sunnydees: 2014

Kristina's great friend brought her very special family all the way from Arizona to Solana Beach!

Lucia and Kai are quite a pair of sweeties.

Gavin's coach would have given him most valuable player! Wow!

When there isn't a game to be played, Gavin builds himself a palm tree and island.

Our friend Kristina and her amazing horse Max gave us a wonderful day!

Jeff and his motorcycle brought smiles in Beloit.

Mother just turned 89! Excellent!

It was great seeing
Mike and Dot, Mary Anne, Sandy and Dan,
Jim and Mary, and Donald and Jonathan!

At the end of May, delayed by some airline issue but thankful we do have jets, we arrived in beautiful Netherlands.

We enjoyed biking along a canal and would have loved boating as well. Maybe next time!

Patrik's confirmation in Leer and the festivities surrounding it were quite first class...

and lots of fun!

Ditzum is always a special place for remembering...

and there was even a book in our room in Jemgum with photos of the family!

We enjoyed Heike and Colin and time at their home.

Bad Oeynhausen with Jenny and Heinz is always a special treat,
and we hope they enjoyed the time as much as we did!

The train ride from Hannover to Zurich and on to Buchs was a great experience, especially when it ended with Trey right there at the train station ready to take us home to Haag. Travel isn't always (or even usually) done on any known time schedule!

Buchs has a castle, which we will need to tour on our next visit, after their work is completed. The children have walked up to the castle with school, and we did go to the neighborhood around the castle. Jim even rode a bike from Haag to the park in Buchs...and found us there!

The kindergarten and elementary classrooms are to the right of this high school building, and Hans enjoys four square in the passage between the two.

Welcome, Everyone! Let's have some fun!

Liliana's class performed a little play for us! She was a grey, of course, kitten.

School is great, especially when you can come as a ballerina.

Boating is good, even if you have to pedal to make it go!

Lego boys were at work during Hans' birthday party, before and after the blindfolds.

Ninth birthdays are good.

This is Jack, the neighborly dog who always comes when people are out, especially if dinner is served on the patio. He just rests his chin on the bench beside you and is happy.

This is the Sklar's house. The driveway leads to the new black van out back by the barn. The front door faces south toward open fields. East is a very busy farm, with Lucas who comes to play whenever he can. West across a wheat field is an old farm house. A little strip is mowed through that field so Tobias can come over to play.

Sometimes it is a wooden wagon,
sometimes a combine,
sometimes a tractor
parked across the farm road out front.

There will be a garden within that fenced area!
The yellow boots say it is so.

There is always good reading to be found, and the living room is just the place for it. The shutters were closed around the geranium filled window boxes to keep the morning sun from warming things up too much on our warm days. It was warm enough we had to check out the local pool/lake, which is another lovely place.

Hans and Annika
sped their bikes up and down the little 'road' along the canal
at the west end of the one lane farm road in front of their house.

Liliana and Moses (the bear) enjoyed quiet moments with Jack on the front patio.

Best dinner seats face south from the front porch patio table.

Out the basement and laundry room door,
the girls head north toward the back of the barn,
which the neighbors use for their farming and cows.

Visiting happens between the garden fence and the clothes line.

Everywhere there are lovely parks to enjoy

and beautiful old buildings that amaze.

Everybody on for ice cream!

Annika and Liliana and Gramma loved the ancient walled city
and exploring on top of the wall.

What town was this? Country was Germany! Lindau! Food was great!

Every lake needs to be explored too!

Early morning excitement of a hot air balloon coming down across the field from home
made for a great walk for Gramma and Lucia
and bike ride for Hans and for Grandpa with both Liliana and Annika on his special bike.

Beautiful way to plan together
while watching your children play in your yard!

Lucia enjoys life,

and so does Kristina!

The lovely golden brown cows gave rich milk, and Kristina was delighted to be able to buy some from the vending machine (!) outside the barn along the road after the moms' church picnic at the park above the castle.