Gingerbread Houses

Grammy Deb sent a gingerbread house kit for the kids to work on - thank you!  We had a great time decorating together.  The walls needed a little mending . . . nothing a glue gun couldn't handle.

It was fun to see them work together

We had so much fun with the first one, we invited some friends over today to make more houses!  I took my friend's idea and used my glue gun again to hold the houses together - genius.  Gretchen went sugar crazy and had something in her mouth most of the time we were at the table.  Why decorate the roof when you could eat the decorations?!

Indoor Playground

Welcome to the Payne's indoor play gym (and a messy living room preparing for a Christmas tree!)

Christmas Singing (sorta) and Trees

Rooke's preschool class performed some Christmas carols for their families last week.  I kept asking Rooke about the songs he was learning, but didn't get much information.  Ryan was able to join us, and on the way he predicted that Rooke wouldn't sing at all.  I disagreed, envisioning him cautiously singing along with the other kids.  

Checking out his Christmas lantern before the singing commenced.

Isn't he handsome?!  Thanks for the Christmas sweater, Elijah.  This was the look Rooke had the entire time they were supposed to be singing.  Turns out Father knows best.  He literally did not open his mouth once, but he sure looked good and all grown up.  

He may not be into singing for others, but he was pretty excited about the potluck snack lunch! 

 The following morning we went to pick out our Christmas tree!

A certain Little Miss was being less than cooperative for pictures . . .

. . . but I think she's still irresistibly cute in that pea coat.

Germany, part 2

We stayed at the hotel where Ryan was attending his class/training.  We had clear skies the entire week and this was the view we enjoyed each time we entered the gate: 

One morning the kids and I drove down the road to check out Eisbee Lake.  The parking lot felt deserted as we were some of the first ones there.

We made it through the parking lot before a hotel bathroom break was required.  The kids were more excited about this tree decorated with gingerbread cookies than they were seeing the lake.

But I thought this view was better than the cookies!

They were throwing ice/snow to the ducks below.  Rooke said the ducks had ordered lattes!  Yes, Ryan and I do enjoy our fair share of latte treats on holiday.

One evening we went into Garmisch town to walk through the lit up streets and find some mulled wine for Ryan to try.

This was one of my favorite things to see all around the villages . . . tall tables where people would stand with their warm drinks just chatting.

We kept the mug as a souvenir, but his opinion of the actual drink left a lot to be desired.  Guess we picked the wrong stall.

Another mini-castle the kids and I visited.

It was a beautiful sunny morning and the kids were glad for the opportunity to run and check out the grounds.  Thankfully all the other visitors at the time had paid for the tour, so they were inside and not watching my two trample the frozen ground.

She was a lot more safe than it looks.  I promise.

After the castle, we stopped in Oberammergau, a town famous for its production of a Passion Play.  The inhabitants of the village made a vow in the 1600s that if God would spare them from the effects of the bubonic plague, they would perform a Passion Play every ten years.

We found a local meat shop where I managed to communicate an order of two sandwiches and two sweet rolls that were fantastic.  Rooke and I agreed it was our favorite lunch of the trip.

After a week in Garmisch, we started for home.  At a Burger King bathroom stop, I gave in to a craving for a chocolate milkshake.  I ordered a medium.  I paid TWO euros ($2.67).  Then I was handed a cup shorter than an iphone, filled up 3/4 full, with the chocolate flavoring still on the bottom left for me to mix into the milkshake myself.  I didn't take the cup at first: "This is a medium?"  "Yes."  "It cost me two euros?"  "Yes."  "A medium?!?"  "Yes."  "Is there chocolate inside?"  "Yes.  You mix."  And there you have it.

My failed chocolate experience was redeemed in Brussels.  We stayed two nights with friends, giving us a full day to visit, play, and get some real chocolate (Ryan's main request from the trip home).  She took Ryan and I to a chocolate OUTLET where they had a sample of literally every kind of chocolate they were selling.  Oh my word.  The amount of chocolate we sampled . . . it was a fun souvenir at the end of our family get-away.  

Germany, part 1

The day after Thanksgiving, we left bright and early for a little road trip to Germany!  Ryan's job was sending him to a week-long class, so the kids and I tagged along and we made a fun family get-away out of the trip.  The kids did fantastic in the car.  A couple times I felt like I was going to lose it before they were!  The first day we drove seven hours (which took us through four different countries!) and reached Bonn (in Germany).  We dropped out stuff off at the hotel and hit the streets to find dinner and explore the Christmas market.

Waiting for dinner.  Our first authentically German-food experience (since McDonald's on the road tastes the same no matter where you are).  Delicious!

I only got a couple shots from the Christmas market.  I was too busy perusing the stalls while wrangling kids who had been trapped in a car all day and were ready to GO!  The streets were bustling and festive and it felt exciting to be there!   

We had to giggle at the name of the hand soap in our hotel bathroom.

The next morning, we walked through the house where Beethoven was born.  

It was pretty amazing to see two of the original pianos he played and composed on.  

After Bonn, it was back on the road until we arrived in Garmisch that night.  We had one full day to play and explore with Ryan before he started his class, so we went to the nearby Neuschwanstein Castle (also referred to as "Cinderella's Castle").  We opted to take the free route up the hill and get some exercise.  Gretchen almost always prefers to walk on her own.

She needed a little rest after reaching the top!

The views were incredible!

Ready to head back dowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn . . . .

We could see Hohenschwangau Castle clearly on our walk down.

Pictures from the rest of the week still to come . . .

Grateful

We have so much to be grateful for.  Our tree was full of thanks by the end of last month and we enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving day at home, just the four of us.