Mom and Dad’s Visit to Germany

I know, I never finished writing about Amy and Chris’ trip here… or even Dan, Sarah, Scott and Elisha’s trip back in May… and I can tell you for a fact that I’m not going to even come close to finishing writing about my Mom and Dad’s trip before Chris and I take off again so I thought I’d start with a brief overview.  Whenever I get a chance, I’ll post and share pictures of specific days. 

It was so wonderful to have them here.   We had the most fabulous weather.  It was amazing.

They loved seeing the kids.  They loved seeing our house.  They loved walking in the fields.  They loved Heidelberg.   They loved all the daytrips.  And I loved showing them all of it.  

Wednesday, September 21st

• Chris picked them up from the airport at 6:20am and brought them home.
• We toured the house, at breakfast and then they slept for 3 hours.
• Drove to the Schwetzingen Palace to walk around the gardens (15 minute drive)
• Home for Tortilla Guacamole soup for dinner and an evening walk through the fields.

Thursday, September 22nd

• Mom, Dad, Luke, Matthew and I headed downtown Heidelberg.  (30 minute drive)
• We climbed up to the castle.  Walked down the Haupstrasse.  Went across the Old Bridge.
• Went through the Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas store.  Ate crusty sandwiches.
• Saw the Great Hall in the Heidelberg University and checked out the student prison.
• Went up to the Monastery Ruins and Hitler's Amphitheater.
• Home for dinner.

Friday, September 23rd

• Mom, Dad, Luke, Matthew and I headed down to Munich (3.5 hour drive)
• We toured the BMW museum.  Dad got into the factory tour and loved it!
• Mom, Luke, Matthew and I walked through the Olympic Park.  We took a train ride.  We fed the ducks.
• We drove to our Munich apartment.  Chris and the other kids met us there after being stuck in a stau.

Saturday, September 24th

• We drove into downtown Munich and explored the city – right in the middle of Oktoberfest!
• Chris, Mom and I (although most of the time I was sleeping) watched the BYU football game.

Sunday, September 25th

• We went to church in South Munich.
• Drove to and walked around Oberammergau.
• Drove to and toured the Linderhoff Palace.
• Drove to the Eidelweiss Military Lodge and Resort… checked in and had a buffet dinner.

Monday, September 26th

• Went up the tram to the Alpspitze.  Trammed down to a lower peak and went on a beautiful hike.
• Drove to the Neuschwanstein Castle.  (45 minute drive)  Up to Mary’s Bridge.  Chris and the kids drove home.
• Mom, Dad and I stayed to tour the castle and then drove to Fussen to walk around and get gelato. 
• Drove back to St. Leon (3 hour drive)

Tuesday, September 27th

• Kids off to school.  Relaxed.  Did Laundry.
• Went to the Mannheim Mall to go shopping. (30 minute drive)
• Went to the Ludwigsburg Palace Pumpkin Festival.  (one hour drive)
• Introduced Grandma and Grandpa to ‘How to Train a Dragon’ on the way there and “Despicable Me” on the way back.

Wednesday, September 28th

• Chris dropped off my Dad downtown Heidelberg on his way to work.
• Mom and I did some grocery shopping.
• We attempted an afternoon day trip but I forgot to unlock the house for the kids so we had to turn around and head back.
• Instead we got reservations for our favorite German restaurant and went on a double date.  No kids.
• Wandered on the Old Bridge after dark.

Thursday, September 29th

• Mom, Dad, Luke, Matthew and I spent the day in Rothenberg.
• Home for dinner… homemade pizzas.  Watched a movie after the little kids were in bed.

Friday, September 30th

• Got a babysitter for the little boys.  Mom, Dad and I explored Burg Eltz.  (2 hour drive)
• Also explored Burg Thurant. 
• Drove home and went to Globus, one of our favorite stores, to buy German chocolates and shop.

Saturday, October 1st

• At 8:00am Dad, Chris, Ryan, Katie, Emily, Megan and I went to clean the church.
• At 10:30am we went and watched Ryan’s soccer game.  Ryan scored a goal.
• Home for Quesadilla’s for lunch.
• Family party watching the BYU game! (taped from the night before)
• Relaxed, organized and packed.
• Pasta and homemade Alfredo sauce for dinner.
• 6:00 pm watched the Saturday morning General Conference Session with packets and treats.

Sunday, October 2nd

• Big Sunday morning breakfast.
• 11:00am – Dad, Chris and Ryan went to the church for Priesthood Session of General Conference.
• 2:00pm – watched the Saturday afternoon General Conference Session.
• 6:00pm – watched the Sunday morning General Conference Session.
• Finalized packing for London trip.

Monday, October 3rd

• Dad, Mom, Chris, Ryan, Katie and I flew on RyanAir to London.
• Took a train and the tube to our apartment.
• Wandered through town seeing Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings.
• Toured the Westminster Abbey.
• Ate at a great London restaurant.
• Went to Wicked.

Tuesday, October 4th

• Took a double decker bus to Trafalgar Square.  Went through the National Art Gallery.
• Went through the British Museum.
• Took the tube to the Natural History Museum and the V&A Museum.
• Ate the most delicious crepes we’ve ever eaten at a nearby creperie.
• Went to Les Mis.

Wednesday, October 5th

• Took the tube to the Tower of London.  Saw the crown jewels and went on a Beefeaters tour.
• Had fish and chips. 
• Tubed back to the Imperial War Museum.
• Went up on the London Eye.
• Traveled back to the creperie for a second time!
• Relaxed at the apartment, packed and said goodbye.

Thursday, October 6th

• Chris, Ryan, Katie and I woke up at 3:30am   Taxied to the Liverpool Train station.  Trained to the Airport.  Flew home.  Drove back to the house.  Took Ryan and Katie to the second half of school.  Went grocery shopping.
• Mom and Dad taxied to a different train station and trained to a different airport and flew back to Vancouver.