Christmas Eve

Here is Gene's stocking.  It is really cleverly made.  Even has our name tags!!

Do you see that it is cold here?  Nice view of long johns!!
Elders around the food table, the center Elder next to the Elder with the red tie is President Marriott's son that serves here in the Algarve. (Pres. Marriott was our mission pres. in Brazil)
The Rocha family, we caroled at their house.  They seem receptive to our important message we share here in the mission.  Isabel is the little girl that use to live below us.  They are a wonderful family.
Caroling with the Elders and Ana Paula and her son Paulo.  Gene is loving his camera, won't let me use it to take a picture of him!!

Christmas Day 2008

A shot in front of a white Christmas tree just down the road from us.  There must be 1000's of lights on this tree.  It is quite beautiful at night.
Stockings that Santa brought via Kellene.  Gene wouldn't take a picture of him and his.  It was a white shirt and tie.  It was very cute.

At the home of Carmen's looking a little puny, I was getting sick, with what they call the "Gripe" Elder Price and Elder Dimick there too.

This is our friend Julia, she has just been baptized about a month.  She is fitting in really well in Primary and just loves going and participating.  She is 11 and the life of the party.
Julia's sisters and friends, all having a good time.  There were about 15 people at this small apartment.  They stayed up all night and were pretty giggly by the time we arrived.

The Stars in this picture opened and closed, it was cool!
After 3 years with the camera I have I finally figured out how to take a picture with the timer!!

More lights!
Reflection in the water...  The stars again,, oops.

More Christmas lights!!

These next pictures are lights in Portimao.  We are told that the Cities have a contest to see who has the most beautiful display.   This tree was huge and unusual wouldn't you say?
Most of the Cities have a plaza with shops.  In the center the sidewalks are beautiful and at Christmas you can see how they decorate it, (sort of).  This same design is repeated  the whole length of the plaza.  
Merry Christmas from the Nelsons!
This is in Loulé where we live, I love this Street.  Below is the street that leads to the Castle where there is a huge Santa climbing up the wall.  Couldn't get a picture of him at night.

Evidence of Christmas 2

Family Home Evening In Albufeira

Walking to our car after the Family Home Evening I looked back and this walkway was so quaint and festive.  If you could look the other direction you would see the ocean.
Here is a street in Albufeira with Christmas lights.  It was so beautiful!!
This pictures isn't the greatest, but these lights were so elegant..  They went on and on up the street.
Another Street with lights.
More Lights!!
Oscar, he is always making us laugh!!
Matilda playing her Christmas duet at FHE.  She and her daughter will not be playing in the recital as they will be in Spain with her husband.
Nusta is 11 years old and loves to play.  She is very talented and she and her mother work together learning music.
More Ecuadorian children.  They have such beautiful eyes and hair!
Matilda, Gladys and Blanco... such nice people.

This is a comment site down the center of the city!!  Notice their hats!!

This is the Roundabout near the airport in Faro.  I love these chunky people looking 

up!!

                         Here is Hollie in front of some of our best graffiti.