Here is Adam and my parent's God son, Owen, connecting through legos. Adam is such a mad gamer, who knew? Seriously, I brought a 1000 piece puzzle to Israel and he completed the whole thing in three days! No wonder his brain does so well with micro-biology and such. Here they are making a super big scary spider. Weird.
Adam, myself, and our friend, Bethany, the night before she moved from Austin to Portland, Oregon. Yeah for another reason to go to Oregon! Happy trails, Bethany.
Me and Erin, one of my most special friends who I see all too rarely. She is living and working in Austin these days with developmentally challenged kids, and raising two of the most incredible young women I know.
My favorite kids EVER, Cassie Rae and Zoe, seen here with their Vespa driver. These are my friend Erin's girls that I've knows since they were tiny, tiny and I can't believe how grown up they are! Totally amazing kids, I should be so lucky.
Here is my mom in her cute coat from Adam's sister, Nancy's, place of employment in NYC: Rag and Bone. Her employers are so impressed with Nancy and her sense of style that a new coat aptly called, The Nancy, will hit stores soon. Thank goodness for sisters with style!
Adam had been in the country for less than 48 hours when I made him get in the car so I could drive the ten hours to Arkansas so we could spend Christmas with the Arkansas side of my family. We had some good books on tape, enjoyed some road-side bar-b-q and Starbucks. Upon arrival we were greeted by a real, authentic Christmas dinner complete with cranberry sauce, pecan pie, and dressing. We spent some quality time with my Dad and my Grandmother: she and I looked through old photos dating back to when she lived in Czechoslovakia and Adam watched Oprah with two ex-Marines and my Dad. Then 48 hours later, turned around and drove back the 10 hours to Austin. Adam, you are a good good sport!
This is the view from my Grandmother's front porch. This view brings me home, every time. Its wonderful that there are some things in life that remain constant. Thank goodness for them.
All I need to say here is, what the hell? Yes, I am from the South and this is what some people spend their time working towards. Imagine!
We were able to pass some time, albeit brief, with some of our buddies passing through town. Here are Phil and Alicia, Adam's debate partner from high school and his divine fiancee, who live in DC. They are getting hitched in Austin in March, hope to be there with you!
Mom and Sam did some very fancy holiday party rounds this season. Here they are all dolled up for a holiday fundraiser for a local children's hospital, "Austin's Dancing With the Stars". They are gorgeous, no?
On a sunny Saturday (is there anything other than that in Texas in December?) we headed out to hill country to this phenomenal weekend house and a holiday party. The event was attended by many of Austin's art-elite, as the home is owned by the Director of one of Austin's premier art museums, and two of his business partners. It has three bedrooms, spread out at the corners of the house to maximize privacy. The main room, seen here, is a huge screened in porch with an indoor fireplace, and an incredible pool with a rope swing separates the buildings. The space inspires open, rustic, and industrial vantages points from which to view the live oak trees surrounding the structure. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Hurray for family size popcorn, its as big as my head!
Here is the happy family enjoying round 245 of breakfast tacos. Ah, Austin.
Here I can be seen playing the role of an internet kiosk. Can I help you? Please enter your password....
My folks dug out not only a Menorah for me to use for Hanukah, but a ceramic Christmas tree that my mother painted and fired in her previous incarnation as a domestic goddess. We put them side by side in Austin and every night lit the Menorah as the lights on the little Christmas tree came on. I would say the prayers in Hebrew, light the candles, and my mom would say, "hocus pocus" as her contribution for something to say for, I guess, the lighting of the tree?
Every trip back to the US is now full to the brim of glutenous culinary experiences. In Austin, a must-see is Artz Ribs. See me here stuffing my face with delicious ribs, dripping with sauce and lots of fatty goodness. I was mostly successful at eating a taco everyday and there is an entire blog dedicated to those tacos in the works, check your local listings.
Every winter my Mother's older brother, my Uncle Jay and his wife, Mary, drive their RV down from the arctic in North Dakota to "winter" in south Texas. I was lucky enough this year to be around as they passed through and was able to spend some time with them. My Aunt Mary made, by hand, my baby blankets when I was little. Isn't that amazing?
Here are Adam and one of his best buddies, Alex, who came all the way from Winnipeg to spend New Year's with us.
Yes, we are getting some nice US-sized bellies on us. Time to head back to the middle east to enjoy our fresh produce, humus, and diet totally void of things processed. But it tastes so good....
How sweet is this: my Mom teaching Adam to texas two-step. I love this one. Thanks, Mom, for loving my husband so much. It makes me so happy.
So that about wraps it up. We are back in Israel, where life is a little less pretty all around, but its home. Adam is back at school working hard, and I've already been to Cairo and back for a conference. We are looking forward to some upcoming visits, and to welcoming spring when she arrives none too soon for this southern belle.We hope that you all had a bliss-full holiday, with lots of laughter, good eats, and whatever moves you. May 2008 be all you wish for it to be, and more!
Us: Adam and Sera
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