Christmas 2008

We all recently returned from a wonderful trip to Hannover, Germany to spend time with Olli's family for Christmas. My sister and brother-in-law joined us as well, which was as special treat for sure! We had a traditional German Christmas complete with a live Christmas tree lit with real candles and goose AND duck for Christmas dinner. We also visited a great Christmas Market in Hannover, which was a lot of fun.

The day after Christmas, we left Lukas with his Oma and Opa and spent a few days in Berlin with Lesley and Derrick. This was the first time we've seen Berlin in the wintertime and it was frigidly cold at times, but very pretty with all the festive lights and a Christmas Market of its own.

After our time in Germany, we said our goodbyes to Oma and Opa and returned to Geneva where we took Lesley and Derrick to see some of the "important" sites around Geneva--namely, Yvoire, Chamonix and Annecy, which all happen to be in France.

Here are a few photos from our Christmas vacation:

Lukas eating his first home-made Christmas cookie at Oma's house


Lukas after his first carousel ride at the Hannover Christmas Market. He wasn't entirely sure about all that spinning around!


Drinking "Gluhwein" at the Hannover Christmas Market.


Lukas playing with his Christmas present from Aunt Lesley and Uncle Derrick


Lauren and Olli on top of the Berliner Dom in Berlin


"Unter den Linden" in Berlin


Outside at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin


On top of the Reichstag building in Berlin


At a remaining part of the former Berlin Wall


Relaxing in a Café in Berlin


Lukas driving a car at the Hannover Airport before our departure to Geneva


Olli pointing to the Matterhorn from a lookout point for viewing Mont Blanc (the tallest mountain in Europe)


Derrick, Lesley, Lauren, Lukas and Olli on our balcony in Geneva