We left the kids behind and went to California in the middle of the winter

Jessica Bigler Uhl and I go way back - at least to around 2001. Back then we were housemates in Washington D.C., both working MCC assignments in the city. Five years later we again became housemates, this time at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, where we both earned our MAs. Luckily she's a fearless traveler, and came to visit me both in Ukraine and in Bolivia. Unluckily, I was unable to attend her wedding two years ago. But at that time Ramont and I promised that we'd come visit her and Matt within three years of moving back.

So two weeks ago we dropped off our kids at Oma and Opa's house (more on that later) and flew out to San Francisco/Oakland to spend a few days with the Bigler Uhls. It was the best kind of vacation Ramont and I could possibly have: good conversation, good food, good sleeping (no Anna waking up at 3am!), and minimal tourism. Also, talking with Jessica so much reminded me that/why I am so glad to be her friend.

This is their beautiful house in Oakland, the site of delicious meals and more. Their baby Elijah is seven months and suuuch a calm little guy. Our favorite thing was when he'd balance on his round little belly and kick his little arms and legs like a baby seal (do seals do that?) - very cute indeed.

Jessica and Matt were kind enough to take us around the cities to see the famous sites. Unfortunately the weather didn't really cooperate much...

This is the breathtaking scene we were supposed to see overlooking the Golden Gate bridge,

...and this is what we actually saw. Nevertheless, we can say we've been there.

Matt with his traditional Sunday night pizza (yum).

 Jessica reading to Elijah before bed one evening.

More good conversation over a delish breakfast of pancakes and eggs.

The skies cleared on our last day there, so after breakfast we took the subway under the bay and explored the San Francisco port area a bit.

The weather felt quite springy (almost anything would compared to MN weather at present): wet, around 60F, and somewhat green. Very nice to finally get some fresh air outside again.

This is the less famous but perhaps equally impressive Bay Bridge, which connects Oakland and San Francisco.

This is us without our kids, an unusual sight.

 Even some rickshaws in the port area!

 A nicer kind of winter. In the San Fran. port area.

After that strenuous tourism of 2.5 hours, we were glad to see this at "home."

 Matt, Elijah, and Jessica.

We've clearly been gone from Bolivia from two long, as I was shocked to see an orange and a lemon tree in their backyard...it seemed so impossibly exotic!

Matt and Jessica have a great deck in their backyard, higher up than the house,

from which there's quite a view of city and water.

Even a fire.

And here we're enjoying our last evening together. It was truly a great time of reconnecting with them.


And our kids, how did they fare?

By all accounts they LOVED living at Oma and Opa's. They didn't ever cry for us, even after we Skype-visited with them twice. They slept well (better than at home), ate and played well, sat all through the church service, etc, etc.

Sounds like we need to leave more often :)

No. Though we had a great time, we were ever so happy to come back home and probably won't leave (esp. not without the kids) for a good long while.

Indoor winter play

Sheep pen with sliding door.

Soccer goalie.

Carpet shampooer as treadmill (the video is priceless).

Skiing and ice skating (mini bread tins).

Even imaginary equipment needs fixing.

How we actually spent much of the week...sick.

Visitors from the south!

In the middle of this cold, cold, snowy, blowy, icy, cold winter, we got some visitors from tropical Paraguay (now in the middle of another hot summer)! My cousin Rosi, her husband, and three children came to visit for the last week of their U.S. vacation - driving up all the way from Florida.

Rosi is a few years older than I am, but I have good memories of visiting their family and "playing" with her in Paraguay (when the mosquitoes weren't killing me - ha ha :).
 

What a treat to have them come here! The weather cooperated; as in, lots of blowing snow and frigid temps (shocking even to our systems). Two of her kids are in (high) school, and the eldest attends university in Asuncion.

We pretty much just lived our normal winter life while they were here, with perhaps a bit more mate (and terere!) than usual.

One night we went to an excellent girls basketball game in Mtn. Lake (their, and our, first). Another night we went bowling in Springfield.

Small town entertainment!

 I told Rosi I wouldn't put this photo on the blog, but it's just too good not to :)

Abigal wanted to build a snowmensch, and here's the beautiful result.

Playing in the snow.

This was such a great visit, and I/we will miss them.

Kitchen help

It's a rather common practice on "mommy blogs" to post photos of small children working together with their moms on projects - showing, of course, what involved, patient, creative, and kindly teaching mothers we are in every one of our household tasks. Here's one from our house.

Except that I am decidedly not one of those mothers. I like to do my work quickly, efficiently and with minimal mess. That definitely includes making granola and bread sans little helpers.

But once in a while they derail my projects and have a grand time of it.

Also, they LOVE their new pjs (thank you, Grandma Schrock).

Christmas, part 2: Virginia

The cold, cold day after Christmas we packed into our little blue Saturn and turned its nose towards Harrisonburg, Virginia, for the Schrock portion of our holidays. We stopped in Goshen, Indiana, the first night, at the home of Steve and Cheryl Hochstetler-Shirk (why, oh why didn't I take any pictures?!) (oh yes, I was trying to not die of the worst cold I've had in a while). It was so wonderful to catch up a bit with them again; it was just over 11 years ago that Steve picked me up in the middle of the night in Zaporozhye from my very first bus ride in Ukraine.

Back to the present...after two 11-12 hour days of driving, we arrived at Ramont's parents' home in Harrisonburg on Friday evening. We spent the next day relaxing (Ramont was trying not to die from a flu and cold), waiting for the cousins and aunts/uncles to trickle in.

Ranene and Joseph, who live nearby, were the first to come. Their kids, Noelle and Josiah, are a few years older than ours but SUCH patient and kind playmates. Here they catch a glimpse of the ways of the world :)

Radell and his friend, Angela, arrived in time for lunch, while Ravonn and Rudi came in time for supper. Here we are - the entire family together! - at the evening feast.

The highlight (for everyone, I think) of the Christmas evening was enacting the Christmas story. Ramont's mom had sewn amazing little outfits for all the characters, and his dad told the story for memory and led singing at the appropriate times. The kids seemed to realize that this was a "real" thing, and really paid attention to the story and their parts in it. Jonathan was a shepherd and later a king, together with his cousins Greta and Sophie. Anna was an all-purpose angel.

Grandpa Schrock tells the story, flanked by Joseph and two shepherds.

Prior to this, the menfolk drew strings to see whose would have the donkey tail on it, and thus oblige him to be the donkey in the play. Joseph was the lucky guy this year.

The angel Gabriel appears to Mary (Noelle) while at work sweeping the floor.

The entire cast waiting for the story to begin (obviously my pictures are out of order).

The shepherds and angel learn of the good news.

The wise people come bearing gifts.

[isn't this fun?]

And so went the Christmas story. What fun it was, and what great memories to go home with!

The next day was Sunday, so we all went to Zion Mennonite Church, where Ramont's dad gave the sermon. In the afternoon we drove to Uncle Arland and Aunt Esther's beautiful home in the woods for a wider Schrock gathering with a tremendous amount of good food. Then back home in the evening to watch a rather exciting football game and just hang out.

The next day we all toured Ranene and Joseph's new-ish farm home just north of Harrisonburg.

Jonathan and Anna were very impressed with Josiah's two sheep and Noelle's chickens.

For Jonathan, the highlight of the whole trip was FINALLY getting to ride Uncle Radell's "new" tractor. Here Grandpa Schrock gets ready to take him for a ride.

Clearly the climate in Virginia is a bit different from Minnesota's. It rained a bit, was in the 30s and 40s, and was surprisingly green(ish).

Back at home, most of the kids took a dip in the jet tub and had a great time of it.

On Tuesday morning we began the long trek home. And to be honest, it wasn't all that daunting. Our kids were/are SUCH good travelers: patient, imaginative, non-puking (this time), and quite non-complaining about being strapped into car seats for hours and days at a time. Our car and tires flew over the 2500 miles without complaint. The hotel on the way home had a nice warm swimming pool.

We ran into the beginnings of a blizzard the first night of our trip home, and then another one the next morning, driving through Chicago. But the road-clearing crews were pretty impressive (esp. since it was New Year's eve and day).

And so, we made it home safe and sound, and extremely grateful for the time we had.

Happy new year!