December in Annapolis

Sorry the photo's are out of order ...

1. Aunty Belinda sent TIM TAMS & Violet Crumble - the girls were VERY excited

2. Jacqui eating "snow" icecream

3. high tea at the Tiffany's dining room

4. Hannah's new wheelchair

5. Jacqui & Hannah with their little blue Tiffany's boxes

6. making a gingerbread house on Christmas Day

7. the snow at the gate to the Naval Academy (across the road from our house), was REALLY deep

8. yes, this guy is skiing down the road

9. us out in the snow on the 19th of December

On the 19th of December (Steve's Birthday) we had a HUGE dump of snow (55cm), which hung around until Christmas - which meant we got to have a white Christmas!! Thanks Mum, the scarf and hat were perfect presents for my (Nikki's) birthday!!

We enjoyed going sledging, making snowmen, making "snow" ice cream (we've put the recipe below for when you next get snow near you), and of course having lots of snow ball fights. We also learnt how to dig out the car. Thankfully the navy sends in people to clear the footpaths and most of the roads (although that does mean the snow gets piled up higher against the car!).

Annapolis closed down for 2 days because of the snow - although Steve, Hannah & Jacqui went for a walk to the deli where Jacqui works, and saw a guy skiing down the street (probably safer than driving the car, as that road hadn't been cleared).

On the way to driving up for our Dr's appointments in up state NY, we spent the afternoon in New York City. We trudged 25 blocks through the snow to get to Tiffany's. Hannah & Jacqui didn't know it, but each of them had decided to give the other a combined christmas/16th birthday present from Tiffany's - so Jacqui thought we were going for Hannah, and Hannah thought we were going for Jacqui. After much deliberation (and being pushed around due to the last minute Christmas shopping crush), they actually ended up choosing exactly the same thing (this is the first freaky twin thing they have done in a long while). They both chose a heart charm necklace by the designer Elsa Peretti - you can see it here

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?fromGrid=1&sku=GRP01839&mcat=148206&cid=563631&search_params=s+5-p+6-c+563631-r+-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+

Whilst we were there we also bought a wedding present for Nikki's brother Steve and his new wife Anastasia, which was a lot of fun too.

Because there was an exhibition of Elsa Peretti's work we got to see how she worked on her designs from sketch books through to wax mock ups and the finished product. We were very very lucky to be invited by the manager of the Elsa Peretti exhibition to the "service point" for a hot chocolate, which turned out to be the General Managers Private Dining room. We were the only ones in there except for the General Manager and his guest - and the tuxedoed waiters, who served us high tea on Tiffany's silverware and plates. It was a real thrill, and we were so greatful for the opportunity.

We celebrated Christmas Day with some neighbors, and we loved having a white Christmas, but it didn't feel like Christmas without the heat and the swimming!

Hannah has been very sick with Lyme Disease during December, and has continued to use a wheelchair. We bought one for her (which was actually very hard to find one in her size, most American wheelchairs are MUCH larger). The wheelchair gives her more freedom to get outside the house, & she & Jacqui have decorated it. It has helped her a lot. Since she has started the more heavy duty phase of the treatment she has improved slightly, which gives us great hope for the future. Thank you so much to the people who sent cards, parcels, flowers & emails to Hannah & Jacqui - it's been a hard time for both of them.

Jacqui has finished her heavy duty treatment phase for Lyme Disease and is now on a herbal protocol that lasts about 6 months - we are hoping at the end of this she will be declared in remission (fingers crossed). She has also been working at a local deli, and really enjoying it, as well as joining the swim conditioning club - where she gets to swim LOTS of laps of the pool twice a week.

Steve has been busy working, but developed an allergic reaction to some of the Lyme Disease drugs, and so has been off work sick for 2 weeks, which has slowed him down a lot.

Nikki is slowly but surely getting better, which is very exciting.

Snow Ice Cream Recipe (from our neighbor Meredith's Mum)

1 cup icing sugar (we think it could have used about half this, as it was REALLY sweet)

1 cup thick cream

1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

4 to 6 cups of fresh CLEAN snow

- mix it together and eat straight away - enjoy the next time you get a dump of snow near you.