The Mayer Family

Christmas was different for us this year…our first time not being surrounded by family. We missed being with everyone a lot, but have been able to enjoy this time of year in a new place.

Christmas Eve day I spent in the kitchen making Christmas goodies, and then we delivered them to some friends that evening. We spent Christmas day alone as a family except for when the neighbor kids came to play for a few hours. I must admit that I really missed sharing the load of cooking the Christmas meal with family! I attempted to do a nice meal myself, and it tasted good, but just was a lot of work. Thanks to great technology, we were able to talk by Skype with some of our family members, which was awesome! On Christmas morning our landlady, Antonia, who lives in the apartment above us, brought down gifts for Evan and Ellie. Here they are opening the gifts.

Also on Christmas day, the newest reader in our house read the Christmas story. Here is a small and a bit amusing clip of part of that.

We have felt so loved and blessed by all the Christmas gifts, packages, and cards we have received! Thank you so much to each person who has thought of us! We are so thankful for each person who is a part of our lives. Since traditionally in Spain, gifts aren’t opened until Three Kings Day on January 6, we are spreading out the gifts a bit for Evan and Ellie, and allowing them to open one gift a day until then. If you are interested in knowing a little more about Christmas traditions in Spain, check out this video clip that Kevin and Evan did for part of the Christmas program for our church in Ohio.

I love the expressions when the gifts are opened.

Kevin with his new hat.

-Wendy