Family Hike!

Stefanie, Rachel, AJ, Dominic, Missy & Steve

We mandated today "family day" so we could spend part of the day with the kids without idevices, movies and friends; even though we too love all those things. Since the weather has been so mild here in Germany there is not much snow in the mountains. This means many of the hiking trails are still easy to hike.

We headed to Herzogstand where Steve and I have been before. To keep our people happy we rode the cable car up the mountain. Four minutes for 700m, not bad. Then we hiked to the top of Herzogstand. It was an easy switchback trail with just a small slippery part at the beginning where the ice hadn't melted - the rest of the mountain was completely snow free!

The trail to the summit.

The views were incredible and it was a beautiful day to be outside enjoying the mountains. Plus one of the best parts of hiking in Germany is the Hutte where you stop to eat. Delicious Bavarian foods and of course bier, gluhwein and hot chocolate with rum!

Rachel & Stefanie on the way up.

Cross at the summit

Stefanie

AJ

Boys headed back down

Lunchtime - Dominic, Rachel, AJ, Stefanie & Steve

47!

Birthday Cake in our Christmas PJs

I've had a terrific birthday! Steve and the kids work hard to make it special since I share it with Christmas Eve. In fact we started celebrating on the 23rd!

Dominic, Stefanie, St Nick, Rachel & AJ

Yesterday we headed into Munich to enjoy some Christmas markets and Christmas shopping. We even ran into Saint Nicholas along the way! Then it was time for STAR WARS! We were all excited to see the next installment and we were not disappointed.  Thumbs up from all the DelRossos!

Next it was dinner at Grill and Grace. This is a steak restaurant that Steve and I found where you grill your own steaks. It's fun and different, plus it reminds us just a little of Phillip's Foote in Sydney. The big difference is the grills are outside in Sydney but inside in Munich!

Cooking our steaks!

Then today on my actual birthday the fun continued. Lots more wonderful presents, breakfast by the kids, lunch in Starnberg and a short walk by the lake. The girls even arranged a birthday dessert surprise at the restaurant!

Late afternoon we switched into Christmas Eve mode. We started with the children's mass at our local church, there was a sweet nativity play complete with a star that moved from the back of the church to the front with three adorable wise men following it. We ended our evening with our traditional Christmas Eve meal and It's a Wonderful Life.

Dominic's Home Too!

AJ, Rachel, Dominic & Stefanie

WOOHOOO!!!!

Dominic landed today and we are once again complete! We will make the most of our 13 days together!

AJ went to the airport with me this morning since the girls had school - seriously, they had school and Steve had to work! I'm hopeless using my phone as a camera but here the boys are with the excellent sign AJ made! And then, of course, McDonalds for my two favorite sons!

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AJ's Home!!!

Rachel, AJ & Stefanie

Woohoooooo!!!

After a flight change due to high winds in NYC and delays for repairs and snow in Chicago, AJ made it to us in Munich. We were all so excited to see him. The girls are still teary in this picture with him at the airport!

We went straight to Rachel's basketball game where having AJ in the stands proved to be good luck. She had her best game ever and her team won their first game of the season!

Murnau Weihnachtsmarkt

Steve and I decided to spend our Sunday afternoon German style - outside at a Christmas market. My friend Terry had recommended this market and we were not disappointed.

Beautiful Bavarian Sign - so much detail

The street was filled with unique vendors selling their wares and of course we had a gluhwein while we strolled along. One of the best things on a cold day while you're outside is hot drink of mulled wine. There was even a sweet live nativity performed by local children. German children also learn to play the recorder, it was so cute.

Madonna AND London!

Missy, Jasmin & Lana

We will start with this: I am a very lucky girl. Very, very lucky. For the past five days I escaped all grown-up responsibilities for a long weekend with some girlfriends in London. The catalyst for this weekend was the Madonna concert.

Dinner on Carnaby Street before the concert

Missy, Lana & Jasmin

Most of you know I am a huge Madonna fan and was really disappointed when I missed her last tour because we had just moved to Germany. This year my friend Lana was moving to London and we decided the Madonna concert was a great "excuse" for a visit. My friend Jasmin and I headed to London for her Rebel Heart tour stop and I'm so glad that we did. We had such a fabulous night and of course Madonna didn't disappoint. Well, I shouldn't say "of course", I was disappointed with one of the eight tours I have seen but the other seven have been spectacular! I'm so glad we made this trip! Madonna is still an amazing performer with an incredibly entertaining show.

1989 - I've been a fan for a looong time!

Jasmin the jetsetter had to head out the next day for a birthday party but as she left our friend Wendy joined us and the three of us spent the rest of the weekend in London. Before Wendy arrived Lana and I did a Blitz tour with London Walks. This was an interesting and informative tour and Lana and I both learned lots. We also explored a little of St Paul's Cathedral since the tour was near there. It is a beautiful cathedral but we were too late to climb the dome, next time!

St Paul's Cathedral

Original London City Wall

We of course spent a fair amount of time shopping, drinking coffee and tea, having lunch and walking Lana's dog Blue. Lana lives near Hyde Park so we enjoyed long walks exploring the park every day!

Lana, Wendy & Missy

We also went to The Book of Mormon. It was absolutely hilarious although it pummels the Mormon religion and there is an argument that it is targeting religion as a whole. However, it is wildly entertaining and very well written. If things that make fun of religion offend you, don't see it, but if you can view it with an open mind by all means check it out.

La Bodega Negro - Hans, Wendy, Missy, Lana & Marc

We spent our last evening in Soho which is just an entertaining maze of streets. We had terrific Mexican food at La Bodega Negro with amazing margaritas. Our friend Hans is also spending most of his time working in London so he and Lana's husband Marc joined us and took us a to a hole-in-the-wall jazz bar - Blues Bar -  that was just so cool and the band playing was awesome.

On our was to the Blues Bar

Fun, FUN weekend for me. I told you I was lucky! And I'm ever so grateful to my great hosts! Lana & Marc!

SOLD!!!

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This summer Steve and I made the difficult decision to sell our house. It was a wonderful place to live while our kids were growing up. We will miss our neighborhood and friends but look forward to where the future takes us!