Christmas Eve 2011

First a couple of pictures of the pre-Christmas fun.

Gma and Gpa made loads and loads of cookies.  They are delicious and make great gifts.

Uncle Richy was so good and let Anne do his hair.  I even go mine done.  I love that my girls are getting to the age to play with my hair.

For Christmas Eve everyone but Hyrum and myself went and did some last minute shopping.  Then we all headed to Bayreuth for a special Christmas Eve program at the church.  Jared gave a wonderful message.

Then we came home and got everything ready to start the festivities.  We all finished wrapping our gifts and Bahnka made our special traditional dinner.  Finally, we all sat down for dinner.  The food was delicious.

Somehow these napkin rings always end up as earrings.

After dinner we all went in to start opening the gifts.  The girls and I got new pajamas from Jared.

About a week before Christmas Anne and Alicia informed me they wanted to leave carrots out for Santa's reindeer.  I told them Santa would like root beer and cookies.  "Santa" and I had talked about his preferences the year before.  They were so excited to get every thing ready, it was the funnest thing.  Before the girls went to bed we got it all ready.  Anne and alicia gathered the root beer.  They kept grabbing more and more, and they kept falling to the floor.  Santa had to wait a while to drink them.

They are modeling their new pajamas and the treats for Santa.

Jared kept adding to his clothes with the gifts we recieved.  He ended up looking like a Hawaiian Karate Kid...with a bag on his back.  The shirt is actually blue, but for some reason looks lavender in this picture.

Richy got this gift from Rike and Jacob.  It was a mask of Darth Vader that spoke classic Darth Vader lines.  They said he was to use it for good pick-up lines for girls. When heard with that thought it mind it made it hilarious!!! As seen by Richy's face.

Christmas Eve was wonderful and we had so much fun as a family.

Pre-holidays Visit

Jared had to go to the dentist right before Christmas.  Richy and I took the chance to hitch a ride with him to visit some of our friends, the Vincents.  Richy grew up with Natalie and her husband was his Bishop in England. Then they moved to Germany, so it was a great opportunity for Richy to see them. 

Katie and Hyrum loved all the new toys. I loved talking and holding the new baby.  We sure love these people!!!!!

Anne made this mask and was so proud of herself. I am too!!! She is so creative.

4th Advent=Time with Friends

We spent our 4th advent with our friends, the Baasch Family.

Shaun the Sheep was big hit.

Ramona showed me how to make pretty napkin decorations for the tables.

We played the candy game, becaue Ramona had requested chocolate and candy after dinner.  There she is digging into the candy bag.

We also played faux-cabulary.  I loved this picture fo both David and Ramona as we played the game. These two are so fun and their 2 girls are so cute.

We loved having Richy with us, we miss him already.

Branch Christmas Party

 I loved the decorations!!!

 Treats were good too.

Pre-party music was played by these two.  My baby is so cute.

 I love the man in red.

They did a wonderful musical number.

We had a great branch Christmas party and we had fun and laughed alot.

3rd Advent 2011

Last Sunday was 3rd Advent and we kept it simple. I loved this picture of Jared looking at a book after church with some of the other boys. All the kids are so good to him and just love him.  When I walked into the chapel a little late with Hyrum, he let out the loudest burp I have ever heard from him.  I couldn't stop giggling for a couple minutes.

 Anne was concerned about the sun in Hyrum's eyes on the way home from church. So she shared her hat with him.  Lately, she has really tried to be so helpful and looking for other's needs. I am so proud of her.

My favorite part was watching the First Presidency devotional.  The week before it aired in the middle of the night for us, so we did it the next week.

I can't wait to see the Temple Square lights next year. Jared has never seen so this is definitely on our list.

Anne discovered that she loves the piano. I hope I can get someone to teach her when we move.

St. Nikolaus Day 2011

 This is actually our first picture of just our 4 kids. Sad that it took us 1 year to do that.

 December 6th was St. Nikolaus Day here in Germany.  He brought us some good treats because we all were so good!!!!

I love this tradition. It is going to be continued in Utah, when we move.

Real Is Good

All growing up, each Christmas Jared's family had a real Christmas tree. I grew up with artificial ones.  Since I joined the Dautels we have done an artificial tree.  Since this is our last Christmas in Germany and all the family will be together year, we wanted Beate to have a real tree. It is our Christmas gift to her.  She loves the real ones. We had this planned months ago. Our girls were very good about keeping it a secret. 

A week ago, Jared and I took Beate to pick out her tree. We went to a local, family owned tree farm. Beate walked around and picked the one she wanted. She was so excited!!!!  Success!!!!

 I think the tree looks like a green sausage!

 Grandpa was the official ornament hander-outer.

 Grandma was in charge of telling the girls where to put the ornaments.

 I asked Katie to show me the ornament.  Just after this picture it dropped, but luckily didn't break.

Here is the finished product!!!



Poor Jared had to work throug the whole thing.

Snow White and Candy Cane Cookies

During the Thanksgiving weekend we went to a puppet show of "Schneewitchen" (Snow White).  I have never seen a real puppet show before, so I was excited.

 The man who did the show was so creative.  He was the only one working the puppets, and the ways he worked around this were awesome.  It was a very interactive, and funny show. It even had jokes for the adults.  This man has a real talent. I would love to go again.

The kids and I made candy cane (a family recipe) this weekend. It was a big mess and I was a bit stressed by the end, but they sure taste good. I need to make another batch this week.  The ones from the weekend we baked just a little too long, but love them anyway.  The cookie cutters were the biggest hit.

Tis the Season...

...for decorations and family time.

 For 2nd Advent we read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  We decided on each of the advents we want to do something special as a family and help bring the real spirit of Christmas into focus for us and our kids.  I love the message of "The Grinch" book and Jared had never heard it (being raised in Germany).  He was such a sweetie and ordered me a copy, plus some other Dr. Suess books to start our collection.

I read the book, then Ray read the poem to the girls.  It was nice to talk to our girls about the what is important at Christmas. Their response was cute when we asked them.

I just thing Beate's nativity is beautiful.  I can't to have my own some day.

Yum

 Last Sunday we were invited to our friends's home to celebrate Nina's brithday.  We had wonderful food, delicious dessert, and the company of friends.  That is Nina, the birthday girl.  Their girls were so good to entertain Anne and Alicia. We had a fashion show as all 4 girls tried on all the costumes they had.  Each girl got a chance to try each one.  The chicken one was my favorite.

 I made this cake for Nina, from the primary presidency. I love all the candles crowded around on it.

I got Katie out of bed one morning and I found that she got creative with her pajamas.  You never know what this girl is going to do next.

Bits and Bobs

I loved this zoo that Anne and Alicia made in our family room one morning.  It was so fun to watch how their imaginations work.  Who would have thought you could have skyscrapers in a zoo.  Notice their very short hair. Well, we got lice about a month ago and it was just easier to give them short cuts.  They like it and it makes mornings alot easier.

A huge thing here in Bavaria is Weisswurst and Pretzels.  Apparently it is considered "Bavarian Treason" to cook a weisswurst after 11am.  I am a traitor because I served it for dinner one night. At least I knew that you never fry it, but boil it. But they it and enjoyed it anyway.  Weisswurst is eaten with sweet mustard (shown above) and beer (we skipped that).  I will miss this. It is sooooo good.

I got Katie out of bed and found that she had gotten creative with her pajamas.

I love when Jared goes with me to pick Anne and Alicia up from pre-school.  It is also a wonderful surprise for them.  I get to get a picture of it last time.

Turkey Time

Our Thanksgiving involved 14 adults, 4 kids and 1 newborn.  It took a lot of preparation and cooperation between the whole family.

 Our 6 pies and 1 crustless pumpkin pie. Plus, the advent wreath to be docorated for Sunday.  There wasn't enough room in the kitchen so they got banished outside until we were ready to devour them.

 Jared cut 6 loaves of bread into cubes for homemade stuffing.  Beate makes the only homemade stuffing I have ever had that I like.  It is so good.

That is a lot of chairs.

 Ramona made the centerpieces and cute little apple turkeys for each person.

 The turkey of course was cooked to perfection.

Jared paid to get NFL football on the internet for a week, so we could get the full experience. It was interesting to see the Germans' reactions to it.  Robby had fun explaining it to them.  After the dinner and some clean up I can into the family room to find the tables replaces by "stadium" seating for all to watch football.  Those who didn't want to watch had fun talking.

This was our last Thanksgiving in Germany.  It is hard to believe.  Last year I had just come home from the hospital with a brand new baby and we had no idea what the coming year would bring.

I am grateful for so many things this year.  The top of my list is the gospel and that I was taught it so faithfully and surrounded by such wonderful examples of how to live it. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and answers my prayers.  I have to best husband in the world and he means more to me than anyone.  We have 4 beautiful children who make us laugh, teach us and make life good.  And I am grateful that I get the chance to spend the coming year and years with my family.  And the we get to do it in the US. I have hoped for this for a long time, but now it is here I realize how much I am going to miss here in Germany.