Christmas in Waco, part 2

Kyle and Jim proudly holding trays of Rosa's Tacos (still the Tuesday night special of 3 tacos and all-you-can-eat salsa for $3.33). Even Lillian ate a whole taco by herself.

One of Lillian's constant queries this week was, "Do you want a Strawberry Shortcake stamp [on your hand]?" So all of us including Jack were given multiple green stamps on our hands. Uncle Jim tried to photograph the artist with her own stamped hands but she decided instead to strike some modeling poses.

Kyle made some delicious snickerdoodles with red sprinkles on Christmas Eve.

A Welty family shot - nice!

Christmas morning! Jack really liked the cinnamon rolls and he shoved those down the hatch pretty quickly, even with just 2 little front teeth.


Kate made lamb roasted with garlic and fresh rosemary for our Christmas Dinner - a longtime Mom Hawkins' recipe. Thanks for coaching us through it, Mom. I also helped out by making cornbread dressing, Hawkins' style, and it was a delicious meal (with some other sides too).

On our last afternoon together we bundled up for Cameron Park and another round of bocce. (Yes, it was actually - oops, "in fact" - chilly!) While the adults played, Lillian very contentedly raced around the playground chasing other kids and Jack watched from the swing and later from his stroller.


In between throws, Jim occupied himself by picking up pecans and stuffing them in his pockets. Can you see all the pecan trees at the park?! Umm... and no, I'm not telling which team (men vs women) won the game. Let's just say that Jul has a knack at hitting other balls with her throws but that doesn't always bode well for her team.

Christmas week with the Weltys, part 1

We had a terrific week down in Waco, Texas with the Welty fam - of course seeing our niece and nephew growing and learning and being cute is the big highlight, as well as the anticipation of baby #3. On our first day in town we attended a Baylor Bears' men's basketball game. Who would've thought it but we got free tickets by bringing a church bulletin!!

Lillian recently learned the "thumbs-up" sign, which she avidly used throughout the game (when she wasn't dancing).

After the game we started in on the gingerbread house. Lillian had waited all month until we arrived so that we could do it together. She was remarkably patient with the decorating process - more than I was, I think!

Check out that look of concentration.


One morning we took a trip to Cameron Park Zoo (a must for any Waco visit). It was chilly and a bit drizzly but still worth it, especially to see the orangutan swing over and bang on the glass at Lillian. We all had a scare with that.

Good snap of a meerkat, Jim.


Meanwhile Kyle spent many hours constructing bunk beds and sending sawdust all over the driveway.

More visit with Craig & Rachel

Finally another post! We haven't been able to do any blogging of late - so even though a lot has transpired in the last 10 days I decided to do some catch-up and bring the "timeline" up to date. Right now I'm sitting in the family room at Katie and Noah Brink's new house in Memphis, after a long trip up from Waco and a wonderful Christmas week with the Weltys! Tomorrow morning the four of us will drive up to Wheaton for New Year's.

... here are a few more scenes from our week in Bloomington with the Freys (Dec 10-17). Below, strolling through 'downtown' and on the lookout for Christmas gifts.

The old courthouse is lit up at night with thousands of lights during December - unfortunately one doesn't get quite the same effect during the day but it's still a beautiful building.


The Christmas cookie marathon! While the three of us baked and frosted (and taste-tested), Jim ran around delivering the results to some of our neighbors.

Craig looks a bit slap-happy here - I think because he's eaten about a dozen cookies by now.

And what's with this face, Jul? Actually, Rachel, I think I somehow look a bit like you here. Is it the expression? What do you think?

Rachel was definitely the most patient and artistic.

On another night we had a makeshift Thanksgiving dinner, since the Freys didn't celebrate when they were in Brasil.

Oh my wonderful sister!! And the baby that is coming in two months!!

Homemade Pizza with C&R

The Frey family is quite famous for their stromboli-making and eating traditions, and Craig has prepared it for us a couple of times in the past. (Very, very tasty.) But this visit we decided to put his artistry to the test with pizza...

I helped with toppings: homemade tomato sauce, turkey sausage, fried onions, spinach, mushrooms, peppadews and artichokes.


Well done, Craig!! We polished the whole pizza off without too many difficulties.

Afterwards the climate was ripe for some rounds of 9 Hole Golf (we won't say who won on this night but it was the usual guy) and Euchre.

They really ARE here!!

Rachel and Craig have arrived back in the US after three months studying Portuguese in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil! We were very honored to be able to host them for a week soon after they landed down in this English-speaking land. It's been really good to spend time together and hear their stories and challenges from the last few months - and see baby blue growing in Rachel! (only two months to go...)

Hard to believe that exactly two years ago the four of us spent 2 weeks together in Cape Town over the Christmas holiday! At that time, Rachel was living in Uganda and Craig in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and they came to Cape Town to see us and 'figure out' their own relationship. That was also our first time meeting him. And one year ago exactly was their wedding! And now here we are.

And of course we had to take them to our new favorite restaurant, Turkuaz Cafe, for lunch. It's a little Turkish cafe across the street from where we attend church, and we also went when Katie was here - and after this our 2nd visit, the verdict is confirmed: excellent food!!!


Rachel and Craig don't have any more winter clothing, and it's been a HOT summer down in Brazil, so they were a bit shocked with our freezing temps. Fortunately we had enough fleeces and hats and jackets to share between us and stay warm.

Here's Rachel and I drinking our tea and having a garlicky red lentil soup appetizer. Yum.


And my chicken and spinach pide - delicious too.

The Nutcracker - a Christmas tradition!

This past weekend we were able to see The Nutcracker with a group of Jim's co-students in the HESA program (from 1st year to 4th year doctoral students) - what a fun way to mark the beginning of the Christmas season and the end of the semester! Every year IU performs this ballet as part of their Opera & Ballet Theater season. Read more here. Since the university has a nationally renowned music school and a ballet theater school, this was a very well done production. I also particularly enjoyed the set design - beautiful!!

Jim's 'partner' at his assistantship position, Debbie (a 2nd year student), organized the tickets and a pre-show Wine & Cheese tasting, which Desi hosted. Here's Jim with Desi, Rebecca and Malika. We had four types of wine, two types of goat cheese, Brie, two types of Gouda, bruschetta, cranberry relish, and strawberry pepper sauce.

I was the only non-student in the group, so I felt quite privileged! Here's Debbie in the middle of the ladies below. (Oops I forgot it was Glamour Night at the Ballet and didn't dress quite appropriately...oh well, they still let me in.)

And the men of the group, standing in the lobby of the auditorium. What a very fun evening! (and thanks to Debbie for sharing these photos)

More Wedding!

The beautiful newlyweds!!

These photos are all thanks to Aunt Elaine, who thankfully kept busy snapping shots on the wedding morning. Here she is with her sister (Mom G) below.

The banner suspended in front of the organ reads, "Great is thy faithfulness", which was a theme throughout the ceremony. Auntie Marge and cousin Wendy sewed it.

The twins were very well-behaved all the way through the family photos. Look at those cute little bundles.

Jul with Susie and Wendy, two Gieser cousins who were also bridesmaids. They both live in Wheaton with their families and so Katie has grown quite close with them over the past years.

Noah (center) with his older brother, Josh, and younger brother, Daniel. All three siblings live in Memphis (as do the Brink parents).

Two of the Brink nieces were flower girls (a 3rd is not pictured). They did a perfect job walking down the aisle, and aren't they cute, too? Auntie Pat made the wreaths that they are wearing.

Noah's chocolate Groom's Cake - he loves to read and discuss literature, and two of his favorite authors are CS Lewis and GK Chesterton.

And here is the wedding cake - the most delicious one we've ever had! (except ours, of course)