I am a firm believer in English as the national language of the USA, but there are large gaps in our vocabulary. One of those is the way we greet each other. The words hi and bye are extremely impersonal and ineffective at expressing a proper emotion. I cringe every time the useless greeting comes out of my mouth as I approach the grocery clerk and bank teller. What we need is something more like the word shalom. It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, well being and harmony. How about that for a better way to greet and bid someone farewell?
During the past week we said hi and bye to Ouma, Oupa, and GG. Yes, both unemotional words in one sentence. Partly because I'm sad they are gone already just when we were getting used to having them around.
With five adults in the house someone was always available to interact with the twins individually or together. Ouma let them stand on the little chairs for a cooking class about how to make homemade rolls.
Opening presents this year was 100 times more enjoyable because Easton and Layla were genuinely grateful and excited for the presents. Also, the contents was more prized than the box and wrapping paper unlike the previous three years. The person who wrote the 12 days of Christmas song must have had kids. We've been celebrating with meals and presents for days now!
The 4 Webbs were disheartened because our three visitors high-tailed it back to Sacramento for extended family gatherings. We understand and are happy they were able to return to see other rarely seen family members.
David and Tam were sensitive enough to notice and kind enough to invite us over for Christmas day at their home. They are our extended family here in Phoenix. One way we recognize this is by how comfortable Easton and Layla are around them.
Also the ability for us to have grown-up conversations with them while the two sets of twins are playing quietly together. The not-so-quiet moments are still great like when Ben is giving piano lessons to them.
The weather was perfectly pleasant so we took a leisurely stroll to their neighborhood park for some social interaction and high-flying swings. Easton was laughing like crazy asking me to push him faster. Someday soon he'll be ready for the solo swings, but for now I'm perfectly content to share in the experience with him.
Layla is becoming quite fashionable very quickly. Her purse is filled with all kinds of lip gloss, hair bows, and accessories. Now she has a bigger purse to store even more stuff for the long (10 minute) rides to Costco.
Easton and Layla comment daily about how tall they are getting and how much they are growing. We don't need to remind them or be reminded because we already have this conversation regularly. Sometimes I want to say, "Don't remind me! I want to be this size and age forever!" But of course I don't say that. :)
The extended vacation time at home is amazingly grand. I can't believe we haven't done this before where I take vacation just to be at home as the 4 Webbs without travel or visitors. What a concept! I'll have to try this more often.
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