Triberg Festival of Lights

After Christmas we went on a trip to Triberg in the Black Forest. They have a festival of lights show at the largest waterfall in Germany. It was a spectacular sight to see! It was very cold, but well worth the trip.

Here is what the entrance to the waterfall area looked like during the evening hours.

And here is what it looked like at night.
Walking through the entrance before the main lights.
Ever night they have a fire dancer show at the top of the waterfall. It was amazing! Jackson especially loved it.
Awww....Kenny and Amanda. I <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC62Ar8FUMTPYtmR-OuBBYA41LXx5GnUONTx9Fg6_d_0FiEpmoBVvnG7Zdrt3crQ4rnEVGep55_TcbKx7Q2QBSEkhXlibH8YVRm2NG2IXKBYyfm-3B21ADOVwkDtIKYInX5Uu7Un0pk4W/s1600/DSC_1299.jpg">Gotta have the family shot!


This is where the main Christmas market was held. I love the next shot of Jackson looking over the market area.

They had a nativity scene with some animals for the kids.
Framer!
The next day we took a drive to Titisee. The drive was great with the snow covered trees and fields as well as the blue skies. You don't see that very much in December in Germany, so we loved having that as a bonus.
Grace loved to see the horses ride through the streets.
What's playing in the snow without sliding down a hill? Our little snow boy can't get enough of being outside.

Our Christmas Morning

The kids were so excited when they woke up Christmas morning. It was a priority to get downstairs and see if Santa came. We started a new tradition this year for that...the kids are not able to come downstairs until they hear the Christmas music. It worked SO great that Jackson wouldn't even step out of his room to tell me good morning when I woke up. I guess he was just doing what daddy told him to do! We had a great morning opening presents with Kenny and Amanda. I didn't get any pictures of them, but they were here joining in on the fun.

After the presents were opened we had a great breakfast casserole that Amanda made the night before.

Not long after relaxing and picking up the wrapping paper and boxes we headed off to the Yost's house for Christmas dinner. It was so wonderful to have our friends together enjoying and celebrating Jesus' birthday!

Jackson's reaction when he saw the presents under the tree.

Santa and the reindeer did come!
I found the pickle (with Amanda's help).

The tradition with the pickle is someone hides it on the tree on Christmas Eve, and the first person to find it Christmas morning gets to open the first present.
Jackson got his lightsaber!
Grace got more baby stuff!
Testing out the razor.
Oh, Grace! You and your babies!
Our first white Christmas in many, many years.
Check out that breakfast spread!
Emma got a few toys, but this one she really loves.
Off to the Yosts' dressed in new Christmas clothes with new toys.
It was a Christmas to remember for years to come. Each year it gets more and more fun with the kids. I am truly thankful for my husband, children, and friends. Especially all of the other treasures God has given us!

Our Christmas Eve

We went to our Christmas Eve service at church so I took a few photos of the kids.

They have their moments, but they really do love each other!
This one just might be my favorite.
Jackson and Grace put out cookies and milk for Santa as well as carrots and water for the reindeer. It will be fun to see their faces in the morning when the treats are eaten.
With each passing year it gets more fun with the kids. They are so excited about Santa and the presents. We have been tracking Santa's journey to our house on www.noradsanta.com. Each place he lands Jackson asks when he is coming to our house. I know these years are limited when we can all "play" along in the game, but I am soaking them up! I love that they get excited about all of it, but I really want to continue to emphasize the reason we celebrate Christmas. The birth of Jesus IS the reason for the season! They know that it's Jesus' birthday and will continue to learn about all of the amazing things that He can do in our lives. Merry CHRISTmas to all and to all a good night!!!

Jackson's 5th Birthday Festivities

We celebrated Jackson's birthday at the bowling center with a few of his friends. It was fun bowling and hanging out with the kids and parents. Who doesn't love to bowl, right?

Me with my kids before the party began.
Party room.
When I asked Jackson what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday he said a rainbow cake. So the first thing I did was googled "rainbow cake." The recipe came up and it turned out to be a hit! Jackson has asked for the cake for his birthday again next year.

And the best part was it was a Weight Watchers recipe...so fat free! Gotta love that!
I love how colorful it was!

Jason and Grace. Sweet shot!

Ella the party animal! She woke up not long after the picture was taken and was off and ready to join in the fun as soon as she saw the kids.
Jason helping Grace get a strike.
The birthday gang eating after bowling.
G.I. Joe!
He also got a Play Mobil toy and a carpenter's kit. Perfect boy toys!
Singing Happy Birthday...
Group shot.
Grace and Ella are such sweet buds. I love seeing them together.
On his birthday morning before heading off to school for the day. He ate off the same plate for breakfast and dinner that me and my brothers ate off when we were growing up.

Date Day to Saarbrucken

We took advantage of the "Parents Day Out" at church this past Saturday to head to the Christmas Market in Saarbrucken about 45 minutes from where we live. It was so nice to have some time together. We really enjoyed strolling through the streets together and not having the kids in tow. Don't get me wrong, I love my children, but it's nice to have that time away from them so we get to do the fun stuff! ;-)

Every night at the Christmas Market they have Santa and his reindeer fly overhead in the sleigh. We would love to take the kids to see that sometime. I am sure it's a sight to see.
Jason checking out the flammkuchen.
But...the kasebrot and kartofelen won it over. It was SO good!! (Gluhwein wasn't pictured here.)
The german pyramids are all over here during the Christmas season. You can buy smaller ones for decoration in your house and when you light the candles around it the heat put the pyramid into motion. They are very unique!