Edelweiss {Family Weekend}

May 18-20

After our last trip to Garmisch/Edelweiss Tim and I decided that we really wanted to go back.  During our weekend there for the Marriage Retreat we didn't have a lot of extra time to do any sight seeing or tours.  Also, with Tim's upcoming (currently pending!) deployment, we were up for a mini family vacation.  Right after we got back from our Marriage Retreat I called and made the reservation.  I signed the boys up for childcare on Friday so Tim and I could go do something together, and then signed us up for a tour on Saturday.

The week of our trip I found out that Blaine was on "probation" from the CYS (Central Youth Services), aka use of the daycare, because he hadn't had his 18 month well-baby check-up/shots yet.  Ooops.  Being that all the systems are linked they said that they might catch it and they might not.  If they did catch it, in Garmisch, then he would be denied for childcare on Friday.  There just happened to be an opening Thursday morning for a well-baby appointment, so I took it.  We weren't scheduled to leave until Tim got off work Thursday night.

Skip ahead to later Thursday evening...bags were packed, car was loaded, full tank of gas, etc.  Just waiting on Tim to get home.  About 5 minutes to 6 PM I go to pull out our 2 month old GPS to punch in the address and I find this....

I'm pretty sure that Blaine pulled it out of the drawer about a week earlier and threw it on the hard wood floor, cracking the screen.  I remember picking it up and putting it away; I just didn't notice the crack previously.  About 5 minutes later Tim walks in the door, and I run out to buy a new GPS!  This time with the $20 insurance that they didn't tell me about last time!!!

Skip forward to Friday morning...as it turns out Colin was on the waiting list for childcare and due to a lot of conferences going on that weekend he didn't get it.  Also, due to the shots that Blaine got on Thursday morning he started spiking high fevers (104/105) so we couldn't take him either.  (The shots were very counter-productive and not really sure I want to give him that one again.)  So Tim and I canceled our plans.

Ryan got to go out on Friday and I'm pretty sure he had more fun than we did.  He got to go bobsledding!!  Tim, the boys, and I ate breakfast then came back to the room and slept for two more hours then woke up just in time for lunch.  :)  Blaine was ready for another nap after lunch, so Tim took Colin swimming for a bit.  Friday was definitely pretty laid back.

Saturday was the day I had signed us up for a tour of The Eagle's Nest (Hitler's Mountain Home).  Blaine still wasn't feeling the best and they agreed to refund his and my ticket so Tim took the two older boys and headed out early in the morning.  Tim left the camera with me, but took the video camera.  Here is a clip from the top...

And one of their yummy looking lunch....

Blaine and I took a walk in the morning over to the PX for more Tylenol and in the afternoon we took another walk down some trails right outside the gate of Edelweiss.  They have gorgeous fields of wildflowers!



The view on the way back...

He had moments on Saturday when he started to perk up a bit. 

Greeting the boys as they got off the bus from their trip...

That trip definitely didn't go as planned.  It still seemed to worked itself out, and I got a lot of extra sleep. :) There is so much to do in that area, I'm not sure if we will ever be able to get around to everything we want to. 

Everyone Needs Some Frank

May 10, 2012

I was cooking dinner one evening and I heard this music coming from somewhere.  I went to seek it out and this is what I found....

I'm still not sure how he managed to get to this song specifically.  I believe it's the 3rd on the track.  This boy loves music though!!!

Curtains {Dining Room}

I finally got our dining room curtains done!!!  They not only look great but it's wonderful to be able to close them to keep the afternoon sun out to help keep the house cool.  When pulled open I can just tuck them to the side of the window sill/radiator; which will come in great in the winter.

You can see I still have empty frames.  Still on the extensive project list.

Just so you can see the pattern a bit more...

I am VERY grateful to my MIL who made a Walmart run for me to get some cheap 200 count cotton sheets!! She mailed them to me so that I could add a backing to the curtains that really gives them a more finished/professional look!!  I had run across this idea a few years ago, but so glad I came upon it again just in time for this project!  It was super easy and this was a great tutorial on how it's done. 

I used one King size flat sheet for both of the panels in the dining room.  The only thing that I did different was adjust some of the hem measurements a bit.  You can always buy special material made for curtain backing, but if you need a cheap alternative that still gives it a finished look, this is definitely worth it!  I've also read/heard, at one time, that if you use a higher count black sheet it will also help keep the light out.

 

 

If you have any curtain making on your to-do list, take the little extra time and add the backing!  You won't regret it!

Edelweiss {Marriage Retreat}

May 2-4, 2012

Semi last minute, Tim was able to get us into his Company's Marriage Retreat at Edelweiss; which is in Garmisch, Germany.  It is a wonderful retreat/vacation center!

This is the view of the Alps right outside the front of the hotel.

During our sessions Colin and Blaine went to daycare and Ryan got to go to the Kids Day/Night Out program.  When we picked him up Friday night he looked like this....

He had a blast and talks about it all the time!  Sometimes I'm convinced they have more fun in the kids programs and I'd rather go with them than on the adult tours.

We had a session Saturday morning, but didn't have to pick the boys up till 4 PM, so Tim and I headed downtown Garmisch with a few other couples.

Tim admiring all the candy in the window. 

I noticed that a lot of the buildings in Garmisch had a lot of paintings on their walls.  Some were smaller accents around the windows, but others were entire murals.

Towards the heart of the downtown area there was a mock beach set up.  I think they were trying to advertise for some vacation trip, but not 100% sure on that. 

There was a small, coal run, train that pulled the kids around.

Saturday evening after dinner...

We didn't have a lot of extra time for sight seeing and there is so much to do in this area alone!  We can't wait to go back!  (Previous Germany-livers...would love your input on what was your favorite for this area!)

Ice Cream!

The boys and I made a trip downtown one afternoon for some ice cream.

This boy has no idea how to eat an ice cream cone...

Outside one of the many garden shops!

There are tons of cafes downtown that set up tables and chairs outside.  Every chair also comes with a blanket to help keep you warm!

A shot of Little Venice.  We still have yet to walk over that way.

April {In Pictures}

I think Colin was struggling with some birthday envy from Ryan's recent celebration because when we made brownies he asked me if he could put some candles in it.  I said sure, why not.  I was just going to give him a few, but next thing I knew he had all of them in!

So we lit the candles, I sang Happy Birthday, and he got to blow out the candles.

Blaine's favorite position.

The first potted plant that I haven't killed!!!  It's even on it's second round of blooms!  I might have to go buy more of these!  Don't know what they are though.

Dying some eggs!!

Morning Walk

After the few trips that we took during Spring Break we realized that there was a lot of stuff that was going to be limited for stroller access.  Blaine is fully capable of walking by himself, but not for long periods of time.  The last time I carried Blaine in the front pack for two days straight he was about 20 lbs and the following week my back went crazy on me.  We did our research and we opted to buy a "back pack" to carry our now 29 lb. child.

It came in rather quickly and we took advantage of one of trails that are right outside the gate.

There was one section of the woods that had all the trees numbered with most of them missing.

Blaine enjoying his first ride.  Tim says it's more comfortable than a ruck sack.  I have yet to try it out.

Ryan said, "Look mom, I'm an old man.  Uhhh."





Colin found a stick of his own.

And this is his face of terror because there was an ant on it.  haha.

We were able to convince him that the ant was harmless and he quickly turned his stick into a gun.

Blaine seeking out his own entertainment.  :)

We stopped for a quick snack.

And we decided to let Blaine walk a bit on his own.

He didn't last long.

He wasn't happy about going back in the pack.

But within minutes he was fast asleep...

The other two boys needed some coaxing in making the trip back and for some reason getting to take their shirts off was the extra motivation they needed.  :)  Colin normally asks me, on a daily basis, "Mom, can I take my shirt off so I can be strong?"  :)