Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas 2011

 Helen arrives in Stuttgart.  Let the party begin!







 
 
  Helen ventures into the city - a familiar scene

 Her first glimpse of our new shopping "mall"



 John begins the task of attaching wood for the tree stand



 Hey Steve, This is for you - superior German quality screws!  Wenn schon, denn schon!









 New LED tree lights


 The master at work



The apprentices at work





 The Christmas Eve service - our orchestra!!  (Rebekka, with the violin, is also an angel in the skit, thus the elaborate outfit.)


 The play with Susanne and Dietmar as Mary and Joseph; they made a very cute, sweet couple!!


 A bearded Joel as the innkeeper; his sister Caren is the little angel

 Super spread!


 
 
 

 

 Steffi's new addition to our traditional meal - cherry pie!!

 The little old man and the little old woman - very happy and blessed!!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FREYA!!! Our favorite 34 year old child!



 
 Our first baby to be born in Germany - rather dramatic in almost every way!

Grammy visited us between Christmas and New Year's.  In addition to presents, she even brought the traditional Christmas feast - ham, Greek bread, cookies, etc. (not nearly so many airline/agricultural restrictions "back in the day")!


 Monica watching over her baby sister, who is asleep in a cradle that Grampy made.



 Taking Freya with us to a European field conference in France.  (Also, "back in the day" - where are the safety seats?)


 Freya's first birthday



 Even as a child Freya was looking for apples to process.



 I love music!

 Who is this new little guy?

 I love Legos!

 My first summer in the USA - corn on the cob!

At Grammy and Grampy's - the great suppliers of OshKosh jeans!

Freya with her own version of Corduroy



 Having fun on the balcony of our apartment in Leinfelden


Summer 1981

November 1981 - the St. Martin's (Lantern) "parade"

Hmmm?????

 

Celebrating her birthday at the kindergarten 



 On the cliff of SolutrĂ© in France


 First day of school - first grade



7 years old!

 
9 years old!

4th grade school photo


In the airport on our way to the U.S., with Pia (who shares Freya's birthday) and with Helen

Freya's "space" has always been creative!!