Frohe Weihnachten

We weren't sure what to do with our first truly solo Christmas - just the four of us.  Marty knew he wanted the traditional German hot dogs and potato salad for dinner.  He grew up with this and since we are here in thebirthplace of German hot dogs and potato salad it was easy to just pick up at the store.  They have about 6 different types of potato salad at the German butcher shop and everyone here must have the same tradition as the line to purchase this was about 15 long and out the door.  We bought a couple smallish containers of potato salad so we could try two different kinds.  They were good but nowhere near as good as when Marty's sister, Liz, makes it for Christmas.  The hot dogs here might be better though.

All the kids wanted was to open gifts, which were growing in number under our petite little tree.  Benjamin had a couple of melt downs in the waiting process.  And

all I wanted was for us to get out of the house and to one of the dozens of beautiful Christmas markets all around town.  Truth be told, I really just wanted a family photo and what better place for it than on Christmas Eve at a Christmas Market.  I wanted Marty to see the beauty of Gendarmentmarkt and I was hoping it would be somewhat less crowded than when Simone and I went there last week.

After a big of cajoling and an after photo treat the kids put on a smile and although Josie's eyes are a bit squinty, we got one.
The after pic treat was a waffle this time and, of course, they had to have whipped cream on it and then they couldn't eat it without just slurping it off the top which they did happily.
With sticky fingers and faces

we walked around the market,saw a performance but a couple of very talented gymnast/circus type performers, Benjamin was flirted with and handed a small candy by one of the famous Angels of the market. 
We trained it home and then walked from the sbahn on a frigid and bitterly windy night.  Inside the warmth and light of our apartment Marty and I had the hot dogs and potato salad while the kids enjoyed a smorgasbord of food from the very full fridge.

Finally it was time for gifts and the kids were very excited and very thankful for their many gifts from many different family members.  Some of the favorite gifts were things that Marty picked up while he was in Seattle from our basement where we store all of our prized possessions while renting out the rest of our house.  Marty searched through boxes and bags and found some of their favorite things that they had left behind in the move.  Big hit!!