Suuuumertime... and the living is Chuuuby.

In Our Own Backyard

Today, after Mass, we joined our parish's RCIA candidate(s) for a trip into downtown Frankfurt, to see the cathedral.

It is hard to appreciate this one, after visiting Bruges, Paris, and St. Peter's Basilica, but I wouldn't want to name drop. Taa haa.

No, but we were glad to have the opportunity to visit the beautiful old center of Frankfurt - it is the city just 20 minutes from home and, therefore, the one that we would most likely never visit. The plaza is beautiful, and there are even fully-exposed ruins of some Roman baths in front of the cathedral. It was a warm day, and the kids were still in Church footwear, so that was a bit of drama. Nonetheless, they hung in there like the little Euro-traveling troopers into which they have become and now we have toured our nearest Euro-city.

Mainz Volkspark

We live in one beautiful German city, but we are just across the Rhine River from an even more beautiful German city. Mainz captures my heart every time we venture over the bridge.

This evening we finally visited the much-talked-about Mainz Volkspark, or "People's Park". There is the most inventively fun children's splash park I have ever visited. Chlorinated, safe, suitable for all ages and totally free. Yet again I am struck by the paradox of how well German culture understands and caters to its children and the country's sadly dropping birth rate. What a waste. Well, we will do our American family best to soak it up while we are here.

Pride in our Flag, Despite World Cup Results

Celebrating one's country while living inside another country somehow makes the gratitude that much more poignant. Great holiday this year, really great.



God Bless America.

Soild Food

Vivian has been so excited to introduce solid foods to the young Clark and I told her that this is the week. She has been so patient. She waited for me to make a special trip the Wednesday morning Farmers' market in order to shop for beautiful carrots and squash for our little man's first vegetable puree. She helped me steam the veggies and food process them. She even made a picture of what she anticipated the feeding being like. Unfortunately, her anticipation has yielded very little fruit thus far. Clark is less-than-impressed with the idea of eating off of a spoon. I am a firm believer in offering each item at least ten times before giving up, so we are tinkering right now. A little runnier and with some brown rice cereal and milk seemed a bit tastier to him last night.

Nonetheless, this would all be much more tiresome and frustrating if it weren't for the 5.5-yr.-old jubilation with which it is all accompanied, so thank you, Big Girl.