Luisenpark

The girls and I took Grandma to Luisenpark Park one day that we didn't have much planned. Leevi and Grandpa stayed behind to catch up on yardwork. We should probably go way more often than we do having only been one other time because the girls love all that it has to offer....boat rides, water area, butterfly garden, animals galore, and countless playgrounds!

The Chinese Gardens

She wimped out....thankfully!

And she wiped out!  We were wandering the park (lost!) trying to find our way out!  Cheap me was not going to pay 3 euro for a map!  :) 

The storks!  They even have a nest-cam!

Sitting in a storks nest!

So pretty!

Sneaking up on a stork...they were holding hands because they were scared!

These last few pics are out of order but I'm too beat to fix it!  Hailey remembered there being a tree at the park where you can hang your pacifiers and wanted to bring ours.  Even though we've been Wawa-less for almost a year now I still had a few in a secret stash!  

Ridiculous!  The last suck on a Wawa before we tied it on the tree!

The Wawa Tree

Kai's "Grasshapper"

I have many blog posts to catch up on but I just thought these pics from today were so cute.  Kai came running inside with a "grasshapper" on her head!  Leevi found it when he was cleaning the grill and it instantly was her friend and hung around for a good 15 minutes.  Hailey kept trying to convince her to put it in her bug catcher but Kai liked it to roam around her hands, arms, and head!  :)  I thought 10 plain pictures of a grasshopper might be boring so I had some fun on www.picnik.com

It's purple...on her thumb!

My favorite!

It would start on her hand and crawl straight up to her hair!

Trier

The ancient Roman city of Trier (Tree-Air) has to be my favorite place we've visited so far!  It is said to be founded in 16 B.C by the Roman Emperor, Augustus!!!!!!

The Porta Nigra pictured below with the girls is the last standing city gate built in 186 A.D. 

 Statues like these are on buildings everywhere all over Germany

Trier Dom-Cathedral built by Constantine the Great in 326 AD is said to house the Holy Robe of Christ

The Basilika served as Constantine's throne room

Kaiserthermen (Imperial Baths) were definitely the girls' favorite site.  They liked roaming the underground tunnels where hot and cold water was transported.  It was amazing wandering around through something so old!

There are so many pictures of Hailey because this sums up the mood of Kai towards the afternoon!

Our last stop was at the medieval Roman Amphitheater (picture Russel Crowe in Gladiator!!!!)  We walked through the ruins and down below in the cellar where the prisoners and lions/tigers were held! 

Team USA!

I got an email about two USA World Cup events that were happening in our area and we jumped on the opportunity and took the girls to both of them. The first one was a practice that was open to all military personnel with a meet and greet autograph signing afterwards! Watching the practice...

Patiently waiting...After getting Hope Solo's autograph, Hailey feels like she's on a first name basis with her when we see her on T.V. She'll also point out that Hope starts with H just her like her own name! :)

They passed out these cards during the practice...

Kailee had her card autographed by TEN team members!

Hailey's Spring Soccer Jersey....signed by 10 of the team members!

The 2nd event was an ESPN broadcast of the game vs. Columbia on Saturday from a Marktplatz in Heidelberg. We had no idea how crowded it would be considering the practice was pretty packed but there was hardly anyone there (good for us but sad that not too many people took advantage of it!) We had front row seats (on picnic blankets) right in front of the big screen and Big Blue (the 18 wheeler broadcasting booth) We made signs for the 5 girls to hold and packed a picnic dinner and had an awesome time! We got some air time on ESPN pregame, halftime AND post game!!!!!!!!

Didn't miss out on any of the action because of this potty!!!! (For the 5 girls not the adults!) :)

Kailee "picked" the USA to win!!!

Brandi Chastain came down from the announcers booth at the start of the 2nd half. Not too many people recognized her and Kai and I had a chance to chat with her! She asked Kailee what her name was and how old she was....Kai also told her that she played soccer too! Brandi was really friendly (unlike Mia Hamm)

Halftime Ice Cream

Keeping themselves entertained....

Mia Hamm was at the first half of the game and then came to the Big Blue Broadcasting Booth for the 2nd half. She made a brief appearance from up top. Brianna Scurry came down to the crowd for an after the game interview!

Go TEAM USA!!!!