Letters to Santa

Here are the girls drawing and "writing" their letters to Santa. It was right before bed, so Genna was kind of in between clothes.

Hannah wants a jump rope, miniature babies with cribs (that she saw in the store) and Littlest Pet Shop pets. She then added a baby doll to the list when Genna said she wanted one. As if we don't have enough baby dolls in this house. She drew pictures of all of the things she wanted and I wrote them down. Hannah wrote her name though.

Genna wants a baby doll and pretend cleaning toys (Mommy kind of fed the last one to her). She just scribbled and I wrote then down for her.

Very serious workers. Why are pens better than colors?

A discussion about the new baby with Hannah

Well, whenever I say a prayer for our new little baby, Hannah says, "No, baby brother" with a strong emphasis on "brother." So, I have been trying to explain that it might be another sister and that would be just as great. Tonight when I tried again to explain this, she relented and said, "Well, maybe we can have both... (she pauses and I can almost see the wheels turning) OR we can have a hundred of them, Mom!" Whoa! I don't know about a hundred, twins would be hard enough!

So, we then read a story about the first Christmas. I asked her what Mary named her baby. She answered me correctly and then said, "Oh Mom, I want to name our new baby Jesus too!" I told her that was "nice... and interesting" but that her dad and I thought we would name the baby Isaac if it's a boy. She said, "Well, I'm going to call him Jesus!" Well, that will be interesting. I hope she forgets about that decision. What a little mind she has going!

Traditional German Christmas Recipes

Here is a recipe for Gluhwein which is a warm mulled wine. It is everywhere as soon as the fall chill begins.

3 (750 ml) bottles of your favorite red wine
juice of one orange
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 Tbs whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
brown sugar or honey to taste

Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan and heat over low heat being careful NOT to boil. Heat for 1/2 hour to an hour tasting periodically until it is just right. Serve warm. It can be refrigerated and reheated.

Here is a recipe for Christkindl Stollen or Christmas Stollen. It is a dense fruit and nut cake to be eaten with tea, coffee, or Gluhwein. It usually holds the shape of a wrapped baby Jesus. It has been a tradition in Germany since the Middle Ages although the recipe has been amended.

1 lb flour
2 Tbs dry yeast
3/4 cup milk
3.5 oz (6 Tbs) sugar plus extra for coating
1/2 tsp vanilla
minced peel of half a lemon
1 tsp salt
3 oz (6Tbs) soft margarine
3 oz (6 Tbs) butter
1 oz (2Tbs) lard (can substitute vegetable shortening)
1 oz (2Tbs) candied lemon peel
a few drops of almond extract or 1 oz (2 Tbs) minced bitter almonds
2 oz (4 Tbs) minced sweet almond
10 oz (1 1/4 cups) raisins soaked in rum

Dissolve yeast and 1 Tbs of sugar in 1 cup lukewarm milk. Mix it with the flour. Knead until you have a firm dough ball. Let stand 2 hours until it has doubled in size.

Work in remaining ingredients, except raisins. Knead thoroughly. Work raisins in last. Let sit in a warm place for 2 more hours and then knead again.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Form dough into the shape of a swaddled Jesus and make a half inch deep cut through the middle.

Bake an hour. Let cool and brush some melted butter on top. Pour a thin coat of sugar on top and finish with powdered sugar if you have some.

Store it for a week before eating it in a cool place so the flavors can unfold.

Here is a link to a picture of it:

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/14/50/23045014.jpg

The Birthday Party Pictures

Hannah's Party

Hannah really had a great time! Since the party she has told me at least three times, "Thanks Mom for the best party ever!" How sweet is that?!! I really wasn't expecting such a genuine thank you. She is precious! On her actual birthday, Hannah picked Mac N Cheese for her birthday dinner and we opened the grandparent's gifts afterwards.

The Little Mermaid Cake

Hannah riding the horse like a princess

Genna riding the horse like a delicate cowgirl

Eating pizza

Eating cake

Opening gifts (Hannah always seems a bit overwhelmed by this part-kind of dazed)

Genna's After-party


Cool down time with friends before we leave

One little, two little, three little Smiths!

Yes, our little Genevieve is going to be a big sister now too! I am finally pregnant again! We've been trying for a while with no luck until now! We are so very happy! Brian and Hannah are really hoping for a little boy, and I would certainly like one too. But whatever God gives us, we'll gladly take!

I put this shirt on Genna on Sunday morning before church and told the girls to go tell daddy the big news. Genna was sort of half asleep still, but Hannah filled daddy in before he even read Genna's shirt. She said, "Mommy's got a baby brother in her tummy right now and St. Gerard prayed for us and we're going to have a baby brother right now!" Shocked daddy waited until she was done explaining and said, "Mommy's pregnant?" Hannah yelled, "Yes!" I didn't say I had a brother in my tummy, but she insists that I do no matter how many times I try to explain that it might be another sister.

Genna thought that Hannah wanted to play baby dolls when she was trying to tell her about the baby in my tummy. How cute!

Hannah is giving a Gig'em about the new baby!

Happy birthday to Hannah!

Hannah is three years old today! We had her party yesterday evening. It went well. She had a great time. She was looking forward to her cake the most, but she didn't even finish her piece because she eats too slow and all the kids took off to play. I will put up pictures and more details of her party tomorrow, hopefully. Here is a little tribute to Hannah!

Enough waffling already, here are the pictures!

Norwich Castle

The tiger growled when you walked past. Tigers are Hannah's favorite animal.

This is the simulated chariot. The screen did not come out in the picture though.

The girls dressed up in togas.

London pictures

The geese and pigeons joined us for lunch in the park. Notice Genna fast asleep in the stroller; she missed the whole picnic.

Daddy and Hannah in front of the Abbey.

Sherringham

Feeding the goats

Brian said the chickens were Genna's favorite.

Hannah and one of the horses

Auntie Lorraine catches Genna on the slide

Charlotte with the girls and me

Genna eating chips (fries) while we take a brief look at the coast.

Dunsten Hall for the "Carvery" dinner on our last night

Charlotte and Hannah

Charlotte, Hannah, and Genevieve

Andrew and Hannah being a bit daft

Uncle Paul, Hannah, and Great Nanna

Great Nanna and Hannah

The rest of the pictures (there are a bunch!) are on snapfish, and will have to be emailed because I can't figure a way to link the pictures to my blog. If you don't get an email and you want one, just let me know!