We’re Back!

Published on: by Meegan

Hello! Sorry for the long, unintended blog break. The girls and I just got back (well, a few weeks ago..) from a five week vacation in America! Simon had to stay in Köln for work. Don’t feel too bad for him though. He got to go on an amazing hiking/camping trip in the French Alps with Opa, Maxim and some friends. The photos from his trip are INCREDIBLE. I’m sure I’ll be posting some here at some point! We sure missed him, but still managed to have an amazing vacation!

We spent most of our time in New Hampshire- the state I’m from, and where Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Jenny, and Uncle Kevin still live. The girls were especially excited that they were going to get to spend two whole weeks with their cousins Madeline and Audrey. We also visited relatives in Upstate New York, and friends in Maine.

Since Simon (and his laptop) wouldn’t be with us in the States, I bought a new laptop so I could download photos and do blog posts during our trip (I really had the best intentions!). Unfortunately, the laptop had a German keyboard. Not my favorite. At all. To the point that I dreaded even typing emails, never mind blog posts. Luckily my new USA keyboard is on it’s way. And so are LOTS of posts about our American vacation! Trying not to think about the 5,000 vacation photos I need to wade through…

The girls and I were SO excited to be heading back to the States. We hadn’t been since our move to Germany two years ago! We were even going to be in America for the 4th of July! A week before we left, we started reading some of our “American” books to get us even more excited.

IMG_2419

IMG_2426

IMG_4775

IMG_4756

I bought these American flag lollypops at a subway station in Köln (airplane treat for the girls).

IMG_4750

Before I get into our summer vacation blog posts I have to share a few pics from Kiera’s last day (EVER) of Kita. My little girl is growing up. She just started first grade this week! Above is a present from her Kita teacher.

IMG_4751

unwrapped…

IMG_4755

closeup- it’s a photo of Kiera and her Kita classmates..

IMG_4843

and a lovely note.

 

Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Post #2 (Leiden, The Netherlands)

Published on: by Meegan

IMG_3795

I think Kiera checked out every computer screen available in the museum.

IMG_3808

cool display about how the tilt in the Earth’s axis is responsible for the seasons

IMG_3820

Kiera checking out T-Rex leg to scale

IMG_3822

IMG_0134 1

IMG_3876

Kiera watching a hologram video of a dinosaur egg hatching (in the orange box). Video below…

Is that real (lol!)?

IMG_3869

dinosaur eggs

IMG_3833

IMG_3854

IMG_3837

IMG_3844

IMG_3879

IMG_3860

Insects in amber. Is it horrible that I immediately thought “Jurassic Park!”?

IMG_3845

cool fossils

IMG_3892

Kiera LOVED this game. The helmet helps you slurp up flower nectar (sound effects and everything!). The lighted tube (behind her) lets you know how much nectar you’ve collected by how full it gets.

This (on the left) was a memory game. You had to study a trail before getting on and try and replicate it on the maze (and it times you). Quinnie rocked this (she’s so great at memory games!). On the right is one of the ads for the museum.

IMG_0103 1

This was the “scent station.” You press a button and have to guess the scent that wafts out. This particular one was poop scented (for real). Kiera couldn’t get enough of it (lol!) She’d smell it and say, “Ew! That’s so gross”! But then press it over and over again…

IMG_0109 1

This was the “taste section”. You put your hand into the circle and it drops one tiny clear drop of liquid onto you. You then taste it and have to guess which taste it is. They kept going back to the “sweet” tasting one (not surprised at all!).

IMG_0123 1

Quinnie directing Papa to the warm spots under the floor using an infrared screen.

IMG_0136 1

gift shop on the way out

IMG_0139 1

If you have the chance you should definitely bring your kids here. They’ll love it!