It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I know...my space in between posts is getting longer and longer.  I've had a couple people ask about my next entry and truthfully it has been in the works for a while.  With Christmas right around the corner, we've been a little busier than normal.  I promise that a New Year's resolution will be to write more often!

For anyone who knows much about Strasbourg, it's a pretty cool place to be in the Christmas season. The Christmas Market or Christkindelsmärik have been around since 1570 and is a pretty serious tradition here. Here you can buy all your Christmas goodies and then some. For me though, walking around under all the lights with a cup of mulled wine and browsing the various stalls is an experience that can't be missed. Luckily my little sister Stefanie was here for the first weekend of it and I hope she enjoyed it as much as we did.

This year seems like it will mark the beginning of an era - partly because of the huge move we have just made but also because Audrey is now almost 3 and she'll start to remember traditions being set. Jean and I had a discussion about Santa since we wanted to make sure we were on the same page.  She was too young last year so we had to decide if we'd tell her about the jolly fellow or not this time around.  I wasn't crazy about his introduction since I have somewhat painful memories of finding out he wasn't real (long story...).  However, I was convinced otherwise and it looks he'll be making a visit to Alsace this year. It's a strange power that parents have in this sense - you can make your kids behave incredibly well for the month preceding his arrival with the threat of him calling the whole thing off.  At the same time, you have the ability to have your babies believe in the magic of Santa and see their eyes sparkle when his name is mentioned. I don't think I ever realized how it would be to be on the other side of the whole Santa thing.  I have to say - it's pretty darn cool.

Speaking of cool - it's downright cold here!  I don't think there's been a day in the past week that's been much over freezing.  Audrey has relished this wintertime wonderland (for a week straight she insisted on wearing her snow pants while in the house). Meanwhile little Thomas (who has had a couple nasty colds) and I have done more hanging out indoors. The picture to right pretty much sums it up kids' hangouts.

Here's a couple extra pictures from our first Christmas in Alsace.  Enjoy!