HAPPY 2011!!!

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We made it to Rostock and back home safely, and had a good time with Oma, Opa, Omi Lotti and Auntie Ulli. There were more presents (of course), we went swimming, to an awesome indoor play place, to the beach, out for cocktails (Neil, Claudia and Ulli), and even to the movies (everyone minus Omi Lotti). We watched "Rapunzel" ("Tangled" in English), and even though it was in German both Finn and Lily did really well and enjoyed it.

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And since I've gotten a few comments on how Finn and Lily are in pajamas in about every other picture, here is one more. :)

They love their fleece PJs to pieces, and even though Santa brought them new ones they are still stuck with these because the next bigger size is MUCH bigger and the pants are falling off them still.

Lily got a preschool book for Christmas, and really enjoys doing "school work".

She also got some tattoo pens from Ulli, and sported a few new tattoos as a result (as did Finn).




Something that was really popluar 30 years ago and is still good today: "Eierlikör" (something like egg nogg, but stronger) in little chocolate wafer cups. Lily wanted some too, so she got some vanilla sauce in hers. She's hooked!

And are you ready for this?!

The AWESOME SPIDER FINN is on the move again!

Little sister is unimpressed though. Her new horsey needs some grooming.

When Spider Finn turns into a little boy again (although I am not allowed to call him "little" anymore) the good deeds do not end. It is his mission to keep Omi Lotti fit and running around for many more years. The ever popular "wheelbarrow" comes in handy for the purpose.

New Year's Eve we spent at home eating, drinking, and being merry. Opa made a fire on the patio, and there were fireworks!

The spectators getting ready.

Opa had a rocket for each of us, including Grandma and Grandpa. Did you see your rockets? :)

Hot punch to keep us warm from the inside.

And then some more fun in the house.

Finn's favourite fireworks were these little table fireworks. BOOM! Boy, did those caps ever fly off! Not putting it under a lamp was a great idea. Not only a few cheap toys but tons of aluminum glitter foil confetti came out, enough to cover a good portion of the living room (by the time we had used them all up).

New Year's Day we spent in Warnemünde. Feeding the seagulls:

Eating:

Trying not to slip on the huge ice puddles on the beach:

Trying not to be blown into the water. (Actually the wind was coming FROM the water, but it was very VERY windy indeed.)

And now we are back home. We still have a few days together before it is back to the grind. It's a new year and we hope it will be a good one for all of us - and for you, whoever you may be :) . We are not big on New Year's resolutions, really, but one of mine is to cook more vegetarian meals, and mostly avoid mass production meat. Personally, I am at the point where I'd rather eat some beans or an egg than some poor chicken that was raised under cruel conditions and is full of antibiotics and other stuff I don't even want to know about. We buy a lot of organic foods already (dairy, grains, eggs, bananas, vegetables), and after a trip to the organic foods store today I know I will cook more fish and try out new meatless recipes, because organic meat is crazy expensive. Luckily Finn and Lily like tofu and eggs. And I did buy some organic hotdogs for them too, so the poor kids won't be completely deprived of processed foods. :)

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Friends

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It's always fun when your friends come visit, and it's even more fun when it's a special occasion. Of course you light all the candles and share your best home-made cookies with them.

When it's your birthday, or Christmas, they even bring you a present! They know you really well, so you like what they give you.

In fact, you LOVE IT!

Sometimes your friends stay for many hours, and you get to play and eat with them.

You eat special things like melted cheese over hot potatoes, and it's Swiss and called Raclette. And you even get to fry your own little pieces of meat.

And when you burn your finger on the hot little pan, and don't want to sit at the table anymore your friend will be right there to give you a hug - or ten.


And that puts the smile back on your face really quickly. :)
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And the next morning ...

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... more Christmas magic!
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Santa had left a letter (written in silver ink - it didn't photograph too well),

new PJs,

and lots of nice surprises in the stockings!



Now Finn, Lily, and Neil are watching the movie "How to train your dragon" that Finn found in his stocking. We are looking forward to having Marion, Thorsten and Jana here this afternoon! Meanwhile I will have some time to pack our bags for the big trip tomorrow. It is still snowing a bit, but we hope the roads will be reasonably clear tomorrow morning.

The perfect Christmas Eve

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MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

We just about had the perfect Christmas Eve. After some warmer weather had melted almost all the snow and left only a few big icy mounds on the sides of the streets, it started snowing again at around noon on Christmas Eve. Since the roads were pure ice we decided not to risk the 30min drive to church, and opted to go for a sled walk instead. We dropped off a couple presents and Christmas cards, and played in the snow.




When we came back inside some hot soup was just the right thing. Then Mama, Finn and Lily went upstairs to "freshen up" while Daddy put the presents under the tree.

Finally, the bell rang and we could all come downstairs!

Then it was time to open presents, and play play play.


The "mother and child" figurine finally got company: a boy with a golden heart, a little free spirit, and a loving dad holding a baby.

Finn and Lily had really only wished for one thing each: Lily for a Barbie horse and Finn for a red Playmobil dragon. They were very happy to find them under the tree!

Even the cats got presents: a zhu zhu hamster each! After some initial reservations Blue started chasing them around pretty soon. Lenny is still a bit of a scaredy cat :)

Neil surprised me with a beautiful Pandora bracelet with 4 pendants that all have a special meaning to me. I love it!

And LATE at night Finn and Lily put out some cookies and milk for Santa.

And although we don't really believe he is real, maybe he will still come by and fill our stockings? Lily left a carrot for the reindeer just in case.

Good night, it's been a long, happy day.

And - last not least:

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA KURT! Hope you had a wonderful day, we wish we could have shared it with you. Can't wait to see you again.

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A Christmas Story

(as found on the internet)


The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by it's bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snow caps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "CHRISTWAS LOVE".
And, I believe, He still is.

(Author unknown)

Amen.

Mercury rising

It's getting closer to Christmas Eve! In fact, Christmas Eve is TOMORROW. Finn and Lily can't wait. (Lily told me earlier today: "Mama, I LOVE advent. I'm so exciting." :)
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We will do a German Christmas with presents on Christmas Eve, after church. It will just be the four of us. Christmas day our good friends will come over, and I'm sure we will all have a great time. And who knows? Maybe Santy (as Lily calls him) will have stopped by at some point during the night and left a few filled stockings in his wake? We'll leave some milk and cookies out just in case. And maybe a carrot for his reindeer.
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Last Sunday all the children at church got their gifts already. Lily got a little knitted sheep that she instantly fell in love with. Of course it needed to come EVERYWHERE, and now it is lost. She had it going to town on Monday, and didn't when we came back. I will need to check with the people at church to see if I can get Sheepie's little brother or sister as a replacement.

Waiting for their presents

Neil has a much deserved break from work, and it's hard to tell who is happier about it - him or us! It's so nice having him home.

Some last preparations are being made, like decorating cookies ...

... or making this whole herd of candy cane reindeer to take to preschool. All four of us worked on these, and it was a lot of fun. Finn and Lily surprised the kids at preschool with a little gift at their Christmas party today. Today was the last day of preschool until January 7th.

Hope you are enjoying this season as much as we are!