YEP
Silas has a new word. YEP. You ask him a question and he answers with YEP. It is so cute. He used to say UhHuh....but now he says YEP. What a character he is.
Update on our Guests
Our guests are now home again - we had such a nice time with them. We are glad they enjoyed their European Adventures. They have plenty of stories to tell...and memories made!
Mike and Renee finished off their European Adventure by spending 4 days in France. They headed to the area of Normandy, France on Sunday. Then on Tuesday they ventured to Paris. We didn't hear from them the entire time - so we were trusting that all was going okay. We finally got a call Wednesday evening that they were on the train heading back our way. We couldn't wait to hear all about their adventures! We are so glad they had such a good time.
Thursday morning I brought them to the airport - and am glad they made it safely home again to good ole Iowa!
Thanks for coming for a visit, Mike and Renee!
Hotel Van Essen is now open for visitors once again. We have vacancies until April, possibly June - so if you want to come, let us know! We'd love to have you.
Mike and Renee finished off their European Adventure by spending 4 days in France. They headed to the area of Normandy, France on Sunday. Then on Tuesday they ventured to Paris. We didn't hear from them the entire time - so we were trusting that all was going okay. We finally got a call Wednesday evening that they were on the train heading back our way. We couldn't wait to hear all about their adventures! We are so glad they had such a good time.
Thursday morning I brought them to the airport - and am glad they made it safely home again to good ole Iowa!
Thanks for coming for a visit, Mike and Renee!
Hotel Van Essen is now open for visitors once again. We have vacancies until April, possibly June - so if you want to come, let us know! We'd love to have you.
Oktoberfest 2009
Saturday, October 26, 2009. We got up early and headed to the train station. We were heading to Munich for Oktoberfest!!!
Mike and Renee had purchased matching hats for us to wear. Our little red hats provided to be quite useful while we were in crowds of people. We could easily spot eachother!
Jer couldn't resist trying on my little red hat - so we just had to swap and get a picture!
Mike and Renee had 1st class tickets...but we made them sit back in coach with us so we could chat and play pinocle! We had a nice ride...it was great to sit back, relax and not worry about traffic.
We arrived in Munich and just couldn't help but dress like most of the other Oktoberfest goers...
Off to Oktoberfest we go!
A very common site - men in lederhosen!
Mike and Renee had purchased matching hats for us to wear. Our little red hats provided to be quite useful while we were in crowds of people. We could easily spot eachother!
Jer couldn't resist trying on my little red hat - so we just had to swap and get a picture!
Mike and Renee had 1st class tickets...but we made them sit back in coach with us so we could chat and play pinocle! We had a nice ride...it was great to sit back, relax and not worry about traffic.
We arrived in Munich and just couldn't help but dress like most of the other Oktoberfest goers...
A very common site - men in lederhosen!
We had a great time together.
People, people, everywhere! Look at all those BUSES in the parking lot! 
Mike and Renee in the restaurant....Kimber getting her picture taken with this kind gentleman.
Bavarian cream.....yum! There is more to Oktoberfest than just beer!
We were walking by one of those "test your strength" places - and Jer just had to try to prove his might. He hit the bell twice and won me a rose!
We went on the ferris wheel so we could get a view of the Oktoberfest grounds and Munich.
People, people, everywhere! Look at all those BUSES in the parking lot!
Later in the afternoon we headed into a little restaurant. It was a neat little place, with lots of interesting things hanging on the walls and from the ceiling. There was one particular stuffed creature that we still aren't sure if it was chicken, rabit, deer or all three put together!
Mike and Renee in the restaurant....Kimber getting her picture taken with this kind gentleman.
Bavarian cream.....yum! There is more to Oktoberfest than just beer!
As we were heading back to the train station I asked Jer to do his "happy kick". He had done one that morning - right after he had purchased his lederhosen - and I so wanted to capture it on camera. Here he goes....
He takes a little running jump and clicks his heals together while in the air. He does this on occasion when we are out and about together. Oktoberfest was definately worth his "happy kick"! And Jer in lederhosen makes it all the more hilarious!
Thanks for a fun filled day - Mike and Renee - we hope we didn't wear you out too much. We let them sit in their 1st class seats on the way home. We were separated by 14 train cars. Mike walked down to our end one time...and said it took him a good 10 minutes or so....especially on a wobbeling train. We mostly tried to sleep on way home anyway, as it had been a long, but GREAT day!
Thanks again to our wonderful friends - the Cire's and the Pajwani's - that watched our kids for us so we could enjoy Oktoberfest 2009!
A Busy Week
We have had a busy week here with our guests Mike and Renee. Or more truthfully Mike and Renee have had the VERY busy week.
Wednesday evening we headed to Schwetzingen to tour the schloss there and have supper together. We had a lovely time. It was a beautiful evening, which was perfect for walking in the schloss gardens and eating outside.
Thursday morning I dropped Mike and Renee off at the train station at 8am and they headed to Koln to see the cathedral there. They also took in a boat cruise on the Rhine and saw all the castles dotting the hills along the way. They got back at about 10:15 at night...so a full day for them!
Friday, Mike and Renee headed to the town of Rothenburg ob der Touber. They had gotten a later start and apparently there wasn't a train that went there directly - so they didn't arrive til mid afternoon. But they still had a nice time and enjoyed the town. Again it was late when they returned.
Since we were heading out early on Saturday, to Munich for Oktoberfest, we dropped the kids off with friends yet on Friday night. Jeremy and I enjoyed a late night date, then we picked Mike and Renee up at the train station and decided to go out again with them as well. We knew we wouldn't get another chance to go to our local favorite with them. Is staying out past midnight wise when you have to get up at 5am??.....not much time for sleeping!
Saturday we headed to Oktoberfest....see the next post for details....
Sunday Mike and Renee headed to France.
It has been a very busy - BUT FUN - week. There are tons of details I'm leaving out - but just wanted to post a bit about what we've been up to.
Wednesday evening we headed to Schwetzingen to tour the schloss there and have supper together. We had a lovely time. It was a beautiful evening, which was perfect for walking in the schloss gardens and eating outside.
Thursday morning I dropped Mike and Renee off at the train station at 8am and they headed to Koln to see the cathedral there. They also took in a boat cruise on the Rhine and saw all the castles dotting the hills along the way. They got back at about 10:15 at night...so a full day for them!
Friday, Mike and Renee headed to the town of Rothenburg ob der Touber. They had gotten a later start and apparently there wasn't a train that went there directly - so they didn't arrive til mid afternoon. But they still had a nice time and enjoyed the town. Again it was late when they returned.
Since we were heading out early on Saturday, to Munich for Oktoberfest, we dropped the kids off with friends yet on Friday night. Jeremy and I enjoyed a late night date, then we picked Mike and Renee up at the train station and decided to go out again with them as well. We knew we wouldn't get another chance to go to our local favorite with them. Is staying out past midnight wise when you have to get up at 5am??.....not much time for sleeping!
Saturday we headed to Oktoberfest....see the next post for details....
Sunday Mike and Renee headed to France.
It has been a very busy - BUT FUN - week. There are tons of details I'm leaving out - but just wanted to post a bit about what we've been up to.
Kids
While we were up at Heiligenberg yesterday with Mike and Renee I took a few pictures of the kids. Enjoy!
Visitors!
Our friends Mike and Renee are here visiting! They arrived early Tuesday morning. Jer picked them up at the airport at 5:45am! We allowed them a few hours to gather their wits and refresh themselves and then we were off! First stop - Heidelberg. I showed them around a bit, and then they were off on their own. They had a cell phone and we set up a meeting spot. When they were finished seeing what they wanted to see, I told them to call and I come and pick them up.
Right before I picked the kids up from school, Mike called and said they were ready to be picked up. So I got the kids, then got Mike and Renee....but we weren't quite ready to go home just yet. We headed up to Heiligenberg, and hiked around a bit up there.
Finally we were ready to head home. Mike and Renee walked in the door - and headed straight for their room - they were wiped out! Time for some rest. I helped Shane with his homework and got supper going. After supper we went for another walk in the vineyards. What a day!!
Right before I picked the kids up from school, Mike called and said they were ready to be picked up. So I got the kids, then got Mike and Renee....but we weren't quite ready to go home just yet. We headed up to Heiligenberg, and hiked around a bit up there.
Finally we were ready to head home. Mike and Renee walked in the door - and headed straight for their room - they were wiped out! Time for some rest. I helped Shane with his homework and got supper going. After supper we went for another walk in the vineyards. What a day!!
Today - Wednesday, September 23 - we headed to Speyer after getting the kids off to school.
So far Mike and Renee are having a wonderful time on their European Adventure!
Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire.....
We've all heard that famous song we associate with Christmas....Well here in Germany, the chestnut trees are dropping their chestnuts. They are ALL over the ground, and many people can be found collecting them. We were at our local park, where there are a few chestnut trees, and the kids started picking up the chestnuts for fun and putting them in our wagon. I thought of the famous song...and also thought - hey maybe they do collect them and roast them and eat them. So we gathered up a bunch - and took them on home. Jer looked up on the internet how to roast chestnuts - and we were dreaming of warm nights by the fire this winter roasting chestnuts together as a family.
The outside shell has spikes like a porcupine!
The kids with all their chestnuts!!!
The outside shell has spikes like a porcupine! The kids with all their chestnuts!!!My German friend informed me today that they don't actually roast and eat this variety of chestnut. I asked her why do people collect them then...she stated for decoration and for kids to make fall crafts and such out of. So I am now using them around the house as fall decor, and I suppose the kids will have fun playing with the leftover ones for weeks to come! I guess we will have to dream up something else to roast this winter over an open fire!
Kloster Limburg
While in Bad Durkheim we also headed up to Kloster Limburg. Jer had been here early this week for a dinner meeting (there is a restaurant in part of the old buildings). He said it was really neat and wanted to take us back up there. Most of the Kloster is in ruins, however it was nice to walk around and just imagine what it use to be like.
Even though we've been to so many places like this in Germany, there is just something about these old ruins of what once was....
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