Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas. We had a fantastic day of opening gifts, spending time with and eating with friends, and relaxing with a movie. Hope yours was just as great.

Valkenburg Cave Christmas Market

I hadn't planned on a return visit to the Christmas Markets in the Valkenburg Caves this year, but when a friend called me on the last day they were open, it was too much to resist. And I'm so glad I didn't even bother to try. It was a lot different from my visit with Russ last year. It was misting rain instead of snowing, and the decorations were all completely changed. We checked out the goodies at each booth, talked to the vendors, and had a delicious cup of cappucino and a fresh waffle with warm cherries on top at the cafe in the middle of the cave. I picked up a few last minute Christmas gifts, and Kimberly scored a gorgeous antique rocking horse. And we made a few new friends. But that's another story all together.

Cologne Christmas Market

Russ had to work, so the kids and took off to Cologne, Germany, to go to their Christmas Markets. Cologne has not one, but FIVE different Christmas Markets. The one at the base of the Cathedral is my favorite. This year, we shopped under a canopy of Christmas lights. They did a fantastic job of decorating for the Markets. We spent the day wandering around the city with a fantastic group of people from KB. They had booths full of everything from ornaments and assorted gifts, to delicious food and gluhwein.

And don't forget a visit to the Nativity Scene: Mary and Joseph, pushing baby Jesus in a shopping cart. Hmmmm, something seems a little off about this, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I'm sure it's just me. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

If anyone here was dreaming of a white Christmas, then Santa really delivered this year. Some day, many years from now, the locals will refer to this (with affection) as "The Great Snowstorm of 2010." I'm having flashbacks of our Alaskan Christmases. (I still can't beleive we sold that snow blower. It would have come in really handy here lately, but who knew?) I hope none of you were on Santa's naughty list, and you got everything that you wished for. We had a great Christmas, starting with the exciting chaos of opening presents and ending with a delicious dinner with friends. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfully Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve

Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the land,

The snow just kept falling. How much more can we stand?

My family is all snuggled in our mazoot warmed abode,

Watching neighbors shoveling their driveways... load after load.

There's no sense in clearing it, cause there's no where to go.

It's a good thing that Belgium never gets any snow.