What We've Been Up To

To all of my blog readers - sorry I have not posted in a while. We've had some rainy/cold weekends and so we have not been out and about much. Instead we have been hanging out at home, but not doing a lot worth reporting about. I guess the rainy weather just gets you down sometimes. I really shouldn't complain - because back in the US the weather hasn't been cooperating very well for harvest, and so the farmers really do have something to complain about. We did have two lovely days of sunshine this week. The mornings started out very cold, but by afternoon it was lovely out. These are the type of fall days when you long to be outside dancing in the falling leaves! Too bad we don't have many leaves in our neighborhood to dance in.

Anyway here are some photos of us recently.

Silas was dressed up on Sunday...but of course he wouldn't cooperate the best when I wanted to get a picture. These are still pretty cute!

Daddy and Silas watching the F1 race on Sunday afternoon....while cuddled up on the couch.

Sydney has really taken a liking to reading. She would probably prefer to have mommy listen to her, but I suppose her little brother will do too. Jer took this picture of Sydney and Silas the other night.

Yesterday, I spent my entire morning and early afternoon making and baking and frosting cookies. Both Shane and Sydney have Halloween parties in their classes at school today, and mommy is bringing in the treats!

While I was busy in the kitchen - Silas was also busy at the table with his own cookie making.

Cookies made and waiting for frosting....

The finished products....

I'm sure the kids at school are going to love them... my kids already sampled some, since they "wanted to make sure they tasted okay." Shaylee actually helped put the legs on the spiders and of course sampled her share of the frosting!

Well - thats all from here for now. Don't worry - rain or shine - the next 2 months are jamm-packed full of stuff...so I will have a ton to post on...just not sure when I'll find the time to post it!!!

Sibling Love

On Friday night the kids and I (daddy was gone to a work function) watched a Rollie Pollie Ollie-athon on TV. It is a cute cartoon that ALL the kids enjoyed watching...episode after episode. I made breakfast food (French toast) for supper and we just enjoyed laying around. Sometimes evenings like this are the best!

Silas and Shaylee were sitting next to eachother on the couch during the show - at first I thought Silas had Shaylee in a head-lock, but then I saw him patting her back....it was so sweet...they were hugging on eachother and showing SIBLING LOVE!!!

After I pulled out the camera - of course they started being silly - so here are a few more photos.

Mommy even got in a photo too!

Sunday Hike

On Sunday, October 4, 2009 we went hiking in the woods. At first Sydney didn't want to go because I told her we were going for a HIKE and to her a hike meant walking up a steep hill. I told her we were just going to go for a nice walk in the woods...but I don't think she was totally convinced that she wouldn't have to HIKE up a steep hill at some point.

We drove to an area in the woods where there was parking and trails. The trail we started at was called Weisse Hohle (White Hole). Basically we were walking up a valley (hole) between steep hills consisting of sandy white soil. The kids wanted to try and climb up the steep sides....wouldn't that be considered HIKING up a steep hill - exactly what Sydney DIDN'T want to do??

Anyway - after our hike through the hole - we found another trail that was level and through the woods. The trees were SOOOO tall. Just HUGE! It was hard to capture them on camera...but hopefully you can sort of tell how tall these trees are.

Silas was having just a bit of fun in the backpack carrier...

Dinkelsbuhl

On Saturday, October 3, 2009 we headed to the little town of Dinkelsbuhl (just inside Bavaria). The old town is surrounded by a wall complete with a variety of towers which make this town so unique. The town is very quaint and easily walk-around-able!

On coming into the walled part of the old town I took a picture of this map. You can see the different towers surrounding the town and other main buildings of interest inside the walls.

Pictures from the main square and down the wine market with gabled houses dating from 1600. We first went into the Church of St. George (where we found a guidebook complete with a map and walking tour of the town).

Along the backside of the church are scenes from the Last Supper which were created (carved) when the church was built in the late 1400's. Very unique.

From the church we started on our walking tour around the town.
Part of an old water-wheel and one of the towns former granaries.

One of the 4 city gates - Rothenburger Tor. Main part was built in 1390 and was used as a prison.

We walked along the wall - and took pictures of all sorts of things along the way.

Silas is trying to get in?? Actually I think he is lifting a mail slot? This was actually a door to someones home built into the wall. Beautiful fall colors on the vines along the wall.

A view over the rooftops of the town and the Church of St. George. They boys on a covered bridge (a moat use to be below).

We had each of the kids take along a notebook and pencil this time. When we took a little break from our walking tour, we had the kids find a nice spot (this bench) and draw what they saw around them. They all decided to draw the Segringer Tower Gate...and each did a great job. This notebook/drawing idea was a hit....we are taking them with us on future city tours!

Each of the kids showing off their artwork - with the tower they drew in the background.

More towers along the wall...

Bauerlin Tower (below) and Wornitz Gate, which is the towns oldest gate.

The towers are all very different. Apparently you are suppose to be able to go up into each one. We however were not able too. I wonder if it was because the day we went (October 3)was a German Holiday. We still had a good time looking at them - even if we couldn't climb up into them.

Daddy having fun with the kids along the way....fortunately he didn't have to carry these 3 the whole way! Silas was playing in a fountain (while we stopped for a picnic lunch). He was showing me his wet hands and dancing around.

And last - but not least....we stopped for ICECREAM!