Mannheimer Weihnachtsmarkt

Saturday, December 12 we headed to Mannheim after iceskating. We thought we would squeeze in another Chirstmas market. Basically went to the Mannheimer Weihnachtsmarkt mostly just to drink some Gluhwein and take home the mug! Maybe we are a bit crazy - but a lot of people collect these mugs - and someday when we are back in IA we will drink from our little mugs and remember the good times we had at the Christmas markets!

We ended up getting a little Christmas shopping taken care of as well. Jer, Shane and Sydney all got new hats, and Kimber got a new wool sweater. My sweater is lined with fleece and oh so warm!

We only took a few photos - as the kids were really tired and basically just wanted to go home.

Jer and the kids in front of the watertower.

another photo a bit closer up - showing off the new hats. The watertower is in the background- but the sun was shining so you can't see it...oh well. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Ice Skating

Saturday, December 12 we took the kids ice skating.

We arrived early enough that we were practically the only ones on the ice. This was nice, as then we weren't running into anyone or making anyone else fall when we came tumbling down! The kids actually did great. Sydney's rollerblading skills paid off especially well for her.

The kids on the empty rink ready to have some FUN!



We rented a little penguin that you can push around the rink. Silas wasn't overly fond of the whole ice skating experience - but we tried to get him use to the skates and helped push him around the rink a few times. He much preferred to be in daddy's arms and go fast around the rink with him.

Shaylee started out the day using the penguin - but after awhile she was on her own skating around! She didn't want to stop. She asked if we could come back tomorrow - since she was sooo good!

All done - time to go warm up with some Kinderpunch and Gluhwein!

To top off the day Sydney lost another tooth! While we were sitting and drinking our warm drinks Sydney was wiggling a very loose tooth. With a little help from daddy - out it came!

More Christmas Market Fun

This past Saturday (December 5) we went to our local Christmas market. We walked around and checked out the booths with all the local goods. I let the kids each pick out a wooden ornament of their choice. They also picked out a door hanger, for future use at the cabin since it is quite woodsy (its for daddy, shhh don't tell him). The kids got waffles with powder sugar for supper...waffles, crepes, or wurst are usually your food choices at the local marts. They enjoyed them to the last bite!

The Jesse Tree - A Promise for Advent

December is upon us - and with December comes all the preparations for Christmas. One of the things our family does each December to help us focus on the Reason for the Season - is the Jesse Tree. This is a wooden tree that we hang up that has 25 little nails. Each day, from the 1st to the 25th, we read from a devotional book and then hang up an ornament representing a Biblical figure that the devotional was about. Each devotional, from Adam to Jesus reminds us of God's Promise - of His love and faithfulness through the generations.

I first made my Jesse Tree back at Orchard Hill Church during my Mom's Morning Out days. At the time Sydney must have been a newborn and Shane wasn't even 2...but I loved the idea and wanted something my kids could learn from and enjoy each advent season. I have several friends (you know who you are) that made Jesse Trees with me. A few days ago I was reading my friend Emily Hill's blog and noticed she posted about their family tradition of the Jesse Tree. I commented right away, and said "we are doing ours too." How awesome to know that across the miles - we are being consistent with teaching our kids about JESUS! (And of course how could I not do a post about it too!- thanks Emily!)

The Jesse Tree has proven to be a wonderful learning tool for our family. Over the years as the kids have gotten older by the end of December they have been able to memorize each of the ornaments and who they represent. Silas has shown interest this year and wants to be the one to hang the ornament on the tree. We've worked out a system where each day we take turns and rotate. But each day Silas asks "me turn?" Shane and Sydney are now old enough to read the devotional booklet and the scripture passage from the Bible. It is fun to sit around the table after supper and walk through the story of God's promise. I am so grateful to Sally Baker from Orchard Hill Church who put the devotional together those many years ago. I hope that she is still doing this: as it is a great tool for families to share in God's wonderful story - and above all to teach their children the Reason for the Season is JESUS!

Silas holding up one of the ornaments (colorful coat representing Joseph) and Sydney hanging the ornament on the Jesse Tree.

All the kids in front of our Jesse Tree