Christmas Caroling in Kindergarten

It was Sophie's last day of preschool before a one week break over the holidays. The children had invited the parents to come for the last half hour to listen to some Christmas carols.

"In der Weihnachtsbaeckerei" (At the Christmas Bakery) - I love how the chorus was always very loud (so much that the teacher sometimes had to tell the kiddos not to shout), then the verses started out fairly strong and petered out towards the end where the memorization was not that strong. 

By now this tune has been burned into our brains. Sophie sings it daily thinking of ever new verses to it, some of which have nothing to do with Christmas. 

 After the singing, there was lots of dancing to "Feliz Navidad." We felt like we were back in California.

 The boys were literally fighting over Sophie.

I managed to negotiate one dance, while the boys were waiting for her.

My camera is temporarily out of order, which leaves me with my phone camera. Sorry about the quality.

New Playground at Kindergarten

On Friday, Berit and I joined Sophie at a ceremony for the reopening of the playground at her preschool. The playground had been completely redone. Now the kids get to play outside again just in time for the rainy season. So after the kids prayed for no accidents to happen on the new playground (it's a preschool sponsored by the Catholic church after all) and the priest blessed the slide, swing, climbing structure etc. it was time to get out and try the new structures and toys. The weather again was really sunny. Heaven-sent. 

 On the lazy swing.

 Throwing sand at each other and fighting over toys.

 Choosing a man to pull little Miss Princess.

In the afternoon we went to yet another furniture store where we found and ended up buying our dining room table and chairs. Thanks to camera phones, Andrew had a say in it half a world away, too. Sophie had been to this store before and made a beeline for this kids' bunk bedroom. She felt right at home, taking her shoes and jacket off. I keep telling her that she will not get a bunk bed until she is five.