Week 31

Ladenburg

We went to Ladenburg with the Lorz from church this week. We spent all day there and had so much fun! They are so sweet. The kids call them Oma and Opa (Grandma and Grandpa).

Check out their cool convertable. The boys love to ride in it!


Had to take a pic of the PDA... it was everywhere!

The boys thought that the statue on the right has his hands over his face because he doesn't want to see the other ones behind. ha ha!

Took a Ferry across the river.

We found a Wonderful Italian restuarant. Pizza and Pasta! YUM!!

Aiden was taking pictures. For some reason he took one of our waiter. He was not too amused.

Karl Benz Museum
The man who is regarded as the inventor of the automobile, Karl Benz, spent the last days of his life in Ladenburg between 1906 and his death in 1929. The museum houses a replica of the first car.

The first "car"!

The original VolksWagen with the Pretzel Fenster (Pretzel Window)

Aiden is so funny. He is posing like the manequins

The first garage

Week 30

Frankfurt Auto Show
Jeremy "HAD" to go to the Frankfurt Auto Show this week. It is a pretty huge event here... actually everywhere. It's the world's largest auto show. Lots of cool cars. Even Merkel was there! Jeremy's was going to the VIP rooms and being schmoozed by all the dealers that want a contract with the US Gov. He was loving it! Here are the new Government Owned Vehicles that he signed with....

... Ha Ha! Just kidding.

Elder Jenkins

We had the Missionaries over for dinner this week. Whitney just LOVES Elder Jenkins. hmmm... I think I know why!



Kansas City
I gave Jeremy specific instructions to take lots of pics this week since he was in KC all week for work. He was there for 8 days and this is the only picture he came back with!!!

At least he got a picture of cute little Owen. What a sweetie!! (Courtney too!)

Open House

This week the boys had their open house. This wall of pictures was up for the parents to guess which picture their kid drew. I spotted Aiden's right away (the one to the right with the trees). After I spotted it his teacher told me how impressed she was with the picture and the fact that it actually tells a story. It is a picture of all of us going camping. He drew our red van, kayla, me cooking on the fire, Jeremy looking for wood, our blue tent, etc... Such a funny kid!


This picture/story was the source of deep regret for Connor this week. He came home one day and told us about this picture and his story. He was really, really upset about it because he didn't like the ending and it was going to be hung in the hallway for everyone to see. He was completely distraught about it... almost to tears! You can't really read the story so this is what it says:

My monster Beattle Mouth
On the first day of school my monter got a bunch of books
and threw them all on the kids and then my monster threw
the principal up the chimney and flew home again.

It was the word "again" that messed him up. He kept saying "AGAIN!?! He never did it the first time so how can he do it again??" lol!

Coloring Contest

Over the summer Aiden entered a coloring contest at the library. The library called this week and said that Aiden won FIRST PLACE!!! This is the picture that won first. He got a tote bag with books, a DVD, coloring and painting pages, and crayons/paints. The prizes didn't really matter though... Aiden just felt so cool that he won!!! A few days later I overheard Connor telling one of his friends about Aiden winning and said "Aiden is so good at coloring... he's an artist!"

Week 29

Holiday Park

We went to Holiday Park (similar to Six Flags) for Labor Day for one last hoorah before Aiden started Kindgergarten the next day. It was nice because the Germans don't celebrate Labor Day so there weren't any long lines. The weather could not have been better too. It was a great day!

Enjoy the slide show!





Kindergarten

My little baby is in Kindergarten. He says everyone in his class are "dwarfs" and "midgets". He does not like playing with kids his own age. He thinks all kids his age are babies and if he plays with them he will be one too.

Soccer

We signed the boys up to play soccer. They play on German teams in the little village where we live. The German kids are really good and take it really serious! Connor and Aiden can't even play in the games because they haven't "earned a position" yet.

Connor's team was playing on a different part of the field so we only got a few pics of Aiden playing. None of the kids speak English but the coaches know a little. It's interesting for sure!

Week 28

2nd Grade

Connor started school this week. I think he got into a great class!

I forgot my camera in the car after we got to the classroom.
Another kid's Dad took some pictures for me.

He even took one of me and Whitney!

Heidelberg illumination cruise

French General Melac and his troops destroyed and burned down Heidelberg Castle over 300 years ago. Now it is known as the most beautiful and romantic castle in the world. In memory of this fateful event, the castle illuminations are held several times each year. The castle walls turns blood red in the glow of torches and a huge, brilliant fireworks display is launched from the Old Bridge, bathing the entrance to the Neckar valley in a stunning panoply of light and color. It's a spectacular event that attracts thousands of visitors each year from far and wide.

I think they just melted a bunch of chocolate chips to make this hot chocolate.
It was thick! The kids loved it!!

Top notch security

This is the Old Bridge. The castle is RIGHT THERE! You just can't see it yet. None of the pictures of the illumination or fireworks turned out. It was really spectacular though!