#sparkleandshine

This is how we spent Christmas.

And this is also how we spent Christmas.

We were very fortunate and grateful that Nana made her fifth trip to Amsterdam in order to celebrate Christmas with us two weeks early. We suspect big changes are in store for us in 2016, and Nana's generous trip across the Atlantic spared us from having to travel too far this year for the holidays.

We were also very fortunate that Santa found us two weeks early (and again in the woods of the French Alps!). However, while we may have spent Christmas Day on the slopes, nothing took us higher than having our family in our hearts. Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas  . . . 

Santa left stockings at the end of their beds. It's a good start! Every year, when I pull out the Christmas decorations, it  makes my heart warm to hang these handmade heirloom stocking made by a dear friend. Thinking of you, SB.

Here we go, downstairs!

Way to go Santa! These scooters are going to make getting around Amsterdam so much easier! Mom can't wait!

Is she this old already? Nana surprised Miss A with an American Girl doll, who looks just like her.

A new Star Wars movie came out?

I gave Abby the first box set of the Junie B. Jones chapter-book series. She is devouring them. On her own. Holy reading! This girl can put it away in English and French. So fun to share a love of reading with my kiddos.

And our love of photography:

Thanks, Nana, for always going the extra mile (literally and figuratively). The kids love their Christmas Eve stockings from Nana and Papa O.

We fudged all the dates this year, pushing Christmas up, and celebrating Hanukkah late. This menorah is a new addition to the family, and it has a special story that I will share soon. Eight nights of beauty.

This is probably an indelicate moment to end this blog entry, but did anyone notice Adam Sandler updated his Chanukah Song again this year?!!?

Jingle Bells

She had only just learned this one that day.

What a joy to see her joy, and to watch her acquire skills I could only dream about . . .

Oh what fun it is to ride . . .

The Force Awakens

When in France . . .

the new Star Wars movie is . . . 

in French. 

Our French skills got us through, but then again, the meaning of the Jedi's words are pretty universally understood, aren't they? And meaningful in today's world. 

The kids' trip journals:

Believers

You never know who you might bump into when on a magical nighttime walk in an Alpine forest.

Indeed, the magic is still alive. Miss A declared that this was definitely the real Santa Claus, not one of the fake ones you see at stores or on TV, because this Santa's beard was not tied on (that she could tell) and because he spoke all languages (he said this, but it was very convincing when he spoke in French and English). 

Master R was a bit more skeptical, but came around. Amazing to witness Miss A's awe and wonder. 

We're skiing this holiday week, and so missing family but loving the experience.

A little après-Santa:

Nutcrackin'

This year's night out at the Nutcracker soars above any other we've had the opportunity to attend. What a super night out for our little family, and an unexpected Amsterdam experience.

The dancing was truly spectacular and, dare I say, in another league from the performances we've seen in Seattle. The choreography and set design is so creative. But what made this performance so memorable for us were the little touches of Dutch culture woven throughout, especially the opening and closing ice skating scenes on a canal; the milkmaid dance scene, and the surprise appearance of Sinterklaas.

Miss A was a twitterbug feeling so grown-up and dressed up, and Mr. R blushed when he bumped into a little girl from school. It was a super, super night.

It was also a Hanukkah celebration for us, and we kind of relish the irony of giving tickets to this a traditional Christmas show for Hanukkah--it represents the threads of our family.

Not all of us made it to the final curtain!

Seven principal dancers were needed to keep this production going over its four-week run. We missed seeing the Clara pictured below (although our Clara was amazing), but I wanted to pass her story along because it is so inspiring.  

Michaela DePrince is an American and currently a member of the Dutch National Ballet's junior company. She was orphaned in Sierra Leone at the age of three, and then adopted and raised by an American family. She overcame multiple obstacles to become a rising star in the ballet world. Check out her story here, in Mighty Girl. She is one of the seven principal dancers or Clara's.

Doin' It

Sheesh. This is, by far, the longest pause I've taken between posts since starting this blog over two years ago.

There's lots of catching up to do, and very soon I'll provide a glimpse into our holiday festivities, which have lasted a couple of months and culminated in a grand two-week visit by Nana.

For now, rest assured, we're doing it. Right down to decking out our primary mode of transportation with twinkle lights. Big hugs to SF for the inspiration. We miss you all!

Jingle all the way!

Warmer Days

I just stumbled upon these pictures from our trip to Portugal this summer while (finally) cleaning my desk.

We've had a decent fall in Amsterdam, but the weather tide seems to be turning.  It's just cold and wet right now.

These sunny photos, full of exotic animals (and I'm not just talking about my lovely children . . . ), were a surprise pick-me-up.