merry christmas

While the kitchen is being remodeled we are again making use of our basement apartment. Mike spent all day Tuesday down there, making pierogis, tabbouleh and shepherd's pie. We invited the Boehms over for our annual Christmas Eve shepherd's dinner. Nothing fancy or polished, but like the shepherds on those dry plains of Bethlehem, we were humble and unpolished. But our friends didn't mind the unmatched dinnerware, the dust from construction, or the lack of adequate seating. The food was good and the company was better. Dana made a delicious red velvet trifle which I think we should adopt as a Christmas Eve tradition from here on out. I think I had three helpings...

Mayumi has barely left Sandra's side since she and Chris arrived. They also brought their little cat, Nozumi, who has charmed us all with her sweet ways. I was tempted to surprise the kids with a cat of their own on Christmas morning, but perhaps that will have to wait another year or two.
Mayumi left some tabbouleh and other snacks for Santa. Then on Christmas morning she was delighted to discover a note penned by the jolly old elf in return, as well as her stocking. After she doled out the goods that were in everyone's stocking (which included books, oranges, and beanie birds), we had breakfast and then gathered round the tree to open the rest of the presents.

 For some afternoon entertainment Chris insisted on doing some blind taste tests. First we tried to differentiate between four different dark chocolates: Dove, Hersheys, Godiva, and Equal Exchange. I was 50/50 and Mike was 100%. The cola challenge was a bit more tricky. I cannot tell the difference between Coke, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi but I do know that I don't really care for any of them.

 Dinner was a roast chicken and I also made a couple apple pies. We brought one with us to the Howell's home for a Christmas Day party. I found myself on the couch in the kitchen chatting with some of my favorite girl friends and feeling quite merry and festive and grateful to have an amazing ward family.

 In the days following Christmas we tried to take it easy and squeeze in a few fun activities along with the chores and clean-up. Ice-skating was at the top of Mayumi's list so we watched while Mike and Maya did laps at Canal Park.

 Later that evening we drove up to the temple to see the lights.

And now here we are on Friday evening. It is hard to believe that a week has gone by and Chris and Tia Sandra leave tomorrow morning. For dinner this evening they treated us to dinner at Sakuramen. We picked up some empanadas at a bakery across the street in Adams Morgan. It has been a lovely, magical time. I wish they could stay with us longer, but we are looking forward to seeing them soon, especially when their little boy is born this spring! How exciting to be adding on to the family. My dear friend MaurLo just gave birth to her fifth child (a sweet baby boy) and I think Christmas is such a wonderful and appropriate time to celebrate the arrival of a little baby. I'm so excited for Chris and I look forward to watching him become a father. Babies are such magical creatures and I am so grateful for the three that I have been blessed with. Each is so special and unique but all together they are the most fascinating, amazing creatures. It fills my heart to see them playing together and depending on each other. It is encouraging to see how the world progresses like this, with each generation building on the previous one. I'm happy that my own sweet children will get a new cousin soon; the so dearly love the ones they already have and look forward to adding another to the fold. It has been a happy Christmas with all of us together...

warmth (in my heart and outside too)

Running errands with these three little munchkins, who are thrilled to have lunch and then play in the cafeteria at IKEA...

Mayumi was pretending to be a turtle.

 Then the weekend was unseasonably warm so we found ourselves outside for a walk/bike ride to Watkins playground. Which was tons more fun than hanging around the house watching the contractors install our cabinets.

For days, if not weeks, Mayumi has been talking about how excited she is that Uncle Chris and Tia Sandra are coming to spend Christmas with us... and they are finally here! The house is still in renovation upheaval and we are hardly ready for Christmas, but we are happy to have them. More fun to come.

recently in the qualter household...

As I sit here waiting for perpetually late contractors to show up and install those kitchen cabinets I will attempt to encapsulate what has been going on here in the past few days.

Mayumi painted a biblical picture (Daniel in the lions' den) à la Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel; I taped some paper to the underside of the piano bench so she could experience what it might have been like for Michelangelo to paint his masterpiece on the chapel ceiling. She noted that paint (we used watercolor) kept dripping on her face and we guessed that Michelangelo may have had that problem as well. She loved it!

As I've been emptying out the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen to prepare for their removal, the boys have found a new place to play. It is not the safest play, to be sure, but so alluring!

Our little Advent tree is a rosemary bush from Trader Joe's. I will now always associate the smell of rosemary with Christmas...

Mayumi is always presenting us with booklets, letters, and pictures that are so full of love and and spirit. This girl is such a treasure!

And the boys? They certainly keep me on my toes. If you were a fly on the wall you would see me constantly being interrupted in whatever I'm doing (washing dishes, making dinner, folding laundry, wrapping gifts, checking email...) to plop down on the floor and comfort one or both of them, whether it be from a bonked head, hurt feelings, hunger, poopy diapers.... I don't know, whatever it is that upsets a 14 month old. But their little antics absolutely melt my heart, despite the constant frustrations! They are so honest and vulnerable and tender; I am in awe of their pure little hearts.

On a recent self-assessment at school Mayumi indicated that she wants to work more on math. I don't think this is because she struggles with it, but because she absolutely loves it. She especially enjoys sitting with Mike and working on word problems or adding large numbers (carry-over addition). She has the lucky disposition of being fluent in both letters and numbers!

Holiday cards are in the mail. Soon our friends and family will be receiving this in their mailboxes:

Last night we were able to keep up our annual tradition of attending the Tuba Christmas concert at the Kennedy Center. After getting Mayumi from the bus stop I picked up Thai takeout, drove to the Kennedy Center through rush hour holiday traffic and then paid a whopping $22 for parking in the garage. Though we were there an hour early we were still sitting halfway back, by the head of JFK (as usual). It was dinner time and the kids were all grumpy, whiny and restless. Mike wasn't there yet and I attempted to feed my children there on the floor of the KC lobby. Dinner is always challenging, even when my kids are strapped into their seats. Imagine how it was with them running wild... fried rice everywhere! Me constantly trying to prevent them from wiping their sticky hands on the crowds of people who were sitting around us! I was determined to handle this with grace and aplomb but the entire time I kept cursing myself for thinking this was ever a good idea (and for getting fried rice instead of sandwiches). I was so close to just packing everyone up and heading home but then Mike finally arrived. We managed to make it through the hour-long performance but it was not easy. I'm sure the people around us were not fans of our family. I tried to pick up every single grain of rice from off the floor but, well, you know: That didn't happen. Next year Mike says we'll just hire a babysitter and come by ourselves...
Jingle Bells played by tubas almost made it all worth it.
Almost.

searching for some Christmas-y goodness

Note to self: Never ever have rehearsals, performances and renovations scheduled during the holiday season. Besides the crazy, stressful schedule, on top of that we've had a revolving door of sickness in our family. I've felt frustrated that we haven't had the time or energy to focus on the joy and peace of this season - it hasn't felt much like Christmas. To add to that, I've also been struggling with feelings of regret and doubt over both significant and inconsequential things; were white cabinets the right thing to order (such a huge investment we are making!)? Should Mayumi be in school (I miss her so much, we have so little time together as a family and she is so exhausted when she gets home)? Did I wean the boys too early (it has been weeks since I last nursed them and sometimes I feel as though they still need it. And I've been feeling the symptoms of endometriosis return and it is excruciating and terrifying.)? 

There have been moments when I have felt utterly overwhelmed. And then I feel guilty because I think what right have I to feel overwhelmed? My life is so rich and blessed - these are not truly difficult trials, but the frustrations that come with having abundance...

Breathe. Re-center. Re-focus.

There have been some magical moments, despite the mental chaos. Earlier this year Baba sent us these charming Dutch klompen for our St. Nicholas celebrations. Mayumi was so excited to leave them out on the eve of St. Nicholas day. Sure enough, the following morning she discovered that they were filled with treats: some chocolate coins, an orange, a book, and a St. Nick figurine. While she had to hurry off to school, because it was a Friday she got out a little bit earlier and we were able to have some friends over to help us make St. Nicholas bread (Swiss Grittibänz). It is such a lovely recipe, with orange rind and eggs, from our book The Real St. Nicholas. 

We've been trying to keep up with our Advent tradition, but the truth is we haven't been able to do all the activities and devotionals that were planned. We hang our designated ornament on our mini rosemary tree every day and if we get the chance we talk about it's symbolism and relation to Christmas. Thankfully, dear Aunt Anne (Nana's sister-in-law) sent along her annual gift of individually wrapped advent treats for each of the kids, so Mayumi has been having fun opening hers (and the boys') every morning. The gifts have been so thoughtful - winter socks, mini-body wash gel, ornaments, sippy cups, etc. The kindness and thoughtfulness of others is always a balm...

One thing I have been able to accomplish is sending out our holiday (post)cards. I adore receiving cards from others; we tape them to the fridge for a veritable photographic mural of friendly, loving faces throughout the season. I hope our cards convey the love and goodwill we have for the special people in our lives.

We've all been struggling with colds and coughs and all sorts of seasonal ailments. Currently both boys are goopy-nosed and coughing, which translates to a rougher night's sleep for all of us. Fortunately, during the day they are mostly good natured and find themselves in all sorts of mischief. The light dusting of snow we had was a magical event, though the boys seemed to enjoy watching it more from the inside than being outside in it. While Mayumi adores playing in the snow (and visiting with the neighbors), the boys (for now) seem to have inherited their mama's aversion to the cold.

Last night Mike took Mayumi for a surprise outing to Santa's Workshop at the National Tree display by the White House. He reported that she had eyes filled with wonder and glee and is thoroughly convinced that she was speaking with the REAL Santa Claus. We fully encourage that sense of wonder, playfulness, and hope!

In other news, the show I was working on (Toast) closed this past Sunday (YEA!). Toast was a workshop performance that is about innovation and collaboration. We created a pseudo "summit" where audience members played the part of conference attendees to The Open-Sourced Aspirational Summit for Thinkerman (TOAST). Dr. Thinkerman is a fictional scientist with a penchant for inventing and improving household appliances. Upon his death he leaves a charge for four of his friends to organize a summit with the purpose of creating the next-generation toaster (the one appliance that stymied him). I play Joey, the punk-inspired owner of the coffee and tea bar bRude Awakenings that Thinkerman frequented.  It is a fun role and a little bit of a stretch for me (requiring black nail polish and very dark, goth-style eye make-up), which is nice. As with most of dog & pony dc's shows, it is a fun, casual, audience-integrated event. I love working with this amazing group of artists, but I am so grateful that this workshop performance is over (workshop meaning that it is a work-in-progress what we are testing with an audience before continuing to develop it into a full production scheduled to debut in the fall of 2014).
Mayumi's last day of school before Christmas break is on Thursday (coinciding with delivery and installation of the wretched cabinets!) so I look forward to finding some more Christmas-y moments with this dear little family of mine.