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
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