NYE

Dear Connor and Grace,

We spent New Year's Eve in Indianapolis. It was Connor's first road trip and we think he cried more than half of the way down. Unlike your sister, you HATE being in your car seat and the motion of the car doesn't calm you down. 

We celebrated the holiday with some of our very good friends. The Wilson family met us at the Vetor's house. Enjoy!

Love, Mommy

Future best friends? Right now a month seems to be a big difference but in the game of life you two are the same age.

Nothing is cuter than daddies with their little girls. 

Happy New Year 2013!

The Hawkins visit

Dear Grace,

We were lucky enough to hang out with two of our best friends this week. Alyse and Paul Hawkins were in London celebrating Christmas with Paul's family. They alternate between Chicago with the Probst family and London with the Hawkins family. The year we are living here, is their year to celebrate with Paul's family! How lucky are we? 

There was a good mix of girl time, boy time and group time with the Hawkins. We joke about how it's a good thing we were both in their wedding because we're not sure which side we would have asked to be seated. Flip a coin? Split up? The girls did the most traditional British activity. High Tea at the Ritz Carlton. And the boys went to a proper British event as well. A Chelsea football game. Throw in a relaxing New Year Eve celebration and it made for the perfect get together with friends. It was just like the old days. Minus an appearance at Hangge-Uppe. Plus a one year old sleeping in the next room. Enjoy! 

Love, Mommy

Our friendships with Alyse and Paul started because they worked at BP with Daddy. We have many amazing memories from an eventful weekend in Vegas to being a part of their wedding while I was 8 + months pregnant with you.

Photo opp in front of the magical Christmas tree at the Ritz before heading into high tea. We had to make reservations 2 months in advance. 

Supporting the local club.

Merry Christmas to all

Christmas in Indiana

Dear Grace,

While we were home for Thanksgiving, and Libbie and Matt's wedding, we also fit in an early Christmas celebration with the Nierengartens. It was so nice to have a mini Christmas celebration since we aren't going to be home for the holidays. Enjoy!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Posing in front of the Christmas tree with your Great-Grandma Jo's homemade reindeer. With your hat, you fit right in!

A tradition started on Christmas Eve at the Nierengartens a couple years ago. A special visitor stops by to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Usually it's Santa Claus, but this year his outfit was lent to Uncle Matt. Santa's helper even lent his elf outfit to Grandpa Den. We're not sure if you were in aw of just hanging out on your Uncle Matt's lap or if it was because he was dressed up like Old St. Nick.

Uncle Matt was the perfect person to prepare you for meeting Santa Claus once we arrived back in London.

Christmas in London

Dear Grace,
London is not only decked out for Christmas, but the decorating began before Halloween. All the different areas of London seem to be filled with their own Christmas lights theme. Covent Garden has white lights that look like it's snowing. Oxford Street has huge umbrellas, presents and snowflakes made out of white lights hanging down the entire street. China town has large floating lanterns. Sheets of white lights are hung over the entire building of the department stores. Selfridges' (where you met Santa) window displays are festively decorated. Even the London Eye is lit up. There are large Christmas trees displayed all around London as well. So many holiday activities. Such little time. Enjoy! 


Love Mummy and Daddy

Our first holiday outing was to Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland complete with a mini German style Christmas market, a full carnival with roller coasters, holiday food from around the world, an ice rink, a circus, Father Christmas, and traditional Christmas mulled wine. It was one crowded spot! 

Trafalgar Square is magical at Christmas time! Each year London is gifted a HUGE Christmas tree from Norway representing their close friendship and gratitude for England supporting Norway during WWII. It is an annual event in both countries. In Norway, people gather in a forest to watch the tree selection as well as it being chopped down while eating, drinking and singing Christmas carols. In London, crowds fill Trafalgar Square to watch the lighting of the tree while a brass band plays. Children read words in the tree's honor and their poems are decorated around the base of the tree. It is known as, "the queen of the forest."
Starring at the beautiful tree, I couldn't help but tilt my head back and wonder how much those lights cost? Everyone talks about how London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but the xmas lights issue is ridiculous! We only bought 1 measly little stand of lights this year for two reasons (1) this will be the only time we are able to use them due to the UK outlets and (2) they cost 20 pounds! That's right folks. Our $5 strand of lights in the States cost about $30 over here! 
Our tree this year is decorated with ornaments we have been collecting from our travels and Christmas gifts. Some of my favorites are the ones I had to get creative and make into an ornament. A wooden camel form Tangier, Morocco and a tile from Spain. Add some wire and a rubber band. Ta- da! Needless to say our Christmas tree this year looks a bit different than the previous years. 
                         Chicago                             London 

Both have character. One reminds us of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree more than the other.

London holiday/winter to-do: 

• ice skating at the Tower of London moat
• Harrods light display 
• Southbank Christmas Market 
• date night- dinner at Rules, the oldest restaurant in London, while they're decorated for the holidays