First Advent and Potsdam Christmas Market

Benjamin was not happy about
the outing.  Sometimes
motivating them to get out of
the house can be daunting.

Sunday, December 2nd, was the first Advent.  It is interesting here how sometimes it seems like 1974.  So many things they do here and at the kids' school remind us of things Marty and I did as kids.  I remember always having an Advent Calendar with 3 pink and one purple or the other way around, 3 purple and 1 pink.  I can remember but do remember that we lit one each Sunday. They are big into counting the advents here and into the wreath or at least some shape of pine with 4 candles that you light one each Sunday.  My kids love it too.  Benjamin, in particular, because he is a

bit of a pyromaniac.  He LOVES to light them.  He loves to light anything.  Is that just a boy thing?  We ran out of matches and so now he has learned how to use a lighter (oh boy) and gets SO

His attitude changed
once he got this

excited every time we sit down and he gets to light the candle. 
Along with the Advent calendars and other things we have mentioned feel like 1974 - at school each year they put up a Christmas tree right next to a Menorah.  Out for everyone to enjoy.  No one gets permission or up in arms because their religion, tradition, beliefs are not being represented.  People just enjoy the beautiful decorations and take in the warmth that the season brings.


To celebrate the first Sunday of Advent we decided to go the Potsdam Christmas Market.  We had heard great things about it and it is relatively close to us - in the opposite direction to downtown.  After a short train/tram trip we were there.  We wouldn't find out until afterward that this wasn't the one in Potsdam that everyone always raves about.  It was beautiful.  They all are but it wasn't unique in anyway.  Marty said he felt like he was on a treadmill as we passed the same stalls over and over again for the several blocks that his market ran.
We had a nice time nonetheless. The kids got a treat - Benjamin cotton candy and

Josie a quarkballchen (small donut type things with quark making it extra moist)
When we got home Benjamin lit the first candle of our new Advent wreath and the kids both practiced their instruments for their upcoming band concert.

Not really in the
Christmas spirit