Christmas Recap

While home in good ol' Franklin, I was able to show Nate around a bit more than our last visit. I took him downtown and showed him Liberty St, Dad's office, Franklin Press, and a cafe. We met Kelly and Stan for lunch, and Kelly and I joked about how being with our husbands made us hold back our silliness. Stan and Nate said they could tell we were making an effort.
We played Scattergories and Boggle with the fam, and Nate played a few games of chess with Dad. Then he played me in chess so he could feel better about himself. I kid. Mom, Dad, Nate, and I took a gingerbread house to the Virgiles and played some more games there... pinball and shuffle board.

We celebrated Dad's birthday on the 22nd and went to a Mexican restaurant where our waiter spoke in Spanish the whole time and made dad wear this sombrero "like Pancho Villa." At least Dad got free flan... the best we'd ever had.

On Christmas Eve, Nate and I put out the luminaries along our patch of Poplar Dr. (formerly and better-ly known as Poplar St.) and froze our fingers placing each candle in its bag. We came inside to a warm dinner made by mom which, I admit, is always my second favorite part of going home. Food.

We went with Andy, Naomi, and Julian out to the Belmar bridge to see the winter scape. The snow on the bridge prettied it up, but the shots I took of the river below and the snow covered trees just don't do it justice.

Nate and I waited at Kings the day after Christmas eating a Wake-up Special and hot cocoa when Kaylee and AJ (Nate's sister and her husband who recently returned from Afghanistan) swung by to get us on their way to Nazareth. Kings is magic. We had gone a few days earlier when Andy and Naomi treated us to some of the cocoa that I think is, like the birthday flan, the best I've ever had. I'm not prone to exaggeration, and I'm telling you - Kings hot cocoa is the best.
Nate's dad commutes in to New York City for work, so the day after we arrived in Nazareth he took us into the city to show us around. The snow was piled up and melting, making puddles at every street corner that the crowds sloshed through. Our feet were soaked, but we had a fun time. Kevin, Nate, and I got hot dogs just for kicks.

I'd heard about random objects or trees anonymously being knitted on public streets, so I was excited to see one myself.

Here's Nate with his youngest brother, Logan.

A nice stranger took our pictures for us.

Nate's dad treated us to some roasted chestnuts, and we discovered that the ones we did at home were just as good.

Pretty decorations...


A few nights after our venture into the city, we made gingerbread houses with pre-made gingerbread. Good idea. Nate's sister, Sandra, was in our group and came up with the most creative details. She made a little Santa and Rudolph, as well as a wreath cut from a Lorna Doone cookie. My best contributions were the tracks made in the snow from the sled, the icing details, and the footprints on the roof. Nate did the smoke from the chimney, the trees, and the pathways.





The morning we were leaving, Logan was playing with candy from his stocking. He's such a cute little bugger.

All in all, we had a great two weeks. We were fortunate to be able to spend time with both our families. I got my fill of snow for this winter and am happy to be back in 60 degree sunny weather.