Living Joyously

Bringing the year to an end

We've had a wonderful Christmas season out here. The highlight was having Aunt Sis come for a visit. Yet, I didn't get a single picture of her. So sorry! There are lots of the kids though...

There are even more pictures in the Christmas Markets 2011 photo album. We went to many markets this year (some aren't pictured because I often forget that) since we knew it would be our last chance to enjoy these. (Most pictures are credited to the great photographer, Aunt Sis.)

We enjoyed having Christmas Day on a Sunday so we could celebrate with our wonderful church family. Such a blessing there are! Here are our beautiful little ladies that day with their new Christmas dresses from Grandma:

And finally, we had the big man, Mr M's birthday the day after Christmas. He shared the day with two of his favorite buddies and their families.

I didn't get around to Christmas cards or letters this year, but please know that we are thinking of you. Blessings for the new year!

Paris!

Now I understand why everyone adores Paris. What an amazing city. We had a lot of fun, even though we only had half a day in the city itself. Then maybe that's why we enjoyed it so much - didn't get overwhelmed by it all.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Eiffel Tower

Carousel beside the tower

We did go up to the top of the tower, but as you see in the pictures, it was covered in fog. Still really cool though.

The next day we spent at Disneyland. Yes, yes, it was very fun. It even snowed! Okay, so only Disney magic "snow" but still amazing.

Disneyland Paris - decorated for Christmas

At the Disney castle

Waiting for the parade

St Martin's Day

Back on November 11th, St Martin's Day was celebrated here in Germany. Last year we were totally clueless when Miss B's Kindergarten asked her to bring a latern. A latern?

So this year, we asked some experts, local Germans, to help us out. They brought over all the supplies and helped our kids and their son make their own latern. Amazing!

You're suppose to hang the latern on a stick, but the fire starter looked cooler (it's really a little fire starter thing, not a real gun).

Each of the kids made their laterns unique.

Latern is lit and off for a walk.

And there's one glowing outside.

From the dance

I know it was a couple weeks ago now, but finally here is a picture from the Father Daughter Dance. This was a girl scout event.

Shall we dance?

Miss M is eagerly waiting for her dance with her Dad this Saturday. Dress is out and ready and the "is it today?" questions are bouncing around. So sweet. I hope she isn't expecting him to be dressed up like last week for the Navy Ball.

Great Pumpkin Run

Can you find Mr M?

This was last Saturday. It's a 10K and 5K event where they encourage you to dress up to make it fun. Only the girls dressed up though - they are our little Bavarian girls.

This was Miss M's first 5K where she wasn't in a stroller. She wasn't really happy about that, but she made it. We think we may have even been a wee bit faster than our last 5K with the kids. So she's a good influence on us, motivating us because we were working so hard to encourage her. Cute.

Cub Scout weekend

We went on a family camp with the cub scouts this past weekend. We stayed in a lodge together near Berchtesgaden, Germany. This is close to the German/Austrian border on the edge of the Alps and very close to Salzburg. So we had a great time exploring that beautiful area.

The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg, Austria.

Kids found a cool climbing tree.

Mirabella Gardens in Salzburg. Some scenes from Sound of Music were filmed here, so we were told. Wish we'd had time to check out that castle in the distance too.

Boys at the Eagle's Nest, which was a tea house built for Hitler's 50th birthday present. Now it's a tourist trap and a restaurant.

Looking down at the Eagle's Nest. Such amazing views up there!

Look, a lake. I think it's called Königssee or King's Lake.

Kids ready for a salt mine tour. The other couple boys are cub scout friends.

See the sign with the three guys sliding? That's what we were able to do on the salt mine tour. Slides, light shows, underground boat ride, and a train ride - all very fun for the kids, plus I think they even learned a little bit about how salt is mined.

Beautiful girls. The Eagle's Nest is on that mountain peak behind them.

Last stop was hiking through a gorge. Again, so pretty.

Ready to head home.

Cabbage Fest

In a village nearby, they recently had their annual festival all about cabbage. How interesting. We had to check it out.

Cabbage with sun glasses

Trailers full of cabbage

We did try out some Sauerkraut but did not go home with one of those pointy cabbage things. The most interesting thing to me was the Native American display, selling handmade things and performing tribal dances. Not what I expected at a German fest.

The pink beds

Lane's been at it again. Another homemade bed. This time for both the girls. Amazing.

Deep four year old thoughts

"Look, I can drink from the spoon without making a noise!" exclaimed Miss B this morning.

"Hmmm," I replied, not really listening because I was trying to finish making breakfast.

"How does God stay alive?" she asked.

This time I paid attention. I tried my best to answer that question in a way a four year old could understand. But she cut me off.

"Look! Watch me drink from the spoon! It doesn't make any sound!"