Holmes Family Adventures

Happy 8th Birthday aVa

2011-02-16T12:18:00.004+01:00

Tried to fix Bessie's eyes, but it didn't work so well:*) Oh, and notice what Ava's wearing this year? Now, look down and see last year...too funny!

Get Stoned

2011-02-13T23:07:00.003+01:00

Elephant Nature Park Thailand

2011-02-13T11:17:00.000+01:00

Thailand

2011-01-30T05:07:00.002+01:00

Sorry I've been so bad about the blog...I forget that some of my faithful friends and family do not do Facebook. So here it is, a bit about our trip.

No John...someone has to work! My friend Camie from Colusa flew to Japan where we then jetted off to Bangkok for a week. She has timeshares, so she traded for a beautiful 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath apt:*) No masseuse though:*( But shopping, eating, massaging and scrubbing was hard work, so we left Bangkok to fly to Chiang Mai, where we had to start off getting a massage, as that hour fly left me a little haggard.

So it's Sunday, and Ava has met some children to play with, so we're having a rest day whilst Camie goes in search of adventure. She likes to see the world; doesn't she know I'm on vacation:*)?

Photos to follow when we get home. This hard drive on our 4 year old MacBook is full:*(

Ava's Taiko Performance

2010-10-11T02:41:00.000+02:00

Ava's first job...it's about time!

2010-04-26T09:46:00.008+02:00

So, we got on three trains to get to the "House" Studio, which is a house that you can rent...European style. The program should air on NHK in June or July, so keep an eye out!

Surprise Trip to Hokaido for Lantern and Snow Fest

2010-02-16T01:02:00.009+01:00

John went out on the boat last week to go to Hokaido for festivities surrounding the Sapporo Snow Festival and the Otaru Lantern Festival. Thursday night, he calls and says, "Why don't you and Ava come up?" So, frantically, I book tickets to Sapporo and he books a hotel.We left Friday morning and came home Tuesday afternoon.

All the photos in the daylight are of Sapporo, and the nighttime ones are Otaru. We LOVED Otaru and can't wait to make it back!!!! And don't you love anyplace where you can take a photo with a Giant BBQ'ed Squid????

Ktpig turns 7:*)

2010-02-16T00:56:00.003+01:00

Like the look? And then she felt better once she had on a fashion outfit from Zia!

Hawaii

2010-01-04T04:26:00.005+01:00

AAAAHHHHHH....can't wait to go back:*) Thanks to the Clark Family and Zia and Pat for making the trip to join us for a fabulously relaxing vacation! And we'll definitely go back to Waianai for the great beach, surfing(heehee), sunsets, and hospitality!

Look what we did today

2009-11-22T10:51:00.006+01:00

The City of Yokosuka put on a fair today....what fun, and work!

Ava and her boys: Elvis and Jerry Lee

2009-10-27T09:36:00.004+01:00

Shih Tzu and Schnauzer(he's since gotten a hair cut:*)

New house:*)

2009-10-16T08:51:00.006+02:00

They're actually moving us in next Friday(high rent district...I hope they don't kick me out once they know the truth:*), and our furniture is here too!

Harvest gold formica cabinets in the kitchen, pink sinks and vanity in the master bath. What else could I hope for?

Thank you very much

2009-10-15T10:39:00.000+02:00

The King is in the house.....here's Elvis!

Japan

2009-10-15T00:05:00.004+02:00

Some shots from Kamakura, a beautiful seaside village where the giant buddah sits

Some shots from Kamakura and sushi:*)

First Day, First Grade:*)

2009-08-31T17:21:00.003+02:00

Look at my little Cheetah Girl, off to first grade! And her hot Papi behind:*)
And to top it off, BEST FRIEND AT SAME TABLE!!!

Zwiebelfest, Esslingen

2009-08-24T09:12:00.005+02:00

Pretty much of a bust, as it was SUPER hot, and nothing to see except the town and eat....was hoping for something like Krautfest, or ???? Did get a chance to meet ReNell's brother and his family, who have just arrived for 3 years of bliss:*)

Eltinger Weinfest

2009-08-04T19:33:00.003+02:00

For those of you not on Facebook, a taste of what we did last weekend

A contest with a GREAT prize

2009-07-30T23:02:00.002+02:00

Just go here......http://cinnamonsticksboutique.blogspot.com/
and follow the directions!!! Good luck to me:*)

Madsen

2009-07-06T22:57:00.001+02:00

Adios! Nos vamos a Nerja:*)

2009-06-12T20:52:00.002+02:00

Estaremos in Nerja por 2 semanas....yahoo!

Ava is published!

2009-06-02T19:34:00.004+02:00

Ava sent a picture to a TV channel in the UK...they published her artwork! Click the link above to check it out!

Fairytale Garden Schloss Ludwigsburg

2009-05-19T20:55:00.004+02:00

The old Schloss in Ludwigsburg is also home to a fabulous garden filled with fun about fairytales! Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, just to name a few!

Guess what I tried today Papi?

2009-05-11T08:43:00.002+02:00

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-11T08:40:00.003+02:00

Ava treated me like a mom yesterday:*) Then we went to lunch with some friends to a local biergarten on a small lake. The photos are by Miss A

A day at Cora

2009-05-11T08:35:00.004+02:00

My friend "Washington State Apples" and I took a drive to France last week for a shopping trip, for what? French food! MMMMMM...it was so exciting, as I do love food and haven't had a foreign(ok Germany doesn't count) food shopping trip since our trip to Tenerife in October. The pate, paella, cheese, salami, mini vegetables; I couldn't contain myself! And customer service agents on roller skates? Priceless!

Asparagas Fest in Fellbach

2009-05-03T21:53:00.004+02:00

Sock Hop 2009

2009-05-03T21:42:00.006+02:00

Day at Schwabenpark

2009-04-26T21:31:00.004+02:00

Ilka and Bernd invited us to go to Schwabenpark today. It was fabulous! An old-fashioned family run amusement park with a chimp riging a pony, parrots, tigers, goats, llamas and fish. One of the chimp trainers was also the one who served us lunch:*) This is my kind of park....small, family operated, and not too expensive!

First game 6-2:*) Go Sharks!!!!

2009-04-18T17:26:00.002+02:00

Under the direction of Coach Katie, The Sharks beat The Redhots 6-2. A great game was played by ALL!!!!

Thanks Tanya

2009-03-23T15:07:00.002+01:00

The talented Tanya made this for Ava....BEAUTIFUL:*) and thank you from the mama

Ava is finally 6....no more parties!

2009-03-22T21:41:00.009+01:00

So after having a few hours of fun at the Paladion, we came home, along with Paul, Lola, and Guiliana to play Wii Fit and drink Blood Orange margaritas...ok, they didn't get any!

Yikes!

2009-03-21T23:32:00.003+01:00

From Tutu Monkey....

Take a photo of yourself right now, and post it.

Tag you're it! Tanya, Corn, Zia, Robbyn, Kate

The Beginning of the End

2009-03-20T20:49:00.003+01:00

Back in February, we went with the group to go skiing; the kids were watching a show on German television about the magic of conception, unbeknownst to the adults nearby.....

So tonight, while laying in bed, Ava says to me, her mother....

Does the boys penis go in the girl's vagina, is that how you make a baby? Aidan thought that was eeewwww.

What next? Please, don't tell me!

My Halloween costume for 2009

2009-03-19T16:07:00.001+01:00

Kindy 500

2009-03-12T22:57:00.002+01:00

A week ago today, the kindergarten at Ava's school participated in the Kindy 500, a "drive" around America. Ava's state was Massachusetts, so what else signifies Mass than a Pink Cadillac?

Salzburg

2009-03-05T11:03:00.001+01:00

What better way to enjoy a stau than to stop in Salzburg. Very beautiful, but my favorite part was eating sushi:*)

More skiing

2009-03-05T11:02:00.000+01:00

More Zell am See

2009-03-05T10:44:00.002+01:00

So, we got to get pulled up the side of a mountain in the back of a cow trailer to go tubing. But the really fun part came after(not counting drinking homemade Weissbier) when we got to take the wooden rail sleds down the road we came up the hill in.....SOOOO FUN!

Fun in Zell

2009-02-22T18:02:00.004+01:00

We're in Zell am See

2009-02-21T10:24:00.002+01:00

Look at the view from our window:*) We're unpacking and will ski half day today...Ava's in kid's club with Lola...oh vacation:*)

Sleepover with Bailey

2009-02-19T09:36:00.002+01:00

Oberstdorf...ahhh

2009-02-19T09:33:00.002+01:00

Happy 6th Birthday to Ava

2009-02-19T07:54:00.001+01:00

Happy Birthday Ava!

2009-02-16T20:24:00.003+01:00

Photos of the weekend tomorrow.....my baby is 6....can I believe it? Hell no!

We're off to Oberstdorf for a ski weekend

2009-02-12T21:54:00.002+01:00

The Dehan's, Walt's, and Elkin-Rush's and Holmes Family Adventures are heading to Allgau this weekend for our 2nd Annual German Friend-Family Ski Trip...can't wait!

What's up Katie

2009-02-04T20:02:00.003+01:00

Well, after being in the hospital, I wasn't quite myself...huh? So, I kind of took last week off. So, this week, I'm back, and with a vengeance!

So today, with a friend, I headed out to Boesner, a German art supply store. http://www.boesner.com/boesner/servlet/frontend/niederlassungen/leinfelden.html?command=display&btUid=bt_Branches&iDf_id=c0a81e6:55c2357d:107a447137f:a80
Boy was it fun! And the custom framing is so darned inexpensive that I think I'll re-frame the story of Little Baby Black Dracula(or really some biblical story that I don't know the name of). I've had it since Peter went to work in Ethiopia when we lived in Spain, and back in the day, I could only afford the least expensive metal frame. Well now, watch out! Will post once I've actually had it done.

Oh, and the week before last, I made mozzarella with Tanya, aka Washington State Apples. It was fun and really good, but for those of you who really know me, I'm just not that patient.

Bye!

I'm OK

2009-01-31T11:00:00.004+01:00

So, my fabulous ski trip didn't go as planned, and I had to spend 2 nights in the local hospital(there's a link on the title). Turns out the sore throat that I'd had since Wednesday last week was Strep, and I was really sick! And this link shows a woman in bed, but it's really one of the nurses(GREAT) http://www.vinzenz-klinik.de/page.php?id=KlinikLeistungsspektrum
But I'm home now, and recovered. And tonight, we've got date night with some friends to go to Thai in Stuttgart....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Lindsey's Bday Party

2009-01-18T14:40:00.004+01:00

I'm finally off my butt, so, here's Ava

2009-01-18T13:32:00.005+01:00

We're home after a fabulous week in GAP

2008-12-28T20:10:00.003+01:00

Otherwise known as Garmsich-Partenkirchen.....we had a great time, ran into some friends and got to do a lot of skiing. It was cold, but that didn't stop us! I had a "little" crash, so you can see the photo I "took" as I was crashing, and what my helmet looked like after:*(

The photo of the kids on the ground is one Ava took...I'm glad she has a sense of humor, or is that a mean streak?

Gingy

2008-12-19T08:32:00.003+01:00

Ava's creation at school yesterday

Boogerville, or Level 23 as it's now known as

2008-12-04T21:13:00.001+01:00

Is Robbyn my color queen or what????

C'est ridicule

2008-12-04T17:39:00.003+01:00

Overheard by Michelle at the Louvre that is showing "Art" by Jeff Koons. My personal favorite is Michael with Bubbles.

I love this photo

2008-12-04T17:23:00.002+01:00

Did I nail it or what? And it doesn't hurt that my models are so fabulous!

First shots from our trip

2008-12-04T10:42:00.003+01:00

These include visits with friends, Bruges, first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and Paris....and look at Michelle the Angel:*

A chance to win free presents!

2008-11-26T18:09:00.001+01:00

Krappy Katie continued, or is that Crafty Katie

2008-11-19T20:22:00.004+01:00

But which blog to post to? I guess this, as it's not about jewelry....

Tanya the Craft Goddess(seriously, she's AMAZING, and I mean this in all seriousness!)gave me some fabulous homespun yarns for my birthday complete with needles and yarn bag, as she's giving me lots of credit to think that I might be patient enough to learn to knit...but today, she had me over for a class in felting. SO MUCH FUN! Look what I made, 3 of the 4 balls pictured:*)

Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Katie the Craft Queen

Chicken 2008 by Ava Holmes

2008-11-16T18:54:00.002+01:00

Another fabulous party, this time for my bday

2008-11-15T22:07:00.002+01:00

Thank you to all my friends who could make it....Sylvana, Giacomo, Giuliana, Alessandro, Kristin(with Caesar), David, Isabel, Andy, Julia, Elena, Jeff, ReNell, Anne, Ken, Aidan, Gwyn, Helen, Sterling, Klaus, Hannelore, Lena, Michael, Tanya without her clan:*(

It's so nice to have this life and have the friends! I couldn't do this without any of you:*)

And to my wonderful jerk, who I love the most! Oh, and Ava, who painted me a picture of Chicken, which I will post tomorrow.

WOW, what a birthday!

2008-11-13T22:26:00.005+01:00

Birthday wishes from: backpack from Ilka, Isabel, chicken dance card from Nonna, earrings from Catherine and Kathaleen, Ava, John and Gwyn made me a hysterical card, Aidan, Muffins from Anne, an apple and tray from Heidi and Brigette, Sylvana and Giacomo, a Sindelfingen plate from Barb the fab, vest from Robbyn, Zia, Tia, Aidan, Michelle, Jana, Klaus and Hannelore at 8:30 with a bottle of wine, and taken out to a fabulous dinner at Viola by the DeHan Clan!

I am SOOOOO lucky to have the life and friends that I do! I must be doing something right to have the karma that I have!

Thank you
everyone!!!
kt

43 and FABULOUS!!!!

2008-11-13T11:01:00.001+01:00

Check Get Stoned, made a few today!

2008-11-11T16:53:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-11-09T20:42:00.003+01:00

My first birthday present from my friend Ilka is this FABULOUS LeSportSac Backpack, complete with pirates:*) She and Lola and Paul (Bernd is in Santa Domingo playing golf:*()came for make your own pizza tonight, and this is what I got:*0 SO flippin' cute!!!!!!! I'm SO lucky to have the friends I have, and cannot believe the luck we had in coming here and getting new forever ones! Love you all!!!!

Give a sister $500 and 20 minutes in Bangkok

2008-11-09T20:34:00.001+01:00

And look what she can do:*) Thanks Zia!!!!

Big money day!

2008-11-08T10:34:00.002+01:00

WOW!!! In the last two days, I was paid SKY commission, English camp, sold 2 necklaces and 3 belt buckles! I'm feeling kind of Jamaican:*) But don't come asking for a loan, as one of my Boogerville tenants stole rent. He got evicted yesterday by my property manager EXTRAORDINAIRE Robbyn, who is one of the best friends a girl could ask for!

My jewelry display

2008-11-05T19:01:00.002+01:00

There's a craft show on base this weekend, and I'm showing some stuff. Stop by if you're in town:*)

This is who Ava voted for yesterday....YIPPEEE!!!

2008-11-05T07:08:00.002+01:00

Big news: First tooth out

2008-11-03T20:37:00.003+01:00

But unfortunately, we lost it leaving school today:*( She was playing with her friends, and we got to the car, and pow!(%@#*@ It was gone..... So she wrote a note to the tooth fairy in hopes that he'll/she'll forgive and leave a little something:*)

First Snow of the Season

2008-10-30T07:21:00.001+01:00

Tenerife, The Canary Islands

2008-10-24T08:15:00.008+02:00

A little background..... We found an apt. for $329 for the week, so what the heck? Take a week of leave, pop Ava out of school for 4 days, and go!!!! The weather was great, the jamon was great, the sangria was great, John got to golf 36 holes,and my family is great! What else????

The photo of me with no top is pretty self-explanatory, except that I'd forgotten my top in the car which was a 5 minute walk, and didn't care. So, topless:*) The cat is Stripey, one of our pets for the week. Rock is lava with sea salt. And the door is for Tanya, as I know she loves doorways too! Taken in the tiny mountain village of Vilaflor. The woman was just leaving, so I asked if I could take a photo. She invited me in, but I declined, as I thought that the fact she would let me take it was a great photo in inself. The yellow submarine is the sub tour we went on, and well, it was worth it for Ava, but blah for us....Oh and Ava falling asleep in the chair? She woke up at 2:30 am for some unknown reason, and stayed awake. That was taken about 4pm....poor little baby:*)

Oh the weather

2008-10-14T12:27:00.001+02:00

having a fab time here...forgot the computer, so no pics. Eating lots of jamon and manchego...oh and i´m drinking lots of sangria

We're off...

2008-10-09T08:51:00.001+02:00

to Tenerife tomorrow for a week of fun in the sun at the beach! I'll try to post something while we're gone.

HEEEEEEHEEEEEEE

2008-10-05T19:58:00.001+02:00

Miss A's quote of the day

2008-09-29T20:21:00.001+02:00

Getting ready for John's birthday....

"we'd better hurry. papi'll be home in a gypsy." :*)

Sport Schule

2008-09-29T20:10:00.004+02:00

Ava goes 2x/week with her friends Ule, Lola and Elena, all from her Kindergarten last year. Ava is chasing Ule with the nerf ball.

163rd Canstatter Volksfest

2008-09-28T20:29:00.010+02:00

What a way to spend another Sunday livin' the dream! We went to the Canstatter Volksfest Parade, which is where just last year, on him birthday, John had a tummy issue from
too much beer:*(
So this year, no fest tent, just a parade and rides....much safer for Juan! Somehow, I was in charge of getting the drinks, so a schnaps, some wine, and biers later, I took a self portrait. I did not drink the biers or wein, as it wasn't my kind...and the schnaps was shared by 8 adults. And as far as Budweiser, their wagons or beer don't even make the grade!

Why you should never lie...

2008-09-26T08:05:00.000+02:00

"I got a new hairdo"(sung by Patti LaBelle)

2008-09-23T10:23:00.003+02:00

At first the bangs were, let's say, Frankensteinish:*( But then voila! And now I've even put it back to my "natural" color:*)

Slip Slidin' Away

2008-09-21T22:08:00.004+02:00

Touring the German Wine Country

2008-09-21T19:17:00.004+02:00

We were lucky enough yesterday to be invited by some friends to tour the German wine region about 200km from here. We started our day in Diedersheim, a gorgeous town in the heart of the Pfalz region. This is where we got to do some wine tasting and observe a wedding. The photo of the two sawing a log is to show how well they work together:*)

Then we were off to lunch in Wachenheimburg, a medieval castle ruin that archeologists are currently digging. From there, it was on to Germany's largest wine fest. Let me add that serving 1/2 litre glasses of wine at a carnival is NOT a good idea!

Photos from Viehsheid courtesy of Anne

2008-09-17T21:53:00.004+02:00

Man, are those some BIG bells or what? They're only worn for the fest. Each buckle is engraved with a name and year...maybe the person or family who bought the bell??? If you know, please comment. And yes, people in southern Germany really DO wear lederhosen and dirnels for fests!

First day on the bus

2008-09-15T08:35:00.003+02:00

Aidan and Gwyn were kind enough to ride with her the first day...I'm thinking she's missing her mom as she goes toward her seat:*(

Check DeHan Blog for photos from yesterday

2008-09-14T19:51:00.000+02:00

My camera was MIA:*(

Look at Get Stoned, it's got new stuff

2008-09-11T21:03:00.001+02:00

If you miss Ava

2008-09-11T19:01:00.002+02:00

She stayed home sick yesterday and today. Yesterday she WAS sick, but today was just a boondoggle so she didn't get anyone else sick.

Get Stoned

2008-09-02T15:34:00.004+02:00

There's a new blog in town, so click the link!

First day of big school

2008-09-02T08:45:00.002+02:00

Dogs B-Ava from the basement

2008-09-01T21:37:00.006+02:00

This was taken in March 2005 when we were in the middle of the upstairs remodel and John was somewhere:*(

We miss our dogs

2008-09-01T21:33:00.001+02:00

We had a guest dog this weekend, and it REALLY made us all realize how much it sucks not having a dog(s). Can't wait until next year about this time when we can again have a bigger family!

Stuttgarter Weindorf

2008-09-01T10:20:00.003+02:00

What a fun afternoon:*) And the flowers are REAL!!

My baby's last weekend before big school

2008-09-01T10:15:00.003+02:00

So, it's here. The day, tomorrow, where the little girl goes, and the new little girl arrives. She starts the journey tomorrow, and I'm sad....

Get Stoned Jewelry Design

2008-08-24T21:40:00.001+02:00

getstonedjewelrydesign@googlemail.com

I'm official:*)

Jewelry by Katie

2008-08-23T16:18:00.009+02:00

Grey Coin Pearls and Thai Sterling Silver-donated to German American Women's Club Silent Auction

Coral and Thai Sterling Silver-sold to Helen:*)

Labradorite and Thai Sterling Silver-sold to Christina

Jasper and Thai Sterling Silver

White Coin Pearls and Thai Sterling Silver-sold to Stacey

White Biwa Pearls and Thai Sterling Silver

Custom orders accepted:*) Watch out for new stuff next week, or whenever my silver beads arrive

The Zoo and Aquarium

2008-08-21T09:49:00.004+02:00

The photos of the jaguar is her killing a bird. If you look in the first photo, there's a little bird in the lower right corner. The second one is bird is under her paw....she was FAST!! Also a shot of "everyone poops", even lizards, and lizard wrestling:*)

Berlin

2008-08-21T09:16:00.002+02:00

Mon petit jou, Jana, friend of 31 years and her friend Karen, (now our friend too!) trained into Stuttgart from Paris Thursday night. Friday, at the crack of dawn, or 1:30 pm, we headed for Berlin. John worked, so he didn't have to endure the 6+ hour drive, but instead flew in luxury. We arrived at our ***** Grand Hotel Esplanade Berlin. I then headed to the airport to p/u John...so we really started our trip Saturday.

So, the photos are of Berlin. You'll see the Reich Stadt, Berlin Wall(all over the place), Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Jews killed in Berlin(the one that looks like all the graves...very beautiful and sad), the new Synagogue(gold and green dome), memorial to those killed while trying to cross the wall, and last but not least, the koi who liked to be pet...REALLY!!!

Jana's coming to town:*)

2008-08-14T17:29:00.002+02:00

We're off on another adventure, but we'll be back Monday!

A future?

2008-08-12T21:36:00.001+02:00

John's first smore...can you believe it?

2008-08-12T12:47:00.003+02:00

Thinking of your wife and not you!

2008-08-11T20:56:00.000+02:00

You know who you are.....

2nd Annual Camping Trip

2008-08-11T20:27:00.002+02:00

More tomorrow~