Oh, What Do You Do in the Winter Time?

Do you...

Bake cookies?

And eagerly await their cooling, so you can eat one?

Play in the snow?

Paint your toenails?

Watch movies?

Dress up fancy?

Chart your success in your mom's first formally implemented behavior management tool?

Have lunch dates at McDonald's play structure? Attend play group? Dance and sing and read at story time at the library?

If that's what you do, so do I!

(If that's not what you do, please share what you do. We're always looking for new activities to keep us busy during these cold, snowy days.)

Our McDonald's lunch date was postponed today due to all the snow. Since we couldn't get the kids together, my creative friend, Julie, suggested we post videos on our blogs so the kids can watch movies of each other today. So that's what this is, just a clip of one of our activities during the day. Sorry it's not very captivating, Andy. We'll try to be more entertaining next time!

Yuletide Cheer into January

Christmas Morning in NYC 2010

(about 2 1/2 hours after a 19 hour flight from So. Africa)

We're just barely settling back into real life. Justin didn't start school until just a few days ago, so we've been leisurely readjusting to our American ways and enjoying every minute of it. Our plans to arrive in California were postponed due to a huge snowstorm that hit New York, canceling our flight. We were able to rebook for 3 days later and had a wonderful time with our families once we got there. Bryn's reaction to everyone was a trillion times better than our visit in June. She talked to, laughed with, kissed, and hugged everyone this time, not just Ginger (Don't worry, Ginger still received lots of loving this trip too). She had a great time and has been questioning where everyone is everyday since we've been home ("Grandma go?").

As seems to be a reoccurring negligence during trips to CA, I did a poor job of documenting it photographically. I did, however, get a few shots of our trip to Soda Springs. Bryn received head-to-toe snow gear from my Dad and Kim for Christmas, so we figured it only appropriate to hit the slopes. It was super fun.

An additional highlight of the trip for me was a Girls' Retreat sans toddler (hence, "retreat"). This was the second night I've spent away from Bryn and the first night that Justin and Bryn have ever spent together without me around. At one point I was asked, "Are you missing Bryn?" to which I confidently responded, "Nope!" I was excited for she and Justin to have Daddy/Daughter time and I think a mom getting a night away every once in awhile is A-OK.

Our retreat included talking, laughing, eating, playing games, shopping, watching lame movies (DO NOT go see How Do You Know?...ugh), and we even caught a session at the temple. Loved it.
In summary, we enjoyed a very merry Christmas, New Year, and first half of January. Hope you and yours did too!

Farewell to Africa

We're packing. Our life here fits into 2 large suitcases, 2 large duffle bags, 1 small suitcase, 2 carry-ons, and 1 personal item. It seems to be less than we came with, but we know we've accumulated more since we've been here. Can't explain it. One of our carry-ons is full of warm clothes to pile on when we arrive in New York's predicted 32 degree high. In Africa it's sunny and warm with a slight breeze to keep things comfortable. It's perfect. But we are so looking forward to the imperfect. It doesn't feel like Christmas is 2 days away when we're wearing shorts to the zoo and swimming with friends just a few days before. We want sweatshirts. We want hot chocolate. We want crackling fires, big cozy blankets, and cuddling. We want FAMILY. And we feel so blessed that we're going to get it. We fly out Christmas Eve and arrive in NY Christmas morning. Thanks to one of the most incredible ladies ever, our apartment will be stocked with {American!} food to get us through the day and a Christmas present from Santa for Bryn (not to mention a ride home from the airport on Christmas morning!). The next day we'll board our flight to CA (apparently 18 hours of flying the day before just isn't enough for us) to visit our families. We pretty much feel like this about it all: We've had an experience of a lifetime here in Africa. We've been able to do and see all that we wanted (much left to blog). We've met wonderful people and made lasting friendships. But every international experience I've had results in the same two appreciations: (1) an appreciation for the people and culture of the new place I've visited; and (2) an even greater appreciation to be a citizen and permanent resident of The United States of America. I love it. I can't wait to be back. So farewell, Africa. Farewell.

A New Phase

She's entered the climbing phase. Uh oh.

Heavenly

Last month Justin and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. We left Bryn overnight for the first time with her best friends (Canden and Aivley) and their amazing mommy, Holly (Thank you SO much, Holly!). Knowing she was having a great time and being well cared for made being away from her for the first time heavenly. Justin surprised me with a half day at the most incredible spa. We had a bubble bath in a huge tub (big enough for two...ow! ow!) with rose petals all around and in the tub. We had a couples massage. We had an amazing 3 course meal. We lounged in the peaceful, beautiful grounds and pool for as long as our hearts desired. It was heavenly. The remainder of our weekend was filled with fun, food, and laughter...heavenly. The most heavenly part of the entire anniversary celebration though? The fact that the fun and love we enjoyed was nothing out of the ordinary. For the past 5 years I have been privileged to be in the most incredible marriage I have ever known to exist. Special weekend get-aways or average, blah Wednesdays, being married to Justin is HEAVENLY.

An expat Halloween

Halloween goes mostly uncelebrated here, but we managed to enjoy a couple festivities.

We enjoyed a treat of cupcakes covered with eyeballs, snot dripping noses, and brains:

I found a store that was selling pumpkins for a pretty costly price, but was willing to pay it in the name of Patriotism.

We carved it on a day when Bryn's friend, Canden, was over at our house. I tried to convince them to stick their hands inside to pull out the ooey-gooey pumpkin guts, but neither one was interested.

Bryn opted for gardening instead.

Our Jack-o-Lantern masterpiece

A family shot on Halloween night. We're looking forward to costumes and candy next year!

Wacky Wardrobe

Mismatched yet still adorable. Man, I wish I could pull that off.

This is Bryn's favorite stance: bent over, looking between her legs. While doing it at church one Sunday a woman said to me, "Oh, you're going to have have another baby!" When seeing my surprised and perplexed expression at her declaration, she explained the old wive's tale that when your child starts looking between their legs like this, it is time to have another baby. Is that just an African wive's tale? 'Cause I've never heard it before.