I had a blog all written about traditions and just hit the delete button...it's gone just like some of my favorite traditions. That's what time, distance and age do to time honored traditions. They will, however, live on in my overactive memories forever. I cherish them all both the good ones and the not so good ones. Anyway...on with the blog!
This will be most likely and if all goes as planned, our LAST Christmas in Germany. Just typing those words is difficult. I love everything about the holidays in Germany except the actual Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and being away from our family during those days. This year we had the best of both worlds!! We spent the first half of December going to parties, enjoying the Christmas Markets and putting up minimal decorations.
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| Hiesse Shokalde- Hot Chocolate...Mmmmm! |
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| A little Kinderpunsch booth at St Wendels Christmas Market |
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| Santa Claus and his reindeer |
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| Sinter Klaus traditionally dresses more like a church saint or Bishop |
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| Sinter Klaus gets in your house by way of a rope here in Germany! |
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| The traditional Christmas Pyramid |
Then we flew half way across the world to spend two glorious weeks in the states with our family and friends. It was SO much fun!
We flew into Boise on Thursday the 15th very late at night. The next day Mike and I went to look at a house that our son, Patrick told us about that is behind the one he is renting in Eagle. I was sure that it would be perfect and after seeing it....it was! The only thing it's lacking for me is a view of the foothills. We decided to make an offer that very day that was accepted...now we just wait for closing before it's really ours! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out.
Then that afternoon, daughter Codi and I hopped a plane to St. George, Utah so we could attend my niece, Karissa's wedding! The whole Law side of the family including the groom to be, Darrin were at the airport at 11:00 p.m. to surprise us! It was great! The next day we went to the temple and were able to watch and support them as this cute couple began their journey to forever.
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| Brady, Kelsi and Madison Law....my cute nephew and nieces. |
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| Mr. and Mrs. |
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| The St. George Temple |
The next day we flew back to Boise in time for family dinner at Pat and Donna's. It was wonderful to be at Sunday family dinner again. We really miss it!
We spent the next few days shopping like crazed little elves and eating like crazed fat Santas!
On Thursday we drove up to the cabin. NO snow anywhere! Scott and Codi and the kids came up a little later that evening. We decided to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas morning a couple of day early because they would be staying at the cabin through the weekend and we would be heading back down to Eagle for Christmas.
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| The Pattern Cookie Tradition continues! |
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| The kids got a remote controlled Air Shark..awesome! |
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| Cute grandkiddies opening gifts while mom takes notes. |
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| Travis controlling the shark. |
The kids also went Gold Fork hot springs with Papa Mike since there wasn't any snow for skiing.
On the 24th, we headed back down to Boise to celebrate at Vella's with our pizza and white elephant tradition. It's always fun and good for a few belly laughs!
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| Me with adorable little Lucca! |
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| London wanted to do the White Elephant too! |
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| Mike and his mom, Vella...the hostess with the most-est! |
Afterwards we went over to son, Pat and daughter in law, Natasha's to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. We were so lucky to be able to be with all the grandkids and celebrate their Christmases with them. It all worked out perfectly!
We went to church at our old ward the Eagle Fourth Ward. It's always good to see our old friends and the meeting was so good.
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| Mike and his brother, Pat.....ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! |
Then we all met back at Pat and Donna's. No big Christmas dinner this year. The girls decided to do Chuck's crepes instead. Much less hassle, but you know me...I have a hard time letting old traditions go. Well one tradition that never seems to fade away is that of the after meal nap!
We finished up our last few days in Boise with shopping and eating...do you see a pattern here??
The flight home went smoothly and we got home in time to unpack, rest up for a day and then get ready to party.
We went over to Shumate's with about six other families and celebrated New Year's Eve in the way only the Germans can do!! With lots of fireworks! Bottle Rockets!! Roman Candles!! You name it!! Midnight actually found us in Shumate's office watching the Utah bowl game on his computer. It was almost midnight, it was in overtime and Utah was about to score when the computer froze and after about 12 seconds it came back and all we could see was the Utah sidelines cheering and celebrating...we missed the touchdown! Of course, we did see it on the replay. Then we went outside and the fireworks were going off all over the village and as we looked out across the sky, you could see fireworks going off in every little village as far as you could see. It's like a Stadium of Fire in every village, put on by the people of each village and it goes on for an hour! It really is one of my favorite memories of our time in Germany!
love and miss you all,
-corri
New Year Cards
Orkut Scraps - GoodLightscraps.com
Mom, it sounds like a great December. I am very sad to hear that you were in St. George and we didnt know. It would have been fun to you see you and Codi.
ReplyDeleteTroy
I'm so sorry that we missed you! I didn't realize you were in St. George. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your sweet family! Come visit us before we move back to Eagle next summer!!
ReplyDeleteAs always, your other mother :)