polkadots and lollipops

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Trier, Germany

Not far from our new home is the oldest city in Germany- Trier. This town is full of history! The town was founded in 16 BC, near the Luxembourg boarder, along the Moselle river. This is wine country (I didn't realize Germany was known for wine- but they are!) I found a wonderful raspberry wine that I'm currently enjoying :) We passed fields of grape vines- the vineyards are a sight to see- nicely kept rows covering hundreds of hills. As you enter the city it looks like any other downtown but one block later we were surrounded by ancient buildings.

German and Roman architecture side by side!

This is Porta Nigra built by the ancient Romans. It was 1 of the 4 gates guarding the city. The Roman city was of great importance serving in the role of governance as an administrative capitol. Trier was also a cultural center to the surrounding towns with a Roman bath and amphitheater.

I can't wait to go inside next time- they even give an English tour. It's a must!

Porta Nigra is something worth going back to!

The elephants were on parade there:) My girls loved spotting them through out our excursion.

Each one is themed and I believe they are to be auctioned off for an elephant charity!

Beautiful buildings and quaint cafes everywhere!

These statues we very "life like" LOL! Of course my chickens have no known knowledge of these- it made my day to see them ponder in disbelief!

The market square and St Gangolf's Catholic Church

baby girl is just along for the ride!

Team Haines with the Dom (St. Peter's Cathedral). This beautiful church is home to Jesus's Holy Robe- said to be worn just days before the crucifixion. This is a completely seamless garment brought from Jerusalem by St Helena in the 4th century. Last year it was on display for only the 17th time in history.

Inside the cathedral is stunning!

Eye treasures were everywhere to be found- even the littles took note of how much detail and history surrounded us. These lions on the pink building were a hit! Trier jump started our history lesson and sparked my appetite for more! Can't wait to go back!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Ready ~ Set ~ Go

Bags were packed

Kids were loaded

Goodbyes were said.......

We thought we would be in Germany the next day.....

but God had other plans!

There was a broken airplane, 2 gate changes, weather delays and an expired crew before we left Dallas~ we landed at BWI as our international flight was taking off~ we missed it by minutes!

Great news was this is home for my honey! We got to spend the 3 days with family:) Made some great memories doing things straight from JP's childhood. Our chickens love the country life and Carroll County was the perfect backdrop for the hot summer days spent exploring the pond and woods and the surrounding sights! We were so very happy to have spent these days in the company of loved ones huge thanks you to Aunt Amy, Uncle Jack and Cousin Dylan for taking us in at a moments notice:)!!!!

Time with Granny and Pop

~Grandfather and Grandson~

Carroll County Carnival

Daddy's baggage!

Cousins and playdough= the most fun EVER!

getting crabby in MD

loving the country life!

cousin love!

fishing isn't just for boys!

slumber party!

It was a very nice and unexpected adventure! We were truly blessed by this extended layover in Maryland. We said our goodbyes again, repacked the suitcases and loaded up the car....We caught the next flight out and flew straight through to Germany:)

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Farewell Tour ~ Kearney, MO

We're going to KC,

KC here we come!!!!!

We had the opportunity to spend the 4th of July with friends and family in Missouri! It was an extended weekend full of visits with loved ones, one more times, fireworks, remember whens, and see ya soons!

Cousin Love

We had a great time with Cousin Lilly! She was adored by all my chickens and reminds me a ton of my Sam (hahahaha Emili you are in for it!).

Grandpa got to finally met Callie! He said she's a keeper- and I think so too:)!

Lanterns were a huge hit -each chicken got to send one off and make a wish!

We spent a day in Kansas with Grandma taking in the sights! Trex Cafe was a ROOARRRRing good time.

Grandma and girls

Grandpa and Grandma have the perfect home for outside play- animals, pond, 4 wheeler, swings- everything a kid could want!

CrAZy times at the market

Em and Lil at the city market

We also spent a morning at the farmer's market downtown! Aunt Cindy, Jay, Em, Lilly, Mom and GW, and Team Haines shopped the wares and paid the fares! We found a cute coffee shop and enjoyed a sip and snack after makin the rounds through the crowed market isles! Very fun outing with some wonderful produce for later:)

April in July!

Good friends stopped in to say hello and shared some laughs with us:)

My StewBag Aunt Cindy

Yiayia meets Caroline

Emili and I took our families to Yiayia's for an afternoon! She cooked our favorite meal and really enjoyed seeing all her great grandbabies. There is just something so special about watching your grandmother with your children!

Some time with our Yiayia!

Smile! :)

Baby Love

Lilly Bean on the 4th! Independence is what it's all about.

Aren't they beautiful? Annabelle and Auntie Em

We spent a very patriotic 4th with a very special family of close friends!

Thank you to all of you that took time to swing by to see us:) Stephenson family-we had a terrific time on the 4th with all the fireworks, photos and food! Angie- Thank you for cutting your holiday weekend at the lake short to see us- you are such a great friend! and i'm holding you to that trip over here to see us! Aunt Cindy and Jay- thanks for all the giggles and water balloon filling you did to aid in fun! I love you Stew Bag! Aunt Trish and family- thank you for making time to see us each time we visit! Hylton family- it was so great finally meeting your newest cutie! Grant and Emili- thank you for the change in work schedules so we could spend some extra time together! Lilly is so special to us and we are so happy the kids got time together! Mom and GW- thank you for opening your home to our crew and going with our crazy flow. Grandpa's water balloon and slip n slide are still being talked about:)

Friday, July 12, 2013

Hungry Hungry Hippo

Caroline is meeting a new milestone almost every other day it seems. In 1 week she has started rolling over back to belly, giggling with a gooey grin, dined on her first meal of rice cereal, and just today she learned to blow raspberries (drenching everything)!!!

She's knockin my socks off at the advances she is making so rapidly! Time really passes quickly

with 4 chickens! It's going even faster with my baby speed racer- SLOW DOWN CALLIE!

Hungry Hippo's First Meal

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Fishing and Firecrackers

The end of June is perhaps my favorite time of the year! Summer is in full swing, the temps are warm, my chickens are sunkissed and barefoot, the days are long and we get to spend more time together ~ especially this year with our move. While in transit we are trying to provide the most "normal" summer we can for our chickens!

They girls have discovered the simple joys (and frustrations) of fishing LOL. Two new rods, a tiny tackle box full of sparkly pink and shinny blue lures, and of course a bobber or 2, and they were all set! Daddy let them practice casting out their lines in Gigi's pool- it was a hoot to watch! Our trip to the lake gave them the perfect opportunity to give it a real try! Daddy, Annabelle and Lulu headed to the dock early in the morning. Daddy spent most of his time untangling lines, dodging hooks and helping to cast but the girls didn't seem to mind- they truly were thrilled to be fishing! They returned with tons of stories, excitement, and even a few "fish tales" about what they caught!

Only my Annabelle wears a dress fishing!

Fisher Lu

Allen, TX has one of the best fireworks shows I've ever seen! The celebrations gets bigger every year- concert, inflatable kids stuff, funnel cakes. It's a great time!