Germany at Easter

Easter and the two following weeks we spent in Germany this year. It was the first time that we went back as a family in two years. We took the campervan and mostly stayed in and near Koblenz with Kerstin's sister and parents.

On Easter Sunday we had a nice walk with Kerstin's grandparents, parents, auntie, brother and sister with family. The walk was not as long as the Easter walks used to be before there were four little ones (Yana, Anya and their cousins) joining in, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The children found little chocolate Easter eggs that the Easter bunny (great-grandpa Klaus) had lost along the path. We set up a table and seating under the campervan's awning and had a yummy picnic. The next day Kerstin's sister cooked a yummy three-course lunch.

Easter Sunday walk with Kerstin's family.

Setting up the picnic

Yummy food

Klaus and three of his great-grandchildren

Us with Kevin enjoying Nina's Easter lunch

We all had a great time in Germany, catching up with family and friends and enjoying the summery weather. Lindsay managed to go out on a couple of bike rides, Kerstin had a re-union with four friends from high-school, and Yana and Anya enjoyed playing with their cousins.

Lindsay building a dam

Kerstin and Nina with their little ones

Oma with Yana and Oscar

Picnic with friends

Yana and Oscar playing at the playground

Us with Anya at a beergarden

Castle along the Rhine

Ferry trip across the Rhine with Oma

Visiting great-grandma Hanna

On the way back we stopped off in Zeeland, Holland. Lindsay looked at the Delta works and then we all relaxed at a beach for an afternoon. We also paid a brief visit to Brugge in Belgium, enough to take a few quick shots, but not to really experience this picturesque town.

Our campervan at the beach

The kids playing in the water

Yana meeting a lady in Middelburg

Brugge

Brugge

Spring has finally arrived

Over the last few days we have finally had the feeling that spring has arrived. The sun has been shining, it has been warm, and there are flowers and new leaves on the trees.

Last weekend our German friends Silke and Stefan stayed with us with their almost six month old son Niklas. Yana and Anya were really excited about the "bebe" (as Anya called him). We had a great day in Windsor with a picnic alongside the Long Walk, with views of Windsor Castle. The weather was great and we thought it was appropriate to have our first outdoor-ice cream of the year.

Our picnic in front of Windsor Castle.

Yana and Anya having fun playing around after our picnic.

Today we spontaneously decided to go for a bike ride to Hurley. Yana was in nursery, so we only had Anya. She was really good and enjoyed the hour and a half in her little bike seat.

Lindsay and Anya are having a look at the boats in Hurley.

Kerstin and Anya are enjoying the sunshine.