it's been a while. while there are parts of this december that i have absolutely savored, it's been one long advent. this month has been marked by the death of my sister-in-law diane, who left too early, and here we are again, wondering how we're gonna muster up some feist to share with this world since it's now missing some more. i can't even begin to say how heartbreaking it was to watch my 13 year old nephew bury his mother, literally and figuratively. and at the same time, it was really heartwarming to sit shivah with di's loved ones, and eat and laugh and cry, and do all three of these some more.
right before we left chicago, bess and lisa brought the twins to our hotel, and i finally got to meet them. love at first sight. here's a picture of my mom and bess doting over effram, and kai having a sweet moment with lucy. my dad and lisa are not in the frame, but there he is in the corner, questioning lisa about how much money she makes. nice.
we survived the rest of the month by baking our asses off-- lots of cookies, peppermint bark, several pans of marshmallows, endless pounds of butter. we've been having evening dance parties with christmas carols and walking at night to look at lights. anne and i have also been a little stunned, because right around thanksgiving, adah became possessed by the devil and he appears about three times a day in raging-kicking-screaming fits like never been seen before, which are inspired by who knows what. yesterday it was because i stirred her yogurt and you could see the blueberries in the bowl. you just never know, people. watch out! anne and i hope to not be in a psychiatric ward for christmas. good thing i have my leopard snuggie for some comfort in these trying times:
i have the feeling that i won't be allowed to wear this work anymore in january. boo hiss.
4 comments:
You look hilarious yet strangely elegant in your Snuggie. I love this blog so much, yet I wish I were in that house of yours doing things with paper and glue sticks or eating the dough of whatever you're making. And watching bug be bug. I am so glad I got to see Kai again, despite the circumstances. Thinking of him often. And you. But for now I should stop writing and tend to these two screaming infants.
thanks for this piece of us, i appreciate your skills as a writer, photographer, cook and parent. don't worry love, adah's hystaria will likely pass and there will be some time to recupperate before she becomes a teenager.
oh, friends. i don't know what to say except we miss you. startling and sad to learn about recent events from your blog and not from friday afternoon playdates. we've been thinking of you.
jojo
buddy! you look so fab in leopard print! i would be insanely jealous of this post had i not visited with effram, lucy, bess and lisa last week. i love, i love! i am looking forward to seeing the nealis-crandall family in a bright new year. (i hope kai will be around. if not, i may have to drive up north and ask him to come along for another portland visit.) oh! and save me marshmallows. homemade ones are irresistible. love you all!
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