Checking in ....

We have been busy around here! This is just going to be a random mix of pictures over the past couple of weeks.

The weather has been great. Last weekend we spent Saturday and Sunday at the pool. It was almost 90 degrees both days, so it was crowded ... but a lot of fun.
You can't really tell from the pictures, but he loves the water. Even the fountains and getting splashed don't bother him.

On the second day at the pool we had to invest in a new sunhat ... two sizes bigger than the last one ... this kid has a huge head!

Knocked out after the pool ...

Reagan bought him this shirt from Universal Studios in Orlando ... so cute ...

He is finally sitting up by himself. He really has no interest in doing so ... he would rather be rolling and scooting all over the place.

He's really developing a little personality, and he's starting to mock things that we do ... blowing raspberries, clapping, etc.

This is my favorite new trick he's learned. This is how he rides in his stroller most of the time ... people walking by get a kick out of it. He's just too cool ...

We had a really busy Saturday this weekend. In the morning we went to the lake for JJ's birthday party. Eli had a blast ...

After the lake we went to another soccer game ... which is our new favorite thing. Great atmosphere, beer and food - plus, the Schweinfurt team in on a winning streak!

When the soccer game ended we jumped on a city bus (to avoid a parking nightmare) and headed to a big music festival downtown. It was pretty cool ... a lot of different types of music, more beer and some amazing food. We stumbled upon a food booth with a long line, so we figured whatever it was had to be good?? It ended up being some kind of calzone with ham, cheese and sour cream on top - amazing!

Vic and E in front of the town hall in the Marktplatz ...

If you look close you can see his two new teeth!!! He loves to show them off ...

We ended the night with a little ice cream. I finally got to try my spaghetti ice! Interesting ... glad I tried it, but I probably won't get it again.

Eli did great for pretty much sitting in a stroller all day. He was asleep by the time the bus dropped us off in front of our neighborhood.

Next weekend we're are attempting a train trip to Dachau (concentration camp), which is just outside of Munich. It should be quite an experience, and I will update afterwards!

Kloster Kreuzberg: Take Two ...

On Friday we dropped Eli off at the daycare on-post, and decided to make the short drive out to Kloster-Kreuzberg - a mountaintop monastery/brewery. We had previously tried to visit this place during the winter, but it was way too cold and crowded. Our second attempt was much better ... perfect weather, and we had the whole mountaintop to ourselves.

The views on the drive were amazing ...

Huge, creepy statue at the base of the mountain ... 

View from halfway up ...

We made it!

Three crosses on top of the mountain ... equally as creepy as the giant statue ... 

Another view from the top ...

Checking out the little shops ... I think Vic needs to go back and purchase this hat ...

Inside the church, which is connected to the brewery ... 

The beer used to be brewed by the monks who live here until 1992. It is still brewed at this location, but by a second-party, but still under the supervision of the monks. I was really hoping to see a monk, but we only spotted a little, old nun ... I'll take what I can get. Apparently, the beer was voted 'Best in the World' by Playboy years ago ... ehhhhh, I wouldn't go that far, but it was pretty good! Better than the beer was the roasted pork with potato dumplings and cabbage. Oh. My. God. Amazing.

They also breed Saint Bernards here, and these little pups were the cutest!

We spent Monday at the pool, and Eli finally got to test out his new raft (a great gift from Poppy and Reagan) ... he LOVED it!! He was a big hit among the Germans; who were amazed at how relaxed he was in the water. Hopefully we have a few more nice weekends before summer is over ... 

We also got a chance to check out our first German soccer game. It was a very interesting experience, as we were probably the only Americans there, but we had a great time. The Germans love their soccer!

Six Months ... a little late ...

The picture was taken on his 6-month birthday, I've just been slow to get it uploaded. His doctor appointment went great .... 91st percentile for height, and 12th for weight. As bad as that sounds, the doctor has no worries. He's eating the right amount, and gaining weight ... even though it's not much. We're thinking he's going to be the next Manute Bol? Except white ... and way better looking ...

He is almost sitting up by himself, but prefers rolling everywhere. He still loves Baby Einstein ... particularly the Shakespeare one ... he would probably watch it all day if we let him.

This weekend is a 4-day, and we're taking a couple trips ... so I'll be sure to take a lot of pictures!!

Vacation: Berlin

Eli camped out on the couch with us the night before Berlin. I woke up super early to get ready first, and came back to find them sleeping like this ... hilarious.

We caught an early train to Berlin. It was five hours with a changeover ... not exactly fun, but much better than driving!

Passed out at the train station ...

Asleep on the train ...

The train ride went very smooth, until we arrived at the Berlin station and I realized I left our tickets home on the train. After flipping out, like I tend to do in such situations, I was able to print them off at the hotel, and all was well. We took the afternoon easy, and kind of lounged around the room before going to grab dinner at a place call Augustiners. The food and the atmosphere were great, and the beers were huge.

Eli, making himself right at home in the king-sized bed ...

Our hotel pool was awesome. Eli LOVES the water. Dad and Reagan bought him a little baby raft that we can't wait to try out ...

Ready for a day at the Berlin Zoo ...

Our hotel was amazing. Very pretty, and also where they filmed The Bourne Supremacy! If we didn't have such a limited time in Berlin, I think we would have spent a couple days just lounging around the hotel!

Huge stairway ...

Outside of the hotel ... you can see a piece of the Berlin wall that they have on display ...

Every touristy shop has pieces of the wall that you can purchase, and different trinkets with chunks inside them. My question is ... how do you know that it's really the Berlin Wall?? How much of this wall can really be remaining? At what point will they be filling these trinkets with random pieces of concrete that they shipped in from Detroit or something? Just a thought ...

We spent our first full day at the Berlin Zoo.

The zoo was awesome, and we saw some animals that we didn't even know existed!

The next day Reagan had some business meetings, so Vic and I got up early and walked around until we found cool stuff.

This guy woke up at 5 am every morning, but managed to fall right back to sleep in our bed ...

This is the German cathedral in the Gendarmenmarkt - which is a huge square. 

Also in the Gendarmenmarkt is this huge concert house ... 

On the stairs of the concert house ...

After the Gendarmenmarkt we wandered around to find a McDonald's and ended up in the Checkpoint Charlie area. 

Posing with the 'guard' ... I love Eli's face on this picture - he's having so much fun!

We found our McDonald's, and it was one of the coolest I have ever been in ... and, thanks to my dad, I have been in a lot of McDonald's. They had these machines where you could put your own order in, and pay ... once we were done, it was waiting for us at the counter. So cool.

The whole place was decorated like this, and the chairs were amazing ... 

Germans aren't big on breakfast. If you're eating before 11:00, it will likely include a croissant, coffee and maybe some lunch meat type thing. McDonald's is the only place we have found that you can get American breakfast food. We ate there about 10 times during this vacation, which is more than Vic has probably ate McDonald's in his whole life.  

Walking out of the Checkpoint Charlie area ...

View back onto the Checkpoint Charlie area ... the other side of the sign is a picture of a Soviet soldier. Pretty cool.

Pieces of the wall that have been salvaged, re-painted and displayed ...

Weird ...

Not sure what it represents, but it was massive.

Communication Museum ...

An eight million dollar Bugatti ... Vic was in love ... 

We met up with my dad and Reagan, and headed towards the Brandenburg Gate area. I know this is the most touristy area of Berlin, but I was not prepared for how crazy it would be. There were so many tourist traps, and weird street vendors trying to make money ...

Like this man. Yeah, that's a real man covered in sand ...

Picture of the gate ... it was very cool. And huge.

Another weirdo walking around the gate area. I'm not sure what Predator has to do with Germany or the gate, but you could get your photo with him if you wanted!

Another shot of the gate ... 

The fourth floor middle balcony is where Michael Jackson dangled his baby in front of the crowd of people ... love it ...

Poppy and Eli!

He had such a great time with my dad and Regan ... we need more visitors!!!

On our last night, dad and Reagan watched Eli so Vic and I could go out - which was awesome! We went back to Augustiners - where Vic ordered this ...

That's a knuckle of pork ... and he ate the whole thing.  

Vacation was great, and it was so good to be around family ... and ... for someone to finally meet Eli! Seriously ... brothers, sisters, cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends ... when are you going to have another opportunity to come to Germany, stay for free AND have your own personal tour guides!? Get your asses here. Now.