Winter break!!!!!
After a long quarter and a case of pneumonia, Bea came home for winter break, taking the train up from Stanford with her BFFs, Ben and Michael.
And my son Eli flew into Sea-Tac after ten months in Argentina!
Such great kids! And it’s wonderful when your best friends just ‘click’ with each other.
They filled our home with music…
…and were prone to spontaneous bursts of dancing…
…and juggling.
And they cooked too!
Not for nothing are they known in certain parts of California as ‘The ‘Stache Squad.’ All for one, and one for all!
A game of Risk becomes a costume affair.
Bea and Eli shared their hometown, and took in a bit of culture while here.
Proof that the sun sometimes shines in Seattle!
Gifts were exchanged, most of them homemade.
Eli’s gift was to write an original murder mystery for the whole gang. He put his storytelling experience to good use.
It was, of course, a costume affair…
…set in Russia in 1860.
It seemed to capture the social turmoil of the times.
We were sad to have to send Ben home in time for Christmas.
But it felt like we had already had Christmas, and the icing on the cake was a day of snow, a rare treat, a white Christmas.
The only thing missing was Ben. So the kids made…
…a SnowBen!
Of course, juggling ensued.
And huggling.
And snow angels!
And it wouldn’t be a proper snow day without hot chocolate.
Another bunch of friends and family have arrived, and it’s hard to believe we have yet another Christmas to celebrate. It makes me realize that holidays have less to do with the dates on the calendar than the light we create in our hearts and homes and between each other.
My dear friends and family and blogging buddies from all over the world, after health and happiness, my wish for you is this:
May you never be too old for dinosaur pancakes.
…or dress-up…
I wish you a Merry Christmas, a happy Solstice, Kwanza, and New Year. And whatever the New Year brings, may you always have, no matter what the calendar says, or however large or small, an occasion to celebrate and a shoulder to lean on.
All images and words copyright Naomi Baltuck.
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