A Day in Cochem

On Saturday, we went to Cochem to see the city and the castle. It was stunning and SO beautiful. The castle is up on a hill on the Moselle River, it was just gorgeous! The castle was originally built around the year 1000. WOW!

The approach- a BIG hill!!

S and Emma in the courtyard

Emma and Heather :)

Harry was thrilled to find shining armor!

The kids thought it was hilarious to see behind the fake door- it was put in for symmetrical purposes.
Also, note the gorgeous Delft china in the hutch.

The kids got to find a hidden door, with a secret passageway beyond! VERY cool!

These were some of the first stained glass windows- they were made with the shields from the surrounding areas.

This was a mermaid made with antlers- if you rub her belly, its supposed to be Gute Glück!

The hunting/trophy room

The kids found another hidden door

This one had a treasure chest inside!

Jay and the boys on the balcony, which had an amazing view! I definitely see why that was one of the reasons they built their castles up high!

John being a flirt :)

super cool wine bottles!

Stadt Cochem

The queen demanded Eis after her long hike up to the castle. :)

View of the castle and city beyond

tuckered out little princess!

Pirate Soccer and Swimmy Baby

Michelle at the Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden- SOO much fun!

 It was crazy hot and dusty at soccer practice on Monday, so Coach Mike let the kids soak their jerseys in water and make headwraps. They got to play "pirate soccer" and thought it was absolutely hilarious :)

All the kids were filthy when they got home, so we filled up the little blue pools and dunked everybody before dinner. JohnBear was NOT a fan. :P

That little lip rarely comes out, but when it does, he really makes it work!

 Emmila found a ladybug- she was absolutely enthralled! She let it crawl around on her for a good half hour while talking to it and telling it stories. It probably listened better than the rest of us. :D

May Updates

yeah, she looks a lot like me here... :)

 For Teacher Appreciation week, I made little cards with their pictures and tied them to some German chocolate bars. They were a big hit! :)

 Harry's class had a Mother's Day Tea. He insisted on wearing his suit and informed me that I needed to put a dress on so that I was "fancy." They sang a song, served us muffins and iced tea, and read us a story they had written called "If you give a Mom a Muffin."

 We headed to the Gartenschau again with our friends, Harry is so lucky to have another set of twin friends here in Germany! :)

All the kids riding the big swing- even poor Blake with his foot cast!

Emma stuck her headband on Johnny. Poor kid is doomed for years of torture...

We went to the Weihermühle for dinner for Mother's Day. We love going there- they have a huge play are; big fields to run in; cows, donkeys, ponies to feed; putt-putt cars; and a digger. The kids play and play while Jay and I can sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous surroundings. Eating outside is probably one of my absolute favorite things about living in Europe. It's so gorgeous and relaxing!

We found this amazing chapel on a hill on our way home from Baden-Baden last weekend, its called the Kriegergedächtniskapelle. I made Jay and the kids sit in the car while I shot a ton of pictures at sunset. Did I mention my Mother's Day present was an L glass?? :)

8 months old!!

The little monkey is 8 months old. It really seems like time is just flying with him. He's such a goofy little one lately, with his cheeseball smile and his little baby giggles. He thinks Harry is absolutely hilarious. They sit together in the car and giggle most of the way. Emma got relegated to the back for sticking her fingers in his eyeballs a few too many times. :D He's also really warmed up to Daddy lately, after Jay's crazy work schedule the last few months, John played strange for awhile, but he's realized that Daddy is great and so funny now. 

This is his new cheeseball grin :D

Monthly Picture with his Chicken :)

Some more Emma-isms....

My little firecracker has been full of sass lately. These are all I can remember right now, but man does she keep us on our toes!!



Emma, what do you think they're going to give you for a prize (for completing a short hike at a festival)?
Probably a pony. I like yellow ones.

Emma met "Dark Vader" at a picnic. She walks up to him and says "Hi Dark. I'm Emma."

Emma, are you being bossy?
No, I'm just telling you what to do.

She was very clear at what she wanted- some pink, lots of blue on her eyes, glitter all over and some polky-dots.

Daddy, I'm firsty (thirsty).
Emma, you're secondy.
Fine, you're stupid.
(Needless to say, she got in a LOT of trouble for that one, but it was hysterical!)

Waving to Dark from across the park. :)

I don't want any more brothers. Why can't you trade somebody and get me a sister?


I walked so far today that I deserve 3 ice creams. One strawberry or raspberry, one chocolate and one yellowish whitey vanilla.


I like when just us girls go places. We're prettier than the boys.


(While watching the Royal Wedding...)
I will marry that other boy prince. But I will make him change his name, cuz I don't like Harry. And I want a crown bigger than that girl's.