Preparing for Christmas

As soon as Thanksgiving is over, we get ready for the next big celebration: preparing for Christmas.

The kids look forward to this time of the year, as they remember the advent calendars. Sophie keeps asking why we cannot have chocolate calendars all year round. Our chocolate girl gets up and runs to the dining room to get her chocolate each morning. She is just so excited about this simple pleasure.

Time for making bredele, building gingerbread houses, visiting Santa, decorating the house and much more.

It's getting cold

Time to decorate the house for Christmas!

Getting ready for advent

No socks here but beautiful gloves thanks to Dolores

Oma's German nativity scene found a new house here

Same for her beautiful German Christmas decorations

We decorated the tree all by ourselves

December 1st, 2014 - search for the first chocolate

Alex is a lot more assertive. You can tell he has a few more years of practice!

Sophie didn't want to talk to Santa. What's new?!?

Union Station was a blast!

Kristkindlmart at a local church

brats and sauerkraut to celebrate German-style

This is our second year building gingerbread houses at church

Maman enjoyed helping us build gingerbread houses

We can't get enough of gingerbread house building. Too much fun!

Isn't this the best sign?

Thanksgiving

This is our first Thanksgiving without Oma. We gathered at Mark and Alice's house this year to remember all the good times and be thankful.

Thanksgiving dinner at Frederique and Roger's
What a feast we cooked!

This is my friend Tyler Jae

Traditional leaf raking and throwing of kids into the huge pile

Throwing Alex into the leaf pile

Sophie's turn

Sophie loved all of Kristin's Barbies and outfits

Alex playing Monopoly with John and aunt Alice

Playing Dutch Blitz with uncle Mark

Teaching John a new card game: trash

Playing theater and having so much fun!

Languages

The Worship Arts team is doing a great job teaching the kids about signing and music, but also about their individual gifts. Several children in the congregation speak more than one languages and it was time to showcase their talent.

Terry asking the children how to say thank you in
different languages

Big brother holding his lil' sis tight

Terry asking how to say "thank you" in French, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.
If only maman was faster with the video camera...

Nancy interviewing the kids on how they know a second or third language

Sunday school teacher Beatrix helping Alex made playdough

Jump for Joy

A cool birthday party brought us to Sky Zone where the kids literally jumped for joy for over an hour without a break. Talk about burning calories before the holiday...

Happy birthday Theo and Cyprian!

Can you tell I'm having fun?!?

Cool trampolines!

de la douceur dans un monde de brutes

Friends

An unexpected visit from a dear friend was a welcome change in our routine. It was great to catch up and see how much fun the kids had together.

J'aime me deguiser

Mom got me all kinds of outfits to try on

Amazing friends and food are meant to be together

Trouver l'intru

Alex playing the piano for his friends

and of course showing off a little

The Lion sleeps tonight"

Jo's friends Frederique and Marie-Pierre

Last day wearing shorts for the year

Fall Activities

Watching the Royals and their winning streak inspired Alex to teach Sophie how to play baseball. For Sophie, the best part of watching the Royals on TV is when papa makes popcorn.

We waited a month to tour the brand new Ikea store. Pretty cool to check out all these living rooms and kitchens.

The weather is just unbelievable and we've been spending as much time outside as possible. Climbing trees, swinging, flying kits and making leaf piles have been high on the list.

Lesson 1: how to throw the ball to the catcher

Lesson 2: how to hit the ball

Coach Alex teaching a new student how to play baseball

Go Royals!

Happy birthday, Lucas!

That's pretty comfy

Calin

New kitchen anyone?

Check out my new princess shoes!

Building a horse stable is hard work

Who is going to rake all these leaves?!?
Hopefully the wind will blow them to the neighbor's yard!

Pretty girl enjoying her backyard

Perfect day to fly a kite at Alex' school

I have a Barbie kite!

Shooting hoops with papa in preparation for basketball season

Time to take down the swing papy had installed

Sophie climbing the swingset like her brother

Cannon balls into the leaf pile!

Halloween Preview

Leaves are turning yellow and red. It's time to carve some pumpkins and get ready for Halloween. The Downtown Overland Park merchants were ready to welcome crowds of kids looking for candies. Elsa and Olaf from the movie Frozen were everywhere. Alex and Sophie were unique as the shark and dalmatian.

I'm carving my own pumpkin

Pretty girl watching Alex having fun with the carving knife

First stop: Scooter shop

Looking sharp as a shark

Tasting some candies

Candies and music. What an awesome afternoon!