Happy Thanksgiving!

A year ago we were up in Berlin celebrating Thanksgiving (this picture is from Thanksgiving day at the Berlin zoo). This year, we'll be home in Grafenwoehr celebrating with friends. What a wonderful year it has been so far, and we have so much to be thankful for! Sometimes it scares me to say all the things I am so thankful for out loud, as though it somehow could jinx us. But, believe me, we are thankful.

This year, I'm preparing a turkey, ham, mashed potates, broccoli cheese rice casserole, homemade onion yeast rolls, homemade apple stuffing, gravy, green beans, a butternut squash galette, and a chocolate tart. Oh my. Tonight I'll do as much prepping as I can when the kids are in bed, and try to clean/organize as well. I have the feeling I might be up pretty late. I love having a full house though and being with friends on holidays is the next best thing to family.

How about you all? What are your Thanksgiving plans? Trying out any new recipes? Sticking with some family favorites? I'm trying out quite a few new ones and hoping for the best. We'll know tomorrow! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Advent Calendar 2014

Last year, I tried buying small gifts (harmonicas, flutes, glow sticks, etc) and sweets to fill our Advent Calendar for the kids. Some were just too big to fit in the pockets of the felt tree and I felt like it was a little bit too much stuff they didn't really need. This year, I'll do a few sweets and small gifts, but the majority of fillers will be activities they pull out from the pockets. I've had so much fun thinking of activities for us to do!  Here is my list:

• Shop for a Gift to give to charity. Donate a toy of our own to charity too.
• Bake Cookies and Treats and bring them to our neighbors together
• Make a gingerbread house together
• Go cut a Christmas Tree together
• Make Christmas Gifts and Cards for the grandparents
• Have a hot cocoa party in the basement restaurant in our house with candles and music and a nicely set table.
• Wear our pajamas and snuggle up on the floor together to watch a Christmas movie.
• Wear our pajamas and read all our Christmas books together in a tent with cookies and milk.
• Make Clay and Dough ornaments for our tree together
• Attend a Christmas Market or two in the many awesome German towns nearby
• Fill the kids shoes with goodies on Dec 6 from St. Nick.
• Visit an orphanage or soup kitchen to serve a meal.
• Walk through town together to see all the Christmas decorations.

I'll be writing them out on little scrolls of papers and draw pictures too so the kids can guess what we're doing. Then I just have to figure out which days to put each activity. 

How about you all? What activities do you have planned for the season? Do you do something similar for you advent calendar? Only 10 days left till December!

Three years is too long

I know, I know... I disappeared for the last month! It all started with a terrible virus that left the whole family immobile for a week. Fever, aches, cough, and exhaustion that lead to an upper respiratory infection. Not fun. But, after the sickness (during for poor Frank and Lily), we took a 11.5 hour flight back home to Kentucky and stayed for two weeks. Let me tell you folks, three years away is much too long.

Though I failed majorly in the photo department, I did capture one great day at Evans Orchard the day after we arrived. The first time I ever met my niece and nephew (twins) Ella and Issac! And the first time Lily basically met everyone in the family other than those who have visited us in Germany. It was a pretty awesome trip. Packed in as much family time as possible, as well as some friend time and some climbing, but never enough. Oh, I miss my Old Kentucky Home already.

Lily adored Missy instantly. Later on in the trip, her reply to us asking what her favorite part of the day was "Missy".

This little man didn't know what to think of me all day long. His eyes tell the story. Who is this lady taking pictures of me!

These two, only three days apart in age, hit it off great!

Cooper and I made his sweatshirt using freezer paper as a stencil on a sick day before our trip.

Ella warmed up to me right away, and to Cooper below who helped her around on the hay.

Cutest baby pigs rooting around in the mud.

We thought this was the mama, but no, turned out to be the daddy getting his groove on with the water pail.

Missy and her sneaky smile. She grabbed a bunny out for us all to pet.

Cousins!

Can't believe we only have 2 weeks now until Thanksgiving and 6 weeks until Christmas! I'm planning on getting back into my blogging routine and have some fun crafts and ideas to post soon! Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.