Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We've had a busy couple of weeks. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and New Years in Minnesota and Iowa with family and friends. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the past weeks....

Delayed in Chicago....Aunt Kerri fixing up Shaylee's hair....girls with Great Grandma Bleeker

Iowa's WINTER WONDERLAND!!! SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! Warm on the inside looking outside.

Matching dresses....family photo on Christmas Day....Van Essen grandkids with Grandpa and Fay.

Christmas at the cabin with the Bleekers....girls with cousin Kyrianna....Bleeker grandkids.

Silas and Kyri actually playing together....the family....Kimber's siblings by the masterpiece!

Kimber and Ellen....Shaylee, Silas, and Derek....Kate and Sydney.

We had a ton of fun - and got some work accomplished at the cabin too (railing and wood flooring!) I'll post more pictures later - these were just some of the highlights....

We are glad to be back home in Germany -sleeping in our own beds - and feeling better
(we were hit with the stomach flu a few days before heading back). Now to finish unpacking, taking down Christmas decorations, and getting everything back in order - and back to routines.

We loved seeing so many of our family and friends - we love you all! Thanks for making our time in the States one we will cherish and hold dear!

All I Want for Christmas are My THREE Front Teeth!

Sydney is now missing THREE front teeth! They are falling out left and right! Bottom and top! When will it stop! The tooth fairy is definately busy over here! The latest tooth fell out this morning at breakfast.

One Expensive Tooth

At lunch today Sydney wiggled her tooth and wiggled it some more. Finally I said that I would give her 5 euro if she would let us pull it out. She refused...but not 2 minutes later she had the tooth in her hand. She had pulled it out herself. I guess she really wanted that 5 euro! Now I need to do some sweet talking to the tooth fairy. Sydney asked how the tooth fairy was going to know to leave her 5 euro...I said I could send the tooth fairy an email...that answer seemed to satisfy. We will see what happens. For now, her tooth is under her pillow awaiting exchange! Sydney can now officially sing - "all I want for Christmas are my 2 front teeth!"

Christms Photo Session #2

This morning before church we put the kids in front of the tree for the second photo session of the season. Silas wasn't very cooperative...he kept running away. But we did end up with this one where the kids are all looking and smiling! Dare we try for anymore??

Bad Wimpfen Weihnachtsmarkt

Saturday, December 13, 2008. Tonight we headed to the town of Bad Wimpfen for their Weihnachtsmarkt. A large sign saying Herzlich Willkommen greeted us as we entered through the old town gate.

The girls went on a fun ride right away. Sydney kept seeing so many nice things that she really wanted. Its like opening a toy catalog a paging through it, circling all the things you want or hope for, except now it is right in front of you and you can reach out and touch them....but still don't get to have them. Mommy feels the same way, as there are so many neat booths, so much to look at and choose from. I however did get to buy a few things. That's what these Weihnachtsmarkts are for right?!? At one booth we saw a guy making glass ornaments and other things. It was soo cool how he used heat/flame, blowing, turning and such - WOW!

We also enjoyed honey Gluhwein tonight, which I really liked. And of course we ended up having wurst for supper as well. We couldn't resist after walking past the booths and smelling them cooking - yum!

A few more pictures from our evening. And as we were leaving - the sign said Auf Wiedersehen Fruhliche Weihnachten! We had a good time - even though there were TONS of people on the crowded narrow streets (we weren't expecting different), the kids were a bit on the tired/crabby side (Christmas markets would be a bit more romantic and enjoyable without kids along), and we had to walk a long ways back to where we parked (this last one also couldn't be helped due to all the people - at least we had free parking!)

The last picture is of the skyline of the town as we were driving away - the tower and parts of the old wall were all lit up...it was really pretty (but hard to capture on camera).

Winter Fair

The kids had a winter fair at their school the other night. There were several booths/stations set up in the multipurpose room and outside. I purchased a punch card for each of the kids and then they could go around and do whatever they liked. Sydney got her face painted (see photo of her with her friend Lila in their butterfly faces). Shaylee got her nails painted, won some lotion, and made a Christmas ornament (that unfortunately broke when she dropped it while trying to hang it on the Christmas tree at home). Shane ran around with his friends - but did end up with an empty punch card and a few prizes. Silas was a real trooper as he spent the entire evening in the stroller! This year you could also pre-order plates or mugs for the kids to decorate. I ordered 5 plates and each of the kids did a great job decorating their own plates - maybe now they will be excited to eat vegetables off of them!!!!

Christmas Photos

The other night after all the kids had their baths, and were in their pjs and ready for bed.....I thought I'd try and get a photo of all 4 of them in front of the Christmas tree. Now trying to get 4 children to sit still and smile at the same time is quite difficult - however I think that these 2 turned out okay - Shaylee was being a little goof-ball...but what did I really expect??

Then they each wanted their own picture taken in front of the tree as well...maybe someday these photos will actually make it into their scrapbooks...

Again - a bit goofy - but they are kids.....this was the best I could get of Silas - yes he is about ready to throw an ornament at me! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

All I Want for Christmas Are My 2 Front Teeth!

Not Sydney this time - but SHANE! This morning at breakfast while he was eating - out came his tooth. He now is missing both his top front teeth! His new ones are quickly coming in - but for now he's having fun sticking his tongue through the big gap. He is also realizing it is a bit harder to talk when your teeth are missing. The tooth fairy is busy over here this week!

What's Missing??

When I came to pick up Sydney from school today the first thing she said to me was "look" - and what did I see - or better yet - what didn't I see -her front bottom tooth was missing!!!!! She has been wiggling her 2 front bottom teeth for quite some time now and I figured one was going to fall out soon. So today was the day - she lost her first tooth! How exciting! The other bottom one is also very loose - she may even be able to sing "all I want for Christmas are my 2 front teeth" yet. And she may easily get them too - as when I peeked in her mouth I could see both new ones already coming up.

Sydney holding up her tooth!

Shaylee did it again!!!

So here is the scoop. After school is usually the crazy part of the day when the kids all want attention and I'm busy helping with homework and getting supper ready. Syd was home sick today -so I had her watching a video, Shane was doing some homework, Silas was playing in the basement, and Shaylee was off somewhere....(this should have been my first clue right?) I had been down in the basement with Silas changing over the loads of laundry. I had washed Syd's sheets and was going to bring them upstairs and put them back on her bed. As I came upstairs I noticed Syd and Shaylee's bedroom door was closed (clue number 2 - as it is usually open). I wasn't expecting to see anyone in there, but there was Shaylee. She had her head down and she sort of ran to me and right away said "I don't know where my hair is?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing - WHAT? What hair? Sure enough, after saying she didn't know where it was she showed me a pile of hair hiding in a corner by her bed. I was stunned. Shaylee -you did it again!!!! WHY? "I want short hair" was her answer. She was very upset - obviously knowing what she did would not make mommy happy. She of course cut right up front and now has spiky bangs and some longer bangs. I'm thinking she will be getting another official mommy trim here yet tonight! For now - here is the evidence.....I'm keeping it in a baggy - I might have enough for a wig or a doll someday if she keeps at this! ARGH!!!! (updated picture after her haircut)