The German Adventure

Looking back through these pictures we are wondering why we would ever want to leave this place. We are actually still working through that question - but we have just accepted a job in Salt Lake. We start on 18. November this year.

We'll be back. (in the mean time we've got to find a new name for our blog)

Pumpkins

Fall is the time for farmers to put out the pumpkin cart and sell their goods. The "Kasse" has a metal lock box where you drop in your money (honor system). Of course fall brings rain too.

Abby and Kirsti

Kirsti likes to jump off mom's legs in her swing.

Stadt Mobil

We've decided to cut our carbon footprint in half. Here is our old car(silver) and new car(red). I think we qualify to have Al Gore fly us home for Christmas in his private jet as reward. We are losing our company car (Ford Focus - size of our old Honda Civic in stationwagon form). This red car represents our attempt at "car sharing" where we pay a monthly fee in order to rent this car at a good rate by the hour/km when we need it. We pick it up when we need it about 5 minutes walk from our house.

The girls fit in pretty snug/cosy. In order to close the doors the plastic child seats have to compress about an inch.

(Confession: its about saving money - I really don't think a smaller car will save any polar bears or karaboo)

Fresh out of the tubby!

As you can see, it looks like Kirsti will be another blue eyed beauty.

I see alot of Elli at this age in her big smile.

Family picnic

This is a little park near our house. We did a picnic last week to celebrate one of the last days of summer.

Laptop Repair

Our cord was acting fritsy so repaired the cable. That didn't fix it so I found a great website that described taking the whole thing apart. I ended up taking the whole thing apart twice like this because the first time didn't do it - I only resoldered the top of the power connector to the circuit board (silly me). So I did it right the second time. Luckily - since this laptop is Sally's life line to family/friends.

Romania Road Trip

Humungous thankyou to Sally for enabling one of my dreams of visiting post cold war Eastern Europe. A friend from church agreed to come and we left at noon on Friday -returned Saturday night.

Kirsti Smiles & Big Pants

Turn down the volume on this one if you aren't ready for some gooey mommy-talk.

I've decided that Kirsti wears the pants in our family. She decides our schedule each day and gets fed, sleep, or entertainment at her beck and call.

Sunflowers!

Mom and Papa Farny sent us sunflower seeds last summer with a promise that they would bloom and did they ever!!

Kyle's Commute

My bikeride through fields and forest. It really is a pretty ride. Takes me usually 20min - this video is at 4x speed so it lasts under 5 minutes. Beware, it is a bit choppy. If you look fast you can see beautiful barren fields(harvest just happened), a Porsche, a tractor, another biker I pass like he's standing still, a red light I run and the corresponding honk from an admiring observer. All from my helmet mount camera thanks to a bunch of hot glue.

Wildpark picts

Last Saturday we visited a forest animal petting zoo in Pforzheim - about an hour drive away. We bought the official animal grub (grass pellets and corn kernel mixure) and went to town. We had a great time after the girls got used to the idea of having a big hairy animal multiple times their size lick the food out of their hands. It turned out to be a hoot.






























This guy caught Sally's eye. He is an unkilted Scottish beef bull. Kind a hairy. He didn't get any pellets from Abby.

Wildpark Video

Girls pics

Here Elli is donning the favorite vest. So far this lovely Christmas piece complete with elves hanging oversized lightbulbs against a cheery black backdrop only graced the bedtime hours. We're hoping it doesn't surprise us on a "you can pick your clothes today for Kindergarten" day. This black christmas vest fettish is shared by Abby, they take turns with it frequently. Even against our encouragement they will wear it on warm nights, waking up with a sweaty face.


Three sleeping sisters. This method saves space.

spontaneous dance and provoked song

3rd times a charm!

And what a charm she is! Here is a better picture of her a few days after her birth.

So far everything is going great. How were we ever a family without her?

Kirsti Anna!

Born 10:09am July 21
7.6 lbs
Sally and baby are both doing well.

Our little German Girl

As a mother's day present for me, Kyle got a Dirndel for Elli.
I think she is looks like more than 1/4 german.

Just Mom and Abby

While Kyle and Elli have been in the states this week, Abby and I have been having some great one on one time. It has been so fun being with her, I really enjoy darling personality and all the things she is saying these days. It has been also very nice to have a quiet week for some long overdue rest and relaxation before our new one comes.Photo courtesy of Abby. We are getting closer and its a good thing!

Giggly Girls

If only I could bottle this laughter! Oh what fun 2 inches of water can be!

Strawberries!!!

There is a strawberry field - pay and pick - just outside of our town a few blocks from our house. This day was especially momentous for me(Kyle) as I was also picking strawberries as a four year old with my family in Germany the same as Elli. I remember how good the strawberries were, they are still awesome.


Elli did great. Sally has been able to work alot of strawberries into Elli's diet.


Our little Pinkalicious. Abby was the clean up crew - basically just stuffing as many strawberries as possible into her mouth as we picked.


We left the field with 5 kg of strawberries (about 12 lbs)! These boxes represents what was left after we all ate as much as we could for lunch when we got home. We ended up freezing a bunch and giving some away (we are so nice :) ). I think we should go strawberry picking next Saturday too.

Goodbye VanDams - we miss you!

These are the VanDams, they inspired us to go to the German speaking ward. They are Americans returning to the US today. He was a great bishop and there are big holes in the ward with their departure.

Farnsworth Reunion Dance Performance

Salzburg - The Sound of Music/Mozart

We went to Salzburg last weekend. Our Maria is in the mothering way and our Fritz and Friedrich haven't shown up yet, but otherwise we were the spitten image. We sang Do Ray Me all weekend.

We drove past Hitler's Eagles Nest retreat.

As it turns out despite what everyone would naturally assume, Doppler was not Dutch. He was Austrian. I apologize to Justin for the confusion.

Spring in Deutschland

The Dandelions (Lions Teeth in German) are really amazing here. Big and plentiful! The girls love them and I receive bunches of dandelion bouquets every day. Who could be luckier?

This is one of my favorite things about spring in Germany. Rapeseed (used for canola oil) which is blooming everywhere around here right now. Of course the pictures do not do it justice. Its amazing how deep yellow it is.

Another day, another castle. We finally made it to Burg Eltz which has been on Kyle's must see list for quite a while. Its the only castle in Germany that was never destroyed and rebuilt. It had original paintings and tapestries in it from the 15 and 1600's. It was pretty amazing. Kyle's new favorite castle in Europe.

Elli went to her first birthday party. A little German girl invited her and she had a great time. We are continually amazed and inspired by our little 'Madschen' who does such a great job adapting to a different culture and new situations. A good example for her mom for sure!

Easter dresses given to us by a friend. We were lucky they fit us!! Horray for cute dresses!

Grandma and Grandpa in Germany!!

I never imagined seeing my parents in Germany, but it was a dream come true. Of all the things I've seen in Germany, they were my favorite. I was reminded while they were here of what wonderful people I have for parents.These girls love their beautiful Grandma. She was the constant entertainer, rode in the backseat of the car with the girls, and was always cheerful and helpful. Lunch at an alpine lake
Casle Hohenzollern and the Royal Family
Neunschwanstein castle
Granpa and his Buster Girls.

Roaring Tigers

Tyler, Jamie, Alanna & Cali visit

We had a great time with our fun visitors over the last few days. These little friends had a great time. We can't wait to live a little closer some time soon.


We visited Rothenber ob der Tauber yesterday together. We had a fun time walking around this cool old town.