Pasta-bilities

Charlie came to visit for a few days, and one of those days we made homemdae tortelini. A good time was certainly had by all. Ah, winter break fun!

Games with Friends

Dinner with friends is good. Dinner with friends on a regular basis is better. Dinner with friends you have known for pretty much the entire time you've lived in C'ville is wicked jesus better. And playing games (in this case, Ransom Notes) after dinner? The best. Love you guys!

My Home is You

While there are no pics of me and Z, let's just say EVERYONE is happy to have them home for the next 5 or 6 weeks. They are having a fab time at Oberlin, learning and growing a lot (academically and otherwise) but nothing feels so good as to be able to snuggle both kiddos. And Z and A have gotten much closer since Z left. The sister love is strong.

Solstice Merriment

We've been celebrating Chanukah as a family since we've been one, but we've (mostly Wes) been working on some solstice rituals as well. At this point we've got a giant bonfire, smores, damper, a killer playlist, lots of good friends and the ever important yule log, held here by Zara, where we write down what we'd like to leave behind (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, etc) and also what we want to bring forward into the new year. Each year we build upon our previous year's tradition and add in a little something more - as we should.

Drink your Gin and Tonica... here comes Chanukah

So, like last year was a year of many lasts, we've now circled back around to some firsts. In this case, it was our first Chanukah without Zara here the entire time. Like both kids have missed a night or 2 here or there, or we've all been travelling and MacGyver'd a night in a hotel room, or we've lit the menorah at my parents' house, but this was different. Zara did have 8 nights of presents queued up for them that we left with them over Thanksgiving, and their own menorah which they nearly had confiscated by campus security, but yeah, it's the new normal now. At least this year, when Chanukah was pretty early. I think next year it overlaps with Christmas through New Years, so we'll get to enjoy their company once again. But in the meantime, Ansel was over for not 1 but 2 nights, and I got to finally wear Amity's festive and cozy hat. Chag sameach, ya'll.