Pumpkin Patch at Lattin's Farm

Our search party!  

We were in search of the perfect pumpkin ... which we didn't really find since it was too close to closing, too late in the season, and everything was picked over and rotten.  But we definitely had fun looking and getting dirty.

Lavender Fields in Olympia

I don't know why, but I have always wanted to go to a lavender field.  It just sounds beautiful to me.  Guess what?  There just so happens to be a lavender field 15 minutes from my new place.  We had to call ahead of time to make an appointment, but we made it happen.  

A stop in San Fran to see more family

My little brother is no longer in Utah.  He is also no longer 12 either, which is the age he was when he dressed up like a hotdog for Halloween and the age I remember him the most.  He is actually all grown up with 2 adorable little girls and living in San Fran going to Dental school.  So ... we had to visit him!!

Above is the gang standing at the base of Lombard Street, also known as the winding road.

Family Reunion Fun

LAYTON FAMILY REUNION 2013

Well, we haven't seen these lovely family members for over 2 years.  It was time for a family reunion in San Diego again!  California here we come!

Cesky Krumlove, the Rottenburg of the Czech Republic

This was our last little trip to the Czech Repulic ... I know sad!  I am so glad we made the effort to come, this place was incredible!  It was quite the drive out, but the scenery was beautiful and the town was so fun to explore.

Showing off the hand carved wooden chairs

Coburg and a little bit of family history

A long time ago in Coburg Germany our ancestors once lived.  Before leaving Germany we had to go and see where they lived, maybe walk where they once walked, and maybe just maybe see where they worked even.

Here is the town square.  I love a good German town square.

A Day Exploring Denmark

Our first port stop was Bornholm Denmark.  This is actually a really important stop for our family and our family history.  On my husbands side, this is where his ancestors were converted to the LDS church and left their homeland in search for American and the prophet Joseph Smith, the leader of their new faith, the first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Here are the kids waiting to catch a bus to the small city where our ancestors were baptized and where a lot of family members were supposedly buried, Nyker.

The kids in front of the domed church where our ancestors once lived (not in the church in the town).  The kids are holding onto hooks where people would tie up their horses when attending religious meetings.

Our Last Trip to Nuremberg (I think)

We no longer have a car, so we got to ride the train into Nürnberg.

First Stop:  DB Museum ... or the Train Museum

www.dbmuseum.de

(adults 5 Euro, children (age 6-17) 2,50 Euro)

The kids watching a HUGE train exhibit.

Upstairs in the museum is the kids zone.  I am not exaggerating when I

Mini Family Photo-shoot ... Just for fun

In Bavaria the rapeseed is beautiful!!  We just had to take advantage of the beautiful yellow and the perfect lighting.  One evening we headed out to get some pictures ... dragging our company along with us, which included my sister with her four kids and grandma and grandpa.

Last Ludwig Palace and a Over-the-top Rococo Church

Linderhof!!

This is yet another one of Ludwig's Palaces in Bavaria, Germany.  It was actually the one he lived in the most and is completely finished.  I really liked this Palace, I highly recommend going!  I loved the peacock room, all the mirrors, the crystal chandeliers, and the gold paint over everything.  Yeah, I could probably live here too.

When exiting the tour, and the Palace,

Guess who FINALLY learned to ride her bike?!

MOVING DAY!!

The day where life is totally crazy!  The day where you seriously have a million and one things to do!  The day where your 4 year old finally gets the courage to ride a bike on her own!  So Cute!  She was one proud little lady!

Herrenchiemsee Castle - Another Ludwig Palace

Sometimes we do crazy 'day trips'.  We have this huge obsession that we have to do everything possible to squeeze in as much as possible before we move back to the states.  To be honest, I think in the process we are going to end up broke ... but at least we will have good memories and some amazing pictures.  We won't have any regrets though, and I would do it again in a second too!

Our Last Easter Market in Prague!!

Our last trip to the Prague Easter Market!  I am still in denial!

I just HAD to document how steep this elevator is!  You seriously have to hold onto your little ones!

We didn't really explore much this day.  Basically we shopped around the square, ate crepes, shopped some more, climbed the tower again, and visited with the LDS missionaries.  I love that we see the missionaries ALL the time, in each major city that we have been to.  The Lords work is moving forward.

Another Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday!!

Our Last Easter in Germany

Easter at our house wasn't too elaborate or exciting, but we did have fun.  

Here are the kids before we let them come downstairs to where their baskets were.

Birthday Girl!

Why I love this special birthday girl!

* She has the biggest heart and is always so willing to help me when I need help
* She has the best imagination ... I LOVE listening to her playing with her siblings and/or friends
* She is now making chocolate chip cookies all on her own and does a GREAT job!
* She makes me laugh every single day with her cute, spunky personality
* I love her love for horses.  Whenever anyone in the family sees a horse we all yell her name.
* She has a crush on a different boy every couple of weeks, and she isn't embarrassed by it one bit.
* She has all the confidence in the world!
* She isn't ashamed or shy to show someone she cares about them!!
* She sticks up for those who might be getting bullied or picked on - what an inspiration to us all!
* Her goal is to read the Book of Mormon in a year and she has made so much progress.
* Just the other day on Sunday a little German girl came to church and she translated the entire lesson for her and soon they were fast friends.  She made sure the little girl felt included and loved!

Ludwig's Memorial with a bit of Castle Ruins in the Mix

This was not our original plan ... I wont go into details about what happened to our original plan but lets just say motherhood never takes a vacation, even if you are on vacation.  An hour into our original trip we had to stop and never started back up again.  We searched the internet and found something fun nearby and spent the whole day exploring.

We found ourselves at Wallhalla Memorial built by Ludwig

For more information go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walhalla_memorial

And there are a ton of pictures on our 'other blog' you can check out!

the kids running down the side of the building

My little girl showing off how she can balance

"Mom, look it's Jesus.  Take a picture!"

Playing around the outside of the Memorial some more

My little man with his awesome hair!

More playing!

I love these cute girls so much!

Next Stop, which just happened to be on the next hill, Castle Ruins!

I have a love / hate relationship with castle ruins.  I love them because of how cool looking they are, how charming they can be, and how much the kids love running around them exploring.  I hate them because I am scared to death my kids are going to fall and kill themselves somewhere.  Seriously, they scare me so much!   

With it's own little cemetery in the front

I love this little window/door with the old bricks

No railings or bars to keep one in

See what I mean about them scaring me?  See ya, baby!

Can you see my girls?  I couldn't contain them, they were all over the place

The view from the top