‘Merica Tour 2014: Siblings

Siblings are the best, for sure! Especially when they have hilarious offspring. I’m going to let the pictures do the talking here…because explanations would entail a lot of “you just had to be there”.

Before.

Before.

After. That’s right…the prior picture was taken in a state of complete soberness!

After. That’s right…the prior picture was taken in a state of complete soberness!

When a big sister makes an inappropriate joke about raspberries, this is what it looks like.

When a big sister makes an inappropriate joke about raspberries, this is what it looks like.

Before.

Before.

After.

After.

Waaaaaay After.

Waaaaaay After.

Baseball ready!

Baseball ready!

Why is this child so friggin' cute?!

Why is this child so friggin’ cute?!

Chivalry at its best!

Chivalry at its best!

Ummm......

Ummm……

Well....

Well….

Only one missing is my bro. Sorry we didn’t take any pics! I enjoyed watching you eat Portillo’s though!!

‘Merica Tour 2014: Grandparents

Joe has been so generous over the last 14 years to share his grandparents with me. He is the only person I know who is blessed to have all four still around!! We have not seen any of them in at least three years, so they were the top priorities for our American travels.

GM & GP Yañez – We finally “got right” with the time zones at GM & GP’s house. I think it was because the bed was so comfy!  😉

Liv LOVES GM & GP’s house because GM lets her put her face on the table!

It doesn’t help that Joe the Disney Dad lets her do anything she wants.

It doesn’t help that Joe the Disney Dad lets her do anything she wants.

No visit to the Yañez backyard is complete without an adventure with the famed Ninja! He (she?) is always doing something: estivating, escaping, being anti-social, or refusing to eat freshly dug worms.

ninja2

Thanks GM & GP, for letting us storm into your house, disrupt the sleeping arrangements, and leave dog hair all over!

A family that Chipotles together…

A family that Chipotles together…

OKie Wall Grandparents – We were lucky enough to be in Oklahoma for Grandpa’s 81st birthday!

Grandpa's Birthday Selfie!

Grandpa’s Birthday Selfie!

The Walls

The Walls

Thanks D&D, for throwing a great reunion/birthday bash!!

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I lost my only grandparent when I was in high school. I don’t remember him being much of a story teller, but being my father’s father, I’m sure he probably was. Regardless, I’m confident I wasn’t a good listener back then. I wish I could go back to those days and ask him about what it was like to live through WWI, WWII, the invention of the television, the Civil Rights movement, integration, the last time the Cubs won the World Series, and everything else that happened after 1902!

The past three years have definitely taught me and Joe a lot about history, and we finally have an appreciation for the value of personal histories and first-hand accounts. I guess that’s really what becoming and adult means. It was really interesting to ask all the grandparents about their memories of some of the most poignant moments in our history.

We’ll have to do it all again…and write it down next time!

My Grandpa...just because I love this picture.

My Grandpa…just because I love this picture.

 

das Weinfest

Remember a while back when I said that Spargel was going to be the one thing I was going to miss most about Germany? (click here for reminder) Yeah well…I lied. Or maybe I changed my mind. Why must there be just one?

Another one of our favorite pastimes in Germany has been the German Weinfest, especially Freiburg’s. It is, by far, our favorite event in Freiburg! I mean, you can’t beat drinking cold local white wine on a hot summer night amid the charm of the 12th century Münster.

munster

Our first summer in Freiburg, we discovered the Weinfest while Joe’s brother was visiting. This is also when we confirmed that Liv is, in-fact, the biggest wino we know!

more wino

Yup…she finished it herself!

Yup…she finished it herself!

The gorgeous thing about a Weinfest is that it is easy to convince our visitors to join us in enjoying the tasty local juices!

P&P selecting libations in Ihringen.

P&P selecting libations in Ihringen.

P&P group

This year, Joe’s parents and aunt & uncle were visiting during the Weinfest. We were lucky enough to enjoy a few hours of sunshine during the Fest.

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Zum Wohl!

Zum Wohl!

Another thing I love about Germans/Germany is their dedication to “festing”. You name it, and the Germans will make a Fest out of it and show up in droves…even in bad weather! Joe and I refused to let a steady downpour prevent us from enjoying our last moments of Freiburg’s Weinfest together. It was actually really beautiful! I have never really taken the time to appreciate Freiburg in the rain…until enjoying it with a glass of Grauburgunder in hand!

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Lieber Freiburger Weinfest, wir werden Sie echt vermissen!

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