Time to Eat

Jylian has started to eat baby food. She hates it. I took a few pictures and then found a few of Ryleigh. Here are my girls learning to use a spoon. I can't believe that Ryleigh was ever that small. I can't believe how different Jylian looks from Ryleigh. I can't imagine Jylian will every be as big as Ryleigh. At this rate, I don't think she will be as tall. Ryleigh weighed more at 6months than Jylian does. But she had a few more inches on her. Enjoy Jylie and the blast from the past! Funny it is the same seat and the same spoon! Poor Jylie will have nothing new.

Amsterdam

We had a great time meeting Mike, Jerra and Kelcey in the Netherlands. Ryleigh didn't understand why the rest of the family wasn't there, but she got over it. The Ryan clan were awesome putting up with us. We were able to see the Anne Frank House, Our Lord of the Attic in the famous Red Light District and much much more. The highlight of the trip would have to have been our accommodations. Jerra hit a home run with this reservation. We were upgraded to a house boat! Many people in Amsterdam live along the canals in house boats due to the housing shortage. We were very lucky to get to experience life on the canal. It was cold and rained, but we still hit the city. It was wonderful to see the Ryans.. Kelcey congrats on graduation. We hope the rest of you Euro trip was as exciting as Amsterdam! Come again! For the rest of you reading this Ryleigh would like to extend and open invitation..."all you have to do is get on a plane and then you can be in GERMANY!"

Let's go fly a kite!

Ryleigh found her kites while unpacking. We now are on alert for all and any wind. If she feels there is enough of a breeze to fly her kite, then we are in the backyard attempting to fly! Ryleigh just likes to scream and run, leaving the flying of the kite to Mom or Dad. We are lucky to have such a great backyard. Here are some pic of Ryleigh, Cy and Daddy.

Rain

We haven't been here long enough to dislike the rain. We also have not been here long enough to carry rain gear with us everywhere we go. I think I need to get soaked a few more times before I figure it out. The other day, we had a rain storm followed by a rainbow. It was beautiful. Ryleigh put it best. "It had so many colors, all the colors of the rainbow." Jylian was sleeping, but the rest of us got to enjoy the sights. I was tempted to go look for the pot of gold, it was just down the street.

Tulips TulipsTulips

For Scooter's birthday he took us all to Holland to see the annual flower parade. We had trouble finding a place to stay, that we could afford and decided to make it a day trip. We got up early and hit the road by 8:30 after a few stops, traffic issues, and missed exits we happened upon the parade route. We parked the car around 2pm and sat along the side of the road to watch the parade. The floats were beautiful! After that we hit Keukenhof Gardens. I had no idea that there were so many different types of tulips. It was a beautiful place, but I think I might return on a weekday without children. We were very lucky to have a "beautiful day." I think Ryleigh liked the flowers. Her favorite were the pink and purlple ones. "Because her favorite color is pink and purple". Jylian thinks she should lick the flowers not smell them, she is silly sometimes. Scooter bought his girls each a dozen tulips. We got to the car around 7:30 and drove the short four hour drive home. Holland and Belgium slowed us down with speed limits, but once we hit the Germany border we were able to make up some time. We were home by midnight and our day trip was over. It was by far my favorite of Scooter's birthdays to date. I loved every minute!

We learned a few lessons.

1. Gas is very expensive off base. (Our gas coupons are only good in Germany.)

2. Europeans don't have fast food off every exit. We must always travel with enough food to get us through the day.

3. A 4 hour drive without traffic is too far for a day trip.

4. A little preplanning wouldn't hurt.

Kloster Machern

Rachael took us out to eat at her favorite place. It is down by the river. This place has tons of history. I would love to share it with you, but the english menu/paper was not available. We ordered off the German menu, which turned out to be great. I just don't really know what I ate. We will go back soon and I will pass on the long tradition. Be prepared if you visit, this will be stop number ein. They brew their own bier and have wein as well.

Wow! Castle

I wish you all could have seen Ryleigh's face as we turned the corner and this castle was in view. She was beyond excited. I don't think her mouth could be open any wider. She kept telling Jylian to look at this beautiful sight. Jylian was in total awe as well. A face we don't usually see, her eyes and mouth were open wide in total excitement.

The Cochem Castle is a quick 40min drive. This beautiful castle sits 100m above the Moselle River. Parts of the castle were built in 1000 A.D by the Franconian Palatine counts. In 1151 the German emperor seized the castle and eventually in 1689 it was destroyed by the French. In the late 1800s, Mr. Louis Ravene reconstructed the castle according to the old plans. The Reich took it over in 1942 and since 1978 the castle belongs to the town of Cochem.

It was a wonderful day. Ryleigh was thrilled, Jylian was along for the ride, and Scooter and I enjoyed our first real outting in Germany!