Carter did get to ride his all time favorite train. The TGV (train a grande vitesse) is the fastest commuter train in the world. He had a train book when he was 2 that told all about it, and he would ask every day when we could go on the TGV. One dream come true!
We arrived in Strasbourg only to find that the rental car company was closed. We decided to take taxis to Riquewihr to the tune of $200 a piece. Still no Danleys....
The next morning they emailed that they had stayed in Strasbourg and all the men had to return by taxi to pick up the cars. While the rest of us got to explore our town. Pretty cute, huh?
Day 2 took the boys to the Swiss Alps to go skiing.
It took the rest of us to Strasbourg to enjoy the Christmas markets and the ambience.
We did all kinds of Christmas preparations. The kids watched Christmas movies that Kari made for them. We went shopping for food and more gift wrap. We decorated men's tube socks for stockings and finished up decorating the house with a new nativity, colored paper snowflakes, rag garlands, and winter scenes the kids made. It was darling.
That evening before dinner we went out to do a little caroling in the town, only to find a brass octet and a men's choir taking turns entertaining the church goers. It was gently snowing and one of the most enchanting things I have ever experienced. We then walked around the snowy town singing to the delight of many a passerby.
We opened Christmas Eve jammies, hung our stockings and went to bed. Santa brought the kids lots of small toys and then we went out to walk in our little village.
Keaton had a block of snow he wouldn't put down. We all had to take turns carrying it for him.