We chose not to travel back to Wisconsin this Christmas, but to stay home. We've made this decision for the past couple of years, finding it necessary to spend that short month of having Dan at home to reconnect as a family, knowing that when we are with both of our extended families (and for Dan, many friends as well), we don't actually see very much of each other or our children, who are quick to disappear with their cousins. We save that "back home" time for less stressful times of the year, and hope for some shorter visits from family in-between.
This Christmas we discovered the next best thing to visiting in-person with family: Skype! Dan has a new-ish computer and we can finally get in on the fun! This is where you would have found us on Christmas Eve day...
I think they were on for over an hour, but really, it was like being there!!! We saw the trains up close, took a peek out the window at all the snow, visited with Ms. Beasley, the cat...
We tried again just the other day, when we knew Dan's brother's family would be there. We miss those boys so much, and the girls were literally jumping out of their skin in anticipation. They amused themselves for quite some time while waiting for the call...(did I mention it's a new computer?)
Unfortunately something wasn't clicking on the other end this time, so our movements weren't in real time, but it was something akin to being on a long-distance call, with a bit of a delay, and we could see them just fine...they were very indulgent and patient, and let us jabber on for some time. Good sports!
I wish it were possible to be in two places at once, but in lieu of that, this was a real treat.
Ha ha! Those pics are so goofy! We loved talking with you too although it wasn't working quite right. We'd love to try again sometime though!
ReplyDeleteGlad to read that your days are starting to feel like you're on the road....
love,
reba
I've been thinking of giving Skype a try too. I've got a few relataives how would like to use it to chat with us...so we'll see. Fantastic pictures. I laughed too. :)
ReplyDeleteOn a totally unrelated note, I had a dream about you and the girls last night. We met at an unschooling gathering and it was awesome (and then it was down right weird...as dreams tend to be.)
Do you guys ever go to the Unschooler's Waterpark Gathering in Sandusky, OH? We have been thinking of going this year and I know you guys are in Ohio; perhaps this is why I had that dream. :)