Christmas 2012

Annual Shepherds candlelit dinner. This year we added (American style) scones and it was a success! I may have eaten a few to many and felt a little bloated all night, but totally worth it. Also on the menu: Hummus with pita chips, cucumbers, red peppers. Green and kalamuta olives, sliced gouda, and bitter herbs (coriander). I loved the lemon/coriander hummus with the fresh coriander (elsewhere known as cilantro). 

 Curtis read the Christmas Story from Luke 2, and a little article I printed off about a Middle East vs. Western View of the Christmas Story. Curtis and I sang some Christmas Carols while the kids fought and complained, and asked for the gazillionth time when they were going to get to open a present.

The kids drew names this year and got small gifts for each other. Ethan got Eli some Hobbit mini figures. And everybody got new Jammies and slippers. Kids stripped down right there in the LR and put on their new pj's. 

Sadie got Jonah a Star Wars talking key chain that she actually liked alot screeched when he wanted it back. 

Eli got Janie a little cat in a carrier- I think it was her favorite gift this year!

 Janie got Sadie a little zhu zhu dog. She was making little animals sounds all night.

 Christmas gifts and stockings are all ready for Christmas morning! Late night for CJL and I, as usual!

 Christmas Morning FUN.

The rest of the day was: nap, watch Brave, brunch, nap again, watch Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Read Pioneer Woman cookbook, put together megablocks, read more, make turkey soup, watch Diary of a Wimpy Kid again. What a great, relaxing Christmas Day!

Crockford Bridge Tree Farm 2012

We found a garden center in Weybridge that has a small tree farm- so we set out on Dec 9, a Saturday morning, to cut down a Christmas tree. It was a gorgeous sunny day.

There is always a few sword fights that turn ugly, and some whinging to go along with the hardships of walking 60 feet to cut down a tree.

Ethan and Eli tried their hand with the saw.  It is alot harder than it looks!

Curtis with our little tree. I love the smell and feel of a fresh tree! The fresh pine smell is like bottled Christmas Cheer! YUM! And then had a delicious lunch at Wagamama in Walton after. The Christmas season can begin!!

ROMA

I still can't get over what a roller coaster of emotions travelling has been. It is the best of the best: looking over the Piazza Rotunda at dusk, watching the crowds, basking in the Pantheon, Coliseum, and  eating delicious food. And it is the worst at it's worst: a delayed flight, getting in at 2:30 am with a seriously sleep deprived baby, a 4 year old who won't wake up, and a 7 year old named Jonah who is delirious and cried for the last hour of the flight.  The range of emotions is exhausting and creates havoc with my expectations.

With all of that, there was the Rome that we experienced. Our apartment had a view of the Pantheon, which never got old. It was surreal to wander over to the window and gaze at the oldest structure of worship in Rome. Watching people pose for pictures, take pictures, eat gelato, wandering through the square. The smells of coffee, Italian food, and diesel exhaust, along with the sounds of coffee cups clinking, the occasional horn scooting someone out of the way, horses clopping along the road, voices carrying through the narrow streets. It all made for an unforgettable atmosphere. And since we do still have little ones, we ended up spending quite a bit of time in our apartment- but with this just a glance away, I didn't mind so much.

We saw some amazing historical objects and places while we were here, but that isn't what I will remember most about this trip. What I will remember is how I feel about what I want to create while I am alive, and what I want to leave behind. I loved seeing my kids against the backdrop of stone walls and statues. Stark contrast between the ancient, non-living, creations of men to the fresh rosy cheeks and blonde curls of little Sadie.

More to come.