First Advent

There's a German Christmas song that the children love:  Alle Jahre wieder kommt das Christuskind   - Every year the Christ child comes again.  The first part - alle Jahre wieder - gets used a lot for things that just get repeated again and again:  the tree, the celebrations, the Christmas market, the wreath. Our Weihnachtskranz for this year, a bit simpler.

And so it is with First Advent lunch at René and Rima's - every year again - though this year could be the last of the "usual" since it will be the last that Monika and Lex are with us as residents of Germany:  in January, they'll be moving to Curacao.  Not exactly around the corner, as they are now.

But no one was sad.  The day started with snow here in Bremen-Vegesack but was bright and clear most of the day.

 

Amina had a bright red Heidi outfit, and the rest of us were festively dressed as well.

 

And Rima, hair professional that she is, had done Amina's hair beautifully. I have to say, though, when you have thick, shiny, wavy hair, it's hard to go wrong!

Renè used to come up with a different festive menu every year, but he seems now to have settled into a traditional goose meal.  Actually two geese - one roasted at home and one at Monika's, which begs the question what will we do next year??

Round out the goose with steamy hot potatoes, brussels sprouts in brown butter, apple stuffing and red cabbage and you have a feast.  We all did our part!

Afterward more conversation and coffee and dessert.  I have to say, it's a bit like having Thanksgiving two weekends in a row. In fact, it is exactly like having Thanksgiving two weekends in a row!  Next weekend, I think we'll fast while remembering the wonderful food and company.