Complicated? Yup…but no one ever said I was simple.)They don’t call these photo-blogs for nothing. Brace yourselves: pictures of the Christmas festivities (students, friends, food, sights) ahead! It was, to say the least, a memorable Christmastime. Please forgive a couple artsy-fartsy photos of the frost in Riedlingen interspersed…
The weather has been frigid, to say the least. And the photo-ops it has provided have been hard to resist! Picture me, in my PJs, wandering around the front and back yard with my camera at an ungodly hour of the morning, trying to get JUST the right shot of frost! 
The first post-surgery, pre-Christmas OFFICIAL festive time was at the Garrity’s. Three morons (term of endearment) turned up on my doorstep in bare feet to kidnap me…and take me to a gingerbread-house party. I’m…uhm…NEVER going to go into architecture, but the process (multiple cave-ins and all) was great fun!
The next little party happened at my place, with enchiladas and lemon cake and an odd movie that I happen to love. Here’s to more visits, Eliza and Meghan!
Half-way through the evening, my doorbell rang. I went to answer it and saw a People magazine staring at me through the glass. And behind the magazine? AHRAM!!! “Home” for a surprise. It was most definitely that!
Off to Saint-Louis, France for an evening with my long-time friends, Fabienne and Andre, and my long-time musical collaborator (and composing genius), Frank.
CHRISTMAS EVE! I baked for four straight hours (cinnamon rolls, Chocolate Delirium Cake, pumpkin pie), then hopped across the Riedlingen valley to Renee’s for a gift exchange…and Christmas haircut! Love that lady… and am so excited about the Spaetzle maker I’m holding! (Hence the goofy and oh-so-not-mature expression on my face…)
And then….off to the Young’s. I’d attempt to describe the family for those of you who don’t know them, but I’m pretty sure they defy standard adjectives. The following pics should speak for themselves!
Being away from family at Christmas is never really easy–at any age–but spending it with the Youngs made it memorable, meaningful, wonderful, and oh so fun. And I got my Maggie-therapy too!
No one does “fashion-faux-pas” like the Krunk-meister!)
HISTORICAL SHOTS AHEAD: You might wonder what Britney has to do with Christmas. At first glance, not very much. But if you’re ever privileged enough to sit through a showing of old Young-family videos dating back to the kid’s early childhood, you’ll quickly understand that some of the BEST video-viewing you will EVER do is watching the three “whipper-snappers” engaged in a full-fledged choreography of the former pop-queen’s music. I very nearly had to run to the bathroom mid-song…hysterical laughter has that effect on me. Now, as you all know, taking pictures of TV screens is an impossible task, so the following snapshots are far from good. They are, however, a small sampling of the performer’s artistic genius, creative zeal, and seriously disturbing choreography. Note: Jackson knew every word and every nuance of the song. I’m just saying…
I
trust your Christmases were memorable too!Thank you, Young family, for making me feel so at home…and for those extra 13 pounds I’ll now spend the rest of the holiday time trying to scare off! I can’t imagine a more comfortable and entertaining way to spend the holidays.
armie2007roses
1 – LOVE the pictures of the frost. just beautiful.
2 – I’d love to watch you take pictures in your pj’s, walking around the house, trying to do it as soon as possible so that you don’t freeze your butt off.
3 – Home videos are SO entertaining, until you are watching yourself on screen.
4 – Carrot for Santa?? plus Cookies? I would picked one or the other. It’s like ordering a Big Mac with a diet coke.
5 – I love dogs.
6 – I’m glad you got to spend a memorable Christmas with the Youngs. They are a fun family to be with, I must say. All very interesting and crazy. haha
chamnay
youre so lucky to have spent christmas with the youngs! so jealous. and emma has grown so much holy cow. i hope youre doing well and having fun with ahram who i am also insanely jealous of. thanks for the awesome pictures and updates on life at bfa. i can’t realy say merry christmas so just have a happy new year. =)
mereeser
I hope the People magazine that Ahram brought you isn’t the very same one that I bought you last week! ARgh. Can you send me the date on it…then I’ll know whether to add it to the weight in my bag. I’ll try to find this week’s as well. See you soon!
MMM. Raclette.
crazypants16
i am very much excited for you…
and oh so much jealous at the same time.
but mostly happy.
cause you’re one of his favoritest peoples. congradumalations!
and i really like you too.
and if you’re happy…..and he’s happy…
well, jinkies!, i’m happy too.
please make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble….scratch that. please make sure he doesn’t get hurt….well, not toO hurt…..no. well, please just make sure he doesn’t die. *sigh* *half eye roll* boys.
{stargirl}