December

I cannot believe that December has come and gone.... and I feel the same about 2013. They both flew by. December was a fun month full of lots of festivities.

At the very beginning of the month, we celebrated Sinterclaus. The girls put their decorated clogs outside the door and when they woke up, they had a treat left in them by Sinterclaus himself :) I guess they have been somewhat good since they didn't get sticks!





First of all, we went out to get our Christmas tree. It was nearly impossible to find a night that Abe was going to be home so we could get it before dark. Between his command post shifts, being a Flight Commander, an AFNORTH Wrestling coach, Young Men's President and involved in a tennis club.... he is hardly home lately. So, the girls and I headed out after school one day to a little tree "farm" in our neighborhood run by a family. We just loaded it up on top of the stroller and voila, we got it home!

The girls enjoyed decorating it









Then there was the Santa Train. Somehow, we have managed to do this every year that we have been here. The kids had fun and that's all that mattered.



In the middle of the Santa Train adventure, the train drops you off to this room where you can enjoy a german Brotchen, deli slices and a drink. Of course the kids can also see Santa.







We also attended a little Christmas Celebration on base. The kids got their faces painted, they served dinner and there was a band playing Christmas music. The girls also got to see Santa here too!



Last year for the first time, I decided to try my mom's/grandma's Gingerbread house recipe and patterns and made some for Adeline's teacher and some small ones for the kids to decorate. Adeline's teacher from last year, BEGGED me to make one for her again this year. I love that teacher and Adeline loves her too. Even though Adeline doesn't have her anymore, she goes and visits her every day and is always making her stuff. So I made one for Adeline's teacher, her teacher from last year and my friend (who helped make them) decorated the one for Norah's teacher because our kids both have her. It was a long time baking with those big houses and we also made a little house for each kid to decorate. Our ovens are TINY here!! When I dropped the gingerbread house off to Adeline's old teacher though, it was totally worth it. She started crying she was so excited and made me cry. She even wrote me an extremely nice note and a little bit of cash (that I tried to give back!)

Here are the kids decorating











Ah, look how cute they turned out!





After being tired of decorating, we found them all on the couch like this with Adeline reading books.



Norah also had a little Christmas performance.











Last but not least, Norah had a celebration on her last day of school before the break. We got to join her in class for cookies, a little performance and she got to do a lot of fun crafts.









Norah kept saying, "oops! I keep getting it on my fingers!"

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, we headed to England so spend the Holiday with our good friends The Huber's. Our friend Rob, who is also living in England, was able to drive down and stay with the Hubers as well.

It really wasn't too bad getting to their house. It was about 3.5 hours to get to Calais, France where we loaded our car onto a ferry. It was a nice 1.5 hour break from driving. The girls spent time looking out the window at the ocean and running around in the lounge. It was during lunchtime, so I just packed lunches for everyone and that also took up some time.







As you are coming into Dover in the UK, you have a pretty good view of the white cliffs. It was REALLY foggy that day and we couldn't see them very well.



I'm mad at myself because I didn't take any pictures on Thanksgiving. Brooke took a couple that I stole :) She had the kids decorate cupcakes for Thanksgiving and also had a couple more darling crafts the kids were able to enjoy!








That night, we took a walk to their local park and let the kids play for a little bit. It was pitch dark and wet, so we didn't last very long. Here is a picture of all of headed to the park.



Thanksgiving day was a success and the food was so yummy. I love that we have good friends close by that we can spend the Holidays with since we can't be near our family. In the military, our friends become our family.

We spend most of the weekend hanging out and enjoying each other's company. The weather was not ideal, but we did get out a little bit.

They don't live too far from Cambridge, so we headed there for one of the days.

















Pretty sure Rob was being tormented by all the kids the entire time begging him for piggyback rides and choking him with their gloves. What a good sport!

















The most awesome candy store. It was like Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory!





Abe bought this ginormous sucker for Meika because "she really wanted it!" Hmmm... not the best idea ;)



Cute little market that goes on everyday



The next day we headed to this amazing park with tons of fun stuff for the kids. Of course it was freezing cold and a little rainy, but the kids still had fun. I would love to go back in the summer!



























The night before we left we went to this super yummy restaurant. Abe and I say all the time how much we crave it. They even had free refills, free water and ICE!! Love that! What a great weekend!

St. Martin

This was our 3rd year celebrating St. Martin. The first year we celebrated it in the little German town where we were staying in our guest house. Last year, we celebrated it with the town that we currently live in. The tradition is that all the kids will make Laterns at school and on the night of St. Martin, they (with their families) all walk in a parade around the village while holding their lanterns. The parade eventually comes to a bonfire where they act out the story of St. Martin while everyone surrounds the bonfire. After that, everyone walks back to the Burgerhaus (town hall) where you can get hot chocolate, Glu Wein (hot wine for drinkers) and the kids can turn in their ticket to St. Martin to get a large bread shaped as a man. I have always enjoyed celebrating this holiday with the locals. Adeline's school (AFNORTH International school) always host their own St. Martin at the school. I have never gone because I thought the local ones would be much more enjoyable. Adeline begged to go to the school one this year. Of course Abe was on shift that day/night, so I ventured out with the three girls by myself. They had a little assembly and then they had their little parade around the outside of the school. At the end you could get your bread man and drinks. It was really lame in my opinion and not the same as the local celebrations. I was disappointed we didn't participate in our town our last year here, but the girls had fun and that's all that really matters!

Adeline and her friend Katelyn