Karin eventually returned in 2003 which happened to be when Little Miss was born, and again she was a huge blessing.

She has returned every year since to visit not only blood relatives but also all of us (Mike’s family, siblings included), her second family.

This year she brought along her fiancé Wolfgang and his son Jonie. Wolfgang is a landscaper by profession and has the most infectious laugh. He’s the kind of guy that looks for the one unfamiliar item on a menu and orders it. Or climbs a mountain just to see the sun rise. He’s a gem. We all loved him as well as his son. I voted to be the one to take them shopping and introduce them to my favorite Taco Truck.

Yes, it was the least I could do.

While he was here on the ranch, he wove together my (picked too early by some well meaning boys) onions and hung them on the backporch, saving them from a rotting existence.

But now herein is the coolest part:

Wolfgang can play tunes on a leaf. Part whistle sounding, part kazoo. And when I say tune, I’m not saying random musical notes. He can play recognizable songs!

Now check this out:

The man made a whistle out of a walnut branch!

Here's a closer up of Z blowing his.

I had to yell for Mike so he could see how it was done.

That's Karin interpreting for Wolfgang when things got too detailed. 

Little Miss loudly blowing her whistle.

The story continues with Wolfgang catching crickets with the boys and luring fish with them. Forget those fancy lures in their tackle boxes. But that's for another day.

 Wolfgang and Karin are getting married next January, and we hope they make their honeymoon destination America. 

Auf Wiedersehen!

We'll miss you!