Schloss Ludwigsburg (again)

Leuchtendes Kürbismeer (Glowing Pumpkin Sea) is the theme for this years pumpkin festival. We toured the castle when we first moved to Germany, but did not walk around the grounds. The grounds are enormous. We spent about 3 and a half hours there and did not see all of it. In the fall they create displays with pumpkins. They used over 500,000 pumpkins making it the worlds largest pumpkin exhibit.

Zachary was not in the mood to go swimming. He actually just woke up from a nap and we are trying to make him happy. He is usually grumpy when he gets woken up from a nap. The week after we went here they had their annual pumpkin race. Paddlers raced across this fountain in pumpkins weighing over 200 lbs.

Stopping to smell the roses.
The gardens weren't in full bloom, but there was enough still in bloom to make the gardens look spectacular.


























Cassidy wanted to know the names of all the flowers. I could name a lot, but not all of them.

We brought lunch with us and explored all the water fountains we could find. They kids were searching for fish.




The kids loved following all the paths in the gardens.

We had to take a long path down to the pumpkin displays. Cassidy took an alternative route down the hill. Which of course inspired others to follow her. Thomas is contemplating rolling down the hill. He finally went for it. Then he got upset, because his hands got dirty.




























Zachary on the other hand went all in. It took him a few times down to really get the hang of it.


I now see how Jack broke his crown. I am surprised Zachary didn't break his.


After he caught his breath from laughing so hard, he asked if he could do it again.

A day at the beach.

Kerbis Whale??

























Zachary isn't scared of the giant octopus.

The kids miss Sea World.
They had a play area covered in straw. Most of the kids were rolling in it and throwing it on their heads. My kids were collecting pumpkins and showing Stewart and I all the different varieties.

If you ever want to feel like a fairytale princess or prince, this is the place. You get to sit on a chair that raises you up, then the water fountain comes on and surround you. You become trapped in the middle of the pond.

I think Zachary was the most princely of the group. At least he posed the best.

We took a boat trip into the story of Pinocchio. We saw Geppetto's wood shop, and were swallowed by the whale. Stewart, Cassidy and Zachary are floating out of the whale's belly.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall.
We visited the story of Snow White. This is just an ordinary mirror until the words written below are recited. Then the magical mirror appears.

My kids are real chickens. They even got spooked when the witch came out of the gingerbread house. The witch peeked out as you went to open the gate.