Happy New Year!

Do you have any New Year resolutions? I don't have any this year (apart from the usual eating healthy, exercising, getting up early, going to bed early, stop biting my finger nails, stop biting my toe nails, start wearing real clothes every day, becoming quite perfect in general, getting my doctorate degree, changing the world, learning how to cook well, learning how to bake better, opening a cafe, opening a restaurant, too, and a Bed & Breakfast in an old mansion that we'll acquire magically somehow, and writing the break-out novel, and a children's book, too.) No, I thought, this year, for a change, all I want to do is to love my family and friends, which I already do, so hey, this will be easy.

A Happy, Glorious New Year to all of you!

AEKI

The kids always assume we go "there" (there being the blue-yellow furniture giant that shall remain nameless) for them. But it's really for all of us. (Haha, good ploy.) I love that picture of J. (This is him trying very hard to keep a straight face for the camera. Unsuccessfully. That man rarely keeps a straight face, which is why I love him).

I feel like I owe you an explanation. I said a dramatic goodbye two months ago, and now I act like nothing has ever happened (I am pretty good at that, the acting like nothing's ever happened). Truth is, I felt exhausted. I haven't slept properly in what feels like ages. I simply didn't have the time then, and I didn't feel very inspired, to blog.

It's better now because J is on vacation, and he takes care of the kids in the morning, so I can sleep in a bit. He also takes care of them throughout most of the day, and cooks, and cleans, and is generally being a very good housewifey (don't tell him I called him that in public), so I can rest. I feel like a human, not just a worn-down robot, again (look, I even carry my camera places!). I think I have time to blog again (on some days more, ergo today, and on some days less). I won't have much time to read blogs, however, so forgive me if I don't come visit as often.

Okay, enough with the blah-blah: I'll blog when I have time, and won't feel bad when I don't.

:)

Lebkuchen und Russisch Brot

Scenes from this morning.

My mom brought me Lebkuchen and Russisch Brot from the Nuremberg Christkindlmarkt. With every bite, I am eating a piece of belonging. Us cousins playing hide-and-seek, aunts and uncles talking loudly, a long dinner table. Smells of Glühwein and Printen, and that first taste of Mettwurst and Grünkohl when it's cold outside.

Sigh... I never miss Germany as much as I do around Christmas. 

Some thoughts on Christmas

Hi, how was your Christmas?

Apart from Fe, we were all knocked out with the flu and are just now slowly recovering. So, this Christmas hasn't been all that I thought I wanted it to be. In my head, I had had it all planned out: a Middle Eastern dinner, and a program including the acting out of the Nativity with hand-sewn costumes (no, that didn't happen, nor will it ever, let's be honest), the singing of carols in both German and Finnish, and the decking of the halls with self-made garlands and ornaments. Games, perhaps, and lots of laughter, certainly. Instead, it's been diarrheac (I made that word up, I believe) diapers, headaches, a lot of phlegm (sorry), fever, antibiotics, sleepless nights, etc. Fe was the only one dancing and prancing like a red-nosed reindeer fairy (bless her heart).

And still, there was peace and joy to be had.

Just like that first Christmas, which may not have been perfect; which saw dusty roads, discomfort, sacrifice, exertion, labor, sweat, and blood. And then amidst it all a small baby. A bright new star in the dark sky, to give us light.

Isn't it fascinating that the glorious story of Christmas is really the quiet story of motherhood.

Oh Tannenbaum

We took a walk today to buy a Christmas tree, in - 30 Celsius degrees, all four of us ill. It was well worth the sacrifice. It's the most beautiful tree I've seen in all my life (with a very crooked top), and it smells wonderful. Oh, Tannenbaum. Whoever came up with that song, I get him. (Although our tree still needs some color. Tomorrow.)

Merry Christmas (again!). 

psst...

... it's winter here... a quiet and peaceful one. 

Less than ten days left till Christmas. 

(Did you know Santa Claus and his reindeer, the ones, live in Finland? )

It has been a while.

I almost feel shy, how strange.

But I'm popping in to say to a friend of mine: 

no, see, I have not drowned in all that snow. I'm alive and well!

And I have figured out my blogging situation, I think. 

I will probably be back in January. A fresh start!

Until then: Merry Christmas!

:)

I really have missed this little blog.

An Interview...

Hey you, how are you? I've missed you. 

(But I must say I'm enjoying my time offline...

I've been taking pictures... I've had ideas... I'm looking forward to Christmas!)

But alas, here is the interview I promised:

Isabell on Parenting Interviews. 

(A big THANK YOU to the very lovely Dorothy of the ever-inspirational Feet On The Ground 

for asking me to be a part of the inspiring parenting series, I really am so honored).

Hop on over and read more!

:)

It's time...

I had more pictures I wanted to share, and a story about this woman I saw the other day, bra-less, smeared make-up, greasy hair, who started laughing like a mad woman in the middle of the street (me!), but then I got this message by blogger:

"Whoops. You've reached your upload limit."

What now?

My options are to purchase more storage space (I won't), to create a new blog (I simply don't have the energy or time right now), or to take it as a hint that it's time to say goodbye.

I think it's time.

I've been longing for the privacy of my journal. Of sitting down with a pen and paper at night and writing whatever I feel like. Of holding pictures of my loved ones in my hands, instead of staring at them on the screen, and gluing them into little albums of love.

And so I've decided to say goodbye (God be with ye). Auf ein Wiedersehen. Maybe I'll be back someday... If so, you'll be the first to know.

Thank you all for your love and support over the last months, for shared laughs and tears, I'll miss you. This is just something I need to do.

And the winner...

... of the Grain & Silk Giveaway...

... as chosen by random.org...

... is...

... drumroll....

... lucky number "6."  

Franziska Patterson,

who said

"Urgh...I agree. I like a lot of those prints. 

Well, if I win 

(which I won't because the best thing I've ever won was a plastic bag), 

I'd like 'Shh'."
 

Well, Congratulations!

:)

Thank you everybody for participating!

Inspiration Files 8... Soisses

 

 

all pictures © 2009, 2010 Soisses - das Leben

This is the gorgeous home of Daniela from the very lovely blog So 'isses. I just love her collection of colorful letters and chairs... (I'm a bit jealous, I want it all!) I also love how she displays her own artwork (that yellow-blue bird painting and the portrait, for example). And look at that crayon mobile! (Ingenious!) And that Christmas tree! (Brilliant!) And that rug! I'm smitten (and have been, for a while).

Thank you, Daniela, for letting me use these pictures on my blog!

.. blog ..
.. flickr..

PS. I'm afraid this week will be busy, so I won't be around much.
PPS. There is still time to enter the giveaway.

Happy week!
:)