Cincinnati Thanksgiving and Christmas

It’s been a tradition for several years to spend Thanksgiving in Cincinnati with the Bauer Clan and celebrate both Turkey Day and Christmas, since we’re all together. Two holidays in one week may seem pretty hectic, but Nana and Papa make it very relaxing and special. Cozying by the fire, eating Graeters ice cream … Graeters cakes … dunker donuts … sweet rolls ‘til our guts bust and playing American Girl dolls – now that’s the life. Thanks Nanna & Papa, Jeff & Debbie and Todd & Julia for a great week.

American Girl crazy

Around these parts it's AG, but to most it's American Girl. Yes, it's now a big, evil corporation no longer owned by Pleasant Rowling, rather Mattel. But it all started right here in Middleton, Wisc., where each year they have a huge warehouse sale to benefit the Madison Children's Museum. Nana started collecting AG before she knew she'd have granddaughters. So her basement could be an AG museum. Welcome to the land of AG ...

At the Kit Kittredge movie with Nana and friends in Cincinnati.

MJ and her beat-up Bitty Baby.

At the AG store in Chicago with Nana and Papa.

Chicago AG store window.

Anna's smile was a mile wide when I took her to the AG benefit sale to spend her $21. And she bought ... Gwen (below) and some other little things. I went the day before with Nana and did some Christmas shopping. People come from all across the country to wait in line for a shot at $15 Bitty Babies and AG dolls for $30. Crazy American consumers!

Nana and Papa's, II

Nana and Papa's house is a little girl's fantasy land featuring rooms of dress-up clothes, books, dolls, dollhouses, paperdolls, doll furniture, frilly bedspreads and fancy vanity dressers. The house is complemented by a 2-story playhouse in the back yard and a tree swing (both made by Papa) in the front. The kids go there and just live in their imaginations for a whole week. Oh, and they also eat Graeter's ice cream every night!

On the porch of the playhouse with Papa looking in on the tea party.

This picture makes me smile because when I was Anna's age, I spent a week each summer with my Aunt Mae in Cleveland. She had a dressing table like this for me in her spare room. :)

Nana and Papa's House

Scott's parents gave our whole family a big gift this summer -- Anna and MJ both spent a long week in Cincinnati while Mom and Dad spent a relaxing week in Madison without sibling rivalry, bedtime drama and picky eating. We did miss the young 'uns, but Scott and I basked in our childless moments and took advantage of each spare minute ... went out for drinks, dinner, drinks again, to a concert, more drinks, out with friends, did I mention drinks? (I just love mojitos in the summer!) Anna and MJ basked in the glow of grandparents' love. They came back tired, tanned and carrying some extra American Girl doll accessories. Linda and Ervin, thanks for giving us a break and giving the kids a bunch of happy memories.

Now, first, a tour of some of Nana's gardens with MJ ...

Maria

More than 30 years ago, a boy from Cincinnati (Jeff Bauer) befriended a boy from El Salvador. The pen pals exchanged letters and visited each other's homes far away. In the 1980s, war broke out in El Salvador. Letters were lost and friends disconnected. Fast forward to this spring when the El Salvadoran boy's sister, Maria, googled 2098 Danville Drive, the address of Linda and Erivn Bauer, where she and her brother spent happy summer months in the 70s, and found the Bauer's phone number. After several decades, Maria returned to Cincinnati while on a business trip to the States. We (Scott, the girls and I) had the pleasure of spending a weekend with Maria. She is a warm, kind-hearted soul with a soft voice, beautiful eyes and sense of humor that defies language barriers. Anna and MJ fell in love with her, and Anna will now be a pen pal with Maria's daughter, Daniela. (Maria has 4 kids!) So the tradition passes on down the line. And, Maria, we are planning our trip to El Salvador. And I have Coffee Break Spanish on my iPod!

Would anyone else but Linda keep paper pinatas in her basement for 30 years? Maria was surprised to see these historical El Salvadoran gems unearthed.

Maria at Hickory Hill, the day camp where she spent summers in Cincinnati years back.

And, below, more El Salvadoran relics from the Bauer basement.

Happy 4th! II

Smack it, Anna!

Lifelong friends, Linda and Jill Evans.

The gang (minus Jeff, Debbie and Julia and plus Maria!)

Happy 4th!

Tradition dictates that we spend the 4th of July at the bucolic Evans' farm in Hamilton, Ohio. John and Jill are best of friends with the Bauer family. Linda and Jill roomed together (a few years ago) at Miami. The Evans throw a jolly bash with hayrides, fireworks, a pinata and scrumptious food, including John's homemade ice cream. Thanks, John and Jill. We also saw kick-butt fireworks in Cincinnati, and Nanna treated us to lots of treats for the 4th. God Bless America!

I ask you: Do I really look like this when I laugh? What a fool I am!!
(But I'll still continue to laugh so look away if you must.)

That's the spirit!