Christmas in Germany

Another Christmas has passed, where has 2008 gone? Momma Q's motto last year was "2008 is gonna be great!" so I think this year should be "2009 is gonna be fine!"

Chris and I had a cozy little Christmas. On Christmas eve I cooked food for the Wounded Warrior's Christmas dinner. We then went to my friend Chrissy's for dessert and wine with her family and some more friends. It was fun! It was so nice to go somewhere on Christmas Eve, that's always when the Pawling's get together. After we came home we skyped the Pawlings, and got to wish everyone a merry Christmas eve. Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents! I cooked two turkey breasts and an apple cake, which we took to Chris's friend's home for Christmas dinner and celebrated the holiday with them.

We thought about going on a trip this weekend, but eventually decided our last 2 weeks together would be better spent just hanging out rather than lost and bickering. We had a very lazy Friday. Saturday we drove to Heidelberg and went to the army post with the most amazing arts and crafts center! It was like fabric heaven, right there in the middle of Germany. Needless to say, I bought lots of fabric. Then we went to monastery ruins and the thingstatte in Heidelberg, we missed them last summer because we were way too tired to walk there. Then we stopped by Ikea! We got a little table so now I have more counter space in the kitchen, DVD bookshelves, a lamp for my sewing area, an alligator for me to snuggle when Chris leaves, and a tent for Callie. Today I made minestrone, yum!

This whole deployment thing is a crazy rollercoaster of emotions! I can't believe Chris is leaving in 1.5 weeks. The house will feel so empty without him! I plan to quilt a lot, scrapbook all my photos, and hang out with my new pals. I'm so lucky to work where I do. Everyone is so caring, and understands exactly how I'm going to feel. I think it's much better that Chris is deploying while we're both overseas, I have a great support system, and he'll only be 2 time zones ahead of me. We should be able to email a lot, and he might be able to call me now and then on the DSN line (don't tell my boss!). If anyone wants to come visit, you're more than welcome!

Christmas with Q2

Mannheim Christmas market