Another Christmas Past

This Christmas season seems like it has been one of the best that we have had. It is bittersweet since we are not able to be with family, but it was very quiet, relatively uneventful, and just nice. We had some friends over for dinner on Christmas Eve. It was a great group of people and it was nice to spend some time getting to know them better. We weren't able to partake of two of our family Christmas traditions however, we didn't open one gift (it was just too late once the folks left and we had a lot of wrapping to do!) and we didn't drive around and look at the lights...one of my favorites.

We were supposed to have a small Christmas, but it didn't turn out that way. I will be very afraid next time Kurt tells me he only got me a "few small things"...I guess he wasn't lying...diamonds are "small" after all! The girls got bicycles. Tyler got a light-up police helmet that has a microphone - he has issued several tickets already. He also got a really cool "remote control" helicopter (that just goes up and around in a circle but is held to the controller by a bar). Hannah got two Barbies and kimonos for each. Sarah got a Tamagotchi Color and two other tamagotchis...she is looking rather Japanese with all these things hanging off of her! I got two pairs of jeans and a skirt set in addition to my two pairs of diamond earrings and necklace (WHAT was he thinking? He said one was an "everyday pair of studs" and the other was for dressing up) That jeweler saw him coming a mile away and boy am I glad! They are truly beautiful. Kurt got an Ipod Nano (pales in comparison) and a gift certificate to download Itunes. All in all, we were treated very well this year.

We also went on Saturday to a Japanese/American party/potluck (there was no sushi there). It was funny to play the gift exchange where you can "steal" the gifts up to twice, considering the Japanese feel it is really rude to take things from people. We Americans showed them, and several of the bolder Japanese women got into it...I got mine stolen so I had to steal someone elses and came home with a "tea" tray...perfect for serving breakfast in bed! It was a riot playing Pictionary with people yelling in Engish and Japanese. It is funny how people's cultural concepts are different with some things and the same in others. All around it was great fun.

We are thinking of heading to the Emperial Palace on January 2nd, one of two days the Emperor makes an appearance (the other was Dec 23, his Birthday). He will give his people a blessing for the New Year from inside a glass porch attached to the palace. It should be very interesting. We hope that your new year brings you great happiness and many blessings.