Just after Thanksgiving, Rob's mom came to visit us and we enjoyed lots of grandma time. She helped Amelie practice piano, sewed with Charlotte, played board games with Toby, and listened to Jake's jokes. Everyone was thrilled to have her here, and hopefully we didn't wear her out too much.
We also walked around many Christmas markets. We started with Darmstadt.
Next up was Wiesbaden. Even early, it was very crowded.
Then we made the roughly five hour drive to Dresden to re-visit what I think is my favorite Christmas market in Germany. This year was the 583rd year of the market in this city, and I loved it every bit as much as I did two years ago.
The next morning we visited the Freiberg Temple. This was Charlotte's first time visiting the temple since she is now 12 years old. Rob and I loved being able to attend with her as Grandma graciously waited with the three smaller kiddos. In the temple we performed proxy baptisms for our ancestors. We believe that ALL people should have the opportunity to receive the gospel and the ordinances that we enjoy, whether in this life or in the spirit world. Otherwise, how unjust God would be. We also believe there is no compulsion in this temple work, but that each individual may choose to accept or reject these ordinances.
Three generations of Andersons.
And a family photo.
After the temple, we re-visited the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland.
These narrow walkways over huge gorges still make me incredibly nervous with four children, but the kids did better than two years ago about listening, holding hands when requested, and staying close.
It is still super cool.
After all of our exploring, and a brief rest at the hotel, we walked to the nearby Kreuzkirche, or Church of the Holy Cross, for an evening organ and trumpet concert. (Rob's mom plays the organ.) It was kind of interesting as the musicians were up behind us in the choir loft and we couldn't see them, but at 30 minutes it was just short enough for the kids to get through it paying moderate attention. They were just about the only children in the very packed church.
Then we decided to enjoy a big meal at an Asian restaurant buffet.
Toby is still our most daring eater and polished off an assortment of sushi on his own, though his chopstick technique could use some work!
As we left the restaurant this Santa roller-bladed past us and stopped to give the children candy. I was slow on getting to my camera, but the kids loved it.
Then it was back to the Christmas market for hot chocolate, shopping, and a carousel ride.
Oh I just love Dresden.
We also squeezed in one more Christmas market visit before it was time for Grandma to leave. I love the Rudesheim market because they have a lot of international stands and mostly because it is laid out in a big round circuit that takes you through the winding narrow streets of Rudesheim.
Overall, we are so glad that Grandma could come stay with us and enjoy some German Christmas magic. We are doing our best to soak up our last Weihnachtsfests before we move next year, and just spending time together as a family as much as possible.
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