Snow Day

A few days after Christmas we finally got our first good snow here in Germany! We did have one snow back in January that melted the next day, but this time we got enough snow to go sledding and make a snowman... and remember that snow also means having to shovel, put salt on the sidewalk and clean off the car. Oh well, it was so much fun to watch Ellie enjoy the snow!

Christmas 2014

Christmas 2014 will also be known as the year we were ALL sick. I think it started with Brian, then like dominoes, Ellie, Livi and I all ended up with some strain of the cold. Luckily I was able to get both girls into the doctor on Christmas Eve just to make sure it wasn't something more sinister. It wasn't... but it sure felt like it! It did, however, give us all pause to make this year a truly relaxing Christmas. There were cinnamon rolls, stockings and gifts. What more could we ask for?

Sadly, Santa must not have gotten my letter asking for a few hours of uninterrupted sleep because Liv was up several times in the night (3? 4? I lost count) and has been for some time. I guess when you're sick you need extra snuggles. And how is it possible that she turned three months on Christmas Eve?

Santa had also visited in the night!

My favorite Christmas gift was the homemade apple jelly that Ellie made in kindergarten. I have a feeling these homemade gifts will always be my favorite. That face -- so very proud!

I love that this picture features the two necessities for Brian and Ellie -- coffee and Duck, respectively.

I'm going to milk the matching jammies (Christmas or otherwise) for as long as I can.

Merry Christmas!

'Tis the Season... for Christmas Markets!

Christmas season in Europe is just magical -- it's what makes the beginning of winter here bearable. And the Christmas season in Germany is synonymous with heading out to the Weinachtsmarkts (Christmas Markets). The twinkling lights, the smells of wurst cooking on the grill and a warm glass of gluhwein in your hand.

This year, in addition to shopping the Stuttgart market, we also visited two new-to-us markets: the Christmas market in Esslingen (which also boasts a popular medieval market alongside the Christmas market) and Tübingen's third Sunday of Advent Christmas market. Brian even took a little time off of work so we could enjoy the markets earlier in the day and avoid some of the bustling crowds.

We started December off right by heading downtown to the Stuttgart market. The weather was surprisingly mild for the first of December and it was a clear night, which was perfect for seeing the lights and enjoying some festive eats and drinks. Livi was content to sleep in the Ergo on Brian.

Ellie was fascinated by, if not a little wary of, the mechanical nutcracker.

Stuttgart's modern rathaus (city hall) uses the square windows that overlook the market square as their advent calendar for the season. The coat of arms from each of the city districts in Stuttgart is revealed.

This is what happens when I try to get a picture with Ellie.

A few days later, we were boarding the S-Bahn to Esslingen for their Christmas market.

Even though we don't get out there all that often, I do love Esslingen's old-town German feel.

As you can see, window advent calendars are not just limited to the Stuttgart rathaus.

Esslingen's market boasts a very popular Medieval maket in addition to the typical Christmas market fair. Here we found lots of people in Medieval costumes,

And we saw Pan walking around... no big deal.

Also of note, you can find the world's smallest hand-cranked ferris wheel calls at the Esslingen Christmas market. Unfortunately it was only for kids to ride and Ellie refused to get on. In her defense, the ferris wheel was really moving -- for being hand operated, those guys must be pretty strong!

I couldn't help myself.

The sign literally translates to "A beautiful ride for big and small." The German word for ride is "Fahrt" which sounds very similar to an English word that does not mean ride. We can't help but giggle every time we see it, which in German is just about every day.

I'm so glad we got out to Esslingen because it's probably the prettiest market we've been to yet.

My loves (again, Livi slept contentedly in the Ergo).

A better (?) attempt at a picture with my girl.

And it wouldn't be a German outing without a ride on the carousel.

Here are the only two pictures I managed to take on my phone from the Tübingen Christmas market on the third Sunday of advent. Tübingen's 2-day market boasts all (or mostly) handmade items, which makes it very popular... and very crowded. Hence, not a whole lot of picture taking. :)

Thank you Germany, for making Christmastime so beautiful.