Last year I promised that I would figure out how to better use my camera at night.  Sigh.  Thank goodness we’re stationed in Germany another three years, because a whole year later and I’mm still having issues taking night photo’s. I also didn’t learn how to cook the traditional goose.  Again, thank goodness for another three years to get this right!

We celebrated St. Martin’s Day with Dane’s kindy again this year, read more about the story in Min’s product description for our DOTD: Lantern Parade.  We had “bastlen” two weeks ago, and all the kids made their own lanterns (you can’t see Dane, he’s hiding behind the little girl with the white hat).  On Tuesday we all got together for “laternelaufen”.  We wait till dark, then everyone lights their lanterns (many still with candles, including Tess this year), and we walk through our little village, stopping occasionally to sing.

This year we did it a little different and started at our local nursing home, ending up back at the kindergarten.  It was absolutely wonderful to see the town elders not just enjoy the kids, but enthusiastically join in on the singing.  It is obvious the songs haven’t changed in many decades and it was a joy to hear the young & old voices mix together.  I now have a sudden yearning to see my Oma.  The weather is mostly clear, we have a long weekend, if everything else cooperates I hope to be by her side in Holland tomorrow.