The last few weeks

Since it took so long to post my pictures and write up of France, I fell far behind on other things--it is a delicate balance to keep all the balls in the air, I tell you! Here is what we have done since being back:

German branch summer party. They had a nice BBQ at the Siegelbach park(next to the small zoo--which we didn't go to). They had a kids miniOlympics--where they did wheelbarrow races, sack races, egg-on-spoon race and other things (that my kids couldn't do even with adaptations).

When the adults we playing sand volleyball (and I was chatting with people), this is what Niki was doing:

(Sorry that was blury but it was so fun to see his face and that of our friend Elke).

Meanwhile this is what Jenna was up to:

I did take her jeans off since they were waying her down, but this is the thing that ended our fun. She started "swimming" in the mud and we didn't have any other clothes for her, so I stripped her and put a blanket around her while we drove home. Both kids were quite upset and wanted to keep playing but it was 7 pm and getting late.

Here is the tablecloth I bought in Provence--they are famous. I think it looks so nice with Polish Pottery.

We had a birthday party for Oma:

Niki loves to sing the happy birthday song to people. If I could ever figure out how to post a video you would be in for a lovely clip! (And no, she wasn't turning 2 like Niki told me).

A dear friend of mine is returning to her homeland of Australia and is selling/giving away all kinds of things. She gave Jenna some hats and purses for dress up, but Niki can't be left out and he has claimed one for his own. (Don't tell my husband--at least it isn't pink!).

Our church has a lunch bunch that meets twice a month and the kids all play crazily while the mothers all chat. Again, I didn't post the mothers but here are a small percent of the young ones playing on the table dolly in the gym of our church. (Normally they don't have all the junk at the end but they are remodeling).

During the summer months our church also has an outings group. It is a good way to find out what fun things are around our area. One day we met at the Miseau Pool. I was surprised at how lovely it was (sorry, again didn't post pictures of the pool and area). The kids loved swimming, or I should say that Jenna our fish did. If it is cold, Niki is like his Mama--a wimp!

Look at this picture, Niki looks so buff (even though I think it is mostly the shadows!)--but he IS strong!

They had a nice little play area and some of the kids congregated there. I just love the kids in our church--they are so good to Jenna and even give her extra love.

We went to Wild Park Silz with Günter's parents (his father flew his glider up from France to where his parents live) and the park was midway between our homes. It was a lovely large park to wander in, but only a few animals--some deer, ponies, goats and European buffalo and other small vermits). Of course the kids mainly liked the play area.

As a family we went to Vogelwoog in Kaiserslautern. A nice place we found using the GPS local attractions. It is a park with a small lake and nice playground with everything made out of wood (except the slide and nuts/bolts/nails).

I thought it so clever how they designed this all-wood fort with a little ladder going down and escape tunnels.

And this swing set! Wow--to find jus the right trees...

Niki Flirting with the owl (he actually kissed it but I couldn't get the camera on fast enough!). Yes, I know he needs the front cut but I don't want to cut the curl because I know that he will have only straight hair then and his baby curls are gone forever!

I wish Jenna was in more of the pictures but she was having a tantrum that lasted 30 minutes.

Lastly, our church friends invited us over to their house and they got out the slip-n-slide. I thought it would be a plastic sheet on the grass, but it was this:

It even had these "rafts" that Niki called a skate board to go down the slide.

I just want to put my warning out there for all the moms:

Don't let them drink and drive! (It was only rootbeer!)

Posted by Krista at August 6, 2008 08:41 AM