December happenings

Uh, where did December GO?  How can today be the last day of the month, let alone the year?  Somehow, this month has zoomed right by and I have had minimal time for blogging.  This is funny since we've been on vacation.  I guess I've just been too busy living to blog!

It is a bitter, bitterly cold day, Kyalo's down for a nap (thankfully), I've just finished some hot chocolate, so what better thing to do than blog?

We started December off with a bang with a little Christmas/We-Made-it-to-the-End-of-the-Year! party with our friends from Dexter's program.  We gathered for a little potluck and catching up.  Hard to believe we hadn't all been together since our beach trip in July!  We kept it simple and low key, focusing more on the time together than anything else.  Seungah prepared a little craft for the kids to do (making Christmas cards) and Sirisha cooked up some fresh dosa, an Indian dish that Dexter and I both love.  It was a good day!

This was extra special to us because making the dough is a multi-step process which includes allowing it to ferment (overnight?) for a bit. Since it is best eaten fresh, she brought all the supplies with her to make it there.  It is basically a crepe with a variety of fillings, eaten with a chutney or other sauce on the side. It is SPICY.  She said she made it without spice, but it was still almost too hot for me to handle. Dexter and I used to get these after church in Kenya, so it was an extra special treat for us.  Hoping we do it again soon!!

It was no surprise that Kyalo loved the craft time. I'd say it is time for me to invest in a glue stick for the boy!  :)

if not a glue stick, a Galaxy Note would be acceptable, too! 

Sophia

Maithry Haasini, Rua, Sophia

Maithry & Sirisha

We were celebrating Maithry's 2nd birthday on Dec 1, which is why there are party hats.

As usual, we had a great time, and I left there grateful that these are some of the students surrounding Dexter -- and me -- these two years.  It is pretty incredible, I think, when you realize that we all have a two year olds!

School got out earlier this year, and we've been luxuriating in MA with my family since the 16th.  On the 17th Dexter took the second of three licensing exams (nothing like starting vacation off with a bang!) in order to get it out of the way so he can focus on the big one in March.  We also had a great opportunity to go away FOR THE FIRST TIME to Maine, of all places, to meet with a dentist there.  We had a wonderful visit with the dentist and his family, and enjoyed seeing a new part of Maine. I thought I'd miss Kyalo terribly, and talk about him constantly.  But I knew he was in good hands with my parents and was able to relax and enjoy the time away!  I'm ready for the next one! :)  

When we first got to MA there was a good bit of snow on the ground from an early winter storm.  Kyalo had a good time playing in the snow, and building his first snowman with Papa.

After all this hard work, it was time for cocoa!

This is really only scratching the surface here, but I feel it is time to wrap things up for now.  I'll be back one of these days with a small recap on Christmas and other happenings. I'm off to make my favorite cinnamon rolls to take to friends' tomorrow morning for a New Years' Day breakfast.

Happy New Year, everyone!!