Christmas Wish List

It is that fabulous time of year were everything seems so filled with joy, hope, love, and happiness! That time of year were you enjoying bundling up and heading out into the cold, frosty air to shop! Yes, it is Christmas!

And, what would Christmas be without a Christmas wish list? And, when you 7 and 9 they are truly masterful pieces of art! My children have managed to master the Christmas wish list, and have created multiple lists specific to each person who asked them what they wanted, with zero cross over! Yes, these children are gifted when it comes to getting gifts :)

Abby, has quite the simplistic list this year! She is always so basic, which actually makes it hard to shop for her... (My friends with teenage girls say just wait a few years)! Abby's letter to Santa asked for a sewing kit (thank God, because this is something I am horrible at), a horse farm with horses, and a Go-Go walking puppy (now given we have a dog that loves walks, but the fake one is better).

Abby's list for mommy and daddy simply states “I would like a fish, a fish tank, and fish food." Well, great...looks like we are adding a new pet into our life! This is great when you like to travel on Holiday every 4 weeks!

My Ethan! The forever wise and expensive child! Everyone who has kids has one of these...the one who doesn't even see price tags when he ask for a gift! Just love at first site, and usually for the biggest, most expensive thing in the store!

Ethan is all boys when selecting gifts to add for Christmas always starting with Lego’s. Ever since that kids first duplo set, it has been building all Christmas morning! This year is no exception! Ethan's letter to Santa ask for the Lego City Police Station, Pokémon, and Tin Tin books (to my friends in the States, these are great, classic books for boys).

From us Ethan asked for Pokémon, Table Tennis Balls (ok, funny but if you live in Germany you know that table tennis and soccer is a way of life on a school playground), and Lego Black Beards Boat from Pirate of the Caribbean.

Magically, as it can only be in the Christmas season I have located most items! I was able to beg people from Scott's work to bring over gifts. I ordered from amazon.de, and amazon.uk! I have an amazing friend who was willing to make the 40K drive out of the city to Toys R Us so that I could load up! I apparently will be hitting up the local pet store in the next couple weeks as well, to make an informed decision on fish (which should be funny, because it will be in German and I know nothing about fish). Yes, the power of a mother's desire to make wishes come true...well at least while they aren't asking for coach purses and laptops :)

So...I ask the question...What is on your Child's list? What is on Yours?

Getting Excited!

The Holidays are always my favorite time of year! I love the magic and family memories that come during the Holiday season!



This year is so different from anything that I have ever planned; this year’s memories will be shared with school friends, with new friends, and my family! They will not be shared at my church home, or with neighbors, there will not be family Christmas parties, or the warmth of a house on Thanksgiving morning! I think that I am prepared to except the differences that this season will bring. I believe that we all are ready to embrace the new traditions that will come, and enjoy the warmth of the individual moments!



Holidays in Germany are so wrapped in traditions (some of which I have learned, some of which I have no idea about)! We (the Howes family) are very excited about all of these new traditions! The first one was last Friday as we celebrated St. Martin’s day and a Lateran Walk! Basically, the younger children at ISS make a Lateran in art class and then at first sign of dark head into the gardens, or the forest singing a traditional German song and walk under the candle light! It is so lovely! For me this walk signified the first sign of winters approach and the feeling of the holidays nearing!



We Americans all know that Thanksgiving is coming which in the states. Here Thanksgiving is only celebrated by a small group! We have school that day, because it is not a Holiday (no pilgrims and Indians here)! Luckily, the ISS PTA makes a big deal out of Thanksgiving and those that want to can return to school that evening and enjoy a community style meal! Also, I am lucky because our family has been blessed with friends that live only a few hours away, and we will spend the whole weekend after Thanksgiving in Regensburg celebrating Faux-Thanksgiving...they are even saving the DVR of the parades so we can pretend Saturday that we are actually having Thanksgiving!



While we are in Regensburg we will also start a new Christmas tradition...OUR VERY FIRST WIEHNACHSTMARKT! These are the Christmas Markets so famously portrayed throughout the world! There are so many of them, almost every city has them, streets filled with stalls of food, and gifts. Some even have rides and ice skating rinks! They are an amazing site, I have just begun to see the buildings go up and I am overcome with JOY!



Another new tradition coming our way is St. Nicholas Day on December 6. On this day the children wake to find the shoe that they have placed outside filled with a small toy, nuts, candy, and fruit! Kinda fun, a mini Christmas surprise so early in the month! I have heard from the German families that the children have wised up over the years and now place their dad's shoes outside so that more treats will fit inside! I am hoping that my children do not learn of this!





In the spirit of new traditions we also will have things like Christmas programs. Abby will play an Angel from Poland in hers, and Ethan is part of the Choir in his. We have advent activities, the kids made their own calendar this year. We have a new church, with their various programs to enjoy; and of course we will have our very first Christmas in Germany!



So, yes there is a ton of tradition to miss...but really the only option is to embrace the new! To be excited about the abundance of new things to do and discover here! I have always loved the Holidays, I have always loved the warmth of the season, the memories created and shared, and here, in Germany the possibilities are vast!

Welcome and Warm greetings to the season!

PS. My Christmas Cards will still hit the mail Thanksgiving Day! Hehe :)

Herbst Holiday

Last Friday as school ended begin our Herbst(fall) Holiday break! We have 5 days off of school plus the weekends. A lot like the Hill Elementary Year Around school schedule! Due to the fact that we just got back from Paris we decided to lay low and just enjoy some much needed rest! We did however plan a overnight in Munich!
Saturday morning we loaded up the car before the sun had even touched the sky to drop off Fern and make our way into the city of Munich. We left having no plans on what to see only thing we prepared was were we would sleep! Arriving into the city we became confused in a series of one way streets and closed roads(there was a protest against the airport addition). We finally found a parking garage, and poured ourselves out of the car.
We had arrived in one of the most traditional German cities, lovely buildings, amazing shops, and traditional people!

First thing we came across was this church tower to climb. We didnt actually read anything or check out how high the climb was before we were in line in the tightest staircase, with traffic going both directions, in the oldest tower I have ever seen. It was so crowded at points it was like a game of twister to even move, left foot stair, duck head, right arm wall, tuck butt! Ugh, what were we thinking...we finally made it to the top of Hell. The view was great, we could even see the protest but all we wanted was down and fast! Que yelling Germans as i cut every line to push my way to the bottom! Fresh Air....

Next stop, view the downtown district! Shopping and People! Tons of people everywhere! We never actaully went into any stores we just walked forever...we even came across some really cool street performers!

By this point in the city tour we were starving! Ready for some hardy Bavrarian food, but no the kids had spotted Hard Rock Cafe and off we went! Lunch of nachos, chicken fingers, and hot dogs! Mini-America in every major city!

After lunch the kids were exhusted...Scott and I began to question how on earth they were gonna make it all day! We decided to make a couple quick stops to pick up a few things and than we found Globetrotter. This amazing outdoor store, think REI but 5x bigger! It was awesome! The kids rock climbed, Abby got her face painted and Scott and I shopped!

After some shopping relaxation, we headed to Olympic Park! Wow, breath taking beauty is an understatement! I was speechless! I love these type of things, the size and scope of such an event is beyound words! We had to go up in the Tv tower.

Than on to the pool and the stadium! Such an amazing public park! After awhile there, the sun had left and it was time to check in at the Hotel! Quick, check in and than grab the ubahn to the Haufbrauhaus! This is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life! It was so cool! In a gaint building streching over an entire block is a two floor, plus a garden beer pub and restraunt! When you enter it is every man for them self to find a table! The German way is to share a table with whom ever, just grab a seat. This works well until the place is packed, to the gills! We circled that buidling for 20 minutes, finally stalking this poor family from Poland until they finished paying and left! With the music blaring, soccer fans shouting we sat down to enjoy a true Bavarian chicken dinner (Michigan folks-nothing at all like Frankenmuth)! We sat at a table with two older German couples! We were actaully able to have converstaion and learn some information about things to do in the area. Scott and I enjoyed our liters of beer, and the kids enjoyed the iphone app "Dont cut the rope"!

The next morning the sun finally broke the fog and Ethan woke with croup! Nothing better for croup than the moist air so we decided on a day at the Munich zoo. This zoo is more like a stroll through the lush fall landscape than a zoo. We fed the ducks, played at the playground, watched the seals, ate cotton candy( the best I have ever had) and had lunch outside one more time!

 At 3:00pm the kiddos were wiped and it was time to say goodbye to Munich!

On Monday came our first semi lost American holiday! Halloween! What would we do without endless kit kats (Scott and I more than the kids), twix bars, and tooties rolls! Well the solution came as a new friend from school invited us to join her on the local army base for their trick or treat activities! So the kids created their customes...Ethan as Harry Potter (again :)) and Abby a Davison Cheerleader vampirer! We headed out at 4:30 (we changed time on Sunday so it was almost dark)! After checking in on base we walked to where we would start and waited for the clock to strike 5pm! Let the craziness begin! Just like home...kids everywhere, candy by the loads, laughter and smiles! Scott said the whole thing of making the traditions happen here really made him happy! Good news on all fronts!

After trick or treating we did what every good American should do bought Christmas lights...hehe

Tuesday was a german holiday (basically all saints day)! We were planning a big outing but I woke up sick! What else are breaks for right! So we decided to keep it simple and head for a hike at this lake someone told us about! We and half of the population of Stuttgart! The weather couldnt have been better 16 (65F) degrees and bright sun! Abby even wore short sleves and ate ice cream at the biergarten!

Wednesday Ethan woke up sick again! Now with a fever! Ugh...movie day!

So now today! What will the rest of Holiday break bring! Only time will tell! I hope no more sickness! I hope more adventures! I am loving this late fall warm weather! We shall see!

Happy Herbst!