Deutschland!

Lucy and Max reunited!
We have just returned from a fabulous week in Erlangen in Bavaria, Germany with Jen, Marc, Max and Alex. The weather was superb all week, we did lots of fun things and ate good food, not to mention enjoyed the company of our very good friends.

The kids got along really well and fell back into playing together straight away. The first night they both slept in Max's bedroom - so for both of them it was their first sleepover! Max enjoyed teaching us some German words and translating for us when his neighbourhood friends would chatter to Lucy. He is fluent in both English and German now and talking really well.

Max and Lucy still fit in the Radio Flyer wagon

Alex is a poppet and now 15 months old, running around everywhere and is very independent. He climbs like a pro and loves 'cooking' with the saucepans from the kitchen cupboard which keeps him amused for hours.

Alex, mid-climb!

We had a great day out a Playmobil Land which is nearby - a fun park filled with giant Playmobil characters and versions of the toys including a pirate ship, farm yard and goldmine. Indoors there is a huge collection of the real toys all laid out in areas and the kids loved it in there. Lucy loved the princess area (surprise, surprise!).

Lucy with the fairytale castles

 It was a tiring day out!

We also had a day out in Bamberg which is a lovely city nearby. Very historic buildings, a canal through the centre with pretty bridges and good vistas of the city rooftops from the church. We found a square with a large water fountain and rocks that the children climbed on for ages, with Joe on hand to jump in after them!

Bamberg

Jumping the rocks in Bamberg and freaking the Mummies out!

Jen and I had a couple of Mummy only outings - once while we left a lovely sitter with the kids at home we cycled into Erlangen city and did some shopping and got tea and cake at a cafe, sitting on a glam terrace in the sun. On Sunday we left the Daddies at home with the children while we went off to a pool/spa for the morning - a fab place filled with warm pools, massage jets, jacuzzis and a salt water grotto. We couldn't resist some fun on the water slides in the family area next door... :)

Jen with our cake selection

Joe and Marc were both around at the weekend so we had some grown up movie nights (The Kings Speech - 5*, and The Adjustment Bureau - 3*), and a fun family bike ride out to a playground through the forest trails.

I just love their neighbourhood. The houses are so neat and tidy, clean and look like Playmobil houses themselves. The forest surrounds the houses, so you are on the bike and walking trails within moments and there are lots of pines dotted around the gardens which reach up to the blue skies. There's an especially lovely view from Jen and Marc's bathroom Velux window which looks over some of those trees and the pretty houses behind. It's so easy to bike around the area because the cars are super bike friendly and the trails are perfect.

Jen and Marc's house (the first on left)

It was such a good break away and we want to go back very soon! It was extra special to catch up with Jen and get back into our motherhood story-swapping and a visit down memory lane talking of West Chester and friends back there.

 Joe and Lucy, Jen and Max in Bamberg

I have come back raring to use my bike more (already taken it in Oundle on a shopping trip), and to go back to Germany again much sooner than we did last time!