Week/Year In Review - Ten Things Of Thankful x 2 (80)

Yes, I know, I'm quite late (48 minutes to spare here in Germany, to be exact), and on top of it, the headline is longer than usual, hinting at a few more thankfuls than usual.  First of all, I enjoyed the break from the computer over the holidays (if I didn't work, that is), but was so excited for all the last thankfuls if this wonderful year 2014. I can't believe it's been a year again. With all the excitement we had in our family this time last year (we found out for sure that Calvin was on his way on the 24th last year), it was very special "recapping" everything while having out little guy celebrate with us (or, more realistically, be very overwhelmed with the situation).

Today, I would like to share two separate lists of thankfuls. One focussing on the more general aspects of our lives, which are by no means taken for granted, even though they are not always regarded with the importance they actually have:

1. The people in my life. First and foremost my wonderful family, which even grew by one beautiful little boy this year. Secondly, my friends. I am so thankful for every single one of them.

2. Our home. Yes, we moved this year to our very own home. But that is not necessarily what I am thankful for (even though I absolutely am). I am incredibly thankful that our family has shelter, with all the amenities like power, running water, central heating, etc. that most people just take for granted without realizing that a large portion of this planet's population live without it, even people in our (developed) countries.

3. Food on our tables. With refugees dying of dehydration and people in Africa living through one drought after the next, food and water are definitely nothing to take for granted!

4. Health. One thing that we can only buy with money in a limited fashion. I am thankful for having access to healthcare when needed, but I am also thankful that our family is generally quite healthy.

5. Peace. This year, way too many people in this world did not get to enjoy peace. The (near) war in the Gaza strip, the uprising of the IS in Iraq and Syria that forced thousands to leave their homes and seek refuge in another country. I am thankful that our children can sleep in peace, unaffected by war and violence.

6. A job. More exactly: a job that sustains our family. Or in our case more than just sustains the family. I am painfully aware that a 40-hour a week job does oftentimes not allow a family to make ends meet any more nowadays.

7. Time. I didn't think I would enjoy being home as much as I do. I think the biggest part is that hubby is home, too, doing school. This maternity/parental leave is a unique opportunity for our family to spend so much quality time together.

8. Freedom. Even though I am writing a lot about our freedom as Atheists is frequently cut, at least we can speak openly about being an Atheist. We can choose not to attend any religious service without having to fear repercussions. I can speak my mind without having to fear prosecution.

9. Safety from natural disasters. I am incredibly thankful to be living in an area where the worst thing that generally happens is a much stronger-than-normal storm blow some shingles from our roofs or a huge rainstorm fills a few basements. After surviving a tornado in Kansas that completely destroyed a whole subdivision, I will never take this for granted again!

10. Love. Many people do not experience this. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by so much love every single day, and I am incredibly thankful for it!



On to the ten thankfuls for the week!

1. Snow!!!! Oh my goodness, snow!!!  And throwing snowballs at the girls!

2. A wonderful Yule celebration being spent with many friends visiting, too much good food eaten, and seeing the girls be so happy with the loot they got from Santa.

3. Slowly getting a handle on the chaos that ensued after the loot was discovered and opened.

4. Did I ever mention the dryer?

5. Calvin being a good sleeper!!!

6. Afternoon naps with the baby!

7. Little outings on the sled.

8. Hubby being the best and giving me my first few sets of D&D dice for a gift. I've only been playing for 6 years or so...

9. Traditions. Like spending New Years Eve once again with out friends!

10. A warm bed that I'm going to fall into in a minute.


I wish every one of you a few more fun days in 2014!

Happy Holidays

(c) Life, Unexpectedly

The Toy-less Holiday

After the move this year, seeing all the stuff we had, and the way the girls' interests are developing, we have decided to make this holiday a toy-less one. So what to give to three kids aged 6, 4, and 4 months that are not toys?


Here are a few options:
- gift cards.
- puzzles or board games.
- vouchers, for example for picking up your kids' rooms, cooking their favorite meal, ice cream for dinner, etc.
- BOOKS.
- taking your kiddo on a lunch date.
- a movie or audio book.
- movie theater tickets.
- clothes they've wanted in forever.
- tickets to a theme park.
- keepsakes.

We've already bought most of the gifts for the girls; the family is also supporting us in our endeavor to make this holiday toy-less (even though the aunties have a special exempt status in this project). The girls somewhat seem to be in on it as well, discussing the letter to Santa, contemplating whether certain toys were necessary or whether they already had them. So proud of the girls, whose wish lists mostly contain books and puzzles!

What are you planning on giving the kids in your life as a holiday gift?

Countdown To The Holidays

Yes, it's true. The Winter Holidays (however you may call it) is approaching again. I started shopping early this year, wrapping m first presents during our visit with the in-laws in the U.S. in May. Luckily, I've not been in the holiday mood since early summer, like last year. I am just about getting started with the true fall mood, looking forward to Thanksgiving and the first German holiday bread (aka Stollen) on Sunday after Thanksgiving. Why do I love the second half of the year more than the first? Holiday flavors, weekends cuddling on the couch, a house warmed by cookies baking in the oven, first colorful then white landscapes, cocooning and listening to what's inside, spending lots of time with family and friends. This is why!

Kids Being Thankful

Being thankful is something we as parents try to focus on teaching our girls. This starts at saying "thank you" and "please" and ends with being thankful for what we have or get, not always asking for more or too much. Yes it is hard if the girls want to take the entire toy catalog out with a note for Santa that they want everything in there except the baby toys. After we had agreed that three toys would be on the wish list, plus a number of other things like hats, pyjamas, dresses, books, craft supplies, etc.

On the morning of the 25th, after the girls had unwrapped all of their presents and Lily had taken a mental note of what she had gotten and what was missing from her list, I overheard the following:

Lily:  Dear Santa, I know that I haven't gotten all the things on my list, but that is ok. I got so many great things, and I'm very thankful for that. Thank you so much for it, Santa!

Today, I am very grateful for our wonderful daughter!

Holiday Recap

I know, I'm late. And I have to admit, I haven't even made a camera dump yet, so sorry, pictures still to come. But after all, I guess it's time to recap this wonderful last week (and yes, I totally took a complete computer break over the holidays).

Tuesday, 24th
We slept in, had a quiet breakfast, and an overall quiet day. In the afternoon, our neighbors came over and we had the first gift-giving. The girls loved their games and we played until dinner time. After dinner, the girls noticed that when Santa picked up their wish lists on Sunday, he had left something in their stockings that were hanging near the window: My Little Pony activity / sticker books!! They were happily playing until it was time for a bath and bed-time. Afterward, Richard and I exchanged our first gifts. I got a book of short stories collected by Neil Gaiman, one of our favorite authors, and Richard the new bassoon neck strap he asked for. Afterward we piled up the gifts under the tree and spent the evening watching the Nutcracker and going to bed early.

Wednesday, 25th
The rule was mandatory cuddling until the first light, and as soon there was just the tiniest hint of dawn (about 7ish) we got up. I couldn't get the camera out fast enough as the girls were already tearing through their boxes, gift wrapping was flying through the air, and there was lots of gasps and cheering. After the girls had opened all their gifts, Richard and I opened ours. He was truly surprised by the guitar I got him to play with Lily, who had also gotten her very own Lily-sized guitar. I got another Neil Gaiman book (seriously working on re-building our library!!) and a beautiful pair of diamond earrings; I obviously was a nice girl! After breakfast, Lily and I spent 3 hours setting up her Lego Friends pony ranch while hubby set up the Disney Princess castle for Violet and patiently helped her dress and re-dress her princesses. We watched Animaniacs, made bracelets, ate cookies, and had a great vegetarian risotto for dinner. After the girls had gone to bed that night, hubby and I spent some quality time together reading and had an early bed-time ourselves.

Thursday, 26th
My parents came for a visit and I made a traditional German holiday dinner of roast goose, bread and potato dumplings, pickled red cabbage and gravies. It was delicious. The girls got jammies and our parents announced that they had transferred some money to our account to buy bedroom sets for the girls and probably pay for our patio or some other project on the house. We were overwhelmed. Later, after we were stuffed from dinner we took a walk to the house to show my parents the latest progress. After the walk we enjoyed coffee, fruit punch, and holiday cookies. We really had a great day together! At night, the girls had their bath and went to bed while Richard and I enjoyed a movie and reading time.


We really had wonderful holidays with lots of quiet family time, good food, happy children, and lots of sleep.  Pictures will follow, soon, I promise!!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone out there a very happy holiday celebration!

Holiday Memories

The winter holidays are celebrated differently in Germany. In our family, we celebrated a blended version of both U.S. and German traditions, leaving the backgrounds on why the gifts arrive when they do and how mostly to the girls’ imagination.

 As the girls are opening their gifts today in the evening of the 24^th, let me give you a glimpse in the German holiday traditions of my childhood.

My entire extended family lived within less than an hour, so the gifts could be hidden very well from me as there were never large boxes arriving during the weeks leading up to the holidays. On the entire 24^th, our living room, which is a separate room in my parents’ house, not an open living / sitting space as it is in most American homes, was locked to give the “Christkind” some privacy to prepare the room. At night, after the church service, my grandparents came over for dinner, and as my mom and grandma cleaned the dishes, my grandpa would read fairy tales to me from his ancient, big fairy tale book. Afterward, I had to go upstairs to my room to wait for the bell to ring and tell me it was time to go into the living room. Seeing the tree for the first time, all sparkly, lit with real candles, was magical. The gifts usually were placed on the couch (real candles, a small child, and wrapping paper are usually not a good combination for a quiet evening); I looked for my pile and started to unwrap.

On the evening of the 24^th I was always allowed to stay up late, play with my new toys, try on my new clothes, eat cookies, and sit with my parents and grandparents. The next morning was usually an early one for me; I let my parents sleep in and made myself a breakfast of holiday cookies (the best of the year!!) and went on playing with my toys. For lunch my grandparents came over again. My mom would either make a pork roast, turkey breast, or sometimes even a traditional German holiday goose.

On the 26^th, we would go to the traditional get together of my mom’s family at my other grandparents’ house, where there were more gifts, cookies and holiday bread, and playing with all my cousins.

I loved the holidays as a child, but I even love it more today, as I can be the onlooker watching our girls indulging in the holiday spirit. Giving is truly better than receiving!

Week In Review - Ten Things Of Thankful Gone Renegade Edition

Somehow it felt weird not having a TToT link-up this week. Or next. This is the time when many things happen, spontaneous, unexpected, happy things that I am incredibly happy for. And just as I was sitting there, I found that the link-up is not so much at pause as I thought...

This week, I am very thankful for:

1. Lizzi, for creating this link-up, even when she's not only in a bad place, but broke through rock bottom and is sitting at the bottom of a 50ft crap pit. You are an inspiration in your strength to continue, to set one foot in front of the next, no matter how strong the wind is blowing. I am thankful to know you, Lizzi!

(now to the more trivial but still important thankfuls this week)

2. The bus driver handing out little chocolate Santas this Friday morning. Oh my goodnes, it SO made my day!!

3. Lily not only bringing home a beautiful heart-shaped wire ornament but also inspired me to finally take down the fall / Halloween decoration from our front door and craft some paper snowflakes with ther and Violet.

4. A spontaneous dinner with our neighbors tonight. So unexpected but fun!

5. "Nightmare Before Christmas" on TV

6. No pre-holiday stress, no waiting in line at the stores on Monday.

7. Plenty of vacation time, and colleagues who are willing to come to work so I can spend almost 2 weeks straight at home.

8. Somehow managing to take the high road in a situation that simply infuriated me. I don't know how I managed, but I did..

9. Cuddling with the girls on the couch, reading good-night stories.

10. More small translation jobs, with a prospect of regular work in the foreseeable future. It's great to be able to translate again, and for being paid for it!


Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend!

Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap (Link-Up)

I'm excited to present my first ever link-up! Thank you so much for your support in that idea. As I love to bake and try out new recipes, I thought that a pre-holiday recipe swap would be a good idea. I hope that many of you will join and help create a little online cookie recipe collection  :-)




Thank you all and Happy Holidays!

Modern Cooking - Cinnamon Stars

This cookie is one of the Germany classics, but I've never made it myself. I remember my mom making cinnamon stars once but I didn't care for them. When I was researching new cookies to try the last years and found cinnamon star recipes, I was just scared off my the idea of rolling the dough between two layers of plastic foil to be able to work the dough that is very sticky. No thank you!

This year I finally caved, and let me tell you, it's EASY! Not a mess at all, clean-up is a breeze, and the taste is simply heavenly!

Ingredients:
2 egg whites
1 pinch of salt
10 oz + 1 tbs powdered sugars
16 oz ground almonds
1 - 1 1/2 tbs cinnamon
1 tbs honey

glaze:
1 egg white
3.5 oz powdered sugar

Beat egg whites with salt very stiff. Add sugar and honey; beat until smooth and shiny. Fold in almonds and cinnamon. Let the dough sit for about 30 minutes. Cut a long piece of plastic foil; stick one half to the work surface with tape. Roll out dough in between the two layers of plastic foil to about 1/4 in. thick. Cut out with small cookie cutters (preferrable stars). Beat egg white for the glaze and stir in sugar. Ice the cookies with the glaze and bake at 300F for about 20 minutes (glaze should still be white and just start to take on color).

Let cool and try to store airtight in a cookie jar.

Enjoy!

Tip: if you like some extra spice, add a pinch of ground pink pepper.

Week In Review - Ten Things Of Thankful 28

Lizzi, the wonderful host of the TToT, has written a whole list of ten thankfuls about this hop, and she couldn't me more right about it. Dedicating half an hour, or how ever long it may take each week to think about all the big and small things that have happened in my life has made a change to the better. And it is amazing how such a seemingly small thing in fact makes such a difference.

This week's thankfuls:

1. Witnessing my coworker singing at the company holiday party. Simply stunning!

2. Getting to witness following conversation between the girls 5:00 one morning in my bed:
V: I love you, Lily.
L: I love you, too, Violet!
V: You are my very best sister!!
L: Awwww, that's so cute of you, Sweetie!

3. Hubby being fabulous enough to go and buy My Little Pony coloring books at the store.

4. Decorating the tree together.

5. More baking.

6. Natural vanilla.

7. Lily teaching the ABC to Violet.

8. Once again Lily: The advent calendar in her kindergarten class contained a treat on Friday, but there wasn't enough for all the kids. She suggested to all that if everyone would share, there'd be enough for everyone. That is the spirit of the season, and I could not be more proud of this wonderful little girl!

9. Hubby being the most supportive and kind parter I could ask for. He goes along with so many of my whims and barely ever complains about my excentricities.

10. My wonderful neighbors who helped me with the grand holiday surprise for my wonderful hubby.



Wishing all of you a great weekend! And remember, if you're a fan of baking and delicious cookies, please join the Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap this Tuesday, December 17 here at Life, Unexpectedly!

Favorite Holiday Traditions

It's Friday again. This week was busy, but also dragged for some reason. I have gotten another translation order, a much smaller project so far. It seems as if business is picking up eventually.

Finally, the countdown to the holidays has started for good, and Janine and Kate are chiming in with this week's Finish The Sentence Friday:

My favorite holiday tradition is...

... the quiet family time we spent on the 25th. We get up VERY early, when the girls get up. After opening the presents we have a yummie breakfast, and spend all day playing, taking naps, cuddling. We have a small dinner, as usually my parents come over for the big dinner on the 26th. I love the feeling of being cocooned in, just the four of us. It's peaceful, it's quiet, it's warm, so full of joy and excitement. Can't wait :-)


What is your favorite holiday tradition? Join the FTSF and tell about it!

Do They Believe?

It's that time of the year, the season of coziness, of baking, and cooking, and eating, of getting together and enjoying each other’s company cocooned in our warm homes as the end of the year (and the dark season at the winter solstice on December 25 according to the Julian calendar) approaches.

It's the time of the year for our children to leave through toy magazines, stroll by the displays in the mall, and meeting Santa to tell them their wishes for the holidays.

Well, now it happened that Santa (or Saint Nick) visited Lily and Violet’s kindergarten to give them some chocolate santas and listen to their songs. When I came home from work Friday night, a slightly annoyed Lily met me at the door, complaining that they weren’t visited by the ACTUAL Santa, but it was only Manuel, their intern, in disguise. Violet, at the same time swore that the REAL Santa had visited her class.

A few years ago, when Lily was born, Richard and I discussed how to handle Santa, the German “Christkind”, Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy in the future. We strongly believe not to lie to children. On the other hand, we both remember fondly the years of being excited about the respective figures coming to visit at their appointed time. So we decided to let things go. To let them make their own experiences. To think for themselves what to believe in and what not. We do not heavily support either way, even though we are known to mention Santa or the Tooth Fairy on occasion.

I'm not sure yet how the experience with the false Santa  has affected Lily. We’re definitely going to make the wish lists and put them out for Santa to find. There will the customary “T’was the night before Christmas” good-night story on the 24^th. I know my parents will arrive with gifts that the “Christkind” has left at their house for the kids, and the in-laws will inquire on what Santa left for them under the tree.

Sometimes I think that they still believe in Santa and co. because they want to, not because they are deep-down convinced that they exist (except the Tooth Fairy, how else could possibly this coin have ended up under Lily’s pillow??). I don’t think there will ever be a “Santa isn’t real” talk at home; whenever they ask us whether they exist, we answer with the question “what do YOU” think?”, and leave it with that, because most of the time, they give themselves the best answers anyway.

Do your children still believe in Santa and friends? Do you support it or leave it up to them what to believe?

Updates 2011

It's been a while since I've written on here. A good 3 months to be exact. To be honest, I missed it, and there are so many things floating around my brain at times that will hopefully have the chance to come out bit by bit. I stopped writing last year because I was seriously burned out; oftentimes it was the choice between sleep and writing, then I was at a point where it wasn't much of a choice any more. Working 40+ hours a week and still being a hands-on mom to two little girl, a wife, daughter, sister, and friend just took a lot out of me. But my desire to write has become stronger and stronger, and here I am.

What has changed since last year over here? I got my contract with Siemens and due to the better salary and more time off (how do 30 days sound?), we'll be able to treat ourselves to a trip to the States in March/April and spend Violet's first birthday with her Grandma Cat. We celebrated an awesome Thanksgiving (late, since everyone had to work on Thursday) with family and friends; during our 4 years in the US, Thanksgiving has almost become my favorite holiday, because it focuses more on spending time with each other than consumerism. And of course I have this special memories of my first Thanksgiving celebration with a special young man and turkey stir fry back in 2005 :-) The Yule holiday was finally as picturesque as could be. We had tons of snow, which "forced" us to stay home for Christmas Day instead of visiting my family; Lily decided to make up for it with a spontaneous trip to the playground, facing down thigh-high snow and a somewhat hesitant and snotty Mami. New Years.. Well, what shall I say? We slept through it. I remember thinking: "That's not normal" when a former student once told me that she and her family had slept through the night at New Year's Eve, and here we are. But to be honest, there are so many New Year's Eves to come, and sleep was just more important at that point.

During this last months I managed to reconnect with some old friends and make some new ones, start and complete some projects, laugh, cry, and pick myself up again. It's not always easy managing everything, but seeing the love in my girls' eyes makes up for everything. Right now, Miss Violet is starting to walk and Lily is getting ready for starting kindergarten next Tuesday. I can't believe how fast time flies and would give a lot for it to just stop for a while, but then again I can't wait what each new day brings. And while reflecting on this past year I can't wait for what this new year, which is almost a month old already, brings (hopefully less change than last year!). A belated "Happy New Year" to all of you!