e left snowy Sweden a week and a half ago, when the snow was melting and the rain was coming down…to come to Michigan for the holidays, where it was relatively warm and still green. A couple of days after we arrived, the snow came, too and it’s been a real winter wonderland ever since…a true white Christmas. My sister and her family joined us at my mom’s and the festivities included a huge party 2 days before Christmas with many of my cousins and other relatives, 2 college friends and their families and one friendly internet psycho (hi thehula!) and a boatload of food that we are STILL eating the leftovers from.
Christmas was good to us all, and the after-Christmas sales have been even better. >:) Now we’re winding down a bit. Anders and Karin are going up north to ski for a couple of days and Martin and I will help my mom with things around the house. My sister left 2 days ago, taking her family home, and it sure got quiet quick around here. But we got in lots of cribbage and quality family time before they went, and I have to say, I miss them ALL already.
We’ve been to see The Hobbit and Life of Pi and still want to see Lincoln and Les Miserables if we can swing them before we head back to Sweden at the end of the week. Time sure flies when you’re having fun!
Family & Personal Highlights of 2012
- Weekend trip to Italy in April
- A month of reading old favorite books
- Reunion with my first family in Germany in early summer
- Mom’s 3-week visit in July
- Karin’s soccer team winning Gothia Cup in July
- 2 week work trip to Boston with Mom and Labor Day weekend with Sam & Joanne
- Martin’s class winning a science contest and a 3-day trip to London
- The Lego Project
- Committing to a 12-week Fitness challenge
- First Christmas holidays in USA since 2002!
I read 101 books this year, slightly down from last year, but the same as 2010. I seem to hold steady just over 100, averaging 8.41 a month.
Best Books of 2012 (in no particular order and not including re-reads)
- The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
- The Hare With Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
- City of Thieves by David Benioff
- The Vanishing Act by Mette Jakobsen
- A Field Guide to Now by Christina Rosalie
- Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
- Doc by Mary Doria Russell
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- Among Others by Jo Walton
- Lips Touch by Laini Taylor
- The Sentinel Mage by Emily Gee
- Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn
- Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis
I don’t remember what films I have seen other than the ones this week…I don’t know why I don’t keep track of them each year!
Best musical discoveries in 2012
- Of Monsters and Men
- Kina Grannis
- Beth Hirsch
- Kate Voegele
- Imagine Dragons
- Maia Sharp
- Priscilla Ahn
- Stiftelsen
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor
- Sarah Slean
- birdpaula
- Mariha
- Yuna
- Annika Moa
- Pentatonix
- Charlene Kaye
Some manageable goals for 2013
- Walk Walk Walk!!
- Possible family houseboat vacation in England
- Getting a new bed and a new washing machine
It’s 2 hours to midnight…we’ve got sparkling juice, sparklers and poppers to usher in the new year with. May 2013 bring you kindness, love, comfort and a sense of accomplishment!
(Drop cap courtesy of Jessica Hische’s Daily Drop Cap)