Christmas

Christmas is of course a big deal in the US. We have had over a month and a half of advertising, Christmas songs, Santa's and Holiday get-together-events we have been through. Some of it was fun but the shopping madness and figuring out how the gifting works was a nightmare. i.e. What or how much do you give the care takers at Rick's day care and whom all there do you need to give something, what do you do if you receive a present from a colleague you hardly know and how do yo manage to do any shopping in December if you need to buy something which is not for Christmas?!?

Rick of course is oblivious to it all. We tried to make a Picture to use as a Holiday greeting. Rick did not want to pose - he preferred to giggle. The ball in Rick's hands says 'Greetings Y'All'. (No Worries - all Safe. We managed to avoid him trying to eat it and hence consuming any sparkles and other chemical material this thing was made off.)

We also did the obligatory 'take-your-kid-to-the-mall-for-a-picture-with-Santa-thing'. This was the Sunday after Thanksgiving (nov 29th). With the biggest sales event of the year (Black Friday) being Friday after Thanksgiving and starting that day at 4am there where hardly any shoppers left by Sunday - so no queue - even at the most popular mall in Houston (the Galleria). As Rick is American we went for it. The quality of the picture is poor and the costs were horrendous, but we did our duty and have avoided potentially a 1st youth trauma.

There was also a Christmas event at School. Rick's group had a book exchange (they are not even 6 months old?!?! - very educational) and Santa was there too. The Staff made some nice things again, including the Christmas tree decoration below. Rick was not interested in Santa but busy flirting with one of his teachers...

And then there is all the pressure to fit in in the neighborhood. It is Christmas lights galore in all residential areas. So although way to late (only 10 days ago) we finally gave in and dressed up our house too. My colleagues spend 100 - 150 USD for someone to come and put up the lights for them. That excludes the decoration. Safe to say people spend hundreds of dollars to do up their house. I did it the Dutch way and shopped for the cheapest stuff and hung it all up myself (now Eelco complains as he did the hard work he says). Does not look that bad does it?!?

Merry Christmas Y'All!!