So, here are a few (ha, ha) pictures from our most recent weekend venture. (Forgive the disorganization--blogger is not cooperating with me today.)
It was a beautiful morning (which happens very rarely during winter in Germany) and we decided to get in the car and drive the rivers to see some castles. We only spent time at 2 castles.
In St. Goar on the Rhine River stands Rheinfels Castle. It was so cool! Here we are going down the back (?) side of the castle to explore some tunnels. There are some super mysterious mine tunnels for which we were given a candle and some matches. However, we had been out in the sub freezing weather for maybe an hour or so, and then Ezra tripped and "broke his legs". It was kind of downhill from there, and we had to call it a day. So we never got to see the mines. I think we'll go back when it warms up. It's not too far from our house.
After we left the castle we noticed that people and Polizei were looking at something in the river. Apparently this barge had capsized/sunk in the river. You never forget for long that the rivers are used for transporting goods. It seemed there were barges floating by constantly.
This was the cellar of Rheinfels castle. 
One of the many tunnels and archways.
Ezra loved climbing. Everywhere. What good is a pile of rocks if you can't climb on them?
Family pic at Rheinfels Castle.
We thought Ezra was right behind us. Instead he had climbed into this window which I'm pretty sure looked onto a sheer drop into a dark abyss. Yikes! 
Try to find us. :)
Try to find Ezra. :)
Mike and Jonas sitting on catapult balls.
Mike and Ezra.
This was really the first thing we did. The entry to the castle is at the bottom of the picture through the big wooden gate. Then we climbed up those super steep, supper narrow stairs. That's Mike and the boys at the bottom of the wooden part. We didn't go all the way to the top of the tower though.
Outside the gate before it opened.
The boys on the bridge over the moat.
Another castle on the Mosel.
Cochem Castle.
The boys eyeing a cannon at Cochem Castle.
Our first stop. Some random town on the Mosel River.
Up the hill to the castle. We had to park in town and hike up.
Don't know who these guys were. There were a bunch of costumed folks all around. But it seemed that they were all leaving. The castle was already closed for the day when we got there. We didn't get to go in. The price you for spontenaity I suppose.
Our hike through the town of Cochem.
Burg Arras.
Burg Arras.
Judith welcomes Daddy home. She looks a little wary in this picture. She was watching a dog that was VERY excited to be reunited with its owner. Truth be told, there was really no adjustment period for Judith. She warmed to her Daddy right away.
Daddy and two very happy boys.
Jonas, Daddy, and Ezra with the cake that Jonas and Ezra decorated. "Are you kidding? Daddy comes home AND we get cake?? Best night EVER!"
Due to a large amount of snow that had been falling all day on Christmas Eve, we were not able to go to our church's Candlelight service. But I made everyone dress up for pictures and we had our own "service" at home with a reading of the birth of Christ, some carols, and some candles.
Christmas Eve family photo, 2010.
Christmas morning.
It was about an hour and a half drive, but it was lots of fun and the weather was perfect.
We took a hayride through different scenes lit by Christmas lights. This was scene was devoted to cactus and longhorns. Only in Texas. :)
Jonas and Nana were a little too enthralled with an carol-singing "Elvis". :) At least there was a cozy fire by which we ate our dutch-oven-baked-over-a-campfire berry cobbler. Yummmm!
