Mediterranean Crusie

We have been talking about a cruise since we moved here simply because it's a relatively inexpensive way to see several places within a week.  So, in June when my friend asked if we wanted to join her family, we said sure.  The cruise ended up being the week of my birthday, so that gave us all reason to celebrate :).  As the months past, Juju and Lauren joined in on the cruise and when November 10 rolled around 8 of us, yes 8....4 adults and 4 kids, piled into the Odyssey for the 9 hour drive to the port of Genoa to board the boat.  The drive was long, but we made it with no killings issues.  

Our first stop was Barcelona, Spain.  

Next up was a day at sea, then we were supposed to port at Tunisia, Africa.  However, the sea was rough and the port was closed.  This was a big disappointment to all of us, we were really excited to visit Tunis.

  Next, we stopped in La Valletta, Malta.  While in Malta we visited the Hagar Qim Neolithic Temple, which was really interesting.  Malta was by far my favorite stop.

Next up was Sicily.

And lastly, we docked in Rome.  Our day in Rome was PACKED.  John dragged walked us around the entire city, seeing all the major sites.  We had a little drama getting everyone back on the boat, but we all made it :)

On Saturday before heading back home we made a short visit to the aquarium in Genoa.  It is the largest aquarium in Europe and it has the largest variety of fish/animals in the world.  The kids loved it!

All in all, the trip was good.  I'm not sure that I would recommend taking two small children (under 4) on a cruise, but it was an experience I won't forget!

Pumpkin Patch

John started rotation last week, so the girls and I are on our own for about a month.  All this means to us, is that our weekends are filled with "outings".  I find that staying home is WAY too difficult :).  This weekend we joined some friends at a pumpkin patch about 40 minutes from our house.  I have never seen so many pumpkins!  It was overwhelming!  We went for "A" pumpkin and came home with 5!  Partly because they were very reasonably priced (70 Euro cent per pound, we spent 16 Euro on 5) and partly because Parker kept putting them into our wheelbarrow!  When we arrived the farmer gave us a wheelbarrow, some gloves, and a pair of clippers to free our chosen pumpkins from their vines.  We had SO much fun!  Getting a decent picture of the girls was another story.....I would have been more successful at flying......

Mo is just beginning to crawl, it's more of a "inchworm" type scoot!

Parker turns 3!

I absolutely can NOT believe that Parker is 3.....it REALLY does seem like she was just a baby!  Well, one thing is for sure, she is NOT a baby anymore.  At 3, Parker can carry on a conversation with anyone and is VERY persuasive when it comes to getting her way.  

She still loves Dora, but running a close second is Popeye...yes, exactly what you're thinking, old school Popeye cartoons.  This fall, Parker started playing soccer, not only does she show "some" talent, but she also enjoys playing.  She is the youngest on her team and the only one who doesn't continually touch the ball with her hands.  When given the chance, Parker always chooses to play in the backyard either on the trampoline, in her "house", or "soccer".  

If I ever tell her no, you can bet she runs straignt to daddy (when he's home) to see if my answer "holds up".  She is definitely a daddy's girl and has her daddy's number on speed dial :).  Parker continues to be a fearless, outspoken, spunky child...life is never dull with her around!

This year for her birthday she chose a "Yo Gabba Gabba" theme.....which you might laugh at, but her second choice was "sheep", nothing else, just "sheep".  I really didn't know which direction to go with that....all I could think of was "Baa Baa Black Sheep", to which she told me all sheep weren't black.  So Yo Gabba Gabba it was!  We had her party at a huge indoor playground about 30 minutes from our house.  It was a lot of fun and most importantly, Parker had a GREAT birthday!

Falkenhof Schloss Rosenburg

Today we took a day trip to Riedenburg, which is a town about 40 minutes from our house.  This town, like MANY, has a castle on top of a mountain cliff.  The castle is Schloss Rosenburg.  

This castle is slightly different than most in that it has an active falconry.  The falconers put on a show every day for the public.  The birds were very entertaining and got REALLY close to the crowd.  Morgen didn't take her eyes off the birds the entire show, I think that she was worried they might try to take her!

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