The highlight of today was dinner.  We had a lovely Spaghetti-Abendessen at Lily’s this evening and Michael, Jana, and Denise joined us, too.  And, of course, Lilys berühmter Nachtisch did not disappoint.

 

 

Visiting a university here is just not the same as in the States.  We walked around the campus of the Universität Hohenheim this afternoon.  The school actually uses some part of the Schloss for classes but that’s the most notable thing about the campus.  So, we quickly followed that with our next stop – the Fernsehturm Stuttgart, a repeated request from S.  Of course, we had to have Kaffeestunde at 146m.  We finished the day with dinner at the Hausbrauerei Mönchwasen in Simmozheim.  Kaesespaetzle and Flammkuchen – YUM!  This was the day that S and Hubby fought over a tomato, knocked over the Hefeweizen which fell into the Spezi, breaking the glass and spilling beer and soda all over. As a token, S decided to give our server a very small tip.  As she reached for it perplexedly, she forgot about the .5l Hefe on her tray, spilling that beer on S and the floor.  We didn’t take a picture of either mess, but the older couple beside us got a good laugh.   As the manager said as she helped to clean up, “es passiert öfters.”  Doubt it.

Today, S had a field trip to the Stegmuehle in Daetzingen with the other Deutsch-als-Fremdsprache students and Frau Ulrike Ploch-Wilke.  The kids played games and even had a campfire with marshmallows.  This afternoon, we all went to Weil-der-Stadt for Magnum Eis and to kick the ball around the Bolzplatz.

Back to unser deutscher Alltag – school.  We also helped Opa in the backyard.  There was lots of ivy cutting, tree trimming, and toting dead branches up the hill.  We can easily see the steps and walk down to the street branch-free now.  It was a job well done and well paid – 2 Eiskugels each!

 

with the Sound of Music?

FRIDAY
First came school and then a 6-hour trip to Westendorf, Österreich (Tirol!). Whew – a full day. Luckily, the Pension Eichenheim is wonderful, clean, and comfortable. We have 2 rooms both with balconies, bathrooms, and breakfast. The rain has followed us here but will hopefully let up tomorrow.

Oh, and so as not to forget – M sharpened so many colored pencils in the Kindergarten today she actually got a blister!

SATURDAY
After a delicious breakfast with Uli und Miri here at our Pension, we began our adventure. First stop was to visit Jumper, their Pferd, and take him spazieren. The kids got to help get him ready (brush, clean hooves, put on shoes, saddle, reins, etc) and then we took them out and about. M got to lead Jumper while A rode him and then they traded places. Even S went for a ride when we returned to the stable!

Next stop was a ride up the Alpenrosenbahn in Westendorf to the Bergstation Talkaser where we ate lunch followed by a Wandernung to ice cream ?. Destination was the Gasthof Brechhornhaus, about an hour away, and then the Kreuzjöchlsee, which had crystal clear water! And ice cold. We got a bit misdirected on the way back and found ourselves walking straight down the mountain in a cow field (read NO path). The earth was soaked with water, like walking on a sponge, so our shoes got wet. S tore his shorts climbing over barbed wire but D found 2€! We then realized we had to hurry or we would miss the last gondola down.  Even as the herd of cows tried to block our path, we made it back in time.

Oma and Opa even made the trip here from Deutschland and we met for dinner at Restaurant Giardino in Kirchberg. Tomorrow, we will climb another mountain!

SONTAG
After breakfast together, we realized the weather might not hold so we went with Plan B. Instead of another mountain, we toured Schloss Tratzberg in Jenbach. It was just a 10-minute walk straight uphill and a 5-minute tram ride down. After a long wait we ate our quick lunch at Schlosswirt Tratzberg before our 5-hour drive back.

A rainy day. We had hoped to work in the yard this afternoon but no luck. Instead Hubby, M, and I went shopping to the Stern Center. Hubby said he wasn’t buying anything and he didn’t. M, however, got 2 flannels for 2,99€ each, I got a sweater for 5€, and S a hoodie for 6€. Oh, and some 1€ Germany glasses for D just for fun. Bargains!

We didn’t plan anything this afternoon so the kids took advantage and planned their own excursion.  They waited for M to be done at the Kindergarten and walked together to Sehne to get lunch and some ice cream before they walked home.  It was an experience – Sehne only had one Belegtebrot left so they had to ask if more could be made.  After some grammar correction and a mild look of annoyance, they got their lunch.  And their ice cream.  We finished the evening with a nice walk with a soccer ball.

We left a little early from school today because we had an appointment to make chocolate at RitterSport in Waldenbuch.  Well, the kids did and Annalena ist mit gekommen.  This is always a fun treat – to make your own, favorite kind of chocolate and even design the packaging.  Us grown-ups got to sit and enjoy an Eiscafe.  Also a fun treat.  Not sure which is better …

Got the kids out of school early today for a Werkbesichtigung bei Mercedes Benz Sindelfingen.  Very cool!  We actually got to walk around inside the factory where they build the E- and S-class, including the Maybach.  We got to wear safety glasses and orange vests which are ours to keep.  We were right there on the floor watching some of the 5,200 robots construct the frames and then the factory workers along the line.  We didn’t get to see the body paint part because it’s dust free.  We were so close, we could have pushed the buttons to control the line.  Or dropped water bottles into the vehicles. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any pictures inside the factory.  Oh, well, these will have to do.

FRIDAY
It’s always nice to spend time with family.  And Hubby did just that – he had breakfast with Tante at RitterSport Friday morning.  Yummy!  Then we met the kids at school and went to Sehne for lunch and a celebratory ice cream.  After one week of school, the kids finally realize why people look forward to the weekend so much.  After school, we spent the afternoon cleaning up.  Miri und Uli arrive tonight and then almost everyone will be here tomorrow.  Full house!

SATURDAY
Spent some time at real-Supermarkt this morning getting the food for this afternoon.  By the time we got home, the tables were set, people were here, and the festivities were beginning.  We grilled, we talked, we laughed, and we got to meet Yoshua, the newest cousin.  What a nice afternoon!

SUNDAY
We went for a short walk to the Wiese this morning before Carsten, Melanie, und Yoshua had to head home.  Then we went for ice cream.  Of course!  Got to rest up tonight – another week of school starts in the morning!