Gone Skiing!!

Tomorrow we leave for our much anticipated skiing trip in Garmisch. We have had these plans since February! The hotel has a long list of activities planned for New Year's Eve and the Alps are full of snow. We are ready!!!

I'll be sure to post lots of pictures when we get back :)

Happy Birthday Paul!!!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!!!



A HUGE Happy Birthday to my Aunt Bobbi as well. Both her and Paul got stuck with the short end of the stick having a birthday the day after Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!

I hope this holiday season brings you and your family great joy. In this time of celebration and togetherness please remember to take a moment to say a prayer for all our deployed troops and their families back home holding down the fort.


A few pics from our quiet Christmas Eve at home...


The kids decorating cookies




The kids letter and treats to Santa.

Nuremberg Christmas Market

If you have ever been to Germany at Christmas time you have probably heard about the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt. It is one of the largest and oldest Christmas markets in Germany behind Dresden's. Since Nuremberg's market is so popular it makes it a miserable experience to go on a weekend, that is why we opted to go one day during the week. This was definitely a good call because the market was still crowded but nearly as bad as it is on the weekends. Plus we had the additional bonus of the kids being in school and sending them to afterschool care so I was FINALLY able to really enjoy a Christmas Market :)

One Year Ago Today

Sydney, Zachary and I landed in Germany to finally meet up with Paul. For the first time in almost 2 years we finally were all together as a family under one roof.

Our first few days in Germany were a whirlwind. We landed the 18th. Furniture was delivered the 19th and 20th. We did some inprocessing on the 21st and then to top off our first week here we went to Paul's company Christmas Party on the 22nd. Much of my first week was a blur but the important thing was we were all together just in time for Christmas.
Christmas 2006



So how has the last year been?

INTERESTING to say the least. Between adjusting to a new country, culture, and all that goes with Germany, we also had to adjust to all living together under one roof. Throw in the HUGE career change Paul made back in 2005 and that this was the first duty station we have all been together since he made that change. You can say it has been one VERY interesting year.

In the last year...

Paul and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary.

Paul was promoted

Zac lost his first tooth.

Sydney bridged to Juniors..

The kids learned how to rollerblade..



The kids had their first Bratwurst and Paul and I enjoyed Oktoberfest...



And we have seen the MOST amazing sights...















Would I change anything?


NOT A DAMN THING!!!

A Few More Christmas Market Pics...

It's like an addiction we can't stop...


The local Vilseck Market. It was very small but had some great deals on decorations. Plus it was within the castle walls:



We went back to Bamberg's today. We LOVE Bamberg's market but the crowds there make it a miserable experience.





This is what Zac looks like after a LONG day of Christmas Markets:

Too much kinderpunch, brats, and a whole bunch of sugar.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Since getting back to Germany we have been on the go. It's the most wonderful time of the year in Germany, Christmas time. Paul just finished up an exercise so we have some free time now to do some traveling and see as many of these wonderful markets as we can.

Germany is known for is wonderful Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Markets). The biggest and most famous being Nuremberg's. We are hoping to go to Nuremberg's this week.Until then we have been trying to see as many as we can. We love strolling along the market booths eating bratwurst and sipping on gluehwein. I have picked up some really unique decorations as well as got a jump start on my Christmas shopping for next year.

So far we have been to several different markets with our least favorite being Wurzburg's and are absoulte favorite being Dinkelsbuhl. I fall in love with Dinkelsbuhl more and more everytime I go there and their Christmas market did not let me down. It was definitely the best one yet.

I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Here are a few pics from our adventures:

Rothenburg's:




All the doorways are decorated with beautiful decorations...


Trying to stay warm. The kids sip on some kinderpunch while Paul and I stay warm with some gluewein.



My favorite so far Dinkelsbuhl....




Can you see why I love this place so much...