Christmas Morning

Once he had these out of his stocking, he was not much interested in opening anything else.


Lucas's first Christmas

Thank you all for the wonderful gifts! We hope you had a very Merry Christmas. We did. Talking to our family on Skype and chat made the day complete. We love and miss you all!

Darmstadt Christmas Market

It looks pleasant, but it was really cold!

(L) All types of lebkuchen and candied almonds. (R) Rothenburg schneeballen ("snow balls") -- egg dough fried and covered with powered sugar or chocolate

(L) wax candles of all shapes and sizes; (R) beautiful wooden toys



This was taken at our ward Christmas party. One of the missionaries was dressed up as St. Nick. If you ask me, this is one freaky Santa costume! He looks more like something from Harry Potter.

(L) A little apprehensive; (R) It's hard to hold a candy cane when you're already holding 4 cars in your hands.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Awesome picture of Dallon helping an Afghan boy with a broken arm.

(L) The caption he wrote: "Hell just froze over."

"cold mornings"

Dallon says: "Christmas music has been all I have played since a few days before Thanksgiving...Then I open my eyes and I'm still here. It's like a nightmare, but the other way around."

Not only are these service men and women risking their lives, but they are also missing out on precious time with their families and simply the comforts of the lives we enjoy at home. We miss Dallon this Christmas, but we are so proud of what he is doing. We'll look forward to being all together again soon, and pray for the safe return of him and all others who are serving. I love my little brother so much!

Josh Groban's version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" was touching as it included messages from deployed soldiers. This song was written in 1943 for those serving in another war.

Milestone

Happy 6-month birthday, baby Lucas!
Lucas spits, rolls over, and has 2 teeth.

(I guess this also marks 6 months since I have had a full, uninterrupted night's sleep. But then, when you wake up to this smiling face, how can you be mad?)

The Boys

Here is a video of Lucas being a baby -- for the grandparents.



I realize I have never unveiled our guest bathroom on this blog, so I'm doing that now. It's the main attraction in this house, and definitely a work of art. When we have parties or guests, everyone wants to see it. It is a working toilet; you pull the cord to flush and a bell dings. I always keep the door closed as we never use it, but Jack found his way in there the other day and played in there for a good while.


(L) Jack helped me decorate the Christmas tree. (R) The bottom rack of my dishwasher has now become a parking garage.

Christmas Market & Reunion

Nearly every city in Germany has a Christmas market. We visited the one in Mainz with Aleks, and I loved it! Sadly enough, it was my first trip to a Christmas market, as we seem to have missed them completely last year.

They have stands selling all kinds of things: German cookies and candies, bratwursts, candied nuts, Christmas ornaments, these [very expensive] nativity scenes above, warm hats/mittens/slippers, carousel rides for kids, etc.

(L) I thought this was real holly. I'm not sure if it is.

On Aleks and Laura's last night in Germany, we invited over a German friend, Kimmo, and his family. Kimmo's family was friends with Aaron's family when they lived in Germany in the 1980's.


(L) Kimmo and Aleks; (R) Their daughter, Kristina, loved baby Lucas.

Castles on the Rhine