Christmas

Yes it's July and I this girl is already blogging about Christmas! In fact, I was already Facebooking about Christmas on June 29th! I am usually pretty stoked about Christmas under normal circumstances, but Christmas 2011 isn't going to be normal. It's going to be extraordinary! Kevin and I will be spending this Christmas at the foot of the Bavarian Alps at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort!!!

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I really don't think there is a more fitting place to spend Christmas. (although it literally just occurred to me that this will make 2 Christmases in a row spend in a hotel... hmmm) 
When Kevin and I spent the night there a few months back first thing I thought when we walked in, is that this would be the best place to spend Christmas. Well, as you can imagine they are pretty popular around that time of year. We asked the desk and they said they have a lottery for rooms; you had to request a room starting May 1st and wait to hear... So that's what I did and we found out two days ago we got chosen! In fact we got two rooms! We're excited at the possibility of having my in-laws there with us! Nothing better than a Bavarian Christmas spent with family!

I'm not sure I've blogged with more exclamation marks in all my life. Or said "excited" or "stoked" more. haaa

I LOVE Bavaria

Really what's not to love!?

Picture it, a lazy Thursday afternoon at home in Baumholder, Germany. The hubs and I have barely said 2 words to each other all day because you know- we're being lazy and just bored witless. I see a commercial on AFN for Edelweiss..... I've heard of Edeweiss before and been told how amazing it is. I'd looked into booking a room 2 separate occasions before with no luck (nothing available). So I went over to the Edelweiss website and plugged all of our info in, and sure enough they had available rooms (shocking, for a Thursday night)! So we QUICKLY got our shizzle together, fueled up and got on the road. We didn't get checked in until about 830 pm, you see it's a 5 hour treck from Baumholder to Garmisch... the drive was a God-awful experience but it was ultimately VERY worth it.

We immediately feel in LOVE with Edelweiss, it has a very relaxing, welcoming vibe. We weren't there an hour and already made plans to go back for Christmas (and got details on how to go about booking a room for that)! Because I'm kind of a dumbass I failed to take exterior pics of the hotel, but the lobby was gorgeous:

We only had enough time to eat, explore what the resort has to offer (arcade for kids, casino for adults, multiple restaurants and bars, SPA, pool, gym.....), grab a few drinks then get to bed- that drive was rough. haa. We had to get up early Friday to see anything and get home in a timely fashion, we were up at 6AM got ourselves looking acceptable for being out in public, hit up the breakfast buffet and then made our way out. But not before the view from our room stole our breath away:

Amazing, right?

So we had to get home at a somewhat reasonable hour but I knew being so close we just had to stop by Neuschwanstein Castle (you may know it because it's inspiration behind the Disney Castle). I'm so glad we went it was amazing! Again with absolutely awesome views. I can see with King Ludwig had it built there (although he only live in Neuschwanstein for 170 days).

I told you the views were awesome.

The castle, itself wasn't too bad either..
Unfortunately we didn't have much time to explore the exterior of the castle as the Army intervened and we had to go running.... Such is life, right?
We did, however take the tour of the completed rooms of the interior castle (yeah, you read that right the entire castle wasn't completed before King Ludwig's "suspicious" death). You aren't permitted to take photos of the interior of the castle (not sure why- I was afraid to ask, our guide reminded me of the creepy weird character from Lord of the Rings- Galum?). But you could take pictures from the interior of the castle of the views...

my favorite pic from the trip.

The last few pictures were of King Ludwig's childhood home Schloss Hohenschwangau. These photos were taken from Neuschwanstein, they are very close together. I picked up a few books on the history of the castle (the guided tour was just hard to follow with our Galum-like tour guide... still creeps me out) and can't wait to fill in a few of the blanks.

We had to leave Neuschwanstein quickly but it's ok because I KNOW we'll be back. I can't wait to tour Hohenschwangau, walk the bridge (pictured above), and spend more time taking in the views and snapping a few more photos with my love.

Yea, I know it's a CLOSE up, but there's only so much you can do when you're forced to travel alone and you have this bulky DSLR. I still love it! :)

I Want it Wednesday...

I know I haven't done this in a while... and everyone misses knowing exactly what I want at any given moment. Well here's a Christmas Edition of "I want.." for ya:

I want....

Jack Wolfskin- Ontario Parka for Women. In Black please!

I want... More than anything our apartment to be ready on post. I want... to unpack our dishes, pots and pans. I want... to make my bed and climb into it at night. I want... to cook- I miss my pasta. I want... to be in a different room than my husband, not only because he's at work but because I have the option.

I still want... diamond earrings I asked for last year.

I want... my sister to start using her camera, because it's virtually band new and never been used before. Also, because (hut-umm) I'm half-way around the world now but still want to see what's going on (for example, the kiddo's at the Zoo for Christmas fun!).

White Christmas

OK, so I attempted to post our 5-day weather forecast as well as the above photo. Alas, it didn't work. Since we arrived in Germany the amount of snow on the ground has doubled! The day before we landed in Frankfurt, they had to close the airport for a few hours, due to the weather- that's saying something, considering folks in this neck of the woods are used to the snow! All the same, there's anywhere from 3-4 feet on the ground. 

Over the course of the next five days the temperature will not reach 40 degrees (f) and a snow/rain mixture is 60% likely (or more) each day. Hello, White Christmas. 

I have to say that in all my years (I'm so dramatic, aren't I? As if, I am so old, haha) in Colorado we very rarely had White Christmases. Yes, it's Colorado and one would assume, Mountains=snow. Well, not all of Colorado is covered with the beautiful Rocky Mountains... a good chunk is honestly plains. My point is that I finally have a white christmas looming and it's very bitter sweet. 

First, I'm so blessed to just have Kevin home with me and that him and I are together for this Christmas. However, we're halfway around the world from all of our family, we have none of our belongings, no real options for making a nice meal, no decorations. 

So while I'm looking forward to celebrating with Cup O Noodles, a game of cards and a lot of webcamming with the families! 

Wiesbaden!

Kevin and I had our first official adventure in Germany! Physically getting there was kind of a chore: taxi to the bus station, bus to the train, swap trains, then walked some 6 or 7 blocks to the hotel. All the same, we made it to Wiesbaden. Honestly it wasn't so bad, we got there in one piece together, and got a glimpse into the public transit system over here. So not all bad.

After we found a suitable hotel we hit the streets. Our main mission and goal was to visit the Christmas Market!! We chose our hotel (Crowne Plaza) because it was two blocks from the Market. (lets just keep in mind it's Germany people, and it's been snowing for WEEKS, everything is covered in snow) Me, in my (cough, cough, knock off Ugg) boots and Kev in his leather shoes went venturing toward the market. First stop, Gluwien!

The pretzel came later but was delicious!

Next we tooled around the Market, taking in all it had to offer:

It was really a great time discovering all that the Market had to offer. It was the perfect setting; snow was falling and there was plenty of Gluwien to keep us warm. 
We even scored some good loot:

Our Gluwien mugs

Hand-painted glass Ornament. 

Counting My Blessings x2; I'm a VERY lucky girl

First, anyone else sad that Christmas has officially came and went? I do really love this time of year and it just really flew by for me! :( Which makes me sad. All the same it comes once a year so the only good thing is that it will come around again in another year... I guess that's the silver-lining but it is entire year away!

Second, back to my being a VERY lucky girl: I know how lucky I am to have family around who love and care for me and with whom to share the Holiday season with. Additionally, I'm hugely blessed to have my husband home for Christmas this year. Last year I wasn't so lucky. 

Third, I was lucky enough to get everything I asked for this year! I guess I've been a very good girl all year! :) Yes, my lovely readers I get my MacBook, InStyler (which works perfectly!), slippers, and a Fabulous new robe (from Target). PS: For all my children of the 80's and Wii owners you MUST go out immediately and get:

This was another gift from my Husband... but he appears to like it more than Call of Duty I picked up for him. That's ok it's something we can play together :)

My hubby also got me PS: I Love You. awwww :) It was perfect for my stocking.

What great gifts did you get? Anything you're super excited about??

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and were good the past year (like I was) because, you know it really pays to be good!

Christmas Eve

So I've been complaining for at least a week about the lack of snow around these parts. However I failed to report we did get some decent snow Monday Night! Awww isn't it pretty??? Sadly the forecast doesn't call for any more snow today for the Eve but we should get some more flakes falling come the evening of Christmas (no pun intended- lol Evening of versus Eve. Please disregard I'm sure I'm the only one who was amused by that). 

Whether you are having a White Christmas (which I'm watching as we speak) where you are or not I'm wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and hoping that you are with loved ones. Also, reminding all my readers Milspouses and civilians alike to keep our military in your prayers and thoughts today. They, and the families left behind sacrifice so much, especially this time of year. 

Merry Christmas!

I Want it Wednesday....

I want... to remind everyone Santa that I still want the following for Christmas:

As previously discussed:

NEW Slippers

NEW Robe

Diamond Earrings

The Instyler

However, I no longer want for:

Yup, that's right SANTA brought me an early xmas present in the form of a MacBook! Isn't it pretty?

So.... if you're out and about (which I'd highly discourage) and happen to stumble across one of the first items from above please feel free to pick up on my behalf and email me for my home address.

Thanks and good lookin' out!

I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE, tomorrow!

I found it.... I ruined it...

I finally found non-stick stainless steel pots and pans. This was surprisingly a difficult feat. All the same here's what I've decided on:

Isn't it pretty?

*~~~*

Tonight began two weeks of leave for Kevin. After getting settled he tells me he wants to rent the most recent installment of Harry Potter: The Half Blood Prince. You can read about our first attempt at seeing this movie here. But guess what? I bought this for Kevin for Christmas. Kevin is really big on gifts being surprises. He's a big baby about it but deep down he doesn't want to know what he's getting. All the same... after he says he wants to go rent HP he goes on and on about "maybe we shouldn't rent it.... if i'm getting it as a gift in the near future." I did a fairly good job at playing it off-- like I hadn't gotten this for him as a gift. But I knew he would want to watch it, regardless and really this afternoon I was thinking I'd like to watch some HP too. Not necessarily Half Blood Prince (he has all the other movies) but since I was on board with the HP watching I decided Kevin could have his gift early.

Unfortunately he wasn't on the same page. He was happy to have it so that we could watch it. BUT he wasn't so happy that I ruined the surprise. It isn't Christmas yet, afterall!

Now I feel like I have to replace this gift but I have no ideas or thoughts on what to get him. :(

Any ideas?

What are you getting your hubs'???

Please share I need all the help I can get, especially with only 6 shopping days until the BIG day!

In other news, while watching some HP I proceeded to whoop Kevin's ass at some Dominoes!

Wow... I can't believe I just admitted we're that boring... hmm!

Whatevs.

AS PROMISED!

I LOVE our front walkway! The Candy Cane lights are just too adorable for words.

I do have more pictures to take of my table, living room, and kitchen. Oh yes! Christmas Decorations find themselves living all over our home at Christmas time!

HO HO HO!!