When wishes come true

That is Christmas time, of course. We wish beautiful, sometimes crazily optimistic things and hope they come true. This was true this year for meeting my sister and her family. We visited Nebraska, they visited Philly, we met  almost unplanned during our vacations in Colorado. And then, when we were counting our blessings one more came: cheap airplane tickets, and the Foss gang boarded for Philly once again! Wonderful time with many chances to smile!

Pyramid!!

It was mostly relaxing time, no preset plans, just eating, sleeping and playing. In the end, that's all we needed for a good time.

Part of our family Christmas tradition we go to the theatre to see "A Christmas Carol". We started this when Catalina was little, way before she could understand what is happening. After the play we go to lunch and a Macy's store that has a very nice "Dickens Village" area and Santa at the end.

We were incredibly lucky to get some seats next to each other. Due to some mishap some of the tickets were for the wrong day. A very nice man at the register changed the tickets for the right play, but we were spread all around the room. I had the cutest girls with me, so no complaining on my part!

After lunch, we headed to Dickens Village. Loooong line, but the kids cooperated very nicely

Beautiful decorations, we always take way to many pictures as every corner looks so carefully ornated

After Santa we wanted to see the light show that the store has on display on one of its walls. Not our lucky day, as we were getting ready somebody told us we'll have to wait another hour and a half...

So we headed home all tired, but happy (at least some of us, kids were starting to be cranky:)

I guess the best part of any family visit is the time spent together. Theatre and fancy outings are nice, but nothing compares to that time you just spend doing nothing obvious. It is the time though that creates that invisible bond that makes us smile just thinking of one another. Here are some shots of kids playing together, adults smiling together.

I take big pride in the fact that our family is quite nerdy. To prove it, guess where did my niece and nephew wanted to have fun? In my science lab!! And I have to say I was mighty impressed with their skills; I wish I had them as summer students...

Gearing up for Christmas from now on. Let the joy invade us all!