Christmas Blues

I love this time of year but it is not quite the same this year nor was it last year when I spent Christmas day in Cuba with my hubby. Don't get me wrong I am incredibly grateful that I have got to spend these Christmases together with my hubby but it just isn't the same without the family and the traditions you have grown up with all your life.

This year I will long for...
~The faces of my sweet nephews as they open their presents and give out hugs and thank yous, and in sam's case spit up! ;)
~The craziness that is my grandparents house on Christmas Eve as our family of 40+ people cram in a garage and enjoy fresh caught and cooked seafood! That's right you read that right! We do it right at our house for Christmas: fish, shrimp, hushpuppies, coleslaw...the works!! It is a family tradition that my family picked up when my grandfather married my step-grandmother and it is the only type of Christmas Eve celebration I have ever known.
~Listening to the outlandish things my cousins have asked Santa to bring them this year. My personal favorite was the year Jenna asked Santa to bring her a hot tub...she was about 7 at the time. haha, wish Santa would bring me one of those as well but I am not sure I would have a place for it, a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom would do, I think that sounds fair.

Oh and for the record if it snows on Saturday back home in Georgia I am going to very displeased with mother nature that she had me come all the way to Germany in hopes of a white Christmas and gives everybody at home one!! :) That does not seem very fair of her!! Hehe!

While these little things will be missed, I still remember the real reason we get out all these decorations and shower our loved ones with gifts. I am incredibly thankful for my Lord Jesus Christ who was brought onto this earth to save me so that I may have a relationship with the Father. That is something that is universal and will NEVER miss out on!!

Happy Jonathan Rupard Day!!

Today marks me sweet honey's birthday and while I am quite sure he very rarely reads this blog of mine I decided to share some sweet words about him anyhow!

Dear Jonathan,
 I still remember when we first met on a soccer trip to the mall and how we were both lucky enough to survive out first ride with Leah driving! Since that car ride there have been many moments I would not trade for anything in this world. There are so many things I am incredibly thankful for and I think your birthday is a great time to tell you some of those things!

~ I am thankful for the way you randomly come up behind me and wrap me in your arms letting me know at that moment in time I am all that matters to you.

~ I am thankful that you always give me a goodnight kiss before we go to sleep and always tell me that you love me so that I can drift to sleep with a smile on my face.

~ I am thankful that you randomly write me little messages that just put a smile on my face from ear to ear.

~ I am thankful that you help me out around the house when I am overwhelmed and put up with my craziness on Sunday nights when my homework deadlines come around.

~Most of all I am thankful that you asked me to be your wife so that I can live everyday showing my best friend how much I love him. I love that I get to wake up next to you in the morning and go to sleep with you every night.

Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life, I pray we get to share many more together! I love you!

Are You Done Yet?

So yesterday early evening I had the priviledge of video chatting with my sweet big sis and two adorable nephews! Jack was dying to open his gift that arrived in the mail not too long ago so my sis thought it would be nice for me to watch and it was! What a blessing technology is! He was super excited about his Thomas Train matching game. He kept saying "It's Thomas the Train!" and "Can we play in here now, mommy?" I love that kid to death and miss him to pieces!! Sam also got to open his gift which had a cute helicopter shirt and pants outfit and a made for Sam bib that is more like a vest that is camo! So cute! While talking with my sister and the boys Jack asked, "Emmy, are you done with Germany yet?" I literally almost cried! He has such a sweet heart!!

Well we got quite the snow storm here yesterday where it snowed for about three or four hours straight heavily and we ended up with at least 6 inches. Jonathan of course decided it was family play time in the snow. Snowmen, snow angels, and snowball fights were had by all! The playtime did not end without near disaster when we could not find my camera anywhere but after ten minutes of searching it fell from wherever it was hiding it all the clothes I had on! Here a few pictures of our winter wonderland!

Our snow covered parking lot!

Such a beautiful sight!

Busy Busy Busy

Well I have actually managed to stay quite busy this past week or so. We had Thanksgiving with friends of ours here, as well as getting into the Christmas spirit. The day before Thanksgiving my friend brought over her kids for a Thanksgiving craft. We made teepees from frosted ice cream cones. They were beautiful and yummy! Take a look at our pictures:

  

Thursday my hubby had to work but we enjoyed a nice brunch before he left of bacon, eggs, and toast. Not too long after hubby left I got to cooking! My sweet friend made an amazing turkey and a couple sides and I chipped in my own mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and macaroni and cheese (homestyle). I must admit our table looked pretty darn good! Check out the before and after pictures!

 

The weekend after Thanksgiving was dedicated to school work and checking out the Christmas market here in Mannheim. I have to admit I think it is a favorite thing of mine here, all these markets! It is like an ongoing festival!! Chrystal, Jim, Kylie, James, Jonathan, and I ventured out on Sunday to check out the Christmas market and all it had to offer!

James telling "Uncle Jon" how goofy he is!

One of the many candy booths...yummmm!

Chrystal and me

 

A shot of some of the booths.

Kylie even got to whisper in Kris Kringle's ear that she wanted a princess Barbie doll! We had fun even though I almost froze my toes off and ended up buying an extra pair of socks. Since then we have been simply enoying the snow we were given on Monday. I have not yet uploaded the better pictures of those so I will do that soon!