We are back from our trip to Germany! Can't believe one week zoomed past like that - doing nothing! Well except eating. And sleeping. Get ready for a long post!
Again the Tews family welcomed us with open arms, it felt really good to be "back home" in a way. This is K's second Christmas trip and we stayed in a hotel near Stephan and Pris. And the Tews family has very kindly arranged to pick us up every morning and send us back safely to the hotel every night with our bellies full.
At the Christmas market in Stuttgart the second day we arrived. I was mesmerised by both the boys. Gosh two kids now! I missed Sammy a lot and he looks quite different from the last time I saw him!
We went to the Christmas markets in both Stuttgart and Strasbourg. Last year when I visited without K, Pris and Stephan brought me on a day trip out to Strasbourg, France which was 1.5h drive away. I loved the Christmas cheer in this little city and Pris suggested going again bringing K this time round. I thought he would love the medieval part of the city called Le Petit France. We brought little Gabriel ("Gabe Gabe") this time round who was all dressed up like a little polar bear - so cute!
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| All the bears as Christmas decor |
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| But we had the real thing! |
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| The majestic cathedral in the middle of the city |
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| Sunset at 4pm |
Christmas eve we went shopping at Metzingen Outlet, surprisingly K's request who usually hates shopping. We have heard about the Hugo Boss outlet near Stuttgart and he wanted to buy a jacket and a suit. Off we went then, taking the train bright and early aiming to arrive by 10am. As it was Christmas eve it closed at 2pm so there isn't too much time! And guess what in that whole outlet city we spent our entire time in Hugo Boss! It is massive with 3 floors and we were walking up and down, up and down… very tiring. And yet another first, I didn't buy anything at all. Only when we were going to the cashier, K sighed and said he will buy me a woollen hat haha "ok then!"
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| Me in my new woollen hat. My shopping vs K's shopping |
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| His once-in-3-years splurge |
We missed the hourly train unfortunately and so we only arrived back in the hotel about 5pm. As he hasn't shopped that much for a long time, K had a headache on the way back (more practice needed dear!), and said he needed to take a quick nap to sleep it away. Thankfully I had wrapped up all the presents beforehand so there was no mad rush.
Anita, Werner and Sabrina picked us up from the hotel and with a car load full of presents we went over to Stephan and Pris' for our Christmas dinner. A first too, as it is usually at Stephan's parents' but because they have two boys now, they figured it is easier to have it at theirs. Racklett is the Christmas tradition and so we had that again :) with loads of seafood too, yums. Thanks to Pris and Stephan who bought the massive scallops and prawns.. we ate so much! And still so much leftover!
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| Look who opened the door for us! All dressed up this little charmer. |
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The longest word he keeps saying now: apfelschorle.
His fav drink and can live on just this alone lol |
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| Who then tried serenading us with his songs in his baby language. |
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| All ready for dinner soon |
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| Look at the seafood! |
It was presents time soon, and because they decided against having a Christmas tree (because of the kids), we were pondering where to put all the presents… and finally decided on the sofa lol.
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| Presents galore.. without a Christmas tree the sofa would suffice |
K and I received some really thoughtful presents for our new house - a set of Christmas mugs and plates, a new salt and pepper - get this - automatic grinder set, so you click on the button and it goes vroom vroom and the salt comes out lol. Some Christmas Nativity cookie cutters too, so I can bake my Chinese New Year cookies in them haha
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| Anita's huge present :) |
K received a chocolate burger as Sabrina knows how much K loves burgers.. lol
Sammy received a lot of presents - majority books - cos I know his parents want him to grow up a learned young man :)
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| I gave Pris this apron :) |
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| Smiley Gabe Gabe for the camera. Love his big round eyes. |
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| We needed somewhere for the now unwanted wrappers |
The next day, it was lunch at the parents'. Another full blown meal which was really good, another Christmas tradition. Dinner was a light one with bread and a spread of different little dishes which was helpful considering how much we have ate for lunch and also tea which I haven't mentioned! Unfortunately it was raining (not snowing) so we were rained indoors the whole day.
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| Had to take one with Sammy by the tree |
Boxing Day - argh raining again :( We might have just brought the London weather over? We went over to the parents' for lunch again, this time for a roast pork lunch with roasted apples to go with, and some yummy homemade sauce. Pris suggested taking a walk outside with Sammy so he could fall asleep in the stroller. They came back and Anita prepared some gluhwein to go along with some biscuits and cookies. As it was our last dinner in Germany, Pris suggested us going over to theirs so she could cook us a meal. The Tews were seriously spoiling us!!
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| Sammy took this shot! |
The boys hanged out over a movie whilst Pris and I chatted with little Gabriel who refused to sleep and we ended up taking photos in the bedroom.
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| I find it amusing to see how stressed Sammy looks here lol |
Pris and I prayed for each other too, giving thanks for this year and also for 2014. Although I see Pris once a year, I am glad to say that we are getting closer through the years that we have spent Christmases together.
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| Unbelievably good shot by Sammy |
Thank you so much to the whole Tews family - Anita, Werner, Sabrina, Stephan, Pris, Sammy and Gabriel for making our stay such a great one. As I said, it felt like coming home to family. :))
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Realised we forgot to take our parting shots with Pris and Steph cos baby Gabe was crying.
Once he quietened down we all were rushing out of the house before he cried again lol |
May God bless you all richly in 2014 and we look forward to hosting you in London should you come visit!!
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Happy Bel :)
yes, shot by Sammy too |
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