The Baltic Sea

We had a wonderful weekend away on the Baltic Sea with some friends. I'd like to post more about it soon, but for now here's a fun video of David and Michael playing on the beach.

Three things to note:

(1) Despite what it sounds like, there were no gale-force winds. It didn't even feel windy, so I don't know what's going on there!

(2) Because of the (mysterious) rushing wind sounds, it might be hard to hear David...but I assure you he was giggling maniacally. This is important, because...

(3) Despite the gymnastics, David was just fine! OK, so I sort of gave the old Mom warning to Michael at the end, but David was having a blast :)

Now for a more serious note. We came home to the very sad news that Michael's grandfather, Gene Horton, had passed away. He was a really great man--a wonderful father and grandfather and a very entertaining poker player. Michael was able to get home for the week, which is really a blessing, and I'm sure the whole family would really appreciate your prayers right now.

David misses Michael (already!), so we watched this video over and over and over again this morning. He really is a daddy's boy!

This evening, I got to join David and Michael for one of their favorite activities: naked baby in a river time.

Here in Germany--or at least, here in Jena--when kids play in the water, they do so without any clothes on. It took some getting used to, but now it cracks me up! David loves being clothing-free, so he is a big fan.

Anyway, there is a beautiful spot in the river where someone has dammed off a little area and placed, inexplicably, a bath-tub. It's half buried, and the water around it is only a few inches deep, and all around the area are plants and manicured stones. Michael and David have played there a number of times, but usually while I'm working. This time I came along!

David's favorite part is throwing stones in the bathtub:

And if he gets splashed in the face, all the better!

Afterwards, of course, he claps.

These two shots just crack me up:

We went out to dinner afterwards with Timo. David was completely spent, and very, very hungry. No surprises there!