Strasbourg during Christmas

We needed to get the kids to take a nap, so they could stay up until midnight without being too grumpy. So why not go to France? The kids and I picked Stewart up from work and we headed to Strasbourg. It was the last day of their Christmas market so we thought it would be fun to see what it was like. The boys both fell asleep on the way, while Cassidy quietly entertained herself with her diary and braiding her pony's tails. When we got there the Christmas market was over and the vendors were packing up. But we did get to walk around the city without the crowds and enjoy the lights.

The ice skating rink was closed, but that didn't stop our kids from trying. Zachary just didn't understand and kept trying to run after Thomas and Cassidy.

It actually felt like Christmas walking through Strasbourg. They have lights hanging across all the streets. People have lights on their balconies and around the store fronts. And an even bigger surprise was that they had colored lights. Germany seems to only have white lights, with only a few exceptions. We made it to the big Christmas Tree and I loved the lighted village below it. But could not get very close because of the barricades and police standing by.

We are on our way back to the car. We walked through a really neat part of the city. We got packed up and back in the car for the trip home. The kids all played their Leapsters, until Cassidy's ran out of batteries. She finally got her nap. We got back home at 10:30. We played Mario on the Wii to pass the final hour until the New Year celebrations began.

Triberg Weihnachtslauter

We decided to go to Triberg to see their Christmas lights and the Weihnactslauter. They did not have the traditional market stands, but instead you actually shopped inside the stores. They said they used over 700,000 lights. It is not quite Temple Square, but it was a great treat for us. Do you see the Ferris Wheel in the distance? We will be going on that later.

The kids posed for me in the light tunnel, while Stewart bought the tickets.

Cassidy spotted this hut first thing; one it looks like Santa's hat, two it was also one of the only things that had colored lights. But once there, Thomas had to use the potty. So I took Thomas and Cassidy to the restroom. I remember why I don't like the cold or snow. Do you know how many layers I had to peel off Thomas so he could use the restroom? It is fine when we are at home, but what do you do with all the jackets, gloves, scarfs, hats and shirts when you are squeezed into a small public restroom?

Here is our view of the lights from the Ferris wheel. The kids loved it. I was trying not to panic. I mean the door to our gondola was not even locked. They kids could just open it right up! if we let them. But we did enjoy looking at all the lights.

If you look really close you might see the waterfall behind us. Every half and hour performers but on a fire dancing show. They have two dancers that perform around the waterfall. One is perched above the waterfall the other is next to it. Cassidy wants to come back in the summer to go explore.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I started a tradition when Cassidy was born. I wanted Christmas pictures of Cassidy with a really cute red outfit. So I put her in a basket in front of our tree. So now, every year usually the first Sunday after Christmas I gather the kids in front of our Christmas tree for a picture. I then place the picture in a Christmas picture frame. So every Christmas I can get them out and spread them around our house.

Just as I thought, Cassidy loved the dress I gave her for Christmas. When we went to the store on Saturday, she thought she might find a pair of shoes the same color. Yeah right, like we would ever find something like that around here.

After opening all the presents and buying new clothes for all the kids for Christmas. I realized I Zachary didn't have anything nice to wear for our Christmas picture. So I went out the day after Christmas to go find something. I think he looks pretty handsome.


























Zachary is our model, maybe it is just being two. I remember I could never decide what picture of Cassidy I liked best when she was two.

I went to the store to get a sweater for Zachary and found they were on sale, so I bought one for Thomas. He needed something else to wear to church anyway, his dress shirt is getting too small.

This is the kids saying "MERRY CHRISTMAS". I was trying to make Cassidy laugh, she gives really fake smiles for pictures if I don't get her to smile.


This is Thomas being cheesy. If only Cassidy and Zachary were looking at the camera it may have been a great picture.

The day after...

Well of course if Santa gives the kids scooters, then that means we have to go try them out. I loaded up the kids and scooters and drove about two miles up the road . We have trails by our house but there is a steep hill, so I thought we should first try these out on a flat trail.



























Luckily the weather held out and it didn't snow. And the snow we did have melted.

Christmas Day

Stewart had to go to work today. But he got Cassidy and Thomas up before he left for work. It was 4am. Cassidy came in at 4:11 to have me come see what Santa had brought. I reluctantly climbed out of bed and saw all that he brought. He even surprised me with a Schwibbogen. It is a German Christmas decoration that goes in the window with candles on it.



Stewart put a movie in for the kids and I went back to bed. Zachary at least slept in. I got up a bit later. Thomas and Zachary received Play-Doh from Santa so that is what the kids did most of the morning. We then were able to meet Stewart at work for lunch together. The kids played their new Wii and Leapster games they had received from Santa, while patiently waiting for Stewart to get home. When Stewart got home we opened presents and played games until bedtime.

Opening presents...
I think Santa brought our favorite gifts this year. The kids all got scooters. They all also received Etch-a-Sketches and lots of clothes. Including the BYU shirts they are wearing.

I think this is just as much fun for the kids as opening the presents was.

The kids all got wooden German toys. Thomas' kindergarten is full of toys like these. And both Cassidy and Zachary run in and play with them whenever they can. So now they can play with them when ever they want. And for the price we paid they better last a lifetime. Cassidy's was the most expensive around $70.

Thomas is very happy with his new table football toy. He doesn't even seem to care that Zachary just got that point.

Christmas Eve

I fixed a turkey for our Christmas Eve dinner.

After dinner the kids opened up the last window in their Advent Calendars. Here is what we got in the toy calendars.


























Then the kids got to open one present of my choosing. Here they are in their Christmas pajamas.

Esslingen's Weihnachtsmarkt

Liz wanted to go one of Germany's famous Christmas markets, so we went to Esslingen. We had heard a lot of good things about it. Esslingen combines its Christmas market with their Medieval Fair.


We had a short walk through the city before we made it to the market. It was another cold day, everyone was bundled up, but we were still cold. We didn't last very long at the market.

They must also have the world's largest wooden pyramid. Though they did not use real candles, it did turn around.

They had a few medieval carnival games. They had some music performers and lots of people walking around in medieval costumes.

Hohenzollern Castle

Our niece on Stewart's side came up from Italy for a short visit. The kids and I picked her up from the train station and then to breakfast at our church Christmas Party. Then it was back to the house to wake up Stewart (He had just worked the night shift). After packing up the car with a huge amount of winter clothing we headed off to Schloss Hohenzollern about an hour away. It was a beautiful setting with all the freshly fallen snow. I just wish it would have been warmer.

It only takes 20 minutes or so to get all three kids bundled up for the cold. When we arrived at the castle it was 9 degrees Fahrenheit. But we came here to see a castle, that is what we did. But while the kids were waiting for me to put on my boots and gloves, they found a snow bank to play in. Which would have been great, except Zachary got snow under his mittens and started to whine. But I figured he could whine in the car on the way home or whine in the stroller while the rest of us enjoy ourselves.

Here is our goal and we are off.



























Pictures from our hike up the steep hillside.

I think most of these pictures are cutesy of Liz. I was trying to keep Zachary sort of happy or at least not crying. I was a little busy at times to think about taking pictures.

It was a beautiful castle and setting. We did not tour the inside of the castle. I did not think any of my kids would be up for a 45 minute tour in German. Nor would they wait patiently while Liz toured the castle. But we explored the castle grounds. I have heard they are beautiful in the spring. I will have to take my friends word on that. All we got to see was snow and more snow.

Kids will be kids. Even though it is below freezing, they still have to play in the snow and throw chunks of ice.





























These statues looked as cold as I felt.

Thomas loves to eat snow. He didn't even need to use his hands for this one.

Zachary was just having a bad day.

This is where the gift shop is where we looked around and got warm. We also shared some Hot Chocolate from a vending machine to warm our hands.

Cassidy found swords in a snow bank as we were leaving. The kids had fun fighting with each other and trying to cut the snowflakes as they fell. Then after awhile they started drawing in the snow as we walked down from the castle. We took the bus back down the hill, Zachary was at his breaking point and the bus came just as we were walking down. Actually it was starting to leave as we got to the stop, but the driver saw us, stopped and let us on. When I got to the car and started putting the swords in the car as souvenirs, I noticed a burnt smell to them and a beeswax end. The kids were holding them by the beeswax ends. They were actually small torches and they were probably placed into the snow bank to put out the fire. By the way it was 4 degrees Fahrenheit when I finally got back in the car. I really miss TEXAS!