Our Christmas Eve 2014

So, it's Christmas Eve!

The best time of the year, but 'could we open one gift already?`', pleaded the very impatient IC.

To appease her, I told the girls they could already put their gifts under the Christmas tree as early as the 23rd of December. This year, they shopped and wrapped the gifts.

And this year, too, they helped their Papa to prepare our Christmas Eve dinner. Yes, they are our secret Christmas elves :-D

Of course, the Christkind passed by secretly to bring the bigger gifts.

As our tradition, we attended mass, went to the cemetery to visit Oma and Opa before I had the privilege of checking if the gifts from the Christkind arrived on time while the kids and my husband took a short drive.

Rikki is happy to find a big bone under the tree!

 What a surprise! There were more gifts under the Christmas tree!

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Here's my Christmas wish
Love, unity and peace

No more poverty
No more cruelty

More kindness
More calmness

Remember the real meaning of Christmas
It's the birthday of our Lord Jesus

Give love not only on Christmas day
But let's try to give love everyday

Wishing you all the best, all the love, unity and peace this Christmas time!

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The fourth Sunday of Advent is for a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year!

Third Sunday of Advent

The third Sunday of Advent is for peace, unity and love all over the world.

Our Christmas Tree

First, choosing the right tree.
Noticed that the first tree would always be the best despite any numbers of choices?
At least that goes for our family :-D

Despite the offer to drive our chosen tree home,
my husband declined and decided to carry the tree back home.

IC stayed with him to assist, just in case.

Our Traditional Christmas Baking

Our traditional Christmas baking started the week before the first Sunday of Advent.

As tradition goes, my husband and the girls got busy while my chore started after their done. Yes, I am the Christmas baking cleaner :-)

The girls decorating the Kulleraugen (Saucer Eyes Cookies).
This cookie is a favorite in our family.

Nice and easy, IC.

Having fun!

Yes, and going great, too!

This time, it's Spritzgebackenes (Shortbread Cookies).

They always have fun making this because of the machine.

Yep, Rikki is busy cleaning the work area, too.

Faster....

Okay, they are comfortable using the machine now but they still can't help making themselves crazy with the tempo...

See how the girls work?

Kulleraugen, done!

Something new :-)

First Sunday of Advent

Wishing everyone a blessed first Sunday of Advent!

Halloween at Camping Kleinenzhof, Schwarzwald (Black Forest)

Something different this Halloween for the girls, spending it at Camping Kleinenzhof.

Halloween at Camping Kleinenzhof

IC bargained with her Papa though, begging him to drive them home late afternoon of Halloween for them to have the chance to go trick or treating in our neighborhood so they would have enough time to collect more candies around the camping ground.

Nope, no chance. Especially since they realized how big an event it would be in the camping site. They forgot about going home to collect more candies because they got busy getting ready for Halloween with their new found friends at the camp.

Our pitch 

Actually, I was also impressed by the preparation done by the long-staying campers at Kleinenzhof. They really created a Halloween atmosphere around the camping area. Aside from the fact that most campers were really ready for the invasion of the kids, too.

Here's some photos for you to enjoy!

Ready for Halloween

The kids on their way to the main meeting place while Rikki enjoys the stroll

A camping ground transformed

More Halloween decors

Getting ready for the big event

Trick or treat

The invasion of the trick or treaters

Moving around the camping grounds

The party afterwards...these kids are watching an outdoor movie

Dark and light, fire and ice

Yes, that's what's happening there... the campfire twist bread!

Candies, chocolates, gummi bears, cookies, etc.

After the trick or treating, there's Flammkuchen (tarte flambee) while the cakes and campfire twist bread were given free. There's also kiddie punch and Glühwein (mulled wine).

Well, Halloween at Camping Kleinenzhof was something to remember. 

A Photo Review: Brekers Restaurant in Callantsoog, The Netherlands

We decided to go to the Bekers Restaurant for our 12th wedding anniversary dinner during our vacation in Callantsoog this summer break.

Bekers Restaurant is located in Helmweg 9, 1759 Callantsoog, The Netherlands.

What impressed us about the restaurant? Well, I admit, seeing the restaurant's name plastered in most holiday brochures and posters around town intrigued me already. And then it was pure chance that we passed the restaurant when we were looking for the nearest grocery store.

I was impressed by the place plus the fact that they have a big porch area where costumers could enjoy dining el aire libre. Then when we stopped to check the extensive menu card, the mouthwatering items sealed the deal.

Our first mouthwatering appetizer, those dips
 are great and the fresh bread, too!

Visiting Medemblik City, The Netherlands (in photos)

Entering the city of Medemblik, The Netherlands and being welcomed by an old windmill.

The Medemblik church

The train station

A Photo Review: Bakery Museum in Medemblik, The Netherlands

The Bakery Museum is located at Nieuwstraat 8 1671 BD Medemblik, The Netherlands.
You would find it in the middle of the city center and there's enough parking area around.

You enter the museum after paying the entrance fee and receiving free cookies,
(the free cookies intended for the kids but since they offered
them generously from a cookie basket, the adults get the chance to taste them, too!)
They accept credit cards.

Cake samples located right after the entrance.

Old waffle forms and baking equipments.

Hiking in Mullerthal Trail (Luxembourg)

It was supposed to be a short walk, just to walk the dog.

But we ended up talking with our camping neighbor who informed us that a few minutes hike behind the camping area woud lead us to a trail that is as fascinating as the Grand Canyons in the USA. Well, we have to visit, despite hearing grumblings IC :-)

Staying already at EuroCamping Nommerlayern, this is a chance that we would take!

Enjoying a last minute ride before the great hike

Rikki urging the girls to move

The Mullerthal Trail

A Photo Review: EuropaCamping Nommerlayern in Luxembourg

Before the girls' summer vacation ended, we decided to go for a last minute camping in Luxembourg. As usual our priority: dogs allowed, with swimming pool, with restaurant and grocery store, and near the woods.

We found EuropaCamping Nommerlayern after a few days of browsing the internet (we almost ended up in a nude campsite in Luxembourg!)

Here's my photo review:

Entering the border between Germany and Luxembourg

Our first glimpse of the city of Nommern, Luxembourg

Entering EuropaCamping Nommerlayern

Parking area