Before we left to go home for Christmas break, we took some pictures of the crazy light house here on the island. These people hired security to walk around their home and sit at their gate greeting people. They had a Santa Claus each night taking pictures with children. We watched lights being hung in tall trees with giant cranes back in November. We had no idea it would turn into a mini Bronners, Christmas wonderland. Here are some pictures we took:
They set up a bunch of little houses filled with different things - like angels, elves, caroling dogs, reindeer, etc.
Coming up, scenes from home, Michigan wildlife, Pistons game, Christmas pictures and my new hair!
I’ve been absent from bloggerland because Frank and I are in Michigan visiting our family and friends! I just wanted to take a minute to say Happy New Years and I hope you all had a great Christmas!!
Wrapping paper of gift bags? I am very anal about having nicely matching wrapping paper with bows. I’m even particular about the tags matching.
Real tree or artificial? We had artificial growing up. I hope someday we’ll have one of each. One tree is just not enough
When do you put up your tree? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving.
When do you take the tree down? Weekend after New Year’s.
Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my first American Girl doll. (Okay is everyone thinking how young I am, now? lol. I swear I had one like the first year they came out…)
Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. My Grandma gave us one the first Christmas we were married.
Hardest person to buy for? Frank… he always says he doesn’t need anything.
Easiest person to buy for? My little sisters. So much fun picking out toys and pre-teen girlie stuff!
Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably rose scented bath products. The smell gives me an instant headache.
Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail with a handwritten note in each one, for sure. It’s classic.
Favorite Christmas movie? Hard to choose. Of course, It’s a wonderful life is a tradition. I’d say more modern ones would be The Christmas Story (you’ll shoot your eye out) or Love Actually.
When do you start shopping for Christmas? Depends. This year we did a lot of shopping in August in Europe. Usually about Octoberish.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope.
Favorite things to eat at Christmas? My Mom always makes a huge Christmas brunch with this really, really sinful homemade cinnamon rolls.
Clear lights or colored lights on the tree? I like clear lights with added colors from ornaments, beads and such.
Favorite Christmas song? Tough call. I’d say Oh Holy Night or I’ll be home for Christmas.
Travel at Christmas or stay home? All of our parents and grandparents are divorced and remarried or dating, so we have a million and a half people to visit. Once we have kids, that will change. We will be home on Christmas morning every year.
Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Of course! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph
Angel on the tree top or a star? We always had a star.
Open the presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas eve at Nana’s house. Christmas morning with immediate family and Santa presents! Christmas morning from Frank and I to each other.
Most annoying thing about this time of year? I know this is going to sound horrible…. but, I get so tired of being guilted into making donations. Frank and I donate to the charities that mean something to us… I get tired of being asked every other day to give to a bunch of charities.
What is the “corniest” family tradition you do, or miss doing? Charlie Brown Christmas Tree night. We all go to the Christmas tree lot the Friday before Christmas. They’re picked over and the bad trees are left with very cheap prices. This tree becomes our second tree and it’s always terribly ugly. We have so much fun decorating it, though!
Ugliest Christmas decoration ever invented? Hmm. I don’t like the running, blinking, colored lights on houses that never seem to coordinate. One strand will be running, one will be flashing, another will be flashing at a different time. Yuck! Sorry for those who love them.
Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees? We always had both. One that was coordinated and themed. One that was homey. Ideally, I’d love to have at least 2 - 3 trees in our home someday. One homey and the rest themed.
What does Christmas mean to you? I LOVE IT!! My favorite holiday. Everyone makes time for family and I love watching people open gifts we’ve hand picked for them. I love the cocoa and Christmas carols and twinkling lights. I love the snow! It’s the best time of year, when the world slows down and goes back to the good old days of traditional things like caroling, fires in the fireplace and advent calendars, snowmen and snow angels. I can’t say enough about how much I love this time of year!
They couldn’t just let us get off this rock without some sort of added dramatics! No worries, though. It’s not like this is a hurricane…
We’re headed back to good ole Michigan this weekend and I can hardly wait! 3 weeks with family and friends and snow and hot cocoa and presents and our cat and I could go on and on!!!
This month has been busy with two sets of exams, but we have managed to have some fun along the way. Because I’ve been less than stellar in my punctual blog posting, here are some pictures of recent highlights:
Frank has been playing lots of basketball on KPMG’s team. (Future post to come…)
Flowers - part of my Birthday gift from Frank
We had a visit from a small lizard that went translucent and could change colors to match it’s surroundings. I think it was a baby chameleon or something. It was pretty cool looking, but not in my house. He affectionately became known as “stubby” when Frank tried to pick him up by the tail and it fell off. Here is Frank on the hunt for “Stubby,” the second time he got in our house. We knew it was him by the tail. haha.
Re: Thanksgiving Photos
The loads of supplies used to make our dinner.
This year’s new addition - Curried Pumpkin Soup as the first course.
Before and After
Cooking was a lot of fun, but boy is it work when you’re doing it by yourself. I refused to miss any of my family’s tradition dishes, so we had WAY too much food! It was all so yummy. I was really proud of the way it turned out, but bummed that I forgot to get a picture of the turkey before it was cut. Pathetic as it may be, I had some fun dissecting the turkey’s heart. I know it’s weird, but I was able to identify the atriums and ventricles, as well as, the aortic arch, brachialcephalic, left subclavian artery and left common carotid. Well, they might be called something different in a turkey, but in human terms that’s what they would have been.
Well here we are again. Year two. Thanksgiving on the island, again.
Since it’s a British island, they don’t celebrate this holiday. In fact, some of the people here think it’s really strange we would have a holiday in honor of a bird. They don’t quite understand that Turkey Day is just slang and apparently have missed the true title of the holiday THANKSgiving.
We miss all of our family very much today. The first year was not quite as bad because it was all new. As strange as it felt to be away from the traditions of home, it was somewhat exciting to cook dinner on my own. There was some thrill in trying something different. This year, however, the newness has worn off. We just want to be home with everyone and to top it off, I am in the middle of studying for exams. As a result, we’re pretending Thanksgiving is next Thursday.
Last year’s cooking extravaganza
I will say, it isn’t all bad the second time around. At least after last year’s fiasco with the legendary turkey search, I knew that I should by my turkey early this year. About a month ago I found a 15 pounder and he’s been frozen waiting for next week this whole time. (Last year I waited until the week of to buy our turkey. The island doesn’t ship in extras because they don’t celebrate the holiday. Finding a turkey was near impossible and we ended up with something like a 30 pounder for four people. That one was the last one and the butcher had to dig him out of the back of the freezer for us.)
This year may not be the way we would choose for it to be happening, but we’re still thankful for everything in our lives. Even though we won’t be eating Turkey and cranberry dressing today, we’ll be thinking of all of you and all the blessing in our lives. Not many people get the chance to chase their dreams like we have, have the love in their lives that we do, and after all, that’s what this holiday is all about. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
How are we celebrating this bewitching holiday? By picking up both of our wicked mothers from the airport today! Okay, okay…. they aren’t wicked, but they are two of my most favorite witches. Alright they aren’t witches either. Fine, fine - I’ll be nice. But we sure are excited to have them here!!!
I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween and enjoy all those adorable tricker or treaters and pounds of yummy candies.
Me: Do you think there will be fireworks Wednesday night?
Frank: I doubt it.
Me: (Annoyed.) Why not? This island shoots off fireworks for any possible reason. It’s free entertainment. People come running out of the woodworks for the fireworks…. streets shut down. Of course there will be fireworks, why wouldn’t there be?
Frank: Um, we’re on a British Island. I highly doubt they are going to celebrate the US’s victory over the British and our independence.
Me: Oh yeah. Good point.
Frank: (snickering at my blonde moment)
Happy 4th of July to you all! I hope you all enjoy the BBQs, family time, red, white and blue decor - but, most of all - enjoy those fireworks! haha!
Take a moment to watch this video. It’s in honor of our troops, who we celebrate today.
Sometimes we take Memorial Day for granted. It’s a day off from work or school to most. Today we should take a minute to remember the people fighting for our freedoms and those lost.
Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Valentines Day! We hope you all are surrounded by those who love you today!
We’re celebrating by going out on date night Friday. There are 6 cruise ships in port today and the island is full of "fritters." (Fritters = Tourists, who come here and eat Conch Fritters). Just too many people to fight for a good night out, so we’re going to wait until this weekend.
Valentines Day brings out red roses, the sappy love poems and Hallmark cards. Here is something I found in a magazine awhile ago. It may not be terribly romantic, but I think it’s sentimental and true, without the sap, and it describes how I feel about my Valentine.
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"When the last speck of fairy dust is gone, and you are married to exactly the person you married and not any fantasy of your own, you find out whether you have what it takes to make it through a few more decades of togetherness. It takes commitment, it takes forgiveness, it takes resignation and compromise, but with all of this, you still have to feel tenderness. The person you see in those eyes that meet yours across the pillow, or the dining room table, or over the head of the child whose hands you hold– if that person still touches something wordless in you, you can imagine that there are still good parts left, still surprises in the story. You can only find out what happens when you believe in love if you believe in love. We choose to believe."
Believing then, still believing now…
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***A quick adoption bloggerland note: CONGRATULATIONS TO LAUREN & MARCO WHO BECAME PARENTS TO LUCIANA TODAY! Also, congratulations to Susan & Wayne who received their release letter! Let’s hope for a quick court date! Great news!***
