Auf Wiedersehen

I like to keep a list of all the things we have done in the "area" where ever we move.  One, I can look back and see all the things we have accomplished.  Two, others can browse through and get ideas. And three, I like lists.  I already have a few things to check off in San Antonio!

Black Forest, Triberg waterfall, bought cookoo clock

Prague (bone church)

Berlin

Tropical Paradise

Eagles Nest (want to hike someday)

Salzburg 

Berchtesgaden

Lake Konigssee

Phantom of the Opera Musical in London

Dachau 

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Brussels, Brugge, Ghent

Hiked Zugspitz

Bastei Bridge

Devils Bridge

Polish pottery shopping in Boleslaweic x3

Rhein falls, Lucerne, and Lauterbrunnen

Kuekenhof tulip festival (maybe later in the season)

Hofbrauhaus & Munich

Nuremberg rally grounds and castle

Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Nymphenburg, Herrenchiemsee castles

Ettal monostary, cheese making 

Ring tour and Rudesheim

Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival x2

Straubing Fest x3

Highline 179 and ruins

Innsbruck

Belgian waffles and chocolate

Lake Bled & Vintgar gorge, Slovenia

Ski in Austria x 1

Guteneck Christmas market x2

Dresden Christmas market

Hike Jenner Mountain

Kranjska Gora, Slovenia and snowshoe to waterfall (drive up the road made by WWI POW)

Nurnberg Christmas market x2

Hike Appenzell, Switzerland 

Thurn taxis Christmas market

Buy Holland shoes and see the windmills

Kuhstallcafe Christmas market

Sicily- Catania, Taormina 

Partenkirchen gorge

Kuchlbauer Tower tour and Christmas market

Stonehenge

Parsberg Christmas market

Lupberg Christmas market

Playmobil 

Cologne fasching

Neumarkt Christmas market

Bath, UK

Dietfurt Chinese fasching x2

Liverpool, UK

Munich 10K, glockenspiel, English park surfing

Nurnberg color run 5k

Berglegenfeld Christmas market

Pottenstein, Germany

Waldwipfeldweg

Rothenburg- Christmas market and night watchmen tour

Vienna and Bratislava

Half marathon in Vienna, Austria

Kristall Palm Beach

Rome, Pompeii, Herculeneum, Capri 

Wunseidel Rock Labyrinth 

Parkstein inactive volcano

Lake Garda and Verona

Ronda, Nerja, & Malaga Spain

Hiked Caminito del Rey

Würtzburg 1/2 marathon

Snow White Castle in Lohr 

Gibraltar (tour of the caves)

DB museum, Nurnberg

Heidelberg, Märchen Paradies

Luxembourg City, casemates, American cemetery and memorial

Ljubljana dragon bridge and castle

Postojna castle & cave

Croatia: Plitvice National Park, Split, Dubrovnik, Krka National Park, Zadar sea organ

1/2 marathon Füssen

Ice cave hike in Berchtesgaden

Hallstatt, Austria and bone house

Mittenwald and Krün Almabtrieb

Oktoberfest 

Half marathon France

Mediterranean East Cruise- Venice, Corfu, Mykonos, Santorini, Athens

Athens authentic marathon 2016

Anne Frank house, Corrie ten Boon house 

Budapest, Hungary: parliament, Buda castle, St. Stephen's basilica, market square, Christmas markets, old synagogue, heroes square

Vienna Christmas market, Straubing Christmas market, Stuttgart Christmas market, Strasbourg Christmas market 

Skiing Söll, Austria x 3

Fuerteventura, Canary Island, Spain

Therme Erding 

Velburg fasching parade

Disneyland Paris, Eiffel Tower Carousel

Cesky Krumlov girls weekend

Barcelona and hiked up Montserrat

Scotland: Stirling, the Kelpies, Edinburgh, the Trossachs, Isle of Arran, Hadrian's wall

Ireland: Killarney NP, gap of Dunloe, ring of Kerry, Dingle, Cliffs of Moher, Dublin, Burran NP, Book of Kells

1/2 Marathon Karlovy Vary

Beer bath

We have high hopes of returning back to Europe, whether on vacation or another tour with the military.  I still want to visit northern France, do a Band of Brothers tour, and go to Paris as a family.  Of course, there are plenty of other things I'd love to do, but that was high on our list.  We just didn't have time.  Unti   

Disney Paris

I really wanted to take the girls to Disneyland, but Bryan couldn't really afford to take time off.  So I braved taking the girls by myself- to Paris, France- by train.  I now feel more confident traveling with kids alone.  Although, it is a heck of a lot easier when daddy is around.  

I made it a fairly easy trip.  We took the train the entire time and the girls did really well.  It was nice to be able to eat and go potty without making stops had I been driving.  

We stayed at a Disney associated hotel, so we had a shuttle to and form the park.  It was quite the hotel.  There was a large indoor aqua park, indoor jungle gym area, and restaurants attached with the hotel.  Too easy.  

Wednesday, we traveled by train to Paris.  The hardest part was navigating the stroller onto the metro headed towards Disneyland.  Luckily, I got lots of help from strangers with the kids and stroller.

 Thursday, our first day was a little rainy at Universal Studios.

Both girls were clueless about "Disneyland".  Kate loved seeing all the characters from the movies and spotting princesses.  Jane was just happy to do whatever her sister was doing.

 Such a fun ride.  

 We met Minnie Mouse and some of the other characters.  Jane was definitely not too happy with most of these characters.

 We did enjoy Aladdin's magic carpet ride!

 Friday, we went to Disneyland! They still didn't really know what to expect.

When I found out the line to meet the princess was more than 2 hours, I had a little conversation with Kate.  I told her that we would be waiting in a line for as long as Jane naps during the day.  She was committed and wanted to meet the princess.  She is so patient and determined, this little one.  I am so proud of her.  And it was such a joy to see her interact with Princess Aurora.

After our two hour wait to greet Princess Aurora, we found rides that were less crowded and good for Jane too.  It's a small world, teacups, dumbo, snow white, and peter pan are some of the favorites.

 Teacup!

 Fun at the hotel.  The jungle gym was four story's high- it was pretty cool.  Kate loved it, Jane had a harder time getting up and down to each floor without a little assistance.

Saturday, I braved a trip to the city of Paris.  All I wanted was to see the Eiffel Tower and take a few pictures.  The rest would be a bonus.  

 So, we found a playground

 and rode on a carousel. 

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by the Louvre.  

The trip was a success.  The girls still talk about it.  The only hiccup was on the metro to Disneyland, Jane may have back-flipped off the stairs...yikes!

December 2016

What a month! December is always hectic, but memorable (especially with kids).  Here is a recap of our adventures.

We attended our last military ball here in Germany.

Endured the freezing weather. 

Baked billions of sugar cookies for our playgroup Christmas party, neighbors, kindergarten Christmas party, and health clinic Christmas party. 

Kate made a salt dough ornament at the playgroup Christmas party. 

Sat on Santa's lap.  Kate asked for anything "Elsa and Anna" and Jane just cried. 

Enjoyed a picnic in the woods at Kate's kindergarten Christmas party. 

Spent way too much money at all the Christmas Markets.  This season we visited the Christmas markets in Budapest, Vienna, Straubing, Regensburg, Guteneck, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Innsbruck, and Munich.   

Climbed a rock wall in our friends basement. 

Bryan became a member of the 1000 pound club in Hohenfels. 1155! 

 Celebrated our 11th anniversary.

Had a great Christmas.  Kate loves her princess dresses, Elsa umbrella, markers, coloring books, and puzzles.  Jane loves her slide, water coloring books, plastic balls, and cleaning toys (broom, mop, duster).  Rebekah got a new hiking backpack and ski jacket.  Bryan's gifts haven't made it here yet... 

We also had a great New Years Eve.  We let the kids stay up late, eat lots of junk food, watch too much television, run around like crazy with friends, and set off fireworks.  Happy New Year!

Pumpkin Festival and France

We made another trip to the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival over the weekend.  The theme this year was Circus.  The girls had lots of fun eating pumpkin food and looking at all the pumpkin designs.

Rabbit in a hat. Kate enjoyed climbing up all the hills and running down them.  

"Zircus" Jane is trying to climb down the hill crawling. So cute!

Our score of a hotel in France.  The girls loved it.  The parents didn't love it so much.  It was definitely a good preparation for our upcoming cruise arrangements.

We completed a half marathon in Selestat, France.  It was a great race for both of us.  Bryan beat his personal best pushing the two girls and I finally completed under the two hour mark!! We do believe this is the flattest course we have ever done.

A happy family selfie!