With Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe another month has passed. Here's a recap of November:

We visited Oma & Opa again and Sara got to meet some additional family members for the 1st time: Uncle Michael, Ur-Opa Adolf and Ur-Oma Margaret. Jonas kept Uncle Michael occupied playing trains and airplanes and loved all the attention.

We revisited the Jucker Farm, which is now all decked out for Christmas, and went to our first Weihnachtsmarkt of the season. Andy made his first candle ever. Jonas was content to watch.

We also celebrated Thanksgiving - twice! The first time was with a large group from Jonas' preschool. The food was excellent and plentiful. Here is Sara after her very 1st Thanksgiving meal. She's got the American tradition down, doesn't she?

In Germany, I found a new winter jacket (purple, of course) and some boots. Just in time because we've had snow on the ground since the day after Thanksgiving. It is exciting to wake up and see a winter wonderland. And to watch the kids enjoy it. Sara loves watching the beautiful big flakes falling. Jonas loves stomping around in it and trying to eat the snowflakes as they fall.

Sara has really been cruising around a lot. She seems to think I'm a human jungle gym, and tries climbing on the furniture now. Won't be long before she's taking her first steps. She is quite the wiggle-worm too. Changing her diaper is a real challenge now. She seems to have a stubborn side. Hmm.

This past Sunday, we had the Kelly family over to celebrate Thanksgiving again. More good food and good times! We are so thankful to have found such wonderful friends! You'll be seeing more of them, I'm sure.

In the absence of American football, the guys enjoyed watching Ireland beat Argentina in Rugby.

Sara seems to have the same love for guitar as Andy & Jonas. She enjoys playing her own, and sneaks a few strums on daddy's guitar whenever she can.

Uster has it's own festival at the end of every November. Lots of local vendors, traditional Swiss food and rides. Jonas and Jack enjoyed the motorcycles. Our friend Lenora babysat the kids one night so Andy and I could go. It was so fun to be out at night, by ourselves. We were almost giddy!

It's hard to believe that the Christmas Season is upon us. As you can imagine, Jonas is especially excited. Every day he asks when St. Nick, Christkind and Santa will be coming. And, that he just can't wait, of course :-). We look forward to experiencing all of the European traditions, and to sharing them with you!

This month's tidbits from Jonas:

1) Why didn't you just ship our house from home?

2) After hearing "Away in A Manger" for the first time this season: No. Jesus can't sleep on the hay. It's too hard. It will poke him.

3) M: You're so big. You can peel your own orange and you're only 3. What will you do by the time you're 30? Solve all the world's problems?

J: "Yes." And with a smirk on his face, a twinkle in his eye and pointing his finger at me, "And then, I'll be the boss."

4) After intently watching several minutes of a ballet performance clip, he suddenly exclaimed, "How do they do that dance? That's hard. They're dancing on one foot!"

5) J: Is dinner ready? M: Yes. J: Ok. I just have to watch one more play. (I was speechless).

6) Jonas woke up one morning, climbed into my lap and said, "Mommy, You're the sweetest big girl in my heart."

And a few random thoughts from me:

Things I love about Switzerland:

Chocolate, cheese & bread!! Yum! (you know I had to start with food!)

Bakeries on every corner - another Yum!

Nature - Farm close to our house, pasture lands and hiking trails nearby, beautiful views of the mountains

The "honor system" to buy eggs, flowers, veggies, cider from random spots along the way

Being able to weigh my own produce - much faster than having the cashier look everything up

(As a side note, sometimes I wonder why in America, a country that prides itself on high standards and moral values, we can't trust each other/ourselves to utilize the "honor system"?)

Public Transportation - safe, punctual, convenient (but not cheap - in Switzerland anyway:-)

Advent exhibits and Christmas Markets and everything that goes with it - lights, fires, greenery, candles, gluewein, cookies

Better coverage of world news

Less coverage of American politics

High quality washers

The floorplan of our rowhouse

The price of cable: Internet, phone, cable (125 channels, dvr, HD, 15+ English channels) - 85 francs

Things I miss from home:

All of you, of course! And Molly too!

Church

Convenience

Large grocery stores with huge selection and free parking

Hummus

Affordable prices. Random example: I looked for some salt here just in case we need it to keep the ice at bay this winter. A small bag was 65 Francs! The Swiss franc is roughly equivalent to the dollar. Isn't that a crazy price?!

Being able to buy our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving

My mixer and our coffee machine :-)