(I love this pic of Claire, she looks so much older! Our precious princess!)
This week has been pretty uneventful, except for a few beach days! Pat was off on Tuesday, so we packed up and went to a local beach, Sardinia Beach. It is beautiful and has sand dunes that are taller than most two story houses! The kids loved the dunes, they rolled down them and played king of the mountain; but they were a little weary of the water -it was very cold and we had just read a local story about a shark attack-so they kept their distance. Although the highs reached 90, the breeze was wonderful and we never got hot. We forgot balls, so they just played in the sand. Later that week, I braved the beach on my own, and we did great. Remind you, you have to be very aware of your surroundings and always be aware there could be danger lurking. This is a very safe beach, and did not have too many locals! The kids and I hung out and played in the sand, threw balls, and they finally braved the water-to their knees! I took some fun group and individual shots!
This week has been pretty uneventful, except for a few beach days! Pat was off on Tuesday, so we packed up and went to a local beach, Sardinia Beach. It is beautiful and has sand dunes that are taller than most two story houses! The kids loved the dunes, they rolled down them and played king of the mountain; but they were a little weary of the water -it was very cold and we had just read a local story about a shark attack-so they kept their distance. Although the highs reached 90, the breeze was wonderful and we never got hot. We forgot balls, so they just played in the sand. Later that week, I braved the beach on my own, and we did great. Remind you, you have to be very aware of your surroundings and always be aware there could be danger lurking. This is a very safe beach, and did not have too many locals! The kids and I hung out and played in the sand, threw balls, and they finally braved the water-to their knees! I took some fun group and individual shots!
The other American family arrived this week and we had their boys(10 & &) over Saturday, everyone got along and I am glad for someone else for my boys to be with because the brotherly fighting has got to stop!
Where are our buddies when we need them, I think Hunter would die to see Cyrus, or even Elizabeth(truth be told, I think there was a little bit of a crush before we left)! Taylor, I know could also probably need a familiar buddy or two or three..how many awesome kids do we know in 5th grade in Bossier?
OK, Christmas, it has been so weird this year trying to get in the spirit. First off, I am away from home and family for the first time in my life, and we are in a foreign country where things are done a little differently! To start with, you do not see any Christmas lights, wreaths or trees on the outside of homes, my favorite thing to do during Christmas is to look at lights- I have yet to find any! It has also been in the 80's, so that makes it hard(PS, No one has air conditioning, what is going on here?)! We are the only ones dressed in Christmas reds and smocked Christmas clothes-no special Christmas clothes seen for miles, Bah Humbug! The malls are packed and do have Christmas decorations, but who wants to spend the holidays stuck in a mall to get your Christmas spirit going! I did find a church that a had a "carol by candlelight" thing tonight, so we went. We dressed everyone in red, smocked outfit for Claire, and we were on our way(we did have several stares, does anyone here go all out like we do in the south, I even had Claire's Christmas bag with me). We met another family for dinner, sushi, and then headed for the church! OK, I have lived in the bible belt for 11 years, and have seen some holy rollers, but the churches here still seem a little off! Of course the program is supposed to be an hour and only carols, and 1/2 way into it we are still listening to preaching-finally we heard three songs and the preacher almost ruined it for all, by leading the song singing and not knowing which verse he was on!!!! So at the end of that we only heard three songs, but still we left with a little more spirit!
OK, Christmas, it has been so weird this year trying to get in the spirit. First off, I am away from home and family for the first time in my life, and we are in a foreign country where things are done a little differently! To start with, you do not see any Christmas lights, wreaths or trees on the outside of homes, my favorite thing to do during Christmas is to look at lights- I have yet to find any! It has also been in the 80's, so that makes it hard(PS, No one has air conditioning, what is going on here?)! We are the only ones dressed in Christmas reds and smocked Christmas clothes-no special Christmas clothes seen for miles, Bah Humbug! The malls are packed and do have Christmas decorations, but who wants to spend the holidays stuck in a mall to get your Christmas spirit going! I did find a church that a had a "carol by candlelight" thing tonight, so we went. We dressed everyone in red, smocked outfit for Claire, and we were on our way(we did have several stares, does anyone here go all out like we do in the south, I even had Claire's Christmas bag with me). We met another family for dinner, sushi, and then headed for the church! OK, I have lived in the bible belt for 11 years, and have seen some holy rollers, but the churches here still seem a little off! Of course the program is supposed to be an hour and only carols, and 1/2 way into it we are still listening to preaching-finally we heard three songs and the preacher almost ruined it for all, by leading the song singing and not knowing which verse he was on!!!! So at the end of that we only heard three songs, but still we left with a little more spirit!
This is when I seem to be the saddest, remembering Christmas's past! For example, I know all of you were worn out by your many class parties, we had none(we finished end of Nov-I would have died for the chaos of three parties.)! What about last year's Christmas party with my dearest group of friends, no Christmas parties yet(still waiting for invites to come flooding in)! I even miss making my endless loaves of pumpkin bread, and then being able to deliver to all of my closest friends! And of course the family get togethers, Adam's Christmas eve after church (would love some yummy food), and mom and dads after Santa comes Christmas morning. There is nothing better than being at my parents for Christmas, it looks like Santa explodes and the food....Mom is the best cook! How I will miss all of it. Pat and I are going to try and make Christmas all that it can be for our three little cherubs, but it is hard to feel that giddy feeling! This is supposed to be my favorite time of the year! Maybe things will look up, we do have four more days! The kids are what makes Christmas, I keep reminding myself!
****I will have my vonage phone at the end of this month, I have been dying to call all of you and chat, but I have been unable! This will allow me to have a Bossier number and will be free for all of my buddies in Louisiana! It will work just like a regular phone - Technology is amazing!!!!!
OK, I leave you with this.....Remember to relish in the little things this Christmas season for we are all blessed in so many ways and for so many different reasons! I think about you all often, sometimes too much, and I miss you all terribly! Have a wonderful holiday week!
1 comment:
What a gorgeous picture of our Claire Bear! We miss you guys so much! Yep, last week was hectic in 5th Grade, 3rd Grade, 1st Grade, whatever!! Parties, plays and assemblies, Teacher Appreciation PLUS they ate every single day, etc. AND the week before was Santa's Store! You need to publish your "book" - it's super! We love reading and looking at pictures, but can't help "tearing up" when we do! What a fantastic opportunity for all of you! Love to you all -
Elli & the Girls
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