So, I bought a ticket to go home for Christmas after all. When Grandma e-mailed me and said I would be the only one of her and Bud's grandkids not at the wedding, and was there any way I could come, and maybe they could help to pay for the ticket, I changed my plans for a German Christmas and bought a ticket to head back to Seattle for two weeks. I am happy and at home here, but there is definitely a special excitement reserved for being home for Christmas.
On Saturday afternoon, we bundled up in layers and hats and scarves and ventured out to the Christmas market at Schloss Charlottenburg. We had to wake Claire up from a deep sleep, and a bit of residual crankiness from being woken up turned to grave distress and claims of a stomach ache when we reached the market. Cole was quiet and still in the stroller until Heather bought a little bag of Quark Bällchen (sort of like doughnut holes) for us to share -- then he went from eager and insistent to happily chomping to demanding more. We looked at ornaments, lighted paper stars, jewelry, knitted goods, wooden toys, and pottery; we smelled Glühwein and Raclette; the girls shouted with delight at the colored lights washing over the palace front in waves and patterns. Lilah was happy in Heather's arms, and Cole was quiet in the front of the stroller, but Claire was hanging out of the backseat of the stroller trolling out her list of complaints. Finally, we decided to swing by the carousel for the kids and then head home.
I know it's a little dark, but maybe if you enlarge the photo you can make out what they are saying ---
Claire: I may have *said* I have a stomach ache, but what I really meant was that your choice of activities was not my cup of tea. This is more like it!
Heather: I'm getting dizzy, but trying to smile nicely in case this photo turns out to be a family heirloom.
Cole: First they stuck me on this thing all by myself. Then Mommy finally got on here with me, but to tell you the truth, it still isn't all that much fun.
Lilah: La-la-la, life is great!
One afternoon this week, Heather and the girls assembled a gingerbread house.
It is still sitting on the counter, but it is a much-petted, sniffed, and beloved decoration, and I'm not sure how long it will evade being eaten. Cole just says, "Nummy, nummy!" with his best sparkly-dimple smile.
Last night if you were standing on Ringstrasse looking up at our windows, you would have seen two women busy with a ladder, swinging garland, and a brightly lit paper star. After the kids were in bed I brewed a pot of Good Earth tea (thanks to Mary for sending two bags over with me for a special winter treat!) and Heather turned on the Christmas music and we wrapped garland around the bare curtain rods and draped it over door frames and the hutch; she hung a big German paper star in front of the window and we accented with balls and bows and lights. Heather says Christmas decorating (or decorating of any kind) isn't her favorite activity, but I think even she had a little fun last night.
Today on the way home from Kita, Lilah said in a forlorn and injured voice, "Julie, why aren't you talking to me?"
I said, "I am talking to you! Ask me a question."
"Julie, is it still Thanksgiving?"
Claire informed her that it was NOT Thanksgiving anymore. We talked about how it is now winter (maybe not quite by the calendar, but I think winter is an appropriate name for the season we're now in), and Lilah said, "Or, we can call it Christmas time."
Yes, I think that's definitely what it is.
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