Holiday Hoopla!

 I am so grateful that the holidays have come and gone with no drama.  We had a peaceful Thanksgiving here with my parents.  Chicken instead of turkey, just because it's what we prefer...then a few rounds of Bananagrams.  (Gammy will only stop playing once she has won!)  Next it was the Christmas car parade in Merrimac.  As is the tradition, all the grandchildren rode in the car with Gammy and Gampy while Scott, Meagan and I waited and watched along the parade route.  This year was made all the more special because our close friends Joel and Marie joined us.

The month of December has whizzed by!  The kids have a little more than a week off, and are taking it slow.  Tomorrow Scott and I will drop them at my parents for three nights where they will ring in the new year with their cousin Ellie.  I have started working again this month.  I advertised for housekeeping and personal chef, and am already fully booked and unable to take on any more clients!!!!!!  I have been careful to keep my schedule such that I am home for the kids after school, and able to remain this households personal chef and housekeeper above anyone else!

Scott and I had the pleasure of getting "boosted" a few weeks ago.  After an hour and a half in line, we were poked with Moderna.  Eww.  I hate shots.  Aside from sore arms and some fatigue, we weathered it pretty well. I have to say I felt a little better about celebrating Christmas with family knowing we had done all we could.  Christmas Eve was lovely.  We headed over to Scotts aunt and uncles home on Cape Elizabeth (15 minute drive).  There we celebrated with two pregnant cousins and 4 year old Evie.  Can't wait to see what next year will look like!

Christmas day was wonderfully low key.  Just the four of us most of the day.  My friend Melissa joined us in the evening for supper and a few rounds of cards (Spades).  Then it was off to my parents for the annual day after Christmas celebration.  A little smaller than in years past...but just as joyous.

Mommy...let me in.

Thanksgiving table.

Dig in!

After dinner walk.

She's a powerhouse.

Zainab and I shared another meal.

Piping hot Iraqi tea.

Tree selection.

Fiona's tree won.

Meagan and Ellie spent the night!

Decorating my parents tree.

Father.  Son.  Holy Ghost???

Hip hop pose?!

Waiting for the car to go by on the parade route!

Star Shine action!!

A walk with my boy.

BRRRRRRRrrrrrrr.....

Doesn't this look like fun?  Our reward for the wait...pain. 

Santa Came!!!

White Christmas!

October was a week long. I swear.

      How did I miss October?  We went to my parents house October 16 to celebrate Gampy's birthday.  It was a warm fall afternoon filled with good food, great company, adorable dogs and shooting balloons with the BB gun.  I can't believe Dad is 72!  He had me so late in life...when he was 42...  That's the only way it's possible.  The kids have wrapped up their cross country season.  Ethan ended on a sour note with a fracture in his shin and a lovely boot he got to wear around for a few weeks.  Fiona, however, ended with a bang!  She got her best time in her last race and made varsity!!!

     Late in October we managed to squeeze in some apple picking and pumpkin selecting.  We went to Hansel's orchard where we picked two years ago.  The pressure was on while we all carefully chose apples from the trees.  Before we left we asked that the owner judge (not knowing whose was whose) which apple was the best.  She obliged again this year...and after MUCH deliberation, and hemming and hawing...she selected Fiona's apple as most amazing!  I'm just grateful it wasn't Scott's again.  It's been rough living with him these past two years.  Always holding the win over us.

     I continue to work with Zainab.  She and her family are seeking asylum here from Iraq.  I volunteered to help her with her english.  We have come a long way in the last few months from a slow walk through the alphabet to now reading some simple books.  The last time we got together, we both chipped in to create a delicious lunch feast at her home.  I have to say, if you haven't tried it yet, drop a star anise in your rice while its cooking.  YUM!

     Then it was back to Gammy and Gampy's to celebrate Ellie and Mom's birthdays.  We were again blessed with gorgeous weather.  A roaring fire in the fire pit and a cozy fire in the house kept us all warm.

     Best of all this month was a gathering of my best friends.  The five of us all together at the same time is a rare event.  Friends since kindergarten...we are talking 40 years of knowing each other.  We've been through it all.  In the four years since we were all within reach, two have had babies and two have battled and conquered breast cancer.  Needless to say we do not take for granted any opportunity to gather.  From Italy, Arizona, the Cape, Boston and Maine...we made it happen.  

A real live varsity letter!

We hiked to top of Burnt Prairie Mountain...again.

Fu**in Fracture.

Cullen with friends.

New bestie.

Fiona is at the wheel!  That's her instructors teaching car!

Watching the race go by, with the boot on.

Madly in love with our fireplace.

Eatable mushrooms from our yard.

Marsh view down the street.

Best walk.

Last bee on last cosmos.  Night before frost.

Fiona lined up to start last race of season.

On her way to a personal best!

Ahhh...cousin love.

Gampy and Uncle Jason.

Puppy Olive.

Hangin out on the front lawn.

Giggling Gammy.

Back on my favorite walk.

He is always camera ready.

Picking a winner.

Fiona's was the winner.  But they all looked pretty awesome.

Fiona and her friend Avery.

Scott stepping back and letting Ethan change my flat tire.

Mine and Zainab's lunch feast.

A 15 and 16 year old.  

Still 14 for a few more months.

Farmer Gammy tending the fire.

Cullen's lady twin!  Her name is Stella, and he loves her.

Plum Island.

Hallie and Banjo Bob.  Her late mother Donna was a puppetier.

All together.  Four years in the making.

"High" school all over again!

Lilly and Hallie.  The two original Plum Island residents.

We are babysitting some of Donna's puppets until Hallie moves back to the states.

LOVE