Three Kings day (Epiphany)

Today we had some special visitors come to our door in celebration of Three Kings day (or Epiphany). Three adorable wise men that sang us a song and gave us a blessing! In return, it is customary to give a small donation and a treat for the kids. 

Sternsinger (star singers) are kids dressed up as the three wise men, and they go around to people's homes singing a song and collecting money for charity. Usually they chalk your door with C+M+B and the year on your doorway. Many people think that this stands for the names of the three wise men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, but it's actually "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" which means "Jesus bless this house."

Frohe Weihnachten!

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday! I know we did... even though it will be our last Christmas in Germany :( Our Christmas festivities lasted over 2 days. Christmas Eve morning we let Rand open presents sent to him from our family back in the States. He enjoyed opening each present and playing with it before moving to the next. 

Do you like his Christmas pi's I made? I found this adorable fabric at Joann Fabrics while I was back in the States the other month. I knew Rand would love it because 1. It was red (his favorite color) 2. It had trains on it 3. Santa was driving the train! I unfortunately ran out of fabric so I appliquéd the train on a shirt he had. 

The rest of the day went on as normal but that evening we had a few friends over for Christmas Eve dinner. Rob's family has a tradition that on Christmas Eve we eat everyones favorite appetizer. So we served shrimp cocktail, taquitos, pizza bagels... things like that. I have to admit, we were not feeling to great the next day or two. The past few years we have been eating a very healthy and clean diet. Our bodies are not used to eating that kind of "junk" so thank you Plexus for helping us feel better so quick! 

The next morning Rand woke up and ran downstairs screaming "Presents!" and started opening one before Rob and I could even join him. Rob luckily was able to get him to stop half way through and wait till we were ready.

After a fun filled morning of opening presents and hearing Rand say "Oh WOW!" and "Cool!" I made some biscuits and gravy (again, not healthy at all and our bodies hated us for a couple days) and we enjoyed some breakfast while watching Rand play with his new toys.

A few hours later, we got dressed and took Rand outside for his last present. Rand was so excited! Seeing your child so happy and excited just did it for us. 

It was a wonderful Christmas! 

Trippstadt Weihnachtsmarkt

Over the river and through the woods to a Weihnachtsmarkt we go! If you want to experience a different kind of Christmas market located in the center of the Palatinate Forest, you do not want to miss out on the Trippstadt Christmas Market. The woodland scenery was a nice change to the city ones we have been in the past. In the evening, a large number of torches and bonfires create a romantic atmosphere but we headed out early before it got dark. 

About 70 booths offer culinary delicacies (like horse meat), Glühwein, Christmas cookies, crafts and much more. Christmas trees and venison for the Christmas roast are available as well – fresh and guaranteed from the Palatinate Forest. The children can enjoy horseback riding and the carousel.  They also offer a fire show on Saturday evenings. We enjoyed listening to the brass ensemble while walking around the woods market. They say there is a lack of parking so encourage taking a bus (no. 170) from Kaiserslautern main station but we found PLENTY of parking. We parked on the street but could of parked right next to the market in the large parking lot across the street.

Address: Johanniskreuz 1, 67705 Trippstadt

Bernkastel- Kues Weihnachtsmarkt

A couple years ago we went to a wine fest in Bernkastel-Kues. The town was so beautiful and I was looking forward to going back for their Christmas Market. We had a Christmas party that evening so we headed out in the morning so we could spend a few hours there before heading back home.

We parked across the Moselle (or Mosel) River near a grocery store (Edeka) by the bahnhof. On our walk to the bridge, we noticed the Saturday morning farmer's market was still set up in front of the train station. 

Bernkastel-Kues is known for being in the center of the wine growing on the Middle Moselle in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district. Like I said before, we visited for a wine fest a couple years ago but for this trip we were more interested in some glühwein and some rides for Rand to enjoy.  

Tourist-Information

Gestade 6

54470 Bernkastel-Kues

 

DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater and skirt

It is that time of year... pull out your Ugly Christmas Sweater! 

Rob and I never really got into UCS but we got invited to a party this year where we had to wear one. I decided to just make our own since I am cheap like that, lol. I drew up a pattern and cut out felt to attach onto an old sweater of my husband's. He loved it so much that he wore it to work! 

 I saw on Pinterest a cute idea where you attach a ton of bows onto a skirt. I did not have a skirt I was willing to ruin so made my own simple elastic waistband skirt with red felt. I separated the bows  (I bought 3 bags of 45each) into two piles to make sure I had enough for each side of the skirt. I also separated the bigger ones from the smaller to make sure they were evenly spaced on the skirt. I kept the paper intact on the bottom of the bow and just hot glued them down so I can re-use the bows. After I glued them all down, I put the elastic in the skirt and voila! I have the perfect skirt to wear to a Christmas party! I had some extra bows so plan on making a little headband to match.

Weihnachtsbäume

This past week has been a little nuts in the Galey household! As soon as we got back from Italy, I had to build stock to sell for an upcoming craft bazaar the following weekend. My house looked like a fabric store blew up. The last thing on my mind was decorating for Christmas. As soon as I got home from the craft bazaar, I cleaned house and prepared for a Christmas tree. A friend reccomended a local Weihnachtsbäume farm in Steinwenden. 

They had a great selection and the prices were very reasonable. We picked a great tree and it only cost 25€! I also picked up some scraps for 4€ to make some wreaths. The owner was very sweet. She didn't know any english but we figured it all out, lol. She loved Rand. She kept offering him Ritter chocolates and Rand was chasing her around the property. 

When we paid for the tree, she offered us some Holiday schnapps and more chocolate for Rand.

Rand had a blast helping us carry in the tree and setting it up in the house. He kept hiding behind it and jumping out at us!

 All decorated for Christmas and even Rand got into the Christmas spirit and shared his interpretation of the Nativity story with Thomas the train and a dinosaur. 

Sankt Nikolaus tag

In Germany, December 6 is Sankt Nikolaus Day. The night before, children polish their shoes or boots and leave them outside the front door. During the night, Sankt Nikolaus goes from house to house carrying a book in which all the children's deeds are written. If they have been good, he fills their shoe or boot with delicious fruits, nuts and candies. If not, they may find potatoes, coal, or twigs left by Krampusse. 

Rand was excited to find his boots filled with all sorts of goodies. He immediately yelled "orange!" and took a big bite from it. We brought the boots inside and Rand carefully unwrapped his little present. He would rip the paper and take the tiniest pieces and put them aside for safe keeping. Rob looked at me and said "I have a feeling Christmas morning will take 12 hours."

Weihnachtsmarkt- Mannheim

After a trip to Ikea, we headed to the Weihnachtsmarkt 

in Mannheim to grab some lunch 

and enjoy some mulled wine (Glühwein). 

We parked near Altstadt near the Weihnachtsmarkt.

When we got home, we finished decorating our Christmas tree. Rand enjoyed helping me hang ornaments.

Strasbourg Weihnachtsmarkt

I LOVE Strasbourg! It is such an adorable city and has so much to offer. I was very excited to go and enjoy the sites again with family and enjoy the Christmas festivities. Whenever we go to Strasbourg, we park at the Modern Museum of Art. 

Address: 1 Place Hans Jean Arp, Strasbourg, France