Traben-Trarbach Mosel-Wein-Nachts-Markt

Believe it or not, there are Christmas Markets that run until after Christmas!  I found one that wasn't too far away, and made an overnight reservation for just the two of us to head up for Marshall's birthday weekend.  The kids LOVE having a babysitter, so off we went!

This is a view of the hotel where we stayed- the Hotel Moselschlossen.  The Christmas market is in the former wine cellar of this hotel.

This is the gate on the other side of the river from the hotel.

Our hotel room was great- 2 levels with a sitting area on the bottom, and a spiral staircase.

This is the top level, with vaulted ceilings, and nice windows.

I love this picture I got of the courtyard at dusk!

We didn't really know what to expect as we headed into this long tunnel underground.

We came out in a huge room filled with a Christmas market!  It was warm, out of the rain, and very cheery walking around inside!

There were quite a few vendors selling things I had never seen before.

They even lit up the wine kegs.

There was an ice skating rink- or what we thought was an ice skating rink.  However, when we walked over closer we realized that the floor of the rink was made out of a white waxy material, and wasn't ice at all!

This was a great way to end our last Christmas season in Germany.  :(  

Bernkastel-Kues Weinachtsmarkt

The first time I went to Bernkastel-Kues was for a wine fest two summers ago.  It is a little more than an hour away from us.  When I heard they had a Christmas Market, I knew I wanted to go and see the gorgeous town again!

Beautiful town square!

Here is the skinny little house known as the "Spitzhause"

The house on the left is awesome- they turn it into a giant Advent calendar!

If there's a carousel- they ride it!

More sweets and treats for sale.

If there is Glühwein, we drink it!

If you are making your "must see" list, make sure to put Bernkastel-Kues on it!

Sankt Wendeler Weihnachtsmarkt

Sankt Wendel is a small city about 30 minutes away from where we live.  We heard they had a very nice Christmas Market, so we decided to check it out.

The Marktplatz had all the traditional stalls with arts and crafts for sale.  

This is the beautiful church, right in the middle of town.

I love these Christmas pyramids!

In one section of the market were these little dollhouses, with animated dolls inside.  Each house had a different theme, and they were pretty cute!

This naked lady was getting her back scrubbed!

In the medieval section of the market they had camels.  They use them when they act out the Christmas story.

A little further down the road was this free play area for children that was advertising sledding on "real snow from the Alps!".  It made me laugh to imagine a truck full of snow driving up here!

Mdx is telling the man her life story.

So much fun!  You bounced off of plastic-wrapped hay bales.

Looking at these photos you might start to think that it's overcast, rainy, and cold all winter- and you would be right!

Burg Lichtenberg Medieval Markt

Burg Lichtenberg is a castle that is near Kusel, about 30 minutes from where we live.

It is partially restored, and has a great restaurant inside.

This is the courtyard, and the entrance to the restaurant.

We found these awesome pastries, that are rolled around a wooden cylinder, and then cooked over coals.  Then they coat them with butter and cinnamon sugar!

The kids approved!

"Hey Mom, take our picture with this flag!"

This was really cool- these bars each play a different note when you struck them with the rubber mallet.  The kids could have played it for hours!

 A Medival man-powered carousel.  This poor guy pushed it around ALL DAY!

Not a bad view from the castle!

Eight years!

Today is our Eighth Wedding Anniversary, so I thought I give you all a few glimpses of the wonderful moments that I have had, with Marshall by my side.

 When we were dating.  This was at his brother's wedding at Little Rock AFB, in Arkansas.

When we got engaged- at Chimney Rock, in NC.

Not long before he left for the Air Force- at my apartment in Cary, NC.

The day we got married, on the courthouse steps, in San Antonio, TX.

During his first year in the Air Force- I went to Korea to visit him- I'm 4 months pregnant with Maddox in this picture!

In a restaurant in Newport News, VA.

At Maddox's 1st Birthday party, in our backyard in Langley AFB housing, in Virginia.

At the rehearsal dinner for our friends Michael and Lisa, in Cary, NC.

On a dinner cruise, somewhere along the James River, in Virginia.

At a restaurant in the mountains of Virginia, I am about 8 weeks pregnant with Maverick.

At the Korean American Friendship Dinner, in Seoul, South Korea- during Marshall's second tour there.

Sitting on the banks of the Mosel River, in Cochem, Germany.  We had only been stationed in Germany about 6 months.

Sitting along the banks of Lake Victoria, in Uganda.  I went to visit Marshall during his 5 month deployment there.

After he got home from his deployment- out to dinner at Burg Lichtenberg.

In our local Irish pub, in Ramstein, Germany.

Accepting one of his many awards, at the Officer's Club on Ramstein AB.

Paris, France.

Squadron Christmas party 2013- this was shortly after he stole his boss's phone and reprogrammed it with all sorts of inappropriate material.

In a field a few blocks from our house-photographed by my friend Margaret.

I'm so lucky to have found you- or you found me- or we found each other.  Eight years have flown by, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.