Much to my delight, Sam was fascitnated by vacuuming up boxelder bugs and beetles - even more excited if he managed to catch up with some live ones! He'd be playing and all of a sudden he would jump up, run for the vacuum, turn it on and go to work! Funny! Not sure how much Daddy and Boppa enjoyed having the vacuum on while they were napping or watching TV - it lasted the entire weekend. :) I think he really did help cut down on the bug population while he was here.

I had taken a half dozen or so photos of the Aho family - but you know how that goes with two little boys and distracted parents, as well. Scott went onto the computer and melded a couple of shots to come up with this one - can you tell where it was done? Good job, Scott!~ Ryan enjoyed Sam's pre-occupation with the vacuum cleaner - it gave him some 'farmin' time' all to himself! :)

Besides the indoor fun they had, the boys both spent some time at the farm. Sam is turning into a truly good helper in the barn, especially when it comes time to clean the parlor after milking, and also scraping out in the holding area. Thanks to Scott for his help, as well! Ryan wasn't too keen on the noise of the parlor - Sam just is overcoming his dislike of that. Sam spent some of the milking time in the parlor also - just generally fascinated and asking 1oo questions. ;) Ryan loved the calves, though - and there were over 20 of them for him to check out, in the calf barn. We have had LOTS of heifers freshening (calving) since early March. Most of them have been pretty good in the barn, although we lost several to illness. That's hard to take.

It was so much fun to have Sally, Scott and the boys here for the weekend. With Roger laid up, due to rotator cuff surgery, it is much easier for US to have them come and visit here. Roger will not start his PT for his shoulder for another couple of weeks. Sounds like a long time, from where we are sitting. He isn't all that thrilled himself.

Final Days in Germany! Dec. 30 & 31, 2010

These were my final pictures, then my camera battery gave up the ghost.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at the pictures from our Germany-Family-Reunion! It was a wonderful trip with many unforgettable moments. Our main objectives for going were to get all 5 of our grandsons together - some had never met, although you would never know they weren't old buddies - and for all of us to visit Germany while Josh and Debora were still living there. Those objectives were met, with some extras: Paris, Versailles, experiencing the Germany the kids call 'home' and loads of family time - laughter, eating, snuggles, splashing, sliding, cooking, eating, drinking, making decorations for the tree and 'dressing' it, eating, road trips!, shopping, experiencing the wonderful bakeries!, eating, walking - especially in Paris!, riding Sam's "bullet-train" (every train was a bullet-train, although we never actually went on a real one), even a bus ride with 2 strollers and 2 kids in backpacks, learning to run Josh's coffee machine - again, and again!, bathing boys, eating, LATE night visiting, swimming at an indoor complex, seeing buildings so old we couldn't fathom it, celebrating birthdays - Josh, Thomas, Scott and Rohan!, creating edible masterpieces and eating them!, late night walks/runs through the streets of Bechhofen, a bit of crying and fussing here and there - but it never lasted long (Dan got over it pretty quick!), seeing world-famous monuments and marveling that we were actually there!, hearing many different languages and being in the minority, oh - and did I mention that we ate? Amazingly, I don't think I gained any weight in Europe - must have been the many miles we walked! I will never regret seeing Paris by night, and during the holidays, at that - the lights were gorgeous! We never felt unsafe, although maybe we should have, at times. Too dumb, I guess. :)

We cannot thank Josh and Debora and their sons enough for the wonderful, warm welcome we got and the marvelous hospitality!! They opened their home to the family-invasion, putting up 6 extra adults and 3 more boys, never blinking an eye or looking stressed-out about it. Kudos to them for wonderful sleeping arrangements, unforgettable food and drink (we can't forget about it - Mike took pictures of all the food and beverages!), and just feeling at home in their home. We never felt like we were putting them out - the true sign of a good host. Muito obrigada!!

Celebrating Thomas! December 29, 2010

We waited to celebrate Thomas' 3rd birthday after we got back to Bechhofen. Fun times with all the boys!

Second Day in France - Versailles! December 28, 2010

I didn't get any pictures at the palace, as our camera was getting very low on battery. See both Mara and Mike's blog, and Sally and Scott's for some good pictures of that day.

First Day in France - Paris! December 27, 2010

December 26, 2010 - Bernkastel-Kues, and more!

Christmas Day in Germany!