We are just under 4 weeks until we return to Canada. It has gone by way too fast. Things are starting to wind down here. Robb is officially on his last week of work. Peyton only has one ballet class left here before the summer break. She will miss this a lot. I will miss it too. We usually walk down, stop at a bakery, get a treat, meet up with friends who are taking the ballet class as well. We have started to have to say goodbye to some other friends we have gotten to know here that are returning home to the States. Now we will have some new road trips in order. Saying goodbye is never fun, but we are very thankful for the friendships we have made and know they will last a lifetime.
The past month has been hot on and off, which is nice when we live in Kamloops with a dry heat and air conditioned house, but not so nice when it's over 30 degrees in the apartment. Even shopping is crazy when it is so hot and a lot of stores do not have air conditioning. We have been enjoying the beginnings of summer and getting out to the pool, some water parks, and lots of bbqs and time with friends. Robb went away for another week with his class for a trip to Cologne. While he was gone the hot water system went and we lost hot water for 6 days. This was an added plus that it happened while he was away. We did make it through and came to appreciate not boiling water for baths for the girls.
Peyton turned 4 this month. She was very exited saying, "the best birthday ever!" We took the girls to their first movie in a theatre with our friends. Peyton loved it and Micah did fairly well too, though it was 3D and she didn't keep the glasses on, so maybe she now thinks movie theatres show blurry movies! Peyton and Micah both seem to be growing up so much week to week. Peyton is becoming a little more adventurous with all the activities we are doing lately. Micah seems to be speaking more each week and becoming more understandable, maybe she only needs me to translate for her part time now. Peyton is excited to be going home, but I think it will also be hard on her with the transition. For Micah, home will be completely new to her, because she won't have a vast memory from a year ago. Peyton is very excited to see Samson (our dog), she keeps telling me she will feed him every day and Micah will give him water.
In the middle of June we had a joint birthday party for the girls. We had it at Robb's school and just brought some food and drinks and let the kids play. It was really nice. Stacy, our friend, made amazing cupcakes that were incredible and decorated nice and girly for my girls who love pink. Normally, at home we don't do big birthdays (or didn't plan to until they were a little older), but since we have no family here, it was really special for the girls to celebrate with the friends and their families we have become close to.
In the beginning of June we took a trip to Prague with our friends Cujo, Sondra and their kids Caleb and Addison. On the way there, Micah threw up three times. She seemed really sick, then when we got closer to Prague we bought a muffin, she ate it like she was starving, downed some water and then started running around with the kids like nothing happened. So, I am not really sure what kind of two hour sickness she had:) Our hotel had a pool which we were really excited about, as this is a first for us in our Europe travels (besides Greece). Then we found we had to schedule a time slot to get to the pool and even better once we got in we were told the kids had to be quiet or we would get kicked out. It was awesome and the adults who were in the pool gave us the dirtiest looks ever. I can't believe that kids would splash around in a pool, it is unheard of and inexcusable;-) Overall, Prague is as beautiful as people say it is. We had a great time with our friends and enjoyed one of our last travels before we leave to go back home.
Brace yourselves for a lot of pictures, it has been awhile.
Peyton loving the tire swing.
Micah is also pretty thrilled.
Playing some soccer in the afternoon.
Making friends with the swan, that was growling at us.
Feeding the two swans.
Sister loving.
On the island across from Biebrich with our friends. The beach was more like a swamp:-)
Group swinging.
Taking the boat back.
Grocery shopping and possibly assaulting her sister. Also I think Robb bought a few extra items that were hidden in the cart that the girls added.
Peyton and Rylee before ballet.
This ballerina. Only one lesson left.
Playing in the park with their friends.
Prague. The girls were thrilled to have a pool to swim in. Also we weren't kicked out, just glared at.
Hot tubbing. Peyton now asks for a trampoline and a hot tub in the yard... What have we created???
Prague Old Town Square.
Old Town Square
Astronomical Clock.
Old Town Square.
Trdelník. SO good.
Charles Bridge
Group photo.
From our boat tour.
Peyton and Cujo on our boat tour.
Sondra and I.
Popsicles included on our boat tour.
Waving at people on another boat.
Pretty sure we didn't hear anything the tour guide was saying, so we eventually gave up and took pictures.
This was an adorable unsolicited moment.
Hiding from the rain and waiting for the bus.
The Prague Castle gardens.
Little miss poser.
Prague Castle
The kids
St. Vitus Cathedral located within the Prague castle.
Ha ha the woman taking this picture (not Sondra) told us to crouch down, so she could get a picture of the view, yet she still kept the camera low enough to show us doing it.
Peyton took this adorable photo.
View of Prague from the castle.
This little child walking the streets of Prague.
Literally 2 minutes before a crazy rain storm.
Everyone huddled under the bridge to stay dry.
I don't think I have ever been so soaked from the rain, I had to wring my clothes out.
National Museum Prague.
Wenceslas Monument
Wenceslas Square.
Dancing House.
Back at home. The girls like to paint in the park on Mondays.
Hannes reading the girls their bed time devotion.
Peyton said her stomach was upset, so Micah read to her.
The girls with Sarina and Josiah at their birthday party.
Getting to play in the bunny cage.
Peyton and Micah love visiting the bunnies, later Micah fell in that hole:)
Peyton and Jack making a campfire.
Look at these beauties.
Out for some Mexican food in Mainz on Father's Day with our friends Sam, Brooke and Jack.
The girls love getting to walk in the rain when they can use their umbrellas.
The proper way to eat ice cream.
Playing some badminton with Steffi.
The average Monday painting day.
Teaching our friends to celebrate Canada Day.
Being very patriotic with our American friends.
The two princesses.
Trampoline time while being sprayed with the hose.
Peyton's 4th Birthday.
Minion time!
Getting to go to their first movie with Rylee. Micah kept those glasses on for ten minutes (which was actually impressive). Peyton loved it and immediately asked if she could watch it again when it was over.
Some more cupcakes.
Calvary Chapel Church Picnic.
Getting cooled off by Josiah.
Mainz Volkspark. Love this picture of Senta getting her little brother Mateo.
The "water slide" you have to pull yourself along for the whole way.
Celebrating Independence Day one day late, but look at those cupcakes.
A little bit of memory with Stacy and Malesa.
Tired out after a long, busy weekend.
Micah doesn't last in pools very long. Poor thing needs some more body fat.
Peyton super proud, and excited to be going down this slide by herself.
Peyton even asked to go down this slide, which is super unusual and brave of her.
This cross fitter.
Our friend Tracy and Vivian on their last day in Wiesbaden.
A day in Frankfurt is not complete without buying minion dresses.
Excited to eat at Chipotle again.
Frankfurt Palmengarten.
Walking around where the girls tried to touch every cactus and prickly bush. Perfect outing for children.
Playing in the water area at the Palmengarten.
Having a last dinner with our friends we met through ballet. Rey-Djin, Danny, Mia, and Tim.
Mia speaks German and Peyton speaks English, yet that doesn't stop them from having a great time together. We will miss this family!
Having Raclette for the first time... in the summer heat. It was delicious!
Summer Fest at Robb's school with Sarah.
