Deutschland 2014 part 1

We decided to go to Germany so Simon and Max could see family there and timed it so that they could experience Southwest German traditional carnival here. Below are some impressions from the first few days there.

The boys checking out the Greensboro Airport after a canceled flight.

Simon on board of the plane to Atlanta

With only 20 minutes to spare in Atlanta we have no pics from that airport as we were too busy running with the boys from D terminal to E terminal but you can surely imagine the picture.

Once dinner was served on the flight to Zürich and we went through the typical nighttime routine it didn’t take the boys very long to fall asleep. Here Simon on Papa’s lap.

And Max on the lap and next to Sara.

Sara passed out a bit too.

Max looked very happy in the morning

And Simon slept until it was time to land.

We waited for our suitcases and car seats in Zürich, but knew that they likely did not “run” as fast in the Atlanta airport as we did and thus did not make it.

None of our stuff arrived and eventually the kind folks at Hertz let us use 2 car seats so we could continue our trip. Sara then flew on to Hannover to see her family and Papa and the boys drove on to Germany. As soon as we crossed the border to Germany we stopped at a bakery in Stockach.

And the butcher shop next door

The weather was mild enough to enjoy a little snack outside.

After a nap we went to Ravensburg to pick up Mama from the train station.

A very happy reunion at the train station

The next day we went to Bad Saulgau and the boys got to play firefighters.

We also walked around a bit and the boys liked the sculptures surrounding a fountain.

Lunch in Bad Saulgau at Cafe Kostbar

This is our rental car and it is unclear why wagons aren’t popular in the USA.

The weather was quite nice for February and here the boys played in Oma’s gravel driveway.

The boys slept very well during their naps, too well actually because of the cumulative missed sleep from the trip.

Both boys were totally out and had to be woken up.

On Wednesday we went to Ravensburg.

Berliners (German jelly donuts) for the boys.

Simon worked very hard on his

That night the witches were freed in Ostrach

Fasnet in Germany allows the boys to re-use their Halloween costumes

That night Mama and Papa went out and were pretty much the only folks not dressed up.

Below are a few of the costume groups we encountered. And these are just groups of friends who decide to have a theme.

Owls

Mickey Mice

And…

Oma worked very hard on the laundry and the weather obliged.

Children’s surprise eggs for the boys

That is yummy chocolate

Oh yeah, dig in.

On one of the playgrounds in Ostrach

Yeehaa

This is a very cool playground

Our friend Maria was also there with her 2 daughters.

Simon made friends

Checking out the Narrenbrunnen in Ostrach

Mama is the best