The kids and I went sledding today up on the hill not far from our house. Caedon and Logan had a good time, but Ashlyn and Jonah got frustrated pretty quickly. The weather was nice though, about 32 degrees and lightly snowing.

My camera was acting up and I couldn't get a decent picture but I managed a couple.

Caedon looks old to me in this picture. I guess he is 8 but he will always be 3 to me!

I don't know what happened with this picture either. He didn't have black eyebrows on his hat!

Ice cream is a beloved treat here in Germany and is enjoyed all year round and all day long. I have seen people eat it as early as 9 a.m.. There are many different and interesting flavors and one can even get their alcohol fix.

Here is a pic of downtown from the riverside flea market. It was a rather rainy day, which is typical for fall. This fall has been really mild and sunny and we have enjoyed it immensely!

The other day we made a trip downtown and decided to eat at one of only a couple "mexican" restaurants in town. I asked for an english menu because I knew it was not well translated! Here is a sample. The third is especially funny.

Chicken stripes anyone?

Whistle rolled? and they used the french word for mushrooms (champignons)

Good thing it is only a little covered. But what if I want it completely covered?

Compilate yourself (not sure how to do that?) Nipple, anyone?

We went to the Amarillo amusement park the last night in the Borger/Amarillo area. Mike and Janis, Joel and Mama all went with us. They are only open from 7-10 pm so it was just right to get in all the rides the kids wanted to ride. We started off slow...

Then the older kids did the Rainbow with Jason, it went a little too high for my taste.

To finish up, they let the kids have one final spin on the Merry-go-Round.

I was a little sick from the dizzying rides that I rode in quick succession. That was a new experience for me but overall it was a good night. Here is a picture of us at the end of the night.

After our week in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area we headed to the Panhandle. Jason's grandmother, aunt and uncle, and many of our friends live there. We stayed in Jason's Mama's house the whole week and saw friends there and drove into Amarillo to see others. We caught up with several college friends and their families and some of my high school friends. We went one night to Wonderland (the local amusement park) and encountered a typical panhandle creature!

At the water play area in Borger with a college roomate of mine and her in-laws who came to take care of the kids a couple years ago for a retreat here in Dresden!

Here is a pic with the aforementioned creature. I (Cheryl) found him at the local shopping area and brought him home for the family to see. Logan was the only kid who would hold him.

Popsicles, a great summer treat!

Meeting with my friend Stephanie from high school and her mom, who was like a mom to me for a few years in high school and college. Good friends and a good time at Chilis!

Stephanie and her girls, Cora (12) and Sydney (10)

After a week in Houston with my family, we traveled up to Snyder to talk at FBC and then off to the metroplex to spend a week or so with the Dietz clan. We spent two days at a cabin in east Texas with the entire Mike Dietz family and let the cousins play, get to know each other and waterslide. We then went and spent a few days with Jason's sister Emily and her family. One day we went down to Nacogdoches to visit Jason's grandparents.

Eating, which we did a lot of! Luke and Emily Panter, Jeff Dietz

All of the cousins. Trying to get a good picture of everyone was very difficult. 5 of these cuties were new to us (had been born in the 4 years we were away).

The Mike Dietz Family, Mike, Jeff, Jason, Emily, Jonathan, Janis, and Joel

Papa Bill Kimsey and family

Mema Kimsey and family

Our newest niece, Loralei Dietz. Isn't she precious? She was just a month old when we got to see and hold her. It was wonderful!

After two weeks in NM and a shortened trip to Virginia for work, we headed to Houston for a week to attend my grandfather's funeral. He died before I had a chance to see him, so it was a very difficult thing to be there knowing that if I had made different plans I would have been able to say "goodbye". I hadn't seen him in over four years and my grandmother told me he had "held on" to see me. So, after the funeral, we decided to change our plans and stay in Houston for a week to spend time with my family and help with funeral things. During the week we went to NASA, visited with my brother and his family, my other grandmother and just relaxed.

My grandmother and I after the funeral.

NASA

Visiting my other grandmother (Hawkins)

Cousin Joshua

Cousin Morgan and Jenna