A white Christmas and we are not dreaming.

Waiting for Santa

Snow up to our windows (there is a hedge under there but still that is a lot of snow!)

Christmas Lunch with fellow Australians

Best way to keep the "champers" cold

Guess what this is! Clue: it cost 750 euros per kilo.

We had a lovely Christmas here. There was great excitement for weeks before hand. We have learnt many new Christmas carols and have even decided on our own personal favourites. We have crafted decorations and had major failures with glitter, we have visited the Christmas market, we have lit advent candles, we have opened 24 tiny doors and finally on Christmas eve we all fell into bed waiting for Santa to come. This year we left Santa a glass of milk and a biscuit as it seems you don't leave beer out in Germany, maybe Santa had enough in the Southern hemisphere and has to dry out before he heads home. Luckily for us Herr Fitz remembered some basic science and when we were preparing nourishment for the reindeers he pointed out that water freezes at below 0oC and it probably wouldn't be a good idea to leave a bowl out for Rudolph and his mates so they had to do with just a carrot. Christmas morning was wonderful. The kids slept to a reasonable hour and there was much joy as Santa sacks were discovered and the many packages from Australia were opened and placed under the tree to be opened after the customary chocolate breakfast. We did our own mini versions of Christmas tree which consisted of lots of getting up and down as there were only the 5 of us. Thank you to everyone for the wonderful cards and gifts we were sent and even though we know everyone was sitting attempting to nap off the heat and food that Christmas day brought as we were opening our presents we felt as though we were surrounded by our families...Skype helped a lot in that regard.

As there was so much snow and our city council appears to have gone on an early holiday and haven't cleared the streets our friends walked to our house bearing most of the food and wine including the prized 750 euro per kilo truffle. We only bought 16g and it cost 12 euros. While the kids played with new toys the grown ups cooked up a storm in the kitchen and started in on a few festive drinks. Much food, a few Lego creations, a very stinky cheese plate and a few more wines later we discovered the game the kids got for Christmas is pretty fun for adults too.

Boxing Day we decided to try our luck with the buses and trains and attempt to make it to visit friends in a town about an hour a way. With delays and cancelled trains everywhere and buses running on the emergency timetable and routes due to snow we surprisingly made it there and back without any problems. We enjoyed a fantastic meal, lovely company and the most beautiful and warm fireplace ever.

What better way to work off some of the food consumed over the previous couple of days but to go sledding in the park near by.

So after all the Christmas excitement we settle what could be a long winter. The kids are on holidays from Kindergarten for a couple of weeks and tomorrow we say goodbye to some great new friends who, after 3 years in Germany are heading back to Chile. We will miss them dearly as we have shared many kindergarten and playgroup adventures with them (as they have 4 kids) but know that we will most likely see them again on one continent or another.

The Sherpa Family

What a weekend! So much snow!!!!!!!!!!!!! It all began last Thursday when we had 10cm of snow and a bit more after that and there is snow everywhere. We took the kids to the Christmas market on this night and met up with a couple of friends. For the record other parents were also seen to be braving the elements with small children. The up side was we actually got to sit down in a very sweet little hut and drink gluhwein...of course the children drank hot chocolate. I also learnt on this night that "ladies" don't order 6 Reibenkuchen (potato patties). I got laughed at by the couple who ran the stand as the chap loudly stated I wasn't big enough to eat 6 (better than the other way i suppose) then I thought it may have been the way i ordered 2 portions so I tried to explain i didn't want 18 that brought more laughter then I finally had to say I going to share with my husband....this was a desperate lie to take the heat of and allow the other people at the stand time to stop laughing and continue eating. I was pretty hungry and I think I only ate 3 and shared the rest with Herr Fitz and other friends. When we were leaving, actually waiting for the bus in front of the crepe stand and thus eating a nutella crepe I saw the chap and told him I ate 4 and the kids got some gummi bears from the lady as they thought I was a lunatic. Fortified by fried potato and warm nutella we waited for the bus then had to schlepp through the snow home as the bus didn't stop at our regular stop but three stops further. Can I just add here Herr Fitz had a lovely ride home on his bike and was astounded at our quest through the new snow.

The snow is still all over the roads. The buses are sliding into the stops and running whenever they can and we are taking the kids everywhere on the sled. It is loads of fun, verging on insane as it is getting hard to even walk in some places and, absolutely beautiful to behold (as long as you aren't driving a car or stuck at an airport). This weekend was the kids violin concert. The weather was so crazy on Friday that the practice on Friday was cancelled so we all had our fingers crossed for Saturday. Saturday we saw the sun for the first time in about a week and we realised the best way to get to the concert was on foot. We loaded up the bike trailer (with jogging wheel instead of the bike) with 2 x 1/8 violins, a music stand, music, a change of shoes for Herr Fitz as he was wearing in a pair of new snow boots and of course a thermos of hot chocolate, grabbed the sled and set off on what turned into the most beautiful 6-7km round trip. Everyone was out taking pictures, except us as the camera was at the bottom of all the afore mentioned packing and walking around the frozen lake. So as not to bore you with parental gushing over our kids I will just say we were so proud of the Bear and the Monkey for being brave enough to get up and perform.....and here is a 20minute video...no it is only 28 and a half minutes...no really it is really short. They actually played three little pieces but I will save the others for the big family slide night when we get home.

Were are thinking of changing our last name to Sherpa as we have rigged up the sled with an excellent handle system, good old hose pipe, Herr Fitz takes the Mouse to playgroup on it and I found out today it is possible to push the big stroller and pull the sled behind me. I definitely want photo documentation of this feat!

Christmas tree (ok so we went out into the back yard and cut off a few branches) went up this weekend and we have been busy making decorations for the past few days.

Only 6 sleeps left! Merry Christmas everyone!

A sled of one's own! Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look what was suddenly there!

Mouse off to playgroup.

No more bikes at kindergarten just sleds.

Ski gear is our everyday wear. -3oC and playing outside.

We couldn't wait till Christmas. There was record snow fall this week and we just couldn't miss out on the fun. Luckily I found a sled two weeks ago at a second hand shop and the baby bit at the back a week later at teh same shop as rumour has it the shops are sold out and it is a hot item on ebay. This is the only year the kids will get their present from us early. We can get all three kids on at once but it is squishy. So far the Mouse has fallen out twice and the Monkey once. It gets tricky when the snow is uneven. Must practise more! Off looking for some slopes to sled down tomorrow.

No need to panic

Thanks for everyone's worry about the kids and the government visit. It was very remiss of me to launch straight into a story about a days shopping without first saying the visit was fine. It would have been worse if I said I went to the races but as they both centre around new shoes both are probably as bad as each other. The social worker was very lovely and only stayed about 10 minutes just explaining why the visits are taking place when the regular age specific doctors checks are missed. He made a note that we had the check in Australia and that we are heading home in June and that we had paper work for immunisation. He was very friendly and said that home visits we being upped due to some grim cases that had had a lot of media attention lately. As I said I am happy that there is such a good system. Thanks for everyone's concern and for the record they were eating potato and leek soup when he came so the impression was good. Today lunch was less successful as the Monkey had a tomato sauce sandwich. Bear and Mouse were streets ahead as they didn't refuse the slice of cheese that accompanied the bread and tomato sauce thus making it a far more appropriate offering for lunch.

A relaxed lunch after a morning of shopping.

A less than relaxed first 10 minutes on the train after the epic sprint for the train.

I have the picture of us in my head with the "Chariots Of Fire" music playing and us running in slow motion but instead of fit athletes running along the beach in appropriate clothing in slow motion insert 4 mothers and a spring chicken (who we made carry lots of shopping so we had a chance of keeping up) running as fast as they could which was close to slow motion dressed in winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves.

Squeals of delight

Forced to shovel snow after jogging in his swanky new duds.

This is a red back spider and meant that kids ate all their dinner and requested it again.

Something must have been in the air today or the moon was in the seventh sign and Jupiter was aligned with Mars as everyone woke up with a jump in their step and a snappy "Good Morning". It took over seven hours for the first meltdown which has to be a record. Snow melted over the weekend and today was clear, bright and freezing (-5 oC). first squeal of joy came when we realised we could all get back on the bikes (including the Mouse on the back of Herr Fitz's bike) and go off to Kindergarten, play group, work and grocery shopping. Later the kids and I biked to violin and rode back with (insert second squeal here) an extra part for the new sled to keep the Mouse, and probably the Monkey from falling off. The Monkey was on the back of the bike and had to hold onto the sled seat all the way home. She did a great job. We were talking about needing more snow then when I walked out of my German class tonight and it had snowed, just a little. Ok, that is a major understatement, there was about 4 cm of snow and the class only lasts an hour and a half and I was a bit late. So now Herr Fitz has braved the "fierce snow storm" or actually the lovely falling snow to bring in the sled so the kids can use it tomorrow. I knew we couldn't wait till Christmas. Just watching Herr Fitz relive all his scouting days glory as he fashions a rope handle on the sled. There are crazy knots and a gas lighter.

The last week has been so busy and when even I admit it then it must have been a bit crazy. Many squeals of joy were heard at the Christmas Market at Kindergarten on Friday night. There was singing in the church to begin and as I mimed the songs I can say it was lovely singing. Then we went out into the kindergarten where there was a carousel, craft that the Mamas had made which looked great in the dim light and which we bought lots of, waffle stand and hot chocolate and gluhwein. Not to forget the chocolate wheel which I made the Monkey play until she won the cookie cutter in the shape of a tooth which I had my eye on since I had helped sort the prises. She hasn't got RSI from spinning the wheel as there were lots of orange wedges so it wasn't to hard and only took two turns.

The Bear next to his Wackelzahn Gruppe poetry stall. How could we not buy his first ever pinch pot and candle holder.

The Monkey won her hat on the Schneeball Wurf (throwing a ball at tins...what is that called in English?) and loves it. The Bear showed her if you wear it sideways you are a rock star.

While Herr Fitz's (aka Dad) took the kids for a bit of culture at their violin concert rehearsal which the Monkey had insisted on practicing for at 7am that morning, I (mum) headed off to Holland for a day of shopping with a few friends. With permission notes signed, the best value ticket found (thank you nice train station employee) and a mud map of Enschende drawn 2 Australians, 1 German, 1 American and 1 Chilean assembled at the train station for "shoppen". Let's just say there were many squeals of joy throughout the day including finding Hema a shop full of colour and fairly price friendly items, delicious lunch, getting Frau M paged in the department store as lost (in Dutch) and the "Chariots of Fire" esque run for the train through pretty much the entire shopping district. Yes 4 mothers and one sprightly young thing (we found Frau M) running carrying shopping bags. In our heads we have a very funny version of the run but maybe in reality it was a little more uncoordinated. With the US army mantra of "not leaving a man behind" and the punctuality of the Deutschebahn it was going to take an epic final push to the platform. We made it to the rail crossing while the train was still at the station and a final charge to the platform saw us jump on one at a time and slumped into seats gasping for breath as the train started pulling out of the station. Luckily it was the right train and a quick gluhwein at the train station at the other end finished an excellent day.

Bought leg warmers not cheese but the picture wasn't as good. Don't laugh my knees are getting cold and I really want to keep wearing skirts.

After a joint breakfast with Frau M and our upstairs neighbours where we ate far to much old stinky cheese from the "cheese bag" we decorated our gingerbread house. For the record the cheese bag is a bag of mixed cheese ends from the cheese sellers at the market which costs 7 euros and is, quite frankly the best thing in the world. This was a mix of soft and hard cheeses, a huge thanks to Frau A and Herr J who gave us the said cheese bag. This is the second cheese bag we have received as a gift and if posting stinky cheese wasn't frowned upon by both postal systems I would have sent everyone one of Christmas.

Everyone love a space hopper ball even if they can't jump on it yet. this one miraculously popped up in our cellar and has been a big hit. It is very hard to be serious when the Monkey hops all over the house on it.

Home from German class after a new snow fall.

The Visit

The government is coming to visit and check on the kids tomorrow. Now I could get myself all worried and think it a reflection on our parenting eg forgetting to put plastic around lanterns, sending the kids to the field for potatoes and apple but I am looking on it as a very thorough system. As the German government are giving us money for the kids while we are here I figure we couldn't really say no. It actually came about as we are trying to get out of taking the Bear for his 5 year medical check. This in itself smacks of bad parenting but he had it in Australia just before we left but we have no proof as we decided the medical books too heavy to pack...a bad decision in retrospect but in our defense it was getting a bit crazy in the last days before we left. So "The Man" is coming to check on us tomorrow and I am thinking the impression should be a good one so I am scrubbing off the pirate tattoos (but not to hard, don't want to leave a red mark), vacuuming and somehow wafting a nourishing food smell through the house. Luckily the beer is kept in the cellar so no need to move that out.

Hopefully the kids will have come down from the St Nikolas sugar high. Every shop we went into today loaded them up with chocolate and on the bus (too much melty snow for the bike) they had to sing for their chocolate. The poor Monkey nearly fainted when she bravely boarded the bus first only to be meet by St Nikolas and the Christkind (an angel). The very sweet Christkind came up to us and asked if we could sing a song or tell a story about Nikolas in order to get a gift/sweet. I tried the good old "we're Australian" line and even went for a "sorry can you repeat that" in an attempt to get out of public singing but then a lovely old lady near us cracked out a tune and it happened to be the one the kids learnt in kindergarten and when she, and the rest of the bus travellers around us hit the chorus we (or at least me) heartily chimed in. A few seconds of sheer panic tuned into a couple of minutes of loveliness. A photo was taken and as I have a tendency to be a stage mother I will be scanning the local press to see if we get a mention.

PS Soon begins the chapter entitled "The Sled Family" as I secretly bought a second hand sled today that may be kept for Christmas. It sounds like we have been reading far to much from Enid Blyton's "Family Collection" book lately when everything turns into a chapter heading.

The windmill family and snowmen+

Oo, Oo, Oo feeling all warm and fuzzy despite the minus temperatures and snow of the last week. We have had so much snow in the last couple of days that the shrieks of joy from the grown ups drowned out the excitement of the kids. I don't know how many times I peeked through the curtains to check the snow level last night. We have also been bracing ourselves and racing out each morning to check the thermometer. Maybe it would be a good idea to buy one of those indoor/outdoor ones... but nowhere near as fun. The lowest temperature was on Thursday when it registered -10oC. The poor kids have been so rugged up that the Mouse can hardly move let alone roam free. Now we are on the look out to buy a sled. Though there is no rush as this week is meant to be warmer, today was -2oC and practically barmy. All those warm climate people may think a sled is just for the occasional weekend of fun but here is the news...we can take the kids to kindergarten on it! It was so amazing and, I must say a little north pole-esque to see a couple of sleds lined up at the kindergarten gate, oh I so want one. That said I am happy for the snow to melt as it is harder to get around when I can't ride as it takes a bit more organising and timing, not to mention all the extra layers of clothing that are virtually impossible for small children to put on themselves that are driving me insane.

Due to extreme temperatures (not just in my Australian eyes, it was all over the news) we hunkered down from Thursday afternoon assisted by some good telly for the Bear and some great birthday presents from aunties for the Monkey. What else can you do when it is cold but to put on the oven and drag out the sugar. We baked thousands of biscuits on Friday afternoon with friends then ate birthday cake for dinner baked and brought over by our very lovely Monkey the First. It was quite an epic journey for the birthday cake. Frau Zeh's bike broke so she walked the cake 30 minutes to us (see, it isn't just me with an aversion to catching the bus). Then the bike situation got worse when Herr Fitz called to say he would be late to help eat said cake as he had a flat tyre and was pushing his bike to the repair shop, locking it up there and walking home. All this in -8 oC.

Also lots of catching up with family via telephone and skype and seeing friends this weekend has been so lovely. The cousins got to talk and of course show all their favourite things to each other, we have made stuff, hung out and eaten a meal with many new friends and we have been getting festive and have made some Christmas decoration that I now have to work out how to hang up.

We finished an absolutely amazing weekend with the very monumental making of our very first snowman and a trip to the windmill for the St Nikolas Markt. The old windmill is just down the road from us and for anyone in the know is a little like "Old Sydney Town" but without the financial difficulties. As St Nikolas comes tonight there was a little market and a visit by St Nik and his helper "Black Peter". St Nik gives the kids a small present in their boots which must be cleaned and left at the door while"Black Peter" (his evil twin) hits naughty children with his switch. No fluffiness about this occasion. It was wonderful seeing the windmill village with snow and as much as we are used to crafting (you just need to see the floor at the end of the day) Herr Fitz and I were amazed at what can be done with a tee light, some nutshells, fir tree branches etc and of course a hot glue gun and some fake snow. We proudly carried the kids creations home and carefully placed them on the table, lit the candles and let out a whole family sigh of contentment.

FIRST CONTACT

Sneaking up

Incoming snowball

A friend with a sled, the monkey is on the back.

I think we should live in a windmill.

Listening to the St Nikolas.

Our advent candles and the kids craft creations from the windmill market.

Kids cleaning their boots for St Nikloas.

2 birthdays and SNOW.

A huge weekend of eating, drinking and general merry making was had by all as the Monkey turned 4 and Herr Fitz turned...uh uh 38. The Monkey was very serious about turning 4 as she is now a 'big girl.' we celebrated with cakes, paper chains, pass the parcel and topfschlag. For the record "pass the parcel" isn't an international game and a little explaining was necessary. After a round everyone was on the same page. Topfschlag on the other had was easily demonstrated and all the adults ended up joining in yelling "kalt" und "warmer" as the blindfolded, wooden spoon wielding kid attempted to find the saucepan on the ground. Herr Fitz's birthday was dominated by loads of chatting with old and new friends, a few "sherbets" (for the record that is drinks) and loads and loads of cheese and chocolate.

It was extra nice as it snowed on Thursday and it stayed on the ground all weekend. More snow fell today and with it came some seriously icey bike lanes and footpaths. People were falling off there bikes everywhere. It did have the spin off effect of making people talk to each other as they check if people lying on the footpath with bikes on top of them were ok. I stupidly decided to ride the kids to their violin lesson and had to get off and walk parts of the way after some serious heart stopping skidding. Proudly I didn't fall off and got the kids back to Herr Fitz at work unscathed. He then went and "got the bike trailer sideways" around a corner at the same time as the Bear went hands first along the ground off his bike. Not knowing any of this I went to my German class and completely stacked it on my way home, I still haven't realised that the bike slid out. Luckily no-one was hurt, just a little damp. So I have learnt two thing today: 1) the "I'll just race out to the bin in my socks" time is over as when I opened the door there was about 2cm of snow in front of me and my brand new fluffy socks screamed noooo! and 2) sometimes it is best to catch the bus.

Bikers, Zoo and Siedler

It is somewhat official. I am part of a bike gang, or so I would like to think. Spent a fantastic evening at the kindergarten parent meeting during this week, lovely chatting to other parents over a beer or in fact a shandy which is called a radler here and the ride there and home was like being in a teenage bike gang. So though we haven't sorted out our gang colours yet (definitely something patchwork I think) I was picked up at the door by one other mum to find another couple of mums at the corner. On the way home we were an even bigger group and as people peeled off to their streets it was round after round of Tschuss and Bis Morgan. So much more fun than cars as driving after a couple of beers and yelling out of car windows is typically frowned upon.

After a big Saturday morning of post organising we decided to forgo grocery shopping and go to the zoo. So we all rugged up, jumped on the bikes and headed off on a barmy Autumn day (5oC and cloudy, it is amazing how differently you view the weather in different situations) Best decision ever!!!!!!! Followed this with a late night game of "Siedler" (The Settlers of Caitan) which I have wanted to learn to play for ages. It was a little tricky as it belongs to our upstairs neighbours so not only was it explained in German but the cards were in Hungarian. There was a period when I thought I was going to win, this was enough to get me hooked. I should be able to hone my skills in the next 7 months.

Robot Mania

Lots of rain and an ear infection meant we stayed inside all day Sunday and just relaxed. I think that everyone who knows us knows two things about us as a family 1) only 50% of us can truly relax, 2) a cardboard box can provide hours of fun (with a hint of arguing thrown in for good measure as the box holds many possibilities) and 3) we love robots and 4) I can't count. Now we have a new toy (and cornflakes in a plastic bag in the cupboard). The Bear was the mastermind behind the whole robot build and had been preparing for the opportunity for days. He has a book with make at home dress ups and has been pouring over it. With a little bit of coaxing and the fact that the chips still need their tube we downsized from a whole body robot to just a helmet version. Credit goes to Herr Fitz for the general shape, Me for the use of the Tube map as a circuitboard, the bear for all other decoration and the Monkey and Mouse for not breaking it -yet.

I even got all the pencils sharpened, this is as close as I can get to doing nothing, it was actually very relaxing and I felt my eyelids close a couple of times. The Mouse was very helpful and whacked me with another pencil when I had finished one. In an attempt to have a 5th cup of tea while the Mouse had a snooze in the stroller (a quick walk around the block to get her to sleep all raincoated up was worth it.) we got out the puzzles and set the big two to work.

Herr Fitz went to Hamburg to give a lecture and wowed them with his colonial knowledge. He was only gone one night and I had a sick Bear in bed at 6pm absolutely exhausted, the Monkey and Mouse asleep by 7 30pm, the broken yoghurt bottle cleaned off the floor, the 3km radius of yoghurt wiped up and my German course homework done all with a little help from a cup of tea, a hot chocolate a home renovation show on TV and two chocolate bars. Hope he doesn't go away too often or at least must make sure I stock the cupboard before he goes and swim a few extra times.

I woke the Bear up to go to the loo in the middle of the night and he must of been dreaming as when we got to the bathroom he said "ich habe meine Schuhe verloren" which is I've lost my shoes.