Seth is gone this week for the Davos economic conference. It’s a big deal and huge honor for him to be in the posse. He is assigned to Geithner (sp?), the US Secretary of Treasury. He will be rubbing shoulders with some pretty impressive people. He is enjoying the work so far (he left at the crack of dawn Sunday) and will be there until sometime Friday or Saturday. I am so glad for him but really missing him too!

I got spoiled for the last couple of days because my friend Leigh came in from Germany to keep me company! She and Jackson baked a cake for me for my birthday today. Now that she is gone I am trying so hard to keep my mood in check and stay on top of these boys. I am worn out because Seth helps with SO much.

This morning Jackson came in well before wake up time and told me he was having a hard time sleeping. I went in and tried to get him back to bed. He laid on the floor and began a fit. None of my reasoning helped so finally I blurted out “it’s my birthday, I need you to wait in bed until your bunny clock says it is time to get up and then I need you to come find me and sing to me.” Silence, then he quietly climbed back into bed and whispered excitedly, “okay mom, goodnight”. When his clock went off he busted out his door and met me in the hallway. He broke out into a boisterous “Happy Birthday” tune. Made my day!

Well, I think I always anticipate us doing something super exciting on New Year’s Eve. To be honest I don’t think we have even been up to kiss at midnight in quite a few yrs. Last yr I was probably up at midnight but it was to feed a little Owen baby and it was for sure not for fireworks and champagne!

This year we spent the morning sledding and now have plans for a very mellow evening of fondue, molten lava chocolate cake and some champagne (which may or may not be consumed at midnight). It has been a fun day. Seth’s parents are in town so that makes it feel more like a holiday. Seth lit a party popper that was a canister full of party blowers and streamers and Jackson shrieked “Happy New Year” as it exploded. I made Jackson an ice cream snowball (vanilla ice cream rolled in coconut) and put a sparkler in the top. That my friends, is the extent of our New Year’s fun. And these days it feels like more than enough.

fondue! they may or may not have mouthfuls!

2010 has been a very good year in the Kolb house. We always have our fair share of drama related to our frequent moves and transitions but overall this has been the smoothest move in many ways and our little family is growing up! I love babies but I am loving even more watching the boys as they learn and grow! I am looking forward to this coming year and all that it will bring with a 3 1/2 to be 4 yr old and a 1 yr old heading into walking, talking and wrestling his big brother. I am excited to enjoy another yr of marriage to Seth and to grow together as a couple and as parents.  I have hopes that 4 yrs old will be kinder to Jackson than 3 and that Seth and I will gain wisdom as we continue to try to crack this code in parenting.

This past yr has been filled with fun cooking and baking projects and some DIY crafty things. I hope to keep that up. But I did get an email forwarded from Seth about enrolling in the Foreign Services long-distance German program. Blek. That may or may not be on the yr’s agenda. We are spoiled in Bern because nearly everyone speaks English and in Bern most don’t speak German they speak Swiss German so no matter how many hours I spend on High German, really it’s all about the Swiss German.  I know many of you think “oh how amazing it is that you all can learn so many languages”. I guarantee my brain is as old and as limited as yours and I have 2 kids to keep alive and well so it just doesn’t seem as glamorous as some may think. We’ll see.

First up on the agenda for 2011 is a getaway with Seth. Seth and I are heading to Paris to celebrate our 5 yr anniversary. I have never been to Paris. It will be cold I am sure and I don’t know how much touristy stuff we will be doing. We will mostly be sleeping in, eating yummy food and enjoying the fact that we can finish sentences without being interrupted by our little ones.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

I miss baking cookies with my mom! Last yr my mom was with us while we waited for Owen to make his debut. We made cookies with Jackson together. It was so much fun. Almost daily I tell her I wish she could hop a plane and come on over!

I miss Chickfila. I would love to pack my kids up and head over to Chickfila for a good old lunch with a clean play area! Sounds silly, but I miss it!

I miss being able to go to the store and buy some jeans…or things in general    . Everything is Switzerland is ridiculously marked up!!! I mean ridiculously! For example, a starbucks tall hot chocolate is $7.80.

I miss being able to Christmas shop in person. I know we are spoiled, we have a mail system and lots of online shopping but I love getting to pick out gifts in ways other than sitting at a computer.

I miss people speaking my language. I had a really annoying morning and mostly because I don’t speak German! I am spoiled in that most people in Bern speak English, but it’s just not the same.

I miss Tex- Mex food. I wish I could hop over to Lupe Tortilla!

Enough of the things I miss. I am thankful for where we are! Just a little homesick!