Germany part 2

After enjoying our time in the Alps we headed to Spangdahlem Air Base where we stayed for a few days enjoying some castles and seeing Trier. It was such a beautiful area I could have just driven around for days if it weren't for 4 kiddos who get sick of the car and gas being so expensive...

Remi Alissa and Broden at the castle

Alissa Posing

Chris, Remi, Blake, Parker and Broden

Grandpa Jones showing Remi, Parker, Alissa and Broden the wild strawberries

Blake posing for his picture

Like father like son, K.C. and Blake

Looking from one castle to the other

The families who lived in these 2 castles were enemies. The castles were separated by a valley between them.

Blake, Broden, K.C. and Chris

Alissa checking things out

K.C. and Chris The view from the top

Jones Family
Alissa, Blake, Parker
Broden and Remi

Broden and Alissa looking at the Castle replica carved out of stone

Mandersheid Castle

Our handsome Broden

Mandersheid Castle from far away

Both Castles

We enjoyed an afternoon in Trier, the oldest city in Germany. We followed Rick Steve's walking tour around the city and had tons of fun.

Our kids have never seen the mimes before on the sidewalks, so they were intrigued. Blake had Remi drop a coin in the bag and it scared her when he moved. She did shake his hand though. Broden refused to drop a coin in the bag at first. Finally we convinced him to do it, but he ran away as fast as he could as soon as he dropped the coin. Pretty funny for a boy who isn't afraid of things.

Trier

Alissa, Chris and Broden looking at the mime

Remi shaking his hand

Broden running for his life as Remi, Blake and Alissa watch

Parker waving "bye"

Blake and K.C. figuring out where to go

This is the oldest Christian church in Germany. It used to be huge! I thought it was huge.

 I took Remi and Alissa inside this church and we had a lot of fun. Remi was really intrigued by everything. We talked about how it used to be way bigger and about how big some of the stones were and how they moved them. Then we talked about how everything was carved out of stone. She remembered how hard it was to carve her dinosaur out of wood and thought this was amazing. She enjoyed taking pictured of different things. Then we headed upstairs and she saw a picture of "the nail that held Christ on the cross" and the "box that held the Holy Robe of Christ."

It is amazing how a little bit of knowledge makes things so much more interesting, especially for kids. We have been in dozens of different amazing churches, but because we took the time to explain things to Remi before and inside the church she loved it! We will have to do this more often when we travel.

This man is holding something that looks very similar to the Kirtland Temple

Market Square

This was awesome! It totally looked like he was sitting in the air.  The kids loved it!

Porta Nigra

Alissa, Broden and Remi on the Porta Nigra

Our beautiful Remi

Broden, Blake
Parker, Remi and Alissa

Jenny

Outside the Roman Baths

Outside the Roman Baths
Almost looked like a mini Coliseum 

Parker playing in the fountain

 It was a warm day and after a few hours the kids were done sight seeing, so we stopped at this fountain and let them play.

Parker

Remi

Broden and Remi

Parker chasing the leaf he threw in the water

Parker climbing in to chase the leaf he threw in

Blake's dinner at German restaurant 

K.C.'s dinner at German restaurant

 K.C. and Chris headed on a train from Germany to Paris and we headed home via Belgium, France and a Ferry to Dover. We thought the Ferry would be a fun experience for kids, but decided it is worth it to pay a little extra to take the Chunnel and get where you are going faster. Remi and Blake both were looking a little green about half way through the bumpy trip.

We arrived at the port early, not knowing the process. So we got there about 1:30 and our boat was supposed to depart at 3:30, but it was late, so we didn't leave until about 4. Then we got to the other side about 7 or 7:30 I think, so it was about a 6 hour process. 12 hours to get from Spangdahlem to our house. It was only 7 hours to get from our house to Spangdahlem when we took the chunnel and no one got sick:) The kids did have fun though, and we enjoyed feeding the birds and seeing the White Cliffs of Dover when we were coming into the port in England.

Cliffs of Dover from the Ferry

Watching the birds dive for bread

We absolutely loved visiting Germany! It is beautiful there. We only went to one big city, so in our minds Germany is rolling hills, trees, small villages, mountains, lakes, clear rivers and castles. Perfect! I guess I'm just a country girl and not a city girl.