Christmas time in Amsterdam

December – one of my favorite months of the year! And ofcourse it’s because of the Holidays, everything is in the atmosphere of celebration!
As Christmas time is coming up, everywhere around the world people start decorating. Inside and outside houses, yards and streets are in Christmas Style. In Amsterdam, buildings and streets are filled up with lights that make the city shine at night.
Even when we are lucky, it starts snowing in winter, and then the city will get beautiful covered in white. Unfortunately this year the weather has been too soft for snowing. Like usual, it is constantly raining this time of the year. With some cold wind, it is an ugly winter overhere. (But for me, it does make me feel more like Christmas then in California, where people are playing beachsports with Christmas hats! And, as a born and raised West-European, listening to Christmas songs while enjoying the warmth of sunshine won’t bring me in a Christmas spirit..;) ) And as a surprise we had no rain on both Christmas days, it was not that cold, and even the winter sun showed herself on a beautiful afternoon! Perfect weather to take some beautiful pictures!

Christmas will always be my favorite time of the year. Christmas is all about having a joyful and wonderful time with family, and so we did. Drinking Christmas coffee (from Starbucks!), playing games, laughing when bringing up old memories, dining on a large table with the whole family, and -like tradition- gathering around the Christmas tree where we had some small gifts for eachother.
Still I think we are missing out on Thanksgiving, so I cooked the Thanksgiving meal for my family, which I ate 25th of November – Yes, I stuffed a whole turkey!
Second day of Christmas, we had a nice buffet and drunk some good champagne.
(no partying this weekend, but instead watching All You Need Is Love on the sofa next to the fireplace!)

These warm days of spending time with family, made me think of families who are suffering from a loss last year. Unfortunately we’re not the only one to have some empty places around the table. For some of us death came sooner than ever thought. My heart goes out to all of those who have been missing a mother, a father, a brother, a sister or a friend!

Here are some pictures of the lovely days I spend with my family,
enjoy the rest of your holidays and may your hearts be filled up with happiness!