The weekend before Christmas, we went up and visited some good friends of ours on Whidbey Island, the Sinclairs. They have a twelve year old daughter, Jaccquelyn, and a six year old daughter, Jane, and we're good friends. We went for a trail ride in the snow at a nearby stable, and then came back and went sledding! We sledded for three hours, until about five thirty, and then we went in and had fondue. There was meat and cheese and fruit and bread and pickles and everything was fab! We stayed over, my parents in a guest bedroom and me in Jaccquelyn's room, which is the complete opposite of my room, but I still love it. Jaccquelyn's room is a beautiful warm yellow, with honey-colored wood furniture, and it has these beautiful paintings of flower gardens in it, because Mrs. Sinclair is an amazing artist. In the morning we had a really hearty breakfast, because the Sinclairs moved here from Britain a few months before Jaccquelyn was born. (Oh, just a note, Jaccquelyn Hates being called Jackie.) So we had poached eggs, whole wheat toast, sliced pears, oatmeal, and cinnamon rolls. After breakfast we had a big snowball fight, and then went sledding again. Then after grilled cheese and soup for lunch, we had to leave so we could get home before the roads froze.
Christmas was wonderful, it was mostly snowy and everything was perfect! On Christmas Eve my whole family decorated the Christmas tree, and then while my stepmom, made the lasagna and potatoes for dinner, my dad and I wrapped, then my stepmom went up and wrapped while me and Dad made the salad and made the Yorkshire pudding. Then after dinner, we went to church which had a beautiful service. There were candles all around the church in glass jars: big pillar candles, tea candles, short candles, fat candles, skinny candles. Then everyone was handed a candle, and when they were lit there was a warm, cozy, golden glow over everything. We sang 'Silent Night' and 'Hark a thrilling voice is sounding' and 'Away in a manger', and the choir sang 'Carol of the Bells'.
And Christmas morning was wonderful, too. I ran downstairs, and around the tree were tons of presents, all gorgeously wrapped. (My stepmom and her family have an incredible knack with wrapping presents. They always come out pristinely perfect. They're always better than store-wrapped presents, because they have pinecones, or candycanes, or something special like curly sparkly ribbon or something. I woke up my parents, and they made hot cocoa, and we ate Yulekakka, which is a traditional Norwegian Christmas bread, before rushing over to the tree. I think my favorite presents were a subscription to Horse Illustrated, a diary with a very pretty japanese cherry blossom print on the cover, and an mp3. I have already downloaded about forty songs.
Then after a few days, we went to a New Year's Eve party, given by some other good friends of ours, the Calloways. My stepmom and I had just gone shopping for a dress and we couldn't find anything until we found this dropdead gorgeous white gauzy dress. It was sleeveless, and in had these ribbons going down the front and shirring it so it twirled nicely. I wore that with my new white shrug I got for Christmas. It was a good party, and I got to see some of my friends from school, but that kiss at midnight stuff? I was on tenterhooks for the half-hour between quarter to midnight to quarter after. We left at about one, but we walked because we only three blocks away anyway, and my stepmom wasn't wearing heels.
I have good news, too! Jasmin might be able to come up for the summer! I am currently begging, pleading, whining, wheedling, etc. I want her to see Romeo and Juliet! I have to go. Bye!
Natasha
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