Family Feed
Twelve grapes at midnight, as is tradition here. Leo managed seven before giving up. Clara ate none but enjoyed throwing them. Video called James & Linda in Portland (it was only 3pm there). Then called Viktor & Nadia in Saint Petersburg (already January 1st). Sophie sent a video of Lily refusing to go to sleep in Seattle. Same chaos, different time zones. We wouldn't have it any other way.
Barcelona tradition: open presents on December 25th (for the American side) AND January 6th (for the Spanish side, Reyes Magos). The kids don't complain about getting presents twice. This year Leo asked for 'a real dinosaur bone' — Alex found one on Etsy (certified fossil). Clara got a toy piano and has been playing it at 6am every morning since. Send help.
Dmitri's graphic design exhibition 'Между / Between' opened at a gallery in Kreuzberg. The show explores growing up between Russian and Japanese visual traditions. Viktor couldn't make it but watched the whole opening on FaceTime. Tatiana came from Helsinki. Maria says she cried (she denies this).
Maria attempted Rosa's paella recipe (the one she learned during the Portland visits). James said it was 'close but not quite' — which from him is basically a Michelin star. Linda sent corrections via WhatsApp. Leo ate only the saffron rice. Clara ate the wooden spoon. Family tradition: perfected by nobody, attempted by everyone.
Maria's half-sister Sasha finally made it to Barcelona! She and Maria explored the Gothic Quarter, ate too many churros, and stayed up until 3am talking about their dad (Viktor, the man of mystery). Sasha says Barcelona reminds her of Saint Petersburg 'but with better weather and worse drivers.' She's not wrong.
Dad finally finished the rocking chair he's been working on for TWO YEARS. Hand-carved walnut, no nails, traditional joinery. He made it for Leo and Clara — 'for when they visit Portland.' Mom says the garage smells like wood shavings and stubbornness. It's beautiful.
James and Linda flew over from Portland. Viktor and Nadia came from Saint Petersburg. Even Yuki made the trip from Tokyo (at 84!). Three generations, five languages, one tiny apartment in Gràcia. The kids ran wild in Parc Güell while the grandparents argued about whose country makes better dumplings (пельмени vs. gyōza — the eternal debate). Best two weeks of the year.
First proper beach day of the summer. Alex had Leo on his shoulders pretending to be a 'wave monster' while Maria chased Clara through the shallows. The water was perfect — warm enough for the kids, cool enough for the grown-ups. Leo found a 'treasure' (a smooth rock) and insisted on bringing it home. Clara ate sand. Classic.
