Fourth of July weekend

So I gave all the boys a break and I didn't plan anything for the 4th of July weekend.   Nobody could believe that I was staying home on a 4-day.  LOL  So instead we did little things each day.  One day we went to a movie, one day we went bowling and then I decided we had  to try a barefoot park.  I have heard about them since I arrived in Germany and had wanted to try it, so on Monday July 6th off we went. 

David looks so excited here, that is because he LOVES walking barefoot and especially LOVES walking on things that hurt his feet.  ;-)

The start was easing us into it, they are walking on wood chips.

Next was the mud - the boys weren't sure about this at first, it was very liquidy on top but there were also big mounds throughout it that you stepped in and squished between your toes.

At the end of the  walk they decided they liked this part the best though!!!

We all have mud socks on!!!

Michael decided to be the leader of the group, way out in front!

They not only had different things to walk on, but obstacles as well  Here is a bridge where the wood moves side to side.

Michael and AJ working  on their balance!

David did really well on the balance too!!

You can see that the path took us out to the middle of nowhere.

The boys and I seeing how fast we can get through this one, it was a little hot from the sun.

Next was the river crossing, I think it was to help wash off all the mud.

It was pretty deep for the boys, Michael's shorts were wet up to the top.

My turn to  balance with the boys.

The boys liked this one, they hopped from one to the next.

They even had wine corks that you stepped on.

The boys were trying to be still so they could catch the fish that were in there.

David was happy to get off of his feet for awhile and be in the shade!!

Now the boys are fully wet and totally enjoying themselves!!!  They weren't able to catch any fish though.

Tight rope walking, I am really glad that it wasn't high because we all fell off it at least once!!!

They had so many different sensations for your feet, here you are walking on bumpy logs.

My monkeys!!!!

The boys were really good at the balance part of the course!!!

Swinging across the bridge!

The boys really wanted to go across in the boat, so we said yes..  What I didn't even think about was that it is an aluminum boat and the sun has been shining on it all day.  Can I say burnt feet?!?  It was soooooo hot!!  Thankfully David pulled us across the river quickly so we could get off of it.

Michael was doing his best to use all his weight to get AJ up.

Then they decided to have the both of them against me.  They were able to get me up!

It was a beautiful place!

Michael wanted to do the bridge so we had to wait until everybody was done and then we went there and back because I wasn't going to do the boat again.  We had fun, even David, at the park.  Though the boys said once was enough.  LOL

Miseau Pool

So when we arrived back in Germany it was really, really hot.  The temperature was in the upper 90s and holding strong.  So the boys and I decided we needed to cool off a bit.  So we headed to our favorite outdoor  pool on Wednesday July 1.

Michael jumping off the diving board.  I think the boys spent most of their day here at the diving boards!  They were loving them!!!

 AJ's turn with his pencil jump!!

Then AJ went off the middle diving board, but Michael wasn't so sure about it so he stayed on the lower one.

This is their other favorite place the whirlpool.  They were giggling and laughing.  And I  got in trouble from the lifeguard because I was told I couldn't take pictures anymore at this pool.  This  was news to me, last year it was totally fine.

Off to the red slide!!  So I want to point out how empty it is.  We basically had the run of the place for about three hours.  Then once the German schools let out, it became almost wall to wall people everywhere.  It was crazy!

Michael finally got the courage up to go off the middle diving board and then there was no stopping him, he went again and again and again!

 AJ was having a ball!!!

Then they opened the high dive, I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures so I did it from a far, but AJ is up there getting ready to jump.  Michael didn't do it that day, but we came back with David the following Monday and Michael went off it like four times!!  He just walked right off it like it was nothing.  The boys were thoroughly water logged and had tons of sun and the people were getting rude, so I called it a day after five hours of swimming and we headed home.

Lake Como

Our last stop on our Italy tour was Lake Como.  I heard it is a beautiful lake and relaxing.  Since we decided not to stop in Milan, it was a relaxing morning before we headed off after a quick lunch.

I didn't realize just how big of a lake it was and this is only a small part of it.

I had a little harder time finding a place in Lake Como.  So I finally just decided on a place and went with it.  I didn't realize how far out it was from the lake itself and how far up.  So after we arrived, David and I discussed about only staying one night instead of two like we had planned.  We were all ready to head home and there wasn't any huge sights to see at Lake Como.

So off we headed to go check out Lake Como.  We found out the hard way that everybody was out there and we hit lots and lots and lots of traffic.  We were stopped more than we drove.  We say this cool tower though.

With that we decided to just give in and go get some ice cream and play some cards.  So we found the next place that sold ice cream and stopped in.  Michael still didn't get any ice cream, but I am still working on him.

There are a ton of small towns all over the lake.  Some say the lake isn't clean enough to swim in.  With all the traffic we didn't even make it to the place where we were going to try and swim.

It was beautiful though!

So we headed back up to our hotel for the night and this is our view from the balcony.  Beautiful view as you can see, but no lake to be seen at all.

It is a working farm where they make their own wine.

They also have lots of goats and they make their own cheese and milk as well.

The next morning the boys went out to find the goats.  David told them late the night before when he went to the van, there were two goats that were chasing him.  So of course the boys wanted the goats to chase them as well.  LOL

The boys heading down to breakfast.

I love looking at my boys and watching them just live life!

They were petting the dog that lived there and loving it!!!

One thing the outside of the place was very colorful and cheerful!

My boys do love animals.  They found the cat again and were giving it some loving!

David and I before heading out for our long drive home.

So we hit the road and started driving up through Switzerland since that was the fastest way home.  We stopped to take a bathroom break and to my delight it was right next to a gorgeous river!!!!  Look at the color of the water!

David thinks it is gorgeous as well!!!!   That and maybe glad to be out of the car.  LOL

So what else do you when you take a bathroom break, but through on the swim trunks and head to the river!!!!  The boys said it was really, really cold!!!

David wanted to join in the fun!!  He can't let the boys have it all!!!

My boys - oh how I love all three - throwing and skipping rocks in the water.

David decided he needed a little bit of a workout by the river as well and wanted to snatch both the boys!!!  Michael is on the left and AJ on the right.

The boys looking for just the right rocks!!!

AJ trying to push Michael in while David tries to skip a big rock the boys found for him.  He did it too!!!  Very impressive!!!

David and I in front of the river.  After that we headed off for some of the most expensive McDonald's we have ever eaten.  Did I tell you Switzerland is EXPENSIVE?!?!  Then on home.  It was such a WONDERFUL vacation!!  I wouldn't trade driving through Italy for anything.  It was such a great experience and we were able to see so much and do it on our time.  We were all glad to be home and just relax though as well that evening!