I found this last year on post in the trash.  It was still in the box!  I don't think it was made in Germany but it will still remind us our time there.  They are very popular there.  We lit the candles and Owen and Meg thought it was so cool to watch the top spin.

I always want to give the kid's teachers something creative.  This year I saw an idea on the computer and thought I would give it a try. Most of the time I see a cute idea and try it but it doesn't turn out as cute, but in the end I think these really turned out well!  And the best part about it all (and perhaps the motivating factor) is they cost about $2.30 each!  Anyway, they were easy, quick and the kids loved  making them.  Teacher's gifts.....Done!

It is kinda hard to tell but the graphic is on the inside!

This is what Meg wanted to wear to school, she is really embracing the Christmas spirit!

 

I've been wearing this pin around, I'm not a happy holidays kinda gal.

                                                   Meg loves to decorate!

 

Meg has been super into my basket of Christmas books.  I've been collecting Christmas books for years and every year I pull them out.  She loves them!

At Meg's school you could send in some money and the kids could buy gifts for family members.  Well, Meg came to the car ready to explode.  She was so excited for us to open our gifts.  This is what she picked out for us.  I always get a kick out of what they pick out!

 

I will close with a discussion between Owen and Meg yesterday in the car.

 

Meg:  So Santa really brings gifts.

Owen:  I believe so

Meg:  Well, what does Mrs. Clause do?

Owen:  Mrs. Clause does nothing.

Me:  Owen!  Mrs. Clause works very hard.  She probably makes snacks for the elfs and helps keep Santa on a diet.

Meg:  Yea, because after he eats all the cookies at people's houses he might be diabetic.

 

Owen's teacher is doing Elf on a Shelf.  He likes to tell me each day where the elf is.  He said,  "Mom, you can get an Elf on a Shelf at Target."  I thought by saying this he knew it was all fake so I said, "Do you want an Elf on the Shelf?"  he thought for a moment and then said, "Well.....no....I don't want that elf getting into my toys at night!"

 

I love how they still BELIEVE! 

 

 

 

 

Our Week!

This has really been the season for gingerbread houses.  Marvin had Meg and Owen over and they built some more.

 

 Marvin's family has been out of town so we have been taking care of their dog.  The kids have loved this.  His name is Camo!

 Here is another picture I found on the camera that Owen took.  He sets ups these little scenes and then takes pictures of them.  I thought this one looked cool!

More airplane flying!

We went to this little festival and they had ice skating!  I had to see this because is was 60+ degrees out.  Well, it was a synthetic material.  They used real ice skates but the ice was just some type of plastic!  How cool is that.  Owen and Meg weren't impressed after skating on the real deal this just kinda fell flat. 

 

This weekend we made some cookies and it really made me think of Grammie. She always made cut outs this time of year.  I think Meg must have some of Grammie in her because she LOVES to be in the kitchen!

 This is Grammie's mixing bowl.  I have so many memories of her making muffin batter in this.  I also have a spatula she used, her old metal cookie cutters and her muffin pan.  These are super special to me!

 I like this picture because she has an apron on and Meg always wants to wear an apron. 

 Here she is hard at work.

 

 This is Owen's finished diorama.  He had to choose a habitat and animal.  I thought he made a good choice.  In case you are wondering this is:  Tropical waters and it is a Puffer Fish!

 I have been volunteering in Meg's class.  They celebrated Christmas around the World. 

 

Off to take Camo out!

 

We would like to give a shout out to FedEx for providing Trees for Troops.  This is the tree Meg and Owen selected.

 

 

 We attended a workshop in our community to build gingerbread houses.  Meg and Owen loved this.

                                                           We decided to make a cottage.

                                     I think the boys may have done more eating than building.

                                       This was Marvin's finished house....most impressive!

                                                                           
Several years ago I got a bike from the Recycling Center in Germany for Owen and then found another one at the Thrift Store so I told Owen we need to get rid of one but he said, "Mom, lets hang on to it and if I ever see Marvin again he will have a bike to ride when he comes over to my house."
                                                         
                                     What a grand idea!  2 bikes, 2 best friends and a year later!

Owen has been using his allowance and bought two miniature model kits.  I will have to take more pictures because he sets up little scenes and it looks amazing.  This little guy is quite crafty!  More pictures to come of his diorama he made this week.  Meg was super into helping him with that!

We are so behind in getting ready for Christmas.  We haven't purchased a single gift.  But last night Owen's teacher asked us to discuss what Christmas traditions are important to us as a family in order to prepare for an upcoming paper.  Owen without missing a beat said, "dressing up at Mimi's for the manger scene.  and Meg said, reading lots about Jesus' Birthday."   This made me feel a lot better about not having purchased anything.  His Presence instead of presents! 

 

Owen and Pascal got this plane before we left Germany.  We would see people flying them in the fields near our apartment and it was amazing to watch them fly.  Owen is very interested in this hobby.  We have taken it out several times but on this particular day it was the first time we got it up and it flew.  I have to say we were all pretty excited to see it fly. 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is Meg at the Home Depot craft workshop.  Meg loves these things!

 Meg is such a little helper.  She can clean and organize something in a jiffy!  She constantly monitors the dryer for lent removal, vacuums and loves to set the table.   We are quite the team!  I have to say I miss her during the day.  I am so proud of her for starting Kindergarten and then changing schools.  She really liked the school in Germany but she met a friend this week....her name is Grace:)

Here is one of her table settings, she always looks around the house to find something to use as a center piece!

                                                            She even made name cards!

 Before we left Germany we had planned one last get together with P'tite Mom to celebrate Meg's Birthday but the weather turned bad and we couldn't get together.  We were all sad but she received her Birthday present in the mail yesterday and she was thrilled! 

P'tite Mom knows she loves crafts and sent her this cute little clock you can decorate yourself.  Here is Meg's finished project. 

We feel like we are finally settling in.  Strep throat took Owen and myself down and we were in some serious pain.  But we are on the mend now and I will try to keep the updates coming.