Girl's Visit

Well, it has almost been a week since my mom, sister and sweet niece left. Figure it's time to blog it. We had so much fun together but the week after has been . . . well, let's just say life. Wanna list? Here you go: found out I have a deviated septum (not devious but close) and need surgery, 2 simultaneous car problems (this was the one thing I seriously hoped I would not have to deal with and look . . . 2!!), sick kids, and here is the kicker: I lost ALL, and when I say ALL, let me just explain: ALL my pictures from my computer. EVERYTHING SINCE I WENT DIGITAL. It took a couple of clicks to loose them and hours piled upon more hours piled upon even more hours to recover them. But recover, I did, and in the process experienced a steep learning curve about the dastardly thing we love and can't live without, computers, hard drives, backup etc etc.

And while I spent those many hours recovering photos, the girls had free reign of all entertainment avenues within their reach. So after watching 101 Dalmations, not the animated one, the one with the devil called Glenn Close, I spent 3 hours consoling McKenna due to terrible nightmares about Cruella De Vil. She was soaked through her PJ's and her pillow completely wet with tears. Now tonight, I've just finished tucking McKenna into bed and I think she has strep throat. BRING. IT. ON.

I asked that I would become more independent, responsible, smarter, a full grown adult who can "do it" while Mark is away. Now please stop, lesson learned, give me peace for the rest of the time. Peace is on her way, mind you, in the form of a good friend named Bree. She is boarding a plan in 2 days and will bring fun, laughter in her sweetest, enduring, most unique AND thankfully addicting form. A shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen. Just what the dr ordered.

So, forgive me if I don't detail the girl's visit in too much detail. Really, the pictures speak for themselves. Go to my sister's blog to see her take on it, she has some great shots. We had a great time and I now think that Rothenburg ob.d. Tauber is my new favorite German village. It is exquisite in detail and personality, and you just feel you stepped back into medieval times, waiting to see knights on horses come out from every alleyway. Well, that is when you don't see cars, motorcycles, and people with digital camera's and cell phones all around you. The wall around the city is intact and you are able to walk around the whole city on the wall, looking down upon the city and the landscape outside. That alone was the kicker for me, oh, and the nightwatchman tour. Definitely a must. This Christmas, Mark is taking me there for their Christmas Market, he just doesn't know it yet. Poor guy, I'm just here to plan his life for him.

In the opening picture the girls are eating Schneeballs which translate to snowballs. Basically what Rothenburg is known for, although I did not find this treat something to write home about, so that is that. They are cute to look at but leave you begging for satisfaction, or at least a big glass of milk to choke it down with.

Here are the girls walking the wall of the city:

Our nightwatchman!

Here is a little funny side note to our trip. One day we ventured into Pirmasens and stopped at the WAWI Schokolade Factory (chocolate) and as we perused their goodies I ran across this sign and it made me laugh out loud.

The bags are full of broken chocolate bunnies. What does this mean? It must be important, afterall they added TWO exclamation points at the end!! Am I going there if I eat it? Will I feel like I'm there if I eat it because of the future tummy ache sure to follow? Do the bad children get these? Now that I'm back home with my trusty German dictionary, the meaning is a little vague. It either means "light in color" or "not worth a (red) cent". It was broken chocolate bunnies but still for 5 EURO?! It is printed in red though =) My definition of a red cent is nada, nilch, nothing. Hum . . . .

It is late, the big ridiculous bed is calling out to me . . . as well as the stack of books retrieved from the library because I think I'm in for it over the next few days with McKenna. Wish me luck . . .