April 2016

 Our first trip this year to the local ice cream shop.

 Jane LOVES ice cream.  She is definitely related to Bryan.

 We made it to an awesome indoor water park in Nuremberg.  We felt like teenagers again- taking turns watching the girls so we could enjoy the slides.  There was this one slide that you step into a rocket ship, close the doors, and the floor below opens- dropping you straight down.  

 Krystall Palm Beach 

 Just snacking.

Jane 9 months

She is really beginning to love eating real foods.  She loves pears, apples, blueberries, bananas, crackers, and can drink from a sippy cup.  She still loves on the BM though.  Jane is scaling the furniture and can stand alone for 5-10 seconds, especially when distracted with a toy in her hand.  She has lots of new teeth coming in, which may be why she is liking foods more.  This month she traveled to Vienna, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia.  Oh, and she completed her first half marathon! Go Jane!  We love her smiles and giggles.  She is super ticklish and gets attacked by all of us.  Poor thing! We love our Jane-jane!

Vienna and Bratislava

We finally made it to Vienna! I had planned on going over Christmas, but Jane didn't get her passport in time.  We enjoyed our time in the beautiful area. 

 Jane climbing up the stairs of the Shonbrunn Palace.

 Bryan and Kate in the gardens at Shonbrunn Palace (it was cold and drizzly).

 Kate being silly outside the Hundertwasserhaus- crazy Austrian architect. 

 Walking up to the Bratislava Castle in Slovakia.  The girls both feel asleep in the stroller and it was HEAVEN! Also, another country discovered by the Ahlborn family.   

Bronze statues surround the city of Bratislava.  Kate doesn't understand why this statue is in the ground.  

This is the statue of Elisabeth of Hungary.

Off to run 13.1 miles!

Completed the Vienna half marathon with a time of 2:08.  So close to breaking 2 hours.  Bryan pushed both the girls in the stroller (a first) and got 1:54.  He did awesome considering Kate had to go to the bathroom and drink Gatorade at any possible opportunity.  

Our last stop, the Belvedere Palace and Museum of Vienna.

Making faces. 

 He is a pro.

 Getting better every time.

I got my KISS in Vienna! We got to see the beautiful Gustav Klimt painting of The Kiss.  The one behind me isn't the real one, unfortunately.  

Sisters

One of my good friends from high school took these beautiful pictures of the girls while we were in Utah.  She was so great with the girls.  I love them, Erica! 

 

 

 

 

Jane 8 months

Look at this cute little face! Jane is starting to slim down a bit from all her crawling and standing.  We love how she sleeps through the night.  Jane is still loving on the breast milk, especially since she is cutting some of her top teeth.  However, she loves food that she can pick up with her own two hands.  She still only has the two bottom teeth and we are anxiously waiting for those top teeth to break through- hopefully before I fly back to Germany! We flew to Arizona to visit our cousins in Phoenix.  We enjoyed playing in the splash pad, water tubing, the sun, and hiking.  Daddy finally finished his Army course and came to Utah to visit the family.  Jane is having a hard time warming up, but is easily distracted with food or toys.  This months biggest milestone was climbing up the stairs!

Utah for 10 weeks

My time in Utah is shortly coming to a close.  I am dreading flying with my children to Paris and then on to Munich.  They were so well behaved coming to Utah, it's bound to be awful.  It's a good thing Bryan will be there to pick us up and help us adapt to the change.  I really enjoyed my time away from Germany.  I don't know if I will ever get an opportunity to be so close to family for a long period of time and I really enjoyed it.  Here is a list of all the things we were able to accomplish and do while we were in Utah.

 1) Visit the aquarium

2) Play with cousins
3) SLC children's museum

 4) Watch Kristi bobsled
5) Watch Brandon push for Kristi



 6) Visit with old friends

7) Lehi children's museum
8) Dinosaur museum

 9) Tour the Provo City Temple
10) See the Norman Rockwell Exhibit at BYU
11) Scoring 180 bowling at BYU

 12) Visits with grandma

13) Flying to Phoenix, AZ to visit brother and family
14) Seeing our BFF's (Kuderka clan) at the Phoenix children's museum and sharing Sonic drinks/milkshakes

15) Hiking with cousins
16) Snowshoeing with my dad

 17) Water tubing with family

 18) Multiple visits to large stores

19) Playing dress-up with cousins

20) Running a half marathon indoor (47.7 laps around the Utah Oval)

21) Skiing 

Jane 7 months

The best way to describe Jane is a pear.  She has the most delicious butt and thighs! She is pulling up and standing more than she is crawling.  She just wants to grow up too quick for my liking.  Foods she has eaten include carrots, grapes, pears, oatmeal, puffs, rice rufts, green beans, and breads.  Breast milk is currently her favorite though.  Jane is sleeping through the night for the most part- her and Kate are sharing a room at grandma and grandpa Koplin's and sometimes Kate wakes her up.  This month she visited the aquarium, the dinosaur museum, the children's museum in Lehi, and lots of cousins houses.  Sledding on mom's back was probably the biggest highlight of the month!