Mama's Last European Christmas 2012

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate!) and are continuing to enjoy the holidays! After my last weekend of class, we a seemed to be busy celebrating nonstop! It was exhausting, but certainly worth it! In the past I usually ask my husband if we could go somewhere long after all the money’s been spent on presents and mass amount of food. So this year, we planned all of our Christmassy trips in September.

 

Starting off with Switzerland, which we wanted to visit since the beginning of the year, but circumstances prevented that. We originally wanted to go to Salzburg Austria my last weekend of school, but the hotel prices were exorbitant! Surprisingly, we found a cheaper hotel in our price range in Switzerland that weekend! We planned for Switzerland, originally to be a weekday trip and Austria to be a weekend trip, but our funds had a different plan- the change was certainly fine with us!  So I finished up my Anthropology final and we packed up and hit the road. We got a great deal from Hertz for our rental as the original car we reserved wasn't in! It was nice comfortable ride and didn't hurt our wallet, especially as we were on our way to a very expensive country! And best of all my oldest was there to enjoy the trip. We had a great time! I will go into greater detail about our trip to the transport museum in another post! We visited two Christmas Markets one underground and another close by the bridge. 

An Advent building so CUTE.

One of the biggest ones I've ever seen!  Switzerland was expensive, but the kids had a wonderful time. They said it was their favorite trip of all the trips we've taken. Of course the kids choose the most expensive place as their favorite!  Here are some photos from that trip!

Happy School is overrrrr (sorta)

I also tried a new protective style after my crazy hairscapades in England! I wore a beanie with either a satin bonnet or a baggie for deep conditioning under! my hair was happy!

BEAUTIFUL Lucerne (Luzern) Switzerland

A SWEET older woman took our picture. The kids a re a bit more cooperative with strangers lol.

Gluehwein

With all of the road trips, I should have called my husband Clark lol

My cuties love Merry-go-Rounds another find at Christmas Markets!

Beautiful Chapel Bridge

My baby James Dean

A few days later, we went to Salzburg, Austria. My husband had a lot of work to do the day we were supposed to leave so we got a late start.

We drove our own car here as we just got some new tires and the trip was only a 2 day trip. We experienced every kind of weather on the way there. My husband wanted to turn around and go home, but me, I am determined to finish what I started. And while we were there, we didn't regret it one bit. We had an amazing time. Friendly people, not so expensive, it was a beautiful town, one of my favorites of the year and we've been to A LOT of places this year in and outside of Germany. We are hoping to go back when we visit Munich for one last time in 2013.  Here are some pictures from that trip!

Kinderpunsch

Gluehwein and Kinderpunsch

Mommy Daddy time at the Toy Museum (making a separate post about that!)

Old Town

At the Christkind Markt

When we got home, the next day we went to see Santa Claus. We had to get cracking on our own Christmas traditions. And while we’re doing a lot of them later than usual, we got them ALL done lol. At the same time it wasn’t exhausting it was nice and our kids had a wonderful time!!! We did a craft talked Santa, wrote Santa, baked for Santa, that dude is SPOILED. As Santa is my husband, He deserved every bit of it!!! Check out Mama’s Christmas 2012.

Santa Claus at the Ramstein Community Center looked a little young and thinner this year;-)

Kids with their crafts

Christmas Eve Dinner

Letters to Santa

Santa is generous!

Christmas Morning!! I love this picture!

She got ERIC!

Nosepick break hehe

Crazy!

Breakfast

Dinner!

Christmas was s magical this year! All the work was WELL worth it! Hope you enjoyed your holidays!!!!!

Check out more pictures on my flickr page.

My Children's Video Message to Santa Claus

Christmas means way more to me than buying or receiving presents. It's mostly about being thankful and spending time with my family. This Christmas is one I am the most excited about because we didn't do Thanksgiving, though I do not regret that one bit! I was anxious for Christmas, I wanted to decorate with the kids, bake with them, and do loads of Christmas crafts. However, I was in the final weeks of my first semester for most of December, so my holiday spirit kind of got soured.

But once school was finished, we got into some holiday cheer. We started our holiday traditions a little later than usual this year, but we got them done and had a fantastic time doing them. 

Last year I made a wonderful Christmas video. It was like a culmination of our Christmas and it got lost after my hard drive failed. However it did not deter me from trying again this year. We didn't get much footage this year, but we did make video messages for Santa Claus. People may say, Christmas is too commercial, it's not all about the presents, and some Fat Man Santa is getting all the credit blah blah blah! BUT the kids talking to Santa, all the extra crafts, getting presents is all going towards wonderful memories the kids will have. Also traveling, going to various of Christmas themed markets,  etc will stay with the kids. My children  have seen a lot this season, and they are so thankful and remember everything! My goal in Christmas is to make it as memorable as possible, so that when we are older the kids come over with their family they can see the many pictures and videos and appreciate the effort mom and dad put into making their Christmas magical and do the same with their little ones(if they have some)! 

I hope you all enjoy these videos

JJ's Loves Mario!

Mawa She has a HUGE crush on Eric from the Little Mermaid. She wants him under the tree

DD's He loves trains and respectful people 

Our Midterm Trip to the United Kingdom Part 2: London with the Little Ones

After our great stay in Edinburgh we prepared for our trip to lovely London. We had been there a few days prior en-route to Edinburgh, in that little bit of time, I knew that I would love London. However, on the the plane ride there, my youngest was complaining of a stomachache. We had the....excuse me....barf bags on stand  by. But luckily we made it there with no illness. However, as we purchased our daily tube tickets, he got sick everywhere. We were hoping it was airplane sickness, and got a glimmer of hoe as he was running around like a crazy happy kid, however on our long tube ride to our hotel room (Premier Inn we also stayed at the one in Edinburgh) he go sick in the tube. Luckily there were a lot of nice people around offering to help....cautiously, but all help was immensely appreciated. and from then on, he was a leaking little person from all exits of his little body. But you know how kids are, they vomit and feel like a milliojn bucks right up until it's time to vomit again. It was stressful, but we needed a little break. So we chilled out first day in London. I got to explore a bit on my own. London felt like home, I could navigate myself pretty well even though I kept getting lost in all the amazing things around me.

So we traveled the next day as he was feeling a lot better. As it was a rainy day, we use the tour bus which was great so he could get a little rest. The ticket allowed us to get on and off as we pleased over a 48 hour time. It was recommended to me by my Speech Professor! It came in handy as we faced some nasty weather! We then visited Buckingham Palace. My daughter was ecstatic about this, because she wanted to show the queen her curly hair and new dress. When she found out she couldn't meet Queen Elizabeth and Kate she was so sad! We gave her chocolate and she was happy. We then went to a very nice Italian restaurant called Bella Italia, I think it as a chain because there were a few around but it was still good!!! I had the best dessert there. But I can't have fond memories, because shortly after my daughter got sick shortly followed by me! The next day, my daughter and I still feeling icky we endured more travel. We went to the British Museum, more tour bus, and we went to the Tour of London and the Tower Bridge and my daughter and I feeling nauseous and ill the entire time! We called a day earlier than we wanted and hurried back to the hotel to meet my brother who lives in England. I got to meet my little nephew for the very first time. He was a sweetie!!!! They spent the night with us in our room. It was nice to be with my brother again, only a year prior we were together for our younger brother's funeral. It was bittersweet last year, this year, it was a lot sweeter, even with all the illnesses. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I really hope we get the opportunity to see England again soon. I really enjoyed myself and I learned a lot!!!!


Some photos:
First Breakfast at Heathrow Airport


In the hotel our first night in London


Tower of London


The British Museum, we took more pictures, but my Memory Card was acting up ugh. I learned from this trip and our last trip to ALWAYS BUY A QUALITY MEMORY CARD. So many of our photos are now lost because of a cheap memory card.


Yummy Food


Big Ben


London Eye


Still mad about not meeting the Queen


At Buckingham Palace. He had many shirts on. His poor coat was covered in vomit.


No queeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen???


Feeling a bit better


Highly recommended


Getting Spiffy


My fave


Excited to eat some Pasties!


My daughter and Nephew


I have others on Flickr and Instagram. The UK is def a great place to kids. A lot of FREE things to do. A lot of family restaurants and kind people. Again, I hope to have the opportunity to at least visit Ireland before our time is up here. If not, it's OK. Feeling blessed to have visited London and Scotland! I def recommend these place to any and everyone. So much diversity and my favorite- choices!  Thanksgiving is made for traveling a lot less stressful than cooking IMO!

Thanks for reading!

Our Midterm Trip to the United Kingdom Part 1 Scotland with the Little Ones

Schoooooooooool's out for winter! So I will blogging a little until I know how strenuous my classes are next semester. I am taking, Statistics, Humanities, and Libs in spring's 1st session; so you all tell me! :-)

We went to Switzerland this past weekend and currently we're in the midst of planning another trip before December's end! This is our last year in Germany and I really hope to see as much of Europe as I can on a budget.

We planned a trip to the UK a year ago, for this November. At the time I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be in school. My brother lives in England and knowing that 2012 was our last full year in in Europe (that we know of) I had to make sure we had enough money saved up for airfare and just staying there. 

Not only did we go to England but we also went to Scotland. When planning the trip, my husband asked if we should go somewhere else. I thought it'd be too much money, but we got a really good deal using my husband's ticket home money to travel instead of going home since we will be home this May anyway. He gave me a choice of Ireland, Wales, or Scotland. So I chose Scotland (a toughie between Scotland and Ireland!).

I really loved Scotland even more so than I thought I would. So many friendly people (besides one) and it's so beautiful. Even though it rained most of our visit, there was SOOOOOO much to do there! 

Edinburgh

We utilized many cabs! I loved them. Even better than the Mercedes Cabs here in Germany 

At the Museum of Scotland. A cute Interactive Center for kids

Daddy playing dress up

We got Kilts for the little ones. Maybe will use these for Christmas pictures!

At the doll museum. I liked this one better than the one in Prague! We're going to another one soon, so I'll give details about that one, too!

On the Royal Mile

My Doctor Who fan was excited to see this!

At the Edinburgh Castle!

View from the Castle

At Camera Obscura Museum! This is a MUST visit if you're ever in Edinburgh!

View from Camera Obscura

Before eating Thanksgiving Dinner at TGIFridays! My natural hair endured a lot of rain over there! I had to do a lot of fluffing. One thing I learned from this trip is to do more protective styles or bring a pick!!! Check out my Switzerland trip post in the next coming weeks for my new go to winter protective style!

Watch out for part 2 tomorrow which I will share my trip to London!