Ludwigsburg Palace

On Dec 31st, Emily and Megan were the lucky ones to come along on our day’s adventures, while the other four stayed home.   We drove an hour away to Ludwigsburg to for the 12:30 English tour of the Ludwigsburg Palace. 

{Ludwigsburg Palace is one of Germany’s largest Baroque palaces and features an enormous baroque garden… (when it’s not covered in snow). The Palace was at times one of the most magnificent courts in Europe. The foundation stone was laid in 1704 under Duke Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg (reigning monarch from 1693 to 1733). One year later, the site was named "Ludwigsburg" (in English: Ludwig's castle). Begun as a hunting lodge, the project became much more complex and gained momentum over the years.  In 1709, the duke established the city of Ludwigsburg directly next to his palace, copying the proximity of Versailles to Paris. The palace was completed in 1733.}

The palace is not heated in the winter so we layered up again and despite the shivering, quite enjoyed our tour guide and found the whole tour pretty interesting.  It’s no Versailles but it’s pretty close. 

Megan had us cracking up during one portion of the tour.  We went into a large gathering room with a stage and large royal chair in the center.  While everyone was coming in, Megan climbed up on the stage and gestured for everyone to come in, nodding her head at everyone and acting like she was the queen herself.  Everyone was amused.  Even after everyone was in and seated she still stood in front nodding her head and saying, ‘Thanks for coming’.  Oh, she’s a funny thing.

  

Megan with a St. Nickolas decoration outside the palace.  Emily looks like a real Eskimo with TWO fur lined layers.  At least she was warm though.

New Year’s Eve we spent quietly at home after our bowling and out to eat plans were foiled.  Instead we played games and watched movies until midnight.  12:00 came with a bang… or maybe a thousand bangs.  All we could hear were fire works going off in all directions.  We rushed up to the girls room on the top floor and stared out the big bay window.  In three directions we could see fireworks going off one after another.  Totally legal here… fireworks are a big German New Year’s Eve tradition and EVERYBODY was outside lighting theirs off.  We watched for probably twenty minutes in awe.  When we left to go downstairs, drink our sparkling cider and call our families we could still hear them loud and constant for another twenty minutes.  When I went to bed at 12:45am I was finally starting to hear four second pauses between each one.  Germans sure know to bring in the New Year!

Strasbourg France Christmas Market

 

Strasbourg, France is only an hour and twenty minutes away, and since this is the ONLY Christmas market that stays open for the week after Christmas, we scheduled it in for a perfect ‘after-Christmas’ outing.  Boy, was it cold this day.  Just looking at these pictures reminds me that I was freezing!! … (I think it was mid 20’s)… good thing we opted for a babysitter for everyone but Ryan and Katie.  The rest of us bundled up anyway and made our way to the city center with all the festivities.  Right at the base of the towns largest cathedral… also known as Notre Dame… was the start of all the Christmas market shops and eateries. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were especially excited to eat CREPES since we were in France.  Chris got a breakfast crepe with ham, eggs and cheese and it was DELISH! 

 

It was fun to walk around and get the flavor of the French town with definite German influences.  In Strasbourg, they do an incredible job of decorating for the holidays.  All the major streets in town were decorated with a theme.  All the windows are just covered with decor.  It’s adorable.  After chatting with some friends, we apparently missed several amazing streets including a chandelier street and a all white decor street.  (We must go back next year!)      

I just loved wandering through back alleys and finding all kinds of cool buildings, neat doorways and excellent decor.  I love this yellow house squished between the other two… with a slanty top.  I wonder how old it is?   And isn’t that door cool?

From the upstairs window of a cool little shop we found.

Besides crepes, the thing Katie was MOST excited about was ice skating.  Some of the Christmas markets have outdoor skating rinks …including our little Heidelberg one which we didn’t get a chance to use.  Katie was adamant that we skate here today …for her first time.  She and Dad stuck together for the first little while and then she skated by herself for awhile.  She loved it.  Ryan did too although spent a lot of time lying down instead of standing up. 

(That would be Ryan down there on his back.)

Even through the piercing cold I fell in love with this city.  I could just imagine sitting outside a cafe, eating crepes while the sunsets behind the cathedral… Seriously, come sunshine, we’ll be back here in a second.

{Oh ya, and Happy 15th Anniversary to the man of my dreams.  Love you, honey!}

Emily’s Baptism

We took these pictures in our backyard on Christmas Eve morning and quickly sent out the invites through email to family and friends.  Getting baptized in snowy December, and GERMANY no less, will hopefully make her baptism memories even more special!

 

Emily was lucky to be baptized on her actual birthday!  She had lots of primary friends and leaders from church come and support her.

Emily asked her Dad and Grandpa to give the talks.  Chris spoke on Baptism and had cut out footprints with different ‘steps’ on them as a pathway from baptism to eternal life.  After he talked about each step and placed the pathway down through the aisle he explained to Emily that she wouldn’t have to walk on the path alone.  Then he held one of her hands and had me come up and hold her other hand and together we walked down the path.  I tried not to cry, but of course it was no use.   It represented our goals of leading and guiding our children as they make important decisions along their path to eternal life.  It was a very special memory… one that I will always remember.  (Thank you, honey.)  Emily says… “On Dad’s talk, there was one step that said PRAYER, another that said READ SCRIPTURES, one that said REPENT, one that said GO TO YOUNG WOMENS and lots more… The footsteps led me to the door.  Before he put the paper steps on the ground he told me to take one step all the way to the door… but it was too far, so I couldn’t.” 

Emily was baptized by her Dad.  {Emily said, “I’m glad that my Dad could baptize me.  The water was warm and when I was finished and walking up the stairs towards Mom, I felt the Spirit.  I felt really good.”}

Grandpa spoke of the Holy Ghost and gave Emily a bag full of symbols in which to understand the Holy Ghost better.  {Emily says… “The bag had pieces of paper, money, a blanket, a glove, a whistle, a compass and a flashlight.  He gave me examples of how the Holy Ghost is like each of those things.”}

Emily did a great job bearing her testimony.  {Emily says, “ There was a bunch of people watching me so I was kind of nervous but I felt like I did a good job and I was proud of myself for doing it.}

Refreshments were all brown and red… brownie cupcakes, Oreos, pretzel hugs with red m&ms, red candies, and cookies.

 

Chris put together this slideshow for everyone to watch while Emily was getting dressed.  We love our Emily!

    So wonderful to be able to have Grandma and Grandpa here for Emily’s special day.