What a lovely Christmas we have had this year. December was busy in preparation for Christmas from the get go.
GeeGee (Nancy) arrived on the 22nd and the girls were thrilled. Once she had unloaded, slept, and settled, we made cookies, enjoyed a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner, and a fun-filled Christmas morning/day (we opened Santa's gifts, Nana/Papa gifts, and a few from mommy and daddy). We also went ice skating that day, something Aberly had been dying to try for a long time. She found out it wasn't as easy as it looked.
Despite leaving on the 24th, with travel time and time zones, Connor arrived late on Christmas night and so we had another fun-filled "2nd Christmas morning" with presents to all of us from Connor, GeeGee, Kevin and Chrystal, and Papa Skip and Angie. Connor was so gracious to pack over their gifts with him. Everyone was so generous this year and we all felt so blessed and loved by their heartfelt and thoughtful gifts. GeeGee put together a fantastic 2nd Christmas dinner and set a beautiful table (which I have no photos of!).
With Connor here, we got out to show him the sights as well. We had lots of fun touring around the city, eating out, and getting outside the city for some adventures.
Aberly and I also had a super fun and fancy mommy-daughter adventure (her last Christmas gift) by going to see "Broadway on Ice" at the Muscat Opera house. It was an amazing show with a small ice rink on the stage (mini Zamboni during intermission!), some live singing, beautiful costumes, and lots of beautiful ice skating.
Tomorrow, we head to Sri Lanka with Nancy for our Christmas vacation, which we are super excited for.
It makes me think, as I sit here on New Year's Eve, how lucky we are to have the opportunities we have had by living in Oman. This past year (and the years before) has brought new friends, new experiences, new life/world perspectives, challenges (good ones) to our ways of thinking, and new opportunities to us as a family and individuals. A lot has changed for us and we look forward to finishing our 2014/2015 school year here before moving back to Bend.
There is so much we'll miss by moving away, but we know that there will be a lot of new adventures for our family back in Oregon, as well as being close to family and dear friends again. It's bittersweet, but we know we are making the right decision for ourselves at this point in our lives. Who knows, we may end up overseas again (which we would be up for!) but we hope it's in a new capacity with Colin in some type of writing or outdoorsy career. Our lovely HS principal (the one who hired Colin when he was the MS principal) told us he gives us "one or two years" before we are back overseas. We shall see if he is correct!
Happy New Year to all of you and I hope your year has brought you new challenges, new opportunities, and new perspectives as well!
EC Christmas Concert. Adorable.
The Rauk's entertaining Ugly Sweater Party.
Decorating our very faux Christmas tree.
It may be fake, but I love it and our ornaments, Mom! Sadly (or luckily) they know no different!
Yup, still filled with Christmas joy!
The annual school Christmas party. Fake snow for the event and lots of craft/activity tables.
The annual Staff Christmas brunch. A visit from Santa, carols, cookies, a movie, and lots of fun!
Besides the Ugly Sweater party, we enjoyed a couple other adults only Christmas parties this year and loved spending time with friends (one of the parties was hosted by this fantastic couple and dear friends, Hannah and Eric, that is why they get the feature photo).
A evening exchanging gifts with Eunice before she left to have Christmas with her family in Tanzania.
Christmas photo time, girls! Yeah, that'll do.
Finally, Christmas break arrived and we looked forward to the main event!
Despite leaving on the 24th, with travel time and time zones, Connor arrived late on Christmas night and so we had another fun-filled "2nd Christmas morning" with presents to all of us from Connor, GeeGee, Kevin and Chrystal, and Papa Skip and Angie. Connor was so gracious to pack over their gifts with him. Everyone was so generous this year and we all felt so blessed and loved by their heartfelt and thoughtful gifts. GeeGee put together a fantastic 2nd Christmas dinner and set a beautiful table (which I have no photos of!).
With Connor here, we got out to show him the sights as well. We had lots of fun touring around the city, eating out, and getting outside the city for some adventures.
Tomorrow, we head to Sri Lanka with Nancy for our Christmas vacation, which we are super excited for.
It makes me think, as I sit here on New Year's Eve, how lucky we are to have the opportunities we have had by living in Oman. This past year (and the years before) has brought new friends, new experiences, new life/world perspectives, challenges (good ones) to our ways of thinking, and new opportunities to us as a family and individuals. A lot has changed for us and we look forward to finishing our 2014/2015 school year here before moving back to Bend.
There is so much we'll miss by moving away, but we know that there will be a lot of new adventures for our family back in Oregon, as well as being close to family and dear friends again. It's bittersweet, but we know we are making the right decision for ourselves at this point in our lives. Who knows, we may end up overseas again (which we would be up for!) but we hope it's in a new capacity with Colin in some type of writing or outdoorsy career. Our lovely HS principal (the one who hired Colin when he was the MS principal) told us he gives us "one or two years" before we are back overseas. We shall see if he is correct!
Happy New Year to all of you and I hope your year has brought you new challenges, new opportunities, and new perspectives as well!
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