Waiting

for Christmas is hard...

 

 

 

we celebrated Sam's 37th on the 23rd with the traditional Page birthday cake and presents to open--a happy diversion to the waiting,

but then it was still 2 more days to wait:

 

 

 Rachel caught up on e-mail,

 

 

 

David on phone messages,

 

 

 

Jess did some cooking,

 

 

 

Toby some laundry sorting,

 

 

 

Maddie some photographing,

 

 

 

Max and Simon some movie watching,

 

 

 

and Gwen some just plain waiting!

 

 

 

The elves got dressed in their matching pj's

 

 

 

with the paparazzi snapping away.

But still, there was more time to wait.

Arrivals!

 

 

First, Katie Harris comes to see us on her way to Hawaii.

Then the Page/Bethels arrive from Panama--

 

 

parents catch up

 

 

 

 

as children confer.

 

 

 

The next day, Maddie, sadly with a tummy bug, is surrounded by brother and cousins, all watching a movie on the IPad.

 

 

A bit later Jess puts into action a great assemblage project: creating edible acorns from Hersey Kisses, chocolate chips and small round cookies.

 

And the Page/Bethels walk the 4 blocks to see our new house.

 

 

 

Rachel tries out the red chair in the studio

 

 

 

as the kids swiftly inaugurate everything-- testing the fireplace-to-sofa leap, the bounce of our king-size bed,

 

 and the suitability of Toby's slippers.

So great to have the two families here together!

Pre-Christmas Activities

 

 

UPS parcels start to pile up--the delivery man left this neat pile--and he travels by bicycle! 

 

 

 

Toby counts the parts of a coat rack--one of the zillions of things we've bought for the house from Ikea or Target and struggled to put together.

 

 

 

More organizing:  sewing curtains and shower curtains. 

 

Then some fun:

 

 

 

selecting the Christmas tree with the Page/Kenders.

 

 

 

Maddie and Max raced around the lot, weaving in and out of the tall spruces and evergreens.  The only way Toby and I could figure out where they were was to watch for trembling tree tops as they squeezed their way through.

 

 

 

Max's school concert was so sweet with the charm of many pre-k'ers singing Christmas songs, full of excitement, slightly uncoordinated hand gestures, and great stage presence!  Max is right there in the middle.

 

 

California Classes

 

No sooner were Toby and I out here in LA than we got to go to kids' classes:

 

 

 

Maddie's karate.  Note that she is the only girl in her class.

 

 

 

Max's dance recital.  Note that he is the only boy in his class.

 

 

 

And note Sam and Jess, the proud parents. 

Coast to Coast

 

We left our lovely Chocorua on a wintry, cold, end-of-November day,

and came out, for the winter, to a warm and sunny Burbank, and this small and very sweet house.
The red Prius, driven across the country by David at the end of September, was here to meet us.

Leaving Chocorua

On November 22nd, 

Christina and Tom traveled to Chocorua.

That evening we all went to the Watkins' new home up the road from us

for a very festive dinner.  Myles and Ned were also there.

Early the next morning we went to Rosie's for breakfast.

Here's Tom's "selfie."

Then, after Tom did a quick check on his water system down by the lake (which is still working very well), we piled into his car,

 

 

and drove to Newbury, MA where we had another wonderful meal, an early Thanksgiving, at Sarah and Alan's with more family:  Ben and Christine up from New Haven, Rebecca and kids, Peter and Glenn, over from Cooperstown, NY, Charles and Allison from quite nearby, and Kifle and Wunesh in from Barrington.  What a feast!  What a fine family!  What great friends!!