We had a lovely Christmas. All the state-side Wengers were able to gather in NC, and we had a relaxing, refreshing week together. Rhonda and I drove down on Christmas Eve, swinging by Dulles to pick up Raphael, Mook, and Mohan who were flying in from Peru. Talk about a full car! We had a lot of fun though.

We got home none too soon: it started snowing on Christmas morning. It snowed and snowed and snowed until we had 10 inches. It was a very unexpected, delightful gift from God--and on Christmas day, too! We all went out and played in the afternoon, sledding, having snowball fights, and building snowmen.

We built an Easter Island monolith that was over 7 feet tall (no pictures of him, unfortunately). And the next day, while the other kids were down at Cleveland, Rosetta and Rhonda and I built a small--but formidable--snowman to greet the others upon their return. With one gloved, twiggy hand he was shading his eyes, and with the other he was pointing a gun.

He looked creepy in the dark.

We also worked on getting the apartment ready for its new occupants; Mother, Rhonda, and Rosetta put in many hours painting it.

We created a gingerbread lodge which Raphael designed. It was a time consuming endeavor, but a lot of fun.

It was a lovely week.