American Refrigerators

We kept telling Melanie and Martin that refrigerators in America were a lot different. The refrigerators in Germany were about the size of our freezer with a foot cube in one corner that was the freezer. We took these pictures for them. American Refrigerators are much bigger. :)

German Attire back in America

So Melanie, Martin and Max gave us a package right before we left when we got home it was a t-shirts for Spencer and I and a mouse for Elise. So here is our German attire back at home.

I told Spencer he looked more traditional with his Austrian hat and cane so he was a good sport for a few pictures and of course since daddy had a hat, Elise needed one too.

Extras from our last week in Germany 8/7/2011-8/17/2011

So here are a couple of things I wanted to make sure to blog about that I don't have pictures for.

First on 8/7/2011 we had testimony meeting at church, like we do each month but this time it was different for me. I have always had a hard time bearing my testimony but I made sure I did right before we left Logan and I purposely set a goal in my testimony that I wanted to bear my testimony in German at least once while we were gone. So first my German had to improve but each month I thought about my goal and would work on a very simple version of my testimony in German. My problem was I didn't want to just bear my testimony in German I wanted to do it well and with only possible notes not reading it. I had a really hard time but finally today I knew it was now or never and finally this last week a very simple testimony came together and I practiced saying it. I was so nervous but so glad that I did. That has been one hard thing for me here, not being able to talk with everyone as much as I would like to. But I wanted them to hear my testimony in German. Simple I am sure but it was a great milestone for me.

Second on 8/12/2011 we did a goodbye party with the Rebmann family, or at least as many as we could. They are wonderful people and have become very dear and close friends for us. The language is a barrier some for me still but it is like we are leaving a second family. I was so busy making supper and hoping everything was okay that I forgot to take pictures. Melanie and I decided it would be fun to do an American meal. She wanted a traditional American meal but that is kind of hard to pin point so I just did one we really like. We made chicken salad sandwiches and had cinnamon rolls for dessert. It was so fun to have one last party with the Rebmann family before we head for home.

Next 8/14/2011 Spencer got to talk at church one last time. They are definitely getting the most out of an extra member while we are here. They asked Spencer if he minded talking one more time before we left, so he did. It was a hard day, saying goodbye to our church family. We have made so many friends while we have been here. Some I am sure we will never see again but hopefully some we may see again.

Last 8/17/2011 our final goodbyes. Once again we got to say final goodbyes to the Rebmanns and the Schmids. It is never easy but hopefully we can keep some contact with everyone.

Airplane Ride Home 8/17/2011

Sadly our time here is already over. I think it took me a while to finish updating our blog partially because we have been very busy getting settled back in but partially because we miss it there. We had a very good time and it is fun and sad to look back at pictures. It still seems like only yesterday that we were there.
So here are a few pictures from the airplane ride home. Elise gets tired of traveling and especially waiting in the airport but she loves riding on airplanes.

She has to check out every button, lever, anything she is allowed to.

Elise getting comfy with her favorite toy and having a snack. Then she somehow gets comfortable enough for a snooze. She is quite a bit smaller, it is easier for her to curl up in the seats. Our flight home was just as smooth as our flight over. We really did have a good travel experience even if it was very long. There was an option for us to stay over in Coppenhagen (our flight was too full), we really did debate but we decide that it might be more rigamarole than it was worth since this wasn't just a short trip.

Fun with our family through 8/16/2011

So here are some fun pictures of our family through 8/16. So through our stay in Germany.

Elise riding her horsey.

Elise "helping" Spencer work on the computer. She was so proud of herself because she figured out how to push off the couch and get up on his shoulders.

My little helper finding new toys.

Elise was given a Ravensburg flag when we were there today and she loves it. She is so cute. She has to try and do "everything" just like mom and dad.

Our very tired girl climbed up on our bed to hide from daddy and fell asleep.

Max helping Elise drive the tractor.

After we stayed with Melanie, Martin and Max for a week Max so wanted us to come have a sleepover again. So soon before we left we went over and played games and slept over so the kids could have one more sleepover. Melanie reading with Max and Elise. They both love books.

Now it was their turn to read to themselves before going to sleep, right. They finally did but it took longer than usual. They were just too excited.

My cute little helper again.

This has doubled as a book or toy carrier, a car and various other things. I somehow think it works better to push stuffed animals around in than Elise. She is very creative and has a ball doing it.

Elise working just like daddy. Or helping him on his homework, humm!

My parents sent Elise a package for her birthday that had growing animals in them. Elise shared with Max and Pascal but she wanted the pink sea horse. She had a hard time being patient because they do take hours to grow but she sure had fun checking on it and picking it up and petting it and eventually it did grow big, but then she wanted it to stay that way instead of shrink back down. Try to explain that one to a two year old.

The side of a house we walk past every time we go to catch the bus or go to the bakery. I think it looks cool completely covered in vines.

Spencer doing laundry you say, try again.

Elise wanted to try hiding in the laundry bag and loved it, surprisingly. She is silly. It has become her and daddy's new game.

Elise exercising with us. Again, she had to do everything we did.

All three kids trying to ride the big bike.  And Max is actually going to let Pascal and Elise drive, scary.

Elise giving Pascal a ride.

They love this tractor, alone or together they just don't always enjoy sharing when they both want to be the driver.

Elise at Pascal's house. Of course they found something to ride together.

Elise loves playing in the pool with the other kids.

These are from earlier. Whenever we lost Elise or Pascal we could usually count on them being at the slide. As the weather got warmer there was stinging nettle that grew around and in the slide and then the kids didn't like to play there anymore.

Day Trip To St. Gallen, including a ferry ride 8/11/2011

Today we went on a day trip to St. Gallen. We also had wanted to ride the ferry across the Bodensee but hadn't made the trip yet. We drove to Lindau, Germany and then rode the ferry across to Bregenz, Austria. Then we rode the train back. (A train ride that Spencer took a lot on his mission.) Then we drove to St. Gallen for the rest of the day.

Lindau- The old part of the city is out on an island.

I love this. This is really a street in the city. We might have a hard time calling this anything but an alley.

The statue you can see is a boy and girl with doing the Mai Baum (May tree) dance or celebration.

The city square and other pictures of the city.

We have seen this a few times but today it was finally close enough to see what it was for. It at least has the name of  a newspaper on it but it would be interesting to know completely what it is used for.

The harbor that we caught our ferry in. There is a lion statue and a lighthouse tower and the mouth of the harbor.

From the top of the tower looking out over Lindau.

My cute family! For some reason Elise was determined that her cheek needed to be squished up against daddies. Soooo cute.

Same thing here only she must have thought I was trying to run away.

The stairs inside the tower.

Ferry Ride

Our ferry.

Leaving the harbor.

There was a cold wind to begin with and it was early but then Elise got more into the ride and loved being on the ferry. Here we are finishing our breakfast. Spencer had told me how good pretzels were cut open with butter inside but I had never had one until this morning. I meant to by pretzels so that Elise would have something to eat until we got across to Bregenz. We got a pleasant surprise, they had butter in them. They were so good. When we came back we were going to buy one more but they were now only the plain ones. The buttered ones must be a common breakfast choice. I can see why too.

Coming to towards Bregenz, Austria.

This is a theater that is out over the lake. The preforming area is completely over the water.

Bregenz

Swans and their babies.

Looking back over the Bodensee to Lindau, Germany.

Walking around Bregenz. Not as pretty as Lindau. At least the parts we saw. Then we took the train back to Lindau and drove to St. Gallen.

St. Gallen

Pictures of our walk around St. Gallen. We also "had" to go to a Migros to get some chocolate and dessert yogurts that you can only find at a Migros. We had meant to come sooner, Spencer raved at how good some of the things were but we never made it. Probably better that we only made it once or we may have traveled there too often.

Pictures from driving.