Playground Fun

Release the beasts! When we flew to Germany, I made sure to have a separate bag full of toys for the kids, and the older kids packed a few extra things in their luggage. Unfortunately, I know they are starting to get bored of the same old toys. Being cooped up in the hotel isn't fun at all. Luckily for us, there is a playground right next to the hotel, and there are two other play areas we can easily walk to from where we are. It is so nice to get a break and enjoy the fresh air! The temperatures in Germany this week are a little on the warmer side, but during the summer, it generally stays in the comfortable 70's, it isn't uncommon for it to be colder though, and you will have to wear pants and a jacket in summer. There are periods where it will get very warm. There isn't air conditioning in the houses, so you have to learn how to use your rolladens (if you are lucky enough to have them) to let in fresh air in the mornings, and close them before it gets hot. I didn't actually manage to master this technique the first go round, even though I tried. One time, it was so hot in the house, I filled the tub with as cold a temperature of water as I could manage, and the kids and I sat in the tub in bathing suits in order to cool down. The older kids STILL talk about it now, and this happened 3 years ago, when they were 4 and 6. I really think it is one of their favorite early memories of Germany.

Able to run free! The movie theater is in the upper right of the frame.

Monster Tot LOVES to slide.

What to do...what to do?

Girly Girl likes to think Monster Tot needs help...perfect excuse to go on the slide without looking like an uncool big kid! lol

What are some of your favorite summertime memories from childhood?

Frozen Watermelon Cubes

Life has a funny way of catching up with you. It's been a while since my last post. The kids and I went on vacation about a week after they went on Summer break. We spent about 3 weeks with my in-laws. We had a great time even though we didn't get a chance to get around to everything we had wanted to do. I've tried to carry on and get some more of my "To Do" projects done. Some have been successful and some not so much.


Recently, we bought a watermelon, and I knew we wouldn't be able to get through it before it spoiled. It is just the way it goes around here. We eat half, and I always tell myself I'll get around to cutting the last half. It never happens, and I hate wasting food. I tried to think of how I could make the other half of our watermelon last before it went bad. The idea popped into my head about cubing it and freezing it. I've seen a project where they cut the watermelon into triangles, stuck a popsicle stick in it and then froze it. If that works, then why can't cubing and freezing it work?


It couldn't hurt. Afterall, it would probably be the same story as always, and the poor, neglected second half would spoil before I could prepare it's good, juicy goodness for snacking.


I started by cutting the second half in half, and then I quartered it.

Next, I sliced it into approximately 1 inch slices (some were bigger, some were smaller)

Next, I chopped off as much of the rind as I could, without chopping too much edible fruit.

Next, I cubed the watermelon into about 1/2 inch pieces, and I removed any undesirable pieces, to include any pieces with rind on it. You know what you and your family likes. Mine won' t eat anything close to the rind.

I placed all of the pieces of watermelon on two trays. Technically, it isn't a full half watermelon, since all four of my kids kept looking me with puppy dog eyes. Even booga baby kept coming over and yelling at me for more watermelon.

These trays were in the freezer for approximately 14 hours, but they were fully frozen within 2-3 hours.

Bag it up, and keep it in the freezer for a quick frozen treat during these long, hot summer days.

Enjoy!