Triberg

Over the Thanksgiving break, we visited Triberg, Germany. It boasts two cool things: 1. The longest waterfall in Germany, and 2. The biggest Cuckoo Clock in the world! Behind Heidi and the kids is just one of many segments to this waterfall.

 

As cool as it was to watch the waterfall, it was nothing compared to feeding peanuts to the fat red squirrels running around the waterfall... at least that's what the kids thought. It cost 10 Euro for the family to walk to the waterfall and 1 Euro for a bag of peanuts... That's kidonomics for ya!

 

Eli: Cuckoo Clocks on the wall - Pretty cool dude! It's better than having them in your bed.

 

Eli: A Cuckoo Clock for a bed headboard?!? I think I just threw up in my mouth. This is just sick and wrong.

 

Eli: Kjersti jumped out of the biggest Cuckoo Clock in the world and tackled me! Ok, it's not true, but if it was, this picture would go from being just cute, to being totally awesome!  

Verdun

The same day we were in Luxembourg, we traveled a few hours south to the museum and mounument at Verdun, France. The massive monument is a pretty sobering experience because the remains of more than 100,000 soldiers are interred below the memorial itself. According to contemporary estimates, the 1916 Battle at Verdun resulted in 714,321 casualties, 377,231 on the French side and 337,000 on the German one, an average of 70,000 casualties for each of the ten months of the battle. It was the longest and one of the most devestating battles in the First World War and the history of warfare.

 

The area all around the monument is still scared with artillery craters and trenches. The cemetery in front of the memorial is one of the few areas that has been significantly improved since the battle nearly 100 years ago. This is the view from the top of the tower on the battlefield overlooking the French cemetery.

Luxembourg American Military Cemetery

Every year, we visit an American Military Cemetery on Veterans Day. This year, we visited the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery. It's most famous resident is General George Patton.

 

It's always amazing to see so many American grave markers. This cemetery holds over 5,000 American war dead, most of whom were lost during the Battle of the Bulge during WWII.

 

This beautiful fresco rests upon the ceiling of the chapel at the cemetery. A fitting tribute to the Greatest Generation!

Eli #7

Eli had an amazing birthday party this year! Not only was he seven, but he was the first to celebrate a birthday in Germany.

 

Eli received a number of presents sent through the mail and loved opening every one of the them!

 

But the real fun happened when we went to Sensapolis! It's an enormous indoor playground near our home. It has mega slides, a climbing wall, a huge tree house, a ropes course and a huge play area. The kids loved it and Eli enjoyed a birthday he won't forget... at least until next year.

Ritter Sport

As it turns out, one of the largest chocolate factory's in Germany is located a short five minute drive away from our house. Ritter Sport is the German equivalent of Hershey's Chocolate, except it's much, much better. Let's just say we like visiting this place. ;)

 

The Ritter Sport factory and museum are co-located. Ritter Sport bars come in squares which inspired the museum to be built in squares as well.

 

There are a number of paths and trails that lead to Ritter Sport from our home. We set out to walk home through a "short cut" in the forest, but Heidi figured she would at least spare Eve from Cody's adventure. That was probably a good idea. The "short cut" took about an hour.  

 

To make it interesting for the Kjersti and Eli who joined Cody on his "short cut", he let them climb up into one of the many tree stands in the forest.

 

After a longer than expected walk, we finally emerged from the forest atop a hill with a wonderful view of our little village in the background.

 

First Snow

A little snow went a long way on 27 October. In fact, a grass, mud and snow man was created in our backyard that was as big as Eve. Kjersti and Eve couldn't have been prouder of their new friend.

 

Eve enjoyed a few licks of snow as it fell, but was restrained when she tried to take a few licks of her new friend.

 

Eli: "Who will be the lucky recipient of my mega snowball? Hey dad, come here!"

 

Kjersti thought it would be great fun to make Mr. Mini Snowman just outside her window. Unfortunately, Mr. Mini Snowman fell three stories to his untimely death when he slid off the ledge of her window. RIP Mr. Mini Snowman. 

Trunk or Treat

A fairly interesting cast of characters here. Kjersti is dressed up for the masquarde ball, Eli is Harry Potter, Cody is a wicked awesome basketball player, and Eve is Little Red Riding Hood. Everyone enjoyed a wonderful evening of trunk or treating at the Stuttgart International Ward!

The New House

Finding a home in the Stuttgart, Germany area is incredibly difficult. We considered ourselves lucky to find this one, even though it's certainly not the ideal. We moved in on October 12. The things we really like about it are that it has in floor heating throughout the home, a beautiful view out the back window, and it's brand new. The things that are less than wonderful are the parking situation (think Austin Powers doing a 30 point turn around in the tunnel), a super tiny yard (but at least we have one) and living on four floors. It's essentially a typical German home.

 

Kjersti lives in the attic and thinks it's awesome! If you come to visit through, watch your head!

 

The kitchen is really great! While small, it has a tremendous amount of storage space and it really looks sharp.

 

First Day of School

Guess who didn't start school this year? On the other hand, Kjersti and Eli started school on October 2nd. The move to Germany delayed them and so did finding a house. We weren't able to get them into the school we wanted until we had a signed a rental agreement in that school zone. They're attending Boblingen Elementary on Panzer Kasserne. This was the fifth school Kjersti has attended and Eli's second. Kjersti is in Fifth grade and Eli is in First. 

President Monson Comes to Munich

Not long after we arrived in Germany, we found out that our beloved Prophet would be coming to visit Munich on October 20. We were fortunate to get tickets to his speaking engagement which occured at the historic Residenz in the heart of downtown Munich. Here we are standing in front of the building. Everyone was game for this picture except Eve.

 

Right in front of the Residenz is a beautiful open courtyard filled with beautiful flowers. Classical musicians play in the gazebo behind Eli filling the area with wonderful music!

 

Someone was really excited to see the Prophet!

 

This is a picture from a news article of the inside of the Residenz. We sat in the very back on the last row of the upper deck. Even then, you could still feel a strong spirit from the Prophet as he spoke.

The Fairy

Cody: "Hey Eve, I hear there is a Princess Fairy flying around the castle here.

Eve: "Wow, really! I love Princess Fairy's!"

 

Cody: "Eve, don't move, I think one just landed on your back!"

 

Cody: "There it goes! Now it's on your leg!"

Eve: "I don't see it!"

Cody: "Be still, you don't want to scare it away!"

 

Cody: "There it goes again! It's on your right hand."

Eve: "What?!? I still don't see it."

 

Cody: "Now it's flying all around you! I think it's trying to tickle you!"

Eve: "Ha, ha, ha, Dad. I'm not buying it. I think you're making this all up."

 

Cody: "You're right, I am... But did you know Bigfoot lives on the mountain up behind the castle?"

Eve: "What!?! Seriously!?!"

Linderhof Castle

Eve: (Singing) "Welcome to my kingdommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!"

 

Just outside Oberammergau, Germany is one of  three residences of King Ludwig II of Bavaria It was the only one which he lived to see completed. We were there on a beautiful October day.

 

Right in front of the residence was a large fountain with a huge geyser that went off at the top of each hour. Apparently a bell just wasn't good enough for King Ludwig II.

 

In back of the residence was a pretty interesting fountain as well as a pretty interesting family. ;)

 

The grounds surrounding the castle were just amazing. Kjersti particularly enjoyed learning that the dining room in this castle included an entire table that could be set in the servants quarters and then hoisted up to the formal dining room. Ludwig enjoyed being alone and he had installed the facilities to make sure he didn't even have to see his servants.

 

Eve: "It's not easy having a beautiful kingdom like this, but someone has to do it."

 

Partnach Gorge

Near Garmisch, Germany is a place called Partnach Gorge. It can best be described as a very narrow slot canyon that is really unlike anything we had ever seen. A river had literally cut its way through a mountain and then locals had carved a path along side the river. In many places, the sun can just barely squeak through the canyon down to the water below as seen here.

 

The light and the views within the canyon where it is very narrow are stunning.

 

Other areas were it is more wide open are interesting because of all of the water cascading down the canyon walls.

 

Eve held a captive audience before we entered the gorge with her Stayin' Alive dance moves. So sassy!

 

We had to pry the kids away from watching the baby grazing sheep. So cute, but so not why we came to Partnach Gorge!

Zugspitze

In early October, we took our first trip to Garmish, Germany. It was amazing. The fall colors were out and the weather was just perfect. We had sun and things just couldn't be better. Of course, when the kids can throw rocks into the lake, that's even better. The tallest mountain in the distance is the Zugspitze, the tallest mountain in Germany.

 

We had a great time wandering around the Lake Eibsee.

 

Fortunately, you can ride a tram to the top of the Zugspitze which lies at 9,718 feet. The view from the top is incredible. Being at the northern tip of the Alps looking south all you can see are mountain peaks. Having grown up in Utah, Heidi and Cody are no strangers to mountain peaks, but to see so many was really facinating.

 

The actual top of the Zugspitze is about 30 meters away from the viewing platform. Climbing to the top is a little bit dicy, but that didn't stop Cody from doing it. There's a good reason Heidi calls him "Adventure Cody!"