Dürkheimer Wurstfest
Jeremy and I were able to sneak away for the day to go to Bad Dürkheim for their famous Wurstfest this week.
After seeing the ferris wheel and all the rides we did feel a little guilty for not bringing the kids (just a little!).
We ate so much food!!! We wanted to try a little of everything...
Flammkuchen (with bacon and onions) - always delicious!
Not sure what this meat was, some kind of pork. OMG it was so good!
The traveling German bands were everywhere!
Stopped to try on some hats
The winner! We met up with our friend Rich and his son.
My number one absolute favorite of the day - Champignons mit knoblauchsosse!
So much wurst!! (Interestingly, the one food we DIDN'T eat that day!)
Jeremy trying to fit in with the locals... sans lederhosen!! haha!
For a change of pace, Chinese food! I got the prawns wrapped in potato strings, Jeremy got some really spicy (disgusting) noodles.
Listing to a live band singing old American songs in one of the tents.
Ferris wheel
The view of the fest
This was such a fun and absolutely gorgeous day! Great memories!! Kinderturnen
Whitney has started a Kinderturnen class one afternoon each week. It is basically like a little gym class. They run, play with balls, do obstacle courses, sing songs, etc...
She surprised me with how competitive she is. I hadn't noticed this in her before but she was always looking at the kids next to her and trying to beat them, doing all the activities as fast as she could and getting frustrated with the younger kids that were in her way. I really hadn't seen this side of her but she seemed to be having so much fun. Also her best friend from Kindergarten goes at the same time so they are going to have so much fun!
Go Lions!!!
Well, it's official... Connor is a football player! He has finished conditioning, got all of his equipment, and now played in his first game. He was really nervous because he still didn't really know HOW to play football. His team lost but after the first half they were all doing a lot better. It was a great learning experience for Connor just to know what an actual game looks like, as opposed to just practice. During practice his coaches are always telling him to be more aggressive, etc.. but he says he's worried he will hurt the other kids. After getting pushed around so much by the other team at his game, I don't think that's going to be a problem anymore.
Connor's team before running through the banner
Whitney watching from the top of the bleachers
Patiently waiting for his turn to go in
Connor is finally going in for the first time! He's number 54.
He is clearing holding his man here but he's giving it his all!
Aiden and Whitney are now watching from underneath the bleachers
During halftime we played a mini-baseball game (Aiden's request).
After the game started back Aiden stayed on the baseball field to keep hitting the ball by himself. I felt bad for leaving him out there so I went back to play with him but he had found a friend. He said his friend taught him how to hit and catch better. They played together for the entire second half!
Getting a motivational talk from the coaches after the game ended. The coaches are great. You can tell Connor is really trying to please them.
For now, Connor is liking football and is trying to really learn how to play.
It should be an interesting season!
His birthday started off with the traditional face breakfast
Then, McD's for lunch with his friends
Had to stay for Connor's lunch too so included a pic of him with his friends too
PRESENTS!!!
The Birthday Party!
Then the Birthday Party the next day. Aiden said that all he really wanted to do was play a game of baseball for his party. So, we played baseball, kickball, balloon games, mother may I, and red light green light. We had great weather and so much fun!
I don't think I've ever seen Whitney's face so dirty in my life!!
Baptism Day
Aiden got a leather briefcase (that locks) for his birthday from Grandma and Grandpa Cates. That was at the top of his birthday wish list and he carried it all day on his baptism. He thought he was so grown up!
He got baptized with another little girl in his class. 
We felt a little bad because the other girl who got baptized had both sets of grandparents who flew from the US to Germany just for her baptism. She also had several friends, neighbors, etc... that came. We didn't really have anyone else besides our family coming but we invited our friends from the German ward - and they all turned out for Aiden. He felt so special that they all came to see him be baptized. It was so wonderful to see them all there!
awwww.... Both of the boys got new suits from Grandma and Grandpa Cook. They looked so handsome!
My 3 boys!
Whitney loves "cars what have no roof". Brother Lorz gave her a ride around the parking lot in theirs. She thought it was so cool!
Ice cream with daddy after the baptism
We love you Aiden!!!
