Way Back In December

Wow, how late am I?
Somehow it's already February(?!?!) and I have not yet posted photos from Christmas... Forgive me.  Here are some snapshots from the last month of the year.

.: Hannukah :.

.: Cutting down our Christmas trees :.


.: Christmas decor :.




.: Cocktails :.

.: A ten year anniversary :.

.: Date night at the art museum :.


.: Mom's birthday :.

.: Grandma turns 90 :.

.: Christmas Eve cookie decorating :.
 

.: Christmas Eve :.
{aka that night I got too close to a candle and singed some hair}

.: Christmas Day :.
{Christmas sweaters circa Christmas 2011 and yes, both mine and Ryan's are the same size}

.: Gift exchange with my girlfriends :.

{we share one of our "favorite thing" with everyone, Oprah style}

 

.: Day after Christmas with Ryan's fam :.

.: NYE dinner :.


December was a festive and relaxing way to end the year.  
2014 is off to a good start so far, with many unknowns and various changes on the horizon.  We will do what we always do, and make it a great year.
Hope your new year is off to a great start!

Christmas This Year

Being home for Hannukah and Christmas this year was a real treat.

In the weeks leading up to it there was lots of time with family and friends.  

 

We revisited Portland Christmas favorites Zoo Lights and Peacock Lane. 

 

We got some snow!

I made sweet and spicy mulled wine to go with a Christmas movie marathon.

 

And our first taste of egg nog in three years was pretty great too.

On Christmas Eve my mom and I made tons of cookies and side dishes for the annual Swedish smorgasbord.

On Christmas Day it was back to my grandparents' houseboat for brunch, Bloody Marys, and the opening of presents around the tree.

We headed north to Washington later that week for an extended holiday with Ryan's family.

It sure was a wonderful holiday season.

Miracles

"It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season—like all the other seasons—is a good time not only to tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them." —Lemony Snicket, The Lump of Coal

Merry Christmas!

It's been eleven days since we landed at PDX and surprised our friends and family by showing up on their doorsteps.  I have been too busy soaking it all in to write much here, but there are posts in the works from our time in Thailand and our time so far in the states.  The last week and a half has been a bit of a whirlwind, but with Christmas upon us it's finally setting in that we are home.  Tonight I'll go to sleep on Christmas Eve in the house where I've slept every Christmas Eve (aside from the last two years in Korea) since I was born.  That is something special.  

Here's hoping your holiday is filled with happiness and love.

{photo by the amazing Jill and Aaron of Aaron Nicholas Photography}

A Belated Christmas Vacation

I'm still in denial that the holidays are coming to an end.  It honestly didn't really feel like Christmas this year until the actual weekend was upon us.  Ryan and I were back at work on Monday, proving that the holiday is definitely over.  Hannukah has also come and gone. 

It doesn't make it any easier that it's FREEZING here and all I want to do is stay in bed and continue the Christmas movies marathon I started last weekend. What's wrong with watching "Home Alone" on December 27th? 

It was definitely easier getting through the post-holiday week knowing it was only three days long.  We have today and Friday off! 
Our vacation couldn't have come at a better time. 
Well, besides last weekend...but that's ok.

Ryan and I are heading to Seoul for a few days with our extra time off.  I'm looking forward to taking the slow train up north (not too far), going for some winter walks, shopping at Myeondong, drinking a margarita (or three...) and just getting away for a little while.

  We'll be back in Busan Saturday night to ring in 2012.  It's a tradition here to watch the sun rise early on New Year's Day, which we'd love to do.  However since moving back to Korea my new bedtime is 9:45 pm.  Dawn is pushing it.  Maybe Ryan and I will just stay home in our PJs and drink champagne instead. 
 Wow I sound old...

Happy early New Year's weekend!

'twas the weekend of Christmas, and here's what we did

Christmas Eve: Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

And yes, we were matching.  When in Rome right?
Highlight of the night: Spiked eggnog.  Assah!  (Korean for "awesome") Really.

Onto Christmas Day.

After we opened our stockings and presents we skyped with family and vegged out for the better part of the day. 
Coffee, Bailey's and some of my favorite Christmas movies.  So nice.

We spent the evening at our favorite beach.

Christmas Dinner was Italian and delicious.

It wasn't a traditional Christmas, but it was ours.  

New traditions are good traditions.

I hope your weekend was lovely as well.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve + what we've been up to lately

It's Christmas Eve.  How did that happen?

We've been busy playing catch-up all week at school to finish report cards and test grading since all the paperwork for our elementary students will be sent home next week.  We're more than ready for a relaxing holiday weekend.  I can't wait to drink some winter drinks, watch all my favorite Christmas movies, and cozy up with my honey.

But first to update you on what we've been up to lately since I haven't had a chance...

Last weekend our school held a Christmas themed orientation for the students who will attend when the new school year begins in March.  We did a little Jingle Bell Rock Christmas dance, "sold" the kiddies some snacks and practiced English phrases with them.  Would you believe it?  Santa was there.

  

Dinner that night was delicious Uzbekistani food (and drink).  Random, right?  Well being a major port city, Busan has an Eastern European population and many restaurants for those in the shipping trade.

We also made it to our first Sonic Boom basketball game on Sunday.  

Good times.

Yesterday at school the Christmas fun continued as Santa made another appearance.  

Note the kids' reactions.

Then we gathered together for more dancing.

And later the Korean Santa made an appearance as well.

 ♥ I personally prefer the original Santa ♥

Merry Christmas Eve!