The Heymann Family Journal

Nicole and I are making Tamales for New Year’s Day. I'm cooking pork and beef for the filling. I guess we will cook them tomorrow. I add black olives and prunes to mine. I've only made them twice before. It's hard to get the ingredients. I buy it when I am in America and put it in the freezer to keep it from going bad. Philip and Thomas go to one party tonight, and Nicole to another party. Juergen and I are having Raclette with Sarah and Jessica. I hope your new year’s is safe and blessed! We will celebrate Philip's birthday tomorrow. He is going to be 17 years old. Can you believe it?

This is Saturnia, a hot spring in Tuscany. I'm hoping to take my sister Dianna there in 2015. It is pretty wonderful to just sit there. You take the mud and rub it all over your body. Afterwards you feel like a million dollars. What goals do you have for the New Year? I’m going to visit my family in America this spring (I don’t have a date yet) and I’m planning my 25th Anniversary party. Those are 2 big goals, but there are many more.

Our invitation was designed by Nicole.   It is a collage made from torn paper and paint.   And it is our house.   We are going to have it printed as a postcard.  

It is just two days until we celebrate Christmas.   Juergen came to me asking what he should get me for a gift.   I know if I said surprise me I would be getting another house plant and candles.   Gift giving has never been a strength of Juergens.   On the other hand he is a very generous person.   And to be fair, it is VERY hard to find a gift for someone who already has everything.   And I can hardly think of anything for myself or   him.   I have so much.   But I ask for unusual things like compost for my garden, car seat covers, and a new lawnmower.   And he wants a new juicer to make orange juice on Christmas morning.   He actually wants new speakers for his electric guitar, but I would not dare to buy them.   I’ll just give him the money.   That is something he needs to get for himself.   The best thing Juergen gives me is his time.   I am giving him a book, and he has to read it to me.   We do this every year.   It is a great tradition.   I highly recommend it.  

This is a video of my 21 year old daughter Nicole. She is a song writer and artist. She is raising money for Refugees. And the first $2000 given on her Patreon site will go to the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME). Please watch the video and give a few dollars/Euro if you can. And please share this video with all your friends. Here is her site http://www.patreon.com/nicoleheymann

I think my sister Dianna can come next summer for our 25th wedding Anniversary party. And I just talked with my brother about coming too. It's pretty complicated for him because he is attending a wedding for his stepson. Time is always a problem for my busy family (time and money). But it was a definite maybe, and at least I know he will gladly come if he can. It would just be a dream for me to spend time with my brother and sisters. Shelley cannot come. I understand, but I'm sad. I just simply miss my family! But my brother paints pictures of Tuscany and he has never been there. And for me it would be a dream to show him Cinque Terre, Pisa, Siena, Florence, Venice, Rome and Montepulciano. I sure hope we can make it work! And we will stay at our summer house (the one we always rent). Here are some photo’s to temp you Rickey! Miss you so much!You can ask Mom who I was thinking of when we drove around Rome last June.

I just bought a 1950's bedroom set to put in Jessica's room. Our house was built in the 50's. I love the mirror on the dresser.

I had a great morning with friends from MOPS (Mothers of preschoolers). We had a long breakfast at my house while the kids played. It was relaxing. And now school is out and Christmas vacation begins. I have wrapped most of the gifts. I only need to do a little food shopping, and I can sleep in for almost 3 weeks! I'm looking forward to doing nothing. I just love the creativity that comes from rest.

new post on my party blog. http://amyjuergen.blogspot.de/2014/12/lasagna-bolognese-for-lunch.html And last night Juergen and I saw the new Hobbit movie. I would not rush out to see it! It was OK...but really just Ok. Today Juergen is playing soccer with the kids. I have a cough/cold. I'm taking it easy. I have more Christmas shopping to do. Maybe I had better do that online today? I need to find some more gifts for Juergen, Nicole and Jessica. We have one more week of school, then vacation. I’m looking forward to the rest.

still waiting

Here are some ideas I have for our big party.

I'm taking the girls to see this movie tonight

l http://amyjuergen.blogspot.de/2014/12/we-want-to-have-big-family-party.html If you want to attend our 25th wedding anniversary party, we need your input on the date.  I started a new blog to keep you informed on the preparations for our big event.