Van Essen Adventures

Evening Along the Neckar

Saturday, July 11, 2009 - we headed into Heidelberg to spend the evening along the Neckar River. Heidelberg lights up the castle and lets off fireworks three times during the summer months. Tonight was one of those times. So we came into Heidelberg early (to actually find parking) and walked along the Neckar into the Altstadt for some supper. Since the Old Bridge was shut down for the fireworks - we had to walk over the bridge by the locks. (Bec and Joel this reminded me a lot of the pictures of your recent trip). After we had supper we walked down the Hauptstrasse and back to the Neckar to find a place along the river to hang out and wait for the fireworks.

Walking along the Neckar, stopping for some annual pictures with the castle in the background.

The girls - and the boys.

Walking over the locks.

Hanging out along the Neckar...the sun came out and lit up the castle.

Playing some American football...

Just hanging out...

We finally got to see a glimpse of the fireworks. Unfortunately they did not meet our expectations. We had expected to see them high up in the air over the castle - however they were more low and only over the Old Bridge (of which we couldn't see from where we were sitting). We were also expecting them to be loud and lots and lots of them. We were sadly disapointed. But we were near our parking spot - and got out of Heidelberg before a mad rush of traffic. The kids were all very tired and fell asleep on the way home. It was still a fun evening spent together as a family.

Fun Times

The kids had friends, Jacey and Daniel, over to play the other afternoon. They played quietly upstairs for quite awhile, which was great for me (I got some ironing done). Then, after a snack, I pulled out the playdough. They had so much fun making "cookies". It was like a competition to see who could make the most. With that many kids playing with the different colors, I gave up trying to prevent them from mixing up the colors. Now we have a few "new" colors to play with.

The kids busy at work

Shane showing off his "cookies". Jacey and Sydney working together.

The girls...and a close up of their creations...

On Friday I ventured to IKEA with my 4 kids in tow. I was hoping to pick up some coloring books - however they no longer had the ones I was looking for. It was a pack of 5 for only 5 Euro...and these were knight and princess books with thick paper so you could use them for markers, crayons, or even paints. I was pretty bummed they were out. But what can you do...you got to go right away if you want to get the bargain here. So anyway - I picked up a box of "pearlen" as Shaylee calls them...they are actually little plastic beads. You arrange them on forms (squares, hearts, circles etc..) with little nobbies to hold them in place and then melt them down together with a hot iron. The kids spent HOURS playing with them on Friday and Saturday.

My green serving trays come in handy as well...trying to prevent the little beads from ending up all over the floor...

I said a prayer for you today

I said a prayer for you today....I just felt the need to pray for you - my blog readers. Some of you I know personally, you might be family or a close friend. Others of you may not know me personally - but have come to know me via the blog. And others of you may just have happened upon my blog. Whatever your circumstance for coming here, I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I prayed for you. I asked Jesus that he may touch your life today. That he might use my blog to bless you in some way.

I am just a mom and wife, living across the ocean -but wherever I am, Jesus is with me. And whatever I am going through, Jesus is there with me. Jesus is with you too, wherever you are, watching over you. He knows whatever you are doing and whatever you are going through. For he made you and He loves you.

While I was reading the Bible today, I read these verses in the book of Ephesians and wanted to share them with you.

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:16-19 NIV

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Chirst, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:16-21 NIV

Kimber

After Midnight

I've finally updated the blog (sorry it took me so long). I hope you enjoy reading and seeing what we've been up to. Right now it is slightly after MIDNIGHT here and I'm off to bed! Good night!

Luisenpark - More Water Fun!

Sunday, July 5, 2009 - in the afternoon we headed to Luisenpark with another family (The Shields) to enjoy the gorgeous summer weather we've been having here. It was family day at Luisenpark - so there were a lot of special activities happening at the park. I was a bit worried when on our way there we heard on the radio that due to it being family day, the main parking lot was full (I imagined TONS and TONS of people, no parking nearby and therefore walking for miles (or kilometers) with 4 tired and crabby children, just to enter the park only for it to be overly crowded). I needn't have worried at all. There are several other parking options close by (since Luisenpark is so huge) and we easily found parking, had a nice leasurely stroll to the entrance and once inside the park it wasn't overly busy at all. We enjoyed a lovely day there with friends!

The kids had fun playing in the water fountain.

After the fountain fun - we dried the kids off and headed to the "big green lawn" where we picked a spot to sit and have a little picnic. We played a little soccer, the kids played on the nearby swings, and we just enjoyed the day. While there - we were visited by one of the parks residents - Mr. Stork. I think he was looking for a bite to eat.

This bird was HUGE.... Mr. Stork is now walking away from Shane...heading over to the swings...maybe that little girl has something better to eat?

Here is a picture of Jer pushing our stroller. With all our stuff piled on - there was barely any room for Silas.

Happy 4th of July!!

Since we were unable to be celebrate the 4th of July at "the lake" in the US this summer -we celebrated on our own by heading to St. Leoner See. The weather was hot and perfect for being at a little lake. The kids (and daddy) had a fun time playing in the water. I enjoyed laying in the sun and reading a book!

Silas wasn't too sure of the water -but had fun in the sand along the edge, and throwing a squishy water-ball back and forth to Shane.

Shane squeezing water out of the ball onto Silas....Silas was not impressed!

The kids playing in the water with daddy.

Shaylee was so proud to "swim" on her own! Syd is about to go down under...

Daddy spinning Shaylee around and around... About to toss Shane...

More water fun...and here they come to get me!!!!!

Night Out

Jeremy and I enjoyed a night out on Friday, July 3rd. Here we are right before we left for the dinner.

The Fort

The kids have officially been out of school for one week now! Thus the reason why I have been busy and not finding the time to actually update the blog. Here it is 10:30 at night and I'm finally getting around to posting stuff...oh well....better late than never!

So -since the kids are home from school - we've been doing some fun activities during the day. I had the kids help make a list of fun things they wanted to do (play games, soccer, Wii, build a fort, fix a puzzle, bake, paint, do a craft, etc...). Then we wrote each item on a little piece of paper and put it in a container. Then each day they get to pick out of the container - and whatever it says - we are suppose to do. The other day - build a fort - was the item picked. So we took all the blankets and pillows we could find in the house and headed to our basement playroom. We used the ping-pong table and the train table and other chairs and objects to help build the fort. The kids had fun making it and each one even had his/her own room inside.

The kids in front of their fort!

And inside - Silas lounging in his chair. Shaylee under the ping-pong table. Her actual room was the "barn" that grandma VE made (not pictured).

Syd under her half of the ping-pong table. And Shane - his hideout was under the train table and with a roof connecting to the couch.

We took the fort down a few days later....cleaned up the playroom again....but then just today the kids had friends over and made another one....we will keep it up a few more days - then most likely take it down (or it will somehow get destroyed). They are having fun - and it keeps them creative!

The Rice Box

About 2 weeks ago we were given the "gift" of a Rice Box. Basically it is a plastic tote with lid, that is filled with rice (and noodles) and some small trucks and containers for shoveling or pouring. The rice box is a ton of fun. The kids have been having a blast with it. Unfortunately the downside of the rice box is that when the kids are playing "unsupervised" the rice seems to end up everywhere but inside the rice box where it belongs. Which then leaves a bit of work (sweeping) for me (after the kids have tried their best to clean it up). But even with the extra sweeping I'm doing - the fun the kids are having is worth it! Thanks Ochsners - we think of you every time the lid opens...which is often!