The Gray Winter

Maybe I’ve already mentioned that it gets really ugly and gray here during the winter.  It has snowed every couple of days this January.  Even if it doesn’t stick we usually have some flurries during every day.  As much as I like a little snow, I could do with a little more sun.  Its hard not to experience some seasonal depression here.  Thankfully we have our trip to America to look forward to in February! 

Schwedelbach under snow up above and right by the bus stop for my kids below.  The blue house in this picture has a small bakery on the bottom floor that is a life saver sometimes.  The white poofy stick hanging off the blue house on the very far left is the spirit stick that they decorate every September.  Its starts very colorful and then the weather makes all the colors fade and wash away as the year progresses.  I don’t like that my kids walk through the busiest intersection every day to get to the bus stop, but that’s how it goes! 

 

There are lots of little farms here in our village and tractors on the roads are commonplace. 

 

We travel down this street every time we leave our house and this house in front of us is our view!  The green door is where we took our most recent family picture.  All summer long two little old German ladies sit outside almost all day waving as people go by.  Apparently they are crazy according to the younger gal who lives there.  I’ve gotten to visit with them here and there because of needing their door for pictures. 

A little bit of this and that

I’ve been really trying to lose the holiday pounds and a few extra recently.  I’ve been really cutting back on my sugar intake which is hard for a sugar addict!  I learned how to make these “green smoothies” and they are pretty good!  They have yogurt with almost no sugar, spinach, a banana, ice cubes, almond milk and some honey.  They are fun and feel like a treat, but quite healthy…..you should all try one! 

My friend Annie asked me to help with the Stake Standards Activity (she is in the Stake Young Women’s Presidency).  I was put in charge of the food court at The Standards Mall.  The youth went to activities at different “stores” like Game Stop, H & M (Hot and Modest), etc.  Then they got to come to the food court for some food.  It turned out awesome.  The youth loved it and I loved being around them again.  They are so fun.  I had a great committee to work with:  Christy Turner, Gwen Reese, Candice Jensen and me.  They did such a great job!  Each of us took a table and decorated it like our store.  They turned out amazing. 

I was in charge of this one:  and yes I got to wear the obnoxious Uncle Sam hat while serving up hotdogs! 

They had this awesome café where the kids went and played songs and sang too.  Such talented youth in this stake!  I was way impressed. 

This same weekend, we had the Adams and the Shumates over for a Paella roast.  Jared is becoming quite the Paella chef.  So far he’s not considering a career change to the Mediterranean Coast to make Paella on the beach, but the thought has crossed his mind after our Spring Break last year.  It was a wonderful night with good company and food.  We’ve been trying to have Pres. Adams’ and his family over for awhile now, but as you can guess, he’s pretty busy!  We always have to invite a crowd when he makes Paella, because I don’t think you can tell from the picture, but this pan is like two feet wide!  

Koln Germany and Center Parcs Resort

A year a go we went to Center Parcs Resort with the Flakes for a long weekend.  It was a relaxing weekend of swimming, playing board games, playing at the rec center, and sharing meals.  So this year when we talked about doing it again, of course we were in!  Our one sight seeing day we traveled North to Koln to see the cathedral and check out the Lindt Chocolate Museum.  It shaped up to be a really great weekend! 

The Cathedral is definitely the most well known sight in Koln.  It is amazing.  We decided to walk up to the bell tower.  It is one of the tallest things we have climbed in Europe.  At the end you are on these metal stairs that are outside right in the center of the highest gothic point. It was pretty high and Hanna didn’t like it at all.  It does make you feel slightly unsafe and exposed!  Thanks to a bunch of metal screens we didn’t get a good picture of the view!  Brrr!  It was as cold as it looks. 
           

Looking up into the high gothic point:

As we waited for the rest of the group to come down from the climb, Cole and I found this perfect “chair” in the wall.  This little guy loves me.  He is my buddy.  We hang out all day.  He hugs and kisses me and gives me “squeezy hugs”  all the time.  He used to tell me about 10 times a day:  Mom you’re pretty.  I love you.  And your cute.  Not as much anymore, but he got major points for that!  Now he likes to get “snibbles” (little kisses on his neck) and give them back to me.  I LOVE THIS KID!
   
We walked along the river front to get to the Lindt Chocolate Museum which I’m sure is lovely in the Summer, but in the dead of Winter not so much.  Yikes it was cold! 

Well this place is kind of awesome……
   
 
The hot chocolate is a must!  So rich and yummy especially with all the cream mixed right in!  German cakes however always look better than they taste.  They aren’t as sweet as Americans make them and they are kind of dry.  We keep trying them though you’d think we would learn!  Looks can be deceiving! 

On the way back to the car.  It was getting close to dark and unfortunately, COLDER.  Can you see how gray German winter’s are?  It looks like this for almost 3 months.  We rarely see the sun during January and February.  It gets old really fast.  Good thing the wonderful Spring and Summers and Falls make up for it! 

All Bundled Up: