Spring Break: Normandy Beaches, France

From Mont St. Michel we headed over to the town of Arromanches, about 2 hours away.  Our hotel was right on the beach of what became Port Winston during WWII.  The allies, after storming the beaches of Normandy, and gaining a foot hold in France needed a port to bring supplies to the soldiers fighting their way through France and on to Berlin.  Using old ships (sunk purposefully in strategic places), football field sized cement blocks and floating steel piers the allies built a temporary harbor.

Our first stop was the bluff overlooking the beach.  There was a theater with a film about the war and how the small French towns were affected.  The film had no speaking, just footage from the war and music.  It was pretty powerful to see the faces of soldiers right before they got off the boats to head to the beach.  You just knew some of those faces were of men that never made it home to their families.

A photo from the bluff overlooking the beach.  Off in the distance you can still see remains of the temporary harbor.

We walked up to the theater but then opted to ride the free tourist train back down the hill.  Anything to keep the kids happy and willing to trudge to yet another site.

Townsend exploring the old pier on the beach

Oma and Julian.  You can see in the distance some of the sunken ships used as a breakwater for the temporary harbor.

Quick, take a photo, the sun came out!!!

Exploring an old US Army vehicle that was on display

We stayed the night in Arromanches, not the best hotel experience but we survived for just one night.  The next morning we went to visit the Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery.  Four German bunkers with guns intact are the only original guns remaining in the D-Day region.  Even though it was raining a bit and the wind was bitterly cold, I'm so glad we got out of the car and walked around this site.  What a chilling reminder for what happened 60 years ago.  I have to admit, as I walked around, I felt a bit sorry for the poor German soldiers that were sent to this post.  It was pretty secluded and the bunkers seemed so cold and dark.  

One of the hilltop bunkers.  These giant guns could shoot 13 miles out to sea and pounded the boats as they attempted to land on D-Day.

The boys didn't really understand the gravity of what happened at all these sites we were taking them to.  For 8 year olds, this was just a cool place to climb around and explore.

After the bunkers we headed over to Omaha beach.  It's such a quiet, peaceful stretch of beach.  There is a special feeling you get as you walk around.  You feel almost as though you are in a church or a cemetery, some place sacred.  It was a bit eerie.  Maybe it was the cloudy, cold day.  Maybe it was because we were the only people on the beach and it was very quiet and you could reflect on the events on June 6, 1944.  I'm not sure what it was about the beach but I felt something very strong and powerful.  I kept thinking "why?"  Why is there war in the world?  I couldn't help contrasting the images in my mind of death and life.  Death because of the events of D-Day and life because my three boys were running on the beach jumping and playing in the waves.  

Oma looking out over the ocean on Omaha beach

Our last stop was the WWII American cemetery and memorial.  The final resting spot of over 9,000 American soldiers that lost their lives bringing freedom to the people of Europe.

Another amazing and awe inspiring site.  

The cemetery is in a beautiful location, overlooking Omaha beach.

I'm so glad we spent some time exploring the sites from a piece of American and European history.  I feel so lucky and blessed to live in a time of peace and plenty and I know I owe much to the men and women that have served in the military and are still serving today.

Next stop, Belgium...stay tuned!

Spring Break: Mont St. Michel, France

On Saturday April 7th, after our look around Chartres Cathedral we drove to Mont St. Michel.  I had heard nothing of this island until someone mentioned it on their blog as the "island castle" that Disney used as inspiration for their movie Tangled.  I did a bit of research on the internet and fell in love with the idea of visiting this place.  For over a thousand years pilgrims have flocked to this site.  It was originally used as a secluded abbey for monks wanting to leave the world behind.  Now 3.5 million tourists visit each year and wind their way up the one street on the island to the top of the hill and the abbey.

We got to the site around 5:00 PM and were not allowed to park close to the island because the tide was going to come in so we parked 2 miles away and walked the long causeway to the island.  The boys were very excited to play on the mud flats while we watched the tide come in.  This island has the most dangerous tide in Europe because it rises 50 feet in about an hour.

On our long walk to the island

The boys playing in the water as the tide rolled in.  They went out to take a photo on this rock and within 10 minutes this rock was completely under water!

This picture was taken around 6 PM.  This is the only road through the town and was basically deserted while we walked around.  We saw a few people but we really had the place to ourselves.  (Take note of this photo...you will see this same scene later)

Crepes with nutella for dinner?  Yes please:)

Can you see the floating van?  Some poor tourist didn't understand the many, many, many announcements warning that the tide was coming in and you needed to move your vehicles from the lower parking lots.

We headed to our hotel for the night, only about 5 miles down the road.  We stayed in a beautiful bed and breakfast and it was the perfect location because we were close enough to visit the island once more the next morning.

Mont St. Michel the next morning.  Can you see the wave of water rushing in with the tide?  

The abbey at the top of the hill.  Simply amazing and beautiful to walk around.

Easter Sunday service in the abbey of Mont St. Michel?  Yes please:)

It wasn't hard to imagine robed monks walking these halls in silence.

A statue of St. Michel (Saint Michael)

OK, remember the picture from earlier showing just a few people wandering this street?  Now look at it at 11:00 AM.  It was so packed you seriously couldn't even stop to look in the store windows, you would get trampled.  My advice, come early or late, miss the crowds and enjoy the quaint beauty of this island town.

After escaping the chaos of that crowd we got in our car and headed for the beaches of Normandy...but more on that in the next post:)

Spring Break: French Cathedrals

We began our long road trip on the morning of Friday, April 6th.  The next 10 days we would be traveling in the van with our three boys, Oma and Aunt Andrea.  We loaded up the van and were on our way by 9:30 AM...not a bad start time when you have that many people traveling along.

After driving 7 hours we made our first stop in Reims, France.  You can bet the boys were ready to run around and get some wiggles out after such a long drive but instead we hopped on a train from our hotel and headed to the center of town to catch a peek at the Cathedral.  Construction started in 1211 AD and this church was the site of 26 coronations of French Kings and Queens.  I love Gothic architecture so this church was well worth the stop!

With so many people in the car this roof top carrier was a life-saver!

Guess who was super excited about the train ride?  No matter how tired and grumpy Julian could have been after sitting in the car all day, as soon as we told him we were going for a train ride he got all happy and excited:)

The boys getting a bit of energy out on the steps of the Cathedral.  At least they weren't running inside the church!

The rose window inside the church...my little camera does not do this justice

I loved this peaceful candle-lit altar 

Our little family outside the church

After a good nights sleep we headed off to Chartres, about 2 1/2 hours away.  We had heard there was an English tour guide that has been showing Chartres Cathedral to tourists for the last 50 years.  He gives a 75 minute tour and explains the history and the meaning behind each of the beautiful stained glass windows.  Because the boys don't do so well with tours I opted to hit the playground with a picnic lunch while Hyrum, Oma and Andrea went for the tour.  After we met back together again it turns out the guide wasn't doing tours that day so they just wandered around the church.  It was a bummer that we missed out on this tour but it was still a Cathedral worth seeing.  Hyrum and I walked around the Cathedral while Oma and Andrea took a turn with the kids.  Man, it was nice to have even a 30 minute break from the crazy kids:)

Chartres Cathedral

One of the decorated portals into the church

The windows are truly amazing

Andrea and Oma with the Cathedral in the background

When we were done in Chartres we packed back into the van and headed to Mount St. Michel, about 3 1/2 hours away...but we'll save that for another post:)

Happy Easter

I know it's a bit late with the Easter post but here goes...

We always begin the Easter season by decorating our tree next to the house with Easter eggs.  This is a German tradition that I intend on bringing home with me.  It sure makes the rainy days of Spring look brighter when you see all these colorful trees around the neighborhood.

This is the only branch on the tree that Julian could reach.  By the time he was done there were about 20 eggs on this spot.

Daddy lifted Emerson up so he could hang some eggs up high.

My boys in front of our decorated tree

Next up for the Easter season...the Easter egg hunt.  We had a few families from our ward over for dinner and the big hunt.  We hid about 150 eggs filled with candy around the yard.  There were 11 kids running around collecting eggs.  I think they all had a fun time. 

The kids lined up and ready to go!

Julian was so excited collecting eggs.  He was especially happy to find out there was candy inside:)

All the kiddos showing off their loot

We were in the middle of our long road trip for Spring break for the actual Easter Sunday.  It's a good thing the Easter Bunny found us, all the way in France.

They got a chocolate bunny and a giant kinder egg...

...I did mention it was a GIANT kinder egg, right?

Let the Traveling Begin

Hyrum's Mom and Sister, Andrea, arrived in Germany on March 29th.  We only let them rest for one day before we were off traveling.  Our first adventure: Freiberg, Germany.

Oma grew up in Freiberg and wanted to visit while she was here in Germany.  We walked around the old town and met up with some of her friends.  We had a great time but it was a bit chilly!

Oma in front of the Freiberg Dom (Cathedral)

Inside the Cathedral.  This organ was built by Gottfried Silbermann when he was only 28 years old.  He later became one of the best known organ builders in Germany and worked closely with Johann Sebastian Bach.  We were lucky to hear two pieces played on the organ while we toured the church.

Who ordered the snow?  It's supposed to be SPRING!!!

Julian at the playground in Freiberg.

Townsend and Emerson climbing in the trees at the playground.

Oma with her two good friends, Ilona and Luisa.

It just happened that the Sunday we were in Frieberg there was a steam train that came to the station from Dresden.  We got to the station in time to see one train leave and another one pull into the station.  Julian was super excited until he heard the steam whistle.  It scared him so bad he just wanted to leave the station right away.  I convinced him to stay but I had to stand far away from the train so he wouldn't get scared again if the whistle blew.

Aunt Andrea with the train

Ilona's husband has his own train set up in his garden shed.  Julian could have stayed there for hours watching the trains go around the tracks, and there were no loud whistles...perfect!

In my opinion no trip to East Germany is complete without a trip to Seiffen.  This is Aunt Andrea and Oma in front of the church in Seiffen that is famous because so many of the carved figures you can buy in this town have this church represented.  I bought an Advent Candle Holder to use next Christmas.  I LOVE Seiffen and all the shops!

Our travels are just beginning, stay tuned for more adventures:)

Life in General

I find that if I don't have specific events or travels to blog about then I don't update as often.  But life continues on as usual, even without stellar trips to write about.  So here are a few of the things I have been up to over the last month or so...

Every Wednesday morning since last October I have been going to a play group at our church.  We play with toys, sing songs, read a story and do an art project.  Julian loves it and I really like spending some creative time with my little man each week.

I hosted a baby shower for my friend Katie.  This is baby number one for her and she is so excited and will be a wonderful Mommy.

The process of de-junking and preparing for our move has begun.  Twice a year we can put large garbage out for pick up.  We got rid of a couch as well as a bunch of stuff that has been sitting in our basement for 4 years.

The boys and I participated in the Shamrock Shuffle that was hosted on the Army post here.  The twins ran a 400 meter dash with about 30 other kids.  Townsend came in 2nd place and Emerson was 6th place...yes, I'm a proud Mommy.  I ran the 5K and came in under 30 minutes, that's a record for me:)

We went bowling with the Platt's for family night.  Yes, Becky is about to have a baby in a few weeks and YES, she beat us all!  I believe she was channeling her "inner bowling ball"

There was no school last Friday so the boys had a play date with their twin friends, Aadi and Annadi.  The city had brought in a truck load of sand to use at the lake here in Pressath.  The boys loved playing all over the sand dunes!

So, even though I haven't gone anywhere fantastic the last few weeks, you can see I stay pretty busy.  I love life here in Germany.  I love my friends and I love my house and I love my little town.  I am going to enjoy these next few months as much as I can.