?

A Sunny Day and a Shoe Sale

I received an email from Lynne asking if I was going to ride this morning and responded that I would be there. Well morning came and even though I felt like sleeping in, I got up and prepared for a morning ride. The temperature was in the mid to high 30’s, which was better than yesterday’s starting temperature. Carl, Lynne, Jeff and I battled some headwinds out to a nice breakfast at Dutch Kitchen. The trip back was lovely with the 25 mph tailwind for most of the trip back.

Lynne is ready to ride after breakfast

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mike received an email about a shoe sale at his podiatrist’s office and he is in need of a new pair of work shoes. The sale was for buy one, and get 1/2 half another pair. Plus a bonus gift to the first 25 people and Santa was visiting. Mike invited Cecelia & Leona to come with him. Mike reported that Santa gravitated right over to Leona. Dr. Jane took a few photos of Santa, Cecelia and Leona and here is one of them.

I like your glove, Santa!

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Just a Random Visit

Cool Bike Ride and a Warm Visit

The temperature this morning was about 29 degrees. I called to see if Carl was going to ride so I won’t arrive and be the only one there. Carl was there when I arrived, so we both got our bikes out and prepared for our ride to Der Dutchman Restaurant. We were almost done, when Jeff arrived. Since it was cooler that I usually ride, Carl and I got on our bikes and rode around the parking lot to keep warm. I didn’t take any photos today, but will try to remember to take some on a future cold weather ride.

We had a chilly ride out to breakfast and did the ‘Cheese Loop’ for a total of 21 miles. Yes, I did buy some cheese today.

After the ride, I called to see how Cecelia’s day was going and stopped by for a short visit.

Hi Baba!


Leona was just relaxing in her ‘rumble’ seat. I sat down by her and played with her toys for her and gave Roxanne, the beagle, some love too. If you want Roxanne to go away, just bring out your camera!


Here is a little video of Leona and her animal friends. She had a great time and amused herself so that Cecelia could get some things done at their house.

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