Lake Havasu Vacation

Over the Labor Day weekend we decided to take a trip to Lake Havasu, AZ. This trip was fun and at the same time very special to us as:

1. It was the kids' first trip and swimming in a lake
2. It was our first trip with a pet - our beloved Mariah
3. We've never vacationed in AZ before

We enjoyed ourselves. The kids had fun. The lake and the area was beautiful .... but .... it was extremely hot .... between Lake Havasu and Sierra Vista about a 45 degree difference in temperature.

The kids in the lake.

Mariah - our beloved - she was such a trooper. She was great riding in the car and she'd do everything we do, including swimming in the lake. She used to be afraid to get in the water (the pool at home) but after a few tries of water on her paws she started getting in and even swimming. She was wonderful and so easy going with no problems on our trip. She is the best dog we have never dared to dream of :) .... she is truly a blessing to us.

Mariah found a friend, General, to play with. She is very good with other dogs who are nice to her and wanna play with her. She doesn't care for dogs that bark at her (like little bitty lap dogs) and she doesn't care for cats either. She tries to chase them. But any other dogs that wanna play with her .... she's down for that.

We also try to let her off the leash as often as possible so she can get her exercise and roam around freely. Contrary to non-dog-owners beliefs, a dog does not get a true exercise by walking on the leash next to you. So because Mariah has adjusted to us well, and because she listens to us, we let her off the leash as much as possible .... hence, she's playing with General off the leash.

Here's Mariah's very first time in the water. She kept wanting to swim back to Geno who was taking the picture.

The kids found some friends at the lake they were playing with.

Dada and the kids.

Nyla snapped this picture of us as we were leaving one evening for dinner at the Chinese Buffet :)

We were relaxing and enjoying the day in the shade ..... all of us ..... except the kids. They were swimming and playing in the lake.

We even managed, thanks to my Nyla, to snap a picture of me and Mariah ... my first ever ... as usualy I'm the one snappin' them :)

All in all, great trip, great times ..... love quality time with my family!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Last Trip to the Beach in 2009

For a last time this year we decided to go back to the beach, this time to Panama City Beach in FL, and spend Labor Day weekend there. We did have a wonderful time and stayed at a lovely resort, The Tidewater, right by the beach. Jalen and I also had a chance to visit Golf World - a marine zoo if you wish - and we actually had to go there twice because he couldn't get enough of the dolphins, stingrays, and sea lions. It was a great ending to our summer 2009!

*Meine Lieben, hier seht ihr Photos von diesem Wochenende in Panama City in Florida. Wir sind auch in sowas aehnliches wie einem Zoo gegangen, aber fuer Wassertiere. Dem Toti hat das alles viel Spass gemacht und ich hab die Zeit mit ihm sehr genossen. Unser letztes Mal beim Strand wohl in 2009.

The view from the 30th floor of the resort we stayed at in Panama City Beach.

We only spent about 5 minutes in RBON because soon after we entered the museum Jalen was ready to leave .... fast .... he got a little scared of the curious creatures featured in the museum. Well, I guess it was too early .... after all he's not even 5 yet .... but soon!

*Wir waren nicht lange im RBON Museum, denn schon nach gar nicht mal 5 Minuten wollte Jalen schon raus. Er hat sich wohl von den komischen Kreaturen im Museum ein bisschen erschrocken ... na ja, vielleicht war's zu frueh so ein Museum zu besuchen. Er ist ja schliesslich noch nicht einmal ganz 5 Jahre alt .... aber nicht mehr lange!!!

This was the view from our balcony on the first floor.

Dora Live and The Cottage Restaurant in Atlanta

As a last minute, spontanious kind of activity we decided to go see Dora Live this weekend at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, and then go to our favorite restaurant we always go to when in Atlanta, The Cottage. We had a wonderful time at both, and got so full on injera and lamb that it was really hard trying to stay awake for the drive home ... well, except for Jalen, who fell out soon after we hit the road. Below you'll see pictures of our weekend.

*Meine Lieben, hier sind ein paar Photos als wir nach Atlanta gefahren sind um Dora Live zu gucken und dann sind wir ins Ethiopische Restaurant gegangen. Oh, das essen is soooo toll: wir haben injera gegessen mit Lamm - wir sind dann immer so voll wenn wir von dort weggehen. Das Maedchen im Photo ist die Serviererin im Restaurant, sie war so lieb und bescheiden und ich dachte mir ich frag sie ob wir ein Photo mit ihr machen koennen und sie hat 'ja' gesagt.

Alida, Jalen and Abeba.

This is the Hotel we stayed in, just a few blocks walking distance to the Fox Theater, so we won't have to worry about parking.

At the Fox Theater.

*Beim Theater.

View from our Hotel Room over downtown Atlanta, we were on the eighth floor.

*Die Sicht aus unserem Hotel. Wir waren im 8. Stock.

Jalen on the way to Atlanta, sucking on a ring pop.

*Toti, im Auto auf dem weg nach Atlanta.

Midbay Shores, FL - Military Resort

This was our first time at Midbay Shores Florida, a military resort. I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised how beautiful it was and how immaculate our cabin was. First you'll see pictures at the beach - from MS it was just a matter of crossing the bridge - and then you'll see some pictures in the resort itself by our cabin.

Dragii Mei, uite aici va arat fotografiile care le-am facut acum in August cind am fost in vacanta cu copiii si cu Lisa. A fost foarte frumos. Intii vedeti poze la mare la strand si dupa acea poze unde am locuit la cabana chiar la apa intr-o Bucht unde se poate foarte fain pescui si este toate ce trebe pentru pescar, inca si o ghiuveta cu masa mare chiar unde pescuiesti ca dupa ce prinzi pestii sa-i si cureti si ii duci deja gata curatati la cabina. Nu am fotografii unde se pescuieste ca am uitat sa fac dar este foart Anglerfreundlich aici - poate pot odata sa va duc si pe voi aici. Na pusserdli, und macht es gut. Wir reden schon balde. Ich hab euch lieb.

Mykilie and Jalen playing in the sand.

Fearless ...............

Shawn, Jalen and Mykilie acting silly .......

Expressions ..... when watching The Wiz .....

View from our cabin yard at Midbay Shores Military Resort in Florida.

Another view from our cabin yard.

Sunset ....

Ready, set and over .......

Dada and Jalen ..... chillin' .....

Geno making the kids pancakes in the morning.

This was our cabin. The kids are playing in front of it.

Overall, it was a great vacation and we enjoyed having Lisa and the kids with us. Looking forward to another vacation together next year. Thank you Shawn, Mykilie and Lisa for joining us and making this a great vacation.

Dies war echt ein toller Urlaub.