Christmas

This year's christmas was being held at my parent's house. Every year my mom's side of the family takes turns on where it's being held. One year in Bavaria, one year in Stuttgart and one year here. So this year was right here. My dad had a few deliveries, but they weren't too huge, so him and my brother Daniel were cooking the christmas meals.

I went over after Lucas' afternoon nap, early afternoon on Dec 24th. My aunt Petra and her family, as well as my mom's parents had already arrived. As a matter of fact I met my cousin Konstantin with my brother Marius at the gas station, which was pretty funny, before I went over to the house. Lucas was already excited about my aunt's dog and of course all the people in general. They already started with the coffeetime. It didn't take too much longer and my other aunt Dagmar (Petra's twin sister) and her family arrived as well. My dad and brother Daniel were in the basement cooking and my dad's mom came upstairs for coffee as well. We then decided, taht we would hand out the gifts a little early this year, so Lucas could play with his toys and everything before the dinner. So around 4 pm, the kids all went upstairs with Lucas, while we put the gifts underneath the christmas tree. When they came downstairs, Lucas seemed really confused. He didn't know, why all of a sudden everyone was singing and watching him. He was the first allowed to open his gifts. Of course the first thing he was was the bike that my aunts got him. I don't know if this also exists in the States. It's a bike without pedals and very famos amongst toddlers in GErmany. He's still a little young for that, but he should be able to use it by spring. Lucas was a little overwhelmed with all the gifts.
He got

- the bike
- toys from Little People
- a Tonka car race track thingy
- two books- a speaking vaccuum cleaner
- a bathrobe
- one outfit
- money
- handle hauler car
- wodden blocks (village with cars)
- and my parents will also get him a new bedding set and a new jacket

I know my kid is way too spoiled... and that's just the gifts from Germany.... Of course he already got his gifts from grandma Arlene and the box from Grandma Evy is also on its way.
As for myself, I told my aunts and brothers, that we don't exchange gifts anymore. But I got something from my grandparents (money ;-) and my parents made me the greatest gift ever!!!! They will invite Lucas and myself for one week in Egypt. We were talking about going on holidays together next year, as Brian is gone and also because it will probably be my last opportunity to go on vacation with them, since we will move in 2010. But I was planning on paying for it and we haven't even discussed yet were, when and what. So they knew that Brian is supposed to come on leave in June. Summer time was also not a good idea because of my dad's business etc. So they decided to go to Egypt, because it will be warm there in May. We will go the last week of May and of course my brothers will join as well. The hotel looks awsome and it's all inclusive.
Alrighty, enough about that. More about christmas now.... After we exchanged gifts, Daniel served an appetizer. He made Sushi and some Wasabi sandwiches. Then it wasn't too much longer and we were called downstairs to eat dinner. In the meantime my uncle Horst and cousin Ninja arrived. My cousin Philip and his girlfriend were there as well, but only for about an hour. Uncle Horst got Lucas a gift as well. It's a little tent like thing with about 30 balls inside. We had a very yummie salad as a starter, venison goulash with homemade spaetzle and as a dessert we had cinnamon parfait with hot cherries. Very yummie. I went home after dessert, as it was already 8.30 pm and past Lucas' bedtime. By the time I got him down, it was 9 pm. Around midnight he woke up cryin and I couldn't calm him no matter what I did or said, he was crying, crying, crying. I knew it was from all the impressions he got that day and I guess it was a little too much for him.
Luckily he let me sleep an hour longer than usual and we woke up around 8 am. We went back to my parent's house for lunch. Everybody on my mom's side slept over. I guess they had quite a nice party until 3 am that night.
So for lunch we had goose with red cabbage and knoedel (dumplings). lucas didn't like that.. but i guess that was because he had too much to eat before...My dad made schupfnudel ( type of thick noodles made of potatoes, flour and eggs) for one of my cousins and lucas ate a few of them.

Everybody stayed until after coffeetime. I stayed there a little longer and played Wii Fit with my brother.

Today, I went over for coffeetime to my friend Beata's house. Her and her hubby invited me. It was really nice to chat with them and they even got something little for Lucas and myself.

All in all, it was a very nice christmas. Of course one thing was missing very much and that was BRIAN!!! It was really sad not having him here, but everyone was thinking about him and asking for his well being etc. I was very happy that I got to talk to him for about five minutes!!!

So enough writing, here come the pictures

The Weekend before Christmas

Wow, it's almost christmas already. I can't believe it... It almost seems like it's been christmas just a couple months ago.

So what's new on our end? Yesteday I went to Heidelberg to pick up the pictures that I had taken of Lucas. A babystore there had a special offer. A photographer was there for two days and you could make appointments and have pictures of your kid taken for a special price. Of course it was a little spendy, but cheaper than other offers I guess. We only had about fifteen minutes, so we don't have too many different poses. But they turned out pretty cute, I think. I can't get my scanner to work. So I took pictures with my camera of the pictures.... don't mind that quality, the real ones look really cute. And once I get my scanner running again, I'll scan them *lol* I'll also see if I can duplicate the ones that I'm going to scan. If the quality ain't too bad then I'll send some to you Grandma Arlene!!

Lucas is doing better cold-wise. Every once in a while he's still coughing, but that's ok. The pinkeye is better as well, you can hardly see anything anymore, but I'll keep on giving him the eyedrops until Monday, cause the doctor said five days.

How do you know that it's time to get up??? When your little one puts two socks right next your head.... *lol* Lucas wanted me to get up already (he was just awake for ten minutes) and took two socks (they were even matching) from the clothehanger and set them right next to my head... *lol*

He's coming more and more after me... hahah. In the morning when I wipe my glasses with a wipey, I place the papers next to me, while I clean them and Lucas takes them and throws them right into the gargage... And today he was lining up some wodden blocks very neatly

Did I tell you guys about my scare two nights ago? It was 2 am when I got awoken by somebody running up and down the hallways. At first I got really scared, you know me being halfasleep and halluzinating things.... then I recognized those really loud elephant-like steps... they belong to the Turkish man living all the way on top of our building... He weighs about 300 p0unds or so it seems and I already have to listen him stomping down the hallway at 6 am in the morning... Him and his family were running up and down the stairs from 2 am till about 2.45 am.... I was about to call the police, but then I decided against it, because if you know me I'm the person that always keeps her mouth shut.... I just wish I would've said something, because this family is always the one complaining about things that aren't even true about other neighbors in this house....

Today I made a pasta casserole (American recipe) and Lucas LOVED it... he wouldn't stop eating... but then he started keeping it in his mouth and playing around with it, that's when I knew he was done... lol. It also had spinach in it and I LOVE spinach... Brian hates it ;-p

This is how I found Lucas a couple days ago, after we came home from my family's house. When we get back I always open all the windows, to let some fresh air in before I shut all the shades. I keep Luca's jacket and everything on, so he won't get cold.... He climbed in his bed and red a book. I was wondering why he was so quiet... hahah. But when I went to get my camera, he already started to climb out of the crib

And last but not least pictures just for Brian... Hey Baby, don't you just miss this face????

This week's activities and so on

This week has been pretty nice as for activities. We had quite a few things going on, like an indoor playground visith with my friend Christine and her little ones, of course we visited my family as well and I had some other errands to do. We actually planned on visiting my friend Beata today, but I had to cancel. Lucas has been coughing quite a bit during the past couple days. I was already planning on going to the doctor today, before the weekend. Well, I definately planned on going there when Lucas woke up with a really red and crusty eye this morning. I already knew he had pinkeye and so it is. The doctor told me it's very contagious for about five days... great.... I cancelled our date for today and I really hope it won't get worse and will be gone by next week. His cough ain't too bad, but got some meds for it. He's in a fairly good mood otherwise though.

Tomorrow we'll go to the baby store to see how his pics turned out and we also have to make a quick stop at the PX. As for the weekend, there are no special plans just yet. I guess we'll go to the christmas market in Bruehl with my parents for a little bit.

Gifts, Gifts, Gift

Last Friday I made it to the mailroom. I was a little worried, cause these past three times I couldn't get that suptid maillock open... I know I'm blond and stupid... (thanks Brian..) So this time I tried it for like 10 minutes and I was on the verge of giving up and asking a lady for help again, when it finally openend. YAAAAAAAAAY.... and I got two boxes in from grandma Arlene. Thank you so much grandma again. We loved all the gifts. We finally got to listen to the personalized Cd for Lucas (children songs that all have his name in it) and it's too cute!! I already wore the black pullover and it kept me so warm. The oil defuser is already doing its job in the living room and of course Lucas got to watch Sesame Street for the first time (too cute). I'm gonna go through the cook book this week and see if I find something yummi to make. Oh Brian said I am supposed to wear the appron for him, when he gets back... (dirty mind.... *lol*) Of course all the other things were really nice as well!!

Here's Lucas wearing the jacket. It's too big, but it should work just fine next winter

Then yesterday we finally got to open our 'secret pal' gifts from the GermanSpouses Forum. I was so happy about my 'Wichtelmama'. She's the best!!! She even thought about Lucas and put something in for him.... Thank you so much Yvonne!!!

We opened it right after breakfast. Your cookies were very yummie. The tea is awsome as well and last night I got to try out one of the bathperls thingy. I used the purple one and it smelled so delicious!

Climbing up the couch

... and attacking....

Hum.... smells so yummie...

I want a cookie!!!!!!!

Playdate

This week has gone by pretty fast, because we had something to do every day. It was really nice, because there's nothing that I hate more than staying at home all day long and time passing by slowly.

Yesteday we had a playdate again with the whole 'group' (babies from my lamaze class during pregnancy). The last time we had one was in September. Not all of them came, but we were quite a few, so it was nice. It was so crazy to see how they all grew and one of them, that was born a month before Lucas is already speaking his first words like Hallo, Licht (light), and some other. They were all running and jumping around and about. Laura can't walk just yet, but she's trying real hard and I think it's just a matter of time.

Here are just a couple of pictures

Babies everywhere



Hi there, Sara with a biggg hand


Smooches

Ewwww, hold on, why do you keep your mouth open like that....???


Laura doing the hoola hoop

wazzzzzzzup?

Lucas' favorite 'toy' at Dominique's house... that chair. He was climbin on and off the whole time and was watching others carefully as they tried to 'steal' the chair from him... hahah

Another day at our family's house

Just a couple pics that I wanted to share


Hey guys, I wanna take some pics too.




Thinking real hard




Yay, I found two chocolate boxes...




Bravooooooooooo




Using all his strength and he still can't open the box