Snow!!

I think we got about 3 inches yesterday.  And thanks to summer tires, Luna got to stay home, after my failed attempt to drive.   (I wasn't going to bring her in at 10!)  So we played in the snow.  Thanks for the snow suit Gramma and Grampa - it fits perfectly!

After we came in, we had hot chocolate (Papa's fancy Caotina Noir... super indulgent!) with whipped cream on top!

At dinner, Luna showed off her new pouring skills... and her typical sense of style!

Tablecloth!

OK - it's really not a big deal, but I promised pictures sooooo, here they are!  I think some more piecing would have been nice, but then, I did have limited time to get it done!  And it made it to the church by the first Sunday in Advent!

Excuse the mess in the background...  things suffered a bit around here the last few days!

This gives you a good idea of what it will look like on the table at church!  Pointsettias and the Advent wreath were to sit on top of it!

Camera wouldn't pick up the pattern in the cream fabrics, but there were two different prints in gold.  Star points got a little swoopy when I applied them - first time always brings learning experiences!

Thanksgiving(s!)

We celebrated our first Thanksgiving dinner early, while my parents were visiting.  I did a 10 pound turkey and all of our traditional dishes.  It was great to be able to celebrate it with them, and we were very thankful they were here!

While we were here we went out to visit my Dad's sister and her husband who are running a Cadence Hospitality House here in Germany.

Luna loves the sparkly pink purse she got from Gramma.

Grampa hugs!

Made a spice cake for my Dad's 65th birthday!

On Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving with some good friends who will be leaving Germany shortly, and 2 other families.  It was such a blessing to share teh Thanksgiving table with all of them.  I am so thankful for these women in my life!

Luna got to wear this adorable outfit that Gramma brought!

A. had a pretty skirt just like Luna's!

Stu carving the bird.

Not my greatest work of art... but it tasted good!

And tonight we were blessed with our 3rd (!) feast, hosted by the Forbes family, who we go to church with.  Everybody arrived soon after services, and bot was there aplenty!  She invited some of her German neighbors who seemed quite bowled over by the meal!

Kids table - too cute!

Grown ups table - can't believe they have the capacity for this in their house!

Thanks to everybody for 3 wonderful Thanksgivings!  We are truely blessed!

Sinterklaas!

Sinterklaas arrived in Amsterdam, coming all the way from Spain two weeks ago.  Over 3 weeks, he and Zwarte Piet leave little toys and goodies in the wooden shoes of good little boys and girls all over the Netherlands (and he makes special trips for a few Dutch children outside the country, too!)  His big day is next weekend, when we will be traveling to Holland, and hopefully we will get to see him in person, and find out what's in that big bag of his!

Here are some pictures of our little Dutch girl, and her shoes... from the last couple weeks.