On the eve before COVID restrictions were tightened, we met with another family in our church to make gingerbread cookies for all the teachers and staff in our local public school
Each gingerbread cookie had a scripture verse attached to it
The final packages ready to go!
We had to move our worship completely online in December
Luke had to learn a new skill this month: leading Christmas carols in Latvian without the help of the rest of the praise band (thanks, Covid).
We are now live-streaming our worship services on FB, but we meet afterward on zoom for prayer and encouragement.
The girls made their own Christmas wreaths this year to hang above their beds. This is Caroline’s with all of her animals.
Eleanor said her hands were so cold one morning that she needed gloves on to drink her milk.
Reading Christmas stories with Daddy
A church in a neighboring town put on a light display inside their centuries-old sanctuary, which is in dire need of repairs. Donations will go toward renovations.
“Garden of Light” inside the old sanctuary
Christopher especially loved the life-size deer
Christopher loved his turns putting the ornaments on our advent calendar.
One cold Sunday afternoon we headed out for a walk along the Baltic Sea. We found a pretty nice skating rink along the way!
Frozen Baltic Sea
Advent scripture reading
Eleanor performed a Christmas carol for her class on the last day of school.
We went to a light display about an hour away and the kids enjoyed this photo op. Can you find all four?
Tunnel of light
Let the Christmas cookie baking begin!
The finished products!
A restaurant in our town set up a photo op area for customers as they wait for their takeout (the only option available right now).
A sweet friend gave our kids a nail and string art ornament kit. This kept them busy for a solid 2-3 hours one morning!
Family Christmas pictures!
Patty made several loaves of cranberry bread as gifts this year. Christopher decided to taste the last one while no one was looking.
Our family was asked to sing a couple Christmas carols for our online service.
All the girls singing “Silent Night “
A Christmas Eve walk in the snow
Christmas morning tradition of unwrapping baby Jesus as our first and most important gift.
Christopher unwrapped baby Jesus this year.
Christmas morning cinnamon rolls!
Christopher’s made-with-love hotweels car carrier/playmat.
Ellie loved her gift from her sisters!
One of AKs favorite gifts was a €3 pocket Latvian/Russian dictionary!
New scarf/hat for Caroline!
New family board game: Ticket to Ride -Europe!
This year we did one big family gift: an electric piano! Let the music-making continue!
The girls this year made handmade gifts cards for the whole family. Quite a labor of love with so many siblings!
We got a great snow on Christmas Day and the day after Christmas.
We found a wonderful new sledding hill!
The stairs up to the 4-story lookout tower were pretty scary!
Sled rides around our neighborhood.
Our river is beautiful on cold, snowy mornings!
Sweet little snow baby
We got Ticket to Ride as a Christmas gift and have been playing it often!
New Years was a little different because of COVID restrictions and curfews, but we were still able to see a few fireworks
