Christmas Break overseas (meaning..to most of my readers--back FROM overseas :) ), Part 1

Since we've now been living in Germany for 2 1/2 years (70% of our married lives!), 'overseas', for us, means back on (for most of you) your side of the pond (i.e. North America) :)

We got to spend Christmas and New Years with my family!! I love them so much and loved being with them.

Here's a lowdown of the trip:

• Fly from Hamburg, Germany to Boston, MA, USA
• drive from MA through CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, D.C. to VA
• drive from VA through TN, dipping into GA then back up to TN
• drive from TN to GA
• Fly from Atlanta, GA to Hamburg, Germany

MA

• the first time home for Christmas in 6 years (!)
• Christmas Eve--we always act out the Nativity--someone narrates from the scriptures, we all get dressed up and Grandma, when she's there, has to wear this wooden bowl on her head.
• It all started one year when she was a wise man and she was holding it on her head. Then she had to look up at the star and point to it and >crash<,  it fell off--and cracked slightly. And since then that bowl always gets taken out for Christmas Eve.

Isn't she just great? That's dedication :)

• I was a herd of sheep--yes, I (singular pronoun) was a herd (singular noun indicating plural members) of sheep--the pom pom sheep from the tree became my friends and rode in my scarf :)

I'm all woolly! 

Here I'm helping L wrap a polar bear as Baby Jesus :)

• O'CONTRAire Reunion! In high school I played in an awesome contra dance band. We got together again--old and new members and thought we'd have more band members than dancers. However, we had a great turn out on both sides and it was a great evening! 

jammin' at the 'before party'

• **Contra dancing is New England folk dancing--has some similar steps as square dancing, but instead of being set up in a square, you're in two 'contra' lines. You can also do circle dances. But, you know Pride and Prejudice? The sort of dancing they do there--forward and back, etc.? There it was the dancing of the noblemen, and when it came across, it became the people's dancing. 
• F was a great sport and danced with me or my Mom when I was up playing in the band. Despite his misgivings, he did a great job! Hooray!
• I also got to see one of my best friends (we've known each other since we were 4!) and her new baby! And we decided he's got 10% milk thighs and cheeks :) (we were wondering what the fat percentage was for breast milk--anywhere from 1-10%, depending on time of day, mom's diet, etc. (That's what they say at KellyMom.) He's so cute!

VA (+D.C.)

• drove to D.C. and saw the sites! (or at least a few)
• slept over at cousins house
• bumbled and laughed our way through a card game called "7 Wonders" (kinda like Settlers, kinda not)
• saw some of Shrek the Musical
• hugged lots of cousins!