Christmas- Round 1

We have had so many Christmas activities the past week it is hard to believe that Christmas is yet to come. Grandma and Grandpa were here from Oregon for a week. It was great to have them. They were able to spend some good time with Jackson and play tourist a little too. Unfortunately they have been stuck in Detroit for the past two days as all flights to Portland have been cancelled- hopefully they'll make it out tomorrow!

Some of the highlights of the past week:

• The children's Christmas party at the headmasters house.  Parents call it the sugar party as kids are served a full course dinner of sugar.  Cookies, hot chocolate, ice cream sundaes and candy galore.  After sugaring up we sing Christmas Carols, read the Night Before Christmas and then Santa visits.  It really is a fun party for the kids.  
• A trip to Williamsburg with Grandma and Grandpa.  It ended up being mostly a shopping excursion.  We intended on visiting Colonial Williamsburg but Grandma and Grandpa went later in the week so they could really take their time and enjoy it. 
• Senior/Faculty basketball game- we dominated.
• Lessons and Carols service- an annual tradition for students and faculty of Christchurch. Includes scripture readings and carols by the choir and congregation.  The chapel looked beautiful. 
• Antiquing and estate sale shopping.
• A Christmas dinner and opening presents with Grandma and Grandpa.  Jackson opened his monster suitcase and pulls it all through the house several times a day.  He is excited to pack it for our trip tomorrow. 
• We look forward to taking time to watch Planet Earth the rest of the break (Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa.
• Thanks to Jaime and Scott for kids nativity and advent calendars. We have enjoyed them this week and will enjoy them for years to come. 
• Getting lots of Christmas cards from friends and family.  It's fun to hear about and see the changes as everyone grows up!

Tomorrow we are off on a family trip to Washington DC to the Natural History Museum (to see dinosaur bones!) and then Wednesday we'll go to the Air and Space Museum.  

Merry Christmas until Round 2 Christmas post:)

Christmas and Green Monster rolling backpacks

Like many I love this time of year. I try to not commit to too much so I can enjoy it. I also try to stay focused on the reason we celebrate- the birth of Jesus. However, I also love to buy gifts- especially for Jackson. Especially when his wants are so particular.

Which brings me to the Green Monster Rolling Backpack. We saw it last summer in a Portland Airport shop for kids. Of all the things in the shop Jackson fell in love with it. On the way back to Virginia he remembered it as well and we went to the same store so he could see it. He described it to Donny in every minute detail. So....when a month ago he was still talking it.... When asked what he would like Santa to bring him he launched into super descriptive account all over again of the Green Monster rolling backpack. " I would really, really like to get that" he said. So how could I help myself? We called the airport shop, and although they don't ship they gave us enough info to find it in one on-line store.

Maybe I'll be disappointed if he doesn't take it everywhere for a month but it was fun to find and at least I know he won't be disappointed - for at least that day.

Thanksgiving

Last weekend we went to Charlotte to visit our friends the Hemingways. They moved last summer from Christchurch. We miss them and it was a lot of fun. Jackson and Alison picked right up where they left off and had great chases and playing. Then we returned home for a few days so that Donny could go to class. Next stop was Grandmom's and Granddad's in Maryland. On Wednesday we had a fun day in Ellicott City. We went to a train museum and visited a great toy store. There was a nice crowd for Thanksgiving- the food was great and I am fatter. Then it's back home for more parties at the Souceck's with Donny's friends from College. Things have changed for this weekend party that was once dominated by young bachelor men- lot's of little kids and babies running around. Last night they had an oyster roast. Jackson LOVES oysters. Very strange we know. He probably ate 2 dozen. They couldn't roast them fast enough for him.

I am thankful for kind people who help us to feel at home when are families are far away. I am thankful for our families who care for us even when we don't see them often. I am thankful for a comfortable life in a time when many are struggling. My hope is that we can be grateful for what we have and share with others. Life is good:)

Tagged by Kara

So I've been tagged by Kara and though I know she might have doubted that I would respond to the challenge- I am very competitive. The problem is that this tag stops here. I don't have much of a blogging network so who would I tag? Besides- gives me something to write about tonight.
8 favorite TV shows: (There are 8 TV shows worth watching?)
1) The Office
2) The Daily Show
3) The Colbert Report
4) House
5) Curious George (Nice time spent with Jackson)
6) The Weather Channel- weather on the 8's
7) I'm thinking....
8) Still thinking...

8 Things I did yesterday:
1) Mailed some things I sold on Ebay
2) Jackson and I went to a local petting farm- they've added pony's!
3) Went to library with Span II class- researching Hispanics in the US.
4) Changed a stinky diaper-Jackson is getting the peeing down but will not poop. Because I am making him wear underwear most of the time he is holding it- for days sometimes until he has a pull-up on.
5) Picked up our weekly share from our CSA (community supported agriculture).
6) Bought flowers for Mrs. Norma Jean
7) Took Jackson to Norma Jean's for a haircut.
8) Went fishing at Mrs. Norma Jeans. Caught a big rockfish on Jackson rod. It broke off right away as Jackon's rod is really not strong enough to support a very large rockfish.

8 favorite restaurants:
Ok this is tough- we rarely eat out because there are only a few options nearby.
1) Thai Pot in Williamsburg
2) MoJo's in Urbanna
3) Something Different Country Store
4) Wild Rabbit Cafe in Gloucester
5) Nawab in Williamsburg
6) Smokin Joes- Kilmarnock
7) ????
8)????

8 Things on my Wish List
1) Barrack Obama as President (Granted)
2) World Peace
3) A Really big Green Revolution
4) A baby!
5) To build a house in the next year
6) For my husband to get a passport so we can go on vacation outside of the U.S.
7) To see my family more than twice a year.
8) To have more time and a good venue for Yoga.

Thanks Kara

So Kara did the most intimidating part for me- she set it up, gave me a pretty background and some good music. I'll try to do my part now to keep family and friends posted and perhaps get on my soapbox occasionally.
Halloween was fun but a bit drawn out for me. It started with a church party last weekend (in the rain) and last night we went to a school party for the little kids on campus. Jackson was a dragon and he liked to roar at his friends. As he said it "I want to scare all the little people". I've never been into Halloween all that much. I don't like to get dressed up and I eat too much candy- just because it is there.

I prefer Día de los Muertos or "day of the dead" as celebrated in Mexico and parts of Central America. It takes place on Nov 1 and 2. It is the time that people celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed on. Families build alters or decorate the gravesites of loved ones with marigolds, candles, favorite foods, cut out paper (papel picado) and pictures. Everywhere are skulls and skeletons- but not scary ones- funny ones.

They mock death because it is inevitable and there is life after death so why worry? It is a combination of Aztec and Catholic belief systems about death. Here is quotation I like about the concept by Octavio Paz (Winner of Nobel Prize of Literature): “To the resident of New York, Paris or London, the word Death is never
pronounced because it burns the lips. Mexicans on the other hand,
frequent it, caress it, they sleep with it, they celebrate it; it is one of their
favorite games and their most permanent love.”
So... Feliz día de muertos!

Starting Today... I vow to be an awesome blogger

Okay, this is actually Kara blogging in behalf of Kim. I can make no promises for her. All I can offer is loving encouragement. Maybe if enough of us bug her, Kim will be the rockstar blogger that we all know she was meant to be.