Happy Pi Day

In honor of PI day, Ivan made a delicious pumpkin pie and Emily calculated the area of the pie which was 63.6 inches, the circumference was 28.3 inches, and the diameter was 9 inches.

Hope you all had a delicious Pi today ;o)

Doll Dilemma

In nursery class there are 3 wonderful little girls and they all love dolls (yeah!).  Unfortunately, in our nursery, there were only two dolls.  This was a problem that needed a quick remedy.  I went on a shopping spree during the week to a second hand store in Wiesbaden.  Sadly, we (me, Emily, and Ivan) arrived about 15 minutes before closing time.  We had to spring into action!

Emily was the one that found exactly what was needed (she is just like her father that way...when it comes to thrift store shopping she has the knack).  Also, I must admit that the Lord was looking out for his dear little sisters in nursery, too.  

The dolls cost $1 each (wow!).  I didn't have time to carefully shop the infant clothes section, so I grabbed 3 outfits while the bell started ringing to get all customers out of the shop.

When we got home I dressed the dolls in the clothes and they were way too big (sigh).  Let's just say that between Jay and I and staying up very late Saturday night we altered the doll's clothes to be (sort of) the right size.  If you look close enough you will see how horrible the sewing and cutting jobs are, but from afar (and in the girl's arms) everything is just right :o)

Here we are on our way to church.  (How many people can say they get to play with dolls at church?)

Washing Machine Mayhem

If you were to ask me what my profession is, I would say that I am a domestic goddess.  I heard someone say that once.  I liked the sound of it, but, in reality, the title doesn't fit.

Normally, I do fine in my domestic chores realm, but once in awhile things go haywire and I am prone for many sad moments of making more work for myself.  Why, for instance, would I put tons of soap in a washing machine?   I dunno.  To get all the dirt out I suppose....

2015 Valentine Dance for Frankfurt Stake Youth

Our stake had a very fun Valentine's Day Dance for the young men and women this year.  The young women of our ward planned the decorations and brought all the food to share (with a little help from their families, of course :o)

Me, Emily and Ivan went a little early to help decorate.  There was much to do and lots of nice decorations to hang up.  It took a lot of helping hands.  In the end I'd say it turned out awesome!

Here are some pictures from the event:

A fun message wall for the kids to write on.

Here are some of the countries represented at the dance.

busily writing their hearts out...ha ha

Take a look at the wonderful decorations :o)

Guess who.....?

Frankfurt youth group

what a fun "photo-booth"

So many masks and so little time!!!!

The whole enchilada! Frankfurt, Darmstadt, and Offenbach youth.

One last heartfelt thought to write down....

London Trip: Part 17, The End (going home on the ferry)

Here we are at our adventure's end (well, almost...we are getting back on a ferry with our car and floating to France - that's a bit adventurous!)...

Have you ever heard of the cliffs of Dover?  We got to see them.

There they are behind Jay and the kids.

From the ferry window we get a better view of them.

What do you do on a two hour ferry ride? You read....

you play on your ipod...

you gaze out the windows....

you look around at what other people do for fun on the ferry....

and you look forward to breakfast the next day in your own home.  Here we have what we ate almost every morning in the London hotels...fried eggs, cooked mushrooms, baked tomatoes...it is only missing the baked beans (yes, you read that right, baked beans).  The toast with peanut butter and banana is not a London idea...it just sounded good :o)

London Trip: Part 16, Our Last Day in London

This is our very last day to tour and see the sights of London.  Sadly, Ivan woke up sick this morning (January 1) and so, he stayed in bed and Emily and her dad finished up our vaca for us.

Ivan was feeling better towards the evening so later we joined them and had a rushed time at the well-spoken-of science museum where we found The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel just across from it.  We visited both...in a hurry.

After all the rushing...we had a slowed-down relaxed meal in a very lovely restaurant that caught our attention by the sign outside that said, "homemade meals."  It was our last hope for taste testing real British cuisine.  I hope you enjoy the pictures....

Yes, you are right, it is Buckingham Palace in the background.

more of the Palace...

zoomed-in on a palace guard, but he isn't wearing the usual bright red uniform...gray, blah.

 

I spy a great big clock!

It's Big Ben...oh, wow, hello Big Ben :o)

and a very colorful parade...

it keeps going...a New Year Day's parade (how fun!).

This looks like an important building....is it???

Well, this looks like Westminster Abbey where many famous people are buried (like Charles Dickens and if I remember right, C.S. Lewis).

nice kitty hanging on Westminster Abbey's facade

A distant peek at the London Eye.

They launched the fireworks from near the London Eye last night.  It would have been very spectacular...especially the reflection in the water.

swans seem to be the bird dejour...I guess all the geese are...ummm...well, maybe they were special "guests" at all the Christmas dinners in London.  That is certainly what Charles D. led me to believe.

It is nice to meet your acquaintance Mr. Sherlock Holmes.  I'd like to ask you if you approve of Mr. Cumber...(what's his name)'s depiction of you in the newest TV series?

Well, yes, I agree he also makes a handsome dragon.

It seems to be our lot in life to forever be gazing in windows, but never entering, but you can see she is not daunted in the least.  Sometimes close is good enough!

Why is there always perfect access to souvenir shops?  I must admit that sometimes they are just as interesting as the museums themselves.  

Again, close will have to do...it is closed today.  I don't blame them...we all stayed out late last night, didn't we?

Thankfully, these welcoming windows will always let you in (when they are lit-up) no need to stand in a long line (although I'm sure there are two sister missionaries in there right now who would say they wouldn't mind a line...or two...of beautiful souls to let in :o)

Across from the chapel is the most amazing Science Museum! if only we had come earlier, rats!  I guess our vaca is unraveling a bit here at the end.  Not to complain, though.  We have sure enjoyed it immensly just the same!

Ice skating is allowed in the evenings here....

and so is standing next to red telephone booths...

as is sitting in cosy restaurants that make "homemade" food.

Tea for two...tired people (well, one looks kind of rested).

This, my dear ones, is authentic vension meat pie the British way.  Did Ivan like it?  I'd have to say, "meh."

make that two venison meat pies...and one tired Dad...

I had roasted veggies with pork shoulder and Yorkshire Pudding (which is really just a extremely fluffy, airy (empty insidey) hunk of a "dinner" roll type of a thing.  I've always wanted to try Yorkshire pudding.  It was definitely, meh, but everything else was yummo!

Emily scored with a itty, bitty tub of yummy breads to go with her pumkin soup.  Good choice, Emmy.

To end our exquisite British dinner and our last evening in London, a bread pudding with vanilla sauce...

look quick ... it's gonna be gone in a second for being shared amongst four people...