It’s been a tradition for many years for Jere and Kristen to take their family to see a movie on Christmas Eve Day – usually in the afternoon and usually a cartoon. Roy and Deb and Cerwin and I have been included almost from the beginning.

We, Deb and Barb arrived early so took advantage of the time to take pictures in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby of Penn Cinema. Roy was sick with a flu and was not able to come.

Deb with her two mothers

Deb and her dad

Us

The entire crew in our comfortable reclining seats. When this started many years ago, there were eleven of us. Yesterday there were fifteen!

We provided the popcorn, Deb provided candy and everyone bought their own soda, slushie, coffee and soft pretzels.

Migration involved a mallard duck family – father, mother, son, daughter and uncle who were happy in a small southern pond until a wood duck family stopped by on their way when migrating to Jamica. They convinced the mallard family that migrating was fun and exciting.

Before long they decided their life was boring and began preparing for their own migration. They had a fun time flying through and playing in the clouds, but also came upon danger during a thunderstorm. Because of the storm they flew down to a lake where they encountered an older crane couple who were hungry and intent on getting the young ducks into a frying pan. The mallards finally got out of the lake and were back on their migration path, sometimes wondering why all the other ducks and birds were flying the other direction. They soon learned that they were flying north instead of south.

Before long and to their surprise they ended up in New York City where there were all kinds of dangerous things to fly around and through.

They were confused and hungry.

One of them found a discarded sub sandwich, but before they could eat it a pigeon family challenged them for the food. They bartered for it and gladly shared the sandwich. In the process they became friends with one of the pigeons who asked where they were going. (I liked his New York City street accent.)

At first he thought they were heading to Jamaica, Queens, but then realized the mallards had migrated north instead of south and wanted to be in Jamaica in the Caribbean Sea. The only friend he knew who was from Jamaica was a parrot who had been captured and caged by a mean chef in one of the city’s restaurants.

Finally, after a few close encounters with the mean chef, they were able to free the parrot who led them to Jamaica. While taking a rest in a beautiful resort, the chef arrived looking for more exotic birds for his restaurant’s cage and menu.

They barely escaped capture, but eventually ended up in Jamaica where the parrot had a fabulous reunion with his family and the mallards enjoyed the beauty of the island – even meeting the wood duck family.

While there, the mallards encountered some strange-looking birds.

The penguins convinced them to come with them to the Antarctic. When the movie closed it appeared the mallards were up for another adventure. I expect Migration 2 will be a trip to the Antarctic.

We took time for our usual group photos.

Jere and Kristen’s family as of Christmas 2023. Jere, Kristen, Jesse, Jared, Yeira, Josh, Bridget, Jana, Austin, Nicole and Ian.

I liked the BELIEVE lights so took a side shot of them while Deb took her pictures.

Cerwin and I with the grandchildren.

What fun we had hanging out with this part of our family.