One serious and one not so serious

I really CAN be serious for more than five minutes at a time. I think I have just inherited too much of the "Lloyd Joking Genes" and have watched my older siblings * cough cough Aaron and Seth and Eric * hold court with their jokes.

So, here is one serious Christmas video. And one not so serious.

A Christmas Coat

Silent monks - I watch every year

The Byline

Dad supplied the photos and simply told me "Please provide some commentary." As any dutiful daughter would do, I obeyed.

Happy Birthday Andrew! Enjoy the pictures - and hopefully, the comments as well.

Even high atop Mt. Hood (right? I'm assuming it wasn't Bachelor or Everest), Andrew channeled our dear mother by breaking out the red bandana. His preparation for sudden desert winds or the fear of being recognized was assuaged with that hand scarf, I mean bandana, around his neck. Side note: How come Matthew NEVER wears long sleeves? Side side note: Was this perhaps an entry for the next GQ magazine. The perpetual pout and sideways glare (even through sunglasses) seems appropriate - except from Josh. Good ol' Josh.
 

Ah - the familiar scene of sand and mud and water and overcast skies that bespeak of the Oregon Coast. (Once again - Matthew is preparing his GQ "grin"). The foot stopping motion of Andrew illustrates how he knows how to get things done. "We need a moat, siblings! A moat - not just a little ditch! This is Operation Moat!" And his teeny blue shorts were perhaps prophetic of his detective blues that would come later one. Maybe he still has them....

Andrew still has that same grin! I saw it yesterday, as he sidled down to sit next to Elizabeth and I. (By the way, we sat on the edge of the row, in the back. All three of us agreed: "Randall's - we sit in the back, on the end.") What I love about this picture, especially coming from the "younger half" of the Randall clan, is how excited BOTH Andrew and Seth (who is seriously rocking that striped turtleneck - all in favor of showing this to Christina say "aye"!) Back to the grin - I see this every time Ellison talks about animals or books or when Kellan knows he is about to get some candy. It looks like some of the "weak" Randall genes have come through.

First - question. WHY ARE ALL THE SHORTS SO SHORT!? Mom didn't even let me wear shorts that short. I guess the 80's really were different. One thing that hasn't changed - the excitement of stumbling upon that stringy, slimy, seaweed rope. I'm sure Andrew used it to whip the troops into shape. I mean, that moat was really important. And to stress the importance, Andrew felt the need to do a Rolling Stones type tongue move. P.S. Who else looks back on all these trips we made to the beach in usually inclement weather and wonder for the millionth time "HOW DID MOM AND DAD DO IT?!"

I love you Andrew! From when you and Jolene took Rachel and I to Enchanted Forest for our birthday to when we helped babysit all of your kids to the marathons and movie quotes and our mutual love for Elder Holland (isn't he really really the best!?).