We had an amazing time in Prague! We only really got one day there on this trip, because Wally was under the weather on Saturday. We left with just enough time to make it to the game. We did our sight-seeing on Sunday before leaving. However, now that we've been there, we know what there is, and what we want to see next time. We also found an amazing hotel, the Dorint. I highly recommend it if you are going to Prague, expecially with children. It was very spacious, unlike many European hotels, and an absolute luxury, considering we've been sleeping on temporary Army beds until our household goods arrive later this month.
My favorite thing about Prague (so far) was the 600-year-old Charles bridge. We walked over it, along with what seemed like hundreds of other people, and there were beautiful statues, artists and musicians, and a gorgeous view! I can't wait to go back and explore more of this beautiful city!
PS: I went back and added a slideshow to the Great Babyfood Boycott post of the Volksfest, so check that out too!
** I had to delete this slideshow cause it was messing up the blog! Sorry! :(
August 11, 2008
Shout out for Cindy!
My friend Cindy is a great photographer. After years, YEARS, of her friends insisting that she should go into business, she finally did. I met Cindy in the year 2000, when I taught preschool. Her daughter Jaime was four at the time she entered my class....and now Jaime is starting middle school! Where does the time go? I looked at her blog today and when I saw Jaime's picture, I couldn't help getting teary-eyed. She was my baby before I had babies of my own! Now she's turning into a beautiful young woman. When we get our household goods, I'll have to scan some old pics of Jaime and me together. So check out Cindy's blog, if you get a chance.....and if you live in Gainesville and need some pictures taken, you now know who to call! www.cu4photos.blogspot.com
August 2, 2008
The Great Baby Food Boycott & Update!
A few weeks ago, right after we moved here, Lexie decided she is done with baby food. She will only eat it now if it's mixed with oatmeal or rice cereal. I've never had a baby begin eating table food so early....I'm amazed by all she can eat, especially considering she only has her two bottom teeth, and honestly, they're not even all the way in. But the girl eats anything and everything you give her....she never ceases to amaze me. She loves bread, especially soft rolls and croissants. She also loves peas, rice, diced carrots, mashed potatoes, and diced fruit. We also cut up whatever meat we're having into tiny pieces (or shred it) and she just gobbles up whatever we put on her tray.
Last night we went to the Volksfest on base, the first one we've been to since arriving. I had forgotten about all the yummy food at those things! We ate Nutella and banana crepes, and the kids ate these mini donuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar...even Lexie loved them! Aiden and Julia rode some rides, and I took Julia in the funhouse, which was more scary for her than fun. It was very dark!
We have done quite a bit of local travel since arriving, visiting both the towns of Nuremberg and Regensburg. They are both about an hour away. In Regensburg, we visited St. Peter's Cathedral, which is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen! We visited the downtown of both places and have enjoyed local food like brats, doners (think gyros), and the BEST pretzels.
I've been planting flowers around the house....I do not have much of a green thumb, but I'm learning as I go! I've visited the local store Obi, which is like Home Depot, and bought flowers and planters, soil and fertilizer. We are also trying to get our grass in better shape. It was very dry when we arrived....since the neighborhood is so new, there is no shade. We've been fertilizing and bought a sprinkler to try to make it pretty and green. I also planted some herbs....chives, basil and oregano. They are doing very well.
Today we went to the town of Weiden, about a 15 minute drive, and I had a happy reunion with some of my favorite shops I used to frequent in Mannheim: H & M, Xanaka, Orsay, C & A, and the New Yorker. The only "American" names I saw were Espirit and a Paul Mitchell Salon! I found a nice little coffee shop and there were tons of outdoor cafes and eis cafes. (Eis-ice cream) Ice cream is a big deal here. We frequently eat ice cream in the town of Eschenbach, only a few miles from home. They serve the ice cream in cones or cups, with these tiny little plastic spoons that are a genius invention for children. They also serve the ice cream with a round piece of ice cream cone in it that you use to dip and eat. YUM! The kids are hooked, as are we. Even Lexie gets excited and kicks her legs when she sees the little cup of ice cream.
Julia has made some nice friends around the neighborhood that are her same age, and I'm getting to know their moms. We're very happy on our little street! We bought a Isuzu Rodeo (black) from someone in Wally's battalion, and it's a bit cramped with 3 carseats across the back seat, but it will be more than sufficient until our van arrives later this month. It's a bit of a struggle to share the car since we are not within walking distance of much, but Wally usually comes home at lunch and we take him back to work, leaving us with the car for the afternoon.
I will add some pictures to this post later....right now, I have to head up to the PX because we're low on diapers. One downside....almost everything on base closes at 8pm! German stores close even earlier!
** I had to delete this slideshow because it was messing up the blog! Sorry! :(
Last night we went to the Volksfest on base, the first one we've been to since arriving. I had forgotten about all the yummy food at those things! We ate Nutella and banana crepes, and the kids ate these mini donuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar...even Lexie loved them! Aiden and Julia rode some rides, and I took Julia in the funhouse, which was more scary for her than fun. It was very dark!
We have done quite a bit of local travel since arriving, visiting both the towns of Nuremberg and Regensburg. They are both about an hour away. In Regensburg, we visited St. Peter's Cathedral, which is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen! We visited the downtown of both places and have enjoyed local food like brats, doners (think gyros), and the BEST pretzels.
I've been planting flowers around the house....I do not have much of a green thumb, but I'm learning as I go! I've visited the local store Obi, which is like Home Depot, and bought flowers and planters, soil and fertilizer. We are also trying to get our grass in better shape. It was very dry when we arrived....since the neighborhood is so new, there is no shade. We've been fertilizing and bought a sprinkler to try to make it pretty and green. I also planted some herbs....chives, basil and oregano. They are doing very well.
Today we went to the town of Weiden, about a 15 minute drive, and I had a happy reunion with some of my favorite shops I used to frequent in Mannheim: H & M, Xanaka, Orsay, C & A, and the New Yorker. The only "American" names I saw were Espirit and a Paul Mitchell Salon! I found a nice little coffee shop and there were tons of outdoor cafes and eis cafes. (Eis-ice cream) Ice cream is a big deal here. We frequently eat ice cream in the town of Eschenbach, only a few miles from home. They serve the ice cream in cones or cups, with these tiny little plastic spoons that are a genius invention for children. They also serve the ice cream with a round piece of ice cream cone in it that you use to dip and eat. YUM! The kids are hooked, as are we. Even Lexie gets excited and kicks her legs when she sees the little cup of ice cream.
Julia has made some nice friends around the neighborhood that are her same age, and I'm getting to know their moms. We're very happy on our little street! We bought a Isuzu Rodeo (black) from someone in Wally's battalion, and it's a bit cramped with 3 carseats across the back seat, but it will be more than sufficient until our van arrives later this month. It's a bit of a struggle to share the car since we are not within walking distance of much, but Wally usually comes home at lunch and we take him back to work, leaving us with the car for the afternoon.
I will add some pictures to this post later....right now, I have to head up to the PX because we're low on diapers. One downside....almost everything on base closes at 8pm! German stores close even earlier!
** I had to delete this slideshow because it was messing up the blog! Sorry! :(
Our new layout!
I was having problems with our blog layout, so I asked a friend for help. Bethany is a mom from the ivillage board I became a part of when I was pregnant with Aiden. We have gotten to know each other quite well over the past 2 years. We also both had another baby since our 2 year old! Her daughter Delaney is one month older than Lexie....Happy Birthday Delaney Marie! Bethany and her family live in Las Vegas, they have four beautiful children, and she is a digital scrapbooking queen! She's now working for Brownie Scraps, another friends' digital scrapbooking site, but she took time out of her busy schedule to create this custom layout for me! Isn't she amazing?! Thank you, Bethany! I am so happy with our new blog!
July 15, 2008
We made it!
Well, it was a long trip. We made it to D.C. without any problems, but then due to weather, sat on the runway for 2 hours before leaving the country. That ate into our 3 hour layover in Frankfurt, and we missed our connecting flight. Luckily the airline had already booked us on the next available flight, and we didn't have to wait long. Once we arrived, we found that 4 of our 10 bags hadn't made it, along with our double stroller. The airline (Lufthansa) promised to deliver it to base that evening....but it ended up being almost 3 days before we got them. Poor Wally was the only one without clothes, so a quick trip to the PX was in order.
It's been rough in the hotel with 5 of us and Paris (our dog). Lexie and Aiden aren't sleeping very well, and I have major jet lag. The good news is that we will not be here until September, like we thought we would!I don't know if we would've made it! We were thrilled to discover one of the new houses was available, and we're signing for it tomorrow and moving in Wednesday. It is literally right across the street from Julia's elementary school, which is also brand new. We are so lucky! I'll be able to walk her to school every morning, even when it snows.
Right now our dilemma is buying a car. Our van and household goods won't be here until next month, and the selection of used cars isn't great right now. We have a lead on one, and we're hoping it works out. Please keep your fingers crossed for us! We have to walk everywhere right now, which is tough with the kids, grocery shopping, etc. And when we move into the house, it will be even further from the stores.
I put together two slideshows; one of our trip over here and another of our new house and misc pics we've taken since arriving. When we get to the house, we may not have internet for a week or so, but I'll update when I can.
It's been rough in the hotel with 5 of us and Paris (our dog). Lexie and Aiden aren't sleeping very well, and I have major jet lag. The good news is that we will not be here until September, like we thought we would!I don't know if we would've made it! We were thrilled to discover one of the new houses was available, and we're signing for it tomorrow and moving in Wednesday. It is literally right across the street from Julia's elementary school, which is also brand new. We are so lucky! I'll be able to walk her to school every morning, even when it snows.
Right now our dilemma is buying a car. Our van and household goods won't be here until next month, and the selection of used cars isn't great right now. We have a lead on one, and we're hoping it works out. Please keep your fingers crossed for us! We have to walk everywhere right now, which is tough with the kids, grocery shopping, etc. And when we move into the house, it will be even further from the stores.
I put together two slideshows; one of our trip over here and another of our new house and misc pics we've taken since arriving. When we get to the house, we may not have internet for a week or so, but I'll update when I can.
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