We began our Christmas day with a note of rebellion: I made blueberry muffins (blueberries are not an English food) for breakfast, accompanied by slices of clementines, apples, and bananas. But much of the rest of the day had a nice English feel. We talked Katherine through the Christmas story, put on a Handel CD, and took a family walk around University Parks.
Nathaniel hits his head on our dining table, and he can reach the low shelf on the bookcase, so we’re working hard to find Katherine some places in the house where she can stash toys that are just for her (she loves small choking hazards . . .). For now she has a little reading nook set up on the main floor, where she settled in earlier today to read Winnie-the-Pooh stories to her new friend, Eeyore.
After much trepidation, I steamed my first Christmas pudding, and it turned out to be surprisingly delicious. Not all English food is bad! Sydney asked for seconds, and Nathaniel abandoned his banana to beg for bites.
Tomorrow Sydney leaves for a week in DC for job interviews. The kids and I will resume a rather quiet life, aided by bursting cupboards (after several grocery runs this week) and mild weather. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your families!
Erin
Alan Schmierer