February half term’s are my favourite ones mainly because I can spend my Dad’s and my own birthday with my family in Germany which is always lovely. Yes there is the compromise of Mr. C. not being able to come with us hence he can’t celebrate with us as well as my english part of the family but for the last 4 years we always had Molly-May’s Birthday on the 9th to celebrate together before we flew back to my hometown! After last years big 60 birthday celebration for my dad this years was way more low-key but still full of laughter, good food, fantastic company and some amazing birthday surprises thrown into the mix!
Before we flew over there was a little bit of a drama because Molly-May just finished her stint of the dreaded chickenpox and the dried up spots where still very much visible in her face so after consulting with Lufthansa we did a mad dash to our doctor surgery 2 days before the flight and we came out 20£ lighter but with a handwritten letter saying she is fit to fly and not contagious anymore! I am rather glad that we don’t have to repeat that again!
Our start of the week in Germany was filled with lots of visits for Molly-May and me to see my dearest cousin who is her Godmother which is always a pure joy for me to see them bond and spend time together because they adore each other a lot!
I also manage to catch up with my lovely Cousin Anne who is expecting her first baby in June so whilst we had some brunch our main subject was of course everything baby related! And I had my very first white hot chocolate which was delicious! Thankfully I discovered Costa is doing them now too so I can have some again when I am back home!
My parents recently sold their house so instead of living in the middle of nowhere (well it was outside of Bavaria so that’s the middle of nowhere in my head!) with a long drive to see friends and family we now have it all on the “doorstep” so much so that my parents rented temporary flat is just below my Godmums flat in the same house which meant daily visits up and down the corridors. She came down every day for coffee and cake at 3pm and whenever the kids where too full on or she got tired she could just head upstairs into her own 4 walls again which was so much easier and it meant she spend the most time with me and the kids ever which was a big highlight! We played games like “I spy” and had lots of fun!
Towards the end of the week we got snow and the kids where absolute delighted building a snow family and even a snow dog. We had snowball fights and they even made their first snow angels! Despite my parents not having a garden and way less indoor space I was surprised how well we all coped in the small space (small as in they currently living in a 2 bedroom kitchen, dinning, living and utility room flat) but knowing its only temporary for 12-18 months before their new house will be build. My parents found an amazing plot of land and will be building their dream house alongside my cousin and her husband within a year or so. The two best things about it is that firstly my cousin will be just next door and Molly-May can have as many sleepover’s with her Godmum as she wants!!! And the house/s will be situated in my hometown where I was born, where I went to school grew up and had all my friends (not that a lot of those are still left!)
On my Dad’s birthday as I mentioned above he received a few surprises. Well firstly I decided to give my retired daddy a very unexpected gift of a parking fine! We laughed about because in Germany there aren’t as horrendously expensive and it wasn’t my fault (of course not)! My brother did top me on the surprise present though when he called to tell us that my dad will be a Opa again towards the end of the year! Such exiting times ahead! The next day it was my birthday so we took my Godmum, my cousin and some surprise visitors (in form of Molly-May’s other Godmum Claudia and her husband Thomas) for a meal in town and some coffee and cake back home.
I got given some really thoughtful presents from my friends and family but topping the board is probably the very generous gift rom my Godmum Mia who decided to give me money to get myself my very own Thermomix to order when I am back home in the UK. My mum had one for the last 8 years now I think and Mr. C.’s favourite thing from it is a Milkbread which my mum makes regularly for everybody it’s better than sliced bread for a long mile!! I will write about my Thermomix in a separate blog post soon! How cool is this sign a very lovely friend of mine got me:
And just like that our time in Germany was over again! This time we have a bit of a bigger stretch until we are back again because Finn is having his Holy Communion in June so my parents will come for a week or so and we are back for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the summer holidays!