Kinder Karneval Parade

On Saturday we braved the crowds to go check out the Kinder Karneval Parade with some of our friends.  All of the schools "compete" to out do the other schools with costumes and themes and do a parade down the Kö.  This parade is way more mellow than some of the others so we figured it would be a little more our speed.  When in Germany at the Karneval parades if you yell "HELAU!!!" you are showered with sweets, treats,and other goodies.  And just like at Halloween, Alessandra figured that out pretty darn quickly.  

Just about everyone dresses up for Karneval, so we put Alessandra in her horse costume again.  This time however we layered her snow suit underneath - true Colorado-Halloween-Trick or Treating-Style.  The added padding definitely pushed her costume out of the cuteness spectrum and into down-right ADORABLE! 

 

The finishing touch I added, which looking back was quite silly because nobody saw it, was a cute little horsey mane up-do for Miss Alessandra Mae.

 

Charmian

A big thank  you to Bethany Handel for all of the great parade pictures.

10 Days

Jon and I are just finishing up 10 days apart.  

It all started with what was supposed to be a family trip, but turned into a Girls only trip back to Leipzig to visit some friends and see the Christmas Markets.  

Alessandra and Sophia Enjoying the "Classic Car Carousel" in the Leipzig Hauptbahnhof

Jon had to cancel due to some last minute business trip changes.  But the good news from Jon not being with us was that he was able to add a quick trip to Colorado where he was able to see his family and drop Ripley off with Stan and Mary Kay.  

If you have been keeping up with my blog at all, or have talked to me in the last two years you probably heard me mention that Ripley hasn't been doing well.  She wasn't able to settle into city life.  She was always stressed, at first her stress was coming across as barking, panting, and pacing but in the past six months that stress was starting to turn a bit more aggressive.  We needed to get her out of the city, so that all of us could be a little less stressed.  Well, it happened.  Jon stopped by Colorado for a quick visit with his family and to get Ripley to her new/old home back on the Ranch with Grandpa, Oma, and the horses.  I am happy to report that Ripley seems to be settling in quite nicely and Dotty has only had one setback in the form of an "accident" on Alessandra's pillows.  Dotty has been quite clingy but I have to say the stress level in the house has gone down considerably.  

Okay, back to our Leipzig trip.  

It started out and ended a bit bumpy but all in all it was so relaxing.  We had some plans fall through with one of our friends but it ended up working out perfectly because it gave us an entire day to sleep in, enjoy an awesome breakfast, get into town, wander around the city center which is essentially one big Christmas Market.  Then we went to check out the new mall, and then one more quick trip through the train station and then back home.  Saturday we spent the entire day with The GKS's.  And Sunday we traveled back home.  

The beginning of the week was slow enough, I purposely cancelled our usual routine so we could be home with Dot.  So that translated to all of us going over to My-tilda's house on Monday afternoon, and My-tilda and her mum Alice coming over to our house on Tuesday afternoon.  But then it all turned - and quite suddenly too.  Alessandra got really sick, and really quickly.  In the matter of a few hours she went from this...

 to this... 

it was horrible.  And it has only been in the last half of today that I would say she's back to normal.  And when I say that please read, asking for ice cream for every meal.  :o)  

Well, luckily for us, or maybe just me, Jon will be back home tomorrow.  And I will have another person to take care of.  No just kidding.  I will have another person to help take care of everything.

Charmian 

Bobolino's

Here it is...

Drum Roll Please!

BOBOLINO'S!!!

Due to fall break and the over abundance of big ones we quarantined the little girls to the ride section.  Luckily they were having so much fun protecting their covered wagon from THE BOY that we didn't actually have to put any coins in the rides.  The poor little guy just wanted to play with them but I guess these two little girls already have it figured out that boys have coodies.  

Here I am hiding in the sagebrush chairs watching the battle go down.  

Spoiler Alert!!

The girls were triumphant.  

Although they did get a talking to about sharing with the other kids though.

Bobolino's has a baby section, a bounce pirate ship, a giant volcano, trampoline room. race track,

and yes even inoperative massage chairs.

It's got it all!  

The best part of bobolino's is about 4-6 hours after we leave Alessandra is asleep.

Gotta Love It!!!

Biking Up the Rhein

Last night Jon got me a bike.  A brand new bike - out of a box.  

I was willing to settle on the Comfort bike but Jon was set on getting me the TREKKING 400.  

Sounds pretty impressive huh!  

In a nutshell it's a cross over.  

Not quite a mountain bike and not quite a cruiser.

Which I guess is perfect for me since 

I'm not quite a country bumpkin and not quite a city girl. 

  

Jon, the stud, actually assembled it with his few little bike tools in the parking lot.

And to celebrate our new found mobility 

we went on a 20km bike ride from our house up the Rhein and back again.

Here we are at the half way point getting ready to turn around and head home.  

Next time I'll have to stop and take some more pictures.  

Jon still needs to adjust a couple things 

and I really want to get a cushy seat 

but otherwise it's AWESOME!!!!

  Love it and I can't wait to ride it again tomorrow!

Yes, you read me right, I said tomorrow - I love my bike!

Charmian

Dallas

July 7th - 9th

We took a quick detour to Texas to see Grampa, Gramma, GG Dee Dee, 

Uncle Ryan, Aunt Bucket (Camile), and Jackson.  

It was so relaxing.  

We enjoyed some shopping,

(I want to put this in just so I don't forget that it happened.  While shopping in Dallas Alessandra was offered her first modeling job at a show that was going to be taking place next week.  We had to gracefully decline because we had to head back to CO.  But it was pretty flattering.) 

"Ommy - look at my new pretty dress!"

slip 'n slidin,  

good food, 

and even better company.

Charmian