New Cousin

My sister had a healthy baby yesterday, her 3rd girl. Baby was 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 inches. My parents say she looks like me!

I love this picture of the two big sisters bringing gifts to their mom at the hospital.

One night is too long to part with this toy.

Today

Aaron gave me these pretty tulips for Valentines Day. They are now in bloom and make the room smell like spring.

Why does my child insist on playing in the bidet?? Yuck! (This is our lovely downstairs bathroom.)

Heidelberg in the Winter

(L) Heidelberg Castle; (R) view from the castle of the city below. It was too foggy to see much. THIS is what it looked like on a clear day when we were there in October.

on the bridge

It was so pretty in the snow. It looked like a little Christmas village.

Jack is such a good sport about all this sight-seeing!

This was the day before my parents left. The house sure was quiet the next night. We miss you, Grandma & Grandpa! Thanks for coming to visit us!

Short Trip to Wiesbaden

(below) My parents wanted to buy a cuckoo clock, so we went to this old and famous store in Wiesbaden. I believe this is the same store Kay bought a clock from when they lived here.

Roasting Bratwursts

We used our fireplace for the first time to roast bratwursts and marshmallows. My dad loves to build fires.

the men in my life

Dachau Concentration Camp

(above) Crematorium

Southern Germany Scenery

(above) in the area of Neuschwanstein Castle

Austria

outside our hotel in Garmisch, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle

(L) Castle on the hill in the background; (R) fell asleep while listening to Grandma's iPod in the car
We did a lot of driving, and Jack was an angel in the car!

Grandma & Grandpa Visit from Idaho

My parents arrived in Germany yesterday for a 10-day stay with us. We are really enjoying their company. (Jack doesn't look too happy, but he warmed up to these "strangers" very quickly.)

First Artwork

Jack had his second official week in church nursery yesterday. When I came to pick him up they gave me this paper -- Jack's first colored picture. I laughed and cried! I can't believe my little baby is old enough to color a picture! That is the first time he has used crayons. They told me he did this all by himself.

From Jack's first week of life I've been telling him not to grow up, to stay a baby, but he has anyway. I'm glad I've made a point to enjoy every stage of his life so far, but I always think I am really going to miss baby Jack when he's all grown up. I don't want to let his babyhood go. I guess his late walking has let me hang on to that a little longer.

Egypt Videos

Here is the link to the videos we took in Egypt, if you're interested.