Views of Krakow

Krakow is a cute city.  There are a lot of historical buildings and it is all just beautiful to be able to take in.

The castle

I loved the color of these buildings

The fabric market which has been turned into a touristy market

I met a man.  He gave me flowers! I think he is a keeper.

Always Remember

We traveled with some friends to Krakow, Poland for Energy Break.  While there we visited Auschwitz.  It was a moving experience and one that I will never forget.

The registration building at Auschwitz 1

I found a Brunker who was a prisoner at Auschwitz.  That was shocking to look down and see that.

The poison used to exterminate the prisoners at the "showers"

Pictures of Polish prisoners.  These pics lined many, many walls.

Auschwitz 2 - barracks

Registration building at Auschwitz 2

The bunks

Sorry it is blurry.  more bunks

Size of the train car used to transport prisoners to Auschwitz 2

This is a memorial to all that died.  They have many of these all lined up in all of the different languages of the former prisoners.

An Accomplishment...

I have been working on this for quite some time and finally success!  There were several times where I thought it was printed wrong and therefore impossible.

Finished!!

Science Field Trip: Sound

To finish up our sound unit in science we went to the House of Music.  It is a wonderful museum here in Vienna that is amazing at enhancing our unit study of sound.  There are four floors of interactive exhibits where students can interact with different elements of sound and/or music.  If you are going to visit Vienna with children I highly recommend this museum.

I can't hear it!

cutie pie

Pure concentration and cuteness

Making sound with sensors

Following the musical road and smiling while doing it!

Listening hard

Frozen Toes...

Every year we take the entire elementary ice skating four times.  It is fun but this year it was EXTREMELY cold!  I thought my toes were going to freeze off eventhough I had two pairs of socks on!  Here are some cuties on the ice!

The peace sign is a little hard with gloves on!  

A sister and brother with a crazy 2nd grader in the background!

brothers

a speed skater

So much fun!

Baby Quilt #4

This baby quilt is for little Riley Warren.  Little Riley's middle name is in honor of a missionary here who recently passed away in a skiing accident.  It is a wonderful tribute to Warren who was a man after God's own heart.

Putting together the top of the quilt

Happy Birthday Riley!

Baby Quilt #3

There are a lot of little ones that have been born or are going to be born before this school year is finished.  Carrie, Liz and I love to quilt so we have been making baby quilts like crazy people!  Below is a picture of baby quilt #3.  Baby Izaak really likes his new quilt!

Izaak's mom and Liz with Izaak's quilt

On the Way..

On the way home from Christmas, with Rachel in Germany, we stopped by Rome for a few days.  It was colder there than we anticipated and really neat to see all of the Roman ruins that I've only heard about or seen in pictures.

In front of the Colosseum.

I have ALWAYS wanted to see this statue in person and now I have!  It was beautiful!

We mailed postcards from the Vatican.

Amanda being silly and getting tired of walking and walking and walking to get to the Sistine Chapel!

This ramp was quite cool!

Carrie and a tiny car.

Christmas Update

Hey all!  Sorry if it seems as though we disappeared!  We kind of did.  There has been a lot going on updating this blog was on the list but at the bottom.  Sorry.  So, we have a lot of updating to do.  We'll start with Christmas.  For Christmas Carrie and I went to Kandern, Germany to visit our friend Rachel who is a missionary teacher at Black Forest Academy.  It was a fun time to celebrate Christmas with a friend and see her world in Germany.

Merry Christmas!

Cute Kandern House

This was an interesting yard with a lot of gnomes. 

A Beautiful afternoon walk

Making music...

I was asked play the clarinet as part of the worship team at church on Sunday.  I agreed to participate but with apprehension in my voice!  I am never confident at my ability in anything but am willing to try my best.  I am really glad I participated.  I had forgotten how much I missed playing.  It was quite soothing to my soul to play again.  I played Angels from the Realms of Glory, Angels we Have Heard on High, and O Come All ye Faithful.  Playing those songs most certainly put a spring in my step and put me in the Christmas spirit!  Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you find time to rejuvenate your soul as you remember the true reason for the season.

Biscuits

On Saturday or sometimes Sunday mornings Carrie and I like to make biscuits.  The other day we decided to jazz it up a bit and instead of making them round, like normal, we did this...

Yummy star shaped biscuits!