Weihnachtsmarkt with the Kelehers

In early December we were fortunate to have Bill's parents and Aunt and Uncle come to visit. This is a magical time to visit Germany as you can't help but get in the Christmas spirit. The week was filled with Christmas markets, Glühwein, good company and lots of laughter. We really enjoyed introducing Uncle George and Auntie Ree to our home away from home and the kids are always excited to have extra playmates in town. Grandpa certainly earned his beer that week after building a Lego Advent calendar.

In just a week they were able to travel to Brussels, Ghent, Aachen, Cologne, Monschau, Margraten American Cemetery, and the beautiful walled city of Rothenburg.

Family dinner in Aachen after a visit to the Christmas Market.

At the Cologne Christmas Market. 

Inside the Dom Cathedral in Koln.

Grandpa and his Grandpup.

Spiderman celebrating his birthday.

Happy 5th Birthday to Jacob!

Ree and George in Rothenburg.

Jane, George and Erin in Rothenburg.

Stepping into the walled city of Rothenburg is like stepping into a Grimm Fairy Tale.

Rothenburg, Germany

A little Gluwein in Monschau.

Half-timber houses in Monschau, Germany.

Brother and sister in Monschau.

One individual seems more eager than the other about these Legos.  

Bill and George toasting to a final dinner in Sittard, Netherlands. 

After a busy week, we sent them home full of Gluwein, Christmas spirit and eager to get home to decorate for the holidays. It was a memorable last visit for Nana and Grandpa to Germany and we are especially grateful to Ree and George for making the trip to see us. It was a fun-filled week that I am sure we will be talking about for years to come!   

5 Years Old

Last December our little boy turned 5! He has grown up so much this past year, and it's been so exciting to watch him blossom; especially at school. This was also the year that sparked his interest in Legos, so for his party Jacob requested a "Lego Party." It's been really fun and unique to host these parties in Europe, and we will miss having so many nationalities represented next year. 

Lego spoon race.

 

 

Jacob, you are officially not our "little boy" anymore, and we are so very proud of the big boy you have become. Your smile and laughter light up the room, your compassion and empathy is endearing, and your love of life is something we could all learn from. As I always tell you, "you have a beautiful heart Jacob, we love you!" 

A Copenhagen Halloween

For Jacob's Fall Break we went to Scandinavia to check out Denmark. We were struck by how international the city of Copenhagen is, and how few people we heard speaking the native language. It was cold and rainy, but that didn't ditract from the beauty of the city.

Ready to explore!

(The back of) The Little Mermaid

The first night we went to a Rick Steve's recommended pizza place, but it was packed, so we had to wait for a bit. Fortunately, Jacob and Bria kept us entertained with their dancing.

Day 2: The next day we started at the Rosenborg Castle and Treasury, the Dutch Renaissance-style castle of King Christian IV. It was built in the early 1600's and now houses the Danish Crown Jewels.

After dragging the kids through castles and museums, it was time for them to have some fun. Next on the itinerary: Tivoli Gardens. It came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. I'm not sure who had more fun, the parents or the kids. We did discover we have a few kiddos that really like roller coasters! As an added bonus, the place was completely decorated for Halloween; Jacob was in awe.

Dinner on a pirate ship. 

It was a quick, yet fun visit to Copenhagen and the kids are still talking about Tivoli and the pumpkins!