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.