leise rieselt der Schnee - for all those lovely people in Germany and Austria or whoever wants to join us!

[Canella]

a new wintery thread in honour of Hupa's first snow of the season!

The strange thing is, dd who eats loads (as many as she can get) of sweets and drinks juice, has great teeth. She does clean them very well though. Ds who rarely eats sweets and never drinks juice (he's a water only child by choice) has poor teeth and a filling at the back already.

Really, only 24 in UK too? I'm sure I remember the 25th always being the nativity scene and a double door to open! Oh well, I make a 25 one just to be different!

This is like the one I'll be making just came across it googling to see if any 25 day ones exist! Didn't find many so the majority are 24. Oh my bad memory.

I seem to be having the same problem as bananas.

I keep writing long message and then they vanish when I post.

Back later.

Yes, I remember the double door on the last day - am sure it was the 24th on ours, though!

DD1 only drinks water and probably eats the fewest sweets out of the three of them, but I think she'll be the most likely to need a filling as she's really bad at cleaning her teeth. The dentist told her at her last appointment how poorly cleaned her teeth were and that we should always give them an extra brush after she's finished cleaning them. She's so lazy though and hardly cleans them herself at all; I can't believe I'm still brushing an 8 year old's teeth!

Have just had a phone call from an agency about a job - 63+ pages to be translated in a week. Seems like too good an opportunity to turn down, but I'm just not sure I could get it done.

That Advent calendar looks great, admylin. It's like the one that DH made for me years ago and sent over from Austria to England (back in pre-DC, in fact pre-married days when we had time to be creative). Now I don't even have time to buy him presents any more; the GPS system is the first proper Christmas present I've bought him in years!

Depends on the subject maybe, 63 pages in a week maybe if the subject is easy and enjoyable! Still you might haveto put in some late nights.

Dh had to submit something in German recently so he asked a colleague who has an MBA and translation qualifications on top. She couldn't do it because she just didn't get the concept of the research. She totally changed the meaning of alot of things because she doesn't have a medical background.

Have just had a look and it's more or less all Christmas recipes (apart from a list of countries and a few other bits and pieces for the company's website), so maybe it's doable after all. I'd probably have to cancel all next weekend's plans, though. Work is so sparse atm that I really don't to turn it down - and the money would definitely come in handy.

It looks like quite a few people are having problems posting on MN; I've just seen a comment on FB and apparently there are comments on Twitter as well.

Thanks so much all, westvan have had a look at toytown germany site and lots of excellent stuff thanks!

Yes, I noticed. No trouble here yet but it would get me up and maybe get my kitchen sorted out if it would only crash for a few hours. FB isn't much better, wish I was like cinders. She's so good at just shoving the computer out of sight.

admylin - we only ever had 24 days on ours too when we were little - the idea was that on the 25th you didnt need to open an advent calender since you would open your presents!

Linzer - think that work sounds doable but only if you ban yourself from MN in the mornings!

Bananas - good luck for today and tomorrow!! will be thinking of you!

Technical problems here now too

I haven't been able to post for the last few hours... might have to go and do some RL stuff!

I can't hide the computer as I need to check my e-mails fairly regularly for work. Will definitely need to ban myself from MN next week, though.

DD2 brought a note home from the school doctor today saying "Bitte Abklärung wegen des Herzgeräusches" and recommending that we take her to see the paediatrician. I tried to make an appointment but the surgery was already closed for the weekend, so will have to wait until Monday. Am trying to convince myself it's nothing to worry about but I'm a born worrier; will just have to try to put it to the back of my mind over the weekend.

Hurray, I can post on the computer upstairs! It's just my laptop that's playing up.

School doctor? What did your dd say, was she feeling ill so went to the school doctor or was it a check up?

Just posted a long reply and it's gone! It was just a normal check-up though; I think they have them annually.

Will try one last time...

It was just a normal check-up; I think they have one once a year or maybe once a semester. The doctor seems to diagnose either Plattfüße or Senkfüße in about 90% of the children (so not surprisingly, DD2 has Plattfüße too), but I don't usually take much notice - we took DD1 to the orthopaedic specialist the first time the school doctor diagnosed flat feet, but he said she was fine so we haven't bothered since. Will definitely have the heart murmur checked, though.

wonder whats being going on with MN the last few days - it was weird on my ipod too!

linzer - that seems like a weird note to send home with your dd after a routine check up! weird that the doctor didnt think to discuss this with you! i'm sure it'll all be ok - i'm sure you'll get an appt on Monday!

well its really snowed here in the night - and its blooming freezing too! and i've got to drive for an hour this eve to pick up my friend from the train station - will be glad when she's here! got a full itinerary planned! snow and skating and xmas markets! should be a fun few days!

hope you all have a good weekend! (and bananas - hope your exam is going ok!)

Morning all. Hope you got an appointment Linzer, best to get it checked.

How was the exam bananas? How long until you get the results?

How was the weekend? We were silly enough to go to the Weihnachtsmarkt late on Saturday aftenoon. It was packed and freezing, dh had to buy a hat! Pricey too, dd wanted a piece of grilled salmon with a roll, cost 5 Euro. Then 2 glasses of Kinderpunsch and a toffee apple, dh tried some of the other fish and a drink each, spent a fortune! Still dd was happy and ds opted out and went round to his friend's place instead.

Are you up to abit of shopping in town next week Westvan? If we go in the morning, the shops won't be as busy. I've definately got the car all next week as dh is in Berlin.

Whatever made me think I could translate 63 pages in a week? I am on page 4 and trying not to panic...

Have just made an appointment for DD2 at the paediatrician's on Thursday afternoon, so that's one thing crossed off my list. Everything else will have to be put on hold till next week.

We woke up to about 15 cm of snow this morning, but luckily DH didn't have to leave for work quite as early as usual (he had to catch a flight to Paris mid-morning) so was able to help with all the snow shovelling and the school run. It's not too cold today though, so the snow is starting to melt again.

Must get back to work. And stay off MN.

Hi!

LinzerTorte - 63 pages IS a lot. But don't panic yet, I'm sure you'll get it done.

I don't remember our kids having a medical exam in school except when I registered them. Would have been a good idea, I supppose. My kids haven't been to the doctor for years. I guess when they get older they tend not to catch everything going and their immune systems can deal with it better. I think I need to get them both a booster shot for diptheria and whatever. Not even sure if I'm up to date on that!

Admylin - yes, next week would be great. I've got a docs appt at the MHH on Tuesday at 9 a.m. and lord knows how long that will take, but any other day would be fine. My kids leave for school at 7:15 so I can be downtown early. Did I already give you my cell phone number? I went to town on Saturday afternoon as well and braved the crowds and it was prety awful.

We're supposed to get 3 cm of snow today but no real sign of it yet, just a few flakes coming down.

Canella - hope you had fun with your friend!

hello, I think I shall test this before I write a long message to nowhere....

aha, seems to work.

admylin, kept trying to post last week to say that advent calender looks great. Did you get it finished? Have you got any snow? The Weihnachtsmarkt trips can turn out quite expensive. In my case everybody comes back in a grumpy mood because the words "no, not this time" have been said too often!

Linzer - that is a very mean note to send home with DD. I hope the paed can ease your worries. I was sent home with such a note from the school dr once, worried me and my parents and turned out there was nothing there. Good luck with the translation...go, go go! What langauges are you translating from/to? Are you getting hungry translating all these recipes? Any good ones to share?

canella - hope you have a good time with your friend,good time to visit if snow is what he/she is after!

westvan - how old are your children? I am glad to hear that they don´t get as ill anymore. It´s so draining when they are small and get every bug.

Thanks for all the good wishes re exam. It was harder than I thought. There is one part of the reading bit that involves putting a text together. Some text on one side with 5 gaps, and 7 possible texts to go into the gaps on the other side. It was about midwives and drs and how they gave different advice from each other regarding drinking alcohol and smoking in pregnancy. The subject matter was not that hard but I just could not get it sorted. Anyway, it is over and my German learning has to go on...I get the results in 3 weeks time.

I am off to order some thermal underwear for the children...too many bare backs, short socks etc. I shall be told off for being such a Rabenmutter. We bought DC3 an all-in-one winter suit on Sat. I realise I have "gone native" but it will save my marriage...no more "arguments" about the fact that his back is exposed! :o And he will be wearing that till August too.