Lazy days of a german summer - and nick's big announcement

We have enjoyed a great week of 'getting back in the swing of things' The sun is out and the pool is open!Nick LOVED the trampoline - we jumped for quite a while until the lifegaurd informed me you have to 'pay to jump' . I thought I managed to translate ALL the signs - gotta miss one!
As they say crack kills =)

Ladies to lunch without kids!! Big stop - Ritter sport factory - check out those iced chocolates.


That night we biked to a little restaraunt in our town and they were launching a balloon. Nick was convinced if someone tied it to their wrist it wouldn't go so high!! That thing took off like a shot!

Lazy Sunday at Filderado - Nick got every last crum outta the Doritos bag - Yum!

Sunday night we took Chris's car and dropped it off at work. Gave us the oppurtunity to see what his daily commute looked like. Ah the traffic!


Just as Deakon predicted, the wheat turned brown!
Lets see - Highway or bike way.....

Forget grid lock - I want to bike!! No wonder he is in a better mood when he is biking to work!

This is Nick's big announcement - Yes - he pooped in the potty and scored a fork lift!! He has a dump truck, scraper, dozer, and bucket loader left to score - but this was his first official in the potty pooping!! Yippee -

While Oma Sue was here......

Tate and Nick on the swings

Turtles turtles, turles, but none as beautiful as the one in Oma Sue's Pond...

Oma Sue - get a little closer to that Peacock!!

Every bunny should live here - its the ritz carlton of bunny homes.

Who loves his new train mat from Tate?!?!

Do you put the chapstick here?!

Downtown stuttgart - we made it via bus and train. Now its time to take the shoes off.

Anyone for swimming in the fountain?


Look - its the Mallards again.

This is the bus ride home - any guess on the next photo....

Yup, he is out... 2 minutes left on the journey...

Next, the MC Dean 60th Anniversary Party....

If only every office had these items....

Sitting at dad's desk

Nick and his balloon
They ran up and down this ramp for hours!

Can I take this one home?!?! The kid - well I guess the balloon too


The balloons are multiplying!

Brush those teeth and off to bed!

Our horse back rider with his new room

Today we were invited to a horse riding playdate. Can you imagine managing all these little munchkins and two horses. Thankfully Stephanie had done it all before Who is ready to ride???

Mom - I've been thinking, do I really need to ride?

O.k. as long as I have good support =)

And a pretzel in my mouth!

Nick posing solo (this only lasted a moment, notice even the photo is blurry!)

So carrots right??
A horse says "NEIGH!!!"

Greeting Haley

This is Nick's room finally just about finished. I would say 90%. The other 10% is probably the new little one that he will share a room with. My mom and I made curtains from Ikea, hung the valance from his old room and added the best part-----a race track rug! He loves it!

The Next big adventure - Coast of France!

In the words of Nicholas Leadbetter - 'off we go'.

It was AMAZING traveling with another set of helpful hands. My mom felt like a pack horse as we were lugging car seats, DVD players etc. The flight was great, we all got some rather decent sleep. The most difficult portion was stacking 6 large suitcases on a luggage cart to barely navigate customs finally arriving in the welcoming arms of Chris!!

Bradley International Airport - we look 'fresh' here

After landing, we had less than 48 hours to un-pack, do laundry, a little grocery shopping and pack again for the coast of France.

Camp Butterfly - Lake Garda Italy

We drove late Thursday night, arriving at 2AM to Lake Garda. Thank goodness for GPS since there wasn't anyone up to call for directions =) We moved into our trailer for the night. Nick went right to sleep and we weren't too far behind him. Chris got up around 8 am the next morning to tour the area on his bike. He was sweet and left us a note. However, he came back at 10 AM to all of us still sleeping!! Even Nick =) We packed up and walked Lake Garda real quick before shoving off.
Chris and Nick burning off some energy at the camp ground.

Me and mom at Lake Garda - we loved it here and wished we were staying longer. The Italians are just so welcoming!

We did some window shopping - they really do have great style and clothing in Italy, can you tell these window models are lacking in style??? Wardrobe change.....

Nick is off to dip his toes in Lake Garda - A MUST

Next, onto Cannes, France. We arrived Friday evening. It was a little steamy in France. Our little apartment did not have AC or a fan. The first night was a little rough - we finally broke down on Sunday and bought a fan. After two nights of sleeping in our own sweat, we figured Nick needed a good night sleep.

The red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival - check out those Leadbetters =)

Ah, doesn't it look ZEN

Nick making his print on Cannes - he choose Whoopi Goldberg's square

Nick has eagle eyes for a playground - even one here in Cannes

Our Lil Petit Prince

The Carlton - Chelcy - maybe next time we will have girls weekend here - its dripping with folks that have too much cash!

See, a mink coat display right inside - seriously, who is thinking of mink in this heat?!?! Only the rich.

Onto the boats of Cannes - Think that is Jennifer Garner in the back ground??

After our stroll through Cannes, Chris was chomping at the bit to see the time trials in Monaco. It was the first day of the Tour De France. We took the train out there and stepped right into the action.

Muscling up the hill

I am surprised this rider isn't a blur on the camera!
The Famous Tour De France devil - Chris was in Celebrity Shock
It was only a 15KM loop so we were rather close to both the finish line..... (can you see the 50m, 25m markers - left side - .... at this point the two cars following the bikers are screaming at them to motor in!)
This is the starting area
Chris was totally enthralled with the biking trailers - check out all those nice bikes. Think they will miss just one......
Bars and Stars - Doesn't it feel like home?!?! They had cowboy hats on and everything

Day 2 - onto Nice. As soon as we got off the train, Chris spotted the spectators lining up for another Tour De France viewing. needless to say, he claimed his spot while my mom and I ventured through the streets.

Here he waits for the peleton....
We call this, pregnant lady at fountain....

The Justice building in Nice..... Back to find our Tour De France spectators.... How can you miss that blond little head??

Mom and I arrived back just in time to see the riders!! Yippee - However Chris's time was well spent scouting out the beer tent.Go Bury Go!!

Nick's New smart car - it actually didn't even last a whole day - darn French mechanics...

This was the view from our balcony. This storm was coming in that evening and we were all hoping for rain and a little relief - but instead we just got a beautiful photo

Story time on the Balcony..... How many times did we read 'Moving day' on that trip. As far as Nick was concerned, not enough!

Time to say goodbye to the French and back to the Land of Love - Chris has high standards for a pit stop.

Lunch at Lake Como

Nick was chowing down on some Melon and Prosciutto

Is George Clooney in the back ground?!?!

The now ceremonial toe dipping...... Chilly!

The Italians know how to do flower boxes.....

And Churches....

We are finally back home in good old Stuttgart. That Autobahn never looked so good! Nick and Oma Sue got the chance to light their sparklers and celebrate the 4th of July in Style! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend.