Viel Glück

On New Year's Eve, I think it is pretty common for Austrians to give their friends good luck charms for the New Year. The charms come in many shapes and sizes...including pigs, four leaf clovers, ladybugs and mushrooms. Our neighbors brought us these little guys and wished us "good luck" for the New Year.

May you all have a Happy New Year!

Vacation...

Ah yes, the mountains. Our family escaped for a few days to find some much needed rest.
We had a lovely time, but came home even more exhausted than when we left. How does this always happen?

The kiddos did find time to enjoy their "snugglies" or whatever they are called...the best gift ever from the Glam Grams!

Levi and Daddy played "ninja"...

And there was lots of time spent on the slopes...

some on ski's and others on snowboards...


Now we are home, tired and a little sore and we have new mountains to conquer...laundry!

Christmas Eve Traditions...

After attending a candlelight worship service, we came home and the kids got to open one present...which is always matching p.j.'s

then we snuggled on the couch to listen to Brad read, "The Night Before Christmas"

we set out cookies for Santa...
then we sent the kiddos off to bed, so visions of sugar-plums can dance in their heads...
While Brad and I finish wrapping gifts, prepare the cinnamon rolls for the morning and watch a little "Elf"

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a Good Night!

*New*

*new* to the terrace...SNOW

At our Christmas worship service, we had many *new* folks join us for the first time

And for our devotional for the kiddos, we adapted a lesson from my *new* "What God wants for Christmas". The kids loved passing all of the figures around and setting up the nativity.

For our team Christmas dinner we tried a *new* restaurant called Camelot
Abby looks happy here doesn't she...really she just realized that we don't get to eat with forks...
the boys of course were thrilled!

our eating utensils...sans fork

LOTS OF MEAT!!!

We also exchanged gifts and I am loving my *new* candle holder from Lindsay

And from our family to yours...we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy *New* Year

P.S. Finally a *NEW* POST

Friday Favorites-Seeing Red

Happy Friday from Vienna!

Making and Baking...

This year we are trying to make as many gifts as we can. There has been lots of painting, printing and framing pictures of friends and the use of porcelain markers. We have made a lot of personalized coffee/hot chocolate mugs this year. :)

Peppermint bark is a Christmas staple...


So are chocolate drizzled pretzels (with a hint of peppermint extract)


Today the cookie baking begins, with Cranberry-Pistacio Biscotti from Realsimple.com and sugar cookies from Alton Brown.

Looking for a way to make great ornaments from your yearly Christmas photos? Check THESE out. I will attempt to make these after Christmas...

as we also have been making our church's front windows more festive and we have been preparing for our Christmas worship service...


If you are in the area, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20TH AT 4 PM, then stop by NEW CITY WIEN (located at Operngasse 28)

Worship with us and then stick around for Christmas music and goodies afterwards!

She said YES!

She said YES...on our terrace!!!

We had the privilege of being part of the "surprise" on Friday evening. Leslie thought we were celebrating our friend Matt's birthday, so when she arrived we asked her to go and get the drinks off of the terrace (as we commonly put drinks outside to get cold, with our fridge being on the small side)...all the while, Felix was up on the terrace waiting with the ring! It has been a joy for us to watch their relationship blossom!




We went on to celebrate their engagement and Matt's birthday!

Friday Favorites-Christmas Edition

I love looking at our tree full of ornaments and remembering the stories behind them...

When Brad and I first got married, whenever we would take a trip we would try to remember to get an ornament from that particular location-a small reminder of that special time.

This ornament is from Hawaii, where we went on our honeymoon.

We also have received very special ornaments from Brad's parents...this one was Pops' when he was growing up...



This shell angel was part of a set that we received for a wedding gift...


Then there are also the ones that the kiddos have made in school...so precious!


And the ones that are made by dear friends...

Now each year we try to get an ornament for each of the kiddos, that represents them in some way. For example, this year Abby got a horse ornament. Someday they will get to add these memories to their own trees!

All reminders of special times, places and people. How grateful I am to have a tree full of stories and precious memories:)


Happy Friday from Vienna!

Easy Ornament

Yesterday, Abby came home from school saying that she made a really cool Christmas ornament and wanted to show me how...

She said all we needed were:
*a few candles
*matches
*a cookie cutter
*a bowl with water
*a needle
*thin string or dental floss

First you fill the bowl with water and place your cookie cutter inside of it, then you light the candle and watch the wax drip and fill the cookie cutter shape. Drip the wax until the shape desired is filled. Once cooled, press out of the mold. Then put a needle in a flame to get hot and then stick in the top of the ornament to make a hole. Add string or dental floss. How easy is that!!!

To do this craft, please watch your child carefully...as obviously fire can be very dangerous :)






Fire+Craft=Very Happy Girl