Explorations of Jackie & Joe: 2016

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Cologne Christmas Market 2016

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

For Jackie's 3rd annual daytrip to Köln for my favorite German Christmas Market, she got to see her high school best friend Sarah Cowan Nyilas & her baby Findlay & show off her 2 babies to her family.'

"How you doin?" Caleb & Findlay first meeting

Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom

Sausage!

Mmm pretzel! That's German blood running through those veins

That Mom life!

Brooklyn watching a game similar to curling on the ice

Brooklyn on the horse on the carousel before she decided to wanted to ride the cow

Brooklyn riding the carousel, she chose to ride a cow...

Mama & Brooklyn at Weihnachtsmarkt Kölner Altstadt

Feeling like Supermom!

Brooklyn was enjoying watching those out on the ice. Caleb was fast asleep on Jackie's chest. Jackie used that opportunity to drink her own mug of gluewein. Of course shortly after Brooklyn starts begging to be held by mommy, hence this Supermom photo op holding 2 kids while still managing to enjoy her mulled wine.

Jackie & Sarah with their babies

Caleb feeling Findlay's teething gums

Caleb & Findlay are just the cutest babies

So happy we got to spend the day together in Cologne, Germany! Sarah got to meet Jackie's newest addition, adorable Caleb! Findlay likes him too!

Gluhwein angel pyramid

Mama & Brooklyn selfie

Mama & Brooklyn selfie at Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom

Caleb 6 Months

December 20, 2016

Caleb 6 months old #calebdai #sockmonkey #monthlyphoto #6monthsold

Friday, December 16, 2016

Gouda by Candlelight 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

The historical city centre of Gouda celebrates Gouda by Candlelight, an event with over 80 programmed activities. Every year, the occasion is visited by around 20,000 people from the Netherlands and abroad. The gooseherd and shepherd will bring their animals into town and join a living nativity scene as the beautiful churches present free concerts, and gorgeous decorations brighten up the street. At sundown electric lights will be turned off, and only candles will be lit to illuminate the night in the city centre. The day’s highlight takes place between 6:30 and 8pm, when everybody gathers at the square by the medieval City Hall. The lights in the enormous Christmas tree will be lit as everyone joins in and sings Christmas songs, accompanied by a professional gospel choir.

Joe got out of work early so we could drive up to Gouda during naptime. We parked at the Q-Park Nieuwe Markt. We walked past the Nieuwe Markt where the Navity scene was setup with a few of the manager animals there.

Backside of Stadhuis Gouda in the Markt

Gouda Cheese Museum (De Goudse Waag)

Stadhuis Gouda in the Markt

We stopped at Grand Cafe Central "de Buren" on the Markt for warm drinks and dinner.

Huge Christmas tree & Stadhuis Gouda in the Markt

Sint Janskerk had an indoor Christmas market.

Sint Janskerk in Gouda's stain glass windows

Sint Janskerk in Gouda's organ

Huge Christmas tree & Stadhuis Gouda in the Markt after dusk

Stadhuis Gouda as they lit the candles in the windows

Gouda By Candlelight

Stadhuis Gouda with the candles after the lights were turned off

Backside of Stadhuis Gouda in the Markt after the candles were lit

We stayed in the crowd to sing Dutch Christmas carols but Caleb was not happy in the ergo baby carrier. He wanted to eat. It was too crowded with the stroller to go find somewhere to sit so Jackie nursed Caleb right there in the middle of the crowd at the Gouda Markt. Brooklyn was also losing it, ready for bed. We manuevered our way through the crowd back to the car. We stopped briefly at the live Nativity scene to see the cows, donkey and sheep by the three kings. We've been intending to see how the kids would handle a late night out where they would fall asleep for the night on the way home. Caleb had a long stretch of crying before going down, but all in all it worked out well. We changed the kids into their pajamas before we drove so we would have an easy transition into their beds when we got home.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

German Christmas Markets 2016

Friday-Sunday December 9-11, 2016

We spent a weekend away to enjoy Christmas markets in Mainz, Frankfurt & Bernkastel-Kues, Germany.

Friday, December 9, 2016

We got a hotel in Mainz with credit card points for 2 nights so we could explore some neighboring German Christmas Markets. We wanted to be not too far from home (3.5 hour drive) but further down the Rhine than we have stayed in the past (Boppard, St Goar, Bacharach).

When we arrived Friday we went to explore the Mainz market.

Mainz Christmas Market by Mainz Dom (St Martin's Cathedral)

Mainz Christmas Market pyramid

Reibekuchen mit apfelmus (potato pancake with apple sauce), Jackie's favorite

Joe with his delicious pork & onion sandwich

Cuties in their matching Christmas pajamas from Sinterklaas

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Today we set out for Frankfurt. In terms of visitor numbers and size, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of the largest Christmas markets in all of Germany. The elaborate and creative stand decorations, the scenic surroundings on the Römerberg and St Paul's Square and the huge Christmas tree also make it very beautiful. We visited 5 different markets in Frankfurt: Römerberg, St Paul's Square, Mainkai (Main Quay), Hauptwache and Friedrich-Stoltze-Square.

It was a 30 minute drive from Mainz, perfect since that tends to be the length of Caleb's naps these days. Of course there is an accident and it turns into an hour drive. As soon as we hit the slow traffic, he wakes up right on cue. We get to the parking garage, bundle up and head straight to have a coffee and decide to have a nice Turkish breakfast brunch and eat Christmas market snacks throughout the day for lunch.

Cappuccino at breakfast to start the day at Mainkai Cafe

Frankfurt Cathedral, Kaiserdom St. Bartholomaus, Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew

Daddy & Caleb selfie in historic Römerberg Markt Square Christmas Market

Daddy & Caleb in historic Römerberg Markt Square Christmas Market

historic Römerberg Markt Square Frankfurt Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt Frankfurt am Römer)

Carousel in historic Römerberg Markt Square Frankfurt Christmas Market

This was a gorgeous 2 story carousel that Brooklyn was begging to ride but we knew if we let her out of the stroller already, getting her back in for the rest of the afternoon was going to be a challenge, so we promised her a ride later.

Brooklyn riding in the ergo on Jackie's back at the Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt

Jackie and Brooklyn riding the train at the Frankfurt Christmas Market

Selfie riding the train with Brooklyn at the Frankfurt Christmas Markt

Now that is how to smoke salmon!

Brooklyn downing some German sausage at the Frankfurt Christmas Market

Selfie with Caleb at the Frankfurt Christmas Markt

A few more shots of the Römerberg Markt Square Frankfurt Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt Frankfurt am Römer)

One last selfie at Römerberg Markt Square Frankfurt Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt Frankfurt am Römer)

We hit all the 5 markets by 2pm so we decided to head back to the hotel for naptime (or go for a drive on the Rhine if they fall asleep in the car ride back).

After naps, we hit the Mainz Christmas Market again for dinner. The crowds had definitely picked up with Saturday night traffic.

Mainz Christmas Market

Sunday, December 11, 2016

We had planned to stop in Cochem in the Mosel Valley on our drive home but the Christmas Market there was from 11am-6pm. There was also a Special Castle Christmas Market. It would be a 1.5 hour drive from Mainz to Cochem and then a 2.75 hour drive from Cochem to home. Another market option was in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany. It is 1 hour and 20 minutes from Mainz and then 2.75-3 hours from home, through Maastricht which would put us closer to where we need to pickup Chance. Bernkastel-Kues is in the middle of a world-renowned wine growing region. Only the best red or white wines are used to produce the all essential glowing Gluhwines. Sounds like a winner to us. Cochem and Burg Eltz area will have to wait yet again for Jackie.

On the drive, we had to circle around curvy roads down to the Mosel Valley, where Bernkastel-Kues resides. Brooklyn tells us her tummy hurts. Uh oh, not good. This girl easily gets carsick in these conditions. Dad slows down and takes it as easy as he can. We get into the parking lot along the river and circle around looking for an open spot. And then she throws up all over herself. We made it all the way there and she finally blows her lid. That was a fun, cold cleanup. We still decided to see the town, eat lunch before heading home.

Life-size wood carved pyramid in Bernkastel-Kues Christmas Market