Castle, Wild Park and Cub scouts

The park and Wonderland

AJ taking his turn with the fire extinguisher

the big hose

Michael and Daddy flying

Michael got a turn

the deer following us trying to get more food

too sweet

wild pigs

Michael hesitant about feeding the deer to start with, but then off he went

Wolves

What you are going to feed me?  Please?

All right here you go

The goats were not shy, this one climbed up AJ to get food

Michael always climbing

some of the replica jewels that were housed here

thought these carvings on the bottom were cool

Michael the King

AJ the King

A carving on one of the walls

brotherly love

view from the entrance of the castle

Michael up on the hay

tractor coming down the walking path  ;-)

Too cool of a door with all the pretty colors

Had to get one more to get it all in the shot

 

 

What a busy great day!!!  The weather was beautiful and sunny, a little chilly in the morning which was really cool because on the drive out to the castle steam was rising off the grass and trees.  It was a gorgeous drive to the castle.  We went to Castle Trifels this morning, about a 45 min drive.  It was a very windy steep drive to and from.  Unfortunately David couldn't come with us because he had to work.  The boys said it was a much bigger castle than the last one and a much bigger hill to walk up.  It took awhile just to walk up to the castle and then we did at least three times up and down the stairs from the top to the bottom of that castle.  Both boys sat in the kings thrown and thought that was cool!!   Trifels Castle, or Burg Trifels as it is called in German, was made famous for one reason because of King Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) was imprisoned after he was captured by Duke of Leopold V of Austria on his return from the Third Crusade.  It also was a place of safekeeping for the Imperial Regalia of the Hohenstaufen emperors.  These included Crown, Orb, two swords of Empire, Empire, Alba, Stoles, rock, Bottoms, shoes, gloves, ring, belt and spores.  Then came a few relics such as a piece of the Holy Cross, a nail with which Jesus on the cross was defeated a tooth of John the Baptist and more.  Then as we were coming off the mountain I saw a sign for Wild-und Wanderpark, so I decided we should see that too.  It was great fun also, they were able to feed goats, horses and deer.  There was also a great play area for them.  We didn't have too much time here because we had to hustle back for AJ's first cub-scout field trip to the Fire Department.  He had a great time and was able to shoot the hose and everything.  All the guys there were really nice!!!  Michael was also able to do a few things and got some goodies before we left.   All in all it was a great day!!  We would have loved to have David with us on the first two adventures, but he was able to catch up on the third, which the boys and I were very glad about.  Also on Friday, Michael and I went to his friend's house and we took a walk/scooter ride down a wonderful path found some great iridescent beetles and hay stacks along the way!  It was beautiful country side with so much history in it you could just feel it!

So it took forever and ever to get my car, but I finally have it and am driving it!!!  I almost posted a picture because I was sooooo excited!!!!  The bad part is, it didn't pass inspection.  They don't like my rear tires and said one of my shocks is leaking.  Lucky we have a mechanic friend that said he can help us fix the shocks.  David said one guy's whole electrical was shot.  So at least mine are minor.  It is really wierd driving it again, David's car is sooooo low and a stick shift.  I kept looking for the clutch and then having to remember how much bigger my van is.  And can I tell you how glad I am that I have a bigger car!!!  I can actually have more than four people comfortable in a car and pick up something bigger than a small box.  All good stuff!!!  On Wednesday morning I went in to help out at AJ's class.  The teacher was doing reading tests with the kids so I taught her class that morning.  It was so much fun!!!  She said the kids really took to me and asked if I wanted to come back again!  I said of course!! So I might be volunteering three mornings a week.  I wasn't busy enough yet, had to add a few more things in.  AJ had scouts tonight and he did WONDERFUL!!!   He had a test were he had to remember a lot of things.  The Den leader said he was the best of them all, said everything with confidence and rocked it!!!  He is now offically the next rank up to Bobcat and very excited about it!!  He also got his uniform today and thought that was great also!!!  I am glad he is so excited about it!!!  He will get promoted on Sunday in the big pack meeting.  Michael is doing great also!!  His teachers are raving about him doing so great on his work and everything!  I am glad he had such a great start at his last pre-school in Fort Huachuca.  Ms. Gloria did a great job with him.  He still talks about it.  David is extremely busy at work, things are more messed up than he thought, he keeps uncovering things that are wrong, so he is going to be working lots of late nights and Saturdays for awhile.  So the boys and I are going to figure out something fun to do this Saturday.  AJ has been wanting to go to another castle and there are a few nearby, so we shall see what the day brings.  I am just glad tomorrow is Friday!!!  It has been raining here a lot, reminding me of Fort Lewis that is for sure!!  But we all have our umbrellas, rain boots and coats, so we don't mind.  :-)

MY CAR IS HERE!!!!!!

This is a bedroom right next to our master bedroom that we are using as a closet

 

 

Our bedroom

 

I had to take this one, the boys didn't know what it was and thought it was so wierd that you use that to wipe your bottom  LOL

 

our master bath

It is huge

 

Stair case three floors

 

Spare bedroom - who is coming to visit?  I promise I will have the books off the bed when you come

:-)

 

Living room

 

Our new bar!!  Kellee - check out what is on top :-)  Memories

Our dinning room behind the couch and the kitchen off to the left

boys playroom

backside of playroom with washer and dryer - working on a 3D puzzel right now

 

Boys room

 

 

They got new rainboots today and had to try them out.  This is next door, it went from a dirt pile to a mud hole

 

trying to see how big a splash they can make

My boys and mud, couldn't be happier!!

 

 

My car is here and ready for pick up so guess what we are doing tomorrow?!?!?!  That is right getting my van!!!  YIPPEE!!!  I just hope it made its travels over the ocean okay.  I am sure it did and I can't wait to get in my van!!!  It will be soooo nice!!!  Today I asked if I could take cupcakes in for Michael's birthday to his school.  She said yes, but they have to be bought from the commissary an hour before they are eaten and I have to bring in my receipt to show them the time.  Now I understand being careful and all, but this is getting to be a little ridiculous if you ask me.  I am just trying to make my kid's day special and they are making it so difficult.  I am okay with buying them, but an hour before they eat it.  So they eat snack at 9:30 so I have to buy my cupcakes sometime that day after 8:30.  Lovely.  Oh well.  Michael and I did some shopping on the economy today and had a great time doing it!!  He was my little helper!!!  we were out for a long time but got quite a few things we wanted to get.  I found out today AJ also got 8 out of 12 challenge words right on his spelling test last week which are all second grade words!!  I am very proud of him.  He has gotten 100% on all the pre-tests for his spelling tests so far so the teacher does challenge words for the kids that get the 100% on the pre-test.  Today is Monday Night Football for us.  We set the DVR because it was waaaaaay to late (or early in the morning) for us to watch.  The Millers are over who are Green Bay Packer fans so there has been a lot of smack talking going on and I love it!!!  I finally took some pictures of the inside of our house.  It is not the cleanest, but thought I would get some up for you all. 

Our weekend was good, packed and over way too quickly.  I told David, next weekend we start traveling!!!  Hopefully I will have my van by then, keep your fingers crossed.  On Saturday we finished bringing in a couple of items from the garage, one was a new to us bar that is really cool!!!  (I know I will get pictures soon!!)  Then off to pick up a few things at Ramstein.  My 45 minute trip turned into about 5 hours.  The boys played at the BX play area for three of those.  Part of it was my fault, they were having a blood drive and I wanted to donate and it takes awhile to get through all the screening and actually give blood.  When I was done I talked to the boys and Michael said he never wanted to give blood because he doesn't like shots.  I told him it is a choice and he doesn't have to.  I also told him you are a kid so you can't yet any way.  He then told me that he wants to stay a kid and never grow up!!!  I thought it was too cute!!!  I told him to stay a kid as long as possible!!!  After that we went to a store called Mobil Marten and it was HUGE!!!!  Three stories of all sorts of house goods.  The boys were not happy to be there and right as we were about to leave I found a place where they could have played the whole time while we were shopping!  Next time definitely because there were waaaaaaay too many breakables in that store.  Saturday night we had our first guests for dinner and it was great!!!  David even got to use his new bar!!  :-)  Sunday was church in the morning, playdate with AJ's buddy from school and then straight to Awanas.  I knew we would be busy, but I have to find time to start that traveling!!!  We have a four day coming up and we are going somewhere, probably in Germany because we haven't gotten our international licenses yet, but that is next on our list, that is if David can get away from the office at all.  He has been really busy and staying late trying to fix that office.   He is hoping to have it to where he can take some extended leave by Christmas, until then there are lots of things to see within a 2 hour radius of us! 

Happy Friday

I had a great day today!!!  It started out with a little time to myself to try and organize the house a little more before doing a little grocery shopping.  Then off to pick up Michael and have a playdate with one of the kids in his class.  We went to the "dinosaur" park and had a BLAST!!!  Oh my gosh this park is really cool, there is so much to see and do.  They have stuff that would never get passed for safety in the states.  There was a ropes course, a tree house that was at least two stories, if not more high, a slide that was probably running on 2 -3 stories high, cool swings, digging, climbing wall, pirate ships just to name a few.  We didn't even have time to get over to where they do miniature golf.  I went a little nuts with the pictures that I uploaded this time but I couldn't decide which ones.  They also change the theme throughout their seasons right now of course it is Halloween and it is also an under the sea theme.  It also has a place where the kids can play in the water on a hot day, with water pumps to make water wheels turn and everything.  They even have comfy lounge chairs for the adults.  You can also bring in picnic lunch and make a day of it.  I can tell you we will be visiting that often!  Only down fall is it is only open from April 1- Oct 31 so we are at the end of their season.  The other mom I went with has a lot of travel tips for places within 1-2 hours of here and some great parks etc. that she is going to tell me about!   I am very excited!!!  The boys were also popular today after school, two of the neighbors came over to play with them!  They really enjoyed that!  I think we are almost done with setting up the house.  David has been working some loooong hours so it is a slow go especially with all we are doing.  AJ had his second scout meeting last night and had a great time!!  They are learning about community and helping people.  Their assignment for this week is to make up a chore list for the week, design a fire escape plan and draw it out.  I think it is going to be really good.  He is also trying to memorize the items to get to the next rank.  He is doing great with that!!!  He is also doing challenge words for his spelling test now.  He has gotten 100% on all of his spelling pre-tests so he didn't have to take the regular test today, he did challenge words which are much more difficult.  I will see next week how he did.  All in all we are getting more settled in and the travel bug is really starting to hit me.  We have a four day weekend coming up and I will find someplace to go!!!  Even if it is four day trips!!  :-)  Again sorry about all the pictures, but I couldn't decide :-)