Finished product

They have many Christmas decorations here because they decorate trees for New Year's...but we had to bring our own nativity set from home. Most of the decorations focus on snowmen and Santa...though I don't think Santa comes to visit. We'll learn much about this season and how it is celebrated in the next month! We've heard "This This"/Greensleeves twice in the subway stations now.

Christmas horse - aka Reindeer

Decorating the house

Birthday party celebrated, balloons still out, dishes put away.....time to set up the Christmas tree!!! Micah was much more involved this year, but a bit frustrated by the fine motor skills needed to put the little ornament loops on the tree. Mom and Dad had to work at it too. Best parts? The reindeer/Christmas horse that says 'neigh' and the red bead garlands that were dragged around the house. We were really thankful for a day off from classes to get ready for this month. We won't have any holiday days off in December, except for those we self-initiate. Rick and I both passed into the next level of language learning...so here we go! 

Micah's 2nd Birthday!!

We celebrated Micah's 2nd birthday today with a bunch of his friends. We were blessed to have several families share with us in making this day fun. Thomas the Tank Engine was also a featured guest. We attempted to play "Pin the hat on Sir Topham Hat" and "Drop clothespins into Thomas' Chimney". The older kids thought these were great. The younger kids did not want to interrupt their independent play for such community activities. Maybe in a couple more years. :) We had Cincinnati Chili (Chili over pasta with whatever fix'ins you like), turkish style pig-n-blankets, veggies, and chocolate cupcakes (thanks to an $8 box of Duncan Hines cake mix). 

Micah's latest word update

For the grandparents...

The words we hear most often:
up, down, in, green/green one (often used to express Micah's desire for his green cloth diapers above all the other colors), no, bye, cheese, uh oh, mom, and dad

and the following animal sounds:
meow, how how (dog), baa, neigh (horse/cow), ka ka (duck/chicken), toot toot (train-specifically Thomas)

Yesterday Rick & Micah called me from home and Micah greeted me with a "MOM!" and just before we hung up, he gave me an assertive "BYE!" I smiled all the way home.

advertisements

 Well, a friend once told us not to learn our language from advertisements. I think it is quite wise advice. But you do have to wonder sometimes...what is the thinking behind this?

Here is a pseudo translation of this ad for honey. It makes me think of something other than honey.

"renewed every day
like a miracle
like a light of the world"

And here we have the second holiday doughnut ad. The first we saw was for Krispy Skremes. Now they don't celebrate Halloween or Christmas here...  and supposedly it only snowed 3 times last winter in our city, so.....how are we going to "meet with the new year snow man"?

A first cousin!!

 Hooray! We are so excited that our first niece and cousin has arrived! Selma Magdalena was born on November 19.  We got to meet her for the first time on Skype when the family came home from the hospital...Micah thought she was pretty amazing. We can't wait to meet her in person!