Meryl’s latest dance moves have been inspired by the song, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”

After exchanging gifts with our friend, Sonja, on the front porch, as she walked away she snapped this picture:) Kind of perfect.

A neighbor offered us persimmons from their family’s tree in California. Yes, please! Well, I think they dropped off all of them:) So we started with persimmon butter and persimmon ice cream (kid approved!). Next up is persimmon pudding and gingerbread persimmon cake.

Maligayang Pasko! Merry Christmas! Disney released a Christmas themed short film this year focused on an annual tradition between a Lola and granddaughter making a parol together, a star-shaped lantern seen all over the Philippines during the holiday season. Holmes’ teachers also did an art project focused on parols today too! So, we absolutely needed to watch the film tonight. What a treat to see this symbol of Filipino Christmas spirit celebrated!

Settings? What settings? These kids love to joyride, and press all the buttons…rocking out with the bass pumped up:)

And dare I say we are…HOT! And, the cleanup crew is taking care of business.

Pizza night! After the heater installation, we felt an easy dinner celebration was just what our bellies wanted. Good thing as these kids love black olives…specifically cooked on a pizza, picked off, and eaten separately. Forget those black olives straight from the can, the ones cooked on pizza are magic:)

And they were delicious. Did the kids eat them? Nope. Did we eat them all? Yep.

Have no fear of a lack of a heater here. Flannel sheets, fleece blankets underneath and on top, a space heater nearby…she’s enveloped in softness and warmth. Clothes optional.

Fireplace fires are serious business here.

Behold the Great Flapping Box Wing stork walking its way to Recyleville. It is a Big Year for birding, indeed.