Rothenburg Christmas Market

We love this city.  It is one of the cutest most quaint cobbled street German cities around.   Some of us have been here multiple times this year – but we’ve never been for the Christmas market – until now.  Thanksgiving weekend is usually when they start.    Germans don’t have Thanksgiving but their ‘season of Advent’ begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas.  This year that was November 27th – and the Christmas markets always open up the weekend before the first advent Sunday – perfect timing for Chris’ parents to get in a Christmas market before they flew home. 

Our Christmas market weather last year was just a bit… FREEZING so I was a little nervous about this year’s gloomy dreary FREEZING winter weather drawing near.  But today was nice and sunny with blue skies and 40 degree temperatures.  Totally do-able.  It was fantastic.  Christmas market season – here we come!

 

We wandered up one of the main streets popping in a few shops to look around.  Rothenburg has great shopping.  We grabbed some fried potatoes (you dip them in applesauce) that were delicious and then kept walking.  In the second square we loaded up on hot chocolate and crepes.  These were some of the best crepes we’ve tasted outside Paris (and London actually).  Nutella and white drizzled chocolate.  Yum! 

 

The view from Rothenberg’s garden to the rest of Rothenberg.

Blue eyed Matthew…

This group of Asian photographers were pretty funny to watch.  They were taking pictures of a couple walking hand in hand through the leaves – no one that they knew, of course.  A couple of them came up to my girls to take pictures of them as well.  Emily and Megan didn’t know what to do.  It was so funny.

  

One of the best things about a Christmas market is the food.  These bratwurst sandwiches were SO good!

 

This is the Kathe Wohlfahrt booth.  The epitome of German Christmas décor…

…with the town hall right behind.  Matthew and Luke enjoyed this little ride.

 

After wandering through the decorated streets a bit, we climbed the stairs and ‘walked the wall’ for a while.

In the main market area – now crowed with people for a parade and celebration.  Katie and I ran back to buy a souvenir Christmas market mug.  Each city’s Christmas Market sells their hot chocolate (and traditional hot drink with alcohol) in specially designed mugs just for their own city.  You can collect the mugs from each Christmas Market that you visit.  I didn’t pick up any last year but I think I might start.

Thanksgiving

Early November I put up our ‘grateful tree’ with a bowl of round papers beside it.  Some nights after Family Prayer we’d write one or two things we were grateful for and add it to the tree.  It got pretty full by the end.

Kitchen décor…

New favorite Thanksgiving quote:  “Not what we say about our blessings but how we use them, is the true measure of our Thanksgiving.”

 

Grateful posters:

On Thanksgiving day I pulled these papers our for the kids to work on while eating our Thanksgiving Dinner appetizer.  Then I put them up on the FHE wall to enjoy for the last few days of November.  Now they’re tucked away in our Family Home Evening journal.  I love that they show so much personality.

Matthew’s (with a little help) says… “ I am thankful for: Geotrax, chocolate milk, Go Diego Go, Little Einsteins, Luke, Mom, Dad, Ryan, Katie, Emily, Megan, corn dogs, green yogurt, Lightening McQueen and Legos.

Luke’s says… “ I am thankful for: chips, Wii, a pumpkin, food, leaves, my leapster, Spencer, Sammy, Jesus, writing my name, Grandpa, Grandma, more chips, Daddy, Mom, Matthew, our car, Kid History, Buzz Lightyear, woody, the trampoline, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, a banana, church, playmobile, Geotrax and me!”

Megan’s says… “ I am thankful for: my family, food, toys, movies, Thanksgiving, Christmas, playmobil, dolls, blocks, Daddy, Mommy, my brothers and sisters, Grandpas and Grandmas, Jesus Christ, mashed potatoes, turkey, my room, my bed, Germany, Washington, the Holy Ghost, my house, my clothes and shoes, daytime, nighttime, my friends: Brooklyn, Ave, Naomi, Jenna, & Kristen, all the months, school, church, all my teachers, ‘aminals’, seasons, and myself!”

Emily’s says… “ I am thankful for: G and G Johnson, G and G Walton, Dad, Mom, Ryan, Katie, Megan, Luke, Matthew, school, church, TV, Washington, Georgia, Germany, our house, our trampoline, our tree house, learning, my doll (Molly), my stuffed animals, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, food, water, toys, light, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, earth, sun, moon, love, our Georgia house, nature and animals.”

Katie’s says… “ I am thankful for FAMILY, the gospel, friends, vacations, family traditions, education, LOVE, mashed potatoes, thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving, birthdays, feelings, life, breath, bodies, scriptures, hands, feet, showers, peanut butter, baptism, music, London, England, Jesus Christ, heavenly Father, Dad, Mom, books, reading, writing, siblings, Christmas, movies, family visiting, flowers, trees, Germany, Easter, fruit, soldiers, primary teachers and leaders, cars, harry Potter books and movies, bikes, soccer, sports, the piano and other instruments, iPods, babies, cousins and extended family.”

Ryan’s says… “ I am thankful for parents, Friends, Family, Grandparents, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas, good grades, That I am special enough to color corn backwards, this acorn, Mirrors (so I can see how extremely handsome I am) Culligan water (because tap water is yucky) tape, having no homework, My mom and her spirituality and her food and cooking skills, the plat with my name on it, pickles, lasagna, rolls, mashed potatoes,  Italy, Germany, Paris, Matthew, iPads, my cool teachers, BYU cougars, egg nog, presents, music, my friends – Mark, Tate, Bobby  and Carter, halo, books, Harry Potter books, Cars, Toy Story, piano, the star wars theme song, my Heavenly Father, supercalifragalisticexpealadocious, my LIFE, Jurassic Park, Settlers and Dominion, my iPod shuffle, Jesus Christ, and more books.”

Mom says… “ I am thankful for my husband – his help, his attitude, his strength, his church service, his smile and twinkling eyes, his LOVE, his support.    For my kids – their good examples, happy attitudes, love and desire to do what’s right.  For my testimony – of the gospel, of my Savior, of the prophets, of the the Temple.  For my friends who live far and wide.  For the opportunity to live in Germany and experience life in Europe and enjoy great vacations.  For my parents – and their support and great example and LOVE.  For my fabulous brothers and sisters and our closeness despite the distance.”

 

We ate Thanksgiving dinner around 4 o'clock. 

The menu:

Appetizer 

• Spicy chicken dip and chips (from Elisha)

Salad – (if you could call it that – it’s really a dessert)

• Pretzel Jell-O (from Sarah)

Main Course 

• Turkey
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Homemade sausage, apple & cranberry stuffing (allrecipes.com)
• Creamed corn (from a friend in Maryland)
• Sweet potatoes (from Aunt Susan)
• Rolls (Shelley made them)

Dessert

• Pumpkin Bars (from a friend in Maryland)
• Raisin Pie for Chris and Grandpa (recipe from Shelley)
• Pumpkin Pie for Shelley (she made it for herself – no one else wanted any.)

Whew… that was a lot of work – but it was worth it!!

 

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy 4th Birthday, Luke.

We had Luke’s birthday party a few days late to accommodate our schedule and hoping that G&G Johnsons’ presents for Luke would be shipped – which unfortunately didn’t come on time.   He got a Leapster from us and a Diego Leapster game and a Cars2 coloring book and the Cars2 movie.  G&G Walton gave him these motorcycle playmobil guys which ended up being the hit of the evening.  Good thinking to have one ‘for Matthew too’.  G&G Johnsons presents came a little bit later but luckily still while they were here… star wars guys, an awesome BYU hat and shirt and a slinky.

   

He was starting to remind us a bit of Emily at this age when he hardly reacted to his new presents at all. He went from “WOW!” at EVERY present last Christmas to hardly cracking a smile for his opened birthday presents. That was SO Emily! It made us really laugh, especially when the kids would say, “Luke, what is it?” and he’s answer what it was completely matter-of-factly without smiling. Funny kid.

      

He and Matthew (mostly Matthew) are very much into Go Diego Go and Luke was thrilled with his Diego plates and ‘theme’ – (which is really stretching it since all we didn’t do much outside the plates).  Happy Birthday, Luke!!

Awards Ceremony at the Middle School

Tuesday we spent the morning at Katie’s 6th Grade Award ceremony.  She was awarded the Principal’s Honor Roll Award for her 4.0 GPA.  It was fun to have Grandma and Grandpa here to see her receive it.   Katie is a really hard worker and diligent student.  She’s pretty amazing!  Good work Kates.

 

After Katie’s we did a little shopping, went over to the hospital to eat lunch with Chris and then back over to the Middle school again for the 8th grade award ceremony.    Here’s Ryan shaking hands with Principal, Mrs. El Sayed.  She is fabulous!!

 

Ryan earned two awards… the Principals’ Honor Roll Award for his 4.0 GPA and the 8B Algebra Award for outstanding academic achievement.   Just a few students received it for the whole grade.  He’s a pretty amazing student.  Way to go Ryan.  We’re so proud of you!