Temple trip

I've been a lazy bum... so there are a lot of pictures to catch up on! These pictures are actually from our May trip to the Temple. When we were married we made a goal to go to the temple each month. Babysitting here is a lot trickier than at home... so, the past two months N and I have taken turns outside with the kids and the other goes in for a session. These pics are from my turn outside. We sure miss our lovely babysitters from home!

yeah... I can't remember what game they were playing. Silly boys

*edited picture* Um. Something tells me this company was not thinking about going global when they picked their company name...

A Good Day

I know I've been MIA lately... I've just felt... uninspired. Today I had an excellent day though-- and thought I'd post just a little photo and gratitude. I woke up, did hair cuts for Andrew and William (Cameron had his last week), cleaned the whole first floor, kitchen, swept, mopped, cleaned the bathroom... and all before 11 when a good friend and her two kids came over to hang out. The five hours they were here were so relaxing! Big boys playing outside in the pool/sprinklers, popsicles, pizza, fresh cookies, and I even got my newborn fix too thanks to my friend's sweet 8-week old daughter.

Andrew really loves this seat-- this picture was before we got moving and he was mid-protest of the helmet. Now he happily puts it on. :)

When N came home from work, he brought in this super cool bike seat that we ordered. C and W love riding their bikes, which leaves me keeping up with Andrew in the stroller. I thought about getting a trailer, but then didn't want to deal with the dog-pile of all three boys to get in it. This was our solution. Super easy to put on, and so. fun. We went on two little bike rides already and chatted for a bit with our neighbors (Americans-- pathetically, after one whole year here I can still only say "I don't understand German" in German).
When we got home I decided to take off W's training wheels and see how he did since he's been asking to try it for a while. He did so great! It will definitely still take many laps up and down the drive way, but he's really doing great. My big boy!
Tonight after getting in jammies I told the boys that they could each have a toy if they pooped in the potty three times.... My timing was intentional... W had assumed "the pose". *ahem*. He heard 'pirate ship' and ran to the potty.... and produced. SUCH a successful day with that boy!!
What a good day. What a good life... with healthy & gorgeous little boys and a loving & dedicated husband. I'm a lucky girl. :)

I promise to catch up on my posts soon... I've got tons of pictures coming YOUR way soon.

Heidelberg Zoo

For Memorial Day we went out to the Heidleberg Zoo. It was really fun! At many of the animal cages they had a cement imprint with a foot/paw print from the animal, which I thought was pretty cool, and there was a pretty good assortment of animals! We really liked some of the habitats, while a few were... lacking. We had a great time!

What a good looking man!

The scar is fading fast!What a gorgeous boy. :)

When we go out I dress the boys in their matching outfits not just because I think they're adorable, but because it's so much easier while looking for them if they're all wearing the same thing!

The boys were in heaven at this sprinkler.

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: