Artichokes?

I had no idea artichokes were such a beautiful flower. Why do we eat these before they can bloom...look at what we miss.

Hoffest

We took the kids to a fall harvest festival, again yet another gorgeous day. We have been to lucky with nice weather. The kids played in the straw and went through the labyrinth "corn maze". We all ate bratwurst and the kids picked out pumpkins all in the little town of Hitscherhof.




Thatcher decided that he wanted to take a nap on his pumpkin after feeling how cool it felt on his skin.

Zoo

Wild Park

Heidelberg

I had to pay 50¢€ to pee to day.
We traveled to see the Heidelberg Schloss (castle)today. It is always a bit stressful driving around the the city streets but we finally found a place to park and walked down to the castle. It was very cool learning about all those whom lived in the castle, those whom designed and the stories behind life at the castle. I think it would be so fun to step back in time and witness the goings on for a day.
It was such a beautiful day, I was worried at first because it was so foggy but it lifted and well look at the pictures...

Landon arrived today!

We picked Landon up today...yeah! Thanks to the GPS I made it to the Frankfurt Airport with no delays, except for the ones I created on purpose. We stopped at the bakery (of course, goes without saying really) and then in some little towns along the way because we would have been way to early otherwise. I love the little towns they are my favorite, especially the farms that are right in town, I'll have to get a picture one of these times.
Taking pictures has also been a challenge, they don't have any turn out spots and there is never any room to just pull over, crazy tinny roads! LOL. I will figure this out sometime but it's been a challenge with a car full of kids. The obvious choice would be to actually somehow find a place to park and walk of course but again the kids. Once we are down to just are small family it will be easier but until then shots from the car will have to do. Every shot is worth it, it is so beautiful here.
I know, I took a picture of dirt, isn't the rich red soil awesome...hey! Don't make fun.
Having Landon here has already been so wonderful, I took him to the store and it was nice when I think they told me how much I owed, he could tell me. Other wise it was reach into the old hand bag and pull something out in hopes it was enough to cover the bill. Having someone know German is very nice.
Thatcher has been calling Landon, well "Landon". It's pretty funny, but I don't think daddy likes it:)

continued...

I said I would post more pictures at the parks, so here they are. We still haven't gone back to some of the more amazing ones on base. The kids don't seem to care which park we are at they enjoy themselves no matter what.
Yesterday was really nice so I gathered all the kids and we headed to the park. Of course when we got there these big black clouds started rolling in, then the thunder started, then a few sprinkles. At this point all parents started gathering their kids, not me, it was us and other family. The sprinkles started to get a little heavy so I started gathering the kids; they said they like the rain, I said i would be waiting in the car. About 30 seconds later torrential down poor. The kids scatter and run to the car, mean while I've been under a tree next to the car frantically looking for the keys in my over sized traveling back pack with to many pockets. Aaron is over at the car telling me to "open the door, open the door!" "I thought you like the rain?" "Not this much rain!" I finely find the keys and we hurry into the car only to discover the sun roof had been left open and I don't know which button to push to close it. Aaron declared it was a good afternoon for movies. I agree but when we got home the storm hadn't even hit at the house, still dry. Hmm, just one of those things.

The Best Parks

They have the best parks here in Germany, I will have to post more pictures of some of the other ones we have been to. A lot of them have been on the air force base but the ones around the towns are all the old wooden and rope toys like we had as kids but don't anymore because of the whole sue happy times we live in. At any rate no matter the danger level we are enjoying our freedom on the playgrounds.

Germany

Thatcher and I made it to Germany. It was a very long day as you can imagine. I have had an easier time adjusting to the time change but pore goobo's he has been up at 1-3 in the morning and is still sleeping, well it's only 9:30 am. His internal clock is very hard wired.
So I have very much enjoyed the baker already, Kristen has brought home yummy stuff everyday. I think Thatch might end up living off of fruit and fresh pretzels the whole time we are here. No matter, it's vacation, eat what you will!
We are so excited to be here with family. Thatch is very much enjoying his cousins and all there toys. I had to drive yesterday, what an experience. I'm sure I annoyed many German's perhaps by the end of the trip I'll be up to speed LOL. I'm grateful for Kristen's GPS otherwise I would still be looking for her, everything looks the same.
Well wish me luck Kris is with me one more day then it is just me and the kids, I hope they can get me where we need to go. HA ha But I hope Kris and Gary enjoy their cruise and don't think about us at home getting lost for one minute:)