Nurnberg Color Run 5K

This was my first and probably only color run.  I think everyone should do one, but it definitely isn't exercise.  I was also like 8 months pregnant, but still, you don't have to run.  All you want is to get covered in color.  

 We went with our friends the Larsen's, the McCarson's, and the Hollist's.  Kate really enjoyed the throwing of the powder and hanging out with the big kids.  She has such a social and loving personality.  We love her to pieces.

Don't judge.  I look awful, but this is the only picture of Bryan and I at the race.  We have started to slack in the picture taking department.

Baby Shower

My sweet friend Kelli threw a wonderful baby shower for me.  We had a great turn-out!  Us ladies were able to sit and talk, play games, and open presents.  In the picture is Kristin, Mary, Me, Maggie, Dulcie, Lauren, and Cheere.  Kelli is not pictured.  Baby Jane got lots of diapers and wipes, a lovey blanket, clothes, bathing supplies, a snowsuit for German winters, monogrammed blankets,  German toys and clothes, and Kate even got a few big sister gifts.  Lauren made the awesome cake with cookie dough inside. Delicious!  We had a great morning.  Thank you Kelli!

Memorial Weekend 2015

Our weekend started out perfect.  We made our way down to Austria for the four day weekend.  I planned for a low stress weekend without an agenda, but having ideas of things to do.  We were staying at a campground with lots of fun stuff for Kate to be entertained if we wanted to stay in.

Our first stop was Highline 179 and the Ehrenberg castle ruins in Reutte, Austria.  Highline 179 is the longest pedestrian bridge in the world.  It coast about 8 euros for a two-way ticket.  Terrifying experience, but definitely needed to be done.  The ruins were pretty great too.  There are actually 4 ruins in the area- one on each side of the bridge, one below the bridge, and another about 500m away on another hilltop.

The bridge crosses over a large roadway.  From the road, you can barely see it, especially if it is foggy.  

Kate, of course, demonstrates no fear and was running up and down the bridge while Bryan and I are mostly holding on to the railings.  Yup! Even Bryan got the jitters.  

After our little bridge/ruin adventure, we went to Innsbruck, Austria.  This is where the weekend turned out to be not so fun.  Like I mentioned before, we stayed at a little campground area with canoes, trampolines, playgrounds, and hiking trails.  Unfortunately, it rained the ENTIRE time.  Light rain, hard rain, big drop rain, and misty rain.  I looked at the weather beforehand and thought it was supposed to be in the 70's with sun.  We were not at all prepared for rain or the cold. I also forgot the pack n play and the stroller.  It must have been a tiring weekend or we just forgot how to travel after our England adventure.  The campground had a shuttle-bus to Innsbruck which seemed nice; until the bus driver drops you off 3 km away from the campground and you are supposed to walk the rest of the way in the rain without a stroller and 8 months pregnant.  Not too fun.  And then you get splashed by all the cars driving past you.  Innsbruck was beautiful, but we didn't get to see the mountains surround the city because of the rain and fog.  Maybe we will go back someday.  

On our way home, we stopped at Dachau concentration camp.  I remember seeing this memorial when I was in 8th grade with my family.  The history of Germany still amazes me- so much history.

American-German Volksfest 2015

Our church put on a volksmarch last Saturday.  We walked from one village to another and back; then off to the festival. 

Before we took off, we ate some powdered danishes- can't you tell?

Kate looks so serious in this picture.  I think she is glaring at the Branch President.

My favorite part of the day.  Kate singing "Horsey, Horsey on your Way" while riding the pony.  This little girl in fearless. 

The United Kingdom

It may seem like we vacation all the time, but Bryan hasn't technically taken any time off while we have been here.  England was a great option because we have family to help guide us around.  We are very lucky to have family "close" by or at least on the same continent.  Plus, RyanAir has sweet airline ticket deals. 

Our first stop, Stonehenge.  So lucky to be able to check this off my bucket list.  It definitely isn't the greatest thing ever, but a once in a life time opportunity.  We listened to the audio tour as we walked around the site.  Unfortunately, you aren't allowed in the actual circle (unless on some special tour).

It was a very cold and windy day at Stonehenge, even if the skies look incredible.  

According to the weight pulling machine, Bryan would be able to haul one of these rocks by himself.  He works out.

Our second stop, Bath.  We took a tour at the Roman Bath House- a well preserved spa house built over hot springs.

Kate loved listening to the audio tours.  At the bath house, they had a kids tour with special characters to look for throughout the museum.

Rachel, the boys, and Myra at the mouth of one of the hot springs. 

The beautiful city of Bath.  I love this picture of my family.  Perfect sky. Perfect smiles.

This is another check off my bucket list.  Kiss in an English telephone booth. Thank you Rachel for taking the picture!

We went to a glass blowing factory.  Very hot and very cool. 

The Royal Crescent.  The architecture is very different here.  All the houses are smashed together- like in My Fair Lady.

Kids doing art in an Art Museum in Bath.  It kept them quiet so we could enjoy reading about the art pieces.

Sally Lunn's- a famous bun shop in Bath.

Our third stop, Avebury Stone Circle.  It is similar to Stonehenge, but takes up a larger amount of land and a city has been built inside.  Kate was feeling the extra energy from the sacred stones as she worked on her yoga.

The whole group. 

You can't tell, but Kate was throwing a major fit because she wanted her shoes off to walk in the grass.  When we took off her shoes and socks, she decided she didn't like the feel of the grass and just sat down.  Cool picture though. 

Next stop, Liverpool.  We had a wonderful time visiting this city.  I remember going as a kid with my mother- the biggest Beatles fan! Bryan and I took a walking tour of the city, visited many of the free museums, and strolled along Albert's Dock.  The best part, of course, was the Beatles.  I might only love them because my mother made us listen to them all the time, but I do think they were and are the greatest. 

Fifth stop, a date with this handsome man to London.  He is driving on the left side with the steering wheel on the right side of the car.  Driving in England is definitely an adjustment.  I had to tell him to scoot more to his side of the road...the entire way!

We saw the Phantom of the Opera.  It was incredible.  I love musicals and wish we had more opportunities to see them.

The next day, we took the whole group to London.  Bryan and I at Buckingham Palace.  We just missed the changing of the guards and we didn't realize the London Marathon was happening this weekend either.

Big Ben.

We walked a long ways to see this bridge.  We thought it was called the London Bridge, but when we got to London Bridge, it didn't look like anything in the pictures.  The bridge we wanted was Tower Bridge.  We missed the tour by a few minutes...

One of our last adventures was the English Heritage George and the dragon Festival.  We watched a puppet show, and

watched knights sword fight, 

and played the silly games during that time period.  

We had such a wonderful time and are really excited to visit again! Thank you again Rachel and family for the fun times.

PlayMobile

Such a fun little park about 45 minutes from our house.  I wish I had known about it during the winter with the indoor facility.  We went with our favorites- Colton, Chase and Kelli.  Kate talks about them non stop when we are apart.  The park is life size renditions of the PlayMobile toys.  Kate enjoyed the pirate ship, the farmhouse, and the castle.

 Kate and Chase on a swing.

Chase, Kate, and Colton at the dinosaur park.

My sweet Kate wanted to get all the way naked...haha.  This was a good picture capture!

The Netherlands

Over the Easter weekend, we met up with family in The Netherlands.  The weather was very cooperative and the country is beautiful, but it was a very crowded.  Next time, we want to stay for the whole week!

Our first stop was Haarlem.  We tried to get into the Corrie ten Boom home, but of course, the line was too long and only a few English tours are given in a day.  I am reading the book "Hiding Place" right now, so when we go back, I will have a better idea of the setting and history behind the Boom home.  Behind Bryan and Kate, is the church Mozart played at concert in at the age of 10.

 These wooden shoes are just a little too big.

Our second stop was Zaanse Schans.  It is a little tourist trap, but I totally was all for it.  You travel around a little town set up with the windmills, and cheese making factories, and wooden shoe factories.  Their cheese is amazing.  Bryan and I just about ate all of the coconut flavored one we bought while there.

 At the shoe making store. Every hour or so, an employee will demonstrate how the wooden shoes are made.  I bought a pair for decoration that Kate might be able to wear some day.

 Holland Windmill

Our third adventure was Amsterdam.  I wish I could have navigated the city better.  I wasn't prepared and it was so crowded.  You have to watch out for the bikers and the buses and the above ground trains.  We took a canal tour of the city, which helped us get an idea of what was in Amsterdam, but navigating around the canals when you are on the streets is a different story.  I got us lost...

We didn't have tickets to go into the Anne Frank house, but if we go again, I will make sure I have tickets.  The line was probably over 4 hours long.  There is no way Rachel and I would have stood in line with all our kids for that long.  But people do it.  The tickets sell out about 4 months in advanced, so you have to plan way ahead. We also ate at the Pancake House down the street- excellent choice.

 Our fourth adventure- Kuekenhof.  The most famous tulip festival in the world.  It was beautiful and the kids had a great time.

 Stupid photo bomber in the background.  You can hardly get a picture without others ruining it.  Lol.

 I love my family!

 Kate loves baby Myra.  That is all she talks about right now.  

 We stayed at a farmhouse outside of Amsterdam for $45 a night.  They had sheep, cow, horses, chickens, rabbits, and doves.  This is the best way to vacation in Europe.  Cheap and fun for the kids.

Our last stop was Muiden. There was an unexpected festival going on while we were there- some fancy name for the beginning of the sailing season. Old sailing boats were docked for viewing with Easter candy scattered throughout.  

Our main attraction, the Muiderslot Castle.  This is the first defensive castle's we have been to. Inside, they had video games where you throw rocks onto intruders or dress up in clothes from the time period.  Bryan likes this castle because of the mote surrounding it.  "The only thing lacking is alligators" says Bryan.