Spring Break in Germany - Part 1

So, do you want to see some photos that aren't of Bailey?

Our absolutely wonderful trip to Germany and Austria has been slightly overshadowed by the arrival of our new puppy the morning after we returned!

But, it was a great trip, and I'm excited to share some of the highlights with you.

I talk to the boys about the trip each day - it's only been a week but it feels like a month ago!

David is spending a month in Germany for work, so we were excited to get to spend his 2nd week there with him.  My parents joined us and we had a great, great time!

First thing to know - all of these are iPhone photos so the quality isn't awesome, but I didn't want to lug a camera around.  We were going for simple on this trip.

After a long day at school with exams and final papers due, we headed to the airport.

Our flight from Charlotte to Frankfurt was delayed 3 hours so Brennan made camp in the airport.

The boys did great on the overnight flight - slept the entire time.  I wasn't so lucky, but it was an easy flight.

We met up with Mama, Daddy, and David in the airport and headed out for a day of sightseeing!

We got to see the plant that David's working on in Germany.

And then we headed to Rothenburg ob der Tauber - a town I have very fond memories of.

At the gate leading into the medieval city, which has roots back to 950 AD.

We love the Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas stores (two stores right across from each other).

The boys picked out an ornament (I have lots of ornaments from these stores!).

We had a pastry and coffee in a little cafe and walked through the town.

It's a beautiful old city with a pretty fascinating history.

Rothenburg has a wall around it that dates back to the 1200s.

I was so glad to get to return to Rothenburg because it's so beautiful and I remember visiting there often when we lived nearby in the early 1980s.

But I was also very happy to get to our hotel that night after a yummy German dinner.

Here's Thomas relaxing with his mineral water and books.

Part 2 soon!

Bailey is Home

We got home from Spring Break Saturday night and picked up our furball on Sunday morning.  He had just turned 8 weeks old and we were so excited to see him and bring him to his new home!

On our way back from picking him up.  We stopped for a quick break and had to take him out of his car carrier.  He's just too sweet.

Our first stop was Petco because we weren't quite prepared!

The boys decided to take him for a walk that afternoon to help him get used to his collar and leash.

Look how tiny!

I cleared my calendar for the most part the next two weeks with David gone and a new baby in the house.

It's been a relaxing week spending quality time with Bailey.

Brennan took this photo to show David Bailey's "relative size" in comparison to an apple.

Bailey turned 2 months old this week.  I've loved all the baby age photos my friends post on facebook.  I had to do the same for my new baby :)

The boys rush home after school and their various practices and want to immediately play with Bailey.

I've left them to babysit while I do errands and they are so, so good with him. 

It's been a really pleasant week!

One morning I noticed Bailey wasn't trailing me.

I found him in the laundry room curled up in the boys' laundry to be washed. 

He slept there for an hour.

Soooo sweet!

Here he's posing with three of his babies.

And here he is not too long later, passed out after a hard time playing.

We can't wait for David to get home and re-meet Bailey.

He's a very welcome addition to the family!

And I love snuggling him - he is so, so sweet.

Bailey Boatwright

Meet Bailey Boatwright!

If you're on facebook then you've already seen our sweet little puppy more than once.

And you may have even helped us name him!

Bailey is a 5 week old Malti-Poo and he'll come home to us in 3 weeks once we return from Spring Break.

But, I'd like nothing more than to drive back to his owner's home and pick him up right this minute.

I also consider calling hourly to check in on him.

David keeps me in check.

He is the sweetest little thing and after looking deep into my eyes, snuggled into my chest and closed his little eyes.  

David is completely on board (yeah!)

Thomas has been super excited.

Brennan (who is afraid of dogs and doesn't like change) was initially worried, but now is excited too.

And really, look at this little man.

I can't wait.

February Photos

Given today's icy weather it's hard to believe that March is already here.  This has been one cold, snowy, icy winter here in Indiana. But with March comes the promise of Spring, so I'm hopeful!

And here are some photos from our fun February.

I organized a class with some of the Happiness Project participants and other friends in town.  We learned how to make a pretty topiary using yellow lilies.  It was so much fun!

As I'm getting my lilies ready to place in the setting.

The topiary with the lilies and leatherback greenery in place.

And then with the other flowers added in, it's starting to come together.

Megan (who's now had baby Hadleigh!) and her masterpiece

Violet and Edie

Sandy and Kate

JayDee and Leigh

Gina did a great job leading the class!

It was Groundhog Day so Brennan and I made groundhog day desserts for the family.

 I had an absolutely wonderful week celebrating my birthday!

It was so much fun - lots of lunches and wonderful cards and gifts.

I spent the day with a friend shopping and then went out to dinner with several couples, including 3 handsome boys.  It was a great way to end a great day!

Brennan and Thomas with our good friend Mary.

I was especially glad David could be in town for my birthday. 

Then he was off to Germany for two weeks.  We sure missed him.

He was especially excited about his rental car.  

I can promise I've never taken a photo of my rental car on a business trip :)

Thomas had a lot of cross-country, church drama and music practice, and service learning project hours in February.  This little man and I spent lots of time together.

The boys have started going skating or to the movies with their friends.  Without an adult.  I just drop them off.  It's very.very.very strange.  But they're having fun.

On one particular Friday night I was reminding them on the drive there not to leave the skating rink building, to keep their money in their pockets, to stay with their friends.  Etc.  Thomas says OK to everything I say.  Brennan says, "Mom, I think we got it."

After they disappeared inside I wanted to remind Brennan to keep his phone in his pocket.  Here's the text I got back.  Stinker.

They braved the snow on a rather pleasant day and went for a hike in the ravine behind our house.

While I friends Barry and Leigh escaped to Florida for a week we took care of Oberon (Obie) the largest, coolest cat.  We took turns going over and playing with him.  The boys loved it of course.

Brennan was soooo happy to see Dad when he got back from his long trip.  They stopped on the street to greet. 

David and I went to our church's preschool's 60th birthday dinner and fundraiser.  It was fun to get dressed up and the dinner was really delicious!  We had a good time celebrating the preschool where Brennan attended, which led us to our church home.

Math Bowl competition ended a 3 month adventure for Brennan.

Regular weekly practices with the team.

His team came in 2nd place in the city competition.

Those questions were tough.  

He did a great job!

We're glad to have Dad home for a couple of weeks!

And we had pleasant weather yesterday.  The boys went on another hike in the ravine, exploring some new territory.  And now we're back to another stay-off-the-roads Sunday.  But hopefully this will all lead to a beautiful spring in a few short weeks!