Bibione

After returning from Roth on Sunday night, we loaded up again Monday morning to head to Bibione, Italy.  Our last trip there was in 2008 so a lot has changed since then (see this post Bibione 2008 for more on that one).  We arrived Monday evening.  This time we rented a two-bedroom apartment that was a 2-3 minute walk from the beach.  We unloaded our stuff and then went to explore.

We walked to the beach first just to see how very close it was to our apartment.

Then we stopped for gelato--the first of many stops.

Then we stopped for dinner.  Pasta for Gus and pizza for everyone else.

The next day began our week of being beach bums.  It was awesome.  We woke up and went to the beach every morning.  Took a break for lunch and riposo (siesta for Italians).  Then back to the beach for some more swimming.  After that we would get the sand cleaned off and go out to dinner.  It was perfect!

Not too long ago Pat and I saw something on TV about these little fish that eat dead skin off of your feet.  He saw a place that offered it and tried it out.  Don't know how well it worked but the kids sure got a kick out of it.

We rented one of these bikes again, although this time we had a kid or two that could reach to help us pedal.  We did it two different nights and the kids loved it.

It was an awesome trip!

Challenge Roth

When we arrived in Germany last summer Pat went to the small town of Roth (about 1 hour away) and stood in line for a spot in Challenge Roth.  It is a huge annual triathlon and all of the spots sell out immediately.  So we were ready to go when it finally rolled around this year.  The town of Roth is so small there aren't many hotels.  Many of the athletes who travel to Germany for it (73 countries were represented) stay with host families.  But they also set up a camp ground near the swim start so we decided to camp.

The kids were very excited to set up the tent, but once we did they played Leappads (camping in 2016, right?).

Babydoll (Maggie's doll, appropriately named) made the trip.

It was cold and rainy the first day, typical of Germany in the summer.

Our set up for the weekend.  Our neighbors included Germans, Italians, Brits, Belgians and Slovakians.

For the week of the triathlon a "Triathlete Village" is set up in the town of Roth.  It was a big expo that included beer gardens, booths selling gear, and food stands.  It was huge.  The kids loved getting all the free stuff the booths were handing out.  Cormac wanted to go back and spin this wheel every day.  Who knew he would be so excited to get a sweat band and a water bottle?

One of the local bakeries came through the campground in the mornings with a truck.  Naturally we stopped to get treats.

There was a Challenge Women race (3 miles) that I did the day before the triathlon (and set a new PR).  It was amazing the goody bag that came with that little race!

Race day!  There is Pat heading out on his bike after finishing his swim.  I wanted to take the kids to watch his swim start but it was too crowded (over 50,000 spectators for the swim alone).

There he goes.

After I loaded up our camp and dropped the stuff back at home.  We came back to the Triathlete Village to watch the end of the race (and eat ice cream, stop for drinks, get more free stuff).

Here comes Pat to the finish after 140.6 miles.

This was the first time I have traveled with Pat to an Iron-distance triathlon.  It was an awesome experience.  I am so proud of him.

Munich

Last weekend we drove down to Munich for the day.  We walked around the pedestrian zone doing some window shopping.  Then we took the U-bahn (subway) over to the Englischer Garten.  It was great weather so it was a nice walk.  It was very crowded with all of the Germans out enjoying the sun.

We stopped at the Chinesischer Turm for a snack.

Then we stopped at the Hofbrauehaus for dinner.

Cormac was just sitting there being happy little Cormac and a waiter came by with this hat.  He told Cormac to try it out (it sings and dances) and then he left.  We asked what to do with it as we were leaving and our waiter told us it was for Cormac to keep.  He was very happy.

Maggie is 3!!!

Hard to believe little Maggie is three today!  She had a great day.  Her brothers were very excited for her big day too.

She wanted a pink cake so I made her one with strawberry frosting.

Gus made her a crown for her birthday.  She is very into princesses all of a sudden (thanks preschool).

She had LOTS of help opening her presents.

Pat and I gave her a crib for her baby doll (named Baby Doll Bryan).  I think Cadel was almost as excited as she was.

Gam-Gam, Aunt Cassie and Uncle Dan-Dan sent her some fairy wings and a wand.  She wore those for most of the afternoon.