Christmas with even more family

Today we celebrated with the extended Strada family since so many, though not all, were in town. Members were present from the Strada, Webster, Fricke, Tabor, Kovacs, Friedrich, Ross, and Szentkiralyi families, having traveled from Alaska, California, Connecticut (via Toronto), New Jersey, and North Carolina. What a reunion!

The Parents

The Cousins

The Cousins' Children

The Whole Gang

Christmas with the Strada Family

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas in Cleveland with the Strada side of the family. We also had an anniversary dinner for my parents, who have been married 37 years.

Charlotte and Alexander have been having so much fun playing with their cousin Matthew. Here is a picture of them with his mother Monica, while we were opening presents.

Here is a group photo of all of us who were together.

Clockwise from the left: My brother Andrew/Andris, his wife Monica/Móni, their son Matthew/Máté, my brother Peter/Peti, my brother Paul/Pák, my mother Mami/Najm, my father Papi/Najp, my brother Rob/Robi, my daughter Charlotte/Sári, me, my grandmother Nagymama/Dédi, my son Alexander/Sándor.

Kellemes Karácsonyi Ünnepeket Kivánunk!

Merry Christmas to all

Wishing you the gifts of peace, joy, and love on this Christmas Day and throughout the coming year!

Please join us in the British tradition of watching The Queen's Speech on Christmas Day. Her message of the importance of friends and family speaks to all of us.

With love,
The Webster Elves

Watch out Cleveland, here we come!

I don't know which is more exciting, that Christmas is coming or that we are going to Cleveland. Either way, the total excitement has made this a very difficult day for all of us. Packing, baking, cleaning, writing Christmas cards, and everything else we're supposed to be doing today...they all just seem so boring. We haven't even been able to enjoy playing our favourite games without much fighting. Let the party start!

One reason we're excited to go to Cleveland is to see our cousin Matthew. Here we are in the car together the last time we saw him in July.


We are also excited to see our uncle Rob who recently returned from Iraq and is already home for Christmas. Here he is with Najp and Najm when he arrived in Alaska a few weeks ago.


We can't mention everyone we want to see, because we're sure to leave someone out. Rest assured that if you are looking forward to seeing us, then we are looking forward to seeing you too. Unfortunately, we will not get to see everyone. With only 6 short days and lots of family, much of our time is already scheduled. Plus, Mummy has promised Daddy that we will not overdo it and come home needing another vacation. If we miss you this time, let's be sure to get together next time. Or just come visit us. If not in September, then anytime!

My first friend

I had previously written about my friend Ethan when we celebrated the end of summer together.



Here I am with Ethan at a playdate when we were two years old. We have actually been friends since Ethan was two months old when I was born.





Ethan and I are both in Kindergarten now, but we attend different schools. We don't see each other very often anymore. This month we played together three times. What a treat that has been!


Here we are walking home from the park a few weeks ago.

Out of the mouth of a three-year-old

I thought I'd pass them along a few statements that made me laugh this month.

"Am I in underwear?"

This is often the way that Alexander lets us know that he needs to use the toilet. I can only guess at his reasoning, but I think it might sound like this: "If I'm wearing underwear, then I must not be wearing Pull-Ups. If I'm not wearing Pull-Ups, then I must find a toilet. Now!"

"I didn't want to be so handsome."

He said this yesterday as he looked in the mirror when we returned home from a haircut, accompanied by tears and a grumpy face. He seems to have come to terms with his good looks today.

He sees you when you're sleeping

I'll talk to him, but don't even think about putting me on his lap!

So this Santa fellow must be a nice guy. He brings us cool presents and we even get to tell him what we would like. And all he seems to want in return is some milk and cookies.

But I thought we weren't supposed to talk to strangers, even if they offer us treats. And why does no one else have a problem with the thought of someone coming into our apartment while we're sleeping? I know that Mummy and Daddy lock the doors and windows at night. Now I find out that you can get in through the chimney?

And what's with all the names? When he came to Magyar Iskola (Hungarian School) last year, they called him Mikulás. At home they talk about Father Christmas. Everyone else seems to say Santa Claus. The whole thing is very confusing, even to a smart kid like me.

Maybe I'll feel a bit better if he brings me the hand bells he promised. I suppose it can't hurt to ask.

Here comes Santa Claus

Santa gave us a bit of a preview by coming to a Christmas party we attended this afternoon. Charlotte was very excited, although she made it clear that it was not the Real Santa, just someone in a costume. I had to stop her from telling all the kids. Even so, she was a bit shy on his lap, but did tell him that she would like a recorder for Christmas.


Alexander wanted to go home as soon as he heard that Santa was coming. I convinced him to come with me and sit on my lap as we waited. When his turn came, he clung to me and would not let go. He would not sit on Santa's lap, but did talk to him from my arms as we stood next to him. He told Santa that he would like a set of hand bells for Christmas.

Santa gave them each a hot chocolate mug with Christmas trees on it and a box of crayons. They ate too many cookies and both went to sleep tonight complaining of tummy aches.

Some things haven't changed

Here are more shots from about a year ago. I noticed three things that are still true about my children today.

Sometimes they are silly.

Sometimes they are cheeky.

The little one follows the ringleader.

My, how they've grown

These photos were taken almost a year ago, in January or February of this year.



I was amazed to see how much the children had grown in that time, specifically how much their faces had changed.

Our friend Anna

Many things happened this year that we have not yet shared, as the year was half over when we started this blog.

In January we enjoyed a playdate with our friend Anna at the park near her house. Anna was in the MOMS Club Preschool with Charlotte. I think she was the first "older woman" Alexander had a crush on!


We hope to see Anna again soon, along with her parents Priya and Dalibor!

He had to prove me wrong

The ironic thing is that the very next day after the last post, Alexander had a complete meltdown at lunchtime wanting to go pick up his sister from school. He was actually in hysterics.

"I miss her so much."
"Let's go right now."
"Please can we go pick her up?"
"But I want to!"
"I want to play with Jaja."
"Is it time now?"

He even turned down my attempts at bribery, refusing both TV and computer games.

Then he asked for a nap. He has not taken one willingly in a year and a half, so my first thought was that he must be coming down with something. But after an hour of sleep he was like a brand new person and joined me to pick up his sister with a smile.

What's a boy to do?

I love my sister, but I don't actually miss her too much while she is in school. She can be slightly bossy and does like to be the center of attention. So I don't mind getting 6 hours a day 5 days a week to make my own decisions, choose my own toys, and have Mummy to myself.


Even so, once Jaja comes home I am usually ready to play together. It doesn't usually happen though. She gets home and has to do homework. In Kindergarten. It is only supposed to take her 20 minutes, but she's a bit of a perfectionist and gets caught up in it sometimes. It's often dinnertime before she's done.


Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I have found that if I do some "homework" myself, it's almost like playing together. And she's usually willing to share her crayons, even if I do insist on peeling them.