Thank you Kevin, Kriston, Konner, and Katelyn for coming to see us and for the gifts. We had a great time and hope that you did too! We hope you have a fabulous time in London and we can't wait to see you all again soon!

The city of Ulm has the highest church spire in the world...a whopping 161.6 meter high steeple, and also is the birthplace of Albert Einstein.



The pipe organ.

It took over 500 years for the Muenster to be completed...they started in 1377.

Germany is famous for it's Christmas markets.

This one came with a live nativity scene.



Having fun at Hotel Jedermann in Munich.

What did you get for Christmas?

We spent 2 nights in Munich. Here is the Rathaus (city hall) at night. They were setting up for the upcoming Christmas markets.

Looking out the windows...

what a fantastic view...

how much would it cost...

to live here?

I want this one...and this one...(telling Daddy what she wants for Christmas in Munich)

Neuschwanstein provided an inspiration to Walt Disney for the Sleeping Beauty Castle. In 1869, Schloss Neuschwanstein was being built by King Ludwig II. It was never completely finished, and the king only got to spend about 170 days there before his mysterious death in 1886.
Schloss Hohenschawangau where King Ludwig II spent his childhood. It was reconstructed in the 1830s by his father, Max II, but was originally built during the 12th century by the Schwangau knights.
Side view of the majestic Schloss Neuschwanstein.
The front entrance.

Contributing to a minor...

We briefly toured the Dachau concentration camp memorial. These are the original gates and the now the entrance to the memorial. The gate's inscription reads, "ARBEIT MACHT FREI" (Work makes you free).

The crematorium. It was the very first Nazi concentration camp built in March 1933. It was a work camp and " 'processed' more than 200,000 prisoners, and 31,531 were reported killed here."
This monument outside the main exhibition hall reads in 5 languages, 'Never Again'.
The foundations of where the buildings once stood.

Posing with our aunt, uncle and cousins.
We like to pose too.
I love it when our cousins come to visit! A look toward the treetops of the Schwarzwald (Black Forest).

The country-side of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

We took a day trip with the Jurasek family to the Central Black Forest to the charming (but touristy) city of Triberg. Triberg is wedged between three mountains where it gets it's name. "Berg" means mountain in German.
According to the guide books, Triberg is the "undisputed capital of cuckoo-clock country".
Triberg isn't only famous for cuckoos, but Germany's tallest waterfalls. They fall 163 meters in seven cascades.
The city also has generated energy from the waterfalls since 1884.

Happy birthday Jamie! # 35! We aren't really sure what AUGURI means though...
Aunt Kriston, Uncle Kevin, and my cousins Katelyn and Konner came to visit ALL the way from Des Moines!
It was the first plane ride for Konner, Katelyn, and Aunt Kriston. They had a great trip over.
Konner and Katelyn had a great time with their cousins at the park...and then went out for ice cream.

Allie and all her naked glory! She loves to grab her feet and suck on her toes. We have been waiting for her to start regularly babbling instead of the squeals and screams that make up most of her jabbering, and this week she has started the "babababa" and "mamamama". I am pretty sure that a few of the "ma-mas" have been directed at me!

Roaming the streets of Tuebingen con't...

Browsing local art...
Hmmm...the signs are a little different in Germany...what is the wheelchair person holding?

Isabelle enjoying some afternoon tiramisu at a coffeeshop. Her chin is healing but will probably scar. I am sure it is the first of many injuries to come! She is doing well at kindergarten. Friday was a monumental day in that she didn't cry when I left...her mommy craze may be getting better. She has been saying "nein" and "oh nein" pretty regularly now (no and oh no). Isn't that always the first word that any kid learns in all languages? It was pretty cute at first...but now "nein" is being said considerably more then yes.

Roaming the streets of Tuebingen...

Turning the corner where our apartment is located is a look toward the old city.
Window displays are becoming very festive.
It seems like Europeans love to window shop. The majority of stores with the exception of restaurants are closed on Sunday.
Around the bend from the Skiftsckirche in the Altstadt.

Taking a stroll on Sunday. Seriously, can I get any cuter?