Christmas DUMP!!!

The title just means that this post may seem unorganized and disconnected. Oh well:)

So, the Christmas season brought lots of fun! Here we go!

Lars got the first pics of some Christmas lighting while he was downtown to catch a show by "We are the Physics". This link will take you to one of Lars' favorite songs of theirs. Lars says that they are a lot of fun LIVE. Very high energy! Three out of the four band members are named "Michael":) Lars got to know lead singer, Michael, and "he's a pretty cool guy!"

"We are the Physics"

This was also about the time when we were being pretty "cheeky" by posting this pic on Facebook. At the time we were still keeping the fact that we were expecting a secret. So I cropped this picture to not show any tummy and deleting any comments that might insinuate...anything...

So cute:)

Lars and I had never really been left to ourselves during the Holidays before and we are not the type to buy a tree and decorations that we'd have to leave behind anyway. So, it was super nice of my Visiting Teachers, Vin and Hazel, to loan us a Christmas tree and lights and decorations:) We were a bit surprised that the tree was BLACK! but we were very thankful none-the-less:)

The only thing we didn't have was a star to place on top. So we took some cardboard, cut out a star (that looks like it's jumping for joy. Thanks, Lars:) and colored it yellow. Then, for a little shine, we cut a star out of a candy wrapper and stuck it in the middle of the yellow star. Along with some cards we received (or made) and the crafts we did at FHE with the YSA's (candle wreath and stain glass windows), some stockings I borrowed from Mairi, and of course  candy and prezzies:) we had quite the festive display:) Oh, and I can't forget how much time Lars put into these little streamers:

We received the "NOEL" sign from our good friend Josephine who left around this time to return home to India:( She is AMAZING!!! 

Such amazing women:) Love them!
Mercy, Rachel, Josephine, Mairi, Spring

These girls really made me feel so welcomed and loved when I first arrived in Glasgow! I hang out with them often to watch chick flicks and the occasional "shoot 'em up" macho films too:)

Mairi even took the time to show me around town. Most importantly she lead me to the infamous Primark!!! I had heard them talk about this magical place where you could buy fun and cute clothes for pretty cheap. I had to see it for myself.

I'm still very happy with the belt I bought that day for one pound:D 

Mairi showed me George Square:

I guess some scenes from the new movie with Brad Pitt, "World War Z", were shot around here...

There's actually an ice rink over here. Lars and I never took the opportunity before they disassembled it

:(

Buchanan Street gets REALLY busy!

Buchanan Street is also where we had to go to find Princes Square. We were helping out the YSA's by singing in their choir in a shopping mall called "Princes Square", not Princess Square mind you:P haha.

Anyway, the YSA's were to give the missionary choir a break so we were recruited to help:) We got a bit lost and showed up late (seriously, the door to this giant mall was tiny)...maybe sang one full song with them but it was cool! We stayed to hear the missionary choir. 

We got lost. Didn't help that this entrance was TINY!

Missionary Choir

Pretty cool shopping mall. Very posh!

Lots of levels. Easy to get lost. Especially when their "Ground Level" would be our "1st Floor":)

Afterwards, we went exploring a bit. We had heard that there was a Christmas market down the road. Later finding out that they were closed...on Christmas Eve...? But we did find a market that reminded us of a Chinese market...The Sloan Market:)

We also came upon SO many buskers, or street entertainers. Whether they were singing, playing guitar, or trumpet or violin or bagpipes or...accordion???

Anyway, that Christmas Eve we were hanging with, guess who? Yep, the YSAs:) We just can't get enough of them! It was a fun mash-up of YSAs and friends as well as two sets of missionaries, Elder and Sister Whitney and Lars and I. Very enjoyable evening at Rachel and Mairi's flat. They had a REAL Christmas tree and everything!

We spent Christmas Day opening presents, eating candy and also eating a delicious lunch/dinner with Eric and Erin Olson:) It was so good! Delicous potatoes, giant slabs of beef, fruits and vegetables, home made egg nog and wassail. And Lars had fun playing any retro video game he could think of on Eric's all-emulating PC. 

As the Scots say, "Happy Christmas!"