My generous company gives its ex-patriot employees (me) and their families one yearly trip home. We chose to go back to Raleigh at Christmas to stay with Christina, Derek and Lincoln for about two weeks. It was great. Every day but Sunday was 'shopping day'. We were lucky because many stores were having sales, plus just buying in the US saves at least 25%. We brought back four more suitcases than we left with, all big ones, and all packed to the seams.
This will always be "The Christmas of the Wall" to me, because as you will see in the picture, we decided to remove a wall - only to discover that from an engineering point of view, it is not a smart idea. So the wall stays, but since the sheet rock is already off, we have some options we are considering. You can't see it from this shot, but the other interior study wall is being remodeled as well. The shower is gone. So there are opportunities there as well.
The second shot is the family gathered in the living room, everyone looks happy. I think Christina's family is happy because we were there, the Allens are happy because they know they are getting American food for supper.
The third shot is the wrapping paper wasteland that we always create by the end of Christmas morning. Imagine how it would look if we weren't trying to clean up as we went?
And the last shot is Amanda with her gift pile - and a beautiful Christmas smile.
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