Halloween 2016

I love the fall.  And I love Halloween.  This year we planned on the "Peter Pan" theme per Kate's request.  It was unfortunate that our friend couldn't find her Peter Pan outfit and I had to scrounge around last minute to find something for Bryan.  It was also unfortunate that everyone around me seemed to do the Peter Pan theme as well, and much better than us.  Baha! Oh well.  We still had fun and the kids stayed warm while getting lots of candy.

I went to the Harvest Festival alone with the girls and this is about the only good picture I took.  We had fun and played games and ate cotton candy and took a family photo.  Not sure where that is?

Wendy Darling with her face painted.

I decided that painting our pumpkins was much easier than cutting and gutting them.  That way, both girls could participate.

 Bryan's work had a successful trunk or treat.  From left to right: Michael Darling, Jon Darling, Wendy Darling, and Captain Hook.  I made an awesome background last minute too!

Kate begged and begged to make a ghost pumpkin, so I finally caved in (after Halloween).  So much for less work with the painting theory. Haha!

Greek Isle Cruise

We have successfully completed our first family cruise.  There were many things we loved about it, and then there were some things we didn't love about it.  Overall, it was a great way to see the islands we wouldn't have otherwise been able to see.  We ported out of Venice.  I just loved this city.  It was so neat to see the way construction workers have to use boats to bring in concrete or how the trash is loaded onto boats or the water ambulance.  Plus, the views, architecture, food, and history.  

Kate loved trying on all the Venetian masks.  We took two home with us!

Jane LOVED chasing the pigeons at St. Marks Square. 

The gorgeous St. Mark's Basilica.

Build you own Magnum Bar.  Best idea ever!

And of course, a gondola ride! Checked that off my bucket list.  The girls did fantastic, and the ride was exciting as we had to lean to one side to clear the bridges!

On the boat, in the hot tub with a butterfly painted on her face. She loved the endless ice cream, flavored drinks, and swimming!

Making good use of the selfie stick! We went with some friends on the cruise,  which was definitely a plus.  The sea days can get long, especially with the girls.  Kate loved being with her friend Sami and we enjoyed playing games together after the kids went to bed.  Meal time was endless fun!!

First day off the boat in Corfu, Greece.  Rained cats and dogs until we got back on the boat.  I was not prepared for that!

So cold and wet!

My cute little Jane.

Our second boat stop was Santorini, Greece.  We hiked a volcano and swam in a hot spring.  Such gorgeous views of the volcanic island and white washed buildings.

My hiking buddy on the volcano.

Blue topped church. That is what this island is most known for.

Cutie Kate!

Our third stop was Mykonos, Greece.  These are the famous windmill churches.

Jane posing at the "Little Venice" of Mykonos.

We played in the sand at Paradise Beach.  The water was chilly and the wind was strong! But we enjoyed the views, the food, and the sand between our toes.

Our fourth stop was Athens, Greece.  We got a tour of the city on a hop-on hop-off bus.  Very big and very busy.  Half of Greece's population is located in Athens.  The lines were long because of all of the cruise crowds.  Definitely a negative for traveling with cruise lines.  But the Acropolis was pretty awesome.  Great views, great pictures, fun climbing rocks/walls for the girls.  I can't wait to check it out again next month!

It was also 80+ degrees! Missing the sun right now!

Kate and Sami loved the towel animals created by our house keeper.  He even showed us how to make a few.  Kate still asks if Sami can come over and play at her hotel.

Our fifth stop was somewhere in Croatia? We were supposed to go to Split, but the weather wouldn't let us port there.  We got off the boat for a little, but the city wasn't anything too exciting.  I am glad we were able to go to Croatia over the summer...

We very much enjoyed spending time together in our cozy little bedroom.  We enjoyed the endless amounts of food and not having to do dishes.  I am glad I didn't gain 10+ pounds.  Not sure about Bryan though....

Seven more years until our next cruise!

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!

Samainhof

Kate got accepted into German Kindergarten.  It is known as a nature and forest kindergarten and the children spend the whole day outside.  Kate is loving it so far!  There are a couple of other American children attending, but the teachers mostly speak German.

It is every day from 9am-1pm.  She gets really dirty and goes on adventures in the forest.  When I ask her what she did all day, the reply is usually "I don't know".  I think I might be getting that response until she leaves the house!

Almabtrieb

A cow parade. 

 If the cows come down with headdresses, none were harmed or injured over the summer season in the mountains. 

 All the cows were adorned with headdresses in Krun, Germany.  The girls loved it!

 None of the cows were decorated at the Almabtrieb in MittenWald, Germany. 

 

After all the cows run through the village, the people follow the "cow patties" to the festplatz for food and fest fun.  Each location had a wonderful park to play at with the cow bells dingling in the background.  Such a cool tradition!

Hallstatt, Austria

We explored this beautiful gem over Labor Day weekend. 

 The view from on top.

 I think Jane might be just as crazy as Kate!  Look at that handsome husband of mine too!

We weren't able to go in the salt mine, but we were informed of the history of the area and enjoyed the wonderful views!

Finally, made it to the bone house.  It takes about 10 years after death, to get your bones in this house.  The skulls name and date of birth/death are artistically drawn on the skull. 

 Found an awesome playground with a view! Oh, and a naked baby.

We hiked a fun and easy trail with the girls.  Kate hiked the 3 miles up to the Gasthaus and 1.5 miles back to the car.  So proud of her! The park on top was a great enough reward for her hard work, but we did get ice cream afterwards. 

I love how in Europe, you can go on hikes and run into these house intended for hikers to enjoy some food and take a bathroom break.  You can even spend the night! I so look forward to doing this more often when the girls are bigger. 

August 2016

Recap of our adventures in August:

Bryan completed the Regensburg Olympic triathlon and did very well!

Our family hiked to the ice cave in Berchtesgaden.  It was a really tough hike.  Kate hiked the first mile up by herself and most of the hike back down the mountain.  So proud of her!  Bryan also said this would be the last time he would ever carry Kate on his back (she's getting too heavy!). 

 The views were breath taking. 

 Spent some time at Lake Konigssee.

 Went to the Straubing fest in our trachten this year. 

 Here we are!

The girls looked so cute!  Jane got quite the stares while she was walking around in her cute little dirndl.