Amberg Volksfest

The weather was fantastic this weekend, and we made sure to get out and enjoy it. On Saturday we drove 45 minutes to check out the Amberg Volksfest and do a little shopping. Volksfests can get a little crowded, so my plan was to get there early and beat the crowd. I check the website, and although it was in German - it clearly said it opened at 10:00. Well, we got there and it was not open ... not even close. We asked a random man standing around and he thought it started at 2:00 ... not a problem, we would just go into town and do what we do best ... shop and eat. It worked out perfectly ... we ate at a little bakery and then Elliott took his nap while we shopped, and we even had time to sit and enjoy a beer before he woke up. Amberg is a beautiful place, so spending extra time there was not a problem. Once Eli was rested we headed back to the Volksfest! E was so excited when he saw the rides going, and I was a little skeptical about how he would like the carousel. Of course, he loved it, and we were stuck going on the thing half a dozen times!

The food smelled and looked amazing, and I settled for my usual chocolate covered fruit skewer.

They always have awesome stands set-up at Volksfest, and these are a staple ... rumor has it these are not very tasty though - mainly for decoration.

Second our third go around ... you can tell he's having a good time!! He would, literally, squeal the entire ride ... and then scream when it stopped ...

Riding the bear ... and he growled like one the whole time ...

In order to end the carousel madness we purchased this rubber snake for 2 euro. It was definitely the best purchase of the day ... it got his mind off the rides and entertained he the whole way home. He loves snakes ... the first thing he does when he gets to daycare in the morning is find the rubber snake they have, and then he walks around 'scaring' everyone and hissing. Now he has his own to play with at home!

This picture kills me. His hair is out of control, but he is so serious with his shades on ...

Elliott is doing great in daycare ... he even goes to the window, waves bye-bye, and blows a kiss ... all with no tears!

Vic has been taking a computer class all week and had to sit for the certification test on Friday ... he was really stressed about it because the failure rate is pretty high, but, of course, he passed! I don't know if he'll ever use the certificate, but it's a nice little resume builder!

This week should be an easy one, and we are headed to the Czech Republic this weekend - I will upload pictures next Sunday!!!

Ready for a vacation!!

Wow ... it has been a couple rough weeks over here!! Last weekend we all had the flu or some kind of equally horrible stomach virus. Let it be known that it was NOT from anything I cooked ... I swear. A couple of other kids at Elliott's daycare had the same thing, and it spread in our house like wildfire. It was a only a 12-hour thing ... thank God, but it was not an enjoyable experience for anyone involved. This is one, of the many times, that I wish we had family close by to help out ... or at least bring some Gatorade and soup!

My classes are not going too well either ... and I am currently battling with one professor who seems to have it out for me. I really think she does not like the fact that I am taking her course from Germany (mostly because it is making extra work for her because I can't participate in certain group activities), and she is taking it out on my grade. This is the first professor who has not been 100% understanding in my situation, so I am not really sure how to deal with her attitude. Either way, she is the only professor who teaches this course in an online setting, so I'm stuck, and I need to power through it! I do believe that my straight A's will be coming to an end with this course ... 

Elliott is doing great. We have had some concerns with his speech in recent weeks, so we contacted a speech therapist on post, and she came out to do an evaluation this week. He is saying the right amount of words, but is dropping certain sounds (he will say 'ot' instead of hot or 'nack' instead of 'snack') ... maybe not a huge deal, but with his ear/hearing issues - we just wanted to be on the safe side. The evaluation went great, and he is actually developmentally ahead of where he is supposed to be, and the therapist said she does not see any issues with his speech at the moment! Great news. 

The first weekend of October we are headed on a little weekend trip to the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic. It is right across the border and they are having a big beer festival. Due to the exchange rate - we can live like kings in the Czech Republic! We reserved a really nice room in the city center, and we plan to check out the zoo and some other great sights. 

Vic's friend is coming in mid-October for a week, so we have some great trips planned while he is here!!

We are at our two month mark for our big cruise!! Vic's leave has still not been approved (yikes), but we are fairly certain that issue will work itself out!! 

Unfortunately, for once, I don't have many pictures to post ... 

But this one is hilarious. Seriously, look at the attitude. This is the face he gave me when I turned off the tv and told him that we needed to get ready for school. He stared me down with this evil eye for a good couple of minutes. I think we're in trouble ... 

Please note the disgusting burp cloths that he still carries around!!

Much happier times ...

I have sanitized the house from top to bottom, so keep your fingers crossed that we avoid any further puke-fests in the Rosario household!! 

 

Fall is in the Air ...

Summer is coming to a close around here. I started to pack up all of our summer clothes, and I'll probably pull out the winter stuff in the next few weeks! Not much has been going on ... Eli seems to be settling in to a routine with daycare, and we are having little to no tears every morning (Elliott has stopped crying too)! Work did not get off to a great start for me, but better days are ahead ... I hope. Vic has been working the night shift for a field exercise, so our weekends in September are pretty much shot. Rumor is ... he'll be taking a pretty long trip to a faraway land, so we'll be cramming October and November full of fun!!

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago ... and they didn't go so well. In between E's meltdowns the photographer did manage to snap a few good shots. We are going to try again at the end of September when she can shoot earlier in the day ... so keep your fingers crossed!

Elliott is getting crazier and smarter by the day. I took him downstairs the other day so I could fold laundry, and by the time I was done he had constructed this whole Lego tower ... by himself!! He loves building things and putting things together ... 

Eating a banana like a big boy! Now, of course, he won't eat it any other way ...

Here are a few videos ...

This one is from a few weeks ago, but it cracks me up ... I think it's the way he says 'bye'.

His favorite thing to say is, "Oh no Mama" ... or, "Oh man Mama" ... he says it after everything - even if I'm nowhere in sight. Apparently everything is my fault. Listen for it after his drum solo.

He also likes to scare us now ... it never gets old ...