Links!

I want to go here.

This looks yummy.

Though I may prefer this before I go on my 2019 diet.

Kids.

Brilliant.

This is a real, modern fear of mine.

Motivation for 2019.

This made my week (almost woke up my 4yo, laughing)

Nikolaus

Yet another German celebration that is so much more fun with kids.

This morning we got the kids up early to find their shoes filled with gifts - books and chocolate from us, toys and chocolate from Oma and Opa.  They both loved it.

At Kindergarten it had been a big deal to leave out a shoe under the Christmas tree yesterday and they were filled with some healthy snacks - satsuma, peanuts and a little bit of chocolate.  

Even Joshua had a satsuma and chocolate in his slipper.

At work, Nikolaus had left chocolates and a candle on the desks and a chocolate in the pigeon holes.

It is such a sweet tradition and I love it. In the evening, some children go door to door to sing for sweets - kind of a cross between Halloween and Christmas caroling.

This year I am a bit late getting to grips with Christmas.  I haven't started my shopping, made my cards or put up my decorations so I'm hoping to get a bit more into the spirit at the weekend and I am planning to get ahead of the game next year (but I seem to remember saying that last year too).

December Goals

Here's how I'd like to finish up the year:

• Visit the Christmas market with family.
• Fondu night.
• Sort out the hobby room.
• Finish a crochet project.
• Make Christmas cards.

Recipe: Butternut Squash Curry

Ingredients:

• Oil
• Onion
• Curry powder
• 1cm grated ginger
• Cayenne pepper
• 300g butternut squash
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 3tbsp peanut butter
• Seasoning
• Coriander

Instructions:
1. Fry the onion for about seven minutes, adding the curry, ginger and cayenne pepper after five.
2. Add the remaining ingredients apart from the coriander.  Bring to the boil, cover and cook for twenty minutes.
3. Remove lid and cook for about twenty more minutes until thick. Serve with the coriander.

Make it Monday - Crocheted Patchwork Blanket

 After two years of weekly crochet, I finally finished this lovely blanket this week. It feels like such an achievement. When I began, I couldn't do a basic stitch. Now I've completed so many different skills and can read crochet in German and English. This magazine subscription is a fantastic way to learn.

Isabella has asked me so often who this is for. As there is so much pink in it, I'm going to give it to her as long as she gives Joshua the knitted one I finished last year. I love that she likes what I make and that she is interested in crafts too. 

Weekly Wisdom

Good things come to those who wait.

The Saturday Update

We have had another busy, and fast disappearing week here.

We both had a full work week.  I had my first full staff meeting and a check in with my new boss.  Nico had his school's Christmas Fair.

Isabella had dancing, her friend's Bibi and Tina themed birthday party and a playdate with another Kindergarten friend.

Joshua turned two, which I'm still loving and hating in equal measure.

Another highlight of the week was receiving my civil servant certificate yesterday after a six and a half year struggle.  It is a huge change for us and brings us a lot more stability.  It's still sinking in.

Today we are celebrating Joshua's birthday with family and his Godmothers before another busy busy week.