The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

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Merry Christmas

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Home

We made it back to our home in Birmingham, AL yesterday. We had a long 14+ hour flight into Detroit where we took advantage of the Weston Hotel, which is inside the airport, and slept, ate and showered Friday night before catching our ( delayed) flight to Birmingham. We were greeted at the airport with hugs, signs and tons of family, it was a wonderful reunion. We picked up our mid-sized ( tiny) rental car and headed to our house. We had pizza and beer and enjoyed hanging out with family, Hoyer enjoyed all of his toys. He was like a mad man going through everything, testing out his bed, riding his rocking horse, putting on shoes found in his closet, he was pretty cute.

Sunday, we will get our Christmas tree, head to church, unpack and decorate! Kyle and I were both shocked at the lack of clothes we left here. Kyle has a seersucker suit and a white shirt in his closet, I have a few sundresses. The hunt begins for our clothes, storage unit, his parents or my parents? Hopefully we will get that sorted!

Still trying to adjust to the time, I am Up at 5:30 am!

Merry Christmas, it is good to be home.

Table Top Christmas Tree?

So, I don't have much room in HK for a tree. Sad. Our fake tree sits on the ledge of our bay window sill. When I get back to the States for Christmas, I will get a real tree at least, but still won't have very much room for much more than a table top tree. (not to mention a toddler who loves to get into everything at his reach)So, here are some pictures from the web that are my inspiration this year.



Pic from Martha



I love all the silver, I have tons of silver pieces just sitting around, this bucket is a perfect thing for an elegant wintery tree.

Pic from Martha



Country Living

I am a big fan of these rosemary trees, you can find them at Lowes, just replant, so chic and simple, a great decoration for mantle or kitchen, plus you can use the herb!


Or I could go crazy and do an Asian theme like this one from Southern Living:


Back to reality....


Country Living (all below)






Country Living

More silver, now if only I had this fabulous sink in my kitchen! But, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride...oh what the heck...here's what I really wish my house could be like this Christmas!










There's a place for that table top idea.....and here is my wish for my front door:



Or



Ok,I am officially homesick and envious! Merry Chritmas!


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Christmas Movies:

My friend, Mollee and I were talking about Christmas movies that we love. We don't get any Christmas tv or movies in HK and just talking about it made us home sick! Here are a few of our favorites:

Love Actually, love love this one, such a sweet movie, and it reminds me of Our 2 amazing Christmas' we spent there.




The Holiday, an all time favorite even out of season, watched it so many times in London, used to dream about it....


The Family Stone, Mollee pointed out that HK is mentioned in this film as the place the couple met, neither of us paid any attention until now, so funny.


Christmas Vacation, a classic and one The Benefields watch religiously each year.




A Christmas Story, AKA "you'll shoot your eye out" a Gill favorite for sure.


And the classics of course, plus Charlie Brown, The Grinch...




I wish we could have a fire going and watch these movies right now with a big tin drum of popcorn, separated into three sections: cheese, regular and caramel, preferably with some horrible snowy christmas scene on the side of the bin. The one below will do. Oh, American Christmas traditions....how I miss thee....






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Foxy Christmas

Aren't these so cute? They are from Liberty in London, but our local department store, Lane Crawford is carrying them too. I would love a tree full of these scratchy critters. Too bad everything on our fake HK tree is edible.... Candy canes and strings of popcorn and cranberries. I can't wait to get home and adorn a proper tree with proper ornaments.







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Location:Capevale Dr,,Hong Kong

Hong Kong Birthday

On our way to a friend's dress up birthday...Hoyer was a panda

Hoyer and the Birthday Girl, Jackie!

Having fun on the slide...

at our local park

Face painting is always fun!

The Great Wall: location of our Christmas Card picture this year!

Christmas at Pacific Place

 Hoyer checking out Santa's log cabin

 the train that stole Hoyer's heart...

 inside Santa's house

What a tree!

Disney Play Date

 Have you ever seen more enthused kids? Jeez...!

Hoyer and Avery- friends from London and now, back together in HK!

 Hoyer's name on his hat.

 It's a small world

 Lunch while watching the parade of cars down main street.

it was hot...80 degrees, but it still feels like Christmas at Disney!

Going...Going...Gone

 We watched this unbelievable sunset take place in a matter of seconds in Phuket.  

It was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. 

The sun looked like it was melting into the water. 

Truly spectacular.