Three and a half months in Germany.  In my defense, it's been a little busy.  Along the way I've thought of lots of things to write, but haven't gotten them online.  Now, some photos and just a few notes (it's still busy, but getting better).  The photos aren't in any particular order, however.

This is from when we were still living in the hotel (through mid-August).  I've talked Laurie into waiting to get his haircut, and succeeded through his second birthday (this last Wednesday).  But she can't stand it anymore.  He'll have a more conventional doo soon.

A couple shots from Neuschwansteinschloss (schloss = castle)

At Echterdingen's Krautfest last weekend.  I think Jake
took a spin in every vehicle on this ride (except the
motorcycles - verbotten bei mutter).

We'd been wanting to see the bells in the church tower, and they were giving tours during the fest.  We listen to this particular bell a lot!  And it's a beauty!

In the public area below the church.  We know it best for the Saturday morning farmer's market. Where His Little Beggerness scores much free fruit and bread sticks.  But we make good on it with our purchases.

The view to the south from the church tower.  Our house is directly to the right a couple hundred meters.  Straight ahead up the hill side is the town of Stetton (pronounced "shtetton";  our's, by the way, is "eshterdeengen").

This was several weeks ago at Pumpkinfest, at Ludwigsberg Castle to the north of here.  Laurie and Jake have been to this fest a couple of times.

 Meet Krauterina.  There was a kraut (cabbage, auf Englisch) decorating booth next to Jake's favorite clock in town.  He didn't get to make his own kraut friend, though.

You can click on any of these for the bigger photo, but this one deserves special mention, I think.

This one, too.  Getting Jake into liederhosen was a bit of a trial, but he seemed to like running around in them.

 

Sometimes, moving photos to where I want them in the blog isn't worth the trouble.  This is from another castle in view of Neuschwanstein (King Ludwig II spent time growing up here, then had Neuschwanstein built).  Our visit to this one was on a very rainy day.

"Singin' . . . In The Rain.  What a Glorious Feeling . . ."

A brief photographic interlude.

 One of the ways home Jake and I take by bike.  Though usually we ride in in the mornings, and his Mom brings him home.

 And panning just to the left is this view.  These fields of flowers smell really great right now.

Drills are cool.  And his really works.

Jake had a babysitter this night.  Us at the Volksfest in Cannstadt (Stuttgart).





I should never do the hang-ten signal with my right hand.  My pinky and ring finger can't bend - or straighten - independently.  Strange.  But maybe not as strange as not getting cold head-aches.


A final note:  he's working really hard on talking now, and saying all kinds of new words constantly.  Also, he's been using the pot regularly at daycare, and tomorrow we start potty training in earnest.  Wish us luck!