Monday, December 29

Hello All!!

Hope everyone is doing well out there :-) My cold is finally on the way out the door (thank goodness!!) - and everyone here seems to be doing well. We have went to all of our Christmas parties now, and I think we will have room in the luggage for everything to go back to Germany - thank goodness gifts were small :-) (although Brenna's kitchen can't come back with us...)

I think our best gift this year was just getting to see and spend a good amount of time with everyone :-) It was really great to be back for a month during this busy time of year. I can't believe how quickly January is approaching...

I will be posting our pictures after we get back - I think I got some pretty good ones :-) I think I'm going to have to invest in a digital picture frame for Brenna sometime in the near future so that she can enjoy all these pictures of family...

Well, that is all for now. Take Care!!

Merry Christmas December 25

Merry Christmas to anyone who may be following our blog!!

Brenna has had a great holiday so far - great gifts - I think they have all been perfect for her so far!! No pictures up yet (although I do have some great Christmas ones). Hopefully, we will be able to share those soon.

Anyway - just wanted to say have a safe and happy Christmas where ever you may be today!!

Take Care!

Sunday, December 21

Hello All!!!

Well, the words of the last few days were delays, detours, and cancellations, but luckily Dustin made it to his parents late last night. The weather caused him horrible trouble flying into Detroit - both his possible flights on Friday were cancelled due to the weather. He had a detour in Bangor, Maine where they didn't let them off the plane at all before getting to NY and JFK airport. Once at JFK - he stood in line for hours only to find out that he was stuck in NY overnight (unless as an exhausted passenger he wanted to drive back - I didn't think much of that idea). So, after an overnight in NY - he stood in more lines for stand-by to Columbus. Boo to Delta for all the trouble and lack of help they provided to him. He said yesterday that he never encountered so many rude Delta employees who were not helpful. The roads driving home last night were covered in ice - which made for an interesting drive. I certaintly looked like a grandma behind the wheel as I had it gripped very tightly (and I felt like I was in the windshield the whole time in Dustin's truck). Dustin's luggage is lost currently - no clue when it will finally show up :-(

But, on more positive notes - he is here safely and Brenna is enjoying her time with him immensely (as well as with her Gammy and Papa Carpenter). She got to open her presents from them this morning - they picked the best gifts for her. The kitchen set is bound to keep her busy all day today :-) I will try to get pictures posted soon - it will be the best toy for her (too bad it can't come to Germany :-(

Well, that is all for now - Take Care!

Sunday, December 14

Hello All!
I feel the need to keep posting when I can for any "loyal" blog followers :-) Brenna and I are doing well in the States and made it over to Dustin's parents this weekend. They have spoiled both of us rotten - I'm not sure how we will adjust to our first month back in Germany after all this Grandparenting :-)
Brenna is enjoying the attention immensely - she didn't have a great nap today as we were out shopping - but she is still behaving pretty well :-) I'm sure after all of our shopping and Christmas that we will have some very full suitcases to take back home :-) I'm glad that Dustin will be there for that trip...
Hopefully, I will get some pictures posted around Christmas - but none for now. I'm going to have to give Dustin a hard time that we aren't getting any pictures from him in Germany :-)
Well, take care!

Friday, December 12

Hello All!
Not sure if anyone is following this while Brenna and I are back in the U.S., but thought I would give you a quick update on our travels. Brenna was a trouper on the plane with me - she stayed awake for the majority of the trip - only napped for 20 minutes or so of the 9+ hour flight - but we managed to stay pretty entertained with switching activities. She has adjusted pretty well to the time difference - but we are waking up way earlier than in Germany (usually before 6 am - when there we didn't wake until around 8). Brenna has had a chance to see some of her cousins and play with them and do a little shopping here in the U.S.
We are at my parents and will get to go see Dustin's parents tomorrow - all this change has been great for Brenna as she hasn't missed Daddy or Justice too much (but she is still missing them ;-)
Well, that is all for now!
Take Care!

Sunday, December 7

Hello All,

I figured I would post a couple of pictures from Germany in Amanda's absence. It is really quiet here without Brenna and Amanda and kind of boring. It is amazing how much our lives revolve around those things and when they are gone is when you notice. Today, I went to Baden-Baden to walk around, need something to do to pass the time. When I returned I went up into the black forest to run at Lake Mammelsee. Lake Mammelsee is 1,000 meters in altitude (3,000 feet) and there was a very clear line on the way up where the snow line was. There was about a foot and half of snow there and no snow where we live. It is amazing how different it is in just a 10 minute drive. I ran up to 1,100 meters (3,300 feet) and the oxygen content was real low making it a challenging run (plus the 12%grade). It was an enjoyable workout and beautiful. Well, I look forward to being in the US to see all.

Later,

Friday, December 5

Hello All!!

I can't believe that Brenna and I fly back to the U.S. tomorrow...I'm not sure how much sleep I will get with all this going on tonight!!

We made it out when the weather cleared to the Baden-Baden Christmas market today. Brenna once again really loved the carousels...I knew I was having a bad hair day today, but didn't realize how much my rain hat covers up my whole face - hope you get a laugh out of this picture!!

I never knew what wild mistletoe looked like in trees until coming over here (hopefully, I am correct in the picture I took). The trees look a little strange with it :-) Hopefully, you enjoy my quick snapshot of it from the moving car!

This may be the last post for a while as I'm not sure how many chances I will have to post in the U.S. I'm sure Dustin would appreciate the updates and pictures back in Germany while we are gone!!

Well, I need to finish packing - almost done!

Take Care!

Wednesday, December 3

Hello All!!

Well, I'm glad that this is the last trip for Dustin before I leave - it is a challenge to manage the dog and Brenna when he is gone! Today was another rainy day, but at least Brenna and I made it out to kinder group. The kids got a chance to play with puppets and stuffed animals - Brenna loved that someone also brought a toy doctor set - she played doctor on all the animals and on mommy too!!

Tomorrow morning will be my last German class for a month - it will be weird not to have that and hear the language for a month. I really hope that I do study when I am in the U.S. though as my language skills are not so hot right now.

For my sister, here are some pictures of my wreath - it really isn't too impressive (sorry!). Not too much to say on my pictures either - it is late and I am tired! The stars are the hanger if you can't tell...

Brenna and I will also get to pack tomorrow - I've made a list so hopefully, I won't forget too much. At least the stores in the U.S. are open 24 hours and on Sundays if we forget anything!

Well, I need to get some sleep!

Take Care!

Tuesday, December 2

Hello All!!

I can't believe how quick this week is going to go by - Dustin left for England tonight - so Brenna and I are on our own tomorrow. We had German class this morning and baked a loaf of bread - it is so yummy to have fresh bread, but bad for my diet (although not any worse than the homemade mound bars in the freezer which are finally gone today :-)
I couldn't convince Brenna to get her pj top off today - we'll face that battle tomorrow... We took a very short walk with Justice and bummed around inside the rest of the day. I'm getting the apartment set up for Dustin when I am gone - washing the sheets, towels, and all the clothes - all that he will need to do is keep it picked up after him. I will be interested to see how much he is even home when we are gone :-)
Anyway, tomorrow we will be busy packing, going to kinder group, and getting the apartment in order...
Hope all is well with everyone!
Take Care!

Monday, December 1

Hello All!!

I can't believe that we are into December already (didn't I say that about October and November too?!?). The weather here is really cold, but Brenna, Justice, and I did make it out for a longer walk today. We are working on getting used to living in town - although just when I think I am getting used to the hills and our apartment, Brenna and I will be going back to the US on Saturday :-) It will be really nice to spend some quality time with our families, but I will probably have to get back in shape again when we come back!! (maybe I should take up running or something when we are home...)
I still haven't got a picture of the wreath I made - maybe tomorrow - although I'm sure it will be a busy day with German class, doing some last minute shopping, starting to pack, and Dustin flying out to England... At least Brenna and I won't have to deal with that until we come back in January.
I'll be making some homemade bread tomorrow :-) Although it is not really necessary to bake much in Germany, Brenna and I do have fun in the kitchen. I'm hoping when I am at my mom's maybe I can get some matching aprons made for Brenna and me...we'll see :-)
Well, I should get ready for bed - Take Care!!