Fabulous Visit to Shaha Germany Contingent

 

We're baaack! We had a wonderful visit with BMECJ and only wish that we could figure out a way for all of us to hang out together in Germany...maybe I should start playing Powerball! We visited the Leichtenstein Castle which was built on a very impressive cliff...all hands were on deck to keep track of James!

 

Emily practiced her photography skills and only cut off a little bit of Pat's head...according to him, it was probably an improvement.

James was extremely careful while opening his birthday presents, not to mention serious! And he didn't even complain that his present from us was a duplicate of one he already had...he's possessed with trains and cars, so it didn't seem to bother him to get more.

 

After Ben and Marinda left on their cruise, we entertained the kids by taking them to the zoo; E and C loved climbing on the animal sculptures, especially this elephant.

 

Back at home, the twin Elsas entertained us with some great dance moves. 

 

Ben has trained his crew well and they are avid Star Wars fans. Many hours were spent with Grandpa in a variety of space ships on the several playgrounds in the housing area, this one being a version of the Millenium Falcon. Notice Queen Amidala, Princess Leia, and Yoda at the controls.  Pat was usually Lando and I was Chewbacca, very flattering.

 

Another day, we went to a small, kid-friendly amusement park called Traumland (not to be confused with Traumaland)! Traumland translates to "Dreamland." 

 

Sweet Emily giving James a ride. 

 

The girls peeping out of Snow White's house.

 

James relaxing after our return home. 

 

After Ben and Marinda returned home, they insisted we get away for a couple of days and arranged a visit for us to Rothenburg, a medieval town with its original wall intact...we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. 

 

Where Nancy plans to move if Donald Trump wins the presidency.

 

The hotel where we stayed, formerly a castle. We stayed on the 3rd floor and could see the entire countryside from our bedroom window. 

 

Ben and Marinda arranged for all of us to go on a Rhine River cruise, and we spent the night before in the medieval village of Bacharach. In the morning, we hiked up to the castle there before getting on the boat. 

 

One of the castles along the Rhine and a beautiful little cowgirl!

 

The three amigos; the girls following in the footsteps of their cowgirl great-grandmother! 

 

At the fountain in downtown Stuttgart. 

 

On Ben's balcony just before we left to go to the airport.

 

Thanks to Ben and Marinda for a fabulous visit! And to all you FamiliaShahas out there, thank you for your wonderful good works and families. We look forward to seeing you all much more often now that the Old Geek has stopped working ( . . . one has to wonder whether he was ever really working all those years!??!).

Concert in the Flint Hills -- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Well, Grampa with another attempt. Nancy and I attended the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve annual Concert in the Flint Hills (that's in Kansas, folks), with the Kansas City Symphony and Lyle Lovett. It was held on a historic farm on the Preserve and, as you can see, the dude that built this farm in the 19th century spared no expense--even the chicken coop is of quaried limestone. But now THAT'S a barn.

They also had a lot of local volunteers demonstrating pioneer life skills, like this lady spinning yarn from sheep's wool . . .

 . . . and the blacksmith . . . .

They also had some tents with lecturers on the status of grasslands across the globe, and gave folks a ride in a 'covered wagon'--I think they must have had some kind of suspension because some of the folks that were getting off the wagons didn't look like they'd have survived the typical jostling around of the real thing.
They had erected a huge tent thing and the symphony rocked the prairie with music from Copeland, John Williams and some others honoring the land and cowboys. During the Cowboy Overture by Williams about 14 horsemen herded some 100 cattle over the hills behind the orchestra stand--it was a very great scene, including the awesome sunset below. Last song played by Lovett was "Home on the Range" which all of us sang together. Let's hear it for conserving the wonders of nature.

 As usual my photography couldn't capture the real spectacle, but it was really something worth seeing. It was supposed to rain all day, and it did look pretty bad and was rainy during the 2-hour drive to the park, but just before we got there things dried up and stayed clear till be were on our way home--an answer to prayers. Before we left the park, Nancy took me dancing where another band had set up in one of the big tents--so we dance while we waited for the crush to leave the park--did some swing, two-step and waltz. Nancy is a great dancer.

Catching up on a few photos of Oakley and Peter

Grampa trying again to post stuff . . . practicing for retirement when most current excuses will run out. Can't remember if I posted these, but if I did just skip on, brother.

 Oakley helping her mother decide on a pair of boots for stepping out in in style during inclement weather. And Wendy and David hosted us a while ago at their place and took us to the National Arboretum--at least I think that's where this was taken. They always take such good care of us when we get to visit.

 Wendy is fortunate to have a live-in fashion consultant--Oakely obviously knows her stuff . . . and is very serious about it.

 Doesn't look like Peter shares Oakley's assurance of her good taste.

Kevin Marries Shayla

 For those of you unable to attend, Kevin's wedding to Shayla was really a wonderful event. Not only are they an outstanding couple, but it seemed the entire Williams clan was there.

 As usual, there were a number of extracurricular activities ongoing during the reception, some of the younger Williams cousins getting some crucial initial training for future auto decorating.

 Mike showed off his daughter to us all -- fortunately she takes after her mother; here are several of her proud uncles. And we got to see Uncle Jeff, and Amy and Tom made it as well.

 

Handsome couple! Many good stories were shared by both sides of the family, those about Shayla indicate she has led a life of distinguished accomplishments, and the one story I recall about Kevin had something to do with the Naked Paratroopers--wasn't really clear but got a lot of laughs--and the one about the hide-and-seek game where the only way he could be found was with the bribe of ice cream sandwiches.

 Natalie was very impressed with the final results of the 'Just Married' car . . . .

 And Nancy and I got to meet with some of the Shaha clan just before having to return to the bowels of America--that's Carlie and her family who happened to be in town and met us for lunch.

It was a great week and thanks to all who made it so. Best wishes to Kevin and Shayla!!

Valentine Pictures

The girls love the dresses Grandma sent them!

(Flowers are from Daddy)

Pat and Nancy @ Belvoir

Pat and Nancy visited us Nov 25-Nov 29

Oakley was sooooo excited for them to be here. She and Grandpa spent a lot of time in the play house. Probably more time than I've ever spent in that house. In my defense it is very hot and uncomfortable. Thanks for being a good sport Grandpa!

 And Nancy saved my bacon on Thanksgiving. What the  heck do you do with a 30lb turkey? I was kind of freaking out. But it turned out really good. And we fed the whole neighborhood with leftovers. 

AND Pat and Nancy did all the dishes!! Who are these people?

The whole crew. We had some neighbors over for the feast. 

Gwamma and Gwampa!

And the next sequence of photos pretty much sums up our activities while the kids were awake. Non. Stop.

And while the kids were asleep:

We ventured into DC and waited in a very long and VERY cold line to see the train display at the botanical gardens, which was cool, but maybe not worth the wait. We also checked out the American Indian Museum. Also cool but the "show" in which the modern-day Indians walked around in a circle for half an hour left us for want of.... something. I don't know. It was lacking. But the museum part was cool. 

 

This Lincoln Memorial is made completely out of natural materials! Sticks and bark and acorns and stuff like that.

And I'm happy to report that Pat walked away unscathed!