Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Germany - Part 2


The Jahnz family came to meet Declan and visit with us. Tobias and Clara are two peas in a pod.
Clara, Mia and Declan have dinner together.
Happy New Year Munich!
Karolina and Miranda toast the new year.
Nadine and Miranda enjoying the fireworks show
We found a castle in the suburbs! So very Euro.
The whole gang in front of the Castle
We decided it was time to give the kids a bath. All seemed interested at first....
But Declan was having none of it! Too many naked girls for him to handle I suppose.
Three happy little ones all bundled up waiting for the S Bahn.
The famous Glockenspiel in Munich
Where's Mia?
"Ooooh that looks delicious!"
The Culleys at the Munchen Hofbrauhaus
This river runs straight through downtown Munich. There is a permanent wave right after it goes under a bridge in the middle of town and there are surfers in the sub zero temperatures riding the wave. Pretty cool sight.
Declan mesmerized by the surf
Now THIS is a breakfast of champions: White sausage, white beer and pretzels. Any culture where beer is an acceptable morning beverage is alright by us!
Oliver and Declan inside the Allianz Arena where Munich's two professional soccer teams play.
A beer ad with the soccer team in lederhosen. Refreshing!
Th LEGO playland slide was a hit with Declan
The "Culley family sandwich" on the train to Salzburg, Austria
Just strain your eyes really hard and you can see the Salzburg castle nestled above our heads.

Gluhwein hits the spot once again.
View from the top of the castle.
O Tannenbaum!
"The Hills are Alive" with the sound of the Culleys!!!!!
It was really, really cold everywhere we went.

Declan thinks of buying his first car at the BMW Museum....
....but passes that up for his first bike!!!



 Declan wants to verify that European cars really do have less emissions than American cars.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Italy

 Peek-a-boo! We are in Italy! We went to a little family friendly ski resort up the mountain from Bolzano. It was very cold but sunny the whole time we were there. We got to ski for a day while the Wintermanns took care of Declan. The next day we took Mia while they Wintermanns skied. The third day we all went on a long snow hike with the kids to a little tavern on the mountain.
 Sledding with Daddy.

 Declan loved the slide.
 Story time.  Again.
 Behind Miranda and Declan is the lodge where we stayed.



 Mia tows the load for a while on our snow hike.
 We made it!
 The way back was up hill and AFTER heavy food, beer, and Shnapps. Declan was heavy too.
 Touring Bolzano before we head back to Munich.

 Declan looks so little in front of the watch store.
Bye-Bye Italy.

Germany - Part 1

 Declan meets Mia for the first time after managing not to sleep the ENTIRE 14.5 hour trip over from Seattle.
 Karolina and Karsten make noodles for the kids.
 The next day Declan tried on Mia's old snow suit. It fit great, but he hated putting it on.
 Declan and Mia sledding in Munich suburbs.
 Whee!
 Mia's Advent calender had a present in each little stocking.
 Christmas dinner at the kid's table.
 Karsten carving the the Christmas duck.
 Tasty duck Karolina!
 Oliver played Mr. story time for a while...
 Then it was Miranda's turn...
 And then Karolina's turn, where Declan tried to sneak a hug.
Mia thought he moved too quickly.