The longest photo post ever!

We have been pretty busy the last few months.  We made it home for Christmas and I stayed out for a few extra weeks when M had to get back to work.  We were so blessed to have spent a month with grandparents, siblings and cousins!  Enjoy some highlights of our recent comings and goings!

 Super excited about the baby doll Aunty Liz got her for Christmas.

Enjoying a nice long foot rub from Papa. 

Afternoon at the park.  

The containment of sheer joy is not possible while swinging.  

Church with Nana and Papa. 

Then we flew to Baltimore with Grandma to wait for a space-a flight home. 

Chillin' with some snacks.  In our own seats.  No big deal.  

We took really awesome naps at the hotel. 

We love naps. 

Grandma took us to a museum in downtown Baltimore. 

Too many things to touch.  

We ran around like maniacs.  

And we slept REALLY well that night. 

Bug loving some special Daddy time (dang, my husband is a hottie). 

My grandfather passed away 3 weeks after we got back to Germany.  The girls and I went home for the funeral, unfortunately my hard working husband couldn't be with us (you were missed baby).  It hurts losing someone you love but its so amazing knowing he is with Christ now.  It was a time if mourning, great celebration and family reunion.

A ridiculous number of babies and toddlers. 

Kickin' it with cousin North at Nana and Papa's. 

California sun, its so bright, good thing Bell has her shades on. 

Eating lunch on our Yosemite day trip.

Bug learning some valuable facts about Yosemite Village. 

Bell- future hiker 

"No time for pictures mommy, I have things to do."

True naturals at this outdoorsy stuff. 

Bug and Bell

Bug eating mud.....

Bell throwing sand....

Of course they smile for a pic with Nana. 

Bell and Papa. 

What an emotional roller coster flying space-A is!  We have been trying most of the week to catch a flight out of here, but just as I've heard many people talk about, its not going very well.  I'm too drained to go into all of it, but this morning we thought we had a good chance of getting on a flight to BWI.  We had been calling and checking the flight status since they posted it, and there were 160 seats.  When the plane landed, they actually only had 19 available seats and we were just under the cut off line.  Literally, if any seats opened up, we were next.  So after 3 hrs of sitting in the terminal we packed up the car again and headed home.  I'm trying not to be angry about it, but the thought of not seeing our families for another year (next Christmas) is a little tough to swallow.  The next flight is when the real space-A Christmas rush starts, so I guess we'll see how that one goes.

Thanksgiving a day late

I am blown away how amazing this thanksgiving was, the Lord really blessed us (me especially) this year.  The day before Thanksgiving M called home and said that he would have to work Thanksgiving day.  It didn't surprise me but it was irritating since I had just spent a bundle at the store getting everything we needed for dinner.  But thats life.  Anyways, I was so thankful to have people who invited the girls and I over for dinner so we didn't have to spend the holiday alone.  We had a great time, absolutely delicious food and the girls had so much fun playing with a new little playmate.  Then we got to skype with Nana, Papa (my parents) and my sister's family.

So today M and I did our big dinner.  It was actually really nice, there was no pressure- I woke up with the girls and started cooking while they played in the kitchen.  Whatever got done, got done, whatever didn't, didn't, no worries.  But everything did get done, we even had time for a little walk around the neighborhood.

The girls are still on the fence about Thanksgiving food.  The only thing they would eat was turkey, hawaiian rolls and bananas covered in whipped cream.  Anytime we would hold something out to S, she would start squirming and spitting like we were trying to poison the poor child.  Oh well, at least I give them vitamins I guess.

Bug

 Belly

Then we had a little play time after dinner and skyped with Grandpa and Grandma (M's parents).

And I had some leftover time to make some pies, pumpkin and my Great Grandmother's chocolate pie. My absolute favorite :)

  

Castles and chocolate syrup baths

Are you people ready for an explosion of super adorable baby twin pictures?  You should be, because its happening right now.

A friend of mine offered to watch the girls for an afternoon so M and I went to a castle that is just above Landstuhl.  Originally built in 1162, it was pretty cool for the first castle I've been to.

Our chocolate syrup bath

 Susan, less interested in finger painting, more interested in licking her fingers clean.