Readjusting...

We've been back from Spain for close to two weeks now and have quickly fallen back into our old routines. I always find this rapid adjustment after a lengthy trip somewhat unsettling. The memories from the adventure are still crystal clear, yet in a strange way it feels as if the trip didn't actually happen, or if it did happen it was a very long time ago. It's a bit hard to explain, but I imagine the contrast between where we were and where we call home is so great that it's hard to mesh the two "existences" together into one cohesive picture. I'm sure Elise doesn't experience this, but Pam likely knows what I mean...

Regardless, we have a couple of weeks before we head off to Hawaii for Christmas vacation to visit Ron and Sharon, and we are busy catching up on work, reconnecting with friends and skiing. The winter has started well up on the mountain and Elise and I enjoyed her first day out last Saturday. She skied very confidently on her new skis and we both had a nice time. She starts lessons after New Years and we are all anxious to see how she likes them.

For the month between trips we signed Elise up for taekwondo, an activity she had personally requested. You pay for one month and then attend all the classes you want (there is one each evening). I think she went three times last week, and that was only because we had engagements on the other two nights. She really seems to like it. The classes are playful yet disciplined and she seems very drawn to her teacher, a martial arts expert the kids simply refer to as "Sir". How long her interest will last is anyone's guess - she's six after all -  but she claims, somewhat convincingly, that she wants to get a black belt. Time will tell...