Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Seth is Four

Seth was four July 11th.  Like every mama says, he is growing up so fast.  He loves his books, dinosaurs, knights, and swords.  He is very inquisitive and is so curious about animals and what happened to the dinosaurs.
His birthday was planned very last minute.  Craig finished a 20+ page paper in time to spend the day as a family.  We went to Marchenwald, a German amusement park with a fairy tale theme.  It was so German and so much fun for little ones.  When we got home we last minute decorated a cake and had a few friends over.  It was a great 4th birthday for Seth.

Birthday melon for breakfast


A ride at Marchenwald


The interesting and fun thing about many of the rides was that there was no attendant.  With a button or a pull cord, you start them yourself.  American lawyers would have a hay day.  Most of the signs, like this one, said you must be four to ride alone.  That made it an extra special day to be four.  Here Seth is pulling the cord to start his wild boar.








Seth's shield cake
 
Seth's friends -- out of focus

The Gees -- Part 3

The Gees finished up their time here by visiting a few more little Bavarian cities nearby, having Seth an early 4th birthday party, and visiting the top of a mountain (the Wank) by cablecar. 


In Garmisch-Partenkirchen


The view of the sunset on the mountains from our balcony


Seth's early 4th birthday party





Garmisch from atop the Wank


On the Wank



My second grade teacher, Seth, and Mom


Sunday, July 24, 2011

The Gees -- Part 2

We stayed near Pisa four nights so we could see a bit of Tuscany.  A day in Pisa, a day in Lucca, a day in Florence (the Gees went by train to Florence while the boys and I had a rest day), and a day in Cinque Terre.  Ahhh, gorgeous.  I think my favorite was Cinque Terre. 


The tower in Pisa -- it leans.

Enjoying gelato

Lucca

We found this fun restaurant in the middle of nowhere in our hunt for Tuscan pottery.

A view from our drive during the pottery hunt

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre