Weekly Journal // Christmas, new cooking skills and outdoor fun

9 min read

Monday

It’s the Christmas holidays! Edd is off from work and the Kindergarten is closed for the next two weeks. I love the feeing of having a big expanse of time ahead that is free of commitments and appointments. So much possibility! I love to plan and be busy but there is something so precious about days without a plan. Just being. Just letting life happen. This is harder with small kids – they have their schedules and routines and bored kids don’t necessarily make for a relaxed existence as a parent. But still! I am looking forward to some time off and am glad we’re not travelling anywhere this year.

The day has been mostly uneventful – L and I are still a bit under the weather so we have played at home, fed our neighbours pets and jumped on their trampoline for a while. During nap-time I listened to more of “A gentleman in Moscow” which I am enjoying so much! And I knitted the first heel on my advent socks. I am a bit behind, but they are coming along nicely.

Edd went to see the new Avatar movie in the afternoon and I went to my small group in the evening. We had our Christmas social at my good friend’s house and it was such a nice evening.

Tuesday

This morning the girls and I went to my mum’s café where we met my dad, my brother and my nephews for a second breakfast. It really got me in the Christmas mood – good coffee, waffles, family and a little bit of chaos! Haha.

On the drive home we listened to “Maria durch ein Dornwald ging” on repeat – we learnt it in SJs Kindergarten and the girls are both obsessed with it! Having grown up protestant/evangelical there wasn’t a lot of emphasis on Mary and her and Jesus’ time during her pregnancy. Since having kids she has become much more fascinating to me and I actually have quite a few thoughts on the topic of gender and the godhead that are without conclusion. However, I would like to share them in a post someday soon!

Back home we played outside briefly and then it was time for L to nap. I went to do a big grocery shop and it was pleasantly non-busy in Lidl. Edd and L did a bit more Christmas shopping later in the afternoon and SJ helped me to wrap presents for her cousins and we practiced the song for our Christmas service tomorrow. SJ will be in the choir. She is so excited to be on stage! Ha, she is definitely my daughter.

In the evening Edd and I watched “Love, Actually” and wrapped presents and drank Whiskey cocktails. Perfectly festive!

Wednesday

It’s Christmas eve! Edd got up super early in order to buy an extra chicken for our Christmas dinner tomorrow. The girls started their day like they had started the last 23 and opened their advent calendars.

We had a big breakfast and then commenced with some preparations – making salad and mince pies and I started putting Christmas cards into envelopes. With having been ill for most of Advent I am rather behind on everything. But I guess it is still nice to receive a card a day or two after Christmas…

After Lucys nap we headed to church for the final choir practice (all the kids in the church performed a song)l. We had a great time – I love Christmas Eve services. From there we headed to my brothers house to eat Raclette and do a little present exchange for the kids. I love that SJ and L get to grow up with their cousins, the four of them are such a great team and it was so special to celebrate together.

Thursday

Christmas day! We got up, made coffee and opened stockings and all the presents. SJ got some roller blades which she was sooo excited about! Other favourites were a fire brigade costume, a cross stitch kit and hungry hippos.

We had some croissants for breakfast, made mince pies and then started cooking Christmas dinner. It’s my first time making a full roast dinner and I am quite excited to finally learn how to cook this family favourite!

Update: It turned out great! Everything tasted great and was more or less ready on time. We ate our delicious meal with my parents and some good friends and had such a sweet time together.

Friday

This morning my parents hosted a big brunch with family and friends. My mum made some really delicious rolls and there was salmon and eggs and lots of other delicious things. Plus great company and an old favourite family game called “top or flop” which was hilarious as always.

In the afternoon the girls and I played with their new Christmas toys while Edd cooked a Shepherd’s Pie. We had some good friends from church over for dinner and stayed up way too late talking about theology, movies and general life. It’s way past midnight as I am writing this and I am super tired but I feel so full in the best way.

Saturday

Saturday morning Edd and I took the girls to Lörrach so that SJ could pick out some hand and knee protectors to wear when rollerblading. Edd got himself a new video game with some Christmas money.

Back home, Edd put Lucy for a nap, SJ and I had some lunch and then headed to our local park. There we practiced rollerblading for over an hour. I am so impressed with SJ in these moments. She got nowhere near being able to skate on her own but there was not one second of frustration about it. She sang happy songs about her rollerblades and just kept doing round after round holding my hand. It was sunny and there were many very friendly and encouraging passers-by and we had a delightful time.

Once we were back home I called my grandma and then we all sat around the table doing colouring and crafts for a bit. The girls got a spirograph for Christmas but I think Edd enjoyed using it the most. Ha!

We then had leftover chicken for dinner and once the girls were in bed Edd and I watched Stranger Things. Ugh, it’s so good. Can’t wait to watch more episodes.

Sunday

We had a really rough night with Lucy being awake at least 10 times. Edd kindly got up with the girls and I remained in bed until 9:30 am. We then had a slow morning, playing and eating breakfast and drinking coffee.

Around midday I took Lucy on a long walk in the hopes for a decent nap. However, she seemed to have other plans! After 30 minutes she wasn’t anywhere near sleep so we played on the playground for a while and posted my belated Christmas cards together.

At home we played some more, I tried to blog (unsuccessfully) and then we had Pizza for dinner. Edd and my dad met up in the evening to watch James Bond and so my mum and I did some sewing together.