Blue and Gold scouts

On Sunday, February 28th, the boys had their pack meeting for scouts.  It was our annual blue and gold, the scouting birthday.  They did a camping theme and asked the fire department to come and talk about fire safety.

AJ sitting in the front seat.  Who doesn't like sitting in a fire truck?!?

Michael asking questions.  He is usually pretty good about asking questions.

AJ's mind is also always working.  He asks some good questions as well!

 



Michael's turn in the front seat!!!

AJ checking out the tools on the truck.

The wolves were supposed to do the opening and closing.  Unfortunately Michael was the only one that was there, so he did all the talking.

So the AJ's den helped and carried in the flags!

Michael did a great job reading and AJ bringing in the flag.

The webelos did a very funny skit!  AJ doing his part!

Since Michael was the only wolf there, the Webs let Michael join them for their skit!!  I love how they all work together!

The fire department gave a little talk and showed what they would look and sound like if they came into rescue you during a fire.  It was a good pack meeting and the boys enjoyed themselves.

Talent show

On Friday February 12th, the elementary school had a talent show.  Michael had a sleepover and the boys decided they would rather have the sleep over than be in the talent show.  So AJ said he would still like to be in it and do karate.

AJ waiting for the show to begin.

They had two really good MCs that were pretty funny.  AJ telling the audience a little about his karate career.

AJ starting his kata.

 

He did such a great job!!  It takes a lot of guts to get up in front of a crowd of his peers and their parents.  I am very proud of him!!!

Karate Tournament

On February 27th, the boys were in the USAF karate tournament.  This is one that is not just karate tech, but three different dojos.  This was the first one that I was going to be able to judge at.  So I arrived really early and David brought the boys a little later.

Michael practicing his kata before the tournament starts.  He was really getting into it!

AJ warming up as well, working with the sun in his face just incase it didn't move fast enough for his turn.

I am giving the boys a last minute pep talk!

They had the air force come out and bring in the colors and sing the national anthems of both Germany and the United States.

Thankfully they had enough judges that I was able to help keep the tournament moving along by getting the kids ready for their kata and sparring.  It was perfect for me!!  We were the first ring done with everything and then helped them finish some of the other rings.

Michael reporting in for his kata.

Michael was working on getting his kicks really high!

Michael took third place in his kata.  We were proud of him!!!

AJ getting ready to do his kata, he has some stiff competition.

AJ doing some power in his kata!!!!

Look at those long legs and high kick!!!  We were very proud of him as well!!  He didn't place in the top three, but he improved a lot from last year!

Michael doing a jump kick during sparring!

He took third place in sparring as well!

Karate Tech students very proud!

AJ's turn to spar!!!

He was up against somebody as tall as him this year.  He did a great job and gave it his all!!  The boys had a good time at the tournament!!  After they were done, David took them to the KMCC for lunch while I finished up judging.  Unfortunately it took me another hour and a half to finish up there, but they waited for me.  It was a fun day!!!

Heading home

On Monday we packed up and got ready to head home.  The people that we stayed in their apartment was so nice.  I tried to have a conversation with them as we were leaving, but it was a little difficult because they only spoke German and mine is not very good.

One of the things that I love is the color of their water.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but it is a beautiful aqua color.

We decided to take a detour into the town of Bern, Switzerland.  Albert Einstein lived here between 1902-1905

As we were walking down town we saw these light houses and thought of Mary!

 

There are eleven Renaissance allegorical statues on public fountains in the Old Town. Nearly all the 16th century fountains.  The Anna-Seiler-Brunnen statue memorializes the founder of the first hospital in Bern. 

Look at my monkeys, always climbing!  You can see the chains aren't even connected on the top.

In the background you can see the Zytglogge clock.  Built in the early 13th century, it has served the city as guard tower, prison, clock tower, centre of urban life and civic memorial.

This is the Banner Carrier or Vexillum Fountain. The Venner was military-political title in medieval Switzerland. He was responsible for peace and protection in a section of a city and then to lead troops from that section in battle

The Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen ("Fountain of Justice") is a 16th-century foutain in the Old City of Bern. It is the only Bernese fountain to retain all original design elements, and is listed as a cultural heritage of national significance.  It is a life size stature of lady justice.

This is the Simsonbrunnen or Samson fountain The fountain represents the biblical story of Samson killing a lion. 

The Zahringerbrunnen (Zahringen Fountain) is a fountain built as a memorial to the founder of Bern

 

The world Telegraph monument is a Memorial Fountain on the Helvetiaplatz before the historic Museum in Bern.  It is reminiscent of the universal Telegraph Union founded in 1865 and was executed in 1922 after a project by Giuseppe Romagnoli (1872-1966) from Bologna, which emerged victorious from a 1911 organized competition.

It was a great little stop over to stretch our legs and see a little bit of Switzerland that wasn't on the mountains.  Unfortunately for us, everything was closed until 1 pm and I didn't want to stay for two hours, we needed to get home.  It was a great vacation and we all had a wonderful time!!!

Switzerland - day 2

The second day we woke up to a beautiful morning!  I was so excited that I had everybody up and ready quickly!  This time I even remembered to turn on the crock pot!!!

This was our view from our apartment in the morning!!!

On our way to the ski area we passed this waterfall and I couldn't get over how beautiful it was!

 

The boys were ready to get to skiing!!  Michael heading up the lift.



AJ and David heading up the lift as well!!!

My boys ready to hit the slopes!!!  They were all pretty excited!!!!!

The two snowboarders, always waiting on them.  ;-)  lol

And the two skiers!!!

After a couple of runs we all decided to head over to the other slopes.  Michael decided to take a little break along the way!!!

AJ decided to play in the snow as well!!!

I am not sure what AJ was doing, maybe swimming in the snow.  :-)

Michael deciding whether his brother's idea was a good one or not.

Our equipment - many of hours of fun on these!!!!

Next they decided to take my ski poles and try and dig holes with them!

AJ and David heading up the gondola!

Michael and I heading up as well!!!!

Michael and David heading down the slopes!!!

AJ is getting really good on that snowboard!!!

We found a new place for lunch, it was called North Pole and it was extremely yummy!!!  Also while we were eating lunch it rained outside.  We were able to put all of our stuff on the heater and not get any wetter.  It was perfect timing!

The four of us heading up the ski lift!!!  Thankfully the weather became much nicer!!!

Michael heading way down the hill!!  He was getting better every time!

It seemed on every run we stopped to have a snowball fight!

David enjoying the snowball fight as well!!!

My two snowboarders coming down the hill!!!

Doesn't he look like a natural?!?

The blue sky came out for a bit this day!!!

Michael getting the form better and better.

David coming down with a snowball in his hand.  Who do you think he is going to hit with it?!?

All three of my boys coming down the hill!!!

I LOVE his attitude!!!!!

Me heading down the hill!!

AJ and I heading down the hill!!

 

Me celebrating coming down the hill and all three of my boys made it up the hill!!!  Also celebrating having such a wonderful day on the slopes!!!!  We had such a wonderful time!!!  The boys asked if we could come back the next day because they wanted to go again.  I am so glad they enjoy it so much!!!!