Winter in Connecticut

Well this is our last post from the States. We leave for England on January 8. It's been a great few months back with family and friends. Here's what our Christmas season looked like. First was Christmas in the Valley at our church. I was asked to coordinate the volunteers for the event. This is a 3 night event with 400+ guests each night. I've been working the behind the scenes in the kitchen since I was 12, so it was great to have such a prominent role. It was a lot of fun and everything went really well.

After our trip to Michigan, we drove through the night to get back to Connecticut for Christmas tree hunting. My brother, his girlfriend, and our best friends (Evan & Michelle Brunetti) all went out to a Christmas tree farm and cut down trees for our houses. We used to do this ever year with the Brunettis, so it was a lot of fun to have the chance to do this again. The decorating was also up to us. My brother and his girlfriend did the lights on the tree, we did the garland, and put up all our ornaments. It's always fun to go through the ornaments and memories.

Some other highlights from Christmas, include seeing the Bright Lights show in Springfield, MA. It was a huge drive through light show.  Lots of baking (80+ sugar cookies, red velvet cake, coconut-lime cupcakes, etc). Christmas eve with the Brunettis. A white Christmas morning! We also saw A Christmas Carol at the Hartford Stage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, what a great show! Owen hiked Mount Washington in New Hampshire with a friend (will post pictures when we get some). And Owen's little sisters (Tore & Virginia Dowling...now you're famous ;) ) visited for a few days just after Christmas. He took his youngest sister on an overnight backpacking trip in the snow and we all went to Boston one day.

It's been a great time back in the states for these few months. Thanks to everyone who hosted us, made time to visit, and provided a great time for us. We will miss everyone but are looking forward to the next chapter and all that London has to offer. Stay tuned for the London adventures!

For more pictures, visit our Picasa album Stateside

First Snow

Christmas in the Valley

Christmas trees with family & friends

My best friend

My brother and his girlfriend

The finished product

Bright Lights Springfield, MA

The Griswold House (video on the picasa link)

Christmas eve and nurf guns

White Christmas!

Trans Siberian Orchestra

Huge tree in Boston

For Tore Dowling....hope this makes you famous ;)

Heading out for backpacking