Hunter and Hannah in Bremen

Of course we are totally pooped since we are "mom" and "dad" and entertainers-in-residence, but I'm really glad the kids are here this long. It takes a week to get used to each other and make adjustments and get the kinks worked out. It's fun regardless, but having this extra time is really nice.

For details, check out the blog for the trip but if that's a chore, here are a few highlights.

We've been biking. That is the activity most loved and done most often - EVERY DAY. It's either a little trip to the store or a ride around the river, or a longer tour to the beach or town or ice cream or ... any excuse will do. They never tire of it. What fun!

Hannah's learned to hang clothes on the line. Hunter can trim trees and dry dishes.

They're just are crazy about the chocolate surprise eggs (Überraschungseier) that they have known now for about three years. It's a chocolate egg with a little toy inside, and a surprise because you never know what you're going to get. Makes for interesting negotiations. They now have a bigger collection!

They've seen Amina again and met their other "cousins" in Affinghausen. They ask after each visit "Can we see them again?" The language barrier is no barrier at all when kids get together to play.

And there's Fußball (soccer) and since Germany has got through to the finals, it has been lots of fun and really noisy every night after the game - so many cars on the street, honking horns and shouting. We have a big fan at home. Even more fun.

It's quickly drawing to a close. Thursday morning early we leave on the fast train for the south and Friday we'll pick up Mom and Dad in Munich and everything will be a bit different. But still fun!

Panama City Pause

1. Drive to Tallahassee and visit Nancy.

It was too short. We both felt pretty rotten, two colds from two different origins. But it's always refreshing to spend some time there. Later treatments for sinusitus (me) and pneumonia (Nancy) aside.

2. Drive to Panama City. Settle in. Cough. Sleep poorly. Go to Doc. Get drugs. Feel better.

Before the doctor's visit, we visited the boat and the beach. It's almost as effective as going to the doctor but somehow the salt water doesn't kill viruses the way it used to. Regardless, it was a wonderful day with lots of sunshine and beach food and water and fun.

There's water close to home, too. One day at the pool is not enough, but we squeezed in a visit between the thunder and the lightening and the rain.

Hannah's been doing some modeling for a friend's website business. Cute clothes custom made. I think she's a great marketing asset, don't you?

Friday night Michelle arranged a visit to "How Great Your Art" - a place where local artists show a bunch of rank amateurs how to paint a picture. We'd seen earlier efforts by M+J and knew what to expect. Our teacher/artist was really artsy and fun and comfy and it was a nice group. The task was a bit challenging, though, but we did a great job! Agree, or don't tell us otherwise.

Now the US visit is done and we leave Sunday for Germany, Hunter and Hannah as excess baggage! We're looking forward to a great time. More posts to follow!!

Dylan and Hayden in Motion

Two little videos, so you can see what they look like moving, just a little bit. Of course, Dylan is mostly jumping in her jumper and rolling around on the floor, rocking back and forth and getting ready to crawl.

Here, she's eaten and happy. Of course all babies make these noises, but I think she's hilarious. (That's me in the background trying hard not to laugh.)

Hayen is almost constantly in motion. Here he is (in the red shorts, shirtless) running around the fountain in Celebration. Fun and wet!

Vacation Orlando

This is not really a vacation. Vacation is where you get away from work and renew and relax and recoup. You sit under a palm tree - or another sort if palm trees are not available - with your feet up, reading a not-too-challenging book, a chilled drink close at hand and people to serve them, blue water on the horizon. Don't forget the sunshine.

Now put aside the aforementioned image. Werner doesn't work at all (at least not for pay) and I don't work hard (though I get paid a little bit). So maybe we don't need a vacation. Perhaps a better heading would be "Orlando Pause" or "Orlando - Kids CatchUp" or "Giggle Break."

And this time we were a bit more welcome than usual since Crissy had had an unfortunate fall and had some really hard days getting around, much less picking up hefty kids. Good timing for our visit, though no one ever wants to need that kind of help!

Here's Dylan. She hasn't changed a bit except that she has four teeth, more heft, and a bigger smile. But the same attitude.

THE BEST BABY EVER.

She lights up when Hayden comes in the room, and reaches out to touch him when he's close enough.

He likes to laugh, too, especially when Dad puts him high, high up!

It's summer and hot, so when we went to Celebration, the Disney Suburb, there was the fountain for the children to splash about in. It's cool - lots of nozzles that spray in a random fashion, so the kids are constantly suprised. Hayden took just a little time to figure it out and then enjoyed it with all the other kids.

At home, there's the fantastic swing set that Lee set up, complete with climbing wall, play house and slide. Crissy wanted flowers for the box, so we found some artifical ones (too hot and too risky for real ones, what with a little kid wandering around!), and of course the names of the little ones on the house. Werner and I made that happen.

Getting wiggle worms to settle down for a photo op isn't easy; this was the best we could do. Not bad!

We're already looking forward to the next visit.