Poor Poor Thea

It's been months now that Thea has not been well.  Still, we are uncertain as to what exactly is wrong, but we know it involves pain, sleeplessness, and spinal/neck issues that don't allow her to fully lower her head.  This is after spending thousands of dollars...to only find out what we could easily have told you ourselves.  She has been on pain meds & anti-anxiety meds to help manage the pain.  Our reality, unfortunately is that we cannot afford the diagnostic test and the following news that might involve surgery. We are about to have two kids in college and have many other financial needs that makes us hesitate to use thousands more.  In all honestly, it's been hell.  This began on a Sunday, October 12th.  We took her to the emergency animal hospital, which gave us no good information and sucked thousands of dollars from our pockets.  It's been over 2 months now and it's been a bit of a rollercoaster, not exactly knowing what is wrong, experimenting with meds, and over 70 days of sleepless nights.  Anna's been bearing the brunt of it.  I am not sure at all how this will all end.  There's been more than one moment when we've been sure we were putting her down.   And yet, here she is.  Yesterday she looked great during the day and then again horrible at night.  This is not fun to write, not fun to endure, and so sad for Thea.     
 

And the Stockings Were Hung

 

I love Christmas stockings.  All of ours are handmade and stitched with new buttons and new embroidery every year.  This year, Anders got a little row of ants climbing up his stocking and Kuba got a Pokémon ball. It's all in the details! 

Amaryllis

 

amaryllis

beautiful triplets

unfolding on our mantel

winters red delight

Colors Blur and Swirl

quick twist of the wrist

colors blur and spin, friends laugh  

always so much fun

Holiday Magic

  

2025 was a year of Christmas adaptation.

With Barbro in assisted living, and nearly impossible to move easily, we held Christmas at her place, by reserving a dining room and kitchen.  There we prepared Swedish smorgasbord, sang Swedish drinking songs, and exchanged gifts and glee.  It was actually perfect.  It was Barbro, Dave, Lea and Damion, Claes, Vikki and Janet, and us and the boys. SKOL! 

Christmas Eve 2025

This year we celebrated Christmas Eve with Sandy, Jamie, AJ, Zoe, Kuba, Anders, Anna and me.  We held Wigilia at Sandy's house.  It was simple, relaxing and lovely.  Pierogi, mushroom soup with ushki, fish, and vegetables. So many years of this traditional Polish Christmas, at so many different houses and with such a mixture of family each year. We played games, ate, took a lovely walk in the dark, and exchanged gifts.  Merry Christmas!  

 

Making Food Together

We made lots of food this holiday and the best was when we made it together.

Pierogi, ushki noodles, peppermint bark, pepparkakar, toffee pretzels, bucket cookies, bular, 

and more.  Clearly it's important.  

 

Sweet Icing and Friends

sweet icing and friends

gumdrop roofs and candy walls

warm hearts, sticky hands

Two days after Anders got home from Costa Rica, and just in time to join in on the holiday festivities, Kuba had a gingerbread house decorating party. It was such fun and the results were just delightful. Here are some of the takeaway photos.

Winter Concerts

So many concerts this season, especially choral music.

Kuba traveled the streets of Burlington, singing at Hotel Vermont, City Hall, and Lake Champlain Chocolates.  He also sang at the Congregational Church and was in the orchestra at BHS.  

Pura Vida! Pure Joy that Anders is Home

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica's unofficial motto, Pura Vida, embodies a laid-back, optimistic, and happy way of life.  Does this sound a bit like Anders?  I think so.  This expression is used for greetings, goodbyes, saying "everything's good," or for expressing joy for simple living. It signifies a positive, relaxed attitude, and is deeply woven into the culture, reflecting contentment, resilience, and living life to the fullest. Gosh, if this isn't the most beautiful and complete way to live life.

Welcome Home Anders!  We missed you so very much! 

 

God On High, Hear My Prayer

 

 

Les Miserable was this past weekend, and it was Kuba's final BHS musical.  

Words cannot describe the experience adequately.  First of all, it was a labor of love. Anna was the set designer and volunteered so many hours to build and get the staging set.  I helped a teeny bit, as did Sandy, but Anna - giant show of love and devotion.  Kuba has been practicing for almost 3 full months.  Kuba had the lead role, Jean Valjan and HE WAS AMAZING.  Articulate, emotive, immersed in his character and mostly, was able to convey to the audience the emotional complexity of his role.  His best friends were also in the show, Nadia, Lyla, Keats, Mac, Oliver, Iris and of course Siena, and this made the show so deep, cohesive, and rich.  It wsa such a remarkable experience.

Kuba was asked my multiple kids for his autograph. And the feedback he got was that people were moved to tears, and blown away.  What I want to say is that my son loves performing, is absolutely passionate and locked in.  He is pure joy.  And I think God did hear my prayer.  He gifted us with Kuba.    

Our Boy in Costa Rica

 

 

 

We got some photos of Anders in action through a friend of his down in Costa Rica. This is just a sneak peak of his glorious trip. He will be home in about 5 more weeks, and I will be very grateful to have him back here with us!  We text regularly and call each week. He's honestly so fully engaged and interested in all that flies, crawls or slithers down there.