Happy Birthday Jonah!

This past weekend we celebrated Jonah's 8th birthday in style. In fact, in 3 different styles.  First, we started the week with a bang.  We invited 20 boys to run wild in the school gym for a few hours. Amazing fun for kids, draining on adults :) Thankfully, I have a flexible (and totally awesome) husband who took off the day to help.

 After the crazed gym experience we made the kids walk in blistering cold (-14 c) back to our house for a little cake and ice cream.

 Enjoying his friends.

*Note to self  -Next time take a picture of the piled jackets, boots and gloves at the front door from 20 kids.

 Now onto the birthday weekend. We like to milk birthdays in our household, so the "birthday boy" was in charge of the weekend plans.  And the best part, on your birthday you are officially chore free.  No dishes, woot! Jonah's idea for a fun weekend included sledding and swimming.

 We spent one day sledding the day away....

And the other day swimming.  Polar opposites but fun for all. 

 You ask what is on his face? Lasagne, of course.  Birthday dinner pick by Jonah.

 And now make a wish......

How did my little boy grow up so fast??? 

That I will never know. But what I do know....Jonah you are such a joy to raise. Happy Birthday bud!

Fröhlich Weihnachten

In the spirit of  Christmas and low-quality blogging, I present a million pictures from my iphone. Narration is not included. I am leaving that up to your imagination but I will give you some ideas to start with. Think.....baking, caroling, sledding, skiing, santa, shopping, tea time, races, dining, christmas markets, trains, ice skating, snow balls, weekend brunch, friends, more shopping, candy houses, kids snuggled in bed,  etc..........

Weihnachtsmarkt

Wow, somehow time has escaped me. Don't ask me where, I wouldn't be able to say. But now it's   time for low-quality-blog-catch-up.  Mainly for the sake of my family, it may only prove to be entertaining to the grandparents. So all others be warned or stop reading now.

Back in December before the cold insanely freezing weather hit, we made our way up to Freiburg Germany for a Christmas market.  Christmastime is magical in Europe. I love the markets.  They all seem to sell the same junk but sometimes great finds are found. (pictured above- don't you want a family set?)

Now onto the food.  Not pictured was the 1 foot sausages downed by the boys. For dessert Jonah settled for a chocolate covered apple.

Jacob was a little more adventurous eating a dough fried surprise.  Nothing a little sugar and applesauce can't make delicious.

Hmm, I think we will have to order another one of those dough surprises, yum!  And now for a few random shots.  This is where the low-quality blogging comes in. I could narrate them all but not today.....

Fröhliche Weihnachten!