Another amazing year in Germany is now behind us. We are about to enter into our last year overseas. It's likely we'll be back in The States sometime between February and July of 2014 so we are trying to check off the remaining sites
still on our list. We know that the likelihood of getting back here is slim to none and we don't want to return home with any regrets....like oh man, I wish we would have gotten to see...! So, our vacation calendar is starting to fill up for the upcoming year. It must seem like we have a bottomless pit of money allowing us to travel all the time but the truth is we are bargain shoppers. I belong to a Facebook page called
411 Travel Through Germany! Yesterday someone posted that Ryanair was having flights to London in February for just €30/person round trip. You can't beat paying just $158 for your entire family to fly to London so we booked it. I also started a
Bloggers in Germany Facebook page where I get ideas from other Bloggers on where to stay and what to see. We are constantly on the lookout for good deals. Sometimes it feels like a part time job :)
Anyway, enough about travel. Onto to Christmas. I'm not gonna lie...I'm a little bummed that there's no snow AGAIN this year. As much as I love the heat, summer and all places warm, if I'm going to live where it's cold I want snow. 2 Reasons. 1. It feels more like Christmas when there's snow. It's what I grew up with in Wisconsin. I don't remember a Christmas without snow. 2. Kids can't play in the rain when it's 48°F. This makes for a LONG 2 week winter break. I can't kick them outside to play when there's no snow! We are not an "indoor family"...we like fresh air and playing outside. Talk about cabin fever!
But on a positive note: We have been able to get out and enjoy a couple of Christmas Markets. Having Grammy with us in
Rothenburg was definitely a highlight of the season. We tried our best to keep her here for Christmas but we're unsuccessful...we get it...we have to share :(
Another obstacle when living here in Germany is the postal service. There is a longer wait time for sending and receiving packages. That's understandable...we are 6000 miles away. Last year I didn't get my Christmas cards until mid-December so everyone got them late. This year I made sure to order them by the first week of November. Well, then Hurricane Sandy rolled through and somehow my cards got lost. I finally got them December 22nd. I sent them out anyway....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Milo (our Elf on the Shelf) was a little less ambitious this year. Pretty much just moved from one room to another or from the tree to the stocking. He did do a zipline again this year and "pooped a peppermint" in our bathroom (don't ask), made a sugar angel and had one last party with popcorn before he went back to the North Pole but other than that...nothing too exciting.
Under our tree on Christmas morning the boys received news that we are going on a Disney Cruise this year. A Mediterranean cruise with stops in Spain, France and Italy. I may be more fired up than they are...lol!
For Christmas I got these...I desperately needed a new pair. If you run in Vibrams then you know why! Only so many washes actually take.
Gabe decided for the first time in 41 years to try to grow a beard. He managed to keep it for about 2 weeks but then couldn't take it anymore. He surprised us all by shaving it on Christmas. Merry Christmas to me! Although I really do think he looks handsome either way :D
Well, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and wish you all a Happy and wonderful New Year! I know we'll be busy :D
