Scotland

For M L King day this year, I took a trip to his homeland to help celebrate his heritage, thats right, Scotland. All the locals know this fact that all great people come from this land. This was one of the greatest places that I have gotten to see, and it has some of the very nicest people I have ever met, and if rain water ever becomes a hot item, this country will have it made. They even celebrate my birthday there as a national holiday (June 11th) only they call it summer. Out side the rain (which they had plenty of) we took day trips to Edinburgh, Stirling, and Glasgow.


As usual I did my best to blend in, something many of the locals forgot to do.


The castle in Edinburgh.


The William Walace monument. I walked the 2 miles out to it and then climbed my way to the top, for the greatest views of Stirling.


A bit windy and rainy at the top but thats half the fun (trying not to fall off).


Braveheart says it all "Freedom Baby"

Glasgow

On day three we explored Glasgow. I took of on my own and walked the entire city, was a long walk but did get to see it all. (and now you can too.)

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. This was one of the nicest museums I have been to. Lots of animals (kids would enjoy).


People's Palace & Winter Garden (the front is a museum and the back is a large green house)


City Chambers Down at George Square many old and exocitic buildings in this area.


Glasgo Cathedral (got the grand tour of inside by little old lady)

University of Glasgow

Koln, Munich, & Dachau

Along with our eurorail (train) pass to Paris we also had 2 more days of travel on it, with these days we took some day trips to Koln and also Munchin/ Dachau (concentration camp from WWII).


Kari outside the Koln Cathedral.


Kari on a bridge, in Koln, with their churches behind her.


The high speed trains that we took. (this is just a bit over 180 MPH)


The sign as you enter Dachau "hard work makes you free"


The ovens at Dachau.

End of the year /Christmas break

A couple of pics from the New Years eve, and some from the holiday break. On the break we took the kids to Leo's speil platz, an indoor fun house (its an old factory that has been converted into trampolin's, and big jumping blow up things. Its great fun for the kids but would be shut down in less than a minute in America for code violations.


New years eve dance party.


At midnight here all the neighbors gather at the end of the alley to light off fireworks. (big ones) like every other alley in town. It is the greatest display one can ever see. Every person (a wee bit intoxicated by this point) in the town throwing these things in the air, off balconies, every where. Kids and adults love it, the dog doesn't.


Kids get down at leo's.


Austin enjoys the ball pit.


Alex and her friend Lisa inside one of the jumping inflatable things. Both the older kids brought a friend.

Christmas

Have to throw in a couple of pics from this years Christmas activities. Alex sang in the kids group at the english church this year and both the older kids were in a small church play.



Alex and Anton on Christmas day.


The kids helping to make Christmas cookies this year.


Alex was a Angel this year.


And Anton was a cow.


The kids with the Welch's (our next door neighbors).

More Christmas

Kari finds the greatest gift she ever received under our tree.


Austin gets some help opening his gifts.


Ale with her brand new jewelry box.


Daddy gets a windfall this year. (because he has been so darn good).


Anton with his helix sword, he didn't like the soft packages because they only had clothing in them.

Bye-Bye Lumi

Due to the Armys policy of need outways ability, I took on a new role (or back to an old role) of child raising. Seeing how there was no need for two people to do the same job our family was forced to downsize, and our nanny Luminita left us. Would have loved to keep her forever but she still wanted to be paid. So a couple of shots of her with the kids. Hope she see's this one because these are for her, and maybe Uncle Dave.


Kicked back on the rocker.


Lumi with the kids at our "LAST SUPPER".


Check out that great food.


Lumi, Austin, & Alex get down at the Brewery (yep Germany started that brew pub thing only about 2000 years ago, glad to see the states are catching on)

Barcelona

Ok its been some time now but computor is about half up. So will try to post half the time. This day will take us back to 2nd week in Dec when the family traveled to Barcelona Spain. Hope to have these coming quickly over the next couple of weeks.


Kari and the kids in Barcelona.


Kids find a friend down on the Las Ramblas (main shopping street with vendors, shops, and guys like this)


Alex, Anton and big daddy down by the sea.


a shot of the Sagrada Familia. The two older kids and my self went up to the top and outside on a bridge there.


Kids having fun in the Ocean a bit cold but hey there kids.