A Holly Jolly December

Currently, as I write this, I am on an airplane. Yes, in the air. Apparently Wifi is now on most aircrafts, which I find incredible! I hate flying, but thinking about pulling a handcart with maybe some oxen across the country to visit family adds perspective. And then, to think that I not only can board a giant mechanical bird (along with several hundred other people) and sit for several hours sipping cranberry juice while I am transported thousands of miles over rough turraine, AND I can communicate with anyone I want via mail that flows through the sky and gets to me in a matter of seconds while I am on this mechanical bird... it blows my mind. Anyway, shout out to all the tech geniuses that made these things possible.

December was a great month. It started with the arrival of Morten and Elizabeth; two unconventional and delightful Danish medical students that found themselves in need of a place to stay when their hostel fell through on the last leg of their 6 month world tour. I don't know if it was the small quarters of our apartment that made us all get tight so quickly, but their visit lives on as one of the highlights of recent months. We will never forget them! Such great people. Check out their blog to see some serious adventures:

making the danish dessert that Elizabeth's family makes



And Dustin, as usual when we have guests, decided to pull out his power tools



The completion of the danish dessert

The gingerbread making competition with our primary class was another highlight of the month (Morten and Elizabeth also joined in):

L-R: Dustin, Ali, Amelia, Jack, Teddy

One sweet gingerbread house

Jack and Connor attempting, for the three thousandth time that morning, to shoot the girl primary teacher

 Boys don't change much

And finally, the Christmas tree lighting on Park Avenue, followed by a delightful party for the birthday of our good friend, Julie. It was wonderful singing Christmas songs with the Upper East Side community. I really love that event; it's one of the few times in the year that I really feel togetherness with my neighbors.

Then Morten and Elizabeth left, one dreary monday morning. We will mess them, and anticipate either their return, or our pilgrimage to Denmark.

look at all that gear!

The rest of December was consumed by finals, work, and a mad scurrying to acquire presents and pack for our trip back home to Dustin's family in Washington. Christmas with the Kasteler-Boothe clan was awesome!!!! More on that and New Years in the coming entry. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!