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Carrie Rodriguez 
Bowling with Diego started the day. Last night during the movie he was setting up a pin, knocking it down, setting up another one, knocking it down, etc. This morning before he even ate he wanted to play again. So we got the 1 cow, 2 pig, 3 cat, 4 sheep, 5 dog and 6 duck all set up for him to roll (or throw) the ball. Julie and I talked about a little plan to get a couple meals in the freezer for them which we will start this morning by putting a roast in the crock pot to cook during the day. Julie’s meatballs and Hamburger Pie are both on the menu. We also hope to get a picture of Diego showing his Rescue Pack to the camera today. We watched Sesame Street and the letter V. Today’s number was 16, not going there yet. It is fun to see Diego recognize letters and numbers. His favorite was 4 and 9 last week. Now he knows a few more. We have been giving him his little magnet letters from the frig to hold while he eats and watches the show.
With a plan for a picnic in a new park Andres found on his way out biking this weekend, we were getting ready when a call came for a ride. A Marine was back from Sergeant’s school and had given Zach the time he was given the information to pick him up, but Zach had not replied to the email and he does not have a phone right now. So Andres headed out to get him. We were surprised when he walked back in as we were getting the last things ready! The airport is 20 minutes away and he was right back. We were able to walk to the park outside the front gate of the base. It looks like an old wooden set of structures which are not well maintained. Actually it is all new and built for little boys to run and climb on. There is a beaver den, two houses (one with a loft), stones with flat tops to hop one to another, stumps at lots of heights, climbing nets, a rope for hand over hand movement, a pair of swings facing each other with cables to build momentum, a teeter totter on ropes which work when each person works at building the speed, and a riverbed full of different stone paths. And up a very large hill there is a climbing wall and a couple peculiar chairs made of rope. Diego had just learned “Climb, climb, climb” on Sunday at the barbque with Hayden because the playpen was up a steep grade about 3 feet high. Andres also reminded him of the need to hold hands before coming back down. This was good prep for today’s hill. Then Diego remembered another tool, crawling on his belly. He ran to the edge, dropped, turned and began shimmying down with great finesse. Andres also taught him a new skill, rolling down the hill. They practiced this a couple times; each time Diego would “Climb, climb, climb” up and Andres would lay him down and toll him over again and again. Watching them actively play together is a blessing. Andres was also helping us learn to let Diego learn. Because Diego does not pay as much attention when his hand is being held as when he is fully responsible for himself, Andres asked us,”Let him do it”. Tried to a get a sandwich in him, but he wanted to take full advantage of his visit to the park. It was a little difficult getting to leave; he was having so much fun.
We decided on another adventure of heading to the PX. This involved getting the kids into the car with Andres and Julie, Adrianna and I on the bus. All was going well till we saw the bus pull into the first stop. Adrianna thought we had time because there is a commissary and Shoppette stop before the residential stop and we should not have to run. Andres took the kids in a circuit route so they saw us a couple times at a couple corners before we got on the bus. This was great fun for Diego and made us smile and wave back. Then the bus was coming….And we needed to run. We spotted Andres on the road beside us and in front of the bus. He was driving at 10 k to keep the bus from leaving us. The driver was annoyed but then he realized what was going on. He opened his window and told Adrianna he would stop for us. We made it; visions of Paris were flashing in my mind. Once on, we had a nice drive on a huge bus with large open windows and time to talk. Andres waited in front of the PX with the kids who we picked up. Diego had finally fell asleep in the car and regretfully woke soon after Adrianna picked him up. Andres went to check the mail; still waiting for the crib parts and his sunglass replacement. We headed in to shop the mall. Adrianna had been looking for a thumb ring and there was a jewelry vendor set up and she found one she liked. I had asked Julie yesterday if she had heard anything Adrianna had wanted; nothing yet, but we would keep listening. And here today was a gift I knew she would like!
Shopping was fun and effective for souvenirs. After a few minutes with us, Andres took the kids, “I’ll be electronics”. He gave us the time we needed. Think we made some good choices. Julie returned with Andres so he could check the mail again (and not need to take the kids into the post office with him) and Adrianna and I took the bus back. They drove by at the bus stop to tell us bye.
We were back in time to get ready for dinner with Zach at the 800 year old winery. There was just enough time for me to get the announcement photos printed. It took a long time for the disk to load and there was a lady behind me with only 4 prints to make for a school project. I wish she had come in before me. I must have looked annoyed; I was only sad I was taking a long time when the other customer needed to print. The manager came over to check everything and offered us a coffee. We both accepted and I had my pick-me-up for the long evening ahead (I had been yawning on the bus ride home). Found the ribbon we needed, too. It was only $1 for all the ribbon left on the spool, which proved to be just enough with a few inches to spare. It was baby green with a picot edge; I made an executive decision knowing the green would look pretty on all the pink backgrounds we had put together. (There was no white or pink in the filmy texture we had been using.) Got a couple blocks and saw Zach. Well, actually, he saw me, was waving and slowing but I didn’t see that; I saw the Audi emblem on his grill, looked up to recognize the color of his hat and realized it was him.
Off to Esslingen in 2 cars. This would have been easier in one car, but the rental handled 2 carseats in the back fine; and adult back there would have been smooshed. Traveling with our alternate tour guide Zach, we learned more of the area. There was the small town Dawn’s family lives in, the Mercedes sports field and Porsche Arena, the wall from the castle and its guard towers, the vineyards, traffic signs, driving courtesies (never pass on the right), narrow cobble stone streets, the need to enjoy the trip and not just want to be there, and more I am sure I’ll think of as time passes. Even with the modern technology of Andres’ GPS we were not able to get into the parking garage he planned on. We made a couple loops (at this point glad we were NOT in their big vehicle) and found an alternate, walking by the original one on our way up the street to the restaurant. We passed an entrance to a store, noticed there were a couple more stores on the street front but the store continued around the corner. Then there was another one across the street and what looked like a full block up the street. We passed a church built in 1220 and took some pictures on the way up and back. Each block of stone had to weigh at least 200 pounds. These were hoisted and set and carved to perfection. A few of the blocks had their chisel marks exposed. Most of the historic buildings had plaques on them with information on the family who built them and information on its background. Many are also carved from stone with beautiful old script. There was also what looked like a town hall building several stories high and a large block wide. Walking by a home there was a brick stairway leading up to a beer garden. We passed a couple coffee bars with café tables outside and a mix of very new buildings. A very small outside seating area (maybe 4 tiny tables with 2 small chairs each) lead the way to the entrance of Einhorn. We walked up the small brick stair way to the main floor, passed a few rooms which had been added as part of the restaurant in more recent times, and around to a small steep stairway winding down to the wine cellar. It was all brick with arches to pass under to the dining area we were seated in. The ceiling was low and arched and a second, more narrow staircase exited at the far end of the room. This building survived two world wars and was built with hand tools. Julie took a couple pictures of the tools on the wall for her parents who would appreciate them most. Our homes need major repairs after only 20 years and this building has lasted centuries. We were seated at tables which comfortable seated the 6 of us. There was a bench running the length of the wall we were able to set Isabella at with our bags. It took a while to look at the history we were in. Zach did most of the communicating for us, he with a German menu and we had English. He ordered a bread and cheese appetizer which was farmer’s bread with rye and a lox flavored cheese topped with sliced onions. It was delicious. The we ordered, a bottle of water to share and a white wine. We had an assortment of pasta filled with what tasted like a very finely ground sausage. Mine was listed on the menu as “with a fried egg” and arrived as an omelet. So eggs are not served for breakfast but are for dinner. Andres, Adrianna and Julie had a steak which had been called a roast. There was either onions in a sauce or an onion/mushroom sauce. Then came the coffee in small cups with cream and wonderfully flavored. There was a dessert to share, 4 battered apple slices with a scoop of ice cream in the center and a piccolo cookie topping it off; just the right amount to savor the flavors. Adrianna was glad we were able to see one of the older cities and enjoy the ambiance of walking the cobbles and experiencing a taste of the centuries past. Andres enjoyed the trip as much as Julie and I, too. Being together enjoying each other’s company in a building bearing the name of ancient beliefs, The Unicorn (which has a website: www.weinkeller-einhorn.de).
Zach added Diego to his car for our trip home so Andres could give Adrianna and Isabella time to nurse without a disappointed little boy asking to go. We had a fun trip home, traveling this time through the city and not on the unrestricted autobahn we went out on we saw tunnel after tunnel. It is regrettable it was Hitler’s regime which had a brilliant plan to develop Germany, but the results a generation later have proved a benefit. The newer communities are well laid out with parks and shopping. Julie got Diego into a bath as Zach left; this was more difficult because Diego was sure Zach was going to take a bath, too and the result was some resistance to enjoying his own bath.
Diego was allowed to stay up while Dad played a game, Mom cared for Isabella and took care of a couple things she now had time to do, and Julie and I finished up the announcements. We estimated very close-2 extra without envelopes addressed already. Somehow there were 2 without photos so I will take them home and print pictures for the girls (I think they will like having one). Know how many stamps we need still and which addresses are still needed and now packed into a single bag for delivery. What? Its midnight? I am going to write this in the morning cuz it is off to bed now. That coffee was amazing and did the trick.
With a plan for a picnic in a new park Andres found on his way out biking this weekend, we were getting ready when a call came for a ride. A Marine was back from Sergeant’s school and had given Zach the time he was given the information to pick him up, but Zach had not replied to the email and he does not have a phone right now. So Andres headed out to get him. We were surprised when he walked back in as we were getting the last things ready! The airport is 20 minutes away and he was right back. We were able to walk to the park outside the front gate of the base. It looks like an old wooden set of structures which are not well maintained. Actually it is all new and built for little boys to run and climb on. There is a beaver den, two houses (one with a loft), stones with flat tops to hop one to another, stumps at lots of heights, climbing nets, a rope for hand over hand movement, a pair of swings facing each other with cables to build momentum, a teeter totter on ropes which work when each person works at building the speed, and a riverbed full of different stone paths. And up a very large hill there is a climbing wall and a couple peculiar chairs made of rope. Diego had just learned “Climb, climb, climb” on Sunday at the barbque with Hayden because the playpen was up a steep grade about 3 feet high. Andres also reminded him of the need to hold hands before coming back down. This was good prep for today’s hill. Then Diego remembered another tool, crawling on his belly. He ran to the edge, dropped, turned and began shimmying down with great finesse. Andres also taught him a new skill, rolling down the hill. They practiced this a couple times; each time Diego would “Climb, climb, climb” up and Andres would lay him down and toll him over again and again. Watching them actively play together is a blessing. Andres was also helping us learn to let Diego learn. Because Diego does not pay as much attention when his hand is being held as when he is fully responsible for himself, Andres asked us,”Let him do it”. Tried to a get a sandwich in him, but he wanted to take full advantage of his visit to the park. It was a little difficult getting to leave; he was having so much fun.
We decided on another adventure of heading to the PX. This involved getting the kids into the car with Andres and Julie, Adrianna and I on the bus. All was going well till we saw the bus pull into the first stop. Adrianna thought we had time because there is a commissary and Shoppette stop before the residential stop and we should not have to run. Andres took the kids in a circuit route so they saw us a couple times at a couple corners before we got on the bus. This was great fun for Diego and made us smile and wave back. Then the bus was coming….And we needed to run. We spotted Andres on the road beside us and in front of the bus. He was driving at 10 k to keep the bus from leaving us. The driver was annoyed but then he realized what was going on. He opened his window and told Adrianna he would stop for us. We made it; visions of Paris were flashing in my mind. Once on, we had a nice drive on a huge bus with large open windows and time to talk. Andres waited in front of the PX with the kids who we picked up. Diego had finally fell asleep in the car and regretfully woke soon after Adrianna picked him up. Andres went to check the mail; still waiting for the crib parts and his sunglass replacement. We headed in to shop the mall. Adrianna had been looking for a thumb ring and there was a jewelry vendor set up and she found one she liked. I had asked Julie yesterday if she had heard anything Adrianna had wanted; nothing yet, but we would keep listening. And here today was a gift I knew she would like!
Shopping was fun and effective for souvenirs. After a few minutes with us, Andres took the kids, “I’ll be electronics”. He gave us the time we needed. Think we made some good choices. Julie returned with Andres so he could check the mail again (and not need to take the kids into the post office with him) and Adrianna and I took the bus back. They drove by at the bus stop to tell us bye.
We were back in time to get ready for dinner with Zach at the 800 year old winery. There was just enough time for me to get the announcement photos printed. It took a long time for the disk to load and there was a lady behind me with only 4 prints to make for a school project. I wish she had come in before me. I must have looked annoyed; I was only sad I was taking a long time when the other customer needed to print. The manager came over to check everything and offered us a coffee. We both accepted and I had my pick-me-up for the long evening ahead (I had been yawning on the bus ride home). Found the ribbon we needed, too. It was only $1 for all the ribbon left on the spool, which proved to be just enough with a few inches to spare. It was baby green with a picot edge; I made an executive decision knowing the green would look pretty on all the pink backgrounds we had put together. (There was no white or pink in the filmy texture we had been using.) Got a couple blocks and saw Zach. Well, actually, he saw me, was waving and slowing but I didn’t see that; I saw the Audi emblem on his grill, looked up to recognize the color of his hat and realized it was him.
Off to Esslingen in 2 cars. This would have been easier in one car, but the rental handled 2 carseats in the back fine; and adult back there would have been smooshed. Traveling with our alternate tour guide Zach, we learned more of the area. There was the small town Dawn’s family lives in, the Mercedes sports field and Porsche Arena, the wall from the castle and its guard towers, the vineyards, traffic signs, driving courtesies (never pass on the right), narrow cobble stone streets, the need to enjoy the trip and not just want to be there, and more I am sure I’ll think of as time passes. Even with the modern technology of Andres’ GPS we were not able to get into the parking garage he planned on. We made a couple loops (at this point glad we were NOT in their big vehicle) and found an alternate, walking by the original one on our way up the street to the restaurant. We passed an entrance to a store, noticed there were a couple more stores on the street front but the store continued around the corner. Then there was another one across the street and what looked like a full block up the street. We passed a church built in 1220 and took some pictures on the way up and back. Each block of stone had to weigh at least 200 pounds. These were hoisted and set and carved to perfection. A few of the blocks had their chisel marks exposed. Most of the historic buildings had plaques on them with information on the family who built them and information on its background. Many are also carved from stone with beautiful old script. There was also what looked like a town hall building several stories high and a large block wide. Walking by a home there was a brick stairway leading up to a beer garden. We passed a couple coffee bars with café tables outside and a mix of very new buildings. A very small outside seating area (maybe 4 tiny tables with 2 small chairs each) lead the way to the entrance of Einhorn. We walked up the small brick stair way to the main floor, passed a few rooms which had been added as part of the restaurant in more recent times, and around to a small steep stairway winding down to the wine cellar. It was all brick with arches to pass under to the dining area we were seated in. The ceiling was low and arched and a second, more narrow staircase exited at the far end of the room. This building survived two world wars and was built with hand tools. Julie took a couple pictures of the tools on the wall for her parents who would appreciate them most. Our homes need major repairs after only 20 years and this building has lasted centuries. We were seated at tables which comfortable seated the 6 of us. There was a bench running the length of the wall we were able to set Isabella at with our bags. It took a while to look at the history we were in. Zach did most of the communicating for us, he with a German menu and we had English. He ordered a bread and cheese appetizer which was farmer’s bread with rye and a lox flavored cheese topped with sliced onions. It was delicious. The we ordered, a bottle of water to share and a white wine. We had an assortment of pasta filled with what tasted like a very finely ground sausage. Mine was listed on the menu as “with a fried egg” and arrived as an omelet. So eggs are not served for breakfast but are for dinner. Andres, Adrianna and Julie had a steak which had been called a roast. There was either onions in a sauce or an onion/mushroom sauce. Then came the coffee in small cups with cream and wonderfully flavored. There was a dessert to share, 4 battered apple slices with a scoop of ice cream in the center and a piccolo cookie topping it off; just the right amount to savor the flavors. Adrianna was glad we were able to see one of the older cities and enjoy the ambiance of walking the cobbles and experiencing a taste of the centuries past. Andres enjoyed the trip as much as Julie and I, too. Being together enjoying each other’s company in a building bearing the name of ancient beliefs, The Unicorn (which has a website: www.weinkeller-einhorn.de).
Zach added Diego to his car for our trip home so Andres could give Adrianna and Isabella time to nurse without a disappointed little boy asking to go. We had a fun trip home, traveling this time through the city and not on the unrestricted autobahn we went out on we saw tunnel after tunnel. It is regrettable it was Hitler’s regime which had a brilliant plan to develop Germany, but the results a generation later have proved a benefit. The newer communities are well laid out with parks and shopping. Julie got Diego into a bath as Zach left; this was more difficult because Diego was sure Zach was going to take a bath, too and the result was some resistance to enjoying his own bath.
Diego was allowed to stay up while Dad played a game, Mom cared for Isabella and took care of a couple things she now had time to do, and Julie and I finished up the announcements. We estimated very close-2 extra without envelopes addressed already. Somehow there were 2 without photos so I will take them home and print pictures for the girls (I think they will like having one). Know how many stamps we need still and which addresses are still needed and now packed into a single bag for delivery. What? Its midnight? I am going to write this in the morning cuz it is off to bed now. That coffee was amazing and did the trick.
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