Rest.

A lot of people at Christmastime travel to the tropics.  But we in the tropics?  We travel to the mountains.  We want the cold.  And in Lushoto, a town about 7 hours away from us, is one of our favorite places ever. 

Like last year, we were blessed with such an amazing week.  There’s never that much to it–just reading (this year was The Hunger Games trilogy for me), playing games, hanging out with excellent friends.  Eating great food that I didn’t have to cook.  Kids playing outside all day.  Enjoying the beauty of the mountains.  And wearing sweaters. 

Grace had her birthday in Lushoto, but we didn’t do a party there this year, since she wants to have one with her friends from school (which will happen next weekend).  But Daddy couldn’t let the special day pass without some fun, so he created a Treasure Hunt that took them all over the lodge.  Like I said.  Best Daddy Ever. 

And he had his own fun by playing soccer with the locals every evening.

With his miniature Buzz:  His favorite Christmas present.

 

Lilies.

New Year’s Eve Dance Party.  Thankfully, Daddy did not put his arm through a window this year.

Gil got to play football every evening, and use his new macro lens every day.  He was in heaven.

 

Next Year We’re Just Getting Them the Boxes

They have the Best Daddy Ever, don’t you think?

Two Girls and a Boy

One month old and they haven’t been smushed. Yet. 

Christmas Morning

We got Lily a tricycle, since she loves to sit on Grace and Josiah’s bikes. 

But the gift that she really, really, really loved?  The beeping play phone that her sister got her.  Worth about 50 cents.

Yep.  Isn’t that always how it goes? 

Making Merry

Caleb is Grace’s very best friend.  They are almost exactly the same age, and been friends their whole lives.  Josiah and Imani are also the same age, but they have just gotten to the point where they have stopped looking at each other in distain.  Not quite the same relationship as Grace and Caleb.

We love Caleb and Imani’s family, and they were in town last weekend, so we did some Christmas merriment with them. 

Last year at Christmas we spent a Sunday afternoon at a fancy hotel’s special buffet…and had so much fun that we did it again this year. 

We don’t normally eat this well.  🙂

Last year, the hotel had a jumper and clowns to entertain the kids.  This year, they had nada.  So the kids ran in the sprinklers instead.  Hopefully the hotel regrets not getting that jumper. 

The next day, we had our First Annual Gingerbread-Making Party.

This was Mommy’s first time making gingerbread houses from scratch.  So….ummm…yeah.

Emily (Caleb’s Mom) said that the houses reminded her of the village where they live.  As in, they are all falling down.  Well, at least our gingerbread houses were culturally appropriate.

Although I think Josiah’s simply collapsed under the weight of everything he put on it. 

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