Brushing up on our Christmas Movie Nights

I think there are too many movies for us to watch this Christmas… which movies do you traditionally watch??

A Christmas Story

Little Women

Miracle on 34^th Street- 2 versions 1947, 1994

Muppet Christmas Carol

Nightmare Before Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer

While You Were Sleeping

Christmas Carol- 2 versions 51’, 84’

Griswold Family Christmas (National Lampoon’s Vacation)

It’s a Wonderful Life

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Frosty the Snowman

Elf

Santa Claus is coming to Town

Christmas in Connecticut

White Christmas

Babes in Toyland

Jingle All the Way

Holiday Inn

Polar Express

The Bishop’s Wife

The Christmas Toy

Ernest Saves Christmas

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The Santa Claus 1^s

Garfield Christmas

Twas the Night Before Christmas

The Year Without a Santa Claus

Nestor the Long-eared Donkey

Turkey Preparation

Ok, I wrote a little about Thanksgiving day, but I have to write about Dan and Dan coming over to "destroy" my kitchen for Thanksgiving preparation. I have a "little" brother who is 21 and these 2 remind me of him so much. I miss Andrew alot and feel like I have missed out on him. I am thankful for the intern boys who have become my little brothers here.

Actually it was alot of fun to watch them and keep them motivated!

I had alot of fun having these two goomba's over. Dan K. made stuffing from scratch and Dan V. made Mint Chocolate Cookies. Here are a few pictures of these two baking/cooking their masterpieces.

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Turkey Thanksgiving Day

The last 2 years Thanksgiving has been such an unique event here. It's strange that Andy goes into work, the parade is watched on the laptop at 4pm live :) no family, football or crazy 4am alarms going off for Black Friday ;) but we DO celebrate dispite the way Thanksgiving is treated here for us Americans! and that's ok, we are not in America. :)

I am extremely thankful to have other Americans here. Sometimes I just need to reminisce and I'm thankful for those who understand. We are all in the same boat together during Thanksgiving. Family 1000's of miles away!

This year was amazing!!! We had a wonderful HUGE meal, with ALL the traditional fixin's. We skyped family back home, ate until we hit that Thanksgiving food stupor, we DID watch football (well, I didn't but that's because of my own personal preference) :) football=blek, we played a hilarious game! and all shared what we are thankful for. I really enjoyed hearing a little from each person as they shared about God's provision, answered prayers, encouragement and strength. What a blessing to come together and remember exactly what Thanksgiving is all about! Giving Thanks!

Batman Begins!

My wonderful husband got an unexpected visit from his childhood (and adulthood) icon....Batman!

Just about the cutest Batman I have EVER seen!

We celebrated Andy's birthday Batman Style! We had balloons, boys, the Wii, streamers, cake, "man food" and Batman! Andy's buddies came over, hid behind the bush, and we had unexpecting Andy go "unlock" the front gate and "SURPRISE" he was ambushed (haha, gotta love the pun) by his friends ready for an action packed night!

We had a great evening! It was a success. As Bruce Wayne would say,

"You wanna get nuts? Come on! Let's get nuts!" and we did!

Cookie rules to remember while baking

What would cookie making be without cookie rules? Ladies follow these rules!

1. If you eat a Christmas Cookie fresh out of the oven it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free, the immediate heat burns away the calories.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you are making your Christmas Cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free rule #1 yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and being the friend that you are that makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas Cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have 3 and Green ones have 5 – one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!

7. If you eat cookies while watching Christmas Movies these also have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate has no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

And finally...

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed has no calories because Cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!

Enjoy these rules as you snack on cookies this Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Elet Szava Staff Members!

Many of you pray for us by name for our needs on a daily basis. We work with many other staff members who are need of prayer as well!

Here is a quick way for you to meet the people we work with!

http://eletszava.org/en/meet-our-staff.html

Enjoy reading their testimonies!

Many have their e-mail's available if you ever feel lead to encourage them!! They would appreciate it greatly knowing other believers are praying for them as well!

You are such a blessing to us!

My Novie Baby turns 4

Another year has passed me by and I was not ready for my little Novie to turn a year older, but man, Novalie was! All her little friends and buddies have turned 4 already and she has been asking since this summer when she was going to be big and turn 4. I always would think, "it will come too soon for me" but would always answer, "real soon!!" and get all excited for her. When asking Novie how she would like to celebrate her special day she replied, "Mommy I would like blowies to make noises, pink candles on a cake just for me and balloons to blow-up and give to all my friends." What would you like on your special day for a gift? "mostly my friends to sing to me." She has a sweet way of melting my heart.

We had her little day all planned out with a trip to McD's and an hour in the indoor playground. But with those sweet requests I HAD to throw her a darling little party. With the help of Grandma and her creative ideas we had a wonderful Princess Party for Novie! When talking with Novie and asking "if you could have a party who would you invite?" I about died of laughter when she named 2 interns and a staff member! Yes, 4 years old going on 20, my little girl considers these 25 year olds her closest friends :)...hmmm, I thought they were my closest friends :) She cracks me up!

So we set out to surprise Novie on her special day. I spent 2 evenings sewing a Princess dress-up Sleeping Beauty gown for Novie (I don't really like working with that slippery material) but it was worth it!!! Daddy was brave and took the 2 girls to the Open Market Sat. morning for Novie to pick some flowers out for her special day. The guests arrived and the decorating began, the Pinkest Princess Brunch ever!

Megan (1 of Novie's requests to be at her party) made Novie a gorgeous Princess Cake! I was blown away with the results; flowers, vines, cathedral windows, steps, 4 towers with 4 candles and flags blowing in the wind and as Perfectly Pink as you could possibly imagine!

Megan and Novie have a heart connection when it comes to being a Princess :)

Absolutely perfect for Novie and her Princess party.

Daddy called, he was on his way..and we were ready! Novie walked in we yelled surprised and yes! we definitely surprised her, so much so she slowly walked to her room to hide...not so sure what was going on. I followed her in and explained everyone was here for her, to celebrate her turning 4! She slowly smiled and hugged me ready to come out and greet her guests. 4 may be a little young for a surprise party. :) yep, learned my lesson, but the shock only lasted seconds and the party began! We had 3 darling little princesses, according to Eden: "Kira is Cinderella, Novie is Sleeping Doody, and I is a PIRATE!" I guess Eden did not get the Princess Memo :) So really I guess 2 princesses and 1 pirate :)

We had delectable little cucumber sandwiches, fruit dip, mini egg quiches, and lots of dainty sweets along with Novie's Princess Castle Cake. Her friends showered her with love, kisses, birthday wishes and gifts.

Sashaying in her glorious Princess dress, a 4 year old on cloud 9

That evening as she climbed into bed (with ALL her gifts) I shed a little tear as I thought of how fast she is growing up. She is so sweet, loving, gentle, friendly and compassionate. So much older than her little 4 years at times yet so darling and innocent.

I know my Novie baby will stay a Princess forever.

Pizza Party!

Monday was a holiday here in Hungary called All Saints Day, "the Day of the Dead."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints

Family members light candles on the graves of their loved ones, to honor and remember them.

For us it meant a day off! to spend with family! Our family here is the students and interns and no better way to spend it then playing silly games and eating PIZZA!! Andy had a tricky time collecting money and getting orders, but Eszter saved us by calling the 15 pizza order in! Thank you Eszter!

This is Eszter

Taking a break from the game "Things"

Only one pizza shop was open and we ordered alot! I think most everyone ate their own pizza! We had alot of fun as we ate the night away. Yummy in my tummy!