Sunday in the park

Oppenheim

On Saturday we had time to kill and we decided to see what options the GPS had to offer us. We decided to see what Katharinen-Kirche was. The drive up was crazy streets that seriously would barely qualify as one-way streets back home (only in DC or SF), but here they operate two-way traffic! It's insane. When we reached the top and got out to explore the church, the chaotic drive up was worth it. From the outside the church looks half classic old-europe and the other half looks many hundreds of years newer; from the inside, I couldn't tell any difference.

My best guess (all signs were in German only) is that the half of the church that looked newer had been damaged or destroyed because they had statues, and plaques like these all over on display. Very cool.



We had no expectations of this church-- we were really just killing time. We were intrigued to walk past two little alcoves into the hill.

Can you see what is behind this gate?




yup.




bones:

The crude translation of a sign next to it: "Michael's chapel dead chapel from approximately 20000 dead from years 1400 till 1750".... which explains...nothing. The catacombs in Paris, I understand. I wonder if this was something similar.

William was cute when he saw it and said "Oh, this looks kinda like where the skeletons live."

Sure does, Buddy!!



The next little alcove we went into William didn't like at all.



I don't know why...

Eeeeeek!

Each of those faces were about 2-3 feet. Ugh. The bottom left face still makes me shudder a bit.

Inside the church was a bit more peaceful. :) I was so bummed I didn't bring in a camera that could record because there was a duo playing an old piano (I'm losing the word for what kind of sound it had... mozart era) and flute. It was incredibly beautiful.

"Kain, where is your brother Abel?"

Dang- these boys are cute.

Interesting graphic combo here...

Amazing carved detail though.

Aaand I'm still loving my new lens. ;)

Who needs the movies when we have real life?

Yesterday was Nathaniel's big marathon day! He's been training so hard for 10 months. I think we were both ready for it to be over. ;) Nathaniel drove up to Mannheim and I took the train up several hours later so I could be there for the big finish and drive my conquering hero home. The train ride was lovely. No kids to look after! I just kicked my feet up and enjoyed the scenery:

I love the fields everywhere here!

I arrived in Mannheim and took in the sights and atmosphere. It's a beautiful city; we'll have to visit again with the kiddos.

As I walked around I thought about my passionate Nathaniel. Running so fast and so far, while I was much more contents to just watch the 1/2 marathoners come in while I ate my kitkat. :)

Could there be a cuter name for a portapotty?

There were thousands of participants in the days races and people were pumped. Music was blaring. The entire place was a big party. Even this guy seemed to be having a good time.

Well before N's goal time (3:40), I took my place up in clear view of the finish line. I anxiously watched and my heart lept a little every time I saw a white tank-top/white hat combo.... I watched up at that podium for an hour and a half more and still had not spotted MY white tank-top/white hat man. Then I started to feel like a fool... I had to have missed him.... RIGHT? I mean there were thousands of runners... But even while feeling foolish, sneaky 'visions' crept into view... my husband has been kidnapped! He's been taken away by ambulance! He's broken his leg! How will I find the car he drove here to get home to relieve our sitter? Oh, the imaginative heart of a loving wife.




Turns out....






I was only partly right.





...





...on the ambulance part.

Still figuring out what the diagnosis is (major language barrier happening there). A blood infection? Heat stroke? Not sure yet. He was very dehydrated as the result of... details I'll spare our readers. He's okay. Honestly, I think it's kinda a more fun marathon ending then just running across the same ol' finish line everyone else ran over (but that's just the non-runner in me, and plus-- I'm not the one hooked up to an IV in a quarantine room overnight).

I love you, baby. I will come rescue you from your Klinck tower.
Love, your knightess in shining armor.

zoo

A couple days ago friends came to visit and we all headed out to check on our fasanarie residents. Our boys had so much fun with their friends!

"Baby" is fading fast... he's nearly all "toddler" now.

I love this picture! What did Nathaniel say when he saw it, though? He said it reminded him of this:

Lunch with the ducks

Hancock style picnic

A couple days ago I decided to attempt to score some mom-points. I planned some lunch before picking up William from school and off we headed to dine with the ducks. The ducks were only quasi-interested in our offerings, but the boys ate all their lunch so I call it a successful outting. On the way back to the house we stopped at the playground as long as my allergies could handle (as much as I LOVE that park, I think it was trying to KILL me).

As much as Andrew loves to eat with a fork, that wouldn't cut it at the park. I felt inspired when I thought of cutting up chicken and putting it in his snack cup. haha... the simple thrills of motherhood....

This was his intentional pose for the camera... love these little boys with such HUGE personalities.

At the park. I'm loving my new lens! :)

Pumping Iron

Hmm.... Who's son is this? ;)

I recently bought a couple Jillian Michaels DVDs to try and get some exercise done in the house. I thought the William and Cameron would at least be entertained and maybe even do some of the workouts with me. I underestimated my big boys! They're VERY enthusiastic and request the DVDs more than any of their other favorite shows. Nathaniel bought me some weights to use (instead of cans of soup...) and they were quite the "bone of contention," as my mom might say. I ended up still using cans of soup as my weights were hijacked by my persuasive boys. We looked on Amazon for some 1lb weights... but they were all PINK! What the heck Amazon? My sweet Nathaniel went out locally yesterday and found some 1/2 kg weights in a nice gender-neutral RED. Aww, what a wonderful Daddy to support his sons ambitions. ;)

The boys LOVE them.

The weights were carried on the walk to school today and Cameron even took his nap with them. Before I know it these kids are gonna have some killer biceps!

They're making the exact same expression! Such silly boys.

Beautiful boy. His head is getting much better.

Little Feet

Every time I talk to my mom and complain about the terrors that my children can be she gently reminds me that "they grow up so fast and believe it or not, you'll miss them at these ages." I'm sure she's right. Looking back at pictures of them just a year ago it's amazing to see how much they've grown and changed. A couple days ago at lunchtime I was standing ready to meet the next request that was thrown my way (juice, pirate plate, orange cup, blue fork, oranges cut the circle way....). It was a rare moment when they were all simply quiet and eating their food and my eyes drifted to all of their little feet. It might be silly, but I love these little feet and I love how they look sitting in these big chairs. It's a simple little thing that reminds me that even though they are growing up so fast, today they're still just my little boys. I'm grateful for each of these little monsters and that I get to be their mother.

Baby Andrew

Little boy Cameron

Big boy William (hopefully this will be the last shot of him in a diaper...)