Claire got to sing with her class as part of the Zurich Singing Christmas Tree last night. The singing Christmas tree is part of a Christmas market right near the main train station. The area is sort of like Chicago's Michigan Avenue – lots of shopping and always busy. Her class did a great job and it was really fun to watch her up there. Here are some photos:
There she is below – third row from the top on the left – her red glove is out front.
We celebrated our Swiss Christmas last night. It’s our time to give gifts to the girls and to have a yummy raclette feast. It felt very special – the way the girls were excited and happy and getting along. I, unfortunately, had a headache all day so I sort of laid low. But Brian and the girls were sweet and gave me lots of hugs and we still had fun.
Now the house smells like pine and gingerbread spices and cheese (hmmmm not sure if the cheese smell is good). And the girls are working together assembling a new lego set. Brian went for a run and the rest of us are still in our jammies. We don’t have snow but It’s been stormy and windy so the house feels cozy. And I feel grateful.
And now I have a week left to enjoy Zurich Christmas and to get ready to for our trip to the US. Here are some photos of our Swiss Christmas – the befores and afters.
We visited two Christmas markets last weekend. First, the Einsiedeln Christmas market which is so pretty with it’s abbey as a backdrop. And then on Sunday to Bern. They had a special Sunday shopping day! Stores were open and the window displays were beautiful. We celebrate our family “Swiss Christmas” this weekend and then we have one more week before we head to the US. The holiday season is zooming by.
I’m the happiest Christmas tree
Hoo hoo hoo, hee hee hee
Someone came and they found me
And took me home with them
Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas tree
Hoo hoo hoo, hee hee hee
Look how pretty they dressed me
Oh, lucky, lucky me
I got shiny bells that jingle
And tiny lights that tingle
Whenever anyone passes by
I blink my lights and I wink my eye
Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas tree
Christmas day, wait and see
I’ll be laughing happily
With a hoo-hoo-hoo-hee-hee
Today we had our annual gingerbread man decorating party. We had ten kids altogether. I love to see the kids engaged and having fun. The gingerbread men turn out having so much personality!
When the kids are done decorating things always seem to degrade a little. Some kids end up eating almost all of their cookies and shoving handfuls of sprinkles in their mouth. Fueled by said sugar – they start running around screaming like lunatics. The jolly little stinkers also brazenly devoured ten precious candy canes that I had paid too much for and had sitting as a display on the shelf. One girl picked up one of the houses from our Christmas village and, with a gleam in her eye, professed how much she “reeeeally” liked it. I could tell she was smitten and was hoping I would give it too her. I found a couple girls running around the house with frosting dispensers in their mouths like baby bottles. I had a laugh and then I put an end to that!
It’s all good fun even with the holiday inspired mischief.
They sell mistletoe at Christmas markets (and onion markets) and I finally bought some. The girls dash by it as fast as they can. As if the worst thing in the world is to be caught under the mistletoe and to get a peck from mom or dad. Ha.
We’ve had a busy few days – starting with a fun Thanksgiving with friends on Saturday. Then on Sunday we put up our Christmas tree and went to a holiday party. And on Monday I was invited to go to the Bern onion festival. Everything feels very festive and pretty. Now we just need a little of that snow that Michigan and Chicago are getting.
The girls and I made our gingerbread houses on Thanksgiving. I’m thankful that I have the time to enjoy making the houses. I feel like I finally have the hang of all the recipes and techniques for the gingerbread and frosting and that makes me so happy. And I’m thankful I have two daughters that get (almost) as excited as I do about traditions like this. We cranked up the Christmas music and worked on our houses for a long time. Bea loves to make an over the top crazy house. Claire loves to make things out of candy and little stories for who lives in the house. I just love doing lots of piping and watching my girls create. Next week we’re having friends over to decorate gingerbread men. So I’ll be using some of my precious molasses again. It’s all precious – the molasses and the time with my girls.
We are celebrating Thanksgiving with a bunch of Americans on Saturday. I think Thanksgiving is the holiday that really makes me feel far from family. I’m missing being in the kitchen with the ladies that know how to make all the yummy goodness that I associate with home and family. I hope everyone back in Michigan had a great day and enjoyed mounds of mashed potatoes and gravy.
And because, for me, it’s not Thanksgiving until I see some Rockettes:
Laowai 