Visit from Good Old Germany

The last two weeks have just been awesome. My cousin Lars and his girlfriend Andrea came to the US and honored us with their visit. They spend 2 weeks here and about 1 1/2 weeks with us. It was so much fun and we were very sad to see them leave. Lars and Andrea got to see a lot of places (Mobile, AL, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville,...) and I think they had a good time. Last Sunday Jay and I went with them to Tennessee Titans game in Nashville. I didn't think I would have that much fun at a Football game. Unfortunately the Titans lost (their first and only game this season so far). So, FYI, we are no lucky charms!! After the game we went downtown to listen to some music and have some beers and dinner before heading home and being reunited with our kiddos.

On Turkey day we had a traditional Thanksgiving meal. My thought was the two Germans should have a real Thanksgiving experience. The food was delicious (of course it was, I made it and I have to say so) and the company was great.

All around, it was fun and nice. There isn't any better company than some really nice easygoing people we can simply feel comfortable around and be ourselves.

A laid back afternoon at home

On the way to the Football Game

Lani and Andrea while touring Lynchburg, TN

Lani was helping me make Pie Crust

Another one of those casual times

Smoky Mountains

After all the excitement of Halloween and Luke's 4th Birthday had passed we went on a nice extended weekend vacation (planned by Jay!!!). I was very thankful, since our trip to the beach this year didn't happen. He rented a very luxurious cabin in Pigeon Forge, Smoky Mountains Tennessee. It was great! We left Saturday morning and returned Tuesday afternoon. It's only a 4 hour drive from us. Even though we missed the Indian Summer up in the Mountains, the valley was still beautiful and colorful. The cabin was in a nice and secluded Resort. Luke loved the hot tub!!!! We drove up the mountains on Sunday. It was cold, but no snow (which was actually very okay with me). I did see some snow in a pile on the side of the road though. After a stop at a Mountain Farm Museum we went to eat and headed back over the mountains towards Gatlinburg. Luke was arguing with us that he wasn't tired at all. It wasn't but 2 minutes later (at the most) I turned around and he was sleeping. Lani of course wouldn't! We discovered a place called Clingmans Dome. It is the highest point of the Smokies (6643 feet high). We parked, Luke awoke and hiked up the steep hill. It was hard work to get two tired kids up there, but it was so worth it. Beautiful - just breathtaking.

Monday was more of a kid day. We saw the sharks at the Ripley's Aquarium, went up a Tram to Ober Gatlinburg where the kids got to see some bears and rode a Trolley, besides other minor things. At night, after Dinner, we went to a Christmas shopping place. It was huge and I got lost among all the trees, garlands, balls and what not.

It was a awesome! There is so much to do, we are looking forward to our next trip up there. I can highly recommend a trip up there.

Beautiful, isn't it?

On the way down from Clingmans Dome

On top of Clingmans Dome

View from our front porch

It was a blast!!

Luke had been waiting so patiently for this Halloween and his party. We decided to celebrate his birthday with a Halloween party on Saturday. A few days early, but he didn't mind at all.

He couldn't wait to get dressed up on Friday. Of course he loves to go to peoples houses just to say hi anyway and now he even got some candy for doing so. What a deal! He had so much fun and had such a biiiig smile on his face when he got back to the house. Lani isn't so outgoing and didn't care about wearing her fairy wings too much either. She went out for a little while and then we stayed home and handed out candy. It is so interesting to me, how different my kids are. All in all I would say she enjoyed it though.

We really tested Luke last week. He had to wait for Halloween and for his party. He passed the test and I am so proud of him for how he handled it. His party was awesome...I believe. Parties always go by so quickly to me and I feel like I didn't get a chance to really talk to anybody. And of course then I start thinking and thinking and thinking.... oh well, back to the party. We had a ton of kids here. Luke wanted to have all his friends to celebrate with. Since it was a day after Halloween, we asked the kids to wear their costumes. I tried to make cakes and snacks halloweenish too. The kids really seemed to like that. We had a pumpkin pinata and that thing didn't want to break. All the kids tried their hardest. After all the kids getting their turn twice, I gave it a couple of whacks. The kids cleaned everything up, even the tiniest stickers I had put in their - that was great and I was thankful for that, since I didn't want to sit on the ground later and pick up all those little pieces from in between our patio stones.