"Julie & Julia" Movie

The other day, Patrick and I finally managed to watch "Julie & Julia" movie. Oh, what a nice movie that was! Even Patrick enjoyed it, I guess because of all the good cooking. I also liked how the scenes from the past and today were flowing into each other.

Now I am inspired to cook well again! Maybe I should get the Julia Child cook book but not sure if I am really a French cook. I will look through my other cook books to find some good recipes.

Bon Appetit!

Our Christmas morning to remember

Too bad Christmas is over. I love this time of the year and especially the Christmas morning when we open the presents and spend most of the day assembling Lego toys, playing with and trying on whatever Santa has left for us. This year was even more special since Matilda is now old enough to open her own presents.

Santa was very generous with us, again. Thank you and we can't wait for next year! ;)

Rainy day in Monterey

Our annual trip to the beach during the Christmas holiday was cut short today because of the wind and rain that came down on us. But the visit to the Aquarium made it all worth driving one hour in the car with two impatient children.

We love to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and check on the penguins, the otters and sharks. And play with the water, watch out on the ocean and just hang out. Lovely day.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas celebration!

From our family to yours, bestest wishes!

Huge Surprise!

I have to share with you the biggest surprise I have ever gotten for my birthday. I will turn 40 in 3 days and wasn't really sure if I should celebrate this round birthday this year. Agonizing and thinking back and forth I invited friends for a celebration to later cancel it after all.

So last night Patrick said let's go out. We packed up Matilda (Lukas was with his cousin for the afternoon) and we went to King Crab, a Chinese restaurant here in Milpitas.

After we found parking while crossing the street I said to Patrick that I feel guilty to go to the restaurant without Lukas because he usually likes their food so much. But since he was with Kyle and was supposed to have pizza, I thought it's all good.

When we walked to the restaurant, I was still oblivious. After we walked in, I saw Britta, my friend, sitting in the back of the restaurant. My first thought was "hm, what a coincidence that she is here tonight too!". And then I saw them all! The whole family and my friends Britta and Evelyn were gathered at two tables to celebrate my 40th birthday with me! What a surprise! Tears came to my eyes and I felt so overwhelmed but so happy.

Then we had delicious dinner. I will never forget that evening, the surprise and my heartbeat.

Thank you all for loving me. I love you all back!

Advents-Calendar

It has been always a tradition at my house to receive an Advents-Calendar on December 1. The little chocolates inside the calendar have made each day of waiting for Christmas sweeter.

Of course I couldn't resist to give Lukas and Matilda their own calendar this year. Now we added opening one door from the calendar to the morning's routine.



Lukas is even opening his calendar every other day so that he has two chocolates at once.



So do you have a calendar like that?! :)

Cold

The last few days have been unusual cold here in the Bay Area. Or maybe we just forgot - after months of warmth and sun - that December is still a winter month. So to avoid getting sick and being cold, we wear lots of warm clothes and live with it.

Here is Matilda all bundled up while going shopping with me.

The Christmas Tree is up!

Finally, on Saturday we got our Christmas tree! I couldn't wait to get one and decorate it, and smell it, and enjoy it. This is the most beautiful tree we have ever had. Not only it is perfect size, but it's also well grown, even and thick.

So late Saturday afternoon the kids and us started to go through the Christmas boxes, took out all the ornaments and hang them on the tree. Lukas was a great decorater, he hang most of the decorations on the bottom of the tree.

The damage was minimal. Only two glass balls broke due to unsensitive care by Lukas and Matilda but that's ok.

Here is our pride and joy for this holiday season:

Going to school in PJ's

Only in America you have a PJ day in school. After the kids finished their work, they sat on their blankets, had popcorn and watched a movie. This was a price for all the reading coupons the kids turned in.

Lukas going to school in his PJ's.