A peek into our Christmas...
This picture is of our Christmas tree. This year Mom went from totally anything goes, especially those half-broken Santa-like statues the kids made in first grade, to a classic Christmas tree all white and see-through and silvery decorations. It was very pretty and of course there were angels on it! You gotta have angels! At night with only the lights of our Christmas tree burning it looked like it had snown on it.
In Iceland there is this odd tradition of openeing your Season´s Greetings and such cards on the eve of the 24th, just after having unwrapped all your presents. I think it is a daft tradition, but I am one and we are a big family and well...what with democracy and all, I gave up the fight a long ago. So this is how they get collected in our house.
The Patriarch of this household. My dad. And he is very happy about my gift. See this man, as many in Icleand, is totally obsessed with the weather. During the last 10 minutes of our daily news, absolute quiet must return to the house, so we get every little detail of the weather forecast, so we can adjust our lives accordingly. We repeat the same ritual 2 hours later, during the late evening news and if the weather is particularly temperamental, we´ll throw in an extra radio listening just for the heck of it! So I gave him a a book about the weather and almost anything about it as a joke. He laughed! Thank God, one just doesn´t tempt Thor around these shores:)
I just love this picture. This is Gretar and he is three. He was so happy about all his gifts. There was a Superman figure, and a calculator and a tool box and some ear warmers and more and more stuff and all evening he tried walking around the house with all his gifts and they just kept falling down on him. I love his smile and the twinkle in his eye. Precious.
The youngest addition to our family. Asa, she is a little over a year and seemed to have had a wonderful time. The entire floor was plastered with wrapping paper and she had a
Most importantly. Christmas is about family and we sure are a big bunch. Here they all are, more or less in focus. They have been my family for 10 years now and I can hardly remember any significant time without them. I love you guys.
51 Comments:
Family Christmases are the best and it seems like you have a good family to enjoy it with. I love Gretar and his tie - he looks very happy with his presents.
Well, that was a post to make Christmas last a little longer. Beautiful tree and beautiful family. Do I remember a picture of you holding Asa at her baptism, say, a year ago?
And I'll take this gift: Vedur is Icelandic for weather? Is the "V" pronounced like an english f?
A little padding and your dad would make a pretty good Santa. Take it from someone in the field.
charming, lovely, and wonderful. a fitting family Christmas for someone as charming, lovely, wonderful, and *special* as you are, my friend.
thank you for sharing these memories. not so hard to see what all the fuss is about, where your family's concerned!
May you enjoy continued happiness throughout this holiday season... and may this New Year bring more joy and love into your life than you ever thought possible! xoxox
Sounds absolutely delightful and what a beautiful family (although do not think I didn't notice YOU missing from the pics!!! I wanna see YOU!) and YAY on having a kindred soul celebrate Christmas the same time as me! 24th rules! RULES I tell you! This whole 25th thing is weird for me! ;-P
I am glad to see that a special time was had my sweet Monika! you deserve everything in life to be special for you! That having been said, it only follows that I wish you a special New Year and will we finally meet! I think so!!! Besos my sweet friend!
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful family and your sentiments and all that love, love, love! lucky you! And lucky us!
trundling grunt, welcoem around these rather tropical shores :) And yes, a wonderful time has been had by all and I think this Christmas made it to the top three. Which is not surprising since I made the desert :)
Doug,
a)
yes, you probably remember a picture of me holding Asa on the day of her baptism.
b) the V in vedur is pronounced like the v in vertical!
I´ll tell Dad you made that comment! We´ll see where you end up on the list;)
Neva, thank you so much and yes may 2008 rock at least as much as 2007, but hopefully even more.
Miz B. well, then you have to stay tuned, ´cause I might switch a photo at some point. I just wasn´t ready :) I am shy, you know!
cindra, it is a pleasure to share them, believe me they have enough love to emebrace a lot of people. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and many a delightful moment yourself!
You made a desert? After trying to eat one? That really was some Christmas. And after you made it, where did you put it? Your house is full!
Your friendly neighborhood OCDish (and somewhat jealous) pedant :).
Looks like a great time, M.
Oc, it was slightly crowded I have to admit...but that is the fun of it. You stand up ready for your second turn to teh buffet, and you step on almost everyone on your way. Nice way of ctahcign up :) Now I have to check what pedant means...
Al, oh it was...it truly was!
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Sorry!
Neva -- looks crowded and joyful and happy, doesn't it?
Minka -- I am glad you had a wonderful time.
You have the greatest family Minka. Not sure about the reading of the cards bit.
Have a safe and fun New Years.
Minka, a pedant is anyone who uses the word "pedant." I'm not worried about my place on the list. We Santas look out for each other.
Nice picture and I'm happy to know all of them! There is just one important person missing ... Wat iss den mit dem Selbstauslöser? :-) We really have to plan the trip to Portugal, cause it'll be my year of voyages and that needs some kind of planning. I'll go to Paris in April, have to go to Spain again and of course also to Iceland. And on and on and on .... Is anybody of your bloggers rich enough to give me some money (for free?).
Cool pics and Christmas stories. Pictures of people thinking "MMmmm, that was good trifle."
Who's Heike? Do people often give her money for free?
Quilly, you are forgiven for all your sins. 10 Hail Marys!
Brian, I most certainly do. Thank you!
Doug, I bet you do. You probably share the milk and cookies too :)
Heike, we definately will do...and bugger I thought we should go in April, over easter...well, we´ll just have to re-adjust.
I am taking a big trip in march and anything besides that, is movable :) Ich tue mein photo spaeter rein ;)
Morgan, Heike is a girl most people would give money to as soon as she starts smiling. She is a friend of mine from Germany and we met here in Iceland :)
sorry, no money, but as always i can offer you a warm bed and some food.
okay, then I'll do a huge smile now to all of you :-))))))))) My bank account number is ........... :-)
Monikalein: Have to check with my boss and my colleague if I will get some days off around easter. Depends also how many days we want to spend there. We will find a date ... let's check it per email.
Thank you Biene. A warm bed and icelandic food in your house is much more worth than money :-)
Merry Belated Christmas!
Mom, you are talking about my bed aren´t you? And what are you typing with a broken thumb?
Heike, we will figure it out. I so wanna see you soon and Portugal as well. Oma and Opa would be thrilled beyond belief!
malnurtured snay, *hands him some delicous vitamins* Thank you and right back at ye, I guess :)
Your Christmas sounds and looks like it was wonderful. Thanks for the pics! And of course a Christmas trees gotta have angels!
me got beds too!
Thank you for sharing your lovely Christmas Minka...delightful.
Thanks for the great pics, Minka. Happy New Year!
Square, but of course it does. and bells too, so little angels get their wings. It´s a circle of life you see?! :)
Mom, you do...I am sure, but are theya s cozy as mine?
Joel, you are more than welcome and this was just a peek of it...
Fred, same to you!
offering me a try? but i snore
I came in search of your email address. I can't find it. Would you please findd mine, instead?
Mom, It is Ok, i have ear plugs :) They are orange!
Quilly, I´ll find you!
Thanks for the peek, Minka. Have a Happy New Year!
Oh, and we love you, too.
Sounds and looks devine! Those are wonderful pictures, a great peek into your Icelandic Christmas:)
Happy New Year!!
That was great Minka. I really miss my family at Christmas. Thanks for sharing yours!
I'm looking forward to 2007 and I'm wishing you the best for the coming year. May there be more dogs in your future!
♥ ♥ ♥
Fred, That was wonderful to hear!
actonbell, Happy new Year to you too. It is like tomorrow already...wow, 2006bcoming to an end and what a year its been.
Kyahgirl, I am looking towards 2007 with a wide grin upon my face.
Minka, Happy Almost New Years ~ great family celebration photos. Do you celebrate New Years in a big way in Iceland?
Wishing you the best in 2007! xox ~ G
G, it is gonna be a hell of a party. Iceland is infamous for its ridiculous spending on fireworks and such. I myself am invited to three parties and I am intending to hit them all :) Parteyyyyyyyyy!!!!!
Minka -- stay safe at your parties and then come back and tell us all about them!
Happy New Year!
Wonderful family post!!! Love the pics! Have fun at your parties and Have a Wonderful New Year!
Happy New Year, dearest Monika! (i'm looking at the clock -- 2 1/2 hours, and counting...)
may all your dreams come true, my friend... xoxo
Happy New Year to you and the family!!!!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year an hour or so ago...
Glueckliche neue jahr!
Minka! It's the new year already! You in bed yet? Minka? Minka ...??
:)
Penguin, penguin!
Rabbit, rabbit! Happy New Year!
Rabbit, rabbit! Happy 2007! Those are great pictures.
Very touching...it is nice to see a happy home!
Felicidades para 2007...
Yes, of course. The Circle of life all on a beautiful Christmas Tree...how could I not have realized?
Happy New Year to you Penguin, Penguin!! 2007 is going to be a wondeful year for you, I just know it!!!
Happy New Year, Minka.
(Yeah yeah...I'm late...whatever.)
The pictures are fabulous! Nothing like kids opening presents. I didn't even get a chance to open mine, my nephew ambushed everything that was wrapped and bagged.
Quilly, about to :)
Shayna, I hope you had a wonderful start into teh New Year, be careful now...you are not as light as you used to be :)
neva, I am with you on that. But I hope they donæt come true all at once, that could get messy :)
Joel, thanx and I´ll pass it on!
Quilly, again? alright then...happy new Year!
trundling grunt, see how late I am to my own party? It is the 2ond of january and no I get around to posting. Happy new Year. Thank Goodness, being on time wasnæt anywhere in my resolutions :)
Doug, und ein fröhliches, glueckliches, besinnliches und aufregendes neues jahr fuer Dich!
Oc, I am right here...now! Were you much worried?
actonbell, teapot, teapot to you too :)
Doug, mammal, mammal!
AP3, thank you and Happy new year to you too :)
Oldmule...it is a happy home, with all its ups and downs. At teh end of each year we are so fortuante to have each other, knowing we can depend and look for shelter if needed :)
Square, I am pretty sure, it will be like no other :)
jenna...youa r enever late, you arrive precicely when you mean to :)
Happy 2007!
Now that is the most loving gathering of family ever! Merry Christmas, Happy New year, and I wish you joy and peace henceforth!
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