It's Good to be Back...

We are back in the States visiting family in Ohio for the holidays.  It is good to be back, but it doesn't feel at all strange or different to be in Ohio for the holidays visiting with Thom's mom and his family.  After living in Wisconsin for almost 25 years, we have made the holiday trip back to Ohio every year.  It feels really pretty normal.  

We got in on Christmas Eve (all three flights from Kosovo went smoothly) and had a small group for dinner; including both of our kids, our daughter's partner, and her partner's parents.  This was a new twist, but James and Kim did not want to miss Christmas with family here and they did not want leave his parent alone in Wisconsin on Christmas Eve.  James's parents were willing to make the drive from Wisconsin to spend chaotic family time with us.  Kudos to Dean and Brenda.  Our son, Matthew, cooked our traditional dinner of potato latkes and minestrone soup.  It was ready when we arrived when we arrived on Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning with family

After a quiet Christmas morning of opening gifts with our family, we had a late afternoon dinner with the family members who could make it. Four of the ten cousins did not make it to the celebration, but it was still a big group of around 25. We had traditional ham, potato casserole, roasted vegetables, kale salad, and sister-in-law Kathy's traditional-styled cheesecake.  There is always a little gift-giving among families and a lot of catching up as we clean up the kitchen and enjoy desserts and cookies; and of course, a good supply of brother-in-law Greg's home-brewed beer and homemade wine. 

Maggie and Rori in their Christmas pj's

James and Matthew in their Christmas sweaters

Grammy, Thom, Matthew and Kim -- showing off Christmas sweaters

Unfortunately, the day always goes by in a flash and the cousins are soon headed home to states from Maryland to California.  I never feel like I have a chance to catch up with everyone, but that comes later as we have smaller meet-ups with Thom's siblings.  

The day after Christmas, we see James's parents off with breakfast at one of our favorite breakfast spots.  Later, we help clean up and I take a long walk.  

Friday, we drive two hours to Columbus to visit with my niece and her two girls (our pseudo-grandkids) at the Columbus Zoo.  We met at our favorite restaurant chain, Skyline Chili, for Cincinnati-styled chili and then headed to the zoo.  Although it rained from time to time, the temperature was unseasonably warm and we enjoyed traipsing through the zoo with little ones in tow.  We ended the afternoon with Graeter's Ice Cream and the attached indoor playground.  Definitely a top-notch day.

Me and Maggie looking at the aquarium

At the zoo with Kim, Rori, Maggie and Megan

Columbus Zoo with Rori and Maggie

Rori at the harbor seal and sea lion exhibit

Matthew, Rori and Maggie at the harbor seal and sea lion exhibit

Kim, Rori, Thom, Matthew, Megan, Maggie, and Me at the zoo

Lunch at Skyline Chili

Baby Orangutang

Riding the warthogs

The play area at Graeter's

Maggie climbing up the slide

Rori with her dinosaur hobby horse from Matthew

Kim, Rori, and Baby Beluga

Rori and Baby Beluga

Surrounded by beluga whales

In a whales mouth

Manatee eating lettuce

Rori at the tiger exhibit

Taking a break to wait for the elephants

Riding a baby warthog

Kim, Rori and Maggie riding a warthog

Maggie sees the playground

Enjoying some strawberry ice cream

Surfing on the sting ray

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Sunday, we took the last hike of 2024 and my first hike of the winter season with the hiking group.  I have been busy or the weather has been bad, so I have not been out with the group since October.  Sunday's hike was a perfect winter hike.  It was not too cold or windy and we had sun and blue skies.  We hiked the road to Ljuboten and there was fresh snow.  It was a little deep in some places, but mostly it was just perfect.  The Yak Tracs that I got for walking in Wisconsin worked great

We walked to one of the picnic areas where we were supposed to paint the tables in November.  That was the day we had the rollover accident, so the tables still need to be painted.  The guys from the hiking group made a fire in the snow and they roasted sausages for lunch.  It is good to know there will be days like this when we can hike this winter.

An American flag at Restaurant Bulica and Ljuboten in the background

Entering the Sharr Mountain National Park

There is a bit of snow, but vehicles had packed it down and it was hikeable

Snow-covered trees and the ever-present Ljuboten Peak

At the picnic area

A chalet near the picnic are

Getting the fire going

Roasting sausages

Eating lunch outside in the glorious sun

Distance snow-covered mountain peaks

Snow-covered pine trees

As the sun shifts -- you can't tell that Ljuboten in snow-covered

Early on Tuesday morning, we head to Skopje to catch our flight back to the States.  We will be visiting family in Ohio.  Although most people do not celebrate Christmas here, there is a two-week school break.  We have noticed more visitors already in Kaçanik as those who live abroad return to visit families in Kosovo.  We have been in Kosovo for 10 months and I look forward to the trip back.

Sunday night, we walked to the city square "shesh" to see the holiday festivities.  There are little huts for serving food, drinks, and hookahs.  They were still finishing the holiday tree and putting up more gas heaters.  A lot of people were there, but the music was too loud so we didn't stay. 

Sunday mostly operational

Hookah at the Shesh

Saturday while they were setting up

First attempt at decorating focaccia bread