Becky

While in Athens, Becky came to watch the girls for us.  I was a little worried about giving them one day to warm up to her, but they did just fine.  In fact, Kate never asked about us and Jane quit asking about us on the second day! Becky took the girls swimming, hiked up to a castle ruin, and helped out with Kate's lantern festival at kindergarten (St. Martin's Day).  

Day 1: After we returned home, we packed up to head to Cologne and Amsterdam.  Bryan decided to put air in our tires and accidentally broke one of the valves.  It was too late to fix, so we just drove slowly to Cologne.  The next morning, he went to a tire shop and got the valve replaced.

Cologne

Day 2: As we were pulling into the parking garage, Kate complained of tummy pain.  We didn't really bother with her complaints, because they are often.  As soon as I pulled her out of the car, she threw up breakfast.  We moved our car a little farther down.  Bahaha.  We continued on.  We weren't to the Cologne Chocolate Factory.  Super fun! and yummy!

Kate, Jane, and Myra watching the chocolate running through the tubes.  And then Kate threw up. Again. All over the factory floor.

We continued on.  We walked through the Christmas markets and the Dom and the souvenir shops. Then we got in the car and traveled to Amsterdam.  Not even 30 minutes into the drive, the tire goes flat.  Bryan and Becky quickly switched to the spare and we continued on.  We stopped at a nearby shop, but they didn't have our tires. So we drove very slowly to Amsterdam.

We finally made it to Amsterdam (we got lost)!

Day 3: And the next morning, we bought new tires and drove into the city center.  We were pretty tight on time, as I had scheduled the Anne Frank House tour.  But we made it (or at least they just let us slide by).  Thank goodness!

The Anne Frank house and museum was wonderful.  Definitely worth the visit.  We also checked out the Pancake House and Cheese Museum nearby.

Rachel holding Myra, Bryan, Kate asleep in stroller, and Becky

                                          

Myra finally warmed up to Bryan.

No throw up today...well, until that night.  Jane threw up right after dinner and pretty much all night.  I couldn't wait to take a shower in the morning.

Day 4: The next day we went to Haarlem and Zaanse schans.  We got to go into the Corrie ten Boon house, but it was definitely not exciting.  Children under 4 years should not be aloud and it would be a lot better not to have to hear to whole story of her life.  I just wanted to see the hiding place behind the wall.  Afterwards, it rained and hailed like crazy.  For quite some time too.  I have no pictures of this day, but when we finally got home and I pulled Kate out of the car, she threw up all over me.  Blah!

Day 5: We toured the castle Der Haar.  The last residents were in 2005.  The castle was built on old ruins.  It would have been lovely in the summer.

Bryan, Jane, and Kate sleeping in a royal bed!

We drove back down to Cologne and stopped at a playground.  Poor Myra threw up at the park.  And again at the restaurant.  And again at the airport.  Rachel decided to wait until she was picked up by her husband in London.  And Jane decided to throw up in the car on the way home to Parsberg.  Oh,... and we went an hour the wrong direction!

Although, you might be thinking this must have been an awful trip, it really wasn't.  It was definitely memorable.  Lots of laughs and lots of clean ups as were continued on!