Gifts Galore

Yesterday we took a trek across Slovakia (literally!) with our friend Heather.

With Heather's help, churches and schools collected toys and goods in shoeboxes to be given to children here in Slovakia.  There were SO many gifts given...which was simply awesome to see.

Jas was a champion at packing the car full.

Elise and I were already jammed in the car at this point, so Heather took a pic.  Take a look...

Pretty impressive, huh?  Way to go, Slovaks!  Hope there are some smiling kids out there this year :)

DEPO Mikulas Par-tay

We went to our first Mikulas party the other day!  It was at DEPO (our local youth community club type place) and everyone was supposed to come in a mask and/or a costume.

We were lacking in creativity as far as costumes go, but we did manage to crank out some masks (though they were pretty much ghetto and we didn't end up wearing them long because they didn't stay on well...I'm sure you wanted to know all that :)

Here's the little rockin' hers:

Then there was Jason and his mask with Darius, all dressed up... (pardon the blurry-ness)

And we had some really great food (Sonya's pizza dip was to. die. for.)

Along with some really good games.  Take this one for example...the classic white elephant gift swap (only we had good gifts...)

And then there was this fun game.  Each line squeezes hands and whoever grabs the object at the end first wins. Fun!

My friend, Bara, was there.  She helps me learn this often difficult language :)

And Elise doesn't always love doctors, but she loved Dr. Sonya! Cute.

Elise did great for most of the party. Then all the noise and people were starting to wear her down, so she and I headed home.  We sure enjoyed our first Mikulas party, though...fun times!

Our Christmas Card!

This year we had a cheery little baby to model for our Christmas card.

So we set to work.  And now it's time to share!

Wishing every one a MERRY CHRISTMAS (we know it's still a few weeks off), but here's a Christmas card from the Palmers...

And a few more outtakes for kicks and giggles...

Have a happy winter-y weekend!

Yahoo! Mikulas!

Yesterday we set our boots out on the windowsill in anticipation of St. Mikulas' arrival with goodies to fill our boots.

Who is St. Mikulas you ask?  Here's a good explanation...

Bishop Mikuláš lived in the fourth century and was famous for his generosity, especially to children and the poor. The 6th of December then became a holiday in his memory.

So all the good Slovak children can expect to wake up to a boot full of chocolates, sweets and fruit. However, Saint Mikuláš is always accompanied by the Devil and an Angel and the naughty children may be left only with cheeks marked with black coal – a little present from the devil.  (source)

So we decided to follow suit and join Slovaks for this fun day.  We chose our boots (Well, Jas chose them all...notice how he found my biggest boot...I think Mikulas outdid himself this year ;) and set them out and when we woke up yesterday morning they were filled with treats!  Exciting!

Elise didn't have a boot, so we went with a cute sewn shoe made by her Grandmommy.

And since Mikulas couldn't fit all of Elise's treats in her tiny shoe, he decided to fill an old wipe box (of course it was clean) with the rest of them.  What a clever guy, that Mikulas!

Oh my, Mikulas knows the way to my heart too.  That Milka chocolate Mousse was a-ma-zing.

To top it off, Elise's awesome Aunt Marianne sent a sweet Mikulas day present for E...

See those little puppet guys and that onesie?  Yep, all courtesy of the aunt.  Too cute.  Thanks, Marianne!

Oh, and I guess no-one in our house was naughty this year, because we didn't wake up with cheeks marked by coal.  I jest...we are totally sinners and deserve more than coal marks (death), but I'll happily take God's grace over death any day...and I'd most definitely choose chocolate over coal also ;)

So that's how we celebrated December 6th.  Now speaking of chocolate, there's another bar calling my name.  Better run...

Hoooo looks cute in a bow?

That little girl of ours is growing like a weed.  Seriously growing.

She has been growing out of her newborn clothes and even some of her 3 month things!  So the other day I decided we better put to use these little outfits that she's about to be too big for.

This cute owl onesie is one of those she's getting close to outgrowing.  But I loooove it.  I just think it's precious (thanks, Leigh!!!).

So here's the model herself donning a sweet green bow with her almost-too-small onesie that I can't get enough of...

How's that for a dose of cuteness?

And it's worth mentioning that said owl outfit even made it through the day poo-free.  Now that's a near miracle ;)