The summer was just like any other summer really. We did spend quite a few days at the schwimbad (German for swimming pool), it is about a block away from where we live. The kids love it, it is inexpensive, 5€ (about $6 for me and the kids). It has three seperate pools, the deep pool (12m, or 9ft), the middle pool is goes from 1m to 3m, this one is the largest and has a huge water slide, and a small elephant shaped one for the smaller kids. The third pool is a large wadding pool that has things for the wee little ones to play on or with.
Charlie started out on the small slide, Eric took him that first day on the big one (with water wings) and he loved it! By the end of the summer, Charlie was swimming without wings! Justin and Reagan loved the slide, by summers end they were going down it every which way they could think of!! There is one downside to going to pools in European countries; it is very common to see small kids naked. Some are probably around 7yrs old too, but they are the ones that parents are drying them off. There were a few times I had to have the kids turn around, because even I was uncomfortable!
My neighbor had bought a large pool (15' across and 3.5' deep), we spent a lot of time there too. We have so many kids in just a few houses that we had quite a few barbeques.
It got pretty warm here, there were just few days where we were in the high 90's. Usually it stayed around the high 80's to the low 90's. No need for any air condionters (we would have to buy a German one, not cheap either!). I just put fans every where especially the 3rd floor where the kids rooms are. The days are long here, sun comes up about 4:45am and doesn't go down till around 11pm!! Makes it hard for the kids to go to bed! So glad that the German shades/blinds can completely block out the sun! Just not the noise from other kids still outside!
We also had bought a 14' trampoline! Even Eric and I get on it. With it being black, it would get pretty hot during the day, so we usually did our jumping in the mornings or in the afternoon!
We went to the American-German Folks Festival that his held every year on base, which is open to the public (the Germans). It was basically a giant carnival with a huge beer tent!! The kids were big enough to go on the bumper cars, Charlie wasn't old enough to drive though. You know you are getting old when you get bumped, it jars every bone in your body and it hurts!! The older two, Eric and I went on this huge ride! The kids had an absolute blast! Even Charlie (with our neighbors) had fun watching us scream and laugh! Towards the end of the ride, both Reagan and I got a little nauseated!
Funnies thing that happened was when I took the kids through the fun house! I'm trying to make it as easy as possible for Charlie. Going through these huge swinging puncking bags, I get Charlie without getting knowcked over, and I got the hit instead! I am getting too old for this!! We get to the maze, which instead of mirrors it is plexiglass. Very clear plexiglass! Charlie was trying to catch up with Reagan and Justin and ran smack into one and fell straight backwards! Poor guy got a nice red bump on his forhead!. I ended up carrying him the rest of the way. Not fun! The kids and I got to ride in an Army Stryker, that was fun. The boys got the biggest kick out of it! We got to eat crepes and a bunch of other fun goodies!! Reagan got her face painted. That was a very long day!
All in all, we had a fun filled summer!
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