Pumpkin carving

I made it back home around 4pm on Tuesday...what a long day. It is so nice to be back and get back into the swing of things! And that means Halloween!!!!

We finally had a free night with no activities so it was PUMPKIN CARVING night! I love seeing each persons creativity and individuality come out with their pumpkins!

The kids and Bob carving away....they were really interested to see what Bob came up with....

Playing with the guts is always a highlight!

My masterpiece!

Lucy's......she got carried way with adding guts....then decided to add the beer. Very clever.

Caymus'....he wanted scary and I think he got it!

Bob's.....he is adorable!

My posers with the final product.

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And after all that hard work we pigged out on home made chicken soup with dumplings....everyone had seconds....some had thirds.... GREAT night with my loves!!!

Amsterdam Part 2...

66 hours in Amsterdam and we accomplished a lot!!!
Full 2nd day for us diehards....we headed out at a decent hour this morning and walked to the Hortis Botanicas, a botanical garden on central Amsterdam. It housed some really old (like 300 hundred years + old!)...Then off to find a canal boat to take us to our next destination, on our way we thought we went the wrong direction but happened to stumble upon the flea market we had been wanting to see. Score!!! Some cool stuff to be seen there. Then we did get the canal boat and enjoyed a nice float on to the Van Gough museum. This was a very wonderful museum with over 200 pieces of his original collection along with hundreds of sketches and letters.
I really enjoyed seeing Van Gough; I had visited a museum in Paris when I was there in 1998, along with a village he had lived in and his grave. So seeing his work again and a photo of his grave, I remembered I had been there and even have a photo of it. Really cool. Plus I remember studying his work when I was in HS.
After all the museum walking....we then headed off to see a few more parts of town and followed by dinner...a wonderful day and a great way to end a very busy week(s).....

Jane, Mom and I on our walk to the Botanical Garden. Beautiful brisk morning!

Interesting cactus......

Mom and I in front of the 300 year old "Oldest potted plant in the world". Its a male and his "girlfriend" is only 200 years old right around the corner....cradle robber..... :-)

We happended to get the honor of watching a crew dredge a part of the canal....they say the canals are 9M deep, 3M water, 3M sludge and 3M bicycles.....I guess they were right!!! Oh and there are about 67 miles of canals in Amsterdam so you can imagine how many bikes that would add up to!

Some super cool buildings we walked passed. This seemed to be a high rent district because the buildings were beautiful, the cars were nice and the streets were clean! The houses in town are only about 20 feet wide and around 5 stories tall. They are all touching and now mostly house many apartments in each one.

At the garden there was a butterfly house, several beautiful butterflies!

Taking a little break while enjoying the view in the garden.

Mom and I enjoying some traditional Dutch dessert....Olibollen!!!

One of the many canals in town.

At city center, in front of some monument.....my brain is overloaded with info so I have no idea what its for or what it means....

Now there is a happy camper!!! Beer in one hand and whiskey in the other....people watching!

Seriously a beautiful city!

Where we had dinner. This used to be over a canal that entered into town and was where you had to pass to pay duties. GREAT food!

The hustle and bustle of the town square. 

Well there you have it, our time here in Amsterdam. Great time and I am so glad we came. Now to pack and prep for out long day tomorrow going home to our loved ones! Cant wait to see them all!!!

AMSTERDAM!!!!!

So the seminar is over, we packed, cleaned up, celebrated and left Germany!!! Amsterdam here we are!!!
We rented a little apartment on the top floor of one of the downtown buildings, 3 floors just for us! We have an amazing view and a really  great location. Its nice to not be in a hotel and get a real feel for what it is like to live in downtown Amsterdam.
We bought a hop on hop off canal boat pass....what a cool way to get around town. There are canals all over town so you can get everywhere.
Lots of people watching, eating and drinking!

Our last night in Dusseldorf! Enjoying sunset as a team!

Sunset with the kids!

Dusseldorf at sunset. Great city to go host a conference!

And on to Amsterdam! On the Canal boat. Really a great way to see so much!

Just past this tower is where our apartment is located.

The Rijksmuseum. Wow. Great works by Rembrandt, Vermeer and many others.

Mom and I enjoying the views and a beverage.....with the kids.

The team out front of our Apt. Don't we look European?

Central Station, an amazing sight!

Not much I can say about this....I took it from the window of the canal boat. BEAUTIFUL CITY!!!

Jane, Mom and I....we travel well together!

I bought some street art from this lady. I love street art!!!

Random street shot from a city square. Jane is in the left of the photo.

The tower from the corner of our apartment. This city gets even more beautiful at night!

Coking.com Seminar in Dusseldorf

What a busy few days we have had....2 days of training and 3 days of seminar. 2 big factory tours with dinners.....
The seminar went great, lots of good people, everything went really well and all are happy.

The kids working with me and Paul.

Dinner out, Big Bear enjoying the local Bier.

Pork Knuckle

Enjoying Warm Apple Strudel.

Big Bear working the big guns.....

Our staff....What a bunch of nut cases....Ken, Alex, Bob, Gary, Jane, Evan, Marlea, Paul

And the whole crew! In addition....Emily, Barb and Nancy

At one of the dinner/tours.....We have some fun together.

Oktoberfest dinner....we rocked the house!

Grandpa took a break and hung out with the kids for a bit.

Just another day.......

At another dinner/tour.....enjoying some coffee and sweets.

MMMMMMM so good!

On a dinner cruise up the rhine river. Nice evening.