Merry Christmas!

To all of our dear family and friends, particularly you loyal blogreaders, Merry Christmas! We are so delighted to be a family of four for the holidays. (This also counts as our 19 plus 4... OK 19 1/2 plus 4 1/2. I'm late.)




We are so happy to be in the States, catching up with family and friends for the holidays. We've been spoiled with love and gifts (and food!!!). Here are a couple highlights thus far with Oma and Opa (Nicole's parents). More to come...
Exploring the Safari Tent (Gift from Oma and Opa)
Delivering Christmas Gifts to Neighbors with Oma

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Despite the fact that I went shopping for our Christmas tree in short sleeves, we are getting in a Christmas mood. (For my originally Southern-hemisphere husband, the warm weather feels just right!)

Jacob and I went Christmas tree shopping. He helped decorate the tree (ha!), while Papa elfed around.

Quito Days - Timmy and the Toros

December 6th was Quito's Independence Day. Traditionally the city has almost 2 weeks of celebrations leading up to the 6th, including a Miss Quito pageant, tons of local festivals, and open air trucks that drive revelers around town. One main tradition is a week-long series of bullfights, featuring matadors from Spain and around the world.

Santiago, Timothy and I decided we would take in this cultural event. It was both amazingly artistic and chillingly brutal. We could easily understand why this is both loved in many countries and outlawed in others. Timothy was moved - to crying, sitting, and napping. Here are some photos from the event.


We finished the Quito Days celebrations at a dinner at a Spanish restaurant with some friends.