A year in pictures 2012: Week 35

Friday 24 August

Today we had an open house at the elementary school to meet our new teachers. Joey's new teacher is Mrs. Dunn. Jo is thrilled to have a teacher so fun and full of life.

Saturday 25 August

Today we went to Bayreuth to see some new sites. While we were there, Bailey and Erick got caught in a vortex. Ha ha! It was a fun day, and I experimented a bit with my camera. I posted about the day here.

Sunday 26 August

The woods near Grafenwöhr. Erick and I often pull the car over on the way home from church to find a nice view. You'll see a pattern coming in the future...

Monday 27 August

First day of school for these beautiful girls. Josephine is in 4th grade, and Bailey is in 3rd grade.

Monday 27 August

TJ starts kindergarten this year, but his first day is a week later than the older kids. Today, his teacher Mrs. Manzo and her assistant .... (I'll add her name when I remember it) came to the house to meet TJ. This is when he informed them that he would like to be called by his first name Erick. Funny boy!

Thursday 30 August

Tonight we had a Relief Society activity. We played games, and this one was one of my favorites. The first one to balance 10 Oreos on her forehead. Mary Anne did awesome! (Relief Society is the women's organization within the church. Read more about it here. There is also a good explanation of it on Wikipedia.)  

Eremitage, Bayreuth

The Hermitage (Eremitage in German) is a park in Bayreuth that houses several historical buildings and ruins. The most famous of these buildings is the Old Palace, which was built in 1715. - it was later replaced by the New Palace which we visited back in April. You can relive that experience here. - We did not tour inside. We chose not to subject the kids to all that 'quiet' time. Instead we ran a little crazy around the park. We really enjoyed exploring the gardens complete with fountains and archways. Take a look.

The Orangerie. There is a restaurant and a store in this building. I originally mistook this building for the Old Palace. It is not:

This is the only photo I'm posting of the Old Palace. I was intrigued by the old-looking chimney stacks. The building was fairly plain. I would like to go back and tour the inside:

On the grounds:

Here Erick is teaching the kids about the 'keystone:'

My beautiful statue:

My monkey in the tree:

My comedians:

We played with the camera. Does it look like my family is being sucked into a time warp?

Trying to get a family picture. Ha ha!

Now all together:

I love all the places there are to see so close to home!

A year in pictures 2012: Week 34

Friday 17 August

We roasted marshmallows today with neighborhood friends. I posted about it here. David loved the marshmallows!

Saturday 18 August

We attended the temple today with some wonderful friends. Inside the temple we ran into some old friends from the D.C. area. I posted about it here. It really is a small world...

Sunday 19 August

Pepper

Monday 20 August

Looking toward my bedside table. Were Erick and I really that young?

Tuesday 22 August

Today we had a 'late night' with some wonderful friends. We went out for ice cream, then came home and made crafts, watched a movie, and had an all around good time.

Wednesday 22 August

Today we had a picnic/play date at this amazing castle. Ah.... I just love my life. I posted about this day here. Remember? You're supposed to come visit me so you can see it. Don't forget!

Thursday 23 August

The FRG for Erick's company held an outdoor barbecue today. These bees were fighting us for the space... and the food.

play date... in a castle?

My friend Anna invited me and a group of friends to bring all of our kids out for a play date. This is where we went:

The origins of this castle date back to before the 1300's. But I think the more interesting history is more recent. A man named Hermann Goering was raised in this castle. He grew up to become the second in command of the Third Reich. He would bring his "coworkers" to the castle for hunting trips. Eventually he built a bomb shelter underneath the castle with it's own air and water supply. To this day, there are still rumors that stolen treasure from the war is hidden somewhere on the castle grounds.

Now, just in case you think this looks like a terrible location for little kids to play, take a look at the court yard:

We also brought lunches for a picnic. The kids were playing, running, and climbing:

We even explored the castle itself. The entrance:

They have rooms for rent within the castle. Vacation anyone?

View from the door of the bunker. I can't believe I didn't photograph the bunker. But then again, it had a pretty bad stench inside. I didn't stay long. TJ kept going back inside looking for treasure:

The tower:

Look carefully in the photo below. You'll see TJ sticking his little head out the tiny tower window. When I took the picture, I thought it was cute. Then I climbed the tower myself, and I about had a heart attack. It was so high. Plus, to stick his head out that window, he had to climb up the wall then lie down on his belly in the window sill. Just thinking about it again makes my stomach churn. But back to the cute boy. Hi TJ!

Top of the tower. Toilet anyone? Look out below!

Great view:

It was such a great day. This place was so fun to see. It's less than an hour from my house. So if you come visit, I could take you. Time is running out.... I thought you should know. Ha ha!