Christmas with the Kirk Family

Here are some pictures of the last two weeks. Not in order - sorry about that but my time is getting short and I KNOW you like pictures.

Here we are in Copenhagen by the palace.



We are all bundled up - but it isn't as cold as SLC! We can spot Meghan a mile away in her new yellow coat.


Taylore is feeling no pain in her new coat.



My little eskimo! She was cold the whole!!!! time.



Christmas Eve - clam chowder and musical crackers, what more can we ask for.



Jeff got a hand knitted hat and scarf that matched his sweater from last year. Thanks Sheila! I got a hand knitted sweater myself this year. Sheila's been busy.





Who me?


The Little Mermaid statue, our guide told us that it is common in the summer to undress and take your picture by her. Maybe we are glad it was a little nippy.



This was a beautiful church with the original Christus. You can see this same statue at the SLC Temple Visitors Center. But the church was light, airy and beautiful.




She's gone a bit cuckoo on us -- what can I say?

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

MERRY CHRISTMAS - WE'LL GET BACK TO BLOGGING SHORTLY!

TidBits!

1. Andrea is now a blogger! She can be found at: http://londonmaytte.blogspot.com/
Come by and check out Anny's life!

2. For those of you who know Sean Harvey (Iowa born and bred) he is going to Warsaw, Poland on his mission in February.

3. Meg and Daniel will be here in 4 days - can't wait.

4. Kathy left this morning - boo hoo.

5. It was Deon's Birthday last week - Happy Birthday.

6. I hurt my back on Tuesday and I'm getting around v e r y --- s l o w l y!

I'll take some pictures when I'm back on my feet. As they say in Merry Ole England: Happy Christmas...

The Down Side of Ex-Pat Life

From the time I was a little girl I wanted to travel the world and not only visit but live in different places, get to know different cultures and meet new people. Somehow that dream happened for me - and I'll be forever grateful for the experiences that I have had. They have changed the way I see life and help me understand the world I live in a little bit better.

There are two things about our lifestyle that have been difficult for me. The first is being away from my family for such extended periods of time. I have really missed being around for birthdays, basketball games and just interacting with family on a daily basis. It has been hard for me and something I think about often.

Which brings me to the second thing I hate about expat life. I think because we expats are so far away from family the friends we cultivate become a second family to us. We depend on each other, we spend holidays together and we build fast, strong relationships. Some of those friendships are carried on through the years and some just fulfill a need for the moment. But it's always hard when it's time to part ways. It is hard being the one left behind and it is just as difficult when it is time for us to go and leave behind wonderful friends and neighbors.

Such is the case with my friend Kathy (on the right). She is leaving on Saturday for Hong Kong. They will be there for a few years while they get the new hotel opened in Macao. London was her first expat experience and she has been a real trooper. I've seen many an expat come and go in my time and I will tell you it is difficult - especially the first time away from home. But Kathy has had a wonderful experience here in London and she will be missed - by a lot of people but especially by me! I hate to see her go and I'm really going to miss her. I hope ours is a friendship that will carry on throughout the years. Watch out Hong Kong - here she comes!

Bon Voyage Kathy and keep in touch. Maybe Meghan and I will make a quick pre-wedding visit to Hong Kong!

The Office Christmas Party

Last year they asked me to come up with an idea for the Christmas Party for the executive team at the Marriott. Why me you ask? Good question. I'm not a drinker so I don't know where to go for that and I'm not really a partier in the true Marriott sense so I'm not really sure where to go for that - but I do like to get together with friends and have a good time. My choice last year was to go to the Royal Albert Hall, have dinner and then attend a performance of Cirque de Soleil. Everyone had a great time (although there were a few complaints about the 'drinking' situation). But it must not have been all bad as once again Jeff (that was what happened last year also) was asked to head up the Christmas party team again this year. That particular assignment was not delegated to me this year but I was in on the secret. So last Wednesday we were picked up at the Marriott by drivers who knew our destination and passengers who did not. There was a little uneasiness going around - especially since dressing up was not required and Jeff (the teetotaler) was in charge. We headed over across the Thames and found ourselves in a beautifully decked kitchen with 3 chefs who were going to help us prepare our own Italian meal - from S C R A T C H !!!! The menu included 2 different kinds of pasta, a chicken dish, squach wrapped in pancetta, roasted potatoes, a chocolate log and orange something or other. The wine was free flowing so no one felt too cheated on that front and we ended up having a great time, cooking, talking, laughing and EATING. The pasta was amazing, especially the spicy, tomatoey based one. And I learned how to make the rolled chicken with sage, pancetta and parmesan cheese. I'll make some for you next time we get together. It was a great evening and a nice change from the usual. Bravo Jeff and Marianne.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOPER!

One of my favorite nephews is turning 3 years old TODAY! Happy Birthday Cooper. Hope you have a fantastic day with all your grandparents around to pay attention to you. Wish we were there. Eat a piece of cake for me! It is now yesterday because things weren't working here - Sorry - pictures wouldn't download.

Andrea - 14 Years Old and Going Strong!

Every birthday in this house starts with breakfast in bed. This morning cinnamon toast x 2 was the request and it came with a healthy dose of green apples.
After church we had the Wilcox family and Maddy over for dinner of - what else? spaghetti and more spaghetti.
Andrea blew out the candles and made a wish...
It was a nice day - but the party really starts on Friday when she has her friends over for a sleepover/iceskating/movie/giggling night.

Part II - Canterbury Tales

Taylore was fabulous. Her voice projected, she remembered her lines, she stayed in character - it was wonderful. It was a comedy and we all laughed hysterically. They did all the famous stories and we had a great time. I realized later last night that the clips I took of Tay were still on my camera but I can't get them to load on my computer. I'm going to try once more today on the other computer and see if that works. But, believe me when I say she was GREAT! She will be posting her comedic version sometime this weekend. There is another performance today and then she is going to CRASH. She will have time to post later on today or tomorrow.

I'm Such a Failure!

Tonight was the big event. We've been waiting and planning and working and tonight was the night! I had my camera fully charged - ready, in my hand. I'd tested it out, figured out how to use the video. And...da da da da for some reason I got a video of everyone but Taylore. How that happened I can't even begin to figure out. I'm going back to the drawing board and to the play - tomorrow at 2:00.

Then, I offered to make some pumpkin bread for a friend who is in over her head, totally stressed, etc. The first batch that I started was at 11:00 p.m. and I just took it out of the oven, tried to take it out of the bundt pan and voila! half of it stuck to the pan. I have NO more time. I'm making one more batch right now - it is 12:00 midnight, and then I'm going to call it a night.

I've rented a car to take Tay to school and make one more trip to Costco tomorrow while I'm there. I'm trying this time with just me and 'Tom Tom.'

Andrea's B-day is on Sunday and we are having people over for dinner. What was I thinking - I think I am in over my head, stressed, etc. Who can make this D##$ pumpkin bread?

BTW I did get a picture of the scenery of the play - will that do for now???

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, CAROLE, AND GRANDMA!

Happy Birthday Mom! Thanks for being such a great mom, friend, listener (Meg's blog), example, and great person. We are thinking of you today. I loved what Meghan said and it really hit home. I remember all the times I've called you from wherever I was and you would listen to me. I can and do talk to you about everything (except politics!) Have a wonderful day - do something you may not usually do. Why not! That restaurant is just waiting for you up in Midway and you could try EVERYTHING! We love and miss you.

Stay Home!

Today I'm going to stay home - NO. MATTER. WHAT. I have to pull out all the Christmas paraphernalia and put it up TODAY. Some of my favorite things that I've collected both here and in Germany are residing in this house so I get to use it this year. I love the advent calendars - but they need to be up by Saturday. So today I'll stay home. I was going to do it yesterday but then a friend called... We went to ASDA (which is WalMart in US speak) and I picked up several poinsettia plants for 1.87 (pounds) which is a bargain! I was so excited. So I have the decorations, I have the plants, I have all the stuff to bake - I just need to STAY HOME and do it. Today is the day... Posting pictures later.

One More Time and I'm DONE!

I had to make a turkey - my own turkey with that incredible gravy that only comes with a REAL turkey. So I did! The gravy was marvelous and now I'm DONE. I'm full of turkey and everything that goes with it and I don't want to see another one for at least 3 months. We'll have to have something else for Christmas.

Our guests left this morning at 9:00 am and we are going to miss them. Although 2 of them will be back in 2 weeks on their way home from Syria. Until then...

We put up our puny little tree and it looks great considering it is a puny little thing. But it does have to fit it a puny little space so it all works out. Andrea put on most of the decor and tomorrow I will try to find time to get out the rest of the December fancifoo!

Tay's play is on Friday. She's going to be a riot. Check out her blog - I sent you the address. I'll get some pictures. Maybe I need a video camera???

Andrea's b-ball career starts up again this week. She is excited and ready to go. That's us in a nutshell this week.

Thanksgiving at the BBQ Joint

This was the group - a reunion of Floridians at the BBQ joint in the middle of London for a down home Thanksgiving Dinner. This was a site unseen endeavor. Having only heard of this place from my Seminary students and the fact that it was the cheapest (19 pounds = 45 dollars) place around so we decided to take a chance.



Taylore is perfecting her drawing at the end of the table.



Mother and son enjoying the day.



Meghan - check out this haircut on Scott. I did it! Actually it was probably a combined effort by Deon and I.




The L o o o o o n g View.



This was ALMOST the funniest thing of the day. I'm trying to help you understand the size of our Thanksgiving plates by putting it next to a regular sized piece of paper. Now that was just shocking. We usually get out our BIGGEST plates for this day.



Here's Curtis in his awesome cowboy hat picking the turkey out of his teeth.



We are on our way to the theatre - the boys are taking a little snooze so they can stay awake!



After the theatre Jack got a chance to save a comotose drunk on the bus. That meant that we didn't get home until 12;30 or so. It's a long story. But when he was talking to the hospital he said, "he is arousable and responds to stimuli," a man yelled from the bus, "I hope arousable means something different in your language..." Well it was funny at the time.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. So let it be. -Scottish Blessing

Wishing you all the very best this Thanksgiving Day and wherever you are and whatever you are doing, stop for a moment and be Thankful. We love you!

Jeff and His Meetings

Jeff and his meetings. They are often and productive. He makes a difference. We LOVE him!

Thanksgiving Week

We have a family of 7 coming to stay with us this week to help us celebrate our American roots! I will post pictures this week as time permits. We are going to a play or two, Canterbury, and are making a trip to Birmingham which boasts the best "German Christmas Market" outside of Germany. Because there are so many of us this year for Thanksgiving (there is another family here from Florida also) we are going to a restaurant for dinner on Thursday afternoon. Jeff kind of bawked at this idea but I promised him is own little turkey for leftovers. I really miss having room for big get togethers. But we'll make do! I better go change those sheets!

How'd you do that...?

I just came across these photos on my computer. I think it is safe to say that Photo Booth is the favorite program on my computer for the 'kids.'

Can you pick out who is who?