Day 1-3 of our Vacation

I decided since the internet is so great here in Germany that I would write some blogs and keep you all posted on what was happening with us here. :) We left Thursday for Germany, and got on a flight at around nine at night (flights only leave at night from Congo), and started on our way. Tyler had a business class seat while Spencer and I sat back in coach, but oddly enough there was no one really sitting by us!!! No one in front, next to, or behind me! Tyler wanted to give me business but I thought since he would be driving mostly on Friday...he needed the sleep. So Spencer fell asleep on the way to the airport which meant he didn't fall asleep on the plane till way after midnight! I can't ever sleep on planes and I think I only got two 30 minutes naps that whole night. Needless to say on Friday when we landed I was tired!!!

Crazy looking trees in Germany. :) 

We got off in Paris, RAN through the airport to make the connection and got to the next plane just in time! Short flight into Frankfurt and when we took off from Paris I actually got to see the Eiffel Tower and the whole city! It was beautiful. :) Got to Frankfurt, got our rental car, and started on our way to Hiedelberg Castle....except we were all too tired and decided that since we saw a McDonald's right off the highway we would go eat our first Americanized meal! :) IT WAS DELICIOUS! The best meal Spencer said he had ever had! We devoured it, and then went on our way. Since we didn't go to the Castle we just went to Deric and Stephanie's. We met at the base Deric works at and went onto it and just kept having our mouths drop open.

 Beautiful yellow flowers we saw all over Germany while driving. 

It was fabulous being where everyone spoke English, and there was shopping, and Taco Bell, and Baskin Robbins, and movies to buy, games to buy, just pretty much EVERYTHING! We bought some movies, then had some ice cream, then went onto the commissary to get some snacks for the week. We walk in, and no joke, Spencer is just a talking and then he looks around and says: "Holy Cow! Look at this place!" He was in heaven, as were I and Tyler. We bought WAY too much, and stuffed our faces on Friday, but it was great! :) We went to a restaurant close by Stephanie and Deric's that had some great schintzel(?). Spencer had the Hawaiian pizza but it was still great, compared to Congo pizza. OH OH OH...AND we got Dr. Pepper, A&W Root Beer, Grape Soda and Sunkist! The little things in life are so grand to us!  

Saturday we slept in and decided to go bowling. It was so much fun. I won both games, but not by much. In the first game Spencer came in second! I was 106 and he got 102!!! A 4-yr. old that can bowl (although he did have bumpers and we didn't). Then we went to get an Xbox for Tyler for staying on his healthy diet, and then went and ate at Taco Bell. We came home and watched TV then got ready for bed. Today, Sunday, we went to church and had a good time. Tyler left today to do his training and Spencer and I are excited to spend time with Deric and Stephanie, even if they have to work. 

It's weird to think that just getting out of Congo for a short time revitalizes us so much! It was well needed, although by the time we get back, Spencer and I will only have 7 weeks left there! Congo has been great, but sometimes you need a break in the routine, this is such a wonderful break from that routine! :)