Germany: Day 1

I am going to start posting some of the Germany pics. 

I focused on videos more than pictures this trip, but Iria has a bunch on her phone. I'll get those transferred over eventually, but in the meantime here are some of the pictures that I did take.

First off, more pics from our first day in Germany. These were taken near the town square in Oma's village.

Wednesday Evening Gallery

Lennon wanted me to post this drawing. 

"Shapes"

Stateside

We got back from our trip this weekend and are starting to recover from the jet lag and settle back in.

Outside Oma's house after we arrived.

Trip Facts:

Luggage: 9 suitcases, 9 carry-ons, 2 strollers, 2 car seats

Distance traveled in rental car: 3,700 KM

Fasted speed on the autobahn: 180 km/hour

Average weather: 45 degrees and raining

Snowflakes observed: 0 (!)

Pretzels consumed by Erik: 60+
Kinder chocolate consumed by Erik: 2 per day

Affect on Erik's weight: -3 pounds (??)

Books read by Erik, Iria, and Katharine: 12

Most homesick: Lukas

Times pick-pocketed: 1 (Keira's wallet)

Favorite foods: spaetzla, pretzels, croissants, rolls with honey or nutella, schnitzel, berliners, hot chocolate

Amount used on Erik's data SIM card for his iPad: 2 gigs
Number of times Lennon was approached in the Louvre because of his Brazil Neymar shirt: 3 (once for a photo)
Number of times our family was later recognized by a random person from the plane as that "big family who flew over to Germany in December": 2
Flight hours: 11 (and they went perfectly both ways!)

Itinerary:

December 15: Fly to Germany

December 16-19: Friends, family, and sites around Stuttgart

December 20-23: Munich road trip with Anita, Fritz, and the cousins

December 24: Christmas Eve with Oma

December 25: Christmas day with Anita, Fritz, and the cousins

December 26-29: Friends, family, and sites around Stuttgart

December 30: Overnight in Stuttgart with Iria

December 31: New Years Eve at Stefan's farm

January 1: Black Forest day trip

January 2-4: Friends, family, and sites around Stuttgart

January 5-9: Paris road trip

January 10: Packing and goodbyes

January 11: Fly to Texas

Best times:

Erik: Black Forest / Musee d'Orsay / Overnight in Stuttgart (with just Iria) / Disney Land / New Years Eve at Stefan's / food and family in Munich / walking to the bakery every morning for pretzels

Iria: Steiff Museum / Overnight in Stuttgart (with just Erik) / Black Forest train ride / Musee d'Orsay / Metz cathedral / Munich / Old friends / Time with her sister

Katharine: Steiff museum / The Louvre / Anna and Jakob visits / Disney Land/ Black Forest

Lukas: Disney Land (Thunder Mountain) / Munich (Allianz Arena) / Family and cousin time / Steiff Museum

Lennon:  Disney Land (Pirates of the Caribbean) / Munich (Allianz Arena) / Family and cousin time / Steiff Museum / sledding in the Black Forest

Keira: Disney Land (Haunted House and parade) / Christmas / Jakob (the tickle monster) / Steiff museum
Kassidy: the airplane ride / the car rides / the train rides / Disney Land (parade and Minnie Mouse)

Thanks so much Linda (Oma) for your hospitality, love, and spaetzla!

Happy Birthday, Lukas!

Lukas turns 8 today (if you are reading this on December 16th). The post is coming a little bit early because we are heading out the door to Germany for a few weeks.

Lukas is a great kid, and always chilled out. We are so lucky to have him, and love him very much.

Lukas facts:

Lukas loves video games.

Lukas's favorite foods are Granny Smith apples, lambsickles, naan bread, peach yogurt, plums, and little chicken wings.

Lukas's least favorite foods are peanut bar and avocados.

Lukas loves to play and watch soccer. His favorite teams are FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, Barcelona, and Argentina.

Lukas hates to wear pants, and any clothes that are stiff or scratchy.

Lukas's hair grows faster than any of the other kids.

Lukas is currently reading a King Arthur book, and likes to read the Captain Awesome books.

Lukas's favorite superheroes are Batman, Captain America, Captain Rex, and Flash.

Lukas's favorite school subject is language arts.

Lukas loves to play with Legos.

Lukas's best friends are Gwen, Aiden, Alex, and Danny.

Lukas loves animals, and he is probably the best kid with the cats.

Lukas likes to draw with Lennon (and everything else, they are inseparable).

Lukas likes to play Mario with Katharine.

Lukas likes to watch movies with Keira.

Lukas likes to play ring-around-the-rosy with Kassidy.

Lukas to snuggle with his Mama.

Lukas likes to play soccer (virtual and real) and go to matches with his Dad.

Lukas likes to say "dude" a lot.

Lukas wants to play for LA Galaxy when he grows up.

Super Room

The boys have been trying to unlock all of the characters in their Lego Marvel game, which inspired some new room decorations.

Who ever said that videogames kill creativity?

Haircuts

It was high time for Kassidy and Keira to get a haircut. Actually, everyone needed one. Katharine went at the beginning of the week and dared to get more than just a trimming. She got a few layers, some face framing, and the stylist even straightened her hair. We need to do that more often!

Friday, the little girls went to visit their salon. The treatment there usually involves getting nails done, then hair wash with the shampoo flavor of their choice, pick a movie or game and chair to play and sit in. Then they get asked if they would like their hair braided, pig tails etc and get to pick clips for their hair, rounded out with delicious smelling hair spray, a balloon and lollipop pop.

The boys get to get their hair buzzed by Erik:)














Friday night Katharine got to have sleep over with two of her best friends from dance, Emma and Claire, preceded by a birthday party with church friends. Here is picture of Katharine with Emma, Claire, and Emma's brothers Graham and Noah. My friend Danielle was kind enough to pick up Katharine from the party as Erik and I attended the annual Gearbox Christmas Party.




Saturday morning, Sheena's Dance Academy's show company went out for their annual caroling at 4 different nursing/ assisted living homes in Frisco. Us parents and kids always have a blast, and the older generation loves the singing, too.




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Katharine Doodle

This is what Katharine does, pretty cool!






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Santa Kids

I took the kids out to Watters Creek in Allen for a walk. We had fun chasing ducks, talking to ducks, climbing a buffalo, ducks and horses.




































We even saw Santa Yoda!











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Doll Fashion

Katharine was busy hand seeing doll clothes for our upcoming trip.



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