Christmas Continues?

And our Christmas continues! Today I am in the kitchen cleaning up and making something good to bring to a New Year's Eve party tonight when a DHL delivery man comes to the door. And our very generous friends from Austria strike again! Here you see the kids displaying some of the yummy goodies enclosed for all to share. There is a ton of chocolates, spices, cookies, jams, hot cocoa mix ... It is possible our cupboards could have been bear this week. So, now we are replenished with enough good things until the next holiday. Each year we are overwhelmed with the generosity of our Austrian family.

And how were we lucky enough to get an Austrian family? Once upon a time Michael's mom was an exchange student in Austria. And we have been fortunate to be a acquainted with them. The rest, as they say, is history. That is the short story.

Here, below, are the six kids (well, a few of them are all grown up!) from the Burdis Family. They have come to the U.S. a couple of times. We have yet to visit Austria. But it is on our list of places to visit some day. And Greece. We haven't forgotten our Greek friends either. Or our Australian cousins. Or our Minnesotan cousins. Or my brother and sister in law in Arizona. Yes, we have many places yet to visit!

Christmas 2010

And another Christmas came and went. They seem to come and go quicker every year. I guess that's why I have to write everything down. I remember saying to someone way back in November that I will hardly remember December. But I will wake up in January with a heavier body and a lighter bank account feeling really exhausted and figure that it must have been good.



One of the highlights to our winter holidays is the visit from Uncle Dave. Every kid vies for his attention. Amira gave him a cello concert. This was followed by Uncle Dave playing a little number for Amira. He's such a good sport!



We started our traditional Christmas Eve at Neni & John's house. The tree was festive. And so was everyone else. But just to ensure a festive mood, John was ready with the martinis.







While the kids ran around taking in the atmosphere of all the decor and packages we chatted and moved on to the next martini.



White our Christmas wasn't a white one, being down in the flat lands of California, it was really pleasant outside. Most of us enjoyed the view of the bare oaks from Neni's deck. And we've shoveled ourselves out of white Christmases before in Truckee, so, yes, I'm bragging. Might I also brag that we had power all month long too. But back to the lovely oaks ...



In fact, here are Dave, Alan & Michael all in one shot. It's just as tough to get a good picture of these three together as it is to get one of the kids.



I have to say the kids were really good about the lingering pace of the adults as we savored dinner and moved on to the traditional Shubert's Snowballs. Favorite quote of the evening came from Susan, "Is everybody lit?" In the context, that question was hysterical.



Rex and John were finalists in the snowball burn-down contest. Rex beat John out by seconds. As soon as we smelled the last bit of singed sugar the girls sprang up from the table and raced to the packages by the tree. Let's face it, we drew it out as long as we could.



Miss Amira got the glamour-puss award. From her cousins in Portland she got a pair of fancy purple shoes (high heels!), jewelry and a fancy hat. No ruby slippers for this girl. It's purple pumps all the way, baby!





Just when we thought that couldn't be out done, she opened the "wedding dress" from Alliagor - complete with veil. Alligator had fun with the merchants while shopping for a wedding dress for his granddaughter. When asked what size, he replied, "Well, she's a six year old. But she's been promised for some time now." We expect CPS to come by anytime to inquire about the wedding of the six year old.



Rex has decided to give his sister away ... seriously ...

Valerie got such things as a Swiss Army knife, water colors, American Girl Doll clothes ... the classics. Rex got a few things things like a Ripstick (the skate board with two halves and only two wheels) and the monster nerf gun.



Oh, and these kids got much more too. Really the most fun is watching the anticipation and the thrill of diving into the unknown.

For some reason Christmas Day came a little early. Maybe it was the martinis. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe (for some) it was that rusty nail. I told Napoleon not to mix his drinks ... but did he listen to me?



There was a little more tearing into wrapping paper. Rex road his new long board out to get the newspaper. Frankly, between the ripstick and the long board, he couldn't decide which to ride first.



And, as is tradition, every Christmas Day brunch ends by Grandma shooting the place up after a few mimosas. (Standard American Christmas Tradition)





On Sunday it was boxing day. We celebrate boxing day by boxing up all the Christmas stuff and returning our house to normal. What a relief. And so it's back to yoga and no more eggnog for me. Well, for several months anyhow. January 3rd I'm looking forward to kids back in school and some sanity. That's the best gift of all!

We Wish You a Sparkling Christmas!

Courtesy of Cee Cee ... sparkling holiday vests for most of the family!

Bedtime Stories

Choo Choo & Cee Cee Came to Town

We were treated to a visit by Grandma Cee Cee and Grampa Choo Choo the day after Michael and Rex returned from Holland. We had so much fun with them. We spent our morning's at "Mom's" for the "health nut" breakfast. Apparently, health nut breakfast can be a spinach omelette or it can be chicken fried steak, bacon and biscuits and gravey. Choo Choo informed the restaurant that they had their definitions all mixed up. There was no pretending that the chocolate chip pancakes were healthy, but the kids were pretty stoked it was Grandparents taking them to breakfast instead of their parents.









We visited Max's Miracle Ranch in the hopes of getting our tree and taking a ride on the Christmas train and visiting the animals. Max's Miracle Ranch is a like the "Make A Wish Foundation" but on a smaller and more local scale (explained by Max's dad). We felt good about supporting such a great place in our community. Of course, we got their on Friday night and they were pretty much sold out of trees. That Facebook is apparently quite an advertising tool. But that didn't stop us from visiting the animals, talking to the owners, taking a train ride and letting the kids play around the bonfire.





On Saturday morning the kids and I met Cee Cee & Choo Choo for breakfast and farmer's market while Michael went out to find the perfect tree. Rex got an acorn woodpecker (I think that's what this was) to sit on his shoulder at the market. Some guy had totally tamed this bird. Well, and you might know of Rex's love for birds.





We all gathered around it to decorate that afternoon and have a nice lunch. Later Cee Cee and Choo Choo took the kids downtown for a little Christmas shopping and a sushi dinner at the Rawbar. Man, those kids were spoiled silly! And so were Michael and I. Because of their generosity with their time we were able to go to my company Christmas party. Cee Cee even gave us a ride there.







We sure miss them! It didn't seem like they were here long enough.

And for the girls, the spoiling weekend didn't end there. Neni came by on Sunday to take them out for ice cream and to the Nutcracker. Can you believe how lucky we are to have such a fantastic family? Here are the girls on their way out to the ballet with Neni. All dressed up!

Holiday Homestretch

According to our calendar, most of us are 7 days out from sitting amongst a pile of discarded wrapping and packaging at the base of a dying tree in someone's living room listening to the squeals of delight and laughter but dreading the impending Yuletide meltdown. So, really, I should savor the moment of today and reflect back upon the really nice week we just had.

Upon Rex and Michael's return from Europe, we settled back into our home school schedule with Rex. Our home school reality was, sadly, far from my dream of fun and creative ways to learn. Basically it was me going to bed at night looking for ways to make the curriculum more interesting, waking up hopeful only to have those hopes be dashed by a boy who wakes up surly and full of dread. After only four days of him being back I sent him out for "recess" and immediately started calling schools.

It wasn't working because Rex is a social creature. And sitting at home with me doing anything was just going to be no fun. And when I make corrections, it comes across as criticism. And when I assign work, it comes across as punishment. Regardless of my intent. I mean, there were days I took him to a cafe, got a hot chocolate, played a game of chess, discussed characterization (direct and indirect) and read Bridge to Terabithia with him. We followed that by meeting a couple of other home school friends for skating in a park. And as much as he enjoyed it at the time, he reflected back on how it just wasn't for him. Some kids need to be in a classroom going through the trenches of learning with others. You know what they say, "Misery loves company. And by company, I don't mean your mother."

I had long said I didn't want to have to straddle more than one charter school. But at this point, I was willing to do anything to get out of home school hell. It just wasn't working for us.

Fortunately, being the time of year that it is, change was on the wind for other families too. And I guess a few of them decided to leave Blue Oak Charter School for greener pastures. This opened up an opportunity for Rex at Blue Oak. Yay! Finally, all three kids at the same school during the same hours? Oh, this will be a happy New Year!

I did a dance, high fived several people and then called home to give Michael and Rex the news: THAT WAS THE LAST DAY OF HOME SCHOOL FOR US! In fact, Rex is so excited to go back to school in the New Year he actually woke up happy on Friday morning. I hadn't seen that in a long time.



In other news, Blue Oak had it's extremely impressive Winter Concert Thursday night. Valerie performed recorder and sang with the fourth grade. She even sang in Japanese. for one song. When her fourth grade class came out to play violin, she got to sit up with her cello next to them all and play. And she got to perform one more time with the orchestra. Of course we were proud and impressed. But the performances by the other classes were amazing too.



As part of the 8th grade curriculum studying American history the 8th graders created a "jug band" and played some really cool music. Also, this school has an advanced orchestra. It was amazing (as usual). I was totally blown away. I wanted them to keep playing. It's open to the community. Many of the older Blue Oak students are part of it as well as a couple of teachers and some parents. It was truly a magical experience that we just won't get at any of the other schools in Chico.

And our bonus concert experience was that Rex met the other boy who would be entering the 5th grade at Blue Oak as a new student along with him in January. They both seemed really eager.

So, now we are on break. Rain and wind are moving in and plan on settling here for the next week. Kids are home and climbing the walls with anticipation. And I'm really looking forward to January when I have all three kids back at one school. They will have music and art and handwork infused in their daily lessons. What an amazing school that cultivates life long learners instead of jaded test takers. If I could go back to school, I would totally go there!

Merry Dutchmas

Sinter Klaas is not always nice!

Merry Dutchmas!

Sinterklaas and Black Pete came by last night. Pete took my money and beat the crap out of me while Sinterklaas left the kids presents. Finn and Kels got Harry Potter legos and a remote controlled car. Rex got a Swiss Army knife with a picture of Che Rivera on it. The only thing Eamonn got was woken up at five in the morning by the kids. He and Karen are thinking that next year they are only doing regular Christmas.

Rex now doesn't want to go to Brugge, so we are going back to Amsterdam tomorrow. I'm sure once we get to Amsterdam he will wish we went to Brugge. The prince of regret.

Eamonn and I are going to take the kids out, I will write more later.

Watch out for Black Pete!



Here's Michael trying some Dutch "sushi"


Finn, Rex & Kels and their snowman


Good old fashioned sledding!


Here is Eamonn's house where they are staying:


And here is Eamonn's Fairy Tale Village:

Black Peter and Apple Butter

We've heard more from the boys. Rex and Michael call each morning. I guess they forgot today was Saturday and figured I'd be in a rush to get out of the house. They woke me up at 8am. But that's okay. It was good to hear from them. Lots of playing in the snow. Rex has been working with Eamonn's boys (Finn and Kells) to build a "bird trap". Rex just loves to catch birds for some reason. They also went to visit a working windmill to see the gears in action (which is coincidentally what Rex is studying for science at the moment). Unfortunately the windmill was closed due to all the snow they've been getting. (I asked Michael how much was on the ground and he said about 3 inches ... which is apparently a lot for the modern Dutch).

Although I wasn't able to download the pictures from Michael's site, there are a lot of beautiful snow pictures! You should check it out.

For more pictures of the Dutch Adventures of Michael and Rex, visit this website

And if you are wondering who "Black Peter" is or anything about the Dutch Christmas (which is fascinating in a scary sort of way) check out this link.

This morning I'm making french toast for the girls. As I whipped up the egg/milk mixture I dreamed of making more egg nog. But I need some adult company to come over and drink it with me. I think the kids like it, but don't appreciate it they way a grown up would. Who wants to come over for some nog?

Later this morning I'm heading over to a friend's house to make and can apple sauce and apple butter. Since I didn't do much canning this summer (as I was gone) I'll make up for it in December. A friend of ours had a contact for organic apple seconds. I've got all my little jars ready to go, jar lifters, lid lifters, giant pots and canners and knives, etc. I've even borrowed the ever important apple-peeler-corer-slicer from Susan. (Thanks Susan!)

This weekend we've had a few invitations for Sunday to attend a Hannukah party and go with Holly's family to the woods to fetch a tree in the snow. I think I'm going to lay low. As fun as both would be ... there is something so nice about taking a day off from everything (except the ever present laundry, cooking, dishes). Maybe I can just whip up some nog and have someone over? Or just kick back and fold laundry?

Joy Nog

Meanwhile, back at home in Chico I whipped up some egg nog today. And when I say "whipped" I mean it! There was much whipping involved. Now one of the things that made this Nog so wonderful was that we knew where most of the ingredients came from. We get our milk and eggs from Book Family Farm. And while Book Nog sounds okay, I went for her first name, Joy.

Here's the recipe I made ... you can make with or without brandy:

4 eggs separated
1 cup milk
1 pint cream
1/2 cup sugar (divided)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp vanilla

Whip up egg yolks with 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Slowly add the milk until you have a thick, foamy concoction that smells fantastic. (If this is an adult beverage, feel free to blend a cup of brandy in at this point).

Next, whip up those egg whites with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar until you have lovely stiff peaks.

Finally, whip up that cream and feel free to add a touch more vanilla because it is so delicious.

Now, fold egg white mixture with cream and then fold in yolk/milk mixture.

Pour delicately into a fancy glass and garnish with cinnamon stick.

Lastly, if you don't have left overs to share with your friends, don't brag that you made this. It will just make them feel like they've missed out. But if you slip up, feel free to offer to make it again because it is so darn delicious.

Happy Noggin'

Dutch Pigeons

Here's an excerpt from a message from Michael about their first day in Holland:

So I went back to sleep at around 5:30am and didn't wake up until 9:45am! Rex slept the whole night and I had to wake him up. After 14 hours of sleep he felt refreshed.

We walked around in the fresh snow for a little bit and the stopped in at a cafe (not a coffee shop). Rex got a pancake that looked like a giant crep and I got a coffee because that was all they had that I could eat. Rex was not impressed with the pancake, but ate it anyway. Afterwards we briefly went to the Amsterdam museum (for his schooling) then went back to Dam square to catch pigeons. Rex caught five. It was funny to see them in the snow.

Right now we are on the train going to Eamonn's house. The countyside is very pretty all covered with snow. I will try to send or post photos later. I'm going to look out the train window now.