Black Forest Cherry...

Today we went to a little village in the Black Forest called "Höfen". We stopped at a restaurant we'd been wanting to visit for awhile called "Zum Ochsen" and had ourselves the second best Black Forest Cherry cake. The first best would have to go to Albertson's Backery in Portland, Oregon. ;-)

After we had eaten our cake, we went to a park attached to the restaurant/hotel. Jamie had a hay-day cleaning dirt out of a drain. He stunk like a madman afterward.

There was also this fountain that he would have done a header into, had I not stopped the camera to catch him.

Then of course there was the slide. Jamie loves slides! No matter the size. 

Actually, the bigger the better. I just have to make sure and not let him slide down alone. So far that's been pretty easy. I always have to be with him anyway. But someday sooner than later, he'll be flying down those things at lightning fast speeds. I just hope that somebody will be there to catch him. If he's anything like me, which certainly can't be the case, he'll want to show everybody how big he is and doesn't need anybody to help him with the slide. Then we might have to make sure that there's a grandma around to carry him home after he hurts himself. ;-)

Jamie's is a real kick in the pants

Today was Sunday. And it was restful. We spent the morning at the church service. Well... not really. Kristine actually sat in the sanctuary and took part in church. I was in the children's room with Jamie for the most part, playing with trucks and legos. That's the way church should be if you ask me. ;-)

Jamie then showed us all what a great communicator he is, while playing with Grandpa's cell phone. He wasn't about to let anyone show him how to do it. He was trying to show us!

We're pretty spoiled people, so after lunch we went to the park with some friends and had a blast making the area unsafe. Jamie is such an outdoorsy kinda guy. He loves lots of space, being able to explore, whatever he wants to, without being told too often that he's not allowed. He loves hittin' the slide hard with Pops and just doin' his own thing. I love that boy.

As you can see... don't you just wanna cuddle him too? Oh wait... I mean... what a manly man. Er... uhh, yeah that's right. Who needs cuddlin'?

Hangin' at the church

Yesterday, Jamie and I went for a walk to an old church here in our village. It was great. We played in the courtyard. Found pine-cones, moved them from one grassy knoll to the other and then back again.

The conclusion was Jamie opening and closing this big iron gate in front of the courtyard. He really goes all out. My boy... he's got the blood of a scottish man in 'em. Or maybe he's just another american mutt. Whatever his blood makeup, he's one strapping boy!

Fishies Part II

It is at this point I would like to proudly say that my son and I were, for the 2nd time, together at the Fish farm not far from our apartment. 

The mission was trout. At least that was my mission. Jamie's mission on the other hand was not merely to look at trout, but to experience the trout. He attempted to dive into one of the trout ponds a couple times. After I wouldn't let him, he settled for dropping his little blue rake in instead. 

This all took place inside 5 minutes. At which time I promptly decided to strap his little body into the buggy and find a playground. 

Trout farms are no place for 1 year olds. Nevertheless, I enjoyed finally once again making it the the trout farm together with my boy. He's a real kick in the pants.