HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!!!

My little sister is 23. Wow. Haven't been around her too much for the past 3 years. Maybe that will change next year?? It will according to this dream I had...

Can I handle sitting still? Yes, people I can. I like to read a good book. I like to watch movies. But most of all, I like to be surrounded by my friends and family having a good laugh. These past few weeks have been filled with plenty of good laughs!



Sarah and Sebastian got married a couple weeks ago and their son, Johannes (Jack), was baptized. The wedding was at Sebastian's parents house and it was beautiful, touching, and a lot of fun. We danced, cried, ate, and laughed a lot. Sarah's mom was there for the festivities and she did quite an amazing time with all the German that was being thrown at her. I got to play with a lot of babies, including the largest baby I have ever seen who I danced to sleep.

Went on the Rhein River Tour to Loreley with some friends last weekend. The weather behaved in the sense that it did not rain, but it was chilly! We braved the top deck of the boat the whole time so we would have the best views of the castles. We left from Assmannshausen - the best named city out there obviously. We ran up the super steep hill between the wine bushes to get to the sign for the town.  Best short cut ever. 3 and a half hours, a couple glasses of Glühwein, and plenty of castles later we were thoroughly impressed with the tour.

Had game night last night at Charlotte's and drank a lot of wine and ate a lot of cheese. This morning got up nice and early to go meet friends to run in the Breast Cancer Run. Had a lovely brunch afterwards and came home to bake and organize and enjoy the sun rays.

Babysitting little Johannes tomorrow so Sarah can go out with her hubby for her birthday. Beer bike on Tuesday night, because we don't have to work Wednesday (Germany Unity Day) so 20+ of us are getting together to drink beer and apple wine and ride around the city. Good start to the week.

Adventures planned up till Xmas: Oktoberfest in beautiful boss man's village (I might eat meat), hopefully meeting up with Tyler and Kim in Paris (they are doing a month long Europe tour starting like tomorrow), Madrid/Barcelona, Regensburg to visit Johanna and then home to her house in Walting, London with "The Women," day trips to different cities for the Weihnachtsmärkte (Xmas markets), and possibly Hamburg or Amsterdam, and then to Walting to be with my German family for Xmas... PHEW! And then Kayleen and Jen are coming to visit me the first week or so in January!!!! So excited for them to come and experience why I love Europe so so much. Gah!!!

Last year?

Got back at 8:30AM Monday morning. Andrea picked me up at the airport and I dropped my bags off at home, washed my face, and then raced out the door. Andrea was a little disturbed that I wasn't showering! Hitting the ground running works best for me I think. School that day was a whirlwind of getting around to my new classes (I sound like a student!), saying hello to everyone, and meeting all the new faces. My schedule is so much better than last year and it takes me 10 minutes to bike to the school aka I am loving it. Seeing Oscar and Emily was also fabulous. My little siblings!! :)

Just a couple more exercises after the run.

On Friday I headed out after school (I get to leave at 3!!) to catch a train to Bavaria to see my German family AND Kyle who had flown in that morning. Train delayed, missed next train, etc so I didn't get in until late. We headed straight for a party at the cousins house for birthday celebrations. Esther's bday was Friday, Kyle's was Saturday and mine was Monday so we had plenty of cake over the weekend (I got my own special gluten free peach pie). It was great seeing the whole extended clan of cousins! Johannes (Johanna's fiance) came also to stay the weekend. Saturday we got up and went for what was supposed to be a 30 minute run, but with a little persuasion I turned into an 80 minute run so we could go see a cave where mammoth bones had been found 100 years ago. I thought it was a great way for Kyle to start his birthday! :p It was a beautiful, leisurely jog through the woods with Johannes, Kyle, Johanna and Esther. Johannes and I decided we needed to race up the hills, so there was a bit of a challenge involved as well. :) Played games in the afternoon, visited a possible venue for the wedding at a remodeled stable, and then had delicious dinner, more games and drinking, and then bed. Sunday we had a nice calm morning before heading out to an "adventure park" where we met up with Susi (my original exchange partner) to go zip lining and to a ropes course. It was awesome. I love doing it! Then they dropped me off at the train. Such a quick weekend. I will be back soon though bc a neighbor of theirs just moved to Frankie so I can get rides with her back and forth! AWESOME!!

I've eaten plenty of chocolate this week because of my birthday. One class sang me Happy Birthday and one of my classes threw me a "surprise birthday party" where they sang for me, made me a sign, and we had cake and a dance party. Pretty special! The weather has been pretty perfect as well. Had a nice workout around my park before celebrating with the family and then I headed out to meet friends for a lovely dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. It was a great birthday!!

Settlers German style. For Kyle's birthday I lost terribly.

Met Sarah's baby! He is already one month old! I haven't gotten to snuggle him too much though because he is always sleeping. Boo. Her mom got in on Monday and we had sushi yesterday so I got to meet her. Sarah and Sebastian's wedding is next weekend! And the baby Johannes's baptism - where I am the Godmother! AH! Now I can't leave, right?

So many birthday cakes

 Kyle, Johanna, and Esther come to Frankie tomorrow to hang out for the weekend. YAY!! Excited to play with them some more.

I've been back for almost two weeks and the question keeps jumping around in my head: is this my last year here? For now? I am loving my new location, smack dab in the city, and the people are great. Although I am terribly missing Lindsay and her side kick. :) Johanna is getting married in August so I have awhile before I leave, but the thought is there...