(written Feb. 26 - very delayed!!)
For our family Christmas, Gabby and Jeremy and Brian, Jen,
and Richard flew over from the States to join us in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Our drive down was somewhat quicker than their flights from California
and Colorado and, even better for us, WE avoided the dreaded time-zone shifts.
(Sorry, kids.)
Come and join us in our family picture album.
Marianne and I arrived at our "Fereinwohnung" (vacation house) a couple
days before the visitors. This gave us a chance to stock the kitchen.We
were on the top of the five-story building (no elevators) and the small
kitchen was stuck under the head-bashing eaves. The view was spectacular
but the kitchen was ... limited.
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| On our first day, we searched out a Christmas tree. Sometimes it was
hard concentrating on the tree when we were surrounded by the spectacular
Alps. Back home, the tree fit perfectly and started turning our Fereinwohnung
into our Christmas home. |
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| The next day, we took an early train up to the Munich airport. Brian,
Jen and two-year-old Richard arrived on-time and as-tired-as-expected.
The train ride back gave the boys a chance to sleep. |
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| January 23rd, and one more early-morning train, this time for Gabby
and Jeremy. They arrived, snow boards and all, and we joined the German
crowds on the train back to the Alpine ski resort. |
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| Of course, Richard was the center of attention. "Uncle" Jeremy read to
him and we had that new baby-sitting
technology, his favorite DVD playing on the computer. |
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| Christmas Eve was a party at "home". We munched and drank and opened
presents. We ate more than we should have. Some of us even danced. |
 
 
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| On Christmas morning, we all got together in pajamas and ate some more
and watched Jeremy try to teach Richard how to juggle. It's a bit too soon
for that. |
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| While German tradition commands everyone to stay at home on Christmas
Eve, Christmas Day is something else. Like many others, we enjoyed a very
traditional restaurant meal. |
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| All that eating was occasionally off set by leisurely walks on the snow-covered
paths. It was all great fun. |
 
 
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| Gabby and Jeremy managed to get in one day of snow boarding on the Zugspitze.
It was a spectacular setting and the rest of us enjoyed the place, if not
the sport. |
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| Rich and his folks walked a bit in the deep snow, but I'm not sure he
yet had the idea of snow-as-fun. |
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On the ride back, Richard seemed to be deep in thought - probably wondering
why he was always awake when he should sleep and visa versa. (Hint: jet
lag - incomprehensible to two-year-olds)
ps: One of my favorite photos ever. |
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| Finally, all the family got on yet another early train for the trip
to Munich Airport and then the flights to Denver and San Francisco. |
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