Christmas 2009

Only served at Christmas, we look forward to these homemade cinnamon rolls for weeks! After opening a couple of presents, we pause to feast on these hot gooey and totally low calorie treats.

Celia has not stopped playing her new guitar since she opened it. She now claims six notes and her new role as family balladeer. Nathan loves his Mario Kart. He and Mike have been playing it all morning. It is just easy enough for us in the older and less technologically advanced generation to pick up.

After taking Jazzy on his Christmas run in the vineyards and meeting a French couple with a beautiful Border Collie who liked to roll in the natural fertilizers readily available in the fields behind our house, we are ready to fill the house with the fragrances of Christmas supper. Roasted lamb, smashed potatoes, creamed spinach and good ole American apple pie. We will save the typical French buche de Noel for New Year's Eve dinner!

Well Jazzy is now sleeping on my foot and Celia is strumming her guitar and Mom is feeling so blessed with the Christmas season and her incredibly beautiful family! Joyeux Noel, mes amis!!

Merry Christmas!!

Mike, Celia Nathan and Mary wish you all a very merry Christmas and a bright and joyous 2010!!

December in Paris!!

There is not much that can beat visiting Paris in December! The city is all lit up with beautiful Christmas decorations and the grand magasins have their windows full of incredible displays. My favorite windows this year were at Le Bon Marche, but Galeries Lafayette never fails to astonish me. I stopped for lunch in one of the many restaurants in GL and watched as the midafternoon sun dimmed to allow the brilliant Christmas lights come alive. Glass of wine, potage and a salad while watching the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers illuminated by the ever changing display of lights.

Nathan's 16th Surprise Birthday Party

We had a Laser tag and pizza party for Nathan and his friends for his 16th birthday. We had a bit of a hard time convincing Nathan to come up to the Laser tag place because he saw all of his friends nearby and wanted to go talk to them. I asked him why they would be there all together and he said he had no idea!! We were so good at keeping it a surprise! Celia and I had almost two weeks of back and forth texting with all of his friends to arrange the party and to keep it a surprise. His friends did not say a word to him. He was so happy and surprised. For one who can't stand to be the center of things, he had a fabulous night. They are a really great group of guys. We seriously had an intense battle in the laser tag room!