Saint Paul MN - Christmas Day

It was a great group and definitely a noisy, festive and chaotic day.
The Turkey Dinner began a bit late but we got all the activities completed before we had to get Pete to the airport to head back to Stamford.
We moved the celebration up to my house this year - I think we got the place adequately decorated and ready.  Hard to compete with forty plus years of tradition at 720 6th Street in Rochester.  The day was sunny but typical good Minnesota COLD.
Eddie and Tommy got some sledding in, Mia continues to be a MaMa's girl and Jimbo found a corner to go prone and get in a nap.

Stillwater - Christmas Eve 2012

This year we decided to mix up the Christmas Tradition.  I spent Christmas Eve with Margie and Nancy's families in Stillwater.  The first time I have slept in my own place and bed on Christmas Eve since I have been an adult.

Lots of time to get updated on what is up in the lives of my adult nieces and nephews.  And of course plenty of great food and too many treats to go around.  

Saint Paul MN - Gathering the Mac guys before the break

Term break update:
Petar is heading from The Hague home to Sebia.
Clemens is heading to Munich first and then bouncing around Europe for the break.
Davide is headed home, south  of Milan, and sounded like he plenty of projects to keep busy.
Long  is heading to Rochester with his roommate and then camping with me for the duration of the holidays.
Danny, Maria and Mia will join us for the day in Saint Paul and  then it sounds like they have a winter road trip in their plans.
Plenty going on until we all gather in the new year when the new term begins and Davide, Long and I celebrate our birthdays together.

Hong Kong - A bit of Christmas everywhere I roam

I met an old friend from Minnesota today and she said they get more in to Christmas in Hong Kong than in the USA.  And with 8 years experience on the ground she should know.
It sure seems that way as move around throughout the City.
Got a bit hotter and steamer for my last day - certainly not miserable for December but cold and cool sounds like a nice option to head home to for at least a few days.

Hong Kong - Lots of Christmas here and the usual wonders of HK

It has been interesting to see the approaches to Christmas decorations and displays as I jumped from country to country on this trip.
They all support a certain amount of "western" style decor and traditions - and then you have those unique moments that make it all their own.  So many interesting interpretations - who knew squirrels and rabbits were so much a part of the Christmas experience.....