All Things Christmas

Well, we are thankful to have had a relaxing past few days...and I just haven't gotten around to getting Christmas pictures up.

But now it's time.  This Christmas was different for us not being with family and being in a whole new location, plus having Christmas with our first child!  But while it was different, it was also refreshing.

We got up and read Luke 2 together, prayed, and talked about the true meaning and importance of Christmas (that of the birth of Christ, our Savior).  Then it was breakfast time, followed by opening presents.

Later in the day we skyped with our families, which was great (I failed to get pictures of that, though...was just trying to be all in the moment).   In between opening presents and talking with family, we watched a few Christmas movies, and ended the night sleeping under a fort...fun! :)

Photo play-by-play?  Why of course!  Here ya go...

Christmas morning photos with the little.

Playing with her new friend Olivette the Owl (yes, the owl really has a name :)

Showing her a new sweater.

She really liked this new book...haha.

Funny story:  See those pictures of our friend Tom above?  Yep, that's my Christmas present from the hubby.  I had asked for some red Tom's shoes which Jas ordered, buttttt they got lost in the mail and hadn't yet made it here to us in Slovakia on Christmas day (still haven't).  So Jas, being the creative guy that he is, printed off a bunch of red-toned "Toms" for me to have on Christmas morning...haha!  I love that man of mine.

And one of my favorites from the day...

No fort pictures this year...next year, certainly.

It was, indeed, a unique Christmas, but we were thankful to be together.  And speaking of being together, Jas and I celebrated three years of marriage two days after Christmas.  We enjoyed the day with M&M pancakes for breakfast (yum!) and a dinner out.  (Thanks, families, for the cards, and Holloway's for watching Elise so we could enjoy time together :)

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

To the Market We Went...

Ah, Christmas, Christmas...three days away, WHAT!?

So in the spirit of Christmas, we tagged along with the Holloway's and Doyle's for their annual trip to the Vienna Christmas market.

We thoroughly enjoyed it.  The atmosphere was top notch, the food, of course was off the chain, and the company...exquisite!  We had a really good time.

I managed to get some photos in between nursing, checking on that hobbling husband of mine (he had to take it very slow), and eating!

Al and some cute girl in a lot of pink.

Bad lighting, but a family photo in front of all those awesome ornaments.

The one good group photo of the night (except Tom ducked out, and Mary is barely visible back there).  Please note how Jason is standing...he was either walking or standing the whole night, my poor waddling man.

Kara and Ellie.

Ben and, oh, who's that again?

Speaking of that little star, here she is herself...

And I'll end with one of my favorite photos of the night.  We loved all the lights and decorations.  Take these for example, they looked like chandeliers...

Great time.  Maybe next year we'll be able to go and both Jas and Elise can join me in walking ;)

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!

We decked the halls!

It's true, last week we got our decorate on.

Here in Slovakia, it's common and cultural to put your tree up a day or two before Christmas day.  And while we're down with that, we both still quite like the atmosphere a tree provides, as well as all the other fun decor.

So we pulled out our two shoeboxes, found us a local tree-selling place, cut out some snowflakes, and set to work.

Prepare for photo overload :)

Meet our little tree (it's about as tall as I am).

Putting on her pink stocking ornament (thanks Great Gma Rodriguez!)

And Daddy had a little helper putting up the star.

Snowflakes hung. Stars hung. Nativity set out.

Then I had a little night time fun playing around with the camera.

And finally a little preview of our Christmas-y photo shoot with Elise...

Loving me some Christmastime and decorations, but more importantly, loving me the true meaning of it all!

Christmas Numero Dos

I feel like keeping it simple today.  They say pictures are worth 1,000 words...

So here are many words in play-by-play form of Palmer Christmas:

A very good Christmas spent with family and close friends!

And while we LOVE the snow, I'll just say, it has stinkin' messed up about every travel plan Jas, Mia, and I have had!  Farewell, Boston...we'll miss being snowed in up there, but at least we'll be snowed in together down here...oh the patience being learned.

In other news, it's looking like Mia will get home (we hope for her sake!) on the 29th.  Pray, pray, pray!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Veselé Vianoce!
Feliz Navidad!

Christmas Numero Uno

The past few days we spent in Hickory with my family.  It was a really sweet time.

Not only was it sweet, but we got to spend it with my brother AND with a Slovak...awesome!

The boys dominated at Wii...though the girls undoubtedly gave a valiant effort.

My grandmother really liked these candlesticks!

Even though Mia was supposed to be with her family on Christmas, we were glad to have her celebrate with us!

We're not exactly sure what Christmas will look like next year, but we do know two things.  1) Christmas (and every day) is and always will be about Christ.  2)  We'll love our families wherever we are!

And as they say in Slovak, "Veselé Vianoce" (translation: Merry Christmas :)