Bastogne, the Battle of the Bulge, and a bit of Hee-Haw

I know this is going to sound cliche, but I am going to say it anyway.  Being here really makes the pages in our history books come to life.  I had a very good teacher in high school who really got me interested in history, and more importantly, helped me to see that it was part of my history.  Being here in Germany and the surrounding countries where some of this took place is both surreal and sobering. 

This past weekend we drove to Bastogne, Belgium.  This is where The Battle of the Bulge took place, the largest and bloodiest battle fought in World War II.  We put this on our list of must-sees after hearing about foxholes left from the war.  Upon further research, the foxholes are most likely from re-enactments, but nonetheless, it was still awesome to stand on the grounds where there once were the foxholes used to protect our troops both from the enemies and also from the harsh weather. 

We had lunch at the Mardasson Monument, shaped like a 5-pointed star.  We then stopped at a donkey farm.  Here a company uses donkey milk to make lotions and soaps, which are good for certain skin conditions, such as eczema.  I didn't try any, but they did smell really good.  Next, we quickly walked through a small museum which has articles from both WWI and WWII for purchase. We spent the rest of the day strolling through the streets eating Belgium chocolates, pastries, and fries.  Did you know that "french fries" actually originated in Belgium?

God Bless,

Staci

Mountians, Monkeys...and a Glass of Milk, Please

You may have noticed we have been traveling a little more.  With Avree finally a little easier to travel with, we are trying to make the most of our time here.  There is still so much to see...
This was my first time in France.  Our destination: Monkey Mountain.  La Montagne des Singes, or "Monkey Mountain," is home to 300 Barbary Macaques from all around the world.  You can see the monkeys in their natural environment doing monkey things: grooming each other, playing around, swinging in the trees, and eating.  I especially enjoyed watching the mommas taking care of their babies.  At the time of our visit there were 16 baby Barbary Macaques.  They were so tiny and cute!  Upon entrance you are given a handful of popcorn to offer to the monkeys as a snack.  As you wander down the path, the monkeys will come and sit on the railing, waiting for a little treat.  Natalie got tickled at them eating out of her palm, and Avree enjoyed watching the movement. 







 



With still a little time to kill, we stumbled upon a gingerbread museum.  We weren't actually sure what there was too see, but it looked like a sweet shop and we wanted to check it out!  The company, Fortwenger, has been making gingerbread since 1768.  The Gingerbread Man took us through an interactive trail where we discovered his history, recipes, traditions, as well as a possibility too see the production in action.  We got there shortly before closing, but if in the area again, we will indeed check it out!  And of course, we got a little snack for the road. 

Suagr & Spice & Everything Nice,
God Bless,
Staci

It's Good to See a Familiar Face

I am a little late on this blog, but I still want to share about our trip with the grandparents.  I want to start off by saying how nice it is to be around family, or just to see any familiar face for that matter.  The hardest part of being in the military, for me, is being away from family.  I grew up in a close-knit family, and it hurts me when I think about my children growing up without their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  I know they are experiencing many other great things, but this is the sacrifice.  Skype is wonderful, but it just doesn't cut it.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival

We greeted Ben's parents at the airport in Frankfurt.  The girls and I made a sign to welcome them, which turned out really cute!  We took short trips the first few days so they had a chance to get over the jetlag.  Our first outing was to the Heidelberg castle, which we have been to many times before.  This time though, we paid to take the tour.  It was worth it because the tour guide took us to parts of the castle only accessible via the tour.  We then went to Triberg, a city in the Black Forest region.  We visited a cuckoo clock museum, hiked to the waterfall, and wandered in a few shops.

Triberg, Germany

Our first overnight trip was to Berlin.  Berlin is a city rich in history.  We caught a glimpse of all the frequently visited sites, and then toured an underground bunker left from the war.  Avree was not very cooperative for this part, but I was fascinated by the part that I heard.  Do you know they are still finding and disarming bombs today?

We detoured from our original plans to go to Normandy, and instead explored a little of Austria.  We stayed in Garmisch, Germany a few nights and took Byron & Patti to see Neuschwanstein Castle and Dachau Concentration Camp.  On from there, we drove to Berchtesgaden to check out the Eagle's Nest.  Unless you take the guided tour, there isn't much to see other than a cafe and a magnificent view.

View from our balcony in Salzburg

 We ended the trip with a short stay in Salzburg, Austria, home to Mozart and also the setting for the film "The Sound of music."  It was a lovely city, with a castle overlooking the town on a river. 
A few other cities we visited during their stay were Worms, Mannheim (Lusienpark), and Frankfurt-Hans Airport (Patti lived around here as a child).

We spent many hours in the car, ate more pastries than we should have, took enough photos to fill a scrapbook, and made memories of a lifetime.  It was so great for Natalie and Avree to have this special time with their grandparents.  Although the time went by way too fast, we are so thankful for the opportunity to have traveled  Europe all together.

Picnic at Luisen Park, Mannheim