Wine Tasting

Yesterday, Dad took Guy and I to a few wineries near my parents' home to do a little wine tasting. ( One of my favorite things to do in the whole world.) and...it was without kids.:) It is really unbelievable to me how many different flavors and aromas you can smell in just one glass of wine. I guess I need to keep on drinking wine so I can really taste everything there is....I will just need someone to come and peel me off the floor!! :)

Cirque

Tuesday was Jeremy's first grown up time out with the adults. Grandma, Grandpa, Guy and myself took Jeremy out to a grown up dinner and then to Cirque de Soleil. He was so excited that he was able to go and his baby sister had to stay home because she was too little. He acted so grown up at dinner and then, loved the cirque show. He was so excited by all the performances that he literally fell off of his chair. It was too cute!:)

San Francisco

On Monday, Guy and I decided that it would be nice to have a little time away from the kids, so we decided to go to San Francisco. My parents watched the kids while we went out for the day. Guy is always so good about researching everything before we go anywhere, and he already had an itinerary all ready for where we should go in San Francisco. We spent the day riding the cable car and then walking around through China town. We ate at a really nice Chinese restaurant, and I think the best part about it was that there was no squealing or whining at the table about who was done or who had something the other one didn't have. It was a really nice day we had together.:)

Christmas

Christmas morning was so fun. The kids woke up and saw that Santa had made his delivery overnight. He had brought them a wooden rocking horse, remote control train, dolls, dress-up clothes, and even more that I can't remember right now. It was really fun having Christmas at my parents along with my brother, Greg. Grandma and Grandpa went overboard with presents for the kids. It took Elizabeth about 7 hours ( no exaggeration) to finish opening all of her presents...since she got tired and had to take a nap in the middle of opening all of her presents. Jeremy was really cute this year. He kept going under the tree looking for his name on gifts and passing out presents to everyone by looking at the first letter of the name on the gift tags.:) After opening gifts, we went out in Mom and Dad's hot tub. We drank wine and had a really good time enjoying the day. It is so amazing that we had been in the snow and ice of Paris, France and Chicago, Illinois only a few days before and now we were in sunny California.:)

Merry Christmas...a little late!!

Hi to everyone!! We made it out to California on Thursday, December 24. We weren't sure that we would make it out here from Chicago since there was a huge snowstorm. We were delayed in Chicago on the 23rd...we were supposed to fly out at 6 p.m. and didn't leave until 9:30 p.m. which meant that we missed our connection in Dallas and had to stay overnight in a very tired hotel there. We didn't get to the hotel until about 1 a.m. and then had to be up at 5 a.m. to get on our 7:30 a.m. flight to Oakland. We did make it...but we were very tired. We finally arrived at my parents home in Livermore,CA at about 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve morning. Jeremy was a great traveler as always...and as always Elizabeth left a lot to be desired...but we all made it in barley one piece!!! It was very nice to spend Christmas eve with my parents. We went to Christmas Eve mass at Saint Michael's and then came home and peeked into our stockings.:) Before we went to bed, we left out some cookies for Santa and a key on the front door for him just in case he ate too many cookies and couldn't fit through the chimney.:)

Arriving in Chicago

On Saturday, December 19, we said goodbye to Paris and got on another plane to come into Chicago. Guy and I were dreading the flight with Elizabeth...it was about 6 hours on a plane with her. This time, though, the flight was not an overnight one...so it didn't seem as bad. Elizabeth was passed between guy and myself, and the flight went okay. I don't know how I am going to manage two long flights alone with the kids...but I know somehow I will get through. Thank goodness for the wine they give you on the plane!!:) ha ha Anyway, we landed in Chicago at about 3 p.m. which was 10 p.m. for us. Guy's dad picked us up and took us home. on the way, we had to pick up Zippy's Cheezy beef sandwiches...guy loves those!!:) We ate at about 4 and we were all ready to go to bed at about 7 p.m. which was 2 a.m. for us. we slept pretty well and I think we were adjusted for the most part by Sunday.:) The kids love to see their Uncle Robert, aunt Rachel and Grandma and Grandpa.:) we had Christmas with everyone last night. The kids loved opening all their gifts.:)

Second Day in Paris

After we were able to get a good night's sleep, we were ready to go out again into Paris for the day. Guy had found a boat tour we could take along the Seine river so we could see more of Paris. It was so cold that day, the snow had fallen the day before and the wind was starting to whip around. Elizabeth would let our her two cents when she was getting cold, but Jeremy just kept on picking up snow and carrying it around with him. He was fascinated by it.:) We took a short boat cruise and then went to Jeremy's favorite spot...McDonald's and got some chicken nuggets. We sat across the table from two French men. The restaurant was so crowded you couldn't even get a table by yourself. So, Guy, Elizabeth, Jeremy and me sat on one side of a booth and faced two French guys while we ate our lunch. I have to say the quarter pounder with cheese tasted pretty darn good.:) That night, we took the metro and went to Notre Dame cathedral to see the Christmas tree outside of it. It was so pretty with the lights on the cathedral and the tree lit up. But, I didn't see the hunchback...maybe next time!:) ha ha

First day in Paris

The overnight flight from Lagos to Paris can be seen two ways. if you riding next to Jeremy, it was very enjoyable. he got on the plane and played his video game and watched a movie, had a snack and then went to sleep. Very easy and very low key. However, if you were riding on the plane next to Elizabeth, it was quite a different story. She was up the whole night crying and the crying was only silenced for a few minutes here and there with intermittent periods of sleep. Guy was up with her all night long on the plane. She didn't want to be held while Guy was sitting, she only wanted to be held while guy was standing and pacing up and down the aisles of the plane....ugh!! But, we made it...and landed in Paris in the middle of a snow storm. The first words out of Jeremy's mouth were ," awesome...SNOW!!!!!" We were lucky enough to be able to check in to our cozy little hotel early and have a great breakfast, then, we headed out on a walk to the Eiffel Tower. Jeremy kept picking up snow and just walking around with it..too funny! It was so pretty to see it in the snow...and the evergreens in the park near the Eiffel tower were just covered a little bit with snow. That night, we went back to the Eiffel tower to see the light show which happens every hour. Jeremy still thinks that Guy made the Eiffel tower sparkle just for him. :)

Going Home for Christmas!

Today, we are heading out of Lagos to start our holiday trip. We are going to Paris for two nights before flying into Chicago and then on to California. I will try to update the blog as often as I can. The kids and I will be out of Lagos until Jan. 16. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!:)

Jeremy's first ride on his new bike!

Here is Jeremy riding his new bike for the first time. He and Guy went for a ride around the compound together after we had our early Christmas.:) As soon as he got on that bike, he looked so much more grown up to me. Where is the time going???

It's Beginning to look Alot like Christmas!

Ahhhh...the temperature outside is about 90 degrees with about 200% humidity. The harmattan is coming in a little bit thicker....it can only mean one thing. Christmas is fast approaching! Jeremy has been keeping track of how many days it is until Christmas with his Advent calendar. Elizabeth is always a willing participant in checking the advent calendar, but really only wants the chocolate inside.:) Yesterday, we were supposed to go to Jeremy's final soccer game of the season, but it rained, and the game was cancelled. He was pretty down about not going to his last game because he had his heart set on getting his trophy. So, Santa decided to come to our house yesterday instead of today (like he had originally planned). The kids had a great time opening various presents we had brought with us from the States and from Amsterdam while we were there in September. Santa made his extra special delivery to Jeremy and Elizabeth: a big boy bike for Jeremy and an American Girl doll for Elizabeth. It was really fun this year, because both of the kids are really into opening the presents and seeing what is inside. On Wednesday, we begin our trip back to the states to see our families and friends for Christmas. Christmas in Lagos is okay, but there is nothing like being at home with our friends and family at Christmastime.:)