Happy December! During the entire month of december in Slovenia they celebrate every night downtown at the outdoor Christmas markets with little stands that serve food and Hot Wine! It's a great time to be in Europe filled with holiday cheer! The city center is also decorated with extraordinary christmas lights! So lately we have been very busy with all the holiday festivities and hockey games!
The weekend of December 14-16, Kevin and his team had two home games which was super nice to have him home all weekend long! They also won those 2 home games! Friday's game was a shutout and Sunday's game was a close one but they won in the last 3 minutes 4-3! Kevin got a goal and an assist on Sunday's game! :)
Last Tuesday we had a team Christmas dinner, which was very good at the restaurant Rožna Hiša located in Ljubljana. I didn't have my phone on me for this event so I was unable to take pictures and Kevin lost his phone the night before :(They served delicious bread and beef soup and mushroom soup for the first course. Then a mixed salad. Then a platter of food with schnitzel, beef in mushrooms and gravy, some kind of tenderloin, fried potato wedges, potatoes in tomato sauce, cooked mixed veggies, and a traditional Slovenian dish that is a soft pastry of layers filled with cheese. Then for dessert, which was my favorite part, was a warm chocolate brownie in a red berry sauce topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. and a tiny side cup of cold yogurt topped with strawberry syrup! It was amazing! I also got a cappuccino, Kevin got an expresso, which was very good as well! All the Slovenian girlfriends drink red wine Refošk (Traditional slovenian wine. I really like it!) and they put Fanta orange pop in it. I've seen a lot of people do this before in Europe but have never tried it personally and one of them offered me to try it and it was actually very good! Tastes like sangria!
This last weekend's game on Friday was cancelled because it was suppose to be an outdoor game but the outdoor rink is not ready yet! When it is though it looks like its gonna be really cool! So excited! So on Friday we just ended up going out downtown a bit for the Christmas Markets and on Sunday Kevin had an away game in Hungary, which they won 4-2! yay! Kevin got an assist! They go back to Hungary tomorrow for another game! Hope its another win! Go Olimpija!
Today we have another Christmas dinner with the team downtown!
Here are pictures taken over our month of December here in Ljubljana!
Lots of Snow in the beginning of the month! Too bad its not a White Christmas!
Christmas Cards I sent to loved ones at home! Miss you all so much!
Milka Chocolate Advent Calendar!
Our Landlord and his sons have been building snowmen!
Pretty impressive snow bear!
Happy December! Ljubljana Christmas Markets!
You are my shooting star!
The Ljubljana Christmas lights look like outer space! Maybe they were getting ready for the end!
O Christmas Tree!
Slovenian Christmas Traditions: The holiday season begins with St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. St. Nicholas is accompanied by devils that reprimand bad children. St. Nicholas passes out small gifts of candies and fruit to the good children.
A special bread (Portnjak) is made at this time. The bread is covered with a cloth and is placed on the table, however it is not eaten until the feast of the three kings on January 6th. Then it is distributed to the children.
There is a corner of the house which is called "God's corner" It is here that the father will place the Nativity scene. On Christmas Eve the family gathers around the Nativity scene to pray. Each room of the house is blessed with Holy Water and the barns and the out buildings are also blessed.
The family attends midnight mass along with other villagers they process to the church caring lighted torches singing Christmas carols. The Festival of the Three Kings marks the end of the Christmas season. On this day Children carrying lighted stars singing carols from house to house.
Peace, love, and joy at Christmas and always.
Home is where ever I am with you!
Hot Wine!
The markets are full every night all december no matter what the weather! Why don't we do this kind of stuff back home?
The castle is picturesque!
Snow!
More hot wine!
<3
When we were walking home the snow was coming down really hard!
Kevin and I stopped at Atlantis on a cold winter day! Atlantis offers pools, hot tubs, lazy river, and steam rooms! Only 12 Euro for both of us for 2 hours!
The guys had a couple days off last week! Hanging out with our hockey family! Plus just figured out my iphone takes panoramic shots!
The sunset was so pretty driving home from the gym one day I had to stop and take pictures!
Colorful sky and beautiful mountains!
I love the lacey tree over the golden horizon!
Along the horizon!
My Christmas decorations! Keeping it festive!
Nuzzling in the car!
Lips! Arts & Crafts! are my fave! Pinterest inspired!
Christmas Eve dinner! Delicious!
Plaid Shirts and a kitty on Christmas Eve! A little fuzzy!
The boys!
Christmas morning! Santa came! ;)
Merry Christmas 2012!
Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family back home! We miss you and love you so much and wish we could be there to celebrate the holidays with you! <3
Slovenian Word of the Day:
Vesel Božič meaning Merry Christmas!
PEACE & LOVE,
Kevin & Amanda
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