Family Mellmann

There are a few updates on the website from the past few weeks including Patrick's Beaver presentation and Christmas . We hope everyone is well and enjoying the Christmas holiday.

December 24th. We made it. And the kids are VERY excited. Normally this would be the day that we celebrate Christmas...Christmas Eve, but this year we have to wait one more day. Instead, we get to celebrate the arrival of Tante Katja who is flying in from Ohio. Ah, but we're talking about Advent. I always try to make the last Advent Calendar treat something special. I think I succeeded! Flying saucers! These things are really cool, and they're easy enough to operate that my five year old can do it pretty well (but really she just likes to push the buttons). For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6

...Mrs. Claus that is. A knock at the door, Katherine answers. In walks Oma...I mean Mrs. Claus. Katherine talked to her for awhile, but it wasn't clear if she knew who it was or not. Finally I asked her if she knew who it was and she said, without flinching, "Oma". Even then I couldn't tell for sure that she really knew it was "Oma". Then Marc walked in and she clearly understood Oma and Opa were here...and they brought a present!

December 23 - It's the last day of school for Patrick, and the last day before Katja arrives. Joerg took Patrick to school and Katherine came down to open her Advent Calendar...more chocolate.

After school we whipped up some cookie dough and started rolling out the cookies. Katherine wanted so much to help (ALL the time) that she had a really hard time sitting back and watching Patrick. But they did take turns rolling out dough and placing the cookie cutters. Next step...decorating!

Day 22...yes, I know...this is getting boring. But we're on the last row of pockets now - Christmas is super close now. Who would have thought that Swizzle Sticks could light up Katherine like that?

I think Patrick is getting a little bored with having his picture taken every morning. Oh well...too bad. Katherine is out of school for the Christmas break even though Patrick still has a few days. She came down when she woke up and did her Advent Calendar. Can I just tell you that the pajamas that she's wearing were made for Patrick...and he was still wearing them last winter? Actually I think he was still wearing them in November, but I made him give them up since they were getting so short.

December 20. Patrick and Katherine are getting really excited about Christmas now. They are counting down the days. With every passing day they get a little goofier and a little more wild. It's fun to see the excitement build in them (so far it's not out of control). Chocolate Santas...can't get much better than that.

Today's Advent treat was a little more significant for Patrick. It was so large that he had trouble getting it out of the pocket. Katherine joined us late...I'm not sure if she's actually awake here. Hmmmm...cables and a pouch...what could it be? That would be an iPod mini in his hand. I watched eBay auctions for weeks waiting for one to sell at the low price I was willing to pay. It's a used iPod, but Patrick doesn't care. It holds his music and even has some games. One of these days I'll teach him how to add songs and subscribe to podcasts.

December 18; six more days until Christmas Eve. Normally, following the German tradition, that would be the day we celebrate Christmas as a family. This year will be special. On Christmas Eve Jörg's sister, who is in the US for an extended stay, will be arriving to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with us. It's a special treat because it will be the first time we have a member of Jörg's family here for Christmas. It should be a fun time. So for those of you who are wondering, Patrick is pleased with himself here because he had guessed - before unwrapping - that these were gummy bears. And Katherine is dressed in her favorite pajamas for Pajama Day at Montessori School. The pigtails were a request. Unlike Oma Veeneman (who hated pigtails when her mother made her wear them) Katherine really likes them and INSISTED that I put them in again. She calls them "the wigglies" (probably because after a day in pigtails her hair is all "wiggly".

So, I'm not sure what that face is that Patrick is making, but Katherine seems to think he's weird. She still adores him, but has learned that Patrick can be flat-out goofy sometimes. I love to seem them smile. Chocolate must be the key.

Day 16. Don't you just love the way the kids pose for that opening shot now? I don't have to tell them to wait or anything. They just...assume the position. I wish it was this easy to train them on some other things around the house. :)

Day 15. Over half way. I love to see these faces; smiles, a hint of anticipation. They're looking forward to something bigger than the little treats in the Advent Calendars now. Christmas is coming.

In an effort to avoid homework for as long as possible Patrick got the hats out of the costume box. Katherine loves hats (and costumes in general) so I invited them to ham it up for the camera for a few minutes. Then it was time to get the work done. Patrick worked on spelling homework and Katherine worked on her "Fusion Fun" project (check out FunFusion here or here )...she'll sit and work on these for long stretches of time.

Patrick keeps asking if the WHOLE calendar is filled with candy. I'm just reading between the lines here, but I think he actually likes the non-candy things better...frankly, so does Katherine.