Laowai

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  • CHRISTMAS MARKETS

    So this year Christmas was different. Bea is waiting for her student visa and she is advised not to leave Germany. So we had to go to her. I know the day will come where I don’t get to spend Christmas Day with my kids but I was NOT ready for that day yet.

    We arrived a couple days before Christmas and Bea took us to a bunch of Christmas markets. I used to think Christmas markets were about buying ornaments and decorations. I thought they were markets. But I’ve learned they’re really about getting outside in the chilly weather and socializing and eating and drinking. So we had raclette and fried apples and pommes frites and Knoblauchbrot (garlic bread) and spiced nuts and more raclette. Bea and I tried egg liquor (Eierlikör) and we had hot steaming Glühwein. And it was fun.

    Here we are are at a smaller Munich Christmas market. The egg liquor verdict – good but I only want a thimbleful because it’s so sweet.

    One day we took the train to two cities – this is Augsburg.

    I want to live at the potato house!

    Here is the other town we visited – Ulm. It’s know for it’s cathedral – the tallest in the world until Barcelona’s Sagrada Família recently surpassed it. Unfortunatly we couldn’t really see the top of the cathedral because it was so foggy.

    I think the Ulm Christmas market was my favorite. It was so pretty and they had the cutest little train ride for kids. Claire and I watched it go round and round while we waited in the raclette line.

    Here we are at the big market in Munich – Marienplatz.

    There are actually ornaments for sale – I think the best were at Marienplatz. After seeing a tree inside the Ulm cathedral decorated with big beautiful straw ornaments I had to buy a set for myself. Love them!

    Here are a few more photos of Ulm. Starting with its very tall cathedral shrouded in fog.

    Ulm’s buildings seemed so well cared for and beautiful.

    So many photos, so many pretty spots. I’ll stop now and put some photos of our Christmas feast in another post.

  • CAN I PLEASE GET A PHOTO OF YOU PEOPLE!

    It’s all a mother wants.

  • NEW APART… NEW APARTMENT

    Brian moved into his new Zurich apartment on Friday, December 12th. So it’s all brand new and I was so eager to see it in person.

    As soon as we arrived Brian and I went across the lake to a brocki (second-hand shop). He needed to stock up on lots of stuff like dishes and lamps and small furniture and a fondue pot (essential).

    His apartment is in the same town where we lived a few years ago – Wädenswil. You get such a nice view of the whole town as you pull away in the boat.

    There I am basking in the clear fresh air – almost the only sunshine we saw on our whole trip.

    Later that day, after hauling our second-hand stuff back to the apartment, we put Brian’s IKEA couch together. Here is the sorry state of the main room.

    That night we went into Zurich to enjoy a Christmas market.

    The next photos are from after our Christmas trip to Munich to see Bea. We had a couple more days to spend with Brian. I asked Claire take a photo to commemorate our first meal together in the apartment. We look tired!

    I cut up the mountain of cardboard that was leftover from all the IKEA furniture. It has to be neatly stacked and put out outside on a specific day. I know how to recycle in Switzerland!

    Brian took us on a hike in the hills of Wädenswil. Winter is a little less harsh here compared to Chicago. Primrose bloom in December!

    Hills!

    I spent almost the whole of our last day hemming curtains that we bought at IKEA. I had an iron and I just sewed running stitches by hand. I was happy to be able to help Brian with something that I can do a good job with. He needed the curtains not just for extra privacy but his place is very echoey right now too. It will be a good apartment for a few years. Long term we will want something a bit nicer with a view. But it’s great for now – easy access to the train station and a comfortable bed for everyone when we are all together.

    I took a few more photos early in the morning before Claire and I headed to the airport. He’s getting settled in and after he gets a couple rugs I think it will feel nice and homey.

    It’s good to be able to picture the apartment now that I am back in Wilmette.

  • CHRISTMAS WITH THE GIRLS

    Almost everything worked out perfectly when we decided to go see Bea for Christmas. Jennifer and Mom drove my way to pick up Jenna from school and they stayed a couple nights. Long enough for us to have a great little pre-Christmas celebration.

    We got to decorate cookies with mom.

    Our Christmas tree looked much happier with presents under it.

    We had a feast of finger foods and too many cookies before opening gifts by the fire.

    We ended our night piled on the couch watching Christmas Vacation. Poor Claire had one more final exam the next day and then we took off for Zurich.

  • TRADITIONS CAN CHANGE

    Claire and I are back home after a great Christmas trip. I need to sort through our photos and my thoughts about it all. Mostly I feel a huge sense of change but it’s ok because traditions can change and evolve. I’m just feeling grateful that I got to be with Brian and Bea and Claire – all close together smiling and arguing and laughing and touching.

    A very happy Weihnacht!

    More photos to come.

  • THE BEST SATURDAY MORNING

    I’ve just had the best Saturday morning. I’ve been playing with my new Christmas gift (thank you Brian) while drinking my coffee and getting texts from my Bea and Brian.

    Brian sent a photo of the grocery store chocolate aisle. Swoon.

    While Bea sent some amazing photos of her hike.

    Here’s my new toy – it’s called a Prixel Press. It’s a set of little shapes that you mount onto an ingenious holder and then you can stamp the most charming little images. The possibilities are endless and the images have a great modular feel to them.

    I made some gift tags.

    And this swan – oh, I’m in love – but I can’t take credit because I copied the design from someone online.

    I could play all day but maybe I should fold some laundry.

  • NO STOCKINGS

    Today Brian arrived in Switzerland and moved into his apartment. There’s his large load of luggage on the train – two suitcases, a backpack and computer bag and of course a big bike bag. More on that later.

    I felt a little scattered all day – wishing I could help him settle into the apartment. And thinking, now that he’s gone most of the time, who’s going to kill the spiders at the top of the wall; who’s going to fill the soda stream bottles; and most importantly who’s going to serve me cheese on a cracker while we watch shows.

    I did a bit more Christmas decorating to cheer myself up.

    Here are some photos of this year’s Christmas decorations – no stockings because we will be with Bea on Christmas

    To switch up the Christmas decor I put a little village in one of our bathrooms. A fun little surprise for those who like to peek into medicine cabinets. He He.

  • TIME FLIES

    Seems like a minute ago it was pre-Thanksgiving. Here’s what I’ve been up to.

    Brian and I took a walk to the Lake.

    And I had some nice strolls at the Botanic Garden

    And then winter came.

    When mom cleared out her house I took her old Denby dishes. They were sitting in a box but I decided they should see the light of day. I’ve been using them now and then – the matte glaze has such a nice feel. And there is the sweetest little gravy pot that Brian like for sauces.

    I had fun one weekend making a few crocheted wreaths. One for mom, one for mom-in-law and a green one for me.

    After Thanksgiving in Midland we got our Christmas tree

    And since then we’ve had more and more snow – it’s a treat and it puts me in the mood for Christmas decorating.

  • LOOK AT THIS PHOTO!

    Just another weekend walk for Bea.

  • DEAR DIARY

    This makes the third time I’ve written a post like this. We are slowly starting to move to Switzerland… again.

    Brian will be moving there part time rather soon. And Claire and I will hold down the fort here in the US until she is done with high school.

    The idea is to start the clock ticking in the procedure for long-term residence as Brian looks forward to his retirement.

    That’s the plan anyway.

    Straddle the ocean with our family.

    There will be some cycling.

    So Brian has been plodding along the path to getting his visa and residence permit. Doing it with the help of his employer is much smoother than all the stress we went through with Bea*. I guess it also helps that he will be helping with you know… commerce.

    *Bea’s process is not done – still waiting for her student visa

    All this to say, here is a photo of photos I took this morning. I was gathering some stuff together to mail off to the consulate and I came across all these old extra passport photos.

    The fam will be so pleased that I’ve posted these gems. But seeing them spread on the table told a story that I could not ignore.

    I mean look at my girls! I was pregnant with Claire in that photo. Also, why does Brian look like he’s about to murder someone in the bottom corner photos?