Slovenia

Over the MLK weekend, we packed up our little VW golf and headed to Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.  This is country number 9 for our little Kate.  We were hoping to see more snow so we could go skiing and snowshoeing, but the weather was not cooperative.  Above freezing the whole time, plus rain = slush and ice. We got a little house about 200m from the ski resort, which would have been perfect, but it didn't turn out.  You can never rely on the weather here in Europe. 

 The first day we went snow hiking around Lake Jasna.  We didn't need snowshoes, although they might have prevented us from slipping.

 The second day it rained ALL DAY long, so it was very cold and wet.  We traveled to Lake Bled and toured the castle, the lake, and ate the famous Bled cream cake.  We didn't take the ferry to the island with the church because it just wouldn't have been fun and I heard it's pretty pricey.

Instead, we went to the Vintgar Gorge.  It was closed, but that didn't stop us.  That is until parts of the hand rails and boards were missing from rock and ice slides.  We turned right back around.  Don't worry, there were others there doing the same as us.  Trying to see the waterfall at the end of the gorge.

 The third day we attempted to take the car up Vrsic Pass.  It is a road built for a military purpose during WWI by Russian POWs.  It has 50 cobblestone hairpin turns (24 up and 26 down) through the Julian Alps.  We only made it to turn 15, as the road conditions were a little dangerous.  We reached about 1200 meters and I think the top is 1600 meters. The views were incredible and the mountains are jagged.  Maybe next time, if someone wants to come visit! {hint, hint}

 Bryan and the Julian Alps.

The third day we also went snowshoeing to the beautiful 52 meter waterfall Pericnik. In the summertime you can actually go behind the waterfall.  Another reason to visit Slovenia again!

New Year and Stuttgart

We celebrated the New Year at home and went to bed early.  I am not the biggest fan of staying up late, just to be physically exhausted the next morning.  No matter what time Kate goes to bed, she will still wake up at 7 AM.  Although, we did wake up at midnight to fireworks surrounding our house.  These Germans sure know how to light up the night and party! 

 The next day we went on a hike through our neighboring forest.  The snow was starting to melt, so we didn't really have to wear our snowshoes.  Kate enjoys playing in the snow, as long as her hands stay warm.

 We spent three days in Stuttgart, Germany.  We took Kate iceskating for the first time.  She did fantastic.  They have these little chairs that you can either sit on and be pushed or hold onto the back for balance to skate.  She started to have more confidence by the end saying "Kate do it!"

We also went to the zoo which worked out great because it rained ALL DAY!  The Stuttgart zoo is perfect for rainy weather because you can go inside the building on the other side of the outdoor cage and see all the animals hiding from the rain themselves.  I think the hippopotamus was our favorite.  He would hid in the water and then come up and spray the crowd with dirty water.

Old Town Stuttgart.  One of the buildings in the city is dedicated to Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, the man responsible for attempting to assassinate Hitler.  If you haven't seen the movie Valkyrie, I highly recommend.

 Bryan and Kate in front of the pond at New Castle.  

Christmas Time

This has been our 3rd Christmas away from home and family.  We are pretty used to doing things on our own.  And what better place to celebrate Christmas than in Germany.  They celebrate Christmas for almost a month.  It starts around the last week of November with Christmas markets, Christmas markets, and more Christmas markets.  They also celebrate something called Krampus (the evil santa clause) on the 5-6th of December.  We enjoyed the wonderful German Christmas markets and all the things the post put on for the Americans.  

 After several attempts to get a decent picture with Santa, this picture works.  Kate was a little leary of the jolly fellow, but warmed up to him after seeing friends do it.  Santa came to one of her playgroups Christmas party.

 We went down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for Bryan's military ball and stayed with some friends, the Walkers.  We went to the small Garmisch Christmas market and let all the kids go on the merry-go-round.

 I took Bryan out for our 9th anniversary! 9 whole years with this guy. Crazy! We went rock climbing for the first time in FOREVER, and had a lovely dinner without the kid.  We don't go on to many dates, but it was nice to be alone together doing something fun.

 Our cute little girl ready for the Christmas Eve dinner with friends. 

 Bryan and I had fun playing Santa Clause this year, as Kate sort-of understands.  At least the opening presents part.  She got a kitchen with lots of kitchenware, books, table/chairs, play nativity set, polish pottery tea set, and lots of treats.  Bryan and I got a few items: polish pottery, bike trainer, medal holders to put our running/triathlon medals, Christmas movies, and some essentials.

 The stockings might have been her favorite part though with all that German chocolate!

 Christmas pajamas!

 The day after Christmas, it snowed for 5 days straight! I was getting a little worried that this might be a never ending mess.  Luckily, it melts within a few weeks and then snows again.  Not too bad.  Just wish we were a little closer to the mountains, so we could go skiing more often and have babysitters nearby.
This building is pretty cool.  I found it online, and turns out to be some famous painter/architectural designer from Austria, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, that builds buildings without corners and tries to involve nature inside.  It is about 45 minutes away from our house and is a building filled with his artwork.

This building was blocked off.  I didn't know that it would be closed.  The internet said it was opened.  Oh well.  It is part of the Abensberg Brewery.  This is the more famous building.  I really wanted to go up, but maybe we will go another time.  Maybe with some visitors?? {hint, hint}

A near-by castle, Prunn.  

First Visitors!

My parents came to visit for 2 1/2 weeks.  It was fun showing them our fun little villiage and surrounding areas.  We also went on two weekend trips.  It was very busy, but enjoyable. 

 On our way to Regensburg by train.

 The first weekend, we went to Czech and Poland.  Bryan, Kate, and I are on the platz of Prague Castle.  

 My mom taught Kate to wink.  You'll see that Kate is winking in a couple of the pictures.  This is in Prague.

We drove up to Boleslawiec, Poland to get pottery.  I have been wanting to make it here since I saw my friends pottery dishes.  So neat.  I think it is something great to bring back home as a reminder of living in Europe.  I got a whole new set of dishes for Christmas.  Can't wait to actually use them!

 A neat little restaurant in Boleslawiec.  The foods not to great, but it's traditional Poland food.  I mostly only like perogies.  I remember eating a lot of those at school in Pennsylvania.

 We drove to Auschwitz for a more historical visit.  That sign above the camp is not the original.  Someone stole it in 2006.  It was found in pieces.  The sign in Dachau was recently stolen too (November 2014).  So sad that people are destroying important pieces of history.  The sign means "Work Makes You Free".  Hitler gained his power through helping Germany out of the depression by finding work.

 A very sobering experience. It's hard to imagine 1.3 million people were killed here. 

 Kate loves her "Pa pa".

 Our Thanksgiving.  We had pizza, salad, and bread in Sicily, Italy.  I enjoyed not having the pressure of cooking a turkey in the small German ovens this year. Maybe next year, I just order KFC?

 Our hike up to Taormina.  Beautiful city.  Famous by the movie "The Godfather". 

 An ancient Roman ampitheater in Taormina, used only for theater (not gladiator games). The day started out beautiful, but then the clouds took over.

 Kate loves her grandma and grandpa.  They gave her wonderful presents that make annoying noises that go on and on and on.  I guess that's payback? In this picture, we ate at a authentic Sicilian Restaurant.  Most of the stuff we ate, we didn't order.  It was a 4 course deal and the waiter told us what to order.

The last night here, I took my parents to a Christmas Market in Nurnberg.  So magical.  You could spend a lot of money here eating treats and buying junk.  The Germans sure know how to do Christmas here though! 

We miss you already! Come back in July!

Salzberg, Austria

By far, one of my best planned trips! 

 On Mozart Bridge. You can see the fortress in the background.

 The Salt River.

 On the mountain top with the fortress.  Made it just before the sun set.

 We went to Lake Konigssee for a day in the mountains at Berchtesgaden. We took a ferry boat to St. Bartholomew's Church and hiking trails. So beautiful!

 We got lost for an hour looking for the "ice castle". We were so happy to have finally found the thing.  It's a glacier in the form of a rainbow.  The waterfall above is what makes the rainbow arch.

 St. Bartholomew Church

 One of the scenes from "Sound of Music". Kate and Bryan are running through the archway singing do, re, me, fa, so, la, te, do!

 The famous gondola from "Sound of Music" where they sing "Sixteen Going on Seventeen".

Red Bull Museum.

We did the Hop On, Hop Off tour, which had both a city tour and Sound of Music tour. Highly recommend. We also made it to the Salt Mine in Berchtesgaden. Only recommend if you have a child under 2 years old.  The other salt mines in the area have better slides and more slides.  

WaldWipfelWeg, Nurnberg, and Wolfstien Castle Ruins

This is me and my bestie Kellie.  We try to go out every other week and do something fun in places around the area.  This little place has animals, optical illusions, an upside down house, and fun little activities for the kids.  

 Unfortunately, we didn't get the best views from this overlooking bridge because of the fog.  

 Optical Illusion

 Upside down house

 Old Town Nurnberg.

You spin one of the gold rings three times and it gives you good luck.  I was spinning the wrong ring, didn't notice the long line.  Silly! I did eventually spin the right one.

 Nurnberg Castle

We visited the Wolfstien Castle Ruins in Neumarkt one sunny Sunday afternoon.  This might be one the better preserved ruins we have seen so far.

Halloween

Halloween was really fun this year.  Kate is old enough this year to do holiday activities and understand the true meaning of candy. When we took her to go trick-or-treating, she took the lead to every house; didn't even look back to make sure we were following her!

 Hohenfels had a Harvest Fest with professional photos, a jumping gym, hot dogs, and games with candy prizes.  We had a lot of fun as the Bumble Bee Clan.

 She enjoyed pulling out the pumpkin guts and getting messy.

This is the first time I have ever traced and cut out a pumpkin.  And the first time I didn't cut a finger off!

It's a cat if you couldn't really tell.

Daddy and Kate painted pumpkins with markers.  Next year, I am going to try to be a little more creative when it comes to cooking fun meals.  My friend makes spooky bread and cob-web soup.  We will see.