Schloss Heidelberg

Our next big outing with Nathan's parents was to the castle in Heidelberg.  We had done the Christmas Market there, but I really wanted to go visit the beautiful castle up on the mountain.  It overlooked the whole city along the river and was such a fantastic view!  We even survived a TOUR with our kids!  The tour guide was a super nice French man.  He was so great with the kids.  He paid special attention to them and tried to include them in things.  I was so grateful.  The tour started off in a very 'echoey' room and I thought there was no way we would survive the entire experience.  But in the end, the tour guide even told Nathan that our kids were high-energy but very respectful.  I almost didn't believe my ears when I heard it! ;)  It was a fun day and we even saw the sun off and on!

I was so happy when I discovered these cute selfies of Nathan & Violet on the camera card...love them

I also have to add that I am so proud of my kids for being happy to eat a hearty German roll every now and then.  We pack sandwiches for our day trips and they are totally happy with them!  Wouldn't have imagined they would do that a year ago!

Here is Sawyer with our French Tour Guide.  I was a little nervous when he lifted him on the edge to have a better look! (it wasn't too far down)

And here he had Sawyer and Violet walk down the hall in true Prince & Princess fashion

Sometime later that week we drove up to a castle Ruin in Landstuhl (only about 20 min away).  It was closed but the kids had fun romping around in the rain for a bit

Trier

Sometime in mid-November, Nathan's parents decided they were going to come out for Christmas!!  We were SOO excited!  We couldn't wait for them to get here so we could show them our new life take them to all the Christmas Markets.  And the kids were ecstatic that they were going to see Grandma & Grandpa again.  They arrived on December 18th, and two days later we decided they'd had enough time to get over their jet-lag and start touring!  Our first stop was Trier.  We hadn't been yet, either, so we were looking forward to it.  It is one of the closest 'touristy' destinations, so I'm sure we will be back again.  But we loved it.  Trier is most known for the Porta Nigra, which are old, large Roman Gates that are very dark in color (as a result of dirt/aging).  We also visited a Cathedral and an old Roman Bath.  It's just so crazy how old everything is Europe is.  Especially compared to what we are used to in the States.  Mind boggling, sometimes.  And of course we spent a lot of time wandering around the Christmas Market and trying traditional German food.  I pretty much would just buy one of everything and have everyone try it.  We decided that was better than everyone trying to decide on one or two things they wanted.  One thing that is very popular at Christmas Markets is called gluwein (which is essentially warm wine).  Since we don't drink alcohol, we always opted for the alcohol-free version, Kinderpunsch.  It is a grape/orange flavored cider.  They are always served in real mugs, and then you can return the mug and get 1 euro back (or whatever the deposit was).  But you can choose to keep the mug as a souvenir as well.  We got some great mugs at the Trier Christmas Market for Ned & Julianne to take home.  It was just so much fun having their company and enjoying the Christmas atmosphere together.  We won't ever forget it.

Inside the Porta Nigra...

At the Christmas Market...

These swings were attached...super fun actually

Getting some shut-eye

Later that weekend we visited the Wild Animal Park up behind our house.  For some reason a big old screwdriver goat got in the pen with the little goats.  And it was MEAN!  Stupid thing butted Violet in the back for no reason.  She was just standing there.  Scared her (and probably hurt her too!) half to death! Nathan almost killed the thing.

Julianne has gotten really good at her balloon creations, and the kids were overjoyed when they saw that Grandma had brought all her balloon stuff along!

Tis the Season

We spent Thanksgiving with 2 other families from our Ward.  It was nice to have someone to share the holiday with...and it was even nicer to split up the cooking responsibilities!  After we ate we decided to drive to Heidelberg and see the Christmas Market there.  It was our first one of the season and I was so excited to introduce my family to the magic of a German Christmas Market.  Heidelberg is a beautiful city and the Market there was impressive.  It was divided into three or four big sections, which were all along a pedestrian shopping walkway.  Super fun...but for the kids it was a bit long.  And of course our 'determined' little Violet refused to wear a coat most of the night.  I kept thinking she would eventually get cold enough and want to put it on...but instead she just got grouchier and grouchier...all the while insisting that she was fine.  In these situations, I have to tell myself that she will make a very strong, confidant adult one day.  She did finally agree to wear the coat, but she went a good while without it. It was a really fun night and a great kick-off for the Christmas Season.

The kids always look forward to the carousels that are at many of the Christmas Markets...

In Germany we celebrate the 4 Advents of Christmas, or the 4 Sundays before Christmas.  On the 1st Advent, my Aunt Gabi set up an exhibit in her village's Christmas Market.  The theme this year was a Christmas in the Erzgebirge.  The Erzgebirge are a region in East Germany where all of my mom and dad's families originally came from.  It is also where many German Christmas traditions originated.  Growing up, these were the decorations that I knew.  And I have such warm feelings when I see them.   My mom's dad, Opi, was an amazing woodworker.  He built many of the Christmas Pyramids, and as a kid I always marveled at how he was able to do that with just one hand (he lost the other hand in WWII).  He had incredible talent.  More than most people can say with both hands in full use ;).  Gabi had several of Opi's masterpieces on display, as well as many other traditional German decorations.  And she has a real knack for decorating.  It was beautiful and very cozy.  We arrived with our kids (again, Violet refused a coat).  It was kinda nuts bringing them in that exhibit with so many breakable things around.  After getting some dinner for them and letting them see St. Nikolaus, Nate and I took them back to Gabi's house and put them to bed.  Once they were in bed, I went back to the Christmas Market and hung out with Gabi, my Aunt Sonny, and my cousin Kirstin.  It was so fun just to be there by myself and be able to relax and chat with them.  I thought so much about my Omi and Opi that night.  They would have loved to be there.  Although I'm sure they were.

I just love to see all the other children so bundled up.  And then there is my daughter in the middle, looking so homeless.  

We got a little dusting of snow one morning in early December.  This is the most we have seen all winter here in Germany.  It has been a very mild winter.

We were all excited about the festive nutella we found at Globus.

Isla started sitting in the high chair around the beginning of December (almost 7 months)

She also started crawling around that time

We loved our little Charlie Brown tree this year.  And it hardly shed any needles, ever!

The kids were spoiled this year...Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar, and Kinder Egg Calendar

On December 6th, Germans celebrate St. Nikolaus Day.  St. Nikolaus comes and fills the kids' boots with goodies.  It is a fun tradition that I always did in my family growing up, and I will for sure continue it with my kids.

Made my own Advent Wreath this year and I loved how it turned out (you light another candle each Sunday before Christmas and sit around telling Christmas stories and eating goodies)...

In Germany you will rarely find a house with built-in closets.  And that means no pantry or coat closet either.  So I have been having a hard time fitting everything in my small kitchen!  I finally found a hutch on a yardsale shortly before Christmas.  For 100 Euro and a little paint, I was super happy with the result!  (this picture is still missing some hardware)

Our tree was so light weight, that Sawyer and Nathan were able to carry it in with no problem.  I think Sawyer was pretty excited to help his daddy with this one.

Our own village's Christmas Market...small and quaint and close-by-->perfect for our kids