Whirlwind

 The last two weeks have been a whirlwind.  Not only did we celebrate Christmas and New Year's, but we made our big move to Germany!  This post will play catch up on the last few weeks so it is a long one!!!! Lots and lots of pictures.  This top pic is the view from our hotel on the Rhine river.  It is beautiful and has cruise ships and cargo ships going down in constantly.  There were quite a few cargo ship with coal going down the river before Christmas, I told the kids that they were headed to the North Pole for those last minute "naughty" kids! 

 Room Service.  This is how we have been dining a LOT.  It's too  much trouble to take the kids to resturaunts.  We are like a freak show.  People are constantlly looking at us like we are crazy.  People here either don't have this many kids, or don't take them out ever!  As of late we have been sick of the room service and have ventured out more.  There is only so much schnitzel, steak, stroganoff, and burgers we can take!  We've never eaten this much beef!

 We were excited to be able to come before Christmas so we could make it to the Christmas markets.  They were a lot of fun.  It is so festive!

 Dudi has been loving the Brats!

 The ward has been great.  We've met a lof of great families and went to one of the markets with them.  It's nice to have the church wherever you go!  We do miss our awesome ward in Georgia though!

 Yes, we are the Americans eating ice cream in the German winter!

 Downtown Mainz.

 Great toy store in Mainz.

 Christmas eve visit to Heidleberg castle.

 Such a pretty view.  The kids were loving it!

 We bleed Fanta.  They don't really do water much, so we have Fanta for almost every meal!

 We spent Christmas Eve with some friends from Georgia.  They have been living in Heidleberg, so it was fun to get to visit with them!

 Sorry, these pictures are out of order.  This is how Jude spent most of the first week.  He had the hardest time adjust to the time difference.  He was a great little guy on the plane and slept almost the whole time, much to everyone's delight.  As we waited in line to board the plane to Frankfurt he started going crazy and was inconsolable.  I know everyone was sweating it hoping they weren't next to us.  Turns out he was just tired and fell asleep on the plane.  I even had someone compliment me on how well the kids were on the flight-whew!


Christmas morning pics.

 Micah and Liv found these awesome colored pencils made out of sticks at the Christmas market.  Perfect for our little artist.

 The boys found this cute little yodeling bear for Liv.

 The one and only green Barcelona jersey.  Santa worked overtime to find this impossible jersey!!!!

 our little guy is getting SOO big! 

Micah and his "Ronaldo" cleats.

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but we are getting use to everything slowly.  Dudi and I both passed our horrific International driver's test, I drove on the autoban (once), and I even ordered room service when Dudi was at work ( we were missing a few things and had a few extra things I didn't order, but hey, I made an attempt).  The boys start school tomorrow, so it will be nice for them to start a routine.  We are all VERY anxious to get into our house.  We are a little stir crazy from being in an apartment for a month and then a hotel the last two weeks.  We will move into our house as soon as our house hold goods arrive.  Our van did arrive the day after we got here, it's so nice to have it and looks so cute with its German plates!
We hope you all had a fabulous holiday.  We love you all!