Mimi and Papa Come to Deutschland! {Part 2}

The rest of my parents' trip was spent hanging out around town with a few day trips sprinkled in. They so enjoyed the day-to-day "German" activities: walking to the bakery to get fresh bread...

... going downtown with my mom to the weekly farmers market...

... and picking Ellie up from kindergarten. She was always so thrilled to see her Mimi and Papa!

There was lots of fun hanging out at the house and play time. Papa was a master builder with the blocks!

With the weather so nice and sunny just about every day, my mom and I also spent a lot of time outdoors pulling the weeds around our bushes. I'd like to think Brian enjoys when his mother-in-law comes to town... things get done!

We got the entire bed cleaned out and mulched -- success! We also had a few picnics outside with Ellie running around the yard playing soccer with her Papa.

The last weekend of March we all piled in the car and drove up to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a picturesque walled city and a popular stop along Germany's Romantic Road.

More beautiful, sunny weather!

We found a restaurant with an outdoor biergarten. The food was delicious!

Dad got a little silly (notice the empty beer glass). :)

I have heard great things about Rothenburg, but it was even better in person!

Although we didn't go in, we stopped by the Rothenburg Criminal Museum and found these two delinquents in the stocks.

The charge? Too much German beer consumption (is there such a thing?). We also found this little culprit as well.

Her crime? Giving her mother so much grief and then pulling such an adorable face!

The last stop on our trip was to the cuckoo clock store. Having wanted one for years, my mom and dad bit the bullet and ordered a clock and aside from trying to keep Ellie from pulling the chains on all the clocks, she couldn't get enough of the hourly chiming and music coming from all the clocks.

On the way home, this happened.

It's becoming a regular occurrence when we do day trips -- it's the only place she will ever sleep when the sun is still up. We haven't used the stroller since last year's Christmas markets and Ellie is more than happy to walk with us. We've also gotten smart and started traveling with a little potty since Ellie potty trained, knowing that she tends to fall asleep on the ride home after long days with lots of walking. Seems to be working in our favor!

Our last little trip with my parents was taking them to the Wilhelma Zoo here in Stuttgart. We took the train there -- our favorite method of travel in the city.

It was our first time at the zoo, and I foresee us going back in the near future! Our first stop was the greenhouse. Ellie loves plants and flowers so it was right up her alley... maybe.

A older German man commented to us that these barrel cacti are colloquially referred to as the "Mother-in-law's Chair":

The plants and trees were all in bloom! I still can't get over the weather we had during my parents' visit.

I'm just now realizing that I have no pictures of the actual animals from our zoo trip -- this was as close as we got.

Afterwards, we took the train downtown for a walk down Königstrasse for some ice cream and then to to the Schlossplatz to see the fountains back up and running after the winter!

A few family pictures.

Then during our attempt at a family picture, things got real.

Oh, life with a three-year-old (I can't even remember what the issue was).

As we expected, we had a great time hosting my mom and dad in our new home and it's always hard o see them leave. That said, we are eagerly anticipating their next visit -- with a new granddaughter in the house!

More Conversations with Ellie

Forgot about these two gems...

Ellie, running into the living room from her bedroom: "Mom! I need the tape please!"
Me: "What for?"
Ellie: "For my blocks... so they don't fall down."

Ellie, holding up a bottle of (pregnancy-related) magnesium supplements: "Are these medicine?"
Brian: "Yes, they're for mom."
(a few seconds go by)
Ellie: "Take them away dad! They're only for adults!"

Mimi and Papa Come to Deutschland! {Part 1}

My parents came for a nice 3-week visit for the last half of March and into April and while that might seem like a good chunk of time, it was the best way to take advantage of a trans-Atlantic flight as well as adjusting to the six-hour difference. Their visit came at the perfect time because spring arrived a month early this year thanks to the mild winter and the view from our backyard went from this (taken in January but it looked just about as sparse in early March)...

to this!

Their first day in town was just spent trying to stay awake after an overnight flight. Unfortunately it was a rainy day, but we got out anyway and we took them to the local farmers market and bakery for lunch.

They made it until 8 that evening before crashing -- a success in my book!

We decided to keep Ellie in school for the majority of my parents' visit. The structure is good for her and besides, am I the only one whose child gets rambunctious and acts up when company (even grandparents) is in town? Her hours spent at in school gave us some much-needed adult time, which we took advantage of by taking my parents to Tübingen one morning. I just love the architecture there and my parents were so excited to be in a sunny, warm place as opposed to back at home where they'd had snow on the ground every day from December until their visit to see us in March (and they still had snow when they got home!).

Enjoying a sunny lunch on the Neckar River.

Of course being in Germany there was no question about a visit to see our cousins up in Montabaur, which we did during the first half of my parents' trip. It's the first time my parents had been up in almost 13 years! We had a lovely 5-day visit and it was great to see my parents spending time with family that they hadn't seen in well over a decade.

We were also able to share our baby news with Karl Heinz and Mechthilde. Meanwhile, Ellie lapped up all the attention (and I thought she couldn't get any more rambunctious at home with my parents!).

We took a little day trip to Sayn, the village where my grandmother was born and visited the church where she was baptized...

... had a picnic lunch outside...

... visited the family plot at the cemetery (not as macabre as it sounds)...

... and made a final stop at the ironworks museum which features an almost life-sized cutout of my great-great grandfather!

On a side note, one thing I absolutely love about being in Germany is that, no matter where you go, you can usually find a corner in any museum or restaurant with a small collection of children's toys or crayons and paper. We found one at the ironworks museum that kept Ellie happy for several minutes while we looked at the displays.

We also made it a point to visit my grandmother's cousin, Veronika, and her husband, Hans. Veronika was (as I remembered her from years ago) an excellent hostess and there was no shortage of delicious cake to go along with some afternoon coffee!

"Less talking and more eating, Mom."

As is common in a lot of German homes, my cousins have a "Kellarbar," a room usually in the basement used for family gatherings and parties. The one in my cousins' home had probably not been used since the last time my parents were in town (and was currently being used for storage) so, on a whim, it was decided to clean it out and use it that evening for a get together!

Things got a little silly while we were cleaning the Kellarbar. :)

It was a great evening that brought back many memories from my childhood!

Our time in Montabaur was truly wonderful and memorable but went by all too quickly! Next time we head up we will probably have a baby in tow!

The Gang's All Here!

She insisted on inviting a few close friends to breakfast. :)

Recent Conversations with Ellie

Ellie, to me: "First things first!"

Me: "What do you mean?"
Ellie: "I mean me! I need to go first!"

My mom, talking to Ellie on FaceTime: "Well, Ellie, I have to go jump in the shower."

Ellie: "Oh no, Mimi! You can't jump in the shower -- that's not safe! You have to walk in the shower."

Ellie, while walking to school: "Mom, what day is it?"

Me: "It's Thursday. In German, it's called Donnerstag."

Ellie: "Donut Tag?"

In Due Time

It's funny, the timing of things. For example, this particular post which seems overdue, yet in my opinion is right on time. Just about a year ago we experienced a loss that we could have never prepared ourselves for, yet made us painfully aware that life doesn't always play out as we hope or plan. However, looking back really isn't the focus of this post.

In due time the pain ebbs. The heart heals.

And...

In due time, prayers are answered.

In due time, initial anxiety gives way to excitement and overwhelming joy (taken at three months in March).

In due time -- somewhere around the end of September of this year -- we will see another girl (!!!) join our family, changing our lives in ways we can only imagine.

(most recent ultrasound picture from last week at about 23 weeks)

(Belly pic taken today at 24 weeks!)

We are truly blessed.

Girls' Afternoon

Got our hair cut, ran a few errands and ended it all with some ice cream -- doesn't get much better than that!