Lexie with Christingle candle

Lexie with Christingle candle
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

This morning, we walked around the corner to the parish church for a Christingle service for toddlers.
Little is known about the origins of the "Christingle", but the Christingle service is a Christmas service which originated in Moravia, and now is held in churches in Great Britain. The word "Christingle" means "Christ-light".

We sang some carols, and at the end of the short service, the children were given a "Christingle"--an orange into which a hole is bored, and a candle is placed. Stuck into the orange are toothpicks which have raisins on them. Wrapped around the orange is a red ribbon. The Christingle orange represents the world, the red ribbon represents the blood of Jesus, the fruits symbolize God's creation, and the candle represents Jesus, the Light of the World.

Christmas Evetide

Christmas Evetide
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Santa's helpers

Santa's helpers
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Just imagine this as a glossy holiday photo card bearing all good wishes for a very Merry Christmas to... you! Pheww! Christmas cards done for another year.

Chrismas musings

Around breakfast time this morning, I heard a wonderful snippet of some type of Christmas message on the radio. The man--perhaps a vicar or priest or some other religious leader, was talking about what a beautiful story the Christmas story is and how obscured it has become by commercialism at this time of year. He ended by saying something like, "It doesn't matter what we believe or don't believe about Him, He believes in us." So simple, yet so profound, I thought. People love him, are confused about what to think about him, ignore him, or even reject him...yet Jesus believed (and still believes) in every one of us. He became man, no strings attached.

Incredible men still seek Him

I forgot to mention a minute detail about the nativity play I described in my last post. There were three little wisemen in the play, all dressed in the traditional costume....all but one that is...this particular young lad was decked out in nothing less than a Mr. Incredible suit. It struck me as sooo out of place at first but later...when I stopped and thought about it, I guess it seems almost appropriate. A modern day super hero's outfit, for an ancient super hero... of sorts.

Holiday Happenings...

Wednesday was Lexie's nursery school's nativity play entitled: Whoopsy Daisy-Angel. Lexie was Mary, chosen because they knew she wouldn't be getting up and down and wiggling all over the place. She tends to be a little bit of a day dreamer in public settings, so they chose well, as it looked like she was glued to her chair. There were a number of little angels and one little ring leader angel who was supposed to be kind of clumsy etc...(thus the title), and this angel was the one who led everyone to Baby Jesus. Anyway...the children were all positioned behind a curtain before the play began. When it started, and the curtain was pulled back, Lexie caught sight of Charlie in the back with a camera ready to tape the show. I didn't know what she would do if she saw us, but she started laughing and pointing, as if someone had just told her the funniest joke ever.

Sorry for the disturbing photo

Charlie requested that I remove the picture of poor little speckled Arthur as he found it disturbing. Guess it was a little unsensitive of me in case you found it difficult viewing...

The great cookie swap

Wed. night I went to Newnham's 2nd annual cookie swap. Last year, I began the cookie tradition, and invited about 12 or more ladies over to our house. It was a big hit, and a new idea to most of them. This year, my friend Anne-Marie asked me if I was going to do it again this year. I really wanted to, but wasn't sure about hosting it here, so she offered to do it at her house which is a bit bigger than ours. This year there were about 10 of us, and we had a nice evening chatting and then walked home with a nice platter of assorted cookies. They were nice while they lasted--the last one was eaten today...or was it yesterday? Anne-Marie is moving to New Zealand next fall and said she will bring the tradition with her.

Can you say chocolate mustache?

DSCN0922
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Lexie 'helps' bake for the cookie swap tommorow night. Or shall we title this:
How many ways can we get chocolate on our clothes without even trying?

Dough boys and girls

DSCN0927
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Here's what we made at the Father Christmas Party!

Father Christmas Day

Today is Father Christmas Day in Switzerland. I have a Swiss friend here who has 2 children similar in age to Lexie and Arthur. She had some moms and kids over today to help them celebrate. She had some baked goodies for us, including some stollen. She had also made some special sweet dough, and we all got to make a man, or lady,decorate them with raisins and them brush them with egg yolk. Then she popped them in the oven and when they were all done, she tied a bow around their neck. Of course the kids dough was just a round blob with raisins stuck on it, but they had fun, and Lexie liked 'painting' the creations. As we left, my friend Annuschka gave us our baked goods in a gift bag with some nuts and chocolates at the bottom. A festive time was had by all...

A Man's baby

I was wondering whether to call Arthur a boy's boy, or a Man's man...but I guess we'll settle for the title above. He is for sure all boy...He ALREADY seems to be intrigued with how something is constructed, likes wheels, gazes with interest at the door hinge, has already mastered the art of opening the dvd player, locks the front door with the cross bar (it happens to be close to the floor), switches the red power strip switch off and on, and he has yet to take his first step. Okay, okay I know I'm bragging, and I guess it's not all that amazing, but still he does continually amaze me, especially as I am not technically oriented in the least.

Okay, I did buy a Barbie Advent Calendar

I have to say, I did actually break down and buy a Barbie Advent Calendar. And for 1 or was it 2 pounds (2 doll-hairs to you) it has already been a pretty good investment, many times over. Any time a toddler can be kept quiet and happy simply holding and gazing at a piece of cardboard for extended periods of time, well....that's pretty much a good investment in my book.

Advent makes the heart grow fonder

I'm on a roll now, and guess I'll roll with it while it lasts. I know I should just skedaddle off to bed, but just this last thing, and then maybe I will. This post is a rant and rave about advent calendars. Children across the nation here can purchase all manner of advent calendars --from Bob the Builder to Barbie. You name the character, they have it in the local stores here. Inside each little cardboard dated window there is a tiny chocolate, no bigger than Tom Thumb. I believe they sell like hotcakes. A shame that nowhere to be found-unless I just haven't looked hard enough- is there an advent calendar illustrated with the Christmas story! Now, I'm all for chocolate in any shape or size, but this is outlandish!!

Tis the season...for CAROLS!

Ok....It is now officially time for Christmas music to begin. Yes, I know it already began playing weeks ago in the stores, but now you can play it in your home, and not feel strange. I used to play Christmas cds in the summer since I love it so much. Anyhow....I thought I would take a poll, and ask what everyone's favorite or at least one highly loved Christmas carol is...? Who wants to be first? One of mine is In the Bleak Midwinter.