August 2012

In August, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Germany at an R&D conference.  It was held offsite in Herdecke, nearby our main headquarters in Ennepetal.    Herdecke has an origin in the mid 9th century, and is between two Ruhr lakes.  There are canals that join the lakes and our hotel was on one of the canals.  The city is known for it's historic timber structures, and the Ruhr viaduct.

 

Walking trail along the canal.. it was great for an early morning or evening walk.

The viaduct was created in 1880's, and was partially destroyed during WW2, and reconstructed shortly after the war.

Herdecke is also known for sandstone quarries and buildings created from this sandstone.  This cathedral in town was quite beautiful.

Back home, we started to see piles of dirt in the yard and had no idea where they were coming from.  At the front of the pile was a perfectly circular round tunnel into the ground.   After some investigation, we discovered that these were created by Cicada Killer Wasps....  These wasps are HUGE (1-2 inches long) and frightened Molly several times...  We also learned that they are generally harmless, but like to use their size to dive bomb and intimidate you.   Not so much fun when you are trying to mow the lawn!   I got a few pictures with a zoom lens, but it's hard to appreciate how big they are with nothing relative. 

Molly with Grandma at Bowling!

Not a strike, but almost!... with cousin Madison

Molly and her cousins Madison and Marissa.

First day of 2nd grade in 2012 for Owen.  After a poor few weeks with Manheim township school district at the end of the year when we moved back, we decided to look at our options locally.  After several interviews, we decided to enroll Owen with the Lancaster Mennonite Locust Grove Campus.  They were incredibly supportive of his challenges, coming from a French immersion 1st grade and knew they could help him re-integrate and be successful.  Writing this over a year later, this was the best decision and it has been absolutely wonderful.

 

July 2012 - Family Gathering...

July brought our annual family gathering at Mom & Dad's in Binghamton...   It's one of the few times out of the year that we're all together for a few days... 

Now that Owen is big enough, he can drive Grandpa's tractors himself... which he wants to do... every day... multiple times a day...  :)   He's so happy driving around the back field.

Bailey being attentive to something.

The week before our get-together, Mom and Dad held their annual "cousin's camp"... where they take all the school age kids and do all sorts of activities based on a theme.  This year was about the Wild West, and they learned so much about both cowboy and indian life in the old west.  Building structures, cooking over a fire, riding horses...  All of the kids had so much fun and look forward to their new theme every year...

Here's Owen receiving his handkerchief...

And the kids singing "Home on the Range" to all the parents...

The camp gang...

Drum songs as Indians...

Each of the kids chose a name that they liked that told a story about themselves.  Owen picked Little Knife...  Writing this so many months later, I can't remember why he picked this name...

Owen roasting a marshmallow.  First he thinks it's great to start them on fire, then blow it out... much to our concern and amusement... and then there's that tongue.

Molly and Aunt Sarah....

Allison and Mary around the campfire.

It was hot in July, even in Binghamton, so we had a blow-up pool for the little kids... which they loved.

Grandma whispering something to an adoring Molly.

Me and my little girl...

So we try to do a family picture every year.  Sometimes it's a little crazy, but we managed to pull it off this year.  It helps with most the kids getting a little older...

We added a silly picture and it turned out great!  Some of us liked this one the best!  :)

Proud Grandparents...

And for some family shots...  My sister Jessica, her husband Sam and their children Lydia, Amelia and Eli.

My brother Seth, his wife Mary and their children Alyssa, Ellie and Riley

And my sister Sarah and the gang...

Our ladies...

Saturday afternoon, some really crazy clouds rolled through.  The contrast of shapes and forms was stunning.

A timeless favorite that we must indulge in when we're in Binghamton.

Allison and Molly in a quiet moment.

Owen saw this picture and referred to it as "THE FEAST".  Yummy summer food that we all love.

Owen and his little buddy Eli.

4th of July, so Grandpa does a small fireworks show and we let all the kids burn off untold number of sprinklers... They love it and look forward to it every year.

Grandpa and Molly tickling toes...

June 2012 Summer is here!

Soon after we moved back, it was time for Molly to have her first trip to the Dentist.  We love Dr. Gordos at Berks Kids Dentistry!   http://www.berkskidsdentistry.com/   It's a great practice and they really make the  experience of going to the dentist wonderful for kids.

Check out the sunglasses!

All clean and happy!

With our home about 10 minutes from Dutch Wonderland, it was a no brainer to get season passes for the summer... also with the benefit of free parking and discounts at Hershey Park.   We made several visits over the summer and also later for special holiday events during the year.  Owen and Molly went this time with their friend Kiera....  They are such good friends and have a great time playing together!

With Duke!

Owen loved this bulldozer ride ever since he was about 2.  Now Molly is happy to let him still ride it with her even though he's really outgrown it.  :)


Monster Trucks.

Owen, Molly and Kiera on the beloved Frog Hopper...

In June, our friends the Larsen's visited on their round the country tour before being stationed in... wait for it... Hawaii!   We're so jealous, but really enjoyed spending a day with them catching up on life.  Our kids are very similar in ages and have many of the same interests... it was almost funny because they met for the first time and immediately were off for the evening like they knew each other forever.   Owen and Ryan checking out a game...

Well... what do I say about this?  We laughed a lot watching Molly and Kate.

Allison captured this picture one morning as Molly was hanging out in the office...

Our toothless wonder of a soccer player.

We were blessed to have so many friends now living close by and summer fun ensued at the Hannah's on this afternoon...

Owen and his friend Jackson enjoying the Slip-n-Slide!

Molly and Kiera...   Their expressions in the moment make me wonder what they were saying to each other?