In truth, we came up with the idea of extending our stay in Germany even before the USA’s thrilling extra-time victory over Brazil in the Womens World Cup quarterfinal that we didn’t attend. But after that victory, how could we not? … It seemed the US was a team of destiny, and our time in Germany was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a part of it.

So we sent Karen back home to San Jose, while the “Daytime Trio” stuck it out in Germany for three more days, hastily arranging tickets and hotel for more adventures into the western states of Deutschland. And it was worth it!

Monday in Munich

With our first extra day in Germany, we took advantage of already being in Munich. We hopped the S-Bahn Train to the Marienplatz, where we saw an enticing blend of modern shopping and historic sites stretched across the central downtown square.

Munich was different than most historical German cities we’d visited, with its mix of modern shops and high-end stores standing right next to old churches and municipal buildings built in the 1500s. It was fun to walk around and discover the sites. We also had one of the best meals of the trip, lunch at the oldest beer garden in Munich, the Augustiner Brewery. We capped the day off watching the Rathaus-Glockenspiel serenade and dance for the masses. Very fun!

Tuesday in Stuttgart and Heidelberg

On Tuesday morning, we did something completely different, touring the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart.

The museum was a fascinating mix of industry and history, combining the development of automobile technology with the social and historical implications of the famous car-maker. Honest to it’s Nazi sympathizing and thorough in its scope, the history of Daimler-Benz Chrysler was an interesting story. (Up until the 1950s, where our interest waned.)

After Stuttgart, we drove to Heidelberg, which turned out to be one of David’s favorite stops. The beautiful town is nestled in a steep valley along the Neckar River, with historic bridges and a medieval castle in various stages of decay. We had a relaxing lunch, took a steep hike up the hill to the Heidelberg Castle, and strolled across the Old Bridge.

And on Wednesday, Football!

The weather was a bit miserable in Dusseldorf and Moenchengladbach, but that couldn’t put a damper on our spirits. We were in Germany for the WWC Semi-Final between France and the United States of America. It meant so much just to be there!

It was an incredible experience to be part of the Womens World Cup in Germany, and it was even more amazing that I managed to capture the best footballing moment of the trip on video. Uncle Timmy describes what happened much better than I can … but you can also watch it yourself:

From there, we had to make a six-hour overnight drive back to Munich to catch our flight back home, where we would sadly watch the USA fritter away its lead and lose to Japan in penalty kicks in the Final. Our trip was not relaxing — we drove more than 3000 kilometers (more than 1800 miles) — but it was worth every dollar and every kilometer for the memories of a lifetime.

The second stage of our visit to Germany was our primary tourist time in Deutschland, and we had planned to spend it in Bavaria. Although the US Soccer Team didn’t join us there, we had a great time — and some very surprising good luck.

We spent Friday in the old city center of Nuremburg, enjoying lunch and dinner in the historical Hauptmarkt. It was delightful afternoon and evening spent in an incredible German town. But our day was also filled with happenstance, as we strolled without direction, unsure where our path would take us, uncertain where we would even spend the night. The US National Team’s loss to Sweden had left us without a clear path through Germany, and when we were unable to secure tickets to the game in Dresden, it seemed our bad luck would continue.

And then our luck changed. Although we didn’t know it at the time.

Quite by accident, we had discovered the Schoner Brunnen Fountain, situated on one end of the Hauptmarkt, and originally built in the late 1300s. Its exquisite craftsmanship was immediately apparent, but we wondered about a unique brass ring affixed to the otherwise wrought iron outer fencing. What we have since discovered the myth relating to the ring. Stories suggest it was added by an apprentice of the original artist trying to show his aptitude. Today, it is said to be a Glücksbringer, which is like a lucky charm … and that rotating the ring three times brings you good luck.

We spent the rest of the day in Nuremberg, especially enjoying the city’s municipal Toy Museum with its impressive collection of wooden toys, doll houses, and even teddy bears.

The museum had a very thorough take on the social and technological evolution of toys, which was interesting to all of us.

Later, we would purchase our own set of souvenir German National Team jerseys for the entire family and enjoy a traditional meal. But a very curious thing happened when we bought those jerseys in Nuremberg, and it wasn’t good. During the purchase, the clerk gave us four star pins, meant to be added to the German jerseys. The problem was that these were FIFA Championship Stars, stars that adorn jerseys for national teams that win the World Cup. And Germany hadn’t won the World Cup yet. It struck me at the time as a massive jinx on the country’s success.

Saturday: Castles and German Football

After spending the night in Munich, we awoke Saturday and drove through Augsburg to the town of Fusson and the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which sits in fairy-tale fashion on a hill high above a picturesque valley (and over Jocelyn’s shoulder in this picture).

The day also included a ride down an alpine luge track at the nearby Tegelbergbahn ski resort. Afterwards, we drove directly to Augsburg, where our developing good luck guided us swiftly to a local square for outdoor viewing of the days’ World Cup matches. We arrived at the square right at kick-off of the England-France Quarterfinal, which we we took as a brilliant stroke of good luck!

But there would be no luck for Germany. Despite the energy and enthusiasm from about 1000 of our hosts, the German national Team would lose to Japan in a thrilling extra-time match.

We were absolutely crushed on behalf of our hosts, who had embraced this tournament so thoroughly and impressively.

Sunday: USA’s Miracle vs Brazil …

No, we weren’t there. But since we touched that ring in Nuremberg, it was all us!

And what luck the US team would need too! … But first, we had to use those tickets for the game that didn’t include the US. The game itself between Sweden and Australia would turn out to be the least compelling of the quarterfinals, with the Swedes staking an early lead that the Aussies never really threatened. At least we got a good picture:

We had a great time, of course, even though it wasn’t the game we’d hoped it would be. That would come later when we gathered back in Augsburg Stadt to watch the United States face Brazil in the last quarterfinal of the tournament.

We were joined by the Tennessee Martins — and about 500 other US fans (undoubtedly stuck in the same non-Dresden boat we were).

By now, you know what happened. Unfairly relegated to the role of unlucky losers by a referee’s triple-failure of a soft penalty kick call, a harsh red card, and an outrageous PK retake (not to mention the missed offside on Brazil’s second goal), the US was on the brink of elimination in stoppage-time of extra-time. And then Abby Wambach headed a perfect cross from Megan Rapinoe into the net to send the game to penalty kicks, where the US would triumph to advance to the semi-finals. … And there was uncontrollable jubilation and much hugging of strangers in a square in Augsburg, Germany!

All because we touched the brass ring in Nurnberg. You’re welcome!

Keeping with my long-standing tradition of honoring each of Felicia’s birthdays with books that tell the story of the year, I’ve got four selections to share.

By any measure, it has been a momentous year for our youngest.

2009-2010 was the year Felicia ascended into the world of her older sister, joining Jocelyn in many important endeavors like school (Kindergarten!) and sports. And church choir. And later this summer, she’ll be part of the Center Stage Dance “Big Show.”

Felicia loves Kindergarten. Until this year, her entire life had been centered around bringing her sister to school. Or to sports practices. Or Choir. And even dance class. … but now it’s all about her too. And she loves it.

So the books attempt to capture that, and more.

My Kindergarten (by Rosemary Wells) is an incredibly fun collection of activities, poems, and lessons from the standard Kindergarten curriculum.

Nearly coincident with her birthday is the traditional “100th Day of Kindergarten,” which her class will celebrate on Tuesday. School children across the country will undoubtedly mark the occasion by reading Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day, as will we.

And 2009 was a big year for our Family’s love of soccer, too. Of course, this was Felicia’s first year of organized soccer after a few of watching her sister’s practices and cheering from the sidelines. Her Green Ninjas had a ton of fun, and she even scored her first goal. And yes, I was the coach for her as I was for most of Jocelyn’s teams. This was also the inaugural year of the new Womens Professional Soccer league, and we enjoyed many of the FC Gold Pride games played in Santa Clara.

So, What Is Soccer? (by Larry Tabash) is a fun book about two sisters who play soccer, and their father who teaches them about the game. And on a more elementary level, My Soccer Book (by Gail Gibbons) is an introduction to the sport for totally new players. Not that Felicia was ever a new player, but the book will help codify the rules in her mind.

While not yet confirmed by official sources, MK.com has learned that the next stage of World Cup Qualifying in Muggle Quidditch will likely take place in February, with the team from California hosting the reigning champion team from Tennessee.

This grainy video taken in the hills above Saratoga shows the Californian Martins conducting an inter-squad practice ahead of the highly anticipated match.

Introduced to the new sport only a few weeks – following receipt of a mysterious Christmas gift from the Nashville Martins – the California team has yet to decide on the venue for the first leg of the home-at-home-at-Milwaukee series. Rumored pitch options include the practice field in Saratoga, the world famous Houge Park oval, and the snow-covered ice of Lake Serena.

We’ll release more details as they become available.

BAWSI = boss·y

[bos-ee, baw-see] (bô’sē, bë’sē)

That’s BAWSI … as in the Bay Area Womens Sports Initiative, which our family has supported over the past few years, most recently sponsoring their program activities at San Jose’s Horace Mann Elementary School.

Today, we visited the Horace Mann program site — along with Nana & Papa — to see the program and meet some of the collegiate volunteers from San Jose State’s womens cross country team. Felicia and Jocelyn also got to play along for the afternoon in the group games and exercise activities.

Special thanks to Nana & Papa (and the Martin Family Foundation) for sponsoring BAWSI, and helping make these program possible!

Felicia scored her first official soccer goal today, sort of. … The score comes near the end, and listen closely for the extra bonus analysis from Felicia:

Well, sure, the ball got a little help from the other team, but it was going in anyway, right!

So, the Green Ninja’s didn’t technically win today. Score isn’t kept, and the teams are divided up into split squads that play on two fields anyway in this silly league. But she scored.

There’s lots more video on Motionbox if you have privileges. And although Jocelyn didn’t score her first goal today, the Dare Devils did win a nail-biter after scoring on a free kick, and then getting a save from our goalie on a penalty kick form the other team.

Happy Birthday, Jocelyn! … she begins her second decade this week (depending on how you want to count it, of course)!

We had a few friends over for the official birthday party on Sunday, for an Olympic Decathlon themed day of fun activities and games. Party attendees competed in ten events, including a logo-design contest, a steeplechase obstacle course, a straw-sailboat rowing regatta, a game of Hot Banana Team Handball, and a soccer skills challenge (among others). Only Jocelyn competed in the candle-blowing event, of course.

With Karen working hard in preparation for the Nike Womens Half Marathon (and fundraising for Team in Training), the girls took their turn running for awareness of leukemia and lymphoma cancers.

They ran special kids races this morning at Campbell Park, as part of Luke’s Run, in honor of a young cancer victim. Luke’s family keeps his memory alive with an annual running activity (5K for adults, short laps for kids). Felicia went first and finished her single-lap race in 2 minutes and 24 seconds.

Jocelyn’s run for 9-12 year-olds was three laps, and perhaps felt a little bit longer than that when she finished it. Her time as 7:00 minutes even. We were proud of both girls, who took the run seriously and finished with strong efforts. Each participant got souvenir racers numbers and a prize pedal at the end. Read the rest of this entry »

On it’s face, a picture of your daughter and a good friend wrapped in a San Jose Earthquakes flag while watching an entertaining soccer match wouldn’t normally be fodder for a geeky discussion of photo-sharing geo-tagging. And it is a cool picture.

But the really cool thing is that I took this photo with my new Palm800w cell phone, and had the picture automatically geotagged by an awesome free plugin called GPSToday.

GPSToday gets my location from the GPS unit inside the phone and adds it to the EXIF data on the JPG file, and then the picture automatically shows up on the map when I upload it to Flickr.

But that’s not all of the fun. Ironically, Flickr got the global location right, but wanted to describe the location as “Downtown San Jose.” But in fairness to the fine folks at Santa Clara University’s Buck Shaw Stadium (where the Sj Earthquakes play for now), Flickr allowed me to teach it that the location should actually be known as Santa Clara.

Confused? Get your geek on and explore our family’s Flickr Map.