January 2010 - Sledding and Lindt Chocolate Museum

Plenty of snow in January, and the kids took the opportunity to go sledding as much as possible on the hill across from our house.

Mallory getting a ride from Luke on the way to the top of the hill.

Grant at the top of the sledding hill, with our house in the background.

Nash and Luke are watching the chocolate being made at the Lindt Chocoloate Museum in Cologne.

At the end of the museum, enjoying some hot chocolate with Heidi's parents.

January 2010 - Grant's Braces

Grant was so excited to finally get his braces. I think the excitement wore off after a few days, as the pain began to set in.

The obligatory before and after photos.

Dec 2009 - New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, we did a few fireworks in the backyard.

Including plenty of sparklers.

W played some games, opened Christmas crackers, and...

The kids banged on pots and pans at midnight.

Dec 2009 - Trip to Dresden, Bastei, and Seiffen

We met up with Scott and Sherrie in Dresden for a few days.

Grant, Mallory, and Scott in front of a statue of Martin Luther.

A mural of the Sachsen kings & rulers in Dresden.

It was really cold, but not too cold to eat.

Luke's imitation of the statue at the top of this archway.

At the Zwinger Hof Museum in Dresden.

The next day we drove to Seiffen, but on the way stopped off at a place called the Bastei, with some interesting rock formations, overlooking the Elbe river.

The road to Seiffen took us through the country-side, right along the border with the Czech Republic. Nash couldn't resist the temptation to jump out of the car and run across the border, in order to claim that he was the first one in the family to go to the Czech Republic.

Seiffen is a small town, with small shops selling all sorts of wooden Christmas decorations, including Christmas Pyramids.

One of a few trips to Vapianos in Dresden with Scott and Sherrie.

Dec 2009 -- After Christmas

After Christmas we put Scott and Sherrie on a train to go visit some friends for a few days.

And celebrated my birthday.

Dec 2009 - Christmas Day

Christmas morning....

What little girl doesn't love unicorns?

Luke and Mallory looking for the pickle ornament on the tree.

It didn't take Mallory long to put on her purple sweatsuit.

Grant and Luke got the presents at (or very near) the top of their lists -- oversized Nerf guns. Scott and Nash got normal-sized Nerf guns, just to defend themselves.

Santa brought Beatles Rockband.

Everyone took a turn....

And then we went up to the attic for a Nerf gun war.

Dec 2009 - Christmas Eve

December 24th -- all of the preparations have been made:

All the windows opened on the Advent Calendar.

Fire in the fireplace.

Time for the traditional re-enactment of the story of Jesus' birth.

Starring Heidi, as a shifty-eyed angel.

Nash, Grant, and Luke as 3 wisemen, plus Mallory the sheep.

Grandma & Grandpa were recruited to play the parts of Mary & Joseph.

Those shepherds look really afraid.

Grant as Narrator / Wiseman.

And our traditional almond pudding game.

Sherrie was the winner this year -- I think she had us all fooled.

And the prize.... a big bar of Toblerone.