Today I am reminded of elementary school...coming back from break, settling in your desk, and reading the board. The writing prompt clearly says "What I did over Christmas vacation" Well, as a kid I probably would have thought...nothing after Christmas morning. But today as the in-laws left, Scott went back to work, and the endless laundry begins, I am reminded of the fun we had over Christmas break.
When the clock hit 3:00pm on the last day of school it seemed like forever until we would be back there with full packs, and the busy life, but those days have zoomed past. We spent the first days before Christmas in preparation, with last minute shopping..still have to mail a couple gifts at this late date. We hit the grocery store (along with the rest of Germany, as stores closed Christmas Eve and opened on the 27th)! And then we settled in. Christmas Eve came and was sooo different! First off I was sick the whole day, second for the first time in years I wasn't working, and third no family or friends!
But than came Christmas day! Ohhh it was great, gifts everywhere, toys and even a new fish! I was in my glory with the relaxed pace of the morning...there was nothing to prepare for, we ate when we were hungry, we played, and the kids built, crafted, and watched everything! We loved the day, but it felt so different! In the evening we had friends over, and enjoyed a relaxing meal and chatted! I had such a great time enjoying simplicity with them! I think when your away from everything you know, it is so much easier to embrace the simple joys!
The next day we welcomed our first visitors to Germany! My husbands parents came to stay with us for 10 days and explore Germany! It was so great to have people to talk to and family for the kids to play with! Plus it broke up the vacation! We took a day and went to Konstance, and a day to Munich (again), plus we showed them around Stuttgart and Essligen!
So Konstance is this great town that sits on an amazing body of water! It reminds me a lot of Traverse City gone German! It has great shopping, wonderful food, a view like no other, and it has it's own spice to life. The major plus side to Konstance is that it sits right on the Swiss border and houses some of the best Swiss chocolate at German prices (and if your following the Swiss Franc)! We walked the streets, jumping in and out of stores to stay warm, enjoying the building (traditional German architecture), and the churches. The kids even walked in the water in their boots!
A couple days later came New Years Eve! Let me just tell my friends in the USA, we lack in celebration when it comes to New Years Eve! Everyone was tired, so we celebrated early and sent the kids to bed! The adults stayed up with a bottle of Prosecco! At 12:00am our neighborhood erupted with the most amazing glow of fire works...the streets, the hills, the buildings...fireworks blasting off in all directions! The world glowing, and banging! It was amazing unlike anything I have EVER seen! Feeling a bit bad that I sent the kids to bed I tried to wake them, but they were out! So, the four adults rang in 2012!
The next couple of days we just lived life! Moving around town, enjoying local sights, spending time as a family, and extended family! Than this Tuesday we headed back to Munich to show the city to Scott's parents! This day trip was booked from the beginning! First whenI ordered the train tickets, I accidentally order tickets from Munich to Stuttgart instead of Stuttgart to Munich! Than in the morning we boarded the train rode for two hours and got off the train one stop to early! Yep, we weren't listening! Than at lunch we have a communication break down and Scott's mom eats rinder tar tar(raw hamburger) thinking it was a tomotato purée! All in all we had a couple great laughs at each of our stupidity and lack of understanding! We enjoyed some great sights and even climbed the hill in Olympia Park into the snow to enjoy a view of the Austria Alps!
No, vacation isn't over I still have 3 days left! I can still sleep in, I can still have another adventure, there is still time to call my friends, say hi to family, write thank you's, and learn some new spelling words! Vacations lasting 2 weeks use to be something dreams are made of, something I would long for...and here I am longing for more!
Soooo...what did I do over Christmas vacation, nothing much with the exception of enjoy my kids, love my husband, play games, laugh, learn, make friends, walk my dog, embrace the new, and relax!
What did you do?
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