Creating a Crazy Ass Photo Advent Calendar- Week 2

In our continuing odyssey of  weird, we share more pictures of our photo advent calendar toward Christmas. Christmas markets, presents, and general madness - that's how we do.

December 8th

Somehow, 4 months after we first visited Dresden - we were back. One of the most beautiful markets in Germany - thus one of the most beautiful markets in the world - this place was pure magic. As much as we enjoyed it in summer, winter is Dresden's time to shine. 

 

 

December 9th

In response to our Christmas spirit (and us tossing her in the snow), Bella fights back.

December 10th

Last week it was really looking like we had a Christmas miracle on our hands - it snowed! Though Berlin can be deadly cold, the city has an unpleasant habit of having dreary grey Christmas weather. The snow rained off all the snow this weekend, but I am keeping my fingers or crossed (or thumbs pressed if you are German) for a white Christmas.

December 11th

Fighting more German traditions, we got our tree early in the month (Germans tend to get the tree close to, or on, December 24th). The place was even close to where we live we didn't have to take on the UBahn this year (yes - we've done that in the past). 

December 12th

Engaging in the annual Christmas struggle, Ian & I battled over the Christmas tree stand. For so long, we were moving all the time and buying anything additional was a bad idea. So while we had Christmas trees the past 3 years, I made due with whatever we had around the house to keep that tree upright. Every year, Ian fights me on it and this year we finally have a place of our own and he won out. We bought a Christmas tree stand. (Don't tell him, but it did make the tree set-up infinity easier).

December 13th

Germans laugh at us for keeping the cups from the Weihnachtsmarkt. When you get a glühwein at the markets, you pay a dposit of  2.50-3 euro and get a beautiful custom mug. Most picture the market and are marked with the year. Look at them! Gorgeous. But most Germans turn them back in without a thought. Not us We are up to 8 and they mark our travels to Bern, Dresden, and various markets throughout Berlin. Let's see how many we end with this season.

 

 December 14th

Jeff is one of the first friends we made in Berlin through the wonder of American football. 5 years later, we're still friends. An American expat in Berlin for 6-7ish years, Jeff has been responsible for connecting us with a wider group of friends in Berlin including his amazing native Berliner girlfriend Alexa. Alexa is finishing her studies doing an Erasmus in Ankara, Turkey right now and we are missing her over the holidays.

Jeff was tasked with looking after a pumpkin marked with her name, and hearing he still had it, she told him he couldn't let her rot. Don't let Alexa rot Jeff! We helped him out, making a Southwestern Pumpkin soup, corn tortilla quesadillas, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Mexican food for friends, for Christmas, for all occasions. A feast fit for pumpkin Alexa.

December 15th

Ian is usually a pretty good husband. Everyone has bad habits, and sometimes he drives me crazy, but then sometimes he really surprises me and makes me happy. Saturday was just such a day.

I miss riding something fierce. I am not overly sentimental, but when I think about my glory days or see an amazing feat of horsey skill - I get a little soft. Ian knows this and exploited it to perfection by surprising me with a trip to the horse expo. There were booths, demonstrations, and a jumping competition. It was as if we had been transplanted right back to Snohomish and horse country. After jostling the Germans for some seats, we had a perfect viewpoint. I was in heaven. Too many photos of horses jumping.

Happy wife, happy life

To see more advent calendar pics, click here. For more behind the scene pics, check out our Facebook album.

Frohe Weihnachten!