Chicago Christkindlesmarkt

We took the train into the city Wednesday to catch the Christkindlesmarkt on one of its last days for this season. Not an easy undertaking with three kids since it's one gigantic DO-NOT-TOUCH kind of environment, but E and I visited the market in Nuremberg our first Christmas together, as well as the well-known ornament shop in Rothenberg ob der Tauber, and the few Christmas ornaments we brought back were pretty much our only souvenirs from our first European adventures since we were po'. Like big time po'. But we have a bajillion memories and enough photos to accompany them, so we're good. Right, so this market was awfully reminiscent of that Nuremberg market, even the smells...and the shop in Rothenburg? It had a giant walk-through stall here in Chicago. What? I can't get over it.

Riding the double decker train dad takes to work was a leetle bit exciting.

Just a tiny smattering of what was there - you get the idea?

Anyway. We were rained on all day. Or was it sleet? Whatever - cold wet stuff all day, but it was a good Christmas activity none-the-less.

This is how to smile for the camera in sleet.

And we also took in the Macy's display windows, which the kids loved. The line to see Santa in Macy's was ridiculous, so we told the kids Santa isn't real. Ha, ha. No, not really.

And look what I brought back to look at! I've wanted one of these forever. No, actually it came from Home Goods, but it's the real deal, and it cost about 25% of what they were at the market, so even more awesome, right?

Merry Christmas!

Battle Wounds

With three new sleds in tow (early Christmas presents in celebration of a couple of inches of fresh fallen snow this morning), the kids and I raced for the single solitary hill in the area. As the first early birds on the hill we revelled in the snow, raced down the hill and made snow angels. It was great fun, until a couple of older kids joined us on the hill and one of them flew down the hill at just the moment Bubs had slid to a stop down there and was getting up. I watched helplessly from the top as she knocked him off his feet, and then ran/slid down as it registered that my three year old was a bloody mess. Those darn head wounds bleed like the dickens, they do. A large chunk of the girl's eye tooth was embedded in his forehead. Serves her right for messing with my boy. As she ran off squealing to her mother (who never got out of her car until the squealing began - seriously!) Bubs looked up and asked to go home.

He sports several stitches now and should be quite proud of the ruckus he's caused around here. Big brother and big sister are a bit in awe of his bravery getting stitched up. And as for him, he would prefer not to be strapped down to a papoose board ever again.

Let the Christmas bliss begin.

Last week "gumpaw and gumpaw" came for a visit laden with an early shower of Christmas presents. The highlight for Bubs was discovering his very own Lightening McQueen big-boy-bike. All his hopes and dreams came to fruition as he tore away the wrapping paper to reveal a Lightening McQueen bike. I wondered if this new bike would be just the nudge he needed to finally learn to pedal in earnest. Or, would it worsen his apparent frustration in the mysteries of forward propulsion.

For a day or so he was content to push it in circles around the sofa. Of course, once gumpaw and gumpaw departed for the airport, he climbed atop and began to pedal with such speed and precise corning maneuvers that I've been forced to conclude he's particularly adept at closeting his mad skills until the perfect timing for maximum shock value is reached. (Perhaps he's perfectly capable of demonstrating potty-training...but waiting for just the right moment??) I bestowed just the right overload of motherly pleasure, with squeals of delight and lots of clapping. He gave me a look one reserves for the village idiot.

No day has been complete without several turns around the sofa. But today, TODAY, we took the bike outside for it's inaugural spin outdoors. He was beaming. The bike is a resounding success gumpaw and gumpaw - a resounding success!!