Christmas with the Kranx

Christmas at home in PA means a lot of things but the best part is probably the crazy silly fun we have with my family. My sister and I have an annual Christmas photo shoot (one of my favorite parts of Christmas) which is always hilarious. This year, my sister rediscovered her musical talents from middle school, busted out her flute, and got her tunes on.

 Zagreb Philharmonic is looking for a new flutist...I think they should consider her!

 

 Watch out Lisinski, there's a new girl coming to town! There's also a brand new juggler!

Dominika and her bestie Robin (aka another member of our crazy Krank family) rocking out

 Tomislav learned how to build a fire! Sitting by the fireplace is one of my absolute favorite things to do in the winter at home, I just wish we'd get some snow soon!

 

Lovely :)

 Every year, poor Dad has had to take our Christmas photoshoot pictures, we get so silly!

 My beautiful sissy!

 Dominika and I - the best Maid of Honor ever!

I'll Be Home for Christmas!

T-Slav and I are coming home for the holidays on Saturday (albeit on different flights, nažalost). I cannot wait to see my sister and brother-in-law, my parents, and all of our family friends! I'm super excited to see all of my friends in Philly and anyone and everyone else we get to meet up with. My Mom asked what we wanted to eat when we got home so of course, I requested her amazing pierogi. I'm dreaming about them already.

You can see the pierogi on the left. Ooh and while we're at it, I'll add barscz to the list of things I'm drooling..I mean, dreaming about already. Also known as borscht, it's that amazing beet soup that you can see in the white cups.

Here are some other things I'm really looking forward to while I'm home:
-Sushi! from that place in Old City we went to for Peter and Staci's pre-Costa Rica going away dinner. AMAZING!

 

-Thai food! Obsessed with take-out from Tamarind on 2nd and South in Philly (like this Panang Curry!)

-Pho..cannot wait for T to try this one. He's gonna love it!
-Having the ability to buy hummus at the store
-My own bed, so comfortable!
-Diversity, and the normalcy of it.
-Seeing what our Save the Dates look like in real life
-Bloody Mary's!
-Sitting by the fireplace
-Going skiing with my family

-Going to our Church
-Wearing the best sweatpants in the world. I wonder if the original owner of the sweatpants knows that they're everyone in our family's favs. That might be weird.
-My family's Polish Christmas Traditions (including watching Home Alone on Christmas Eve) and this incredible meal:

The other special thing about Saturday? 

Exactly one year ago, Tomislav popped the question! 

The Many Seasons on a Drive Throughout Croatia

On Tuesday morning, I awoke to a wonderful surprise. It was St. Nicholas Day, which in Europe is also the day that I celebrate my Name Day! When I went to sleep the night before, I had totally forgotten about it!

I was shocked to see St. Nicholas had remembered to visit our place!

He even found my boot! I got a nice big chocolate and also a gold stick which represented that I had not been all nice this year. 

Tomislav had a business trip he had to take to Porec, Croatia on the seaside which I tagged along on. The drive to the seaside from Zagreb is incredible. First, we left the fog of Zagreb for the snowy mountainous region.

The picture does not do it justice. It looked gorgeous!

The snow brought our Christmas tunes to life!

When we arrived in Porec, T-Slav went to work while I got to relax near the sea.

It was warm and beautiful, once the sun set though, we had to move on.

Since T had to work in Rijeka on Wednesday, we drove down Tuesday night and were so happy to see such a beautiful, Christmas-y city!

The pedestrian zone in Rijeka is so long, I think even longer than in Belgrade and it really put us in the holiday spirit.

The best part of our time in Rijeka for me? Probably the hotel, for we had the best view we have ever had before here!

From the balcony, you could just see water all around, it was so beautiful.

I loved it!

Yay!

It was so peaceful

Thanks to the Best Western: Hotel Jadran for giving us the best view in the entire hotel!