Random January Pics...

Mia and I went to Bamberg for part of the week - it snowed a few days - so pretty! (if you look close, you can see the snow flakes falling)

And the 3 kings were out blessing homes on Jan. 6th (adorable!)

It was so cold - even the river began to freeze a bit

Beautiful!

Our new Milk Station - open 24 hours - so cute!!!! ("Tankstelle is the word for gas station in German)

You bring your own container (or you can buy one there). You put in however much money that you would like, and the machine fills it up to that amount.

too easy!

And the cows are righ next o the farm stand, so you know it is fresh!

Adorable! And so nice that it is the honor system with the milk jugs, honey, jam etc. that they have for sale. They just have a little jar for your money to go in. You can see the barn in the back ground.

I brought my phone to take pictures on my run one morning in our city...

so pretty!

My rave run!  (Rave run is a column in Runner's world each Month that shows you cool runs throughout the world :-))

And I don't really post too much about Bailey, but she is really enjoying her Senior Year. She is away in Prague (Czech Republic) this week for the Model UN. She called us this morning to face time and said that the people on her committee are from Russia, Egypt, Turkey, Czech etc..  Very interesting to hear such different views of  our world problems! She is having a great time!   One more exciting thing - she finally got her License!!! She had to actually take 2 different exams (one to drive here in Germany). So many neat things happening this year for sure!!! We love you B!

And my upside down picture of  a part of Mia's homework :-). She came home yesterday asking if I knew what the word "keen" in English meant. I thought that was a funny word for 6th grade German kids to learn in English. They do such a good job with language! On a funny note, her friends all piled in to our house this morning to walk to school together. The funny thing is that Bryan and Camden were delayed 2 hours because of snow - but Mia still had a normal day, as the Germans never delay school. Such a different world!

And since I mentioned the other 2, I thought I'd mention this little guy as well! We left almost all of our old photos back in the U.S. in storage at Bryan's Parents' House. This was taken before digital (you remember way back in the day when we had film cameras that you had to get developed - yikes!). Anyway, this was one that Bryan sent to me when he was back in the U.S. with Bailey. Crazy to think that Camden was once this small (don't you love the bowl cut! Ha :-) I truly adore this guy who is now much taller than I am!!! 

England/ Scotland

We left for Enland and Scotland right after Christmas and spent a few days with my Brother and his family and then headed up to Edinburgh for a few days. It was such a fun time and miraculously, the weather was great! We survived driving the stick shift on the wrong side of the road - with roundabouts and all - so that was a huge plus! We have lots of pictures to bore you with :-)

Driving on the wrong side is sometimes a bit confusing!

I think that I have mentioned my love for Sheep. I was in absolute heaven in England and Scotland! Sheep are EVERYWHERE!!!

No border crossing check point - just a sign telling you that you are now in Scotland!

Our first stop to break up the trip to Edinburgh was Lockerbie. I had read on line that this truck stop served delicious scottish breakfasts! I had never in my life been to a truckstop - so it was pretty neat (and delicious too!)

Lockerbie is sadly known for the Lockerbie bombing, where an international flight headed to the U.S was bombed and the remnants fell over the village of Lockerbie. We went to the cemetary (Garden of Remembrance). Heatbreaking...

It was especially heartbreaking because there were so many fresh flowers and notes - it reminded you that these were real families (still dealing with the pain) and such horrible losses.

Sheep

sheep

and more sheep!

My heart was filled

with all of the sheep!

The little villages were adorable!

Edinburgh is such a cool city. They had a HUGE (bigger than I've ever seen) Christmas Market

The Balmoral Hotel

Everything was beautifully lit up for Christmas!

The tram was so easy and convenient to use!

The famous Edinburgh Castle

sits perfectly up on the hill!

The Royal Mile runs from the Castle to the Queens House (called Holyrood)

It was so neat to see everything written in English!!! I forget how convenient that is :-)

We went to the Museum of Scotland and the top had a beautiful view of the castle...

Looking from the Old City over to the New City

This picture made us laugh!!!

My brother gave us a giftcard to a restaurant that he recomended. It was delicious and had the best view of the city (althoughthe picture doesn't quite do it justice) . Bryan had to try the Guiness :-)

World'sEnd Close :-)

This is the Queens house when she comes to Scotland (Holyrood - The Buckingham Palace of the North). Not a bad place to stay!

We climbed up to "Arthur's Seat" - it had the BEST views of Edinburgh!!! 

At the top - the lighting was so pretty!

we are so weird!

oh look! a few more sheep! :-)

My new favorite snack - Jammie Dodgers!!!

Bailey, Bryan, and Mia in front of the famous GreyFriars Bobby statue - He was the little dog that sat by his owners grave for so many years (there was a Disney Movie made after him)

 

Bailey in front of the Queens' House

I Love these 4!

 

So pretty at night with everything lit up!

I thought this looked like Disney with fireworks - but it is just a fair ride all lit up!

In front of the castle

We walked the whole mile!

This is really neat...

This is the little cafe where JK Rowling used to go when she was writing Harry Potter. Legend was that she couldn't afford to turn up her heat during the day, so she came hear and had a coffee as she wrote...

Bryan made me pose for this - (because of my love for sheep) This was the famous Dolly (or so they  say)

Mia in a space costume at the museum!

St. Giles - the Mother Church of Presbyterianism

Arthur's Seat

Gorgeous sunset!

This picture makes me laugh!!!! Yes - we are relaly weird! 

And we spent our last night at my Brothers' at a traditional English Pub - such a fun week!!!