Our German Christmas

Its become tradition now that I do my own tree stylized just the way I like it with ornaments hung with precision! In this house it goes right in the entry way in front of the window looking out onto the street for all to see! 

Eslingen Medieval Christmas market 

Rothenburg au de tuber Christmas market 

Our Christmas market game was was off this year. We were plagued with ACT's and SAT's from late November into December, really bad weather and a colonoscopy that kept of from enjoying good foods at the market. Next year we will do better!

Christmas Eve

The Sisters joined us (Both from Utah) 

We made pirogies for appetizers and played games, read scriptures, and of course made the birthday cake for Jesus. Will this cake ever look good? No one ever wants to eat this cake. Year after year it is just the worst!

When you have a missionary in the Field, Christmas phone calls are the best! Luana is doing well and will be home from her mission at the end of March. 

With just one teenager home we didn't wake too early or have to much of a commotion. It was quiet and peaceful and we didn't spend hours unwrapping toys from mega packaging. It was nice and easy.

Scarf mema made her

all of her lute

3 countries apart but its the best moments that warmed our heart!

We were also able to talk with Seth for over an hour and he is doing great! Still learning how to be the best missionary he can and practicing on the language, but loving the people and loving the feeling of being guided by the spirit more consistently.

It isn't like other Christmases we've had but it was joyful and we were happy!

It was our Christmas! 

Harry Potter

Ok, so it was a trip to London, which you know we've been before. Ask me sometime the story of how badly I wanted to go to the Harry Potter studios and by turns of events never made it! 

Well we most defiantly went this time! 

The model that is used in the areal views

The great hall

The potions lab

The bus!!

Butter beer- Yum!

Butter beer Ice cream

Ok, we did a few other things as well! We visited "Winter wonderland" in Hyde park, We

had a good time in the lego store making people that looked like us!

We ate Indian food ..... of course

Not sure why, but we visited a giant American candy store where they

 sold peanut butter cups for $5.00

We saw Aladdin!

So.... Harry Potter yup, we went to the Harry Potter Studios! 

The North Pole

Finnish elf hat

It was Finland for Christmas! The North Pole, Arctic Circle, Santa village! (The real santa)

the taste of reindeer

Wild forest berries are everywhere in Finland

Visiting Santa's village at the North Pole is every little girls dream!

We took a Northern Lights photography tour and it was -11 degrees and we saw no lights 

Christmas Spirit 

Writing to Santa

WE planned a snow sled ride, but we had no snow. We only had frost.

We visited a Finland history museum

We traveled with friends and had a Thanksgiving meal together! 

Beautiful views

Getting ready to see Santa

at a mixed Asian party

hanging out time was fun with friends

nomadic tent

dog sled ride

Fire is welcome on a frozen tundra at midnight!

We are now ready for Christmas celebrations!

Grateful Early and Always

In the attempt to maximize travel time (Because lets face it, we are pretty thankful for travel) with school breaks, we decided to have Thanksgiving a week early and have a feast with new friends in our new home, so that on the actual break we could travel!

cheese balls and veggies with dip appetizers 

desserts pot luck style

The traditional apple pie

yummy!

Pumpkin rolls boxed for parting favors

I am not sure if I am sad that we were having so much fun that I didn't get any pictures of the new friends and the eating part of it or not because we did have too much fun to stop and take pictures. I am more Thankful! Happy Thanksgiving!

Breakfast for tomorrow!