HARIBO Candy~

We live by the Haribo Factory!

The plant that makes "Gummy Bears."

Kim and I stopped by here to pick up some items

and it was a zoo! It was difficult to get into the

parking lot. Well, I later found out there was a

special event happening. Kim and I knew something

was up by looking out our windows and seeing

several people walking by pulling wagons, trailers

by foot, and cars all loaded with nuts. When we drove

around the block to the store streets were taped off,

and people and cars were everywhere at the shop

near our home. It was the day of the

Great HARIBO Sweet Exchange!

Children and adults walk around Bonn and

Bad Godesberg collecting Chestnuts and Acorns.

It is a tradition that has taken place each October,

since 1936. Children all over Germany get to trade

in Chestnuts and Acorns for HARIBO Candy.

For 10kg (20 lbs) of Chestnuts or 5 kg (10lbs) of Acorns,

children can receive 1kg (2 lbs.) of HARIBO Candy.

The nutsare collected to feed wild animals

through out the winter.

Cody outside the store entrance.

HARIBO stands for Hans Riegel Bonn.

Hans is the producer of the candy and it is

in the city of Bonn. So he used the first two

letters of his first and last name and Bonn.

He is about 70+ years old now.

Just inside the store.

It is not very large, but it can pack the people in!

This is a children's play area in the store.

No Cody!

The first time I came I saw people taking

pictures in the isle. So we take the pictures

because we find it so interesting that it is

such a popular place.

Cody's made another friend....

A couple Saturday's ago Jim wanted to come

to the store to buy candy to take to an office in

Belgium. We came three times hoping the lines

would be more tolerable and finally gave up.

We had to stand in line for 15 minutes!

Delivery trucks parked behind the factory.

Factory

HARIBO trucks behind factory gate.

Another part of the Factory.

This side of the factory is connected to the store.

To get to our home you go up one more block

and turn right and you are there.

The store, a block away.

Sidenote.

This is the meat store at the corner of our street.

I make Jim go there. To much fresh meat for me!

The meat store is on the corner and our home

is just past the white truck, about where the

green car is parked.

Birthday Fun~

On Tuesday,

November 3, 2009

Coreen another birthday.

Kim's visit~

My friend Kim's visit

was right on the heels of

the Reichman family's.

We had a great time!

The first day of Kim's visit was watching

Cody's volleyball games and shopping at a local

flea market. The following day we went to the

cathedral in Cologne. It was another great hike

to the top. The sign shows the details of our efforts.

Cody standing by an ancient Roman Gateway

once used in the city of Cologne.

On Tuesday, 20th of October, Kim and I rode a

ferry up the Rheine River. This ferry is named

Moby Dick because in the 70's a whale tried

to swim up the river and died even with efforts

to try to help it. So the owner decided to

remember the event by naming his ferry after

the whale.

Shots of some of the castles along the Rheine River.

The ferry took us to the the city of Linz.

We enjoyed shopping and a delicious

German lunch, sauerkraut included.

One of the best things about Europe is the

charming buildings along cobblestone streets!

On our way back to Bonn.

This was a stunning castle to see!

Wedesday took us to Cochem, Germany.

We hiked up to the castle in this well known

wine village. The owner of this castle makes

sure there are fresh flowers placed inside

every week for the visitors.

A great view from the castle grounds.

Looking back up to where we just were.

In a village near my home there are pottery

artists making original pieces.

Even though we didn't understand a

word of this man's German he was kind

enough to invite us back into his shop

and see a piece he was working on.

First Visitors~

While living in Germany we hope

to have many visitors.

Our first visitors arrived on

Saturday, October 10, 2009

It was great fun!!

Bishop Reichman, from our Broomfield Ward,

with his wife Robin and sons Ryan and Josh.

They came to Europe to pick up their son Brent

who served his mission in the

Czech Republic!

We took time to visit the amazing

Cathedral in Cologne.

About a 30 minute drive from us.

If you look closely you will see Adam, Noah,

Moses and other prophets above the entrance

to the Cathedral.

On the opposite side you will see Mother Eve

and more prophets.

One of the hall views inside.

Be careful of church candles....

I lit myself on fire standing to close

to them trying to get a

picture of one of the exhibits!

There were several colored

glass windows like these.

This one depicts Christs life,

it was so beautiful.

Other windows portrayed stories

from the bible.

We climbed the many, many steps to the top.

This was one of the great views.

There were so many church steeples

you would almost think you were

looking over the Utah Valley.

We saw Uncle Kirk's name and were wondering

when he had been here hmmm.......

Coreen with her Cody boy

Running Along the Rheine River~

It's great to run along the Rheine River!

These pictures are from a few weeks ago.

Next year I will have to take the pictures a

little bit later in the season.

With so many trees the colors are

just beautiful and everywhere you look

you get a colorful eyeful!

Since Cody's school backs up to the Rheine River

I take him to school then I enjoy my run viewing

some beatiful scenery!

These are the ferry's going back and forth all

day long transporting cars and people to each side.

It was a quiet, foggy morning this day.

Large shipping barges also use the river

all day long.

One of my favorite views

I see each day.