Violin Recital

Andantino, played by Isaac Siebelink (The family Virtuoso).

Key's Style Christmas

It's different here, in the Keys. That's why we come here: the weather is guaranteed warm, palm trees and water everywhere, and the pace forces you to slow down. I've noticed that I walk much slower here - a good sign.

Stella says, "Look, I see Christmas!" when seeing decorations of any kind but especially lit. The public corner on Key Colony Beach has many decorations that Stella comments on every one of the 40-50 times we have passed on this vacation. Her favorite is the penguin that moves
in and out of his igloo. She calls him Pablo, after the book "Pablo - the Penguin That Hated the Cold", very fitting. My personal favorite is the banner in the middle of everything that reads, "Let it Snow". Lisa's favorites are the palm tree light wraps.

Lisa and I have never stayed away from celebrating holidays and institutions in non-traditional ways: Vegas wedding, Thanksgiving in NYC, Christmas in KCB. This year the contrast from a white Christmas seems more dramatic, maybe because of the Bowen visit over Christmas time.

This year, Christmas Eve / Day activities consisted of the following:

- Watching the Key Colony Beach Christmas Eve Parade (fire
trucks with lights and carolers)

- Opening presents with family and with Bowens

- Touring the lights, including Pablo

- Fishing in the canal with Bowens

- Hanging out at Sombrero Beach

Accomplishments

Accomplishments are goals achieved or newly achieved acts. Here is the accumulation of accomplishments over the past 2weeks:

Isaac & Stella: Learning and enjoying chess, yes chess
Isaac: Swimming the full length of the pool (12ft to 3ft) via combo (forward doggy paddle and back waddle)
Lincoln: Full-on walking, becoming a walker-squawker
Lincoln: High-fives with big laughs, especially after he walks
Rob: Relieving months of stress via warm weather and quality/quantity time with family
Rob: Learning first kite trick with the help of the abundant wind in the Keys
Stella: Confident bike riding (with training wheels)
Stella: Being 5 years old
Lisa: Beach and sun time