What's Up With The Wheelers: From Snow to the Christkindlmarkt, This is the Place

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

From Snow to the Christkindlmarkt, This is the Place

Hey, I made it into December on the blog and all the snow hasn't melted off the mountains yet! (Given the record amount of snow this year, that might not happen until late August, but let's hope blog catch-up doesn't last quite so long.)

Nothing says Christmas like the Christkindlmarkt! This is one of my FAVORITE Salt Lake City traditions--I'm just very particular about when I go. I prefer to attend in the middle of the day on a weekday to avoid the long lines and mega-crowds.

Callie and I discovered a new gem this year: the chimney roll. Pastry roasted on a stick, then dipped in cinnamon sugar? Yes, Please!

Making my mouth water.

Callie and I also stopped to take a photo with the cute elves. And yes, they were all taller.

To get home, I jogged up to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. This deer kept me company part of the way.

Our adventures were so fun that I came back with Annika. The playground is fun any time of year. :)

With five dollars burning a hole in her pocket, Annika was excited to check out every single booth.

Holiday joy by the wagon and at the Andrus Halfway House.

I confess--I spoiled the girl rotten by letting her get a cotton candy owl. It was just too cute to resist! Plus it turns out that cocoa flavored cotton candy is pretty tasty.

Topping off the sugar with a healthy brat. Yeah, it's probably a good thing the Christkindlmarkt only happens once a year.

If you enjoy the Christkindlmarkt, you might enjoy This is the Place's Candlelight Christmas as well. Far less busy, it still captures all the Christmas charm. We went with the Wilhoits and had a great time.

Square dancing! Duck low to make it through the bridge.

Next up, homemade candles. Fair warning, they might make you sleepy.

Last but not least, a moment with St. Nick. The line was long, but it was fun to get a picture with all our munchkins. I'm guessing that there won't be many more with everyone huddled around Santa.

If all those beautiful Christmas decorations aren't enough to help you feel the holiday spirit, snow might! Utah's snowfall for the 2022-2023 season was EXCEPTIONAL. We are all grateful for the moisture after multiple seasons of drought. Now we are just praying that it doesn't melt too quickly and cause more flooding.

Here are a few pictures of our first ski trips at Brighton. As beautiful as our ski days are, I don't take nearly as many photos these days. In part this is because the photos start to look the same, season after season. However, the bigger reason is that the kids are all such great skiers right now that it takes all my energy and focus just to keep up!

Eli lands in a LOAD of powder. It's difficult to articulate just how much powder there was this season!

Most all of Eli's ski picks look like this--a single cute nose peaking out from a sea of black.

Eli and I must have played hooky this day. Ski fever is real...

...especially with conditions like these.

Fueling up with hot chocolate. Happy day!

Next adventure: night skiing.

Grateful for the lodge where my favorite people can warm up.

Closer to home, the snow kept falling as well. If I remember correctly, the buses were running SUPER late from all the snow and the Toyota kept sliding, so Brooklyn, Talia, and Eli walked three miles to school.

Annika walked as well, although the journey was far shorter. She insisted on bringing her stuffed penguin in a sled. We wrapped it in a beach towel to make sure it stayed warm.

Catching snowflakes.

These photos were taken December 13th. I never could have imagined that the snow was just getting started! Eli made a LOT of money this season by shoveling a neighbor's driveway and side walks for $20 a storm. I doubt she anticipated her walks needing so much snow removal either.