A Christmas Stay-Cation

Ryan recently read an article in the failing New York Times called "1 Woman, 12 Months, 52 Places." The author was to visit some of the world's most alluring places on a one-year almost non-stop travel assignment. "None of that appeals to me at this point in my life," Ryan reported. I totally agree.

We are quite lucky that living abroad has allowed us to do our fair share of travelling. And the upside of starting a family later in life is that you have the time and means to satisfy your travel bug for a while. So while our friends were planning fabulous ski trips to Japan, safaris in Africa, and beach trips to Australia, we opted to stay home for the holidays.

We used our time to re-connect with the kids. We got back into the rhythm of their days (and nights, too...thanks, Tyler!). We took them to the park, ate almost all our meals together, and ventured out to some new locales as a family of five. Here are some of our highlights.

Christmas Eve dinner with good friends.

"It'll just take an hour." Ryan thought that assembling the kids' kitchen from Santa would be a cinch 

even after a couple glasses of wine. Two hours on Christmas Eve and one hour on Christmas morning, it's done! 

Christmas Morning It was a busy time. These were the only two pictures I could muster,

The picture below shows Tyler with a Frozen snow globe that belts out a very loud, scratchy version of "Let it Go." This is Kirk and Julie's payback for the recorder we got their then four-year-old daughter several years ago. We're sorry, Kirk and Julie, we take it back! 

Hong Kong Botanical and Zoological Gardens This is already a family favourite, but it's the first time we took the boys. They loved it!

Tyler discovered his new fave thing in life, hot cocoa.

Checking out the tortoise.

Hong Kong Disney It's smaller than Disney Anaheim and it's not as crowded. What's not to love?

Pit stop! Getting them from one place to another is like herding cats. 

Owen still likes to lie down in random places, such as
the hotel lobby.

Loving the Dumbo ride with Dad.

Very upset that the Dumbo ride is over. 

Getting cozy in the hotel.

The grumpiest princess. 

All better!

Gettin' some love from Pluto at the character breakfast.

At the end of these two weeks, we are refreshed as a family. Also, Ryan and I are totally exhausted. 

Admittedly, I am a little jealous of our friends' adventures, but I'm not crazy enough to try it until our boys are older. We look forward to travelling again with our little people in tow in a few years :-)