It's Christmas Eve...

...and the house was a mess and the tree yet to be fully decorated.  But the stockings were hung on the shelves by ribbon, the little kitten's one already filled.  Cakes had been baked and the santa calendar had been filled.  2 happy little ones  entered to see what had been left for them, Christmas lights all blinking and lit making it brighter to see.  Then ornaments were hung with care and excitement and angle hair thrown all about... our tree looked great with random ornaments hung here and there and 2 happy little boys I had here!
Have a wonderful Christmas Even and Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

oh the snow...how fun it is!

Laz and his snowman he made with the help of his friend Dani.

...it's christmas time in the city...

a night away enjoying a lovely christmas market with close friends, hot drinks, sweets, shopping, and a wonderful meal together! it was a fabulous winter evening with the snow falling all around and covering the ground, music in the air, and everyone bundled up to keep warm!  i would say it was most enjoyed!

 

snow.Snow.SNOW.

HAPPY HAPPY BOYS...SO EXCITED FOR THE SNOW!  MAMA IS TOO!  IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOME LOVELY WHITENESS IN THIS COLD AND RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!  WE HOPE IT LAST.  THERE IS TALK OF RAIN ON CHRISTMAS DAY BUT I AM HOPING OR RATHER 'DREAMING' OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS WITH ALL THE CHRISTMAS CARDS I HAVE NOT YET WRITTEN!  AND FOR MORE DAYS FILLED WITH SLEDDING AND HOT COCO!

Christmas Tree!

So today on our walk home, we passed the corner of Christmas trees sellers and non of us could wait til tomorrow...we all got so excited so I ran back for the camera and we bought our lovely trees and carried them home by sled and some very happy, helpful children!  There were a lot of 'Please Mama' while we were standing in front of the trees trying to choose... and my wonderful friend said I was my mothers child as I choose a different tree then first looked at.  Plus I choose one a bit too tall so we will have to saw it down a bit, but I'll save my man from drilling in extra branches like my dad does every year :)  It's a great tree and even little Lucy went to check it out after we brought it home.  Soon as we walked in the door and took off our boots Laz proudly showed it off to her...he's so excited!  More photos will come when the lights are strung and the decorations hung. 

meet little lucy lou!

Mos Nicolae - Dec 6th

"December 6th night before the night is known as gifts. It comes when the "Saint Nicholas.""When I was a child, polishing my boots and put them in windows to be stuffed with presents. I had friends who would place their wooden shoes at the door, a sign that there would come Saint Nicholas. I never asked where it came from, because both I and my friends we woke up with gifts in shoes, a sign that Saint Nicholas would come and the door and the window."  

-translated from this:  http://www.crestinortodox.ro/sarbatori/sfantul-nicolae/mos-nicolae-122504.html

This tradition is very loved here in Romania by most children I would say :)  They get goodies and gifts left in their shoes in the very early mornings waiting to be found when they come to the door!  Laszlo was most excited to put out his wellies since they are the biggest of his shoes!  But, interestingly enough they were switched in the morning with these Gruffalo type slippers! Even better and still filled with goodies!  So now he has 'monster gruffalo feet' and a Santa stick...plus some chocolate that was a pre breakfast snack!  One happy boy I had!

the 5th...Tree cutting day for the Browns..all of them :)

So this is family tradition every year and for the last few years I have missed this very loved day of heading to the forest with the sisters and parents and friends to scour the woods for a lovely, fresh Christmas tree (that mom approves of).  We usually end of singing along to our favorite Christmas tunes in the car and then start the day off with some cinnamon rolls and hot coco!  Now it's time to head into the forest and find our tree.  As you can imagine it can be tricky with 7 woman all with different taste but a few that are more picky then others (yes that would be me and mom but her vote out rules us all).  Once we have our tree it's time to carry it back to the car and load it on top but not before a family picture of all of us holding the tree :)  Then it's lunch time of hot chili to warm us up.  One year we played foot ball, one year we found the greatest and fasted little sledding hill and we played on that forever!  Then it's home to decorate the tree... but first dad adds in some branches so all bare spots are covered.  Mom does the lights, but I think I saw a picture of Hattie doing them this year and then it's time to decorate with all our random ornaments both new and old.  Red bows finish the tree.  I love these memories and this year my friends helped me recreate it, only Marghita style.  It was a bit more ghetto...well a lot but the love behind it was there and the fun and my Romanian family. Cinnamon rolls were made as was hot coco.  A saw was brought for 'branch' cutting and we took a trek through the forest.  Our boys were a bit confused since there were no cmas trees there but it was a fun day all in all that ended by heading home to hang some homemade ornaments by Katie and Laz on our lovely 'branch'. Then a favorite cmas song in our house was played that I remember hearing since I was a little girl....Tender Tennessee Christmas.  And then we danced to that and a few other holiday songs.  This day was great and started out with a story to me and Laz and Kiki... 'today is the day that a family with 6 girls goes and cuts down a Christmas tree.  It is a very special day...'  I had some tears of both sadness and joy.  Thanks Katie and Martin and my Man and Laz and Kiki for making this day lovely and joining me in a very loved pastime from the Brown house hold.  Enjoy Brown Family and Friends at the look at our day here... 

1st runner up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvBIo0LL2DM

proud of our little 'branch' and his decorations he made for it!

 Laz & Lucy both love it!

and december has begun...

December 1st - Romania's National day!

My little guy asked me to dance as the music played in the town center.

the 2nd - cookie painting... icing and sprinkles are oh so fun & yum. 

the 3rd:  Blessing Ceremony for our kids.