Jess`s Boots...

These are Jess`s new boots. She is very excited and looking very European. The corduroy maternity dress tops it all off!Thought we would take a family holiday shot. That`s our climbing Santa in the background. The Germans love Santa decorations. LOVE THEM! Hope we are not blocking our Christmas tree.

Christmas Markets....

These are the Christmas Markets we went to today. The first one is in the middle of the town square.
This is one of the oldest church`s in Germany. The 2nd Christmas market was right here.

Trier........

This is mom and I at the Porta Nigra. It is the oldest city gate and defensive structure still remaining in Germany. It was the main gate of the Roman Empire in Trier during the third Century. Mom and I had no problem getting into the city though!These are the remains of the old Roman baths from the 4th century. There were remains of the cold baths, warm baths and hot pools. Also, their sewage sytems were still intact (without the human waste of course!) Really neat and really old. Sorry to bore you but those closest to me will understand my interest in the history of the baths.
This place held some kings, some emperors and some priests over a long period of time. I just thought it looked pretty neat. It was rebuilt from the 4th century until the 17th century.
Trier was founded in 16 BC and was important until Germanic Tribes took it over in the 6th century. If you have ever seen Gladiator this will make sense (these are the people in the forest in the first scene!)

Burg Eltz....(Castle).....

We went to see a 13th Century castle today outside Koblenz. It is called Burg Eltz. We were the only one`s there and it was eerie. I guess no one else has Monday off! Dad would like you to know that Count Glenn and Countess Sharon put in a firm offer on the place. Still waiting to hear back from Century 21. Anyways, we walked down into the valley and back up top. Mom and Dad have been troopers this trip. Lots of walking!

Mom and Dad Arrive.....

Mom and Dad have arrived from Canada. After battling jet lag for two days, they were fresh today for Cologne. This is the Dom behind us in Cologne. It actually looks fake (like a cardboard cutout) now that I look at the picture. But it is real. Anyways, all is well and Dad has already seen his first hockey game in 2 years.

28 Weeks....

Here is Jess at 28 weeks. She needs a little bit of a push now to get off of the couch. The kid kicks like a horse!

Last Game.....

Sorry to bore you with more hockey pictures but some people like to see them. This is from our last game at home. I got my first hat trick of the season and the other coach called me the dirtiest player in the league in the post game press conference. Good to be recognized!

Goal story....

Ok this is a really funny story from the last game. I`ll start it off with a helmet shot because most of you haven`t seen a game in two years! I score a goal here on a breakaway (notice the puck in the net). It doesn`t happen as much this year as I miss Tyson a ton. Anyways, 3 minutes before this I missed a breakaway high and right. My brother was at the game and said the fan in the front row was cursing me. Well, after I scored I felt compelled to jump into the mesh behind the net.
Little did I know, I jumped right into the same fan and cut him open across the forehead with the mesh. He had a huge mesh mark across his face. My brother said it was hilarious! Anyways, he is just to the right of the guy in the white sweater. Sorry, no head shot!
The funny part of the story is that I tell this as if mesh behind the net is normal. Oh, how Europe has changed me.

Finnish Birthdays....

Today was Janne and Tiina`s birthday downstairs. They were born within 3 hours of each other on the same day. Anyways we brought a cake down and made them take a picture blowing out the candles. Janne refuses to pose for pictures, so he made Tiina cover his face.I did all of the printing on the cake myself (including the Finnish birthday wishes). Not bad for a hockey player!
Finally, this is their daughter Erika wishing she was Canadian.

Hallowe`en.....

We got a late start on Hallowe`en pictures this year. Thought we would post some to show we haven`t lost touch with our North American roots! This is Janne and Tina`s (the finns) daughter Erika. She had never done this before.

Austrian McDonalds....

Tyson and I have a tradition of getting a cheeseburger in each country we visit. So far we have knocked off: FRANCE, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM and AUSTRIA. By far this is the nicest one yet. Look at the fresh roses at each table and the marble floors. Also, McDonalds does taste the same in each country. The only difference is that Europeans don`t know the meaning of FAST food!

Munich....

We took the train to Munich and hopped on the subway. When we got off, we came up the stairs and saw this. We were in the middle of the town square. It was awesome. At 5:30 we went for dinner but in true Davis fashion we got lost. We wandered around for 20 minutes and got lucky. At six o`clock everyone gathers and watches the bells go off and little german boys dance in a circle (fake ones) at the top of the clock. The square was packed with tourists waiting for this and we just wandered through at the exact time. HORSHOES!

Austria....

This is in Innsbruck, Austria. Same trip, different country. We are in the old city and the Alps are in the background.We decided to go to the top of the Alps. We walked along the river for a while and this was a bridge we had to cross. Good photo opportunity!
After we took a cable car to the top of the Alps, we had lunch at a cafe overlooking Innsbruck. My lovely wife is having a relaxing pregnancy as you can see. We are living the surreal life right now.
Same place different shot.
Tyson and I

Hofbrauhaus.....

OK, you won`t believe this one. We get to the world famous Hofbrauhaus which is a huge beer hall. When we sit down with these two Germans in Lederhosen, the one on the right sniffing asks me to put out my hand. He proceeds to pour tobacco out of a flask onto Jess and I`s hands. He then asks us to snort it the Bavarian way. This is him doing it after. CRAZY!


This picture is of a man we met at the Hofbrauhaus. He had his dog there with him and played some mean brass in the band. Vicious scar on his cheek but loved his beer. Nice guy and we small talked in German for an hour. He wishes our baby well!

Tyson`s House.....

These are some pictures from the balcony at Tyson`s apartment. It is a far cry from our house in Gladbach!