Hemau Fest

Summertime in Bavaria is best known for it's fests.  A fest is, by American standards, somewhere between a traveling carnival, a state fair, and a circus.....with beer, lots of beer.  The rides and "entertainment" vary from fest to fest, but you can be sure that there will always be rides, fest food, and beer!  Another thing about fests is that they move from town to town.  So on any given weekend, during the summer, there is a fest within 30 minutes of our house.  Last year Parker was too young to enjoy fest season, but this year she is big enough to ride the rides and play the rigged games.  She has had a blast at each one we have been to!  

Try to ignore the bruise on P's head....it looks WAY
better than it did!

We waited two ride "cycles" just to
get on the fire truck!

While waiting on the fire truck, P settled on
the stage coach...go figure...

Waiting to ride the Ferris Wheel....

On a different note, Morgen turns 7 months old this week.  At 7 months she is a very happy, smiley baby.  She just goes with the flow of her overly dramatic sister (now referred to as "Little John").  She is eating about 3 jars of baby food a day.  She doesn't really show preference to one "flavor" over another, except, she will absolutely NOT eat green peas!  She takes one good nap a day, usually about 11am to 1pm, and sleeps at night from about 7pm to 8am.  I think Mo is making up for all the stress and worry of her "debut" by being such a easy baby.  We are so thankful for her sweet, laid back personality!

Mo 7 months

The BaBa Fairy

Anyone who knows Parker knows that she LOVES her BaBa (pacifier).  When she turned 2 we cut back to only using it at night and at nap time, however, we recently had a set back and were using it more than we should ( I don't want to point any fingers...Juju).....When Morgen was born Parker gave the pink and green BaBas to her and only kept the purple ones for herself, but don't be misled, we had MANY purple ones! 

Well, John and I decided that the time had come for ALL BaBas to go away...I had read a story somewhere about someone having a BaBa fairly come and take the BaBas and leave a present in their place, kinda like the tooth fairy.  We decided that Friday would be the day.  I had a friend of mine make a cake shaped like a purple BaBa, I figured the bigger deal we made of it the more likely it would stick (with both Parker and us).  Next, Parker and I collected all the BaBas.  There was, no joke, about 6 of them in her bed.  We had dinner then celebrated with BaBa cake, then we headed upstairs for bath and bed.  Cue hour long tantrum,  "I loooost soooomething!", "I can't sleeeeep".  Well, she did sleep and she slept fine all night long.  On Saturday morning when we got up Parker found a new "baby" in place of the BaBa's and cake that we left for the fairy.  She did look for a little while for her BaBas, but the new baby soon won out.  It is now Sunday and we have made it all weekend without a BaBa!  I am SO proud of my BIG girl! 

Friday night - BaBa cake

Sunday Morning - 2 days sans BaBa

Morgen felt left out, so here's Mo....Sunday morning :)

July 2012

July was packed full of traveling and fun.  I should have taken WAY more pictures....but I didn't....We flew to the states the first week of July.  This was Parker and my 2nd trip home and John and Morgen's first.  The flight was long and everything you would expect a 10 hour flight with 2 kids under 3 would be.  I'm going to leave it at that.

On the 8th we had Morgen christened at First Methodist.  She and Parker both did great and the service was a success!  Hopefully, I will have some pictures of it soon :).

The next Monday, we all headed to Columbus where we spent the week with Denney and Papa.  It was great to get to spend some time with them and also catch up with Rachel and Cameron.  Again, I wish that I had done a better job of taking pictures....I will get better!  

Friday morning we left Columbus and drove to Augusta to drop the girls off with Juju for the week.  They both had a great week in Augusta and were returned to use VERY spoiled!  

John and I spent the week in Cabo for Charlie and Katie's wedding.  The ceremony was beautiful and fun was had by all!  

When we finally got home to Germany, John was able to pick up his new "family car".  

June 2012

By the time June rolled around we were in full "Summer Swing".  John and Parker spent afternoons riding bikes, hiking, and playing outside.  

We went to a traveling circus...and yes, it was everything you would expect a rural, German traveling circus to be.  I felt like we had stepped back in time to the 1940's.  The kids had a blast and Parker even got to ride a camel!

Next we went with some friends to Geiselwind, an amusement park/zoo about 1.5 hours from our house.  Parker LOVED the rides, a little more than I would have liked.....  The rules were odd, she was too small to ride the "kiddie" rides alone, but she could ride any one that we were willing to take her on.

Mad Tea Cups

 Well, you see....

And wrapping up June, sweet Mo got a great report from her heart doctors!  We continue to see improvements with her valve and overall "heart health".  We are so thankful for our sweet girl!

May 2012

The month of May brought warm weather (well, warmer), Mo's 3 month birthday, and our 9 year anniversary.  Morgen continues to be a happy, easy going baby.  She is quick to smile and LOVES her sister!  The girls and I spent weekends at Wolpiland with the Bennett's.

 I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

We had to say good-bye (for now) to the Michel's.  John and I were very sad to see them go, but the Army's a small world and we know we'll meet again down the road.  Thanks to the Rachel and Cameron for the mustaches :).

Memorial day weekend John and I left the kids with a sitter and took a road trip to northern Italy.  We have been tying to put this trip together for months and our 9th anniversary was just the excuse we needed to actually go.  We left the girls with a sitter and spent the weekend together.  Vicenza was our first stop, next was Bologna to the Ducati factory, then Pisa, and finally Venice.  We had a great trip, but definitely missed our girls!

 John tried to drink out of our wine carafe....I guess since it's the same size as the beers we have grown accustomed to.....

SeaLife

Today after lunch we packed the whole family up, including Mo, and went to SeaLife in Munich.  SeaLife is owned by SeaWorld, but it is much smaller.  It was, by any standard, small....but perfect for a two year old and a two month old.  Pictures aren't the greatest, I was a little busy and flashes weren't allowed :).

Parker's Big Girl bed

As most of you know we have been avoiding taking Parker out of her crib like it was the plague.  While Juju was visiting the middle of March we took the plunge and moved her into a toddler bed.  Thanks Juju for the precious Hungry Caterpillar bedding!  As with most things children, she proved us completely wrong, and all of our concerns were null.  We have had absolutely no problems with her and her bed.  She will not get out of it without one of us going to get her.  She will literally lay in the bed and yell for us (and bang on the wall with an unsuspecting baby).