CHRISTMAS VACATION

Although it has been a week since I returned, I figured my first post for the year should be about my Christmas vacation.  The first part of this school year was so jammed packed full and busy I was so excited for Christmas vacation for a break.  I was also very excited for Christmas vacation for time to spend with family and friends.  I am so thankful that I was able to travel back to the states this year for Christmas.  It was good to be with my family on Christmas day.  I believe that pictures always tell stories the best so the pictures below give a glimpse of what I was able to do over the break. 

One of the things I really was hoping for over the break was snow :)
It snowed three different times.  This was at my parents house.
The new house doesn't have the hill we use to have, but
it was just enough to provide some fun for us all.
On the sled in this picture is my sister, my 3 nieces, 1 nephew,
and myself.  My dad is holding us back before sending us down the hill.

We had a blast building snowmen in the front yard of my parents house!

Christmas Day.  The kids being the Little Rascals!

For my niece Brooke's birthday, which was in November,
I told her I would take her to Hershey Park Christmas Candylane.
We had a blast, but as you can see it was super cold out. 

My nephew Jude opening up the Christmas present I got him. 
One of my families traditions is to open gifts one at a time,
starting with the youngest.  It makes the gift opening last longer,
and we give them a little time to enjoy that one gift before giving them another one.

 

I am thankful for all I got to do over break and all the people that I got to do things with.  For some reason I really only have pictures of the things I did with the kids :) 

 

Some of my other highlights:

        *  seeing the Broadway show Annie in New York City on the day I arrived back

        *  seeing Jonah at Sight and Sound

        *  watching my brother-in-law star in a production at his church 

        * running on Christmas Eve with my sister-in-law Katie in the snow, although it was a bit cold it was refreshing...can you tell I love snow!

        * relaxing in front of the T.V. on Sunday afternoons watching the Steelers play football, although it was disappointing that they didn't make the playoffs.

        * going to Faith Church

        * making a gingerbread house with my niece Bekka at her school

        * participating in my niece Brooke's Polar Express party

        * hanging out with friends on New Years Eve and realizing we are getting old because we had no desire to stay up until mid-night

        * going out to eat at many different places and enjoying my mom's home cooked meals

        * going to a basketball practice and teaming up with a bunch of the kids I coached to play against the current team

        * visiting the school where I thought at before coming to Tanzania

        * seeing one of my formal basketball players play in a college game

 

and the many, many, many more things that I did that I am not remembering right now.  I am so thankful for the wonderful family and friend that I have back in the States and for the time that I got to spend with each one of you over the break.  Thank you all for the gifts that you showered upon me and for the time that you spent with me. 

 

Now it is back to work :)