Christmas Eve at the Shumway's

This year we had the Lord Family and Melody one of Spencer's co-worker over for Christmas Eve. We had soup and salad for dinner. Then we had butterscotch pudding over vanille ice cream. This year we hid an almond in the dessert and whoever got it got five dollars. Our lucky Melody got it!

Then we acted out the Nativity. Jakob, Brandt and Zachary were the wisemen. Rex and Zackary were the shepards. Marrian and John were Mary and Joseph. Spencer was the donkey. I helped the kids with their parts and Spencer read from the scriptures.

Here they are bring gifts to baby Jesus.

Rex and Zackary are the shepards look up at the new star!

Brandt looking for the baby Jesus to offer up his treasures.

PTA Reflections

This year I was the PTA Reflections Chair again. The theme this year was Together We Can.

Spencer and Zachary submitted entries into three categories. Photography, Literature and Visual Arts.

Zachary took first place in Visual Arts and Spencer took first place in Photography and Literature. They both did a great job and worked hard on each of the entries. I thought they both did the best in Literature. You can read Zachary's above and Spencer did a long comic book about two boys searching for a ruby.

Here they are with the principle after receiving their certificates, bowling tickets, and gift cards.

Elfis and The Sleighriders

Spencer was in the school winter musical Elfis and the Sleighriders. He was Jerry Lee on the keyboard.

He had many parts and remembered all of them. He did a great job!

Zachary was in a music group that sang before the winter musical and at a tree lighting ceremony on base.

Zachary loves to sing, especially Christmas music!

St. Nikolas Day!

St. Nikolas made a visit to our house the night of December 5th.

The boys put their wooden shoes from Holland out and got a great suprise in the morning.

They each got animals, candy, and a clementine.

They were all delighted and happy for German holidays!

SNOW SNOW SNOW!

In December we got a lot of snow! More snow than Germany has had in over 30 years! The kids loved playing out in it. The first night of a big snow storm we went outside and made snowmen from all the snow in the street. Since here in Germany they are not used to this much snow they don't plow much. One Sunday church was cancelled and the Friday before winter break they cancelled school. We also had a few 2 hour work and school delays. It was fun to have a lot of snow and be stuck at home. :)

Our Visit to Liechtenstein #1

This is what Liechtenstein is made of...high mountains...

...and a low river valley. Just past the Rhein River is Switzerland.

The landscape is still green during the winter, just like Germany.

Here is what they call the Gutenburg Castle at the southern tip of Liechtenstein.

Our Visit to Liechtenstein #2

We took a drive up to the mountains. The road got very narrow and we thought we were lucky that no one came down the mountain. But then we realized it was only one way at that point.

.
It was a beautiful drive with the fresh fallen snow.

We passed some holiday homes along the way.

As we came out of this tunnel we were in the highest ski town. It was nice and clear and the moutains seemed to be begging for skiers. The town was dead because the resort had not open yet. I am sure they were opening that weekend.

Our Visit to Liechtenstein #3

Here is the main shopping area in Vaduz. You can see the castle up on the mountain. This is where the Prince lives. It is private so we could not get a tour. :( Thats okay...how many castles have we seen here in Europe. :)

Here is the Rathaus in the main square.

Here is a close look at the castle. We took a drive up the mountain.

Here is a church in Vaduz right by the main shopping area.

Our last fall in Germany

I am going to miss the fall in Germany. It is so beautiful since it is covered in trees. It will be a change when we go back to Utah.

This is the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden. Well, the back of it.

The leaves were in big piles everywhere. They loved playing in them and making it rain leaves.

They loved watching the ducks below in the pond. It was a great day out!

A bike ride in the Kurpark

We went for a bike ride in the Kurpark and had a great time. It was perfect weather. Not too cold just jacket weather. The boys had a great time.

They loved this tree because it was just the right height for them to jump on.

Gotta love Germany! Little boys...well just about anyone can pee in the open. Brandt takes advantage of the situation whenever we are out. He thinks it is great!

This is Zachary's big crash. It looks like it is set up but he really did take a spill. Gotta love helmets.

Preschool

This year Rex is in Preschool. We rotate between homes and it is working out great! This week it was at our house. It was P Day! We ate popcorn and pinapple for a picnic. Then we made sock puppets and had a puppet show. Brandt is also so happy to be included when it is at our house. The kids seem to enjoy it and Rex looks forward to going every time.

Cubscouts...Do your best!

Spencer and Zachary are both in Cubscouts this year. Spencer is a Bear and Zachacy is a Tiger. They are both half way to getting rank. I am glad that they are excited to work on achievements and learn new things.

Here is Spencer and he best friend here in Wiesbaden.

Here is Zachary just after he earned his Bobcat badge. He got his face painted as a welcome to the pack.

Here is Spencer receiving his awards.

Here is Zachary and his Tiger Den after receiving awards.