CHRISTMAS TIME IN GERMANY

These first few snippets are of the first Santa visit of the year. Jane, and her sweet giving little heart, decided that since Santa always gave people presents, that we should bring HIM a present. So we made our very favorite chocolate chip cookies, and she bravely and silently handed him her sweet little offering as she wide-eyed and cautiously got close enough to sit on his lap. (I like to think she has been more service-minded lately as we have been trying to do the #Lighttheworld challenge- service every day in december) She was so excited but also fighting a case of stranger danger real hard; you could see it etched in her scared little eyes, the inner battle she was fighting. She sat on his lap, wordless, with her fingers tightly clasped so she wouldn't have to touch him! Lyla was next. She took one good hard look into his face and started whining and was instantly UNIMPRESSED. You can see the sheer terror in her eyes as well.

 Couldn't muster a smile. Jane walked away chatting her happy little mouth off about her encounter with the jolly old man. She added at the end "and uhm, I forgot to tell him what I wanted but THAT'S OK! I CAN WRITE HIM A LETTER!" So write him a letter she did, and it's great because I can hold her accountable to what she wrote to him in the letter that she wants "4 princess crowns" and not the 10 other things she has randomly decided on in the weeks since. ;)

 And now on to the Christmas Markets! We've been to 5 or 6 this year I think and they have all been so fun. There is always some sort of swing or carousel at every market and Jane relentlessly begs to ride each and every one she sees! But I think the coolest ride she got to do this year was a camel ride! Rachelle was nice enough to take her with her. Jane discovered what a camel hump feels like, and while waiting in line to ride, I discovered that camels pee for a REALLY long time. Never-ending streams I'm tellin' ya. All the markets that have animals are a hit for the girls. Ponies, camels, goats, owls, sheep, llamas, etc! Like a nativity-themed zoo! We just love walking around and looking at all the different booths but I have the worst buyers anxiety when trying to decide on ornaments or nativities. It's a problem. On the flip side, I have no problem whatsoever in buying a crepe from every stand I walk by. Kinda kidding because there actually is such a thing as being "all crepe'd out" but we did eat a sweet ones and a few savory ones. It's a perfect little meal for me and the girls to share as we walk around!

Rothenburg calls for a college roomie selfie! It was so fun to have Rachelle here for a little over a week. We drove to a lot of places, and the driving part was always one of my favorites because we just talked the whole time. Just like the good old days. She also totally won over both of my girls by playing "cats" and running around chasing them around the house. It was so fun to have my college universe and my mom universe collide for a few days :)

Sharing a Shneeballen. Kinda a gross dessert, but one of Rothenburg's famous foods. Rothenburg is still my favorite city in Germany. 3rd time coming and I love it every time! December is the absolute BEST month to come though! It is like stepping into an alternate universe where only Christmas, happiness, beautifully decorated christmas trees, and elves exist, where no house and no doorway goes undecorated; and who doesn't want to live in a world like that?

 Weiden Christmas Market with my squirmy, sassy little girl :)

^^ walking into the concentration camp. it's not a very busy one, and there aren't any graphic things so don't worry! I hesitated to do this, but I did sit down with Jane to give her the kid-friendly version of the story.

^^ Asking an endless stream of questions. I love it as long as they are questions that have actual answers. 

 ^^ this day we went to Flossenberg. We went to a concentration camp and to some castle ruins. We hiked up to the ruins and Jane did it all by herself without any complaining. I was so proud because it was really steep. We may have crossed a small hurdle with her because we havent brought a stroller or a carrier for her on any of our recent outings! She's growing up and coming to peace with the fact that "walking is good exercise and makes my legs stronger!" Hallelujah!

Now on to some random pics. Can't go without sharing a picture of Lyla plopped on her daddy's lap reading. We both read her SO many books, and being read to is TOTALLY her love language!

Have to share this picture of my missionary brother. Being a straight faced goof with his old man pose. He is hilarious. But even more so, he is thriving, and serving, and doing so much good. This is a picture of a family that he and his companion taught and baptized. I am so proud of him and can't wait to talk to him on Christmas!

This was such a fun night. Those little trains don't look like much, but Rachelle can attest to how much time it took me to make them, and because she helped me a lot with them! (out of diaper boxes OF COURSE) We invited some good friends over, and the kids sat in their little trains and drank hot cocoa (with LOTS of marshmallows), watching The Polar Express, while the adults cooked and ate dinner together. They didn't last long watching the movie because they'd rather run around and play together- which I admit I totally LOVE! So glad Jane has so many good friends here, and that Jeff and I do too!

bits of december, the very happiest month.

Growing up I always heard adults refer to "holiday stress" and how it is so important to "slow down and focus on what matters most."

I always thought...uhm what are you talking about? All there is to stress about is remembering the words to all the Christmas songs and whether or not santa is going to bring you the thing you really want. I never understood where there could possibly be any stress.

But now. Now I understand. I don't think I've been too stressed to enjoy this happy season, but there has just been a lot going on!

I've spent the first half of the month planning and prepping for the army troop christmas party- it was for about 200 people or so. And party throwing has never been my forte. I'm so grateful for friends who had awesome suggestions, and friends who aren't even in my troop who came to help me set up. Okay, friend, singular. My friend Cindy was a lifesaver.  There was just a lot that went into that little party and I'm so grateful that it turned out great. I was SO relieved when it was over though ;)

I had the help of one other lady from another troop to make this back drop for pictures with Santa. I thought it turned out pretty cute, considering how extremely low budget it was ;)

Jane loved the craft station, but mostly just this craft, the only one that involved sweets of course ;)

We also had our ward party. I put together a video slideshow of all the primary kids answering questions about Jesus and his birth. And jane ate enough sweets to last until next christmas. (it was a dessert bar. those are dangerous.) I snapped this pic of Jeff vacuuming the entire chapel because he is just a really good guy. I especially love the pink burp rag sticking out of his back pocket.

I got these outfits for the girls and had them wrapped under the tree...well I caved and opened them early because I just couldn't wait to see them wear them together.

Jane I made lots of crafts and baked lots of treats. We've gone through a few glue sticks and much more than a few sticks of butter for said baking. Thankfully most of the baking I did was to bring to parties or give to friends.

 ^^ my play doh ginger bread man vs. Jane's.

A few more highlights of this month: My visiting teaching partner and I put together a little brunch for the 3 ladies that we visit teach. It was delicious, but the company was the best part and I am SO ANNOYED at myself for only taking a picture of the food, and not the people.

It was my good friend Cindy's birthday on the 12th. She has 4 sweet little girls (the two youngest the same age as my girls) and we watched them while her and her husband went out on a much deserved date! Her two oldest girls and Jane helped me make her a cake while they were gone, and when they got back we ate cake together and had a fun time. My first layered cake. Not pinterest worthy but also not an epic failure. And it tasted great!

^^ Kylie and Marin patiently waiting for cindy to give them a piece :)

GUYS. maybe my greatest accomplishment this month: I made sugar cookies and they didn't suck!!!! Seriously I had a little PTSD from the last time I attempted so I was really worried that would happen again, but I did it! And they were delicious. Which turned out to be not such a good thing....because that means I ate them. It always started with...."Oh i'll just eat the gingerbread man's head and thats it...." 10 minutes later....he somehow was entirely consumed; limb by limb. Remember when I went 6 months without eating hardly any sugar this year? Let's just focus on that.

 Twice this month, I went to the PX for a gift wrapping fund raiser for Jeff's army troop. I was in charge of this as well. We wrapped gifts and received donations.I watched youtube videos the night before on "How to wrap a christmas present". I wish I was joking. The first one I wrapped went horrendously and that moment when I realized the present I had just spent 10 minutes "wrapping" actually didn't have enough wrapping paper to cover the whole box may go down as top 5 embarrassing moments of my life. The lady finally said "Do you just want me to do it?" AHHH! Luckily, that was the only bad one. I got better after that.

 I did it for 6 hours each time and thank goodness the second time, Jeff was able to come get Jane. Try wrapping presents with a toddler hanging on you, a baby crying, and people WHO ARE PAYING YOU are staring at you while you try to wrap their gift. A joke. The second day was better because I had more helpers, and less children :) It actually was really fun!

I wanted Jane to watch one christmas movie, and I chose the Polar Express. We made a train out of chairs and blankets. And used a lid as the steering wheel. Do trains even have steering wheels? Well, as far as her and I know, they do. I made the mistake of telling her santa was in the movie. Turns out he is only in the last 5 minutes, so she asked "where's santa?" about 3 million times before it finally, finally showed him.

Anyways, this month has been crazy, SO busy, stressful at times, fun, but above all, believe it or not, JOYFUL! I already can't wait until next year. December just can't be beat. The 11 other months really don't stand a chance.