This year, instead of packing and buying and running around saying good bye to everyone, we built Gingerbread houses and got to see Santa at TAC (Tokyo American Club). We bought most of our Christmas gifts over the summer and brought them back here, and so we had very little shopping/buying to do, which was very weird. We did bring most of our Christmas decorations, so we decorated our place just like we always have (minus the outdoor part, which I am sure Scott was THRILLED about!).
We had some friends over to make cookies, watched taped Christmas shows (thank you Slingbox and the Sobell's!), and packed for our trip to Bali.
Girls with Marley and Will Graham making cookies
We returned from Bali late night on the 23rd, and spent the 24th getting ready for Christmas- cookie baking, last minute present wrapping...and 4pm Christmas Vigil mass at The Franciscan Chapel Center (FCC), our Catholic Church here. We went to mass, and then out to dinner at the Outback steakhouse. Came home and got ready for bed...after which I started having some really bad stomach cramps. These continued throughout the night, and got very bad on Christmas, later in the day. I was fortunate though, that I was able to enjoy Christmas morning with the girls, watch everyone open gifts and open my own as well. We had plans with our friends and neighbors Nick and Pam Johnson, and their kiddos, Chris, Michael and Sam, and our friends the Graham's, Ken, Kim, Marley and Will. Everyone pitched in and brought part of the meal, and it was a fantastic night...we learned about a few English Christmas traditions- Figi pudding, as well as doing Crackers at the table (crackers are these things you pull and out pops candy!). I ended up having to leave, as I couldn't take the pain anymore and had to head home. I spent the next 5 days in the bathroom, with severe cramps and other issues, and when I wasn't there, I was laying on the couch sleeping or curled up in a ball. Poor Scott had to play Mr. Mom and caregiver for 1/2 of his holiday vacation, and even had to work from home 1 1/2 days because I couldn't get off the couch. I finally went to see Dr. Joe, where he concluded I ate or drank something bad in Bali, and had a bacterial infection in my intestines...put me on antibiotics, and two days later- Yahoo- felt much better.
Scott reading The Night Before Christmas
The girls had a great Christmas, and were absolutely THRILLED with every single gift they received. Some highlights- they both got Taylor Swift tickets for her upcoming concert in February, as well as a very much wanted American Girl doll, iPod, iTouch, Dsi, Nerf guns....these were Santa gifts, as well as presents from grandparents and aunts and uncles! I will say they were spoiled rotten this year, but will also say that for the first time that I can remember, they were both completely appreciative, excited and happy with everything they received (and have used it all a ton since Christmas!)
Hanna with her new Dsi- she has been asking for one for a year!
Maya and her new iTouch- she was so excited!
Girls and their Taylor Swift tickets!
Luckily, Scott and the girls still had some time off, and we managed to take them to play at the 100Y park, to the Meiji Shrine for New Year's day (very traditional Japanese holiday- hundreds of thousands of people head out to pay their respects and make wishes for a safe and healthy new year at the shrines and temples throughout Japan), down to Roppongi Hills to see the Taiko drumming and Dragon dance, and to the Toy Kingdom in the Tokyo Dome.
Scott and the girls at the Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day
Check out the people!
I will say that despite my ridiculous sickness, this break has been fantastic. The girls have been such good kids, and so much fun to be around, and we have gotten to spend more time with Scott than we have since we have moved here to Japan. It is really nice to get to experience Japan as a family, and do some cool things around town together. Tomorrow, Maya starts school again, and Scott went back to work today (the 4th), so we are back to reality (except that I have Hanna home and off of school until Tuesday, January 11th). Happy New Year!
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