A White Christmas?

It was an eerie, freezing, foggy day yesterday. This morning we woke up to this view from our office. We might have a white Christmas, but it would be due to a thick frost rather than a nice snowfall.

It has been below freezing all week, but this does not stop people from bundling up their babies and taking them for walks or playing with their toddlers at the park.

Our own Christmas Story

We got the kids' report cards in the mail today and the school's grading system takes some getting used to. It uses a 20-point grading scale and anything over 14 is pretty good. 20 means perfect and is rarely awarded. It doesn't really correspond in any way to the American grading system, so, as long as their grades are over 14, we're happy.

Today was the last day of school before Christmas vacation. When I picked the kids up at the end of the day, James was sticking his tongue out at a group of girls. I called out disapprovingly, "James!" He showed me a red spot on his tongue and here is how the conversation proceeded.
M: How did you do that?
J: I stuck my tongue to a metal pole during recess.
M: Why would you do that?
J: Well, I didn't think it would actually stick.
M: Did we not just watch A Christmas Story? Was there a group of kids watching you? (David later asked if someone triple dog dared him.)
J: A few. Then a teacher came and stood with me for a few minutes till it came unstuck on its own.
M: Sighs and shakes head.

You don't see that in America

An American friend here showed me her blog recently and I got a kick out of how she often posts pictures of interesting products she has found here in Germany. Around Thanksgiving, she posted a picture of Roasted Turkey-flavored Pringles. So I thought I'd keep an eye out for other exotic products.

I was doing some shopping today and needed some deoderant. I didn't recognize any of the brands, but this bottle caught my eye. As for the extra ingredient, well, I'll let you make up your own jokes.

I also saw something at the store that I just have to comment on. Many times out in public, I will notice couples who are dressed in matching outfits. I saw a couple today -- black jeans, identical blue and green plaid jackets. At the mall one day I counted four couples dressed alike. I wouldn't necessarily call it a trend, but it's something you make note of.

A visit from a friend

Our good friend Jim Auber was flying in to Frankfurt this morning on his way to Luxembourg, so he was able to check us out in our new digs. We're lucky to have so many friends who travel for business and can come see us. The entire Auber family is making a trip to Germany in June and Liederbach is one of the stops on their itinerary. They have already opened their home to us several times when David and the kids have visited Atlanta, so it'll be great to be able to return the favor.

Jim came with us to church, and at a pancake brunch after Mass, St. Nikolaus made a surprise visit. We also had a chance to chat with some of those people we see every Sunday but had never spoken to.

There also just happened to be a small neighborhood Christmas market this afternoon just a block away from our house. A Glühwein, hot wurst sandwiches and potato puffs helped warm us up on this chilly afternoon.

I don't think Jim saw a true representation of our life here. Two activities is one day! We're usually just hanging around the house being lazy on Sundays.

Christkindlesmarkt

During a visit from David's parents, we went to Frankfurt's Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas market). You can't come to Germany during December and not go to a Christmas market!
You can buy all kinds of Christmas merchandise and gifts, especially traditional things such as manger scenes, toys, wood carvings, marionettes, candles and lambskin shoes. There is also delicious food: Glühwein (mulled wine),baked apples, hot chestnuts, grilled sausages and Lebkuchen (gingerbread cakes).

Ah, yes. And there are rides for the kids.

One of the workers told Grandma to climb up on an available horse. Can you find her?

Rebecca's reaction to being taken off the carousel horse.

Micaela and James checking out some traditional German wooden items. Take care, though. Emilie bought a nutcracker here which we discovered later was made in China. For German-made items, you will pay more.

Rebecca is in a choo-choo phase.

Ahhh......Lebkuchen.

I am apparently a bad influence on Emilie.

James can't wait to dig in to the Nutella-Vanilla crêpe. Just a few bites later......

Don't worry, James. Rebecca will let you finish hers.

A last minute piece of taffy...

...living statues amusing the crowd...

...and some last minute window gazing before we left.

Thanksgiving German Style

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American family and friends.

This Thanksgiving was just a little bit different from those in the past. David got up and went to work and the kids got up and went to school. Rebecca and I set the table and got dinner going. I had picked up all the fixings at the commissary last month and was excited to have familiar foods for this truly American holiday.

Our dinner table was not overflowing with abundance, but the meal was absolutely delicious. We had roasted turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls and cranberry sauce.

Dessert was more of a problem. I had planned on making apple crisp and pumpkin roll yesterday, but forgot to translate my shopping list before I got to the store. I bought a frozen apple tart instead. After dinner, David translated the directions on the box for me and I had not understood "Thaw for 6 hours in the refrigerator beforehand." The kids were more than happy to make do with Magnum ice cream bars.

Books

So, I have already re-read, some for the umpteenth time, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I needed to take a break from Miss Austen and Mrs. Rowling (no offense, ladies).

The good thing about having lots of time is that you get things accomplished that you never thought you would get around to. I'm reading those books that have been sitting on my shelf for years. I swear if we weren't here, I probably never would have made the time to dust them off.

To Kill a Mockingbird is just one such book. Somehow, I had gotten through high school and college without having read this book. I had seen the film a few years ago, which took away a little from the suspense and mystery of the plot, but what a great read all the same.

Other books on my list include Beloved and Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. Frankfurt was, after all, Anne's hometown. Back in the 1980s, I visited the house where she and her family hid in Amsterdam and it was one of the most memorable places I visited in all of Europe. And yet, I have never read her diary.

David is doing the same thing and has been making headway through Shelby Foote's trilogy The Civil War: A Narrative.