tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165580042024-03-13T17:02:50.989-07:00What We're Up To.....Our big family is all over the place, but somehow these blogs make the world seem much smaller.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-1464738685828236662011-12-22T07:47:00.000-08:002011-12-22T07:47:46.730-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I just want to share some snapshots of Amelia, and how I see her today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahd4Pxbre0U/TvNQf25QscI/AAAAAAAACbU/5cqGoMAKShg/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahd4Pxbre0U/TvNQf25QscI/AAAAAAAACbU/5cqGoMAKShg/s640/IMG_0088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zeBaCYL-oCY/TvNQgl5wRUI/AAAAAAAACbY/pbyQXS2fddA/s1600/IMG_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zeBaCYL-oCY/TvNQgl5wRUI/AAAAAAAACbY/pbyQXS2fddA/s640/IMG_0089.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dP0tpHQOjI4/TvNQhUIIQ-I/AAAAAAAACbg/V4lLxaTUl9c/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dP0tpHQOjI4/TvNQhUIIQ-I/AAAAAAAACbg/V4lLxaTUl9c/s640/IMG_0091.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua03KBR-I60/TvNQiEOl2GI/AAAAAAAACbo/adZl460Ja2M/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua03KBR-I60/TvNQiEOl2GI/AAAAAAAACbo/adZl460Ja2M/s640/IMG_0102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzwFsMCoAE0/TvNQ3PWUz7I/AAAAAAAACcA/yot2jQhEAuM/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzwFsMCoAE0/TvNQ3PWUz7I/AAAAAAAACcA/yot2jQhEAuM/s640/IMG_0105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-63474406039841209042011-11-16T02:29:00.000-08:002011-11-16T06:05:00.725-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">No, we didn't skip her birthday this year... This is the first time I haven't posted about Amelia' birthday right away, but I think it's somewhat understandable, since it was all in the midst of total chaos for us as a family. Although I did not capture the pictures I'd hoped for, I do want to record the event, since this is the closest thing I do to scrapbooking or keeping a baby book. Life is so full, and I want to remember these times.<br />
Amelia turned five! Her two requests for her birthday were a crown and gluten-free chocolate cupcakes. We made those things happen, and quite a lot more! In addition to a tiny party at her grandparents' house, we wanted to take a day in Portland to do all of her favorite things, just as we had done the three birthdays before. It seemed especially important since we don't know when we'll be in Portland again for her birthday.<br />
We started the day with friends at <a href="http://slappycakes.com/">Slappy Cakes</a>, where you can make your own breakfast right at the table. Our other child guest was Chloe, our former neighbor, and she and Amelia had a blast.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ88HeELXqCL6EyUwWPqodbqygohr0SAIjylFuv6HFyELKbSgyK_EK7ZjcpN1xB5g5IqLrgAFEIELX_6Frb_l-ELh8dLYlwArcqTuDZZBmfGlY80pCkB29wfjVnQSf-ZIlCgwqpg/s1600/P1010271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ88HeELXqCL6EyUwWPqodbqygohr0SAIjylFuv6HFyELKbSgyK_EK7ZjcpN1xB5g5IqLrgAFEIELX_6Frb_l-ELh8dLYlwArcqTuDZZBmfGlY80pCkB29wfjVnQSf-ZIlCgwqpg/s400/P1010271.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> Waiting for the party to start, Amelia all dressed up in her crown, and she has a big fluffy tutu under her dress. She loved the amount of attention her crown generated, and had lots of opportunities throughout the day to announce her birthday and soak up all the attention and good wishes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0pzUwcgoChh4Mw-nSFEpNudQ-HeGSAgdhtlgIaV5XI6dzB7sGb3SWOsAoOz-0VL8SPcDhoEfACUTnkgnnfIDOI4UeEJGX7JsbCrmhG6Kg0vRMNGalkn4oXXWcWqBGTGDLRsh2A/s1600/P1010274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0pzUwcgoChh4Mw-nSFEpNudQ-HeGSAgdhtlgIaV5XI6dzB7sGb3SWOsAoOz-0VL8SPcDhoEfACUTnkgnnfIDOI4UeEJGX7JsbCrmhG6Kg0vRMNGalkn4oXXWcWqBGTGDLRsh2A/s400/P1010274.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_yRLQ-MbRC40AdjbNVANPI9EhKutWJKRGR14cwejec5t5W8BOsg85urb0dvsoUJDf1jAvXyiZcCyc3jwF3z2gNJ1bPOX24fnACw0cnWdx9ko3xugn_QQAk1fu77vk2xwd9icoA/s1600/P1010295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_yRLQ-MbRC40AdjbNVANPI9EhKutWJKRGR14cwejec5t5W8BOsg85urb0dvsoUJDf1jAvXyiZcCyc3jwF3z2gNJ1bPOX24fnACw0cnWdx9ko3xugn_QQAk1fu77vk2xwd9icoA/s320/P1010295.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_yRLQ-MbRC40AdjbNVANPI9EhKutWJKRGR14cwejec5t5W8BOsg85urb0dvsoUJDf1jAvXyiZcCyc3jwF3z2gNJ1bPOX24fnACw0cnWdx9ko3xugn_QQAk1fu77vk2xwd9icoA/s1600/P1010295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> We ordered some bottles of gluten-free pancake batter and plenty of toppings, and then Amelia and her buddy both made pancakes and commissioned some special ones, like this kitty cat. After lots of pancakes and syrup, the staff also came out with a gluten free banana fritter, which she dug into, and this is sort of where all that left her:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU4zvSxXwYdhJowtY5U6bJ9iHl1mQ9oEYCwVnDsNsNKTZytCDogVBMBdGuW6Ula1E_OjLe1b8KP0h3Gk7KZnbBCw98sytR_KhBbWvS-cmxYOR6onZ4-ZsKilQwLX4iPE70V3PvA/s1600/P1010298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU4zvSxXwYdhJowtY5U6bJ9iHl1mQ9oEYCwVnDsNsNKTZytCDogVBMBdGuW6Ula1E_OjLe1b8KP0h3Gk7KZnbBCw98sytR_KhBbWvS-cmxYOR6onZ4-ZsKilQwLX4iPE70V3PvA/s400/P1010298.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> She recovered and let the sweets work their loopy magic on her and Chloe-- their antics were really hysterical!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv9be_15FGAktCtTbV02COS6EN2hpcHEESuHT2I8-1vv-QMMJ-few5YDAUxvPWhOfSRX_MxbgffAume7FWyNx1zE5nkFDYgmNHBdtpDHtcHm06xz0jGmQfwzWaZWNB33hHoGoMg/s1600/P1010310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv9be_15FGAktCtTbV02COS6EN2hpcHEESuHT2I8-1vv-QMMJ-few5YDAUxvPWhOfSRX_MxbgffAume7FWyNx1zE5nkFDYgmNHBdtpDHtcHm06xz0jGmQfwzWaZWNB33hHoGoMg/s400/P1010310.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXRuQQpYtIjiMJxR1eI83FRpk1REP2_ERRkztz1FkBsQ8I0u-dkGxkUFHfd5c4WqvtATEMRKvc5gSI8ZL2kCA2D_61E4iGOmygwO5We7mHabF_ZnPSJZxNL9I_-hmxxupDvJkaA/s1600/P1010319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXRuQQpYtIjiMJxR1eI83FRpk1REP2_ERRkztz1FkBsQ8I0u-dkGxkUFHfd5c4WqvtATEMRKvc5gSI8ZL2kCA2D_61E4iGOmygwO5We7mHabF_ZnPSJZxNL9I_-hmxxupDvJkaA/s400/P1010319.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> This is my favorite picture from the day, with Chloe laughing so hard at her shenanigans!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QHzrnX9lS4fBJ2jo7_Tips5X-C1YkjDKKaWSjzCxSS4nWtDGj2IBEdHKDwPabqRjOUhp8sx5vAcHNacdSQUXGmrXDCV6vqE3edGmZ7o333KaK99hHQQW34eYHoifMa0xUCFkqw/s1600/P1010325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QHzrnX9lS4fBJ2jo7_Tips5X-C1YkjDKKaWSjzCxSS4nWtDGj2IBEdHKDwPabqRjOUhp8sx5vAcHNacdSQUXGmrXDCV6vqE3edGmZ7o333KaK99hHQQW34eYHoifMa0xUCFkqw/s400/P1010325.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> That was fun, and we had a great time with our neighbors. Next, it was off for our birthday tradition-- this was Amelia's fourth year to ride the sky tram on her birthday.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mg66HFdo389k3YXjcIx_7nTH9s518ZhKzkoH7qTmLP6cwKncVhPp4p1tY-pMq-i8iVyZ3RZf3MYqINMeknbhPwaeiT9sz88Y3r2oY-6EwBx4d2fRzgrGhjFGKHhmFj_mNhEejA/s1600/P1010330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mg66HFdo389k3YXjcIx_7nTH9s518ZhKzkoH7qTmLP6cwKncVhPp4p1tY-pMq-i8iVyZ3RZf3MYqINMeknbhPwaeiT9sz88Y3r2oY-6EwBx4d2fRzgrGhjFGKHhmFj_mNhEejA/s400/P1010330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSFs5Hvcx5lPQQP5t8-TFnqnDjIaedGB2VQFunpTSIt_qL2Uql56LCDfoxZjF1cUS-A5aaHO7_ufR23fjvPfX3UiN74WbZkedAsmcpEzcIywF6z9gtNmSjy3516NsxcTDaSTtzQ/s1600/P1010345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSFs5Hvcx5lPQQP5t8-TFnqnDjIaedGB2VQFunpTSIt_qL2Uql56LCDfoxZjF1cUS-A5aaHO7_ufR23fjvPfX3UiN74WbZkedAsmcpEzcIywF6z9gtNmSjy3516NsxcTDaSTtzQ/s400/P1010345.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> While we were riding up to the top where OHSU is situated, our tram conductor radioed to the staff at the entrance that there was a little birthday princess on her way. They met us with stickers and a little pair of binoculars! That was so sweet. We walked up to the park area up there, where a farmer's market was being held. Amelia sampled everything and received plenty of birthday greetings. A few days before her birthday, she had befriended someone in a bookstore. This lady found out that Amelia's birthday was coming up, and pulled two dollars out of her purse and gave them to Amelia to buy herself a gift with! So Amelia spent that money on a fresh-squeezed orange juice. It was a hot day, so we soaked our feet in a fountain and rested.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRN5qBjw4e6QkpY3TPiIyeO1xXyckUvD70DNgzYu7qZmerRr34I3noJKxVyy8joS6og63e3md_Ce22x5pFxnd8tAcSSEvfzJ2cNERtKHDulQfxgv_ifgGIQc5MgW4CjHZiDWtTA/s1600/P1010358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRN5qBjw4e6QkpY3TPiIyeO1xXyckUvD70DNgzYu7qZmerRr34I3noJKxVyy8joS6og63e3md_Ce22x5pFxnd8tAcSSEvfzJ2cNERtKHDulQfxgv_ifgGIQc5MgW4CjHZiDWtTA/s400/P1010358.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlK4ZtMTUyocj7jBUqgSSIcPcom4Qk_bLVAK8Tu9OATeTsdWfbTt4aUcO1Jb99lUFvv_7Yfsr7bbTFYRIdny0nrznXAIfdsiGZLMA9ZBCbW3kYvnxqi8gF9NSMtEdOyjoJo1m9w/s1600/P1010372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlK4ZtMTUyocj7jBUqgSSIcPcom4Qk_bLVAK8Tu9OATeTsdWfbTt4aUcO1Jb99lUFvv_7Yfsr7bbTFYRIdny0nrznXAIfdsiGZLMA9ZBCbW3kYvnxqi8gF9NSMtEdOyjoJo1m9w/s400/P1010372.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> We basically spent the rest of the day visiting fountains all over Portland-- I think five, total. We also went to <a href="http://www.finneganstoys.com/">Finnegan's toy store</a> for Amelia to play for a while.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yArvrJp1rqNvUwwjov0sha1OEDA4tx7BOZSRVRlxuBpQr_2dpRKkLYV7cG6hqg8ow8eXB4bET3sLV7IUVQ5qLaI7Glp0lJJdRghOZuQ2VYA2aPJQwuKL9X7vLKq-IqqpWTjMNA/s1600/P1010398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yArvrJp1rqNvUwwjov0sha1OEDA4tx7BOZSRVRlxuBpQr_2dpRKkLYV7cG6hqg8ow8eXB4bET3sLV7IUVQ5qLaI7Glp0lJJdRghOZuQ2VYA2aPJQwuKL9X7vLKq-IqqpWTjMNA/s400/P1010398.JPG" width="393" /></a></div> After so many little stops, it was finally time to meet our friend Elie for our main gift to Amelia: a Moroccan dinner! Amelia has always loved experiences more than things. We have tried many times to think of toys or presents she would actually play with, but it always ends up being a bust. What she loves is stories, food, going new places, and learning things about other parts of the world. Could we have a child more compatible for the life we've been living?! So she had been really looking forward to eating Moroccan food, getting her hands washed with orange flower scented water, sitting on poufs around little tables, etc. It was dark, so I didn't get many good pictures, but this is a sweet one with Elie.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHStTCblApumZ5mjNRNpOJpVn3vKn0KTfzm974QfgHq_NDAldlg1HRnHQs5dIObPXZVXverDDyTtEu8p6zCnmK-Thgr4E7Apn5kcUyWbN1iTMQxeUPOh32Cg5H1lkDC418p_Vtw/s1600/P1010410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHStTCblApumZ5mjNRNpOJpVn3vKn0KTfzm974QfgHq_NDAldlg1HRnHQs5dIObPXZVXverDDyTtEu8p6zCnmK-Thgr4E7Apn5kcUyWbN1iTMQxeUPOh32Cg5H1lkDC418p_Vtw/s400/P1010410.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Amelia's birthday is my favorite holiday of the year. She is such an interesting little person, and I love to just take the time to delight her and do all of the things I know she likes. It was a long day, but it was also great to make time in that crazy week to spend our energies on her, and Jeff and I had a blast too!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-33910617709930996232011-05-10T16:38:00.000-07:002011-05-10T22:32:22.610-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What Goes Around, Comes Around...</span></b><br />
<br />
Anyone remember <a href="http://bloggyfamily.blogspot.com/2006/06/babyspa.html">this</a>?<br />
This Mother's Day I got some payback. Amelia was the sweetest little thing, totally eager to make my day special. Not only did she think of getting me the latest Emmylou Harris CD herself, but she gave me a little spa treatment. (With Papa's help, of course!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWctyIuxLoHWbanZiLNpYnON2QpjQ9Oja7genO2PNdwtsUl6VkKsr38pKJwREj_Gm-4h0wCmnROfuPW4a1Sjyf20Wu4VJ3WG6IlVhgnIgYPvdvSaVjmac67WW3tvC9BYakWlvHQ/s1600/IMG_8079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWctyIuxLoHWbanZiLNpYnON2QpjQ9Oja7genO2PNdwtsUl6VkKsr38pKJwREj_Gm-4h0wCmnROfuPW4a1Sjyf20Wu4VJ3WG6IlVhgnIgYPvdvSaVjmac67WW3tvC9BYakWlvHQ/s640/IMG_8079.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the warm soaking water ready...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1hRGj7gGnMM3-mL78hirwvENtoP8ENtrgYMUZARaWH5RtO5TFv0UTZJEsPxKrejEfIO6rSZBpBa3lfMM7UdR5HKDLmMZSa0LLuerorSAbU5pGJZHU76zMoC9YW7wLcy7c4Umnw/s1600/IMG_8081.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1hRGj7gGnMM3-mL78hirwvENtoP8ENtrgYMUZARaWH5RtO5TFv0UTZJEsPxKrejEfIO6rSZBpBa3lfMM7UdR5HKDLmMZSa0LLuerorSAbU5pGJZHU76zMoC9YW7wLcy7c4Umnw/s640/IMG_8081.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple minutes to soak. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3CT5F6kcNkJCwxbrgAbn-m2xo8fMwehRndUImPEqaJv8ptwj2PyWSTHyK5pBT2LVnvbWBReqFQyUEINX1z8pD8BrZwSyvZS0fQJyZx33ThrVWoIs3Ux3ufPKm4az-y6iepU9dg/s1600/IMG_8082.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3CT5F6kcNkJCwxbrgAbn-m2xo8fMwehRndUImPEqaJv8ptwj2PyWSTHyK5pBT2LVnvbWBReqFQyUEINX1z8pD8BrZwSyvZS0fQJyZx33ThrVWoIs3Ux3ufPKm4az-y6iepU9dg/s640/IMG_8082.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa demonstrates loofah scrubbing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbwsFyYuFvxLwdNq801wMVXecjDnR-EBOK204rvsVmWi6L3bNTOlgtsrKd5unFfeMhLYDwofa3gT1x2DR6Nj3jYViqHoU4JC47sbkvfVsq48Ufv6rPWX4k-l9k1Ec19trVI29Mw/s1600/IMG_8085.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbwsFyYuFvxLwdNq801wMVXecjDnR-EBOK204rvsVmWi6L3bNTOlgtsrKd5unFfeMhLYDwofa3gT1x2DR6Nj3jYViqHoU4JC47sbkvfVsq48Ufv6rPWX4k-l9k1Ec19trVI29Mw/s640/IMG_8085.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No instruction needed for the massage part!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWctyIuxLoHWbanZiLNpYnON2QpjQ9Oja7genO2PNdwtsUl6VkKsr38pKJwREj_Gm-4h0wCmnROfuPW4a1Sjyf20Wu4VJ3WG6IlVhgnIgYPvdvSaVjmac67WW3tvC9BYakWlvHQ/s1600/IMG_8079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sczF3Gz0K-CXJzqUetTfKk5AQ1atBGNu7vC1kJQT7BIF4Frfj5EdRqsKur6j03aLu2KS4P-s9ZVW5qKNJkOltJyu37g6QKrs2Zv0AVWcGhWX2FKBEdIdRjwa5OqpEK3SsKYgqg/s1600/IMG_8084.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sczF3Gz0K-CXJzqUetTfKk5AQ1atBGNu7vC1kJQT7BIF4Frfj5EdRqsKur6j03aLu2KS4P-s9ZVW5qKNJkOltJyu37g6QKrs2Zv0AVWcGhWX2FKBEdIdRjwa5OqpEK3SsKYgqg/s640/IMG_8084.png" width="640" /> </a><br />
It's fun having a family!<br />
Speaking of which, my brother Luke took these nice pictures for us when he visited this weekend. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-37894388887416133322011-03-06T10:46:00.000-08:002011-03-06T22:56:27.241-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Unhappy Trails...</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsyc3dj42-GWpy13ghe4uBFXvegzseKR_Lko-9dtPETp9C4f4TPj73bZGoqJhwHhRi5F4Afsj_JBevvG_kcnfmwQ130mfIbGKmylcY_bib7arYFdt85EJXTgkcl_90csK_T-QHQ/s1600/P1011069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsyc3dj42-GWpy13ghe4uBFXvegzseKR_Lko-9dtPETp9C4f4TPj73bZGoqJhwHhRi5F4Afsj_JBevvG_kcnfmwQ130mfIbGKmylcY_bib7arYFdt85EJXTgkcl_90csK_T-QHQ/s400/P1011069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Amelia has been the best little traveling companion-- cheerful, enthusiastic, energetic, flexible... Until yesterday, when we hit a wall. It lasted all morning as well. Her legs were "broken," her stomach was "shrinking," she was mad, she was bored, she wanted to go back "home" to spend time with our host, she wanted to kick things and scream, etc, etc. Total misery. She just about ruined it for us. Pulling out the camera to capture all of her angst helped her turn the corner.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJSiEpYPZAAKPF2aqal9kN9xmy0xYGKrnv5ljmnEB5OiIbq_L6VJ3J30Ci3OoI_kVp8P8-rA4Q_RbSbaPCnA6zAFH_k08GV21bLJ2YOycxFD1n25_yH_6CW3uTFCd_aPvm-Z35w/s1600/P1011073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJSiEpYPZAAKPF2aqal9kN9xmy0xYGKrnv5ljmnEB5OiIbq_L6VJ3J30Ci3OoI_kVp8P8-rA4Q_RbSbaPCnA6zAFH_k08GV21bLJ2YOycxFD1n25_yH_6CW3uTFCd_aPvm-Z35w/s400/P1011073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaam0E3PpTGfYCf-Agee-mcSttKxx1XTtR109RJa-Un5Pv8Kv4KAy2LpG1_zcXJf0ZK68iYXqjCOjlPsjXb9_boUd4K6PLKKr0XUGwoIc7ymg9C6qI6Gd-cm4dRalaJwJDud2Jg/s1600/P1011068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaam0E3PpTGfYCf-Agee-mcSttKxx1XTtR109RJa-Un5Pv8Kv4KAy2LpG1_zcXJf0ZK68iYXqjCOjlPsjXb9_boUd4K6PLKKr0XUGwoIc7ymg9C6qI6Gd-cm4dRalaJwJDud2Jg/s400/P1011068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jo_dAbDD43iHnsi78RbquQIy9_dh9kehDpXoUAuz0zIZ99pY3OEX9DJdsIawL-NC8ig2kv4v1juA1ezgE8HGs6LIjemuWoFnM4hjRvEGAt4_7d4hYV0-KWNoiDy5gslm8zeBiw/s1600/P1011074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jo_dAbDD43iHnsi78RbquQIy9_dh9kehDpXoUAuz0zIZ99pY3OEX9DJdsIawL-NC8ig2kv4v1juA1ezgE8HGs6LIjemuWoFnM4hjRvEGAt4_7d4hYV0-KWNoiDy5gslm8zeBiw/s400/P1011074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUad4TH7YzkcTfe53fGH85I9oChT-xnNxp-UDc9ym9B9AradExoq4RqYSuRuyP9-JfecxkoOFQzkZzCOuGumbx6ay0dAUW7SsUeKoemrmDy7q7r43PImXhejtngIE8MAz6Cz6pcg/s1600/P1011076+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUad4TH7YzkcTfe53fGH85I9oChT-xnNxp-UDc9ym9B9AradExoq4RqYSuRuyP9-JfecxkoOFQzkZzCOuGumbx6ay0dAUW7SsUeKoemrmDy7q7r43PImXhejtngIE8MAz6Cz6pcg/s400/P1011076+2.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ5I69GquLVd0MFhy-waBPNPNxnj_cg9GorHfpzRzV33AA2IshFEV8GqOZOJn0t-I4A3lnud_7zhJoS5Lgo7AO88i2YrgBhT4KJS-umttjgByWErfcz6nLqw9i6k5xCLsrEI0VQ/s1600/P1011080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ5I69GquLVd0MFhy-waBPNPNxnj_cg9GorHfpzRzV33AA2IshFEV8GqOZOJn0t-I4A3lnud_7zhJoS5Lgo7AO88i2YrgBhT4KJS-umttjgByWErfcz6nLqw9i6k5xCLsrEI0VQ/s400/P1011080.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> And, of course, finally seeing the Eiffel Tower sealed the deal. Hoping for a fairly happy, hardy tomorrow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9aGBPk5LGmkIMiY-gtJQ-oQvOSfVQ7vxerIwANXYv2krjfso7e0GwYWzfWuB6_EChq4wGJdp3Bqp0xypyibbTUkXWR6uKvt1yXhRIYSyR6qRf7J9szhe6Y8ow08nb64f4NfNFQ/s1600/P1011087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
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<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-81287757415723943592011-02-27T12:20:00.000-08:002011-02-27T12:20:24.814-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amelia gives us a tour of her Kindergarten!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fpJRWMyup0g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-60500955321310493402011-02-10T04:32:00.000-08:002011-02-10T04:32:20.845-08:00<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tough Traveler</span></b><br />
On our last trip (to Nuremburg and Munich) Amelia had all sorts of travel phrases just rolling off the tongue. "Are we going to check into our hotel?" "What time does our train leave?" "Where's the train station?" "Do we need to check out now?" She is so savvy, and loves demonstrating her worldly knowledge. She is always up for anything (unless it seems too ordinary.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYriZM8f9-iaDVksrxxrYNQpQNdxEctVqfK2TJHKeKG7sF6bKZxyOgGFueK3W5v-XiqP0uyPg5sHB-NXlT3AR04k9ThghqSlt-0OQ8PlvGaJnFUVgnBy2kXRg_sFXbbabvqLH-eg/s1600/_DSC0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYriZM8f9-iaDVksrxxrYNQpQNdxEctVqfK2TJHKeKG7sF6bKZxyOgGFueK3W5v-XiqP0uyPg5sHB-NXlT3AR04k9ThghqSlt-0OQ8PlvGaJnFUVgnBy2kXRg_sFXbbabvqLH-eg/s400/_DSC0016.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>Even though we probably wouldn't have chosen to live in three different countries in one year, we are thankful on a daily basis that this is Amelia's idea of a good life. She loves traveling. Honestly, if we could stay in a hotel every night (preferably a different one each time) and eat in new restaurants every day, she would be ecstatic. All of her dreams are coming true right now, as we pack up again. Not only will she be visiting friends and family in Portland, but we will be seeing Italy and France, and flying to Portland from Paris. We will stay in hotels and other peoples' homes, and eat in all sorts of places over the next few months. I imagine this would be just awful for most children, with no sense of stability whatsoever! Knowing Amelia, she will be friendly, charming, observant, and genuinely thankful for all of the experiences and meals and new people she will meet. I am so thankful for her. I am not so sure about the next few months myself-- I love adventure, but I also like to just have plenty of peace and space and less stimulation than the average person. Seeing her take it all in stride will surely be helpful.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-50925086428598242812011-01-14T03:14:00.000-08:002011-01-14T03:14:46.976-08:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some Christmas Photos...</b></span><br />
<br />
I already basically described what our Christmas was like <a href="http://and-here-we-are.blogspot.com/">here</a>, but I wanted to add some photos for family and friends.<br />
And I mostly wanted to be able to share this one:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDVgLjosOVqTxBnDH9rG5Odi2BFpkC0m7I3tyHPcjNBc7_e4retvMKSS_z4I9N9eS7XlEVXhwYNhldQCa5vxCRRdPlZSjN6h2rIpr9L-DyJzRoHISFKRf88FeGrdg40rFATb_TQ/s1600/DSCN4205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDVgLjosOVqTxBnDH9rG5Odi2BFpkC0m7I3tyHPcjNBc7_e4retvMKSS_z4I9N9eS7XlEVXhwYNhldQCa5vxCRRdPlZSjN6h2rIpr9L-DyJzRoHISFKRf88FeGrdg40rFATb_TQ/s400/DSCN4205.JPG" width="300" /></a> <br />
Yes, this is my charming husband, showing off multiple gifts all at once, including beer socks and Portland underoos from his family!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLWanB-8jHk8x-JMI5yrcuA6vBON2aoFl2azhaPYarjUiDGpwAO15iJdW1OUSjGvqfxyOgPLQkgKaA2PrjLRCwp_7_HmjcVkyMAyd1R4_ap_Jk25AsqM56JLtmsmZMBVaidTkCg/s1600/DSCN4184.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLWanB-8jHk8x-JMI5yrcuA6vBON2aoFl2azhaPYarjUiDGpwAO15iJdW1OUSjGvqfxyOgPLQkgKaA2PrjLRCwp_7_HmjcVkyMAyd1R4_ap_Jk25AsqM56JLtmsmZMBVaidTkCg/s400/DSCN4184.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIH7f2xaVYFKTCf5KEPxS7wPJ-iQx32J36DoKWLjQ3O7XgUCjjm9cAoAv6h_IupRR8JPEqDl-uFMr6YYsv1En0MFgnPu8m16nA5Ia7eIiRErr1QdBOJKPQtwwBaNexFCxT0eiWQ/s1600/_DSC0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> As usual, Amelia totally hit the jackpot. This year, however, <b>we</b> actually contributed to the jackpot in a big way. I don't know how we didn't get a picture of it, but we bought her a wooden play kitchen. And some cooking items, and her grandparents contributed greatly to this theme with dishes and toy foods. AND a work outfit!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Iwzniux7wO300PPHDTPXTI4iQ4KaLbktT24Mqk5HL-Az_FAwMNkM3q8YseW_ZQXz5WYpnu6hYlVT8QzIbCVAOP69ClZGJ8eKwDupe_P6PGg-PIUBrFB_pt_KJAMOly2-98ScA/s1600/DSCN4199.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Iwzniux7wO300PPHDTPXTI4iQ4KaLbktT24Mqk5HL-Az_FAwMNkM3q8YseW_ZQXz5WYpnu6hYlVT8QzIbCVAOP69ClZGJ8eKwDupe_P6PGg-PIUBrFB_pt_KJAMOly2-98ScA/s400/DSCN4199.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4316y029o_MzLOpfgqcJaJZJwg3frl1-EZm1C5XS02ChukPYEzEtydwNUZO4VEQDfbjiwoHZwOFfm3E6aPcDTgrE4eE70hwQGmpxa-w8sqqrmA6d-Bkk-zErCwRSzvT-sJMxFA/s1600/_DSC0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4316y029o_MzLOpfgqcJaJZJwg3frl1-EZm1C5XS02ChukPYEzEtydwNUZO4VEQDfbjiwoHZwOFfm3E6aPcDTgrE4eE70hwQGmpxa-w8sqqrmA6d-Bkk-zErCwRSzvT-sJMxFA/s400/_DSC0094.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> This cute little scarf is from family in Michigan-- it looks super cute on her!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIH7f2xaVYFKTCf5KEPxS7wPJ-iQx32J36DoKWLjQ3O7XgUCjjm9cAoAv6h_IupRR8JPEqDl-uFMr6YYsv1En0MFgnPu8m16nA5Ia7eIiRErr1QdBOJKPQtwwBaNexFCxT0eiWQ/s1600/_DSC0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIH7f2xaVYFKTCf5KEPxS7wPJ-iQx32J36DoKWLjQ3O7XgUCjjm9cAoAv6h_IupRR8JPEqDl-uFMr6YYsv1En0MFgnPu8m16nA5Ia7eIiRErr1QdBOJKPQtwwBaNexFCxT0eiWQ/s400/_DSC0045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> I know it's a little late, but Merry Christmas!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Iwzniux7wO300PPHDTPXTI4iQ4KaLbktT24Mqk5HL-Az_FAwMNkM3q8YseW_ZQXz5WYpnu6hYlVT8QzIbCVAOP69ClZGJ8eKwDupe_P6PGg-PIUBrFB_pt_KJAMOly2-98ScA/s1600/DSCN4199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Iwzniux7wO300PPHDTPXTI4iQ4KaLbktT24Mqk5HL-Az_FAwMNkM3q8YseW_ZQXz5WYpnu6hYlVT8QzIbCVAOP69ClZGJ8eKwDupe_P6PGg-PIUBrFB_pt_KJAMOly2-98ScA/s1600/DSCN4199.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDVgLjosOVqTxBnDH9rG5Odi2BFpkC0m7I3tyHPcjNBc7_e4retvMKSS_z4I9N9eS7XlEVXhwYNhldQCa5vxCRRdPlZSjN6h2rIpr9L-DyJzRoHISFKRf88FeGrdg40rFATb_TQ/s1600/DSCN4205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-21987652408657207252010-11-22T01:10:00.000-08:002010-11-22T04:38:54.881-08:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Family Updates and a Walk in the Woods</b></span><br />
<br />
So... I don't think I've done this in ages!<br />
Right now life feels kind of like <a href="http://and-here-we-are.blogspot.com/2010/11/nuremburg-one-more-time.html">our trip to Nuremburg</a> did: so much to enjoy before us, but all of these other basic, logistical, important things getting in the way. <br />
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<b>Jeff</b>-- Well, the topic of the day is always his job. Things have been really rough from the beginning, since he found himself in the middle of some crazy office politics. There is some question as to whether or not he will keep his job, and he is having to do tons of extra work to prove himself. It's a huge downer, and takes away from all of us. He's working on stress management techniques, and we are both trying to think "outside the box" in terms of options if he loses his job. There are a lot of international and American schools in Europe, and he is very skilled in his work. So, we're oddly in the same place we've been several times in the last four years! It's been hard to have Jeff gone for so much of the day. We were spoiled before with his job, since he was home around 4 p.m. and got a lot of time off throughout the year. We're adjusting.<br />
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Because he spends so much time at work, he hasn't been able to practice German as much as he'd like, and hasn't made many acquaintances here in Amberg. Fortunately, he's had a couple of days off for holidays recently, and we have used those for some day trips. He has this Thursday off, and we don't have any Thanksgiving plans made. We're still trying to decide what we'll do-- a trip to Pilsen? He is getting in touch with a contact that may be able to connect him to a symphony here where he can play his violin. That sounds like the perfect social "in" to me! <br />
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<b>Amelia</b>-- She is growing up. We played Uno with her a few times this week. I guess I could have introduced it sooner, because she totally "gets" it and figured out what was going on right away. We have been having family game nights, and it's a really cool milestone. I'm crossing my fingers that she will be a word person like me, and I will have a life-long Boggle and Scrabble partner. We'll see.<br />
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Something that has been really fun is hearing her play by herself in German. I know that a lot of it is made up words that sounds about right, but she is speaking a lot of actual Deutsch as well! It's a little strange to see her as a German child, but I do, because she has the pronunciation and body language down perfectly.<br />
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She is liking her kindergarten, and gradually learning to enjoy playing with other children. I like that there is a range of ages in her class, just like at her old preschool. She can help the younger ones, but also gets help from older children herself. Amberg is such a small town that we frequently run into families from her school. She is so friendly, and attracts plenty of warm attention. It's such a nice feeling to have some kind of connection to other people, and to start to feel like familiar faces. There are a few moms there that speak English, so it has been nice to connect with them as well.<br />
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We are having some real challenges, too. Amelia is entitled to a ton of grace, especially since she has just left her entire world as she knows it, is in a new place, learning a new language, without the familiar people around to love her and devote special attention to her. It's a huge adjustment, especially for someone who is so people-oriented. She did a stellar job with flight over here and all of that stuff, but once the dust settled, she pulled out all sorts of difficult behaviors. Part of it is just being a four year old, I know! Regardless of all of the reasons, parenting has been extremely challenging, made compounded by the fact that we spend so much less time with other people than we used to, so I am often in the position of trying to meet her social needs. Part of it is being an only child, and not understanding the distinction between being a child and being an adult. If Jeff and I can do/ eat/ watch/ etc. something, then she should be able to also, right? She has a point of view on just about every verbal exchange Jeff and I have, and we often have to tell her that we're having a private conversation, that she can listen if she wants, but it's not for her. I imagine that it all feels very discriminatory! She loves to try to tell people what to do and micro-manage everything that's going on. This would be irritating for anyone, but as someone who is always trying to curb this tendency in myself, it is awful to see it coming on so strong in a little child! There's more, so much more, but I realize that it is just as much my own shortcomings being mirrored through her. Sometimes I feel like she's more of a little sister, and Jeff is known to ask me, only half-joking, "Do I need to separate you two?" I have heard people talking about having to grow up once they had kids, but I have never felt it so much as now!<br />
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On an extremely positive note, Amelia is sleeping like crazy! She sleeps 10-12 hours each night, and takes a hearty nap on most days. This is amazing. Such a mercy. <br />
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<b>Me</b>-- I have also been sleeping well, for the first time in ages. For the first couple of months after we arrived, I had almost constant headaches, and slept terribly. Headaches still happen, but not daily. I attribute these life-changing improvements to dietary alterations and the happiness that a new setting has brought. And some amazing light-blocking shades that were already in our bedroom. My body is also becoming lighter, which feels good! Other than that, I feel busy. It's been an adjustment, trying to figure out the balance between school, home duties and rest. Boundaries are a little harder when your classes are on the computer, and you can "go to school" just about any time of the day. Sometimes I haven't been able to get all of my assignments done before the weekend, and then that cuts into family time. So, I am trying to rein that all in a bit. I have been trying to take Mondays off, as a day that I can just clean up after the weekend and enjoy a quiet home without having to do school work. I am getting close to finishing my first quarter, and that feels really good! <br />
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Something that I have been meaning/ wanting to do is take the train to one of our bigger cities closeby. I haven't been anywhere outside of our city walls by myself yet. Every trip to the grocery store is with all three of us, since I don't drive here. It's OK, but I really long for some time in a new place by myself. Train fare is a little expensive, so I'd like to try to go somewhere once a month.<br />
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I have been enjoying blogging, and connecting with other people a little through that. I had no idea that there was such a huge expat blogging community. I should have known, of course, but never thought about it much. I would love to find a way to make a little money doing some writing/ picture taking, but I am not sure how yet. There are a lot of resources out there for people (women especially) who travel/ live abroad to write articles and do a little journalism and make some money. We'll see-- I don't want to add much to the work that I am already doing, but I would be taking pictures and writing about our experiences anyway, so it would be fun to get even more out of it.<br />
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My German studies are not coming along nearly as well as I would have thought. I spend most of my time at home, and haven't felt like doing the audio lessons-- talking is taxing for me, and there is nothing better than a silent house! I learn from osmosis and deductive reasoning, so there are lots of things that I have figured out, and I can understand quite a bit. But when it comes to speaking, the range is very limited. My language partner has a paralyzed vocal chord right now, plus she keeps wanting to get together <i>with</i> our kids, which severely limits actual conversation! But I don't have any time lines, so I will do my best and know that I'll get it eventually.<br />
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What else?... We have had a lot of fun this month getting back into nesting mode. We are talking about paint colors, hanging things on the walls, etc. Even though our future here is a little uncertain, I was living in limbo for over a year before we moved, and I just can't keep it up. We still don't own much. It feels strange, though, to buy things, since I went for a few months before of looking at every little thing we owned, wondering what I would do with it, how I would get rid of it! Now I feel a little panicky bringing stuff home, but it feels really good to start settling in. If we move, we'll move our things with us.<br />
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So, life isn't exactly as dreamy as I would have hoped for now. But in the meantime it is very interesting, and we are doing our best to enjoy it all, while keeping an ear to the ground for what could be next.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ9kbnDfhyXmL_WPtBcRasysTUR2usiqZ6-Q4yj2wjfJGEdnOuWqRzoGSDc6t7JLi_gpJJRzJvd6Lbpd3zUOLwxysT1M5iCNgSwB7RPd9f7mZ8yUEeGggcxMhH-uA7rRwC9ULzA/s1600/P1010153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ9kbnDfhyXmL_WPtBcRasysTUR2usiqZ6-Q4yj2wjfJGEdnOuWqRzoGSDc6t7JLi_gpJJRzJvd6Lbpd3zUOLwxysT1M5iCNgSwB7RPd9f7mZ8yUEeGggcxMhH-uA7rRwC9ULzA/s640/P1010153.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-81578875862247076332010-11-07T06:27:00.000-08:002010-11-07T06:30:23.748-08:00<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Amelia.</span></b></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIM75VCDdGKFj1hy5b2WNrF_1W4Kc-bMV78AnHxSgey0Txc24UrzGHdre2_3ouoesNHOnWvifoPIhcC1TfMyhHCSEUSkJNz_kvjtX-gFSaJDxy2LaCIrHOWbEPU7f6abAv6eF2Q/s1600/P1010001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIM75VCDdGKFj1hy5b2WNrF_1W4Kc-bMV78AnHxSgey0Txc24UrzGHdre2_3ouoesNHOnWvifoPIhcC1TfMyhHCSEUSkJNz_kvjtX-gFSaJDxy2LaCIrHOWbEPU7f6abAv6eF2Q/s400/P1010001.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
I missed doing the big post about Amelia that I had wanted to for her birthday... I started it, but then things were so chaotic that I never finished. Since then, honestly, things have been so challenging with her that I didn't feel like I was in a good place to sit down and talk about her here! But I wanted to share the part that I did write a few months ago.<br />
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<i>As most of you know by now, Amelia is ALL about people! She has an almost magical way about her of drawing people out. Wherever we go, people notice and remember her. She seems to garner special treatment from everyone, which is something we're trying to keep in check-- we're afraid her worldview is already a bit skewed because of it.</i><br />
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<i>A month or so ago, we went on our first family vacation to the coast. One morning, we were hanging out at a coffee shop there, and Amelia was doing a nice job of staying occupied, climbing on and off of her bench, looking out the windows, etc. She was staying close to us, but I could tell it was quite a discipline. Finally, I said, "Amelia, would you like to go meet some people?" She looked at me, beaming, "CAN I?!" And she was off, to the other side of the room, filled with grownups. She literally kept them captivated (and busy) for a full hour. She introduced herself, met everyone in the room, got a tour of the back of the shop. One lady went out to her car and brought her dog in for Amelia to meet. A funny moment was when Amelia saw a lady in the back of the shop, wearing a bright orange puffy vest and asked her "Are you doing some 'instruction' work back there?"</i><br />
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I loved this moment, because it really shows Amelia's strengths. She is super aware and considerate of other people. A few weeks ago, a new friend of mine shared that she has allergies, too. Then this week we were walking together to ballet class, and she turned to her and said, "So, Maya, how are you doing with your allergies?" Most kids her age never really think of other people and ask them questions about themselves. I am so thankful that she is generally cheerful, and draws people out. I am trying to learn from her about not being afraid of being noticed, and just engaging anyone who smiles at me!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-76060148011715450102010-10-28T08:19:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:37:56.434-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meine Kleine Ballerina</b></span></div><br />
I had fun taking pictures of Amelia at her ballet class this afternoon. Seriously, it was more like a pink and purple circus than actual dance class. Hilarious! Adorable!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQf2NmrJvjmdGHHOKna4bshyBcu55h5hICrbfaHOCScg9kOCFyN7AjEp6CcHyBrG_NNH2S6Kz5VZXAox61JuKtzv5Ux1ip400pzzloSnSV1RD3ZX5XKgAONoVe0tK1KgnmC4fSQ/s1600/P1010259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQf2NmrJvjmdGHHOKna4bshyBcu55h5hICrbfaHOCScg9kOCFyN7AjEp6CcHyBrG_NNH2S6Kz5VZXAox61JuKtzv5Ux1ip400pzzloSnSV1RD3ZX5XKgAONoVe0tK1KgnmC4fSQ/s400/P1010259.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HndfYWczMWjWisASSBp5Vt1jERkOi1Eh_TDsFp9HnWm89zbGHKxmI6IfifTMNcWevAm2GMUzik-HlVKcvEc3PsKfjThqvCyrWS51BJio2-B00pjjSjTlM6pOp417ytLY04O6fQ/s1600/P1010322.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HndfYWczMWjWisASSBp5Vt1jERkOi1Eh_TDsFp9HnWm89zbGHKxmI6IfifTMNcWevAm2GMUzik-HlVKcvEc3PsKfjThqvCyrWS51BJio2-B00pjjSjTlM6pOp417ytLY04O6fQ/s400/P1010322.JPG" width="300" /> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0dU5fedwh17gWwvs_0p51Ap1DkjOphbLDCvBc9GNuv-0oSH8VhGJGTv34N7IEBmy57H2JxPYYpjCU-wYeINx81k1ohnD3aq_VSg9_ija94dCmXCb0j4Q8JRy53OSRCTyAc2OTQ/s1600/P1010268.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0dU5fedwh17gWwvs_0p51Ap1DkjOphbLDCvBc9GNuv-0oSH8VhGJGTv34N7IEBmy57H2JxPYYpjCU-wYeINx81k1ohnD3aq_VSg9_ija94dCmXCb0j4Q8JRy53OSRCTyAc2OTQ/s400/P1010268.JPG" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mdFFfYO_ldOSZXK2y2ZItUXxn9rcQ8F76PhwfhOSlqGF8s-SBr4TOI_IfEcadeeKPvXg3CuEGMS6A-HVARf90L4mNHDqBM-Ud6wF87e3kQOumuEvqNpUT044DxvIk1CEHTZiIg/s1600/P1010269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mdFFfYO_ldOSZXK2y2ZItUXxn9rcQ8F76PhwfhOSlqGF8s-SBr4TOI_IfEcadeeKPvXg3CuEGMS6A-HVARf90L4mNHDqBM-Ud6wF87e3kQOumuEvqNpUT044DxvIk1CEHTZiIg/s400/P1010269.JPG" width="300" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-91630990921261117632010-10-18T07:44:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:39:17.854-07:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Well, the lull is over.</b></span><br />
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I had all of these blogging ideas and plans, but I am just BUSY. I can't say I'm thrilled about it, either. I am in that adjustment period between a few weeks of relaxing and catching my breath after a whirlwind, and learning to keep a tight pace of juggling multiple workloads. I started school, and it has been very stimulating but also demanding. I am so out of practice. I turned in two papers this weekend, and it took me forever. It's usually my goal to be done with all of my coursework by Wednesday or Thursday, but then there is all of this other LIFE stuff that gets in the way of my career as a student. Like ballet classes, after-school picnics, social events, violent reactions to a new fish oil supplement, sick kid, dinner, almost-daily shopping, and oh! The Cleaning. It's strange-- my life pace is decidedly slow, but my workload is actually quite heavy. Our apartment is huge, which means there is lots of cleaning to do. This wasn't really an issue until I started making friends and inviting people over. If I could have just put that part off... But<i> no</i>, I just had to be <i>so congenial</i>. Just kidding! I have been pleasantly surprised that a number of people have initiated friendships with me! Amelia has already gone over to another little girl's house to play, and we have been going to gymnastics once a week. I have a language partner, and we have been getting together for a couple of hours each week. It's been really fun getting to know her, we both have one daughter and are hoping they can learn to entertain each other. Jeff's work has been very stressful. Politics. He was going to be gone again all week for some trainings, and I was so relieved when the plans changed at the last minute. Phew! I hope to put some fun stuff and pictures soon, but if that doesn't happen right away, you'll know why...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-10763238417113126862010-10-10T03:21:00.000-07:002010-10-10T03:27:22.065-07:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And here we are.</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJTXiDXOQc1J2S4TQejLZpsC7BoIbhRRGbzTNY2e8BjcBMSjnKKa-fjUYX1dz10YzS9Xzi7nOKR3Vd6hEvVkLHk-hhdpCKxyTGOmG62jqGGrjdocJU-I3IIb20PIEu6LGPq5daw/s1600/Header+Bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJTXiDXOQc1J2S4TQejLZpsC7BoIbhRRGbzTNY2e8BjcBMSjnKKa-fjUYX1dz10YzS9Xzi7nOKR3Vd6hEvVkLHk-hhdpCKxyTGOmG62jqGGrjdocJU-I3IIb20PIEu6LGPq5daw/s320/Header+Bright.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I just wanted to let you know that I am changing things a little here. I want to have a space to talk about family updates and such, without much public exposure. I have always had this blog for that purpose (otherwise I never would have given it such a ridiculous address 5+ years ago.) But I'd also like to write about our adventures living overseas, where I'm comfortable with anyone and everyone reading and looking in on us, and I can use it to network with others a bit. So I started a <a href="http://and-here-we-are.blogspot.com/">new blog</a> for that sort of fun stuff. Yep, one more blog to keep track of (sorry!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-84349175854872385982010-10-09T13:20:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:38:23.713-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >When you don't make any plans on a gorgeous day...</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">... you might as well just get everyone dressed and out the door.<br />We planned to wander around a little and just see what happened.<br />First, there was music!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpBNRtK0psKvWnYpjJL5FnhEJzzzxCl2AHNg6ZDPZVxd9PvGiD48V76s1nfYAd1hKum5uH-BVNJ7HnrSNsvmAm3rBlxrhJUw8vsMmx_Apsnt6HrpA_fuMoMQJgctbrlwTQPjLoQ/s1600/PA090542.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpBNRtK0psKvWnYpjJL5FnhEJzzzxCl2AHNg6ZDPZVxd9PvGiD48V76s1nfYAd1hKum5uH-BVNJ7HnrSNsvmAm3rBlxrhJUw8vsMmx_Apsnt6HrpA_fuMoMQJgctbrlwTQPjLoQ/s400/PA090542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144330633725106" border="0" /></a>Baby squashes and tiny flowering plants.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl1zhUeZ9alZjj7Njt9DClImRzMDf9f5xNaNJni9IdsVV926hgRCGkxvZoMu9vk9aC0mLN_ucgV17TuwMq1JstZEi6V5vVcyaIKptahE60TtYUvGH-1GeWkzU33ZkjWvJMMt1Yg/s1600/PA090547.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl1zhUeZ9alZjj7Njt9DClImRzMDf9f5xNaNJni9IdsVV926hgRCGkxvZoMu9vk9aC0mLN_ucgV17TuwMq1JstZEi6V5vVcyaIKptahE60TtYUvGH-1GeWkzU33ZkjWvJMMt1Yg/s400/PA090547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144341605808690" border="0" /></a>Then we really got things going when we decided to walk the path around the wall of the city. The weather was incredible, and Autumn is in full blast here.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPjnjOMkNGnb7AZ26HZ1J_lYva-fNoU1EXt7PUm8d42DyFJvGt8nHydvlC5lgGLZTdUVVnHfCWbRBj4PtsNvUKjb4-3fmOHNxDz7hrcgQP0HOvWIxqzR2JPDAbvPPAGPzEf4Gmg/s1600/PA090549.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPjnjOMkNGnb7AZ26HZ1J_lYva-fNoU1EXt7PUm8d42DyFJvGt8nHydvlC5lgGLZTdUVVnHfCWbRBj4PtsNvUKjb4-3fmOHNxDz7hrcgQP0HOvWIxqzR2JPDAbvPPAGPzEf4Gmg/s400/PA090549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144343690388290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMozLB6Ah47sgrdlVClOtVBmf3iiFuoK30xD2rPpSuXo9scvkBCJ1V75ygOfkFuJcV6tKk3AtFOQvqJOp__SUFElF6qjMbixEh0mP5wr1GDzbGVCz3Hh_fW7Srm93rl2Wh9TyoYw/s1600/PA090569.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMozLB6Ah47sgrdlVClOtVBmf3iiFuoK30xD2rPpSuXo9scvkBCJ1V75ygOfkFuJcV6tKk3AtFOQvqJOp__SUFElF6qjMbixEh0mP5wr1GDzbGVCz3Hh_fW7Srm93rl2Wh9TyoYw/s400/PA090569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144354058392050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84KHXjVmQZwjJK419D87QVk8VC8y_18Nn53Sn_2Aj9fOrYQbThyb8RdLu1A5PCgDrd-0_8hh1URo2VRhDw7Eq-Io1kIRZRZCRWH6HafotXyuq33cjTS0ve_8DHkph7QFRdPME7A/s1600/PA090571.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84KHXjVmQZwjJK419D87QVk8VC8y_18Nn53Sn_2Aj9fOrYQbThyb8RdLu1A5PCgDrd-0_8hh1URo2VRhDw7Eq-Io1kIRZRZCRWH6HafotXyuq33cjTS0ve_8DHkph7QFRdPME7A/s400/PA090571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144645741499922" border="0" /></a>While I was getting completely caught up in all the foliage and colors, Jeff and Amelia decided this was just the right moment to take care of the "ants in their pants."<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPL7GqUeP_YAVE_zdp15RrhrzzyhggDAeNkPL-fK3qdZSBpvFiz6suh3o_3jy-DjKKyaHX_aaTVwju2hEBw0PtrkqNJEP3Ely-rjj2xkyFYs5PCUTOqIA3Kw0vy0EK5XxWJ9asA/s1600/PA090576.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPL7GqUeP_YAVE_zdp15RrhrzzyhggDAeNkPL-fK3qdZSBpvFiz6suh3o_3jy-DjKKyaHX_aaTVwju2hEBw0PtrkqNJEP3Ely-rjj2xkyFYs5PCUTOqIA3Kw0vy0EK5XxWJ9asA/s400/PA090576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144653121588930" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzkxO5qEhx_PStw8a10lGuTXpwRI0xd2qBanbAp4Vgz-pGharUBS9w8yUk7FfaNeqkSmUuqFJlXTTvWAN-F7K220sI0d4lAwFEYx1zoUWmmFGDX0vRqmQig0doZ3au0iWHaDMZg/s1600/PA090585.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzkxO5qEhx_PStw8a10lGuTXpwRI0xd2qBanbAp4Vgz-pGharUBS9w8yUk7FfaNeqkSmUuqFJlXTTvWAN-F7K220sI0d4lAwFEYx1zoUWmmFGDX0vRqmQig0doZ3au0iWHaDMZg/s400/PA090585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144672927266178" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jppMAas4p2bnknX_hpp0FEalXvjwQVitKJSjeQnTewewYaOL4Z9jIO48ykK5IeLyKOS4E_86oSDQ98UKJJjm6q1wnHozPMY5FuJkbY8EehIrEFiyVJoHd5maTOUj57WGG61huA/s1600/PA090583.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jppMAas4p2bnknX_hpp0FEalXvjwQVitKJSjeQnTewewYaOL4Z9jIO48ykK5IeLyKOS4E_86oSDQ98UKJJjm6q1wnHozPMY5FuJkbY8EehIrEFiyVJoHd5maTOUj57WGG61huA/s400/PA090583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144665964140594" border="0" /></a>Then we started something we just couldn't stop... taking pictures of ourselves and each other!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3Jh-zIdrkhKBI28X9hXKQWoaJPCK0peTs0vBlHU7hHdMpwc3v_ho00SfQdL5PPJvmtNdznSjXVtdAJ6wO9vwcRMnioMl4-Z-by_HPKmzrGdmd-2nN1zquUpk-Sf3Kh97aqa_tw/s1600/PA090579.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3Jh-zIdrkhKBI28X9hXKQWoaJPCK0peTs0vBlHU7hHdMpwc3v_ho00SfQdL5PPJvmtNdznSjXVtdAJ6wO9vwcRMnioMl4-Z-by_HPKmzrGdmd-2nN1zquUpk-Sf3Kh97aqa_tw/s400/PA090579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144657489983874" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglNoD1r9YfVX2pAQ_lHqtohBL0upaabLtYLeovnLBae608CSUhTlUpzOZoOsKGSLna636CBBAcGV73vOt5oZthzXeE82denGvGK4CF_JJwDViMjPJ_C3hmL8wuB8XvhLiauUZvA/s1600/PA090590.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglNoD1r9YfVX2pAQ_lHqtohBL0upaabLtYLeovnLBae608CSUhTlUpzOZoOsKGSLna636CBBAcGV73vOt5oZthzXeE82denGvGK4CF_JJwDViMjPJ_C3hmL8wuB8XvhLiauUZvA/s400/PA090590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144938164972226" border="0" /></a>We took our time just loving all of the views and beautiful architecture around us.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyn6c3Oau5rYt-xSYgbFQ2_3k6ilHp8ag5H2N3YSz-BdG8aA7O1gC9zXnhNtz10-9YC3MHqPNjvhWbkVijgBdeIaNy5vmnsoWfH0HAahRr-U5wwsFRwBqlEPJn0yThf6mPMwc-A/s1600/PA090599.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyn6c3Oau5rYt-xSYgbFQ2_3k6ilHp8ag5H2N3YSz-BdG8aA7O1gC9zXnhNtz10-9YC3MHqPNjvhWbkVijgBdeIaNy5vmnsoWfH0HAahRr-U5wwsFRwBqlEPJn0yThf6mPMwc-A/s400/PA090599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144939818755538" border="0" /></a>And found the perfect architectural accent for posing little girls on.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFasuA8VglnPzG10br9kZTic1avYS6u0NPLGUwKb1bINSJt2qKekDCHwpYo0Md06BWM3i24lycndWcgGZ5ydwR-uBBPMh36Z7qZb5HnRpI_utgPEfCpQ0BKdclTOCIap0nXiTaOw/s1600/PA090601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFasuA8VglnPzG10br9kZTic1avYS6u0NPLGUwKb1bINSJt2qKekDCHwpYo0Md06BWM3i24lycndWcgGZ5ydwR-uBBPMh36Z7qZb5HnRpI_utgPEfCpQ0BKdclTOCIap0nXiTaOw/s400/PA090601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144944607359250" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPgd35lsBeHya4iMat9Ip7bYgxg16L13oSVH5X_5528vlqmSxlgmg_0_zgZRC0xpnNKEkdNDUUgPYK7n30DBcA8s7e7PzrLSuVWQLr5u-K_tdrmsXYRVPMvWKCZvuj3nsbbCfnA/s1600/PA090603.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPgd35lsBeHya4iMat9Ip7bYgxg16L13oSVH5X_5528vlqmSxlgmg_0_zgZRC0xpnNKEkdNDUUgPYK7n30DBcA8s7e7PzrLSuVWQLr5u-K_tdrmsXYRVPMvWKCZvuj3nsbbCfnA/s400/PA090603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526144951699537122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONuAHOkynIrrzD7I3n2NWywuFZc6g3yzzu11WJr8ATxe70owqlLimmG6bNO8A0sLJU-5fyuvjPGtjECyePf28JocRYSgU1rJnISNx8I9CYTRFqo34tVYIiZ62SIOmR-Q7D7d7Uw/s1600/PA090606.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONuAHOkynIrrzD7I3n2NWywuFZc6g3yzzu11WJr8ATxe70owqlLimmG6bNO8A0sLJU-5fyuvjPGtjECyePf28JocRYSgU1rJnISNx8I9CYTRFqo34tVYIiZ62SIOmR-Q7D7d7Uw/s400/PA090606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145255781653474" border="0" /></a>And then Jeff got in on the action.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnxgSaA8gXqKIPfmtyrHUPc6hZszDaD0vLsbT6k-Zh4oEWxhs5y3y0zDu7YelngpQ0AKKwqIDr8B5dduQgYq1xzMaSC9QasDnzKEqnsO9Wxo29E3vtPJC3oagX1yC3UitRiD6fQ/s1600/PA090615.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnxgSaA8gXqKIPfmtyrHUPc6hZszDaD0vLsbT6k-Zh4oEWxhs5y3y0zDu7YelngpQ0AKKwqIDr8B5dduQgYq1xzMaSC9QasDnzKEqnsO9Wxo29E3vtPJC3oagX1yC3UitRiD6fQ/s400/PA090615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145267102738946" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfRPnZg5WxLbkfnjl_Gj9-ZN65FM0vip3pwbrHApjliG1CgaLZcr4zr__snfZRrh3fmWWInocikG94CLHwNkEsOJSZwAIRQ_UmmttWMwEBSm-OojJc4zNBElLe6h9XDDk3TdAyg/s1600/PA090616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfRPnZg5WxLbkfnjl_Gj9-ZN65FM0vip3pwbrHApjliG1CgaLZcr4zr__snfZRrh3fmWWInocikG94CLHwNkEsOJSZwAIRQ_UmmttWMwEBSm-OojJc4zNBElLe6h9XDDk3TdAyg/s400/PA090616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145269942351730" border="0" /></a>And inevitably, things really started getting silly!<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBkSF6f4xDmee2hms8EM7a4pa8b9Saekp0oLm8ypjD_mYfahzD0uphOl44AcwlZYPyFuXx966JrrHznwxdz7IeC8bTubMYLBKqY5yNo923THxriDQL7sbAdgirfNcFAGg9AbSUQ/s1600/PA090624.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBkSF6f4xDmee2hms8EM7a4pa8b9Saekp0oLm8ypjD_mYfahzD0uphOl44AcwlZYPyFuXx966JrrHznwxdz7IeC8bTubMYLBKqY5yNo923THxriDQL7sbAdgirfNcFAGg9AbSUQ/s400/PA090624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145274456018802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyiSX5nqY63X45H1wiifMmwvS0LwD8yP5GlKx_x7169go3Wj2CgFgBlS5JWOboLvV_0h9NesPRaxwWVfHSuSCORzOn9fwIbMzRYfWERq72uCtkS736Yzw9vbxrWHuB1lglComrA/s1600/PA090627.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyiSX5nqY63X45H1wiifMmwvS0LwD8yP5GlKx_x7169go3Wj2CgFgBlS5JWOboLvV_0h9NesPRaxwWVfHSuSCORzOn9fwIbMzRYfWERq72uCtkS736Yzw9vbxrWHuB1lglComrA/s400/PA090627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145282435272658" border="0" /></a>Jeff made sure I got in on the photo fun too.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7xjMv7kdmtrWgM7BZE7K_Zhmm5mF16ycCGRhBlKSQa_ANvWBAEXhqok8vpfNMy-sqHCzgGpTOXOsRpLfztO_cLCsFSLWeZolxM4y7Ov1hdXAVacvNbaIkKBV66l-w2G0MsGaRg/s1600/PA090628.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7xjMv7kdmtrWgM7BZE7K_Zhmm5mF16ycCGRhBlKSQa_ANvWBAEXhqok8vpfNMy-sqHCzgGpTOXOsRpLfztO_cLCsFSLWeZolxM4y7Ov1hdXAVacvNbaIkKBV66l-w2G0MsGaRg/s400/PA090628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145557050089954" border="0" /></a>Then it was back to walking and looking and loving it all.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DfMLou1OvLKE4GZpPR69ZFntSlEntM21CQ3evhpgJNViOlDTS4_zDW0iIlPE31KueS1ylwQmvl-1aS2CtZilEay8zpIJ-gdWaKygFmLMoaiVVxvoOr-dsgFe0-b4KCqNxr5rKQ/s1600/PA090632.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DfMLou1OvLKE4GZpPR69ZFntSlEntM21CQ3evhpgJNViOlDTS4_zDW0iIlPE31KueS1ylwQmvl-1aS2CtZilEay8zpIJ-gdWaKygFmLMoaiVVxvoOr-dsgFe0-b4KCqNxr5rKQ/s400/PA090632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145559187858978" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrlUDYZAx-cUmUBZaESEJ367nBgOxW54L36sOS5N-aWiffqKGBcpKWUnqN0tnibnHtMbXK9aCv7tNy8pB0-bZIriRdeTPi3MUwp7Qcc5oIVXvYi3cNEwpuV9svi7dPC4qyBxQBw/s1600/PA090671.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrlUDYZAx-cUmUBZaESEJ367nBgOxW54L36sOS5N-aWiffqKGBcpKWUnqN0tnibnHtMbXK9aCv7tNy8pB0-bZIriRdeTPi3MUwp7Qcc5oIVXvYi3cNEwpuV9svi7dPC4qyBxQBw/s400/PA090671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145828196787394" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkPzDDGlS4453prDjmEoESDR7V6ysxdll9UEe1T9wEO39Ws9d6W8TO_Ret8aYUMrGDdN15iz13d1XE9NKaswGiVSngJ6UvGtgESEkIenvEBSlaSYEunlcKHtDBn7iPrVUMQpDsg/s1600/PA090637.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkPzDDGlS4453prDjmEoESDR7V6ysxdll9UEe1T9wEO39Ws9d6W8TO_Ret8aYUMrGDdN15iz13d1XE9NKaswGiVSngJ6UvGtgESEkIenvEBSlaSYEunlcKHtDBn7iPrVUMQpDsg/s400/PA090637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145568647714642" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS7ZA7wQTpbNi6w0sLmSfWVex4Ox6lhqlc7nVTxCv-rMIWLAKqSDcV9dcPajGmwv7xa_IG9jhtqFGt7n2vk-gll1KqUipw_MbR3qhaoB3qnaqy77B1iN45Pg3hlqAtCfu3r8CXg/s1600/PA090640.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS7ZA7wQTpbNi6w0sLmSfWVex4Ox6lhqlc7nVTxCv-rMIWLAKqSDcV9dcPajGmwv7xa_IG9jhtqFGt7n2vk-gll1KqUipw_MbR3qhaoB3qnaqy77B1iN45Pg3hlqAtCfu3r8CXg/s400/PA090640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145574995536514" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJavAYLck-UKexxcwvUke7KnPZ2lr-sMTinY3NTnI1oOdDf5jfTVSSeMxTfBQSd8IXESVXLV8r30aca3bbrrsZ5XI1_TynBHv-MINPTjL2iQukEKxZBdOBkGmSwrwXHzuG_bdJ5g/s1600/PA090643.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJavAYLck-UKexxcwvUke7KnPZ2lr-sMTinY3NTnI1oOdDf5jfTVSSeMxTfBQSd8IXESVXLV8r30aca3bbrrsZ5XI1_TynBHv-MINPTjL2iQukEKxZBdOBkGmSwrwXHzuG_bdJ5g/s400/PA090643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145813539668322" border="0" /></a>Amelia was <span style="font-style: italic;">more than willing</span> to do a little more posing...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpW3vw48LoXv-EHb-da2fdO1E-vLiOaWpLVROx1n_qKbMJJKQ3Xm2Q9w48sNo0JdFRLYDbSRcpBccn5J0sodGS9W4uglTr9bUP7SNYChMoTVHZuDE3qEXqu0uMoGJv9_RUVbPMg/s1600/PA090655.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpW3vw48LoXv-EHb-da2fdO1E-vLiOaWpLVROx1n_qKbMJJKQ3Xm2Q9w48sNo0JdFRLYDbSRcpBccn5J0sodGS9W4uglTr9bUP7SNYChMoTVHZuDE3qEXqu0uMoGJv9_RUVbPMg/s400/PA090655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526145820301051826" border="0" /></a>But once we crossed the bridge and went back through the wall, we were more than ready for lunch.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj78BnqgzCS8WSQF8GBrL71n7mZCyPe7fY7FqUmgGs3kK0N-rQOlHRl23l-_nwFr0QuM1Rm1kG_k4GAbW5b9HAzS__4uyZXGe1KrrtDOW-7nZVvcLcqbAsPl4YQuig0LPy0SnzaQ/s1600/PA090676.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj78BnqgzCS8WSQF8GBrL71n7mZCyPe7fY7FqUmgGs3kK0N-rQOlHRl23l-_nwFr0QuM1Rm1kG_k4GAbW5b9HAzS__4uyZXGe1KrrtDOW-7nZVvcLcqbAsPl4YQuig0LPy0SnzaQ/s400/PA090676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526146125546093746" border="0" /></a>Which, unfortunately, took multiple attempts at different restaurants. Luckily, we still had our camera.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0S8ALP5LWNUcoJFzldtjQ9-Hx3i6qW0n7kHkPclNxK9DHISu2qV_5FFLkMKeVrbvp_PqnupueOvUBdMbgKKLk3V0rZQoMHW7as4WU_92LRJ73XfcuLj27IDXdN9j59AuK3A4Mw/s1600/PA090694.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0S8ALP5LWNUcoJFzldtjQ9-Hx3i6qW0n7kHkPclNxK9DHISu2qV_5FFLkMKeVrbvp_PqnupueOvUBdMbgKKLk3V0rZQoMHW7as4WU_92LRJ73XfcuLj27IDXdN9j59AuK3A4Mw/s400/PA090694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526146138296180514" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_vVCqqs7OIBC2ItTglg5SAvRoqdP9ABEMubcklP-v6dnwJNOXOx_PUbKqIPKSyUW3O02ogX5vUDBpAvfwY1pR_ovwHOHqVz_ipm10dA_FSSzoRI7Q1OGu7M8R7RO2t7loaFlAw/s1600/PA090698.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_vVCqqs7OIBC2ItTglg5SAvRoqdP9ABEMubcklP-v6dnwJNOXOx_PUbKqIPKSyUW3O02ogX5vUDBpAvfwY1pR_ovwHOHqVz_ipm10dA_FSSzoRI7Q1OGu7M8R7RO2t7loaFlAw/s400/PA090698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526146142380505266" border="0" /></a>And, <span style="font-weight: bold;">three hours</span> after we left our home to "wander around a little," we ended up eating bratwurst and kraut right under the clock tower.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LQq7mlVkrQ2iHC3axTITbZC-d7xa2vl_wbsa2qbdrfTcRCMPlh_KasCaGnC2aKgADouGV6Uatfvamo_rsA0nmhnXDY3X28xmAQbnHtJi8wTUtA5zN2hnKdf7A-1vrXeIUS832g/s1600/PA090681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LQq7mlVkrQ2iHC3axTITbZC-d7xa2vl_wbsa2qbdrfTcRCMPlh_KasCaGnC2aKgADouGV6Uatfvamo_rsA0nmhnXDY3X28xmAQbnHtJi8wTUtA5zN2hnKdf7A-1vrXeIUS832g/s400/PA090681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526146131778908738" border="0" /></a>Time very well spent.<br />Happy Weekend!<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-55344420499726858452010-10-02T07:13:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:38:55.121-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">To Flohmarkt, To Flohmarkt...</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">To buy a fat...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9ccocpGyB1A8b-mxWlCHdQ_W4MYF1RxQVVZn9EB93Mjx_fzbwJNpwSo0XX4CLgd-K3EZJsxy5qEvjKvLzpgReNqjHsY6SIPvWRD0T-Q1r_EYeT7bnHpTDyM1vdn5R1s-_NOiTQ/s1600/PA020514.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9ccocpGyB1A8b-mxWlCHdQ_W4MYF1RxQVVZn9EB93Mjx_fzbwJNpwSo0XX4CLgd-K3EZJsxy5qEvjKvLzpgReNqjHsY6SIPvWRD0T-Q1r_EYeT7bnHpTDyM1vdn5R1s-_NOiTQ/s400/PA020514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523452862217890898" border="0" /></a>Wild boar's head!<br /><br />There were so many cool and fascinating objects at the flea market today... Here are just a few photos of our trip.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJhg1Z15n67d6pTVq_EO_9z7VoG10xnglyaM7fIKKFH60hpNm-ezu7wvOrefPB8Tp13ZJvbIDlj0z1hrqk3BcyTu8eP396Fy-gnqPZIn7dn44WZI71j_aKZXwnjsb60ZfwdiVkw/s1600/PA020502.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJhg1Z15n67d6pTVq_EO_9z7VoG10xnglyaM7fIKKFH60hpNm-ezu7wvOrefPB8Tp13ZJvbIDlj0z1hrqk3BcyTu8eP396Fy-gnqPZIn7dn44WZI71j_aKZXwnjsb60ZfwdiVkw/s400/PA020502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523452870520920962" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzsM827Td8OCk7v5xa5cnlsyEUx8T3TxqzKkM2EoHRcQYGJjtrsNOrA0pPOfXg5dthqnrQvaHYfBm27OGHy8SBqEdl-9No9H8dNZB_bn93RS9KQ0wS5Lz5LXrXgkYVNozb0PZSQ/s1600/PA020504.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzsM827Td8OCk7v5xa5cnlsyEUx8T3TxqzKkM2EoHRcQYGJjtrsNOrA0pPOfXg5dthqnrQvaHYfBm27OGHy8SBqEdl-9No9H8dNZB_bn93RS9KQ0wS5Lz5LXrXgkYVNozb0PZSQ/s400/PA020504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523452879924381746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6r49ZlQQgD95V7l5w-RTPwfIk5FkmNIn9g8YdI3jEcN-chk-23X0ef-Ddih3ZCefztUWucj0JYte-6nO4Ms-rulPRekx2Bx6h7Sx0pfcegiYflHa6XNzwK5cvokecxMqucur8Q/s1600/PA020510.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6r49ZlQQgD95V7l5w-RTPwfIk5FkmNIn9g8YdI3jEcN-chk-23X0ef-Ddih3ZCefztUWucj0JYte-6nO4Ms-rulPRekx2Bx6h7Sx0pfcegiYflHa6XNzwK5cvokecxMqucur8Q/s400/PA020510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523453641370126482" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwVZT9qCYaNbg8vowYNrTYpOHHpxmTevlBHC4AxCywj_o-gJp07MOa82myv6DoRhkkwDvKcLB1EUuGP4htGQPnjshxT55mcQLF_u7y_n9TDn5LDEQdF1OSJMkwAt-SbV6BVSwhQ/s1600/PA020503.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALagBRHTcAK6eXwWkPBUdu9VzmUTDG6rs1eYAZN5BYkkASogme9R-lbgcPcraKSg9QB1eOM8zZMZAKHj4BB8b2kCEpVh3WDSlTSr0Htce4l15mtVFBiZIWLDuyLVCWBUw7vfKMw/s1600/PA020506.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALagBRHTcAK6eXwWkPBUdu9VzmUTDG6rs1eYAZN5BYkkASogme9R-lbgcPcraKSg9QB1eOM8zZMZAKHj4BB8b2kCEpVh3WDSlTSr0Htce4l15mtVFBiZIWLDuyLVCWBUw7vfKMw/s400/PA020506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523452884209209570" border="0" /></a>The one thing on our actual shopping list: a moka pot!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LxfLXsbAXV7n_gYTeyQnJ2_1k0RzVlELiYU7PN2HE5V_ymi-F4JNcYusXDe94kXvcZX2BZ7PUwHokMyz6ZFWUHESfaJhKDjfR5lGXqj76D3pv-3g2vdpA305FmeWNCHD3zuqLQ/s1600/PA020508.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LxfLXsbAXV7n_gYTeyQnJ2_1k0RzVlELiYU7PN2HE5V_ymi-F4JNcYusXDe94kXvcZX2BZ7PUwHokMyz6ZFWUHESfaJhKDjfR5lGXqj76D3pv-3g2vdpA305FmeWNCHD3zuqLQ/s400/PA020508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523453630793472514" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlLZ03WZDnM_B-eltGhcogevpYDGTvBcafTDHlAIOKg_9Zox_wvXoMztvzsDz-p-ed9kfo-pF-M-eoiqkIygANITqakkYdwnifBb7rHDuMpwFYEI4jyjIYc4TY0NBsztL4iDsDQ/s1600/PA020509.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlLZ03WZDnM_B-eltGhcogevpYDGTvBcafTDHlAIOKg_9Zox_wvXoMztvzsDz-p-ed9kfo-pF-M-eoiqkIygANITqakkYdwnifBb7rHDuMpwFYEI4jyjIYc4TY0NBsztL4iDsDQ/s400/PA020509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523453638978637810" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbhE_P5QOhsaLJplBzj9kBMRL50HyStqIsYodnra4LwrO7ipW1L9vMZGSfrehE0SX8C3J9w_N6p0FPj0MCJlW3JebI9mLSvJ3xqFrXtIuVLfbwOfwOQ2t603RizdUx6dpguq4pw/s1600/PA020513.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbhE_P5QOhsaLJplBzj9kBMRL50HyStqIsYodnra4LwrO7ipW1L9vMZGSfrehE0SX8C3J9w_N6p0FPj0MCJlW3JebI9mLSvJ3xqFrXtIuVLfbwOfwOQ2t603RizdUx6dpguq4pw/s400/PA020513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523453654473312786" border="0" /></a>Aw, it's a pile of little leather shorts!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuhGGrqWw1kvs1nxDcBtNJCQrChUPfvkhbiXhrlyjC-6awThf3brQh6KRETvgWnPYZQp72AeAWivcKmRAvi9atTt41mjPrZVL3HzdIv85dFSvJUq9HCFLxXtCxqrH0ODKffUA7A/s1600/PA020512.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuhGGrqWw1kvs1nxDcBtNJCQrChUPfvkhbiXhrlyjC-6awThf3brQh6KRETvgWnPYZQp72AeAWivcKmRAvi9atTt41mjPrZVL3HzdIv85dFSvJUq9HCFLxXtCxqrH0ODKffUA7A/s400/PA020512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523453647912441042" border="0" /></a>Makes me wish I had a boy. Not to worry-- look at this little vintage coat from the Netherlands!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWUIENheEXHSz7WS1H2bkFsAom-FcsT3YqCIKzDMnyxfMG-HlAZaLkzmazM6zmT0nK18qwVdvRrYZrf3hVNcSLHIFGv_p0viyhmhYLkl9DczwAS9FWhKS78nopFxFz4LsaWbiHw/s1600/PA020520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWUIENheEXHSz7WS1H2bkFsAom-FcsT3YqCIKzDMnyxfMG-HlAZaLkzmazM6zmT0nK18qwVdvRrYZrf3hVNcSLHIFGv_p0viyhmhYLkl9DczwAS9FWhKS78nopFxFz4LsaWbiHw/s400/PA020520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523454351365074514" border="0" /></a>(Yes, it was very cold and rainy.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDNbro3k4Ts7vjP_OvYr2_Z7u-dTdqRuY6O_s6PR67UvB8AjQ29OBnMfZLuL60s7n4mz5JnHOBriunky7Nvio4nK563nYmt5SsvlDaNhiIK8E_b_OP4WYTCcGixxQLqKsxQkjiQ/s1600/PA020521.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDNbro3k4Ts7vjP_OvYr2_Z7u-dTdqRuY6O_s6PR67UvB8AjQ29OBnMfZLuL60s7n4mz5JnHOBriunky7Nvio4nK563nYmt5SsvlDaNhiIK8E_b_OP4WYTCcGixxQLqKsxQkjiQ/s400/PA020521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523454356107600962" border="0" /></a>Can you guess where I'm headed?...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46J8qH8sJaJn85gImoExrAbiA7_97dYKwlDGE6Wb9iYPMlBf4Z2u2KtmFZi2cyoN433i_xURDj4MS7S5whtZqadtUQ90uofru8XRnatCQEaubT0tjWGs8yVmkvKbAWZsGql3VFA/s1600/PA020516.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46J8qH8sJaJn85gImoExrAbiA7_97dYKwlDGE6Wb9iYPMlBf4Z2u2KtmFZi2cyoN433i_xURDj4MS7S5whtZqadtUQ90uofru8XRnatCQEaubT0tjWGs8yVmkvKbAWZsGql3VFA/s400/PA020516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523454329171101410" border="0" /></a>Of course! Unfortunately, it was much to0 big to fit in our car.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHGCseZ3OBs_ruZwS8Vm1CNIA0A63YjVfhw0GT0zAvJCeG_RcmA37BMOz6kdPwCUL1_CmizQgkODj_dbngXCub8GlLMmIa3gIQZzUvSWWLGcgjyNp2OePsIq4xk73zDTA31g6WA/s1600/PA020517.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHGCseZ3OBs_ruZwS8Vm1CNIA0A63YjVfhw0GT0zAvJCeG_RcmA37BMOz6kdPwCUL1_CmizQgkODj_dbngXCub8GlLMmIa3gIQZzUvSWWLGcgjyNp2OePsIq4xk73zDTA31g6WA/s400/PA020517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523454332666411090" border="0" /></a><br />Lots of fun today! We came home with quite a few items, which I'll show you soon!<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-48521438647464850272010-09-24T02:13:00.000-07:002010-09-24T05:46:15.577-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirm2yAoMrq7ZZdV_A986k5BCNUTbOvMSZOJu_IYNbSEzXXQQim42BHKK_1PCqeLxPXCQMA5rCqyRfZRERdgp_uICJEWHRaafSiCyySezVl6s7VwIsi9ivOSSSALDDA5KLItZhopQ/s1600/P9230477.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >A-Marketing We Go...</span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiubrKiJ5c_GBXraq2QkDUQMIKmj34sST6IwOccVn9K0vp3fF9_nf7m1c0ajxAJi3lsO6r2grx11vIKHnQ9y0XaL-n7QVnpnB_-7_xRXj4wyMwjtUoBxJ7lEjCKOvZuGafW0MtOA/s1600/P9230438.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiubrKiJ5c_GBXraq2QkDUQMIKmj34sST6IwOccVn9K0vp3fF9_nf7m1c0ajxAJi3lsO6r2grx11vIKHnQ9y0XaL-n7QVnpnB_-7_xRXj4wyMwjtUoBxJ7lEjCKOvZuGafW0MtOA/s400/P9230438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425143399257794" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to bring my camera along with me this morning to the open market. I am definitely living out my ideal grocery shopping scenario. We have a tiny fridge-- think of a big dorm-sized one-- so I can't keep many perishables on hand. We have one rack in the pantry where I keep coconut milk, nuts, etc., but otherwise all of our food is either on the counter or in the fridge-- which means I need to keep buying small amounts almost every day.<br /><br />All week long, there are green grocers with their tents set up in the city square. These items are bought from a big market in Nuremburg in the wee hours of the morning, and many of these are imported from other countries. These stalls are convenient, but I try to wait for the actual farmers to come on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-0I_qJw81ef7kpfy9kikwUdEJ2PobWLNXWIEIttFIYtFgZ7atgQ0q5TH90ebPo8A97X1bK3tl0vbEbf0YzIfQZyXQVGMNgrLB1W5awqOWXi1dALSzkDIlsyW-PPY6ZlWzarY7Q/s1600/P9230439.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-0I_qJw81ef7kpfy9kikwUdEJ2PobWLNXWIEIttFIYtFgZ7atgQ0q5TH90ebPo8A97X1bK3tl0vbEbf0YzIfQZyXQVGMNgrLB1W5awqOWXi1dALSzkDIlsyW-PPY6ZlWzarY7Q/s400/P9230439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425149327891442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The daily vendors. They are becoming familiar with me</span>, <span style="font-size:85%;">and today one of them taught me the word for "basket," very patiently writing it down when it was clear that I was not quite getting the pronunciation.</span><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzKXZet7Gsjm7z7tk-ajaw-r5eju-FZjRq7pWWJj6_KZjqQ_8tsky4FktvgvQC-UK-pb_HyXhWHfjQ9Of7IWOmyZXOXiYLD-mYYZe-It1LfE-JNhWTn4W0ptKpWdKMqY3LYrrPQ/s1600/P9230471.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzKXZet7Gsjm7z7tk-ajaw-r5eju-FZjRq7pWWJj6_KZjqQ_8tsky4FktvgvQC-UK-pb_HyXhWHfjQ9Of7IWOmyZXOXiYLD-mYYZe-It1LfE-JNhWTn4W0ptKpWdKMqY3LYrrPQ/s400/P9230471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520426616803908050" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGBvzp3pufWylONwGHy4pawJvdhG_0MouIrYGbNKmsVn85ltCAAFbxKmC7FLkD55Uq56PUULulNXtlv6DbDt-hvHI9GB-EgDwjbRkcu43al8oYclALemSKMlYryD9cqVsk9gfFw/s1600/P9230469.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGBvzp3pufWylONwGHy4pawJvdhG_0MouIrYGbNKmsVn85ltCAAFbxKmC7FLkD55Uq56PUULulNXtlv6DbDt-hvHI9GB-EgDwjbRkcu43al8oYclALemSKMlYryD9cqVsk9gfFw/s400/P9230469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425848524473074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgsJtHZmteRsNsSRvoCQOpKkdcUnyBuSbTG2aB7TNjQzv2XoznS4k6wn1pIC-2dePdfOLdZMAxbP8r30OAjhOZLUqncW68YAIQYDnyh3t16SA2lgZfCugvl4pjnt3fX6QyxRkTw/s1600/P9230472.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgsJtHZmteRsNsSRvoCQOpKkdcUnyBuSbTG2aB7TNjQzv2XoznS4k6wn1pIC-2dePdfOLdZMAxbP8r30OAjhOZLUqncW68YAIQYDnyh3t16SA2lgZfCugvl4pjnt3fX6QyxRkTw/s400/P9230472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520426624876976738" border="0" /></a><br />My first shopping day is Wednesday, when I go to buy produce, wild vension, and whatever seasonal items show up in various booths-- this week it was mixed wild mushrooms and wild cranberries. There is a spice vendor there as well as a Turkish man with all sorts of olives, cheeses, hummus, etc.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Fridays are the biggest market day. There are lots of meat vendors, along with breads booths, fish mongers, and farmers. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TimupZo2uq0PebEAge2MeeHuptfnZWOqLOWcnEnFOGVM60KFVDLmOPzr7WshhyphenhyphenqBojPhWj10S08O86BB_7Ai0Ncr8jlpMXBOx1JrNlB8qdtnKYG0M9au84hH1M8OXK5rnCX7JQ/s1600/P9230457.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TimupZo2uq0PebEAge2MeeHuptfnZWOqLOWcnEnFOGVM60KFVDLmOPzr7WshhyphenhyphenqBojPhWj10S08O86BB_7Ai0Ncr8jlpMXBOx1JrNlB8qdtnKYG0M9au84hH1M8OXK5rnCX7JQ/s400/P9230457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425482644034370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This probably doesn't look too appetizing to you, but this marinated turkey is <span style="font-style: italic;">wunderbar</span>.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganvC-CM4XCrVW0JPxxxNMdc5LVoMvZZfU0DWtzLyUc04yvZU4MZQUsWdG2dNtbxAkLX5uPO-d2av_cbfUjFEerR6HWMy5QD1LwfRnmSlT59lND-iP1RiXFzVJP2kyXci_TjkJpg/s1600/P9230460.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganvC-CM4XCrVW0JPxxxNMdc5LVoMvZZfU0DWtzLyUc04yvZU4MZQUsWdG2dNtbxAkLX5uPO-d2av_cbfUjFEerR6HWMy5QD1LwfRnmSlT59lND-iP1RiXFzVJP2kyXci_TjkJpg/s400/P9230460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425791936041762" border="0" /></a></div> <span style="font-size:85%;">Bread cart. I love the old-timey look!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">My favorite is the rotisserie truck! You can buy whole roasted hens and geese. I do plan on picking up a goose one of these days, but I usually buy two small chickens-- one to pick apart with Amelia for lunch (she gets out of school early on Fridays,) and the other to use the meat and bones for chicken stock and soups during the week. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0h1GoWqHtr9mwn1jqcMKKYGKcwi3kq1WLt0bE8W4xpbAHvnBv5Hvo9_S6leoG_rPrLo5-XpdGdVZ0JjfBZmQQIDI6BnXWGMRE3navCsRI-0y4xRv_M0IvvpWiWlD1_6SWUVTNw/s1600/P9230449.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0h1GoWqHtr9mwn1jqcMKKYGKcwi3kq1WLt0bE8W4xpbAHvnBv5Hvo9_S6leoG_rPrLo5-XpdGdVZ0JjfBZmQQIDI6BnXWGMRE3navCsRI-0y4xRv_M0IvvpWiWlD1_6SWUVTNw/s400/P9230449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520427357911670018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I tend to be kind of shy with the camera, but asking this man if I could take his pictures warmed him right up</span>,<span style="font-size:85%;"> and in turn, he asked me some questions about living here. I love making relationships with the vendors, it makes the whole process of shopping so enjoyable!</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0CcMW0mSLP-ELJ4ZYysH9BezWspCeXGwofjEo8uVTiBGHUS_Pi_Xy4LUvp1-3V_9uEiDF4cYGoWrxq0dCRGiXomVjyKuGJR2FYSpjqoVT5r0WMAZ_buoLdK8hlkF_-0AG6oirA/s1600/P9230452.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0CcMW0mSLP-ELJ4ZYysH9BezWspCeXGwofjEo8uVTiBGHUS_Pi_Xy4LUvp1-3V_9uEiDF4cYGoWrxq0dCRGiXomVjyKuGJR2FYSpjqoVT5r0WMAZ_buoLdK8hlkF_-0AG6oirA/s400/P9230452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425465241028130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Roast Geese.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWAy5sM5hCjqBELVzT7tBSyD-hYtXuxvX0gw4FTuLq5dGLYEgtEZWPPjIg8r1RiPVjiHqYO6SyvUfy-xChHh8JYNeDij9bT9q-2F7XfGoYynLEwutshtcSmPYUKv-LB9UMFNQXg/s1600/P9230455.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWAy5sM5hCjqBELVzT7tBSyD-hYtXuxvX0gw4FTuLq5dGLYEgtEZWPPjIg8r1RiPVjiHqYO6SyvUfy-xChHh8JYNeDij9bT9q-2F7XfGoYynLEwutshtcSmPYUKv-LB9UMFNQXg/s400/P9230455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425480258207106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Why so nervous?</span><br /><br /></div>There is also the Herb Lady, who makes beautiful wreaths and little woodsy decorations.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd0s86wsgARnT8AvgVMPyFDKa8ubfzJRR7jg9uN9CfHuM9Jo-UxVzuOR1alNSe-Bvx-zlcZMtM_Em4ZpwL8xHGT94ZvEwljnt7AxlO2lggZihvez9GbNe8PEkpmIQZeMoIFre4Q/s1600/P9230463.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd0s86wsgARnT8AvgVMPyFDKa8ubfzJRR7jg9uN9CfHuM9Jo-UxVzuOR1alNSe-Bvx-zlcZMtM_Em4ZpwL8xHGT94ZvEwljnt7AxlO2lggZihvez9GbNe8PEkpmIQZeMoIFre4Q/s400/P9230463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425809152970354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDo9zP_W7JgxKjsrgeE4IUAS8YjV1IB58XF80xOwHObP-QpuOAAye4jioKOxbuXgXV3tgL1Zep0H30cmrKV5SvKTPDfOsvfuk5qt3KMOevjpEwto7wiy-IhNFAeDdn75X2BomMA/s1600/P9230464.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDo9zP_W7JgxKjsrgeE4IUAS8YjV1IB58XF80xOwHObP-QpuOAAye4jioKOxbuXgXV3tgL1Zep0H30cmrKV5SvKTPDfOsvfuk5qt3KMOevjpEwto7wiy-IhNFAeDdn75X2BomMA/s400/P9230464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425826231280050" border="0" /></a><br />She speaks English pretty well and makes really good pestos and chutneys, and goes to great trouble to explain things to me. She told me today that there will be a festival coming up that the churches celebrate, kind of like Thanksgiving, in honor of the harvest. This explains one of the fancier displays today.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBpKyxwtgnGQeoxd5MpH6g9WKwpmY-9q9JnUNVPCLX5VIUnRDCF2yC7_9Ao5VxUu1gRtKCofgczo8BL8nkepiS2z1ji1EGoKPvndE5YHndqsGWamOBM7rAPhA_6mNAxBCdidhFA/s1600/P9230441.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBpKyxwtgnGQeoxd5MpH6g9WKwpmY-9q9JnUNVPCLX5VIUnRDCF2yC7_9Ao5VxUu1gRtKCofgczo8BL8nkepiS2z1ji1EGoKPvndE5YHndqsGWamOBM7rAPhA_6mNAxBCdidhFA/s400/P9230441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425158124556898" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcU5CWeGnNxGZeeSk8-pP76_zNFom2VqWXIFwZ9-P3sjR7VwQRPkEvNxDp4q3KmGAP22QbBsv2TyJGASjWhzDYgznUwGEbWDCAYufC7LCMKUK6lCBikR-vRv2DGc-aTBbyJyceg/s1600/P9230444.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcU5CWeGnNxGZeeSk8-pP76_zNFom2VqWXIFwZ9-P3sjR7VwQRPkEvNxDp4q3KmGAP22QbBsv2TyJGASjWhzDYgznUwGEbWDCAYufC7LCMKUK6lCBikR-vRv2DGc-aTBbyJyceg/s400/P9230444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425165856736018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">And maybe the presence of a basket weaver...</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SQbunxYgKYLbowtpip4rt2wF5XJuki4rPbpLRnPuOgZZK_k-woVGBTueCTeLqJZalvucbDJC488axI3uMK3x1R6qoy2uV99pYNJYAC8g1fRIWwpTG176QKqvlcL02VMAKnVieA/s1600/P9230445.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SQbunxYgKYLbowtpip4rt2wF5XJuki4rPbpLRnPuOgZZK_k-woVGBTueCTeLqJZalvucbDJC488axI3uMK3x1R6qoy2uV99pYNJYAC8g1fRIWwpTG176QKqvlcL02VMAKnVieA/s400/P9230445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425178644224594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">...And a clog maker.</span>..?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Sy-UN8mfeqGH119f7hZVHyhW1p2VREGzhSSY_aXwOdrZqb2xS8r6h5lG834wTxhzjrWZTDdi06HzIpU2bb3bTAL-kgLlw8mMKMAlK5IgXkhpcooHRc1hbhCB5sbxREOx9bbIZw/s1600/P9230475.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Sy-UN8mfeqGH119f7hZVHyhW1p2VREGzhSSY_aXwOdrZqb2xS8r6h5lG834wTxhzjrWZTDdi06HzIpU2bb3bTAL-kgLlw8mMKMAlK5IgXkhpcooHRc1hbhCB5sbxREOx9bbIZw/s400/P9230475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520426630661894802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">It's really nice to see everyone out and about, enjoying the beautiful Fall weather. There was a large group of people from a nearby elderly home. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And look who I ran into! It's <a href="http://bloggyfamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-weekend-i-died-and-went-to-flea.html">Ingrid</a>!</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc4PoAS3AEhueg1gW7QeJhEdygO_GcsYLicirLNxDG0uKGYa-TN7SgZ4EET3KjkEeuQSyr8riUzwx60rGMLDtdbSchlyEy4LFNebBMKrg0D7euCfm6jqd85jvt049EZOhTWx1Cg/s1600/P9230466.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc4PoAS3AEhueg1gW7QeJhEdygO_GcsYLicirLNxDG0uKGYa-TN7SgZ4EET3KjkEeuQSyr8riUzwx60rGMLDtdbSchlyEy4LFNebBMKrg0D7euCfm6jqd85jvt049EZOhTWx1Cg/s400/P9230466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520425833882719234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(She tells me she'll be at the upcoming flohmarkt, so stay tuned for that shopping fun!</span>)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEHMZHHGtUbqX9ItBNVIEDgnDSmM6WPpFpKfLj5JhDUfedSRZ61GM77zmB506K8U8P2E6-HChamHsKPrMHPNJjLcYi3LoiFbH3wqR2p6l-_AjSW7PfZjSFdtveHg7gmaazljKtg/s1600/P9240479.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEHMZHHGtUbqX9ItBNVIEDgnDSmM6WPpFpKfLj5JhDUfedSRZ61GM77zmB506K8U8P2E6-HChamHsKPrMHPNJjLcYi3LoiFbH3wqR2p6l-_AjSW7PfZjSFdtveHg7gmaazljKtg/s400/P9240479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520426642014597458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This is what I came home with today, minus the meats.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, I'd say Friday is my biggest shopping day. Many of the farmers return on Saturday as well, so it's nice to walk around and look as a family, but not needing to do much actual purchasing. Every other week or so, I go to a big grocery store to buy some dry goods and such. Then most days, I realize that I am missing one or two items and I go to a little grocery about four stores away on our street. There are little shops nearby that are a mix between a deli and a butcher shop, called a Metzgerei, where I buy meat if I need some for dinner that night. All in all, I get by without really going to a real grocery store for a long time! Food goes through our kitchen quickly, but it is very easy to restock. And I <span style="font-style: italic;">must</span> mention that our food budget is about the same here as it was in Portland!<br /><br />In light of all of the <a href="http://bloggyfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/about-food.html">food allergies</a> I have had to juggle for Jeff and Amelia, and some nagging health issues, our family is transitioning to a grain-free lifestyle. I took a picture today to turn in to a contest on a <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/">website</a> that has been fun and inspiring for me, detailing what our family eats in a typical week (delicious-looking child not included.)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8hYbSl0h16WD8_JbzzAXjee9br5BMUC0R2NIDdxmPcf5QhMseM-oLeQoUFQzN-UjCvOvZD5IZnY9iz9GfDJOlk4sHHMJLuysz_wpNkoFEq2wnHISYCO1Wl4gYbr5K9bCnQk3cA/s1600/P9240495.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8hYbSl0h16WD8_JbzzAXjee9br5BMUC0R2NIDdxmPcf5QhMseM-oLeQoUFQzN-UjCvOvZD5IZnY9iz9GfDJOlk4sHHMJLuysz_wpNkoFEq2wnHISYCO1Wl4gYbr5K9bCnQk3cA/s400/P9240495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520449858281340962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Not pictured, but written in: 1 Kilo Fresh Turkey, 1 Kilo Wild Venison, 2 Rotisserie Chickens, and 4 Dozen Pastured Eggs.<br /><br /></span></div> Although it could be difficult to make such a big switch, the setup here is so ideal, it has actually simplified my life quite a bit. We basically eat meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and butter. And I enjoy some other dairy. We are all pretty happy with this, and of course feeling good too! I love doing all of the marketing, and look forward to my shopping days very much.<br /><br />Thanks for coming along with me today!<br /></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-21338573840786024012010-09-22T01:09:00.000-07:002010-09-24T05:46:05.737-07:00Here's an old post. It makes me even more glad to be done with that phase of the transition! I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that it would indeed get much, much better!<br />************<br />July 26<sup>th</sup> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We are finally in our apartment! We had a grueling day on Saturday trying to make it happen, and of course I can't pass up the opportunity to tell you how it went.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> We rented a car for the day, and Jeff had to take the bus to go pick it up. It was pouring rain, and as a personal favor to me, he had taken Amelia and her car seat with him. They were soaked by the time they got to the rental place. He drove right away over to the mattress store to pick up the the mattresses we had paid for the day before, but they were closed. They sat in the car for ½ and hour, and finally got the mattresses. Here they make them so that you can roll them up and stuff them into a compact car. We got two twins for us rather than a queen-- it's the European Way. They all <span style="font-style: italic;">barely</span> fit into the car, and Jeff drove them to our apartment. It got real real complicated, with this being his first day driving here, and us living on a pedestrian street, an unfortunate foray onto a one-way street, and mattresses blocking the view. Fortunately, a new German friend was on call and crammed himself into the car with the three mattresses, Jeff and Amelia. He helped him get some parking and then haul them up the 35 stairs up to our apartment. Whew!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It was 11 a.m. When Jeff picked me up, and he was already sweating bullets. Luckily, I had been enjoying the rare solitude while cleaning and packing up our hotel room, so at least one of us wasn't strung out when we hit the autobahn. And it was good I started out cool, because I am a very, <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> untrusting passenger. I like driving, in part because I don't ever think other drivers are paying nearly as much attention as I am. So it was a trust exercise-- which Jeff and I both passed with flying colors as we sped over to Nuremberg.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We got to IKEA pretty quickly, with a vague idea of what we needed and a clear sense of the little cash we had on hand and plenty of resolve to push our way through the crowds. To my delight, Amelia really wanted to go into “Smalland,” even though I explained to her that we couldn't go with her and there would be tons of children inside. She was so excited, and Jeff and I couldn't believe our good fortune, shopping on our own! This good feeling lasted until about 20 minutes later, when the pager we had been given went off. For some reason, Jeff felt sure that something terrible had happened, and went running through the store to get to his probably-bleeding-or-in-hysterics-daughter. When he finally got through the mobs of people and furniture, he found her just watching a movie, bored with all of the options in “Smalland.” Poor guy. Needless to say, shopping got MUCH more complicated after that. We got the bare minimum that we felt like would make us feel at home, and that we could fit into our VW Golf. On our way to checking out, I realized that the set of dressers and armoires that I really loved but couldn't afford were on sale, at least 50% off! I snagged a lowboy dresser, and we made our purchases. To my surprise, we had only spent half of the money allotted for this trip! We packed all of the items into our car, and they barely fit. But I still wanted those armoires... So we decided we would have them delivered. Somehow, this decision ended up landing us in various lines for over two hours! All told, we spent six life-sucking hours at that store, but it had to be done, and we were just glad it was over when we left.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our original plan for the day had been to go to IKEA, check out Nuremberg and see if there were any other home stores there to look at, maybe get a meal, who knows? We left IKEA at 6:30 and had a 45 minute drive ahead of us. So, we decided we'd drop things off, go to the grocery store (we still hadn't been to one, since we didn't have a car and the bigger ones weren't walkable with a little one) and go out for dinner. Having Amelia wet her pants at IKEA while in the shopping cart waiting in line made this a lot more complicated. Once we got to Amberg, we decided to go shopping first, and cram the groceries into our stuffed rental car. It took a long time to find the store we wanted, even though we were right there all along-- it was just a shop the people we asked directions from weren't familiar with! We did our quick shopping of a few basic items, and went to pay. There was a line behind us, and I couldn't find the bigger bill I'd been counting on! We'd spent all of our cash at IKEA except the amount I was planning to use for shopping! This is, in my book, the worst social situation ever. Somehow, I have always had this fear of not having enough money on hand in front of other people. Anyhow, I have now faced that fear. I had to quickly pick out the items that seemed less vital till we came to a total we could afford. Lame.<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I know this is getting long, but bear with me. It gets worse. We were starving for dinner and it was 8:00. We wanted to go out to eat, but needed to take care of Amelia's very stinky clothing situation. After the unloading process (remember, 35 stairs!) I decided I'd give Amelia a bath while Jeff went to pick up our suitcases from the hotel-- we didn't have any clothes at the apartment yet. So Amelia bathed, and we waited and waited. She just hung out in a sheet (we still don't have towels) until Jeff finally got back with our luggage. But he had forgotten her suitcase!! At this point it was getting too late to even consider going out to eat. I fed the nude little Amelia some odds and ends while Jeff went back for her things. But... He had locked the car into the parking garage, and couldn't get back in, so he had to walk to the hotel and back. We finally got her into her Pjs and in bed, but... Her “blankey,” sippy cup and pet zebra, all of which are bedtime essentials, were locked in the car, locked in the parking garage. And this was her first night in her new room-- there was MUCH wailing. Jeff and I ate some salad on our stairs, and I went in to lay down with her while Jeff just stood around outside the parking garage waiting for the door to open.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In the end Jeff got in, we got the essentials, and slept here. But it was definitely not what I had envisioned!! We still don't have fitted sheets, towels or anywhere to hang our clothes. We have no shelves or chairs, but our dining table is in a flat box waiting to be assembled. The armoires will be delivered tomorrow. Yesterday (Sunday) went better, and we went with some local new friends to a “kinderfest” in town. It was a much better day. We'll take our time with all of the rest of the stuff, it's good to finally be in our own space! And this, my friends, is the reality of following a romantic notion of leaving all of your things behind and moving to Europe! And I'm afraid we'd do it all over again, given the opportunity.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-78487469685767811542010-09-14T02:12:00.000-07:002010-09-24T05:45:46.899-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxkcH_v_NIwMemlG99grTqqArE_fmBX1uNpSxZKWWWc5_5NJrdv0Y9xcLYBPP_w4vily59in1lQLTym_h3H_cTEtWIsmcPgm08e8dGUCuDFrLr6e_CCw1BM0QYTPFFLEWNjXxbg/s1600/P1010428.JPG"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >In the in-betweens...</span><br /><br />So there are plenty of big events, like going to Munich, starting school, flohmarkt-shopping, etc. But what about all of the spaces in between? Amelia is at school for much of the day, Jeff is gone before I wake up and back around dinner. I have zero social engagements, and ride in a car twice a week, tops (and it's usually a five minute drive to the grocery store,) and some weeks not at all.<br />So, what am I doing during all of that time when I'm not parenting, going to work or riding in a car?<br /><br />Well, I <span style="font-style: italic;">would</span> be sitting on a couch, if we had one. The only sitting places here are at our dining table or on our bed (mattress on the floor.) But my favorite spot to hang out and read (currently it's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Molecules-Emotion-Science-Mind-Body-Medicine/dp/0684846349/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284461182&sr=1-1">Molecules of Emotion</a> by Candice Pert,) journal or "compute" is on one of our broad window sills.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxkcH_v_NIwMemlG99grTqqArE_fmBX1uNpSxZKWWWc5_5NJrdv0Y9xcLYBPP_w4vily59in1lQLTym_h3H_cTEtWIsmcPgm08e8dGUCuDFrLr6e_CCw1BM0QYTPFFLEWNjXxbg/s1600/P1010428.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxkcH_v_NIwMemlG99grTqqArE_fmBX1uNpSxZKWWWc5_5NJrdv0Y9xcLYBPP_w4vily59in1lQLTym_h3H_cTEtWIsmcPgm08e8dGUCuDFrLr6e_CCw1BM0QYTPFFLEWNjXxbg/s400/P1010428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516695891323544770" border="0" /></a>Here I am right now. The view is great, and I get to be a nosy neighbor. I also get a little sunlight into my system, even if it's overcast, which it often is. My behind gets sore, but it's worth it. Also, down that street is a little cafe that roasts their own coffee. It's really sweet and cozy, and has coffee even Portland would be proud of. (The other places here, not so much.) The tables outside offer <span style="font-weight: bold;">lap blankets</span> on nippy days-- how adorable is that?! There is a little courtyard with a fountain and little bronze pig statues, with big chestnut trees overhead. I also like to take Amelia there so she can "bathe" and "feed" the piggies.<br />So, lots of downtime. I am sorely in need of that, after two months of being on my own with Amelia all the time, trying to get all sorts of things done. My life right now is an introvert's paradise-- no one else home most of the day, no friends, no work, no social obligations. I <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> like people, though, and so it is even more wonderful that I can talk to friends and family on our Vonage phone. I intend to make friends and <span style="font-style: italic;">somehow</span> get involved in <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> here in Amberg. But in the meantime I am trying to recharge my severely drained batteries.<br /><br />I would like to just stop and say that <span style="font-style: italic;">I love my life here</span>. I don't think we stop and recognize that which is making us happy often enough. And there seems to be an unhealthy rule in many circles that you don't share your joys, for fear of making someone else feel bad for not having the same experiences in life. But we should tell each other-- happiness is worth expressing! Let me just take a moment and tell you:<br /><br />I love walking Amelia to and from school.<br />I love having a great little cup of coffee and sitting for as long as I want to at the local cafe.<br />I love shopping at the open market, even if it can be difficult to communicate sometimes.<br />I love just looking out all of my windows-- it's so dreamy!<br />I love my daily schedule.<br />I love our big, empty apartment-- it is just beautiful.<br />I love not spending time in cars, and that I haven't driven for months.<br />I love walking everywhere, and biking is awesome too.<br />I love being alone.<br />I love all of the fresh, high quality food I can buy here-- wild venison was my favorite find this week.<br />I love that it's turning to fall-- I don't know what winter will be like, but I always have this giddy energy that comes with the nip in the air and the golden light. They call it "Herbst" here, which sounds so woodsy.<br />I love starting over with new people in a new place-- I am only the person I am today-- not the one I was years ago, and no one has ever heard of me before. That is liberating for me, coming from a big, well-known family.<br />I love that every view from any angle in my new life is a great one.<br /><br />I walk around smiling all of the time. How could I not? This is kind of a sweet time for me, after the very arduous move and time of adjustment... We still have plenty to do in terms of settling in. We're saving our money for a couch and some other furniture. We'd like to paint. I want to go to Paris pretty badly. But I am reasonably settled and don't have a sense of urgency for <span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span>. I've made it! Now it gets better! Also, in a week or so I start school. I will be attending PSU online as a full-time student. I have no idea what this looks like, in terms of daily time commitment. But I'm looking forward to it, and hopeful that I may even finish my degree within a year! And I am looking for a German language class to sign up for here in Amberg. I will inevitably be much busier than I am now, so I am trying to just relish the open slots of time I have at the moment. Sure, I spend time cooking and cleaning a lot, but I can do it at an enjoyable pace, not crammed into the cracks in a busy, loaded schedule.<br />I am thankful.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-9008823121220154392010-09-09T04:05:00.001-07:002010-09-24T05:42:06.162-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Home Snippets</span></span><br /><br />I really do want to take you on a complete tour of our home, I promise, but it's kind of a wreck. You wouldn't enjoy it. There is no furniture, our living room is just our recycling center with piles of cardboard and bubble wrap. But we do have some cute corners and consistently-tidy areas. I'll show you some of those, so you get the general feeling without all of the riffraff.<br /><br />I always start with the kitchen when I move somewhere, so this one is more doable. As I wandered around the house just now, with my toothbrush in my mouth (don't know why inspiration seems to strike mid-brush!) and camera in hand, I chose to spare you the unwiped counters and the open dishwasher. There were a couple of angles, however that were eager to be shown off.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgp_QP0DsPA-Q9uUMVVsEQ7Z3Cryzz6VTD-4XZQvYWJVQvpLREOKyFe_ymSYM_d0yL43S1TUMRa4c8E_gU958WpD1cYBhT1sf_iqqEvpFroiV7mOeRzRBwQ03SEBVzHJgbCqfug/s1600/P1010390.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgp_QP0DsPA-Q9uUMVVsEQ7Z3Cryzz6VTD-4XZQvYWJVQvpLREOKyFe_ymSYM_d0yL43S1TUMRa4c8E_gU958WpD1cYBhT1sf_iqqEvpFroiV7mOeRzRBwQ03SEBVzHJgbCqfug/s400/P1010390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514869390180777074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5blUSouhyEoYnc86epj-sC8FZE_ER3adyOyEXKxXO0LU_tbfvs2P8mhSBgTBWjUSgRi6qPRtXSoCbsLp6IFwNHBfhMAu-fxc7PtqEUSUKF2OhSOkZyR9XqlRbJC-Tbdh3dPwXQ/s1600/P1010392.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5blUSouhyEoYnc86epj-sC8FZE_ER3adyOyEXKxXO0LU_tbfvs2P8mhSBgTBWjUSgRi6qPRtXSoCbsLp6IFwNHBfhMAu-fxc7PtqEUSUKF2OhSOkZyR9XqlRbJC-Tbdh3dPwXQ/s400/P1010392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514869398626772834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We have a ton of counter space! It is so nice, and makes cooking much easier, being able to spread out a little.<br />By the way, those brown apothecary jars and the glass cloche are from <a href="http://bloggyfamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-weekend-i-died-and-went-to-flea.html">Ingrid</a>.<br /></span></div><br />Next was my favorite corner in Amelia's room. I thought about this nook long before we moved here-- a cozy little spot for her to sit and read. Of course, I was in complete denial about the fact that Amelia would never actually <span style="font-style: italic;">choose</span> to be in a room alone. Maybe this corner was really for me. I should have made it in my room...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx34tdC6QrrJhwEnrWCMT4VNK8k9OrI1CEiLmGGwE-bHvyWJrOs41d5vYo6PuV86lHJlO5Bqrp8bwwvNmEHsYtOlwOLrLDTj3o-7m0n-DnIPQgrZONLLTv_NNYoBDmsRZmeiRbTg/s1600/P1010395.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx34tdC6QrrJhwEnrWCMT4VNK8k9OrI1CEiLmGGwE-bHvyWJrOs41d5vYo6PuV86lHJlO5Bqrp8bwwvNmEHsYtOlwOLrLDTj3o-7m0n-DnIPQgrZONLLTv_NNYoBDmsRZmeiRbTg/s400/P1010395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514869414980755778" border="0" /></a><br />And let's get real for a moment here, folks: will her room really ever be much more photographable than this? I don't clean her room for her any more. Her bed will be made by her after her nap, but it never really looks great. She's a kid! It's pure vanity for me to want it to look pretty for my friends.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB0A_kh38l5sa59AvweNkkGbFrO46P8VPu_ZJjg5yCJBK21ZCAoQpmuuVK2obOseyMVqrtbX2NaE5hLL27HQXcW3h7PTyEm1DRfNBM5_yP3_A3HBagZNgnPbfvGL-HjDGX76y9Q/s1600/P1010399.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB0A_kh38l5sa59AvweNkkGbFrO46P8VPu_ZJjg5yCJBK21ZCAoQpmuuVK2obOseyMVqrtbX2NaE5hLL27HQXcW3h7PTyEm1DRfNBM5_yP3_A3HBagZNgnPbfvGL-HjDGX76y9Q/s400/P1010399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514869432780489362" border="0" /></a>A real bed would sure help, though! By the way, I am thinking of getting <a href="http://www.pipstudio.com/en/wallpaper/traditional/pip-early-bird-white-wallpaper">this</a> wallpaper to put in the alcoves in here, and painting the inside edges a pretty light pink.<br /><br />Our bathroom is HUGE. Huge! There is so much open floorspace that we could seriously put a queen sized mattress on the floor in there for guests. (Any takers?) The bathtub is awesome, and Jeff tells me the shower is just fine.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm2lf__5hpvpbBAYjXk-wAgUjlThpGxSfjJEuUi_iC0fPEsl2x-Gx9yg_0rHBOe61zcw7e4tQO3kOhoQUqjq8fDFL5S-AH_a_BgTHgvnzIEDmh8gbI3hsUUULr26SPkYpcP5H3g/s1600/P1010403.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm2lf__5hpvpbBAYjXk-wAgUjlThpGxSfjJEuUi_iC0fPEsl2x-Gx9yg_0rHBOe61zcw7e4tQO3kOhoQUqjq8fDFL5S-AH_a_BgTHgvnzIEDmh8gbI3hsUUULr26SPkYpcP5H3g/s400/P1010403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514869442517449698" border="0" /></a>The door goes into the laundry room, and then goes into our bedroom.<br />Our bedroom holds some of the only furniture in our house, we were that determined to "do it up big" after sleeping in a tiny attic space where we couldn't even fit a box spring, let alone sit up in bed. Of course, our bed is now covered in laundry (that's what happens when you have the laundry room a few feet away!) but you can see our furniture and cool light.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIuBOAssd-6dGbEN5n5z0TOj3FABELoNmXRRm6KGK_vbYEXHnqe5Cj4a9lNcPKxlPWDi5SOJgsKsXGNfNyGp3SZDPgmvG5cuLp8ItIXCqon4d2VVr9UEs8SZYCM2arRAu3YYxUQ/s1600/P1010405.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIuBOAssd-6dGbEN5n5z0TOj3FABELoNmXRRm6KGK_vbYEXHnqe5Cj4a9lNcPKxlPWDi5SOJgsKsXGNfNyGp3SZDPgmvG5cuLp8ItIXCqon4d2VVr9UEs8SZYCM2arRAu3YYxUQ/s400/P1010405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514869602004421986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This, in my opinion, is some of the only IKEA furniture that doesn't look like "IKEA furniture." and they discontinued it. This is sad, but it also meant that it was less than half-price!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's another armoire on the right, but, toothbrush in mouth and camera in hand, I didn't feel like tidying up that area.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2OfDWlcrK1EibcJdWpF4jqs9i-x57jKxgMi9q8vIdJ37UD1Bi_gm9VkOjb_C_t-jtGbih_WfVCtHPy2AM0-J1oy8YG7ocNLFbrkzNk7FATODqmpsqJKe76WIsGvRB26eXNsmKw/s1600/P1010407.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2OfDWlcrK1EibcJdWpF4jqs9i-x57jKxgMi9q8vIdJ37UD1Bi_gm9VkOjb_C_t-jtGbih_WfVCtHPy2AM0-J1oy8YG7ocNLFbrkzNk7FATODqmpsqJKe76WIsGvRB26eXNsmKw/s400/P1010407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514873475409047730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I love it. It casts the perfect shadows at night, too.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So, now you've seen at least a bit. There will be more.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-32115801533156305822010-09-08T05:38:00.000-07:002010-09-24T05:42:30.025-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >This weekend I died and went to Flea Market Heaven.</span><br /><br />I am lucky enough to have already made a friend here. She is an older woman named Indgrid, and we got connected with her during the first week we arrived in Amberg. There was a woman staying in our hotel who spoke English, and through Amelia's charms we quickly befriended her. It was great to have someone to ask relevant questions, like "Are there thrift stores here? Where can we buy cheap stuff?!" Although most of the facts about 2nd hand wares were discouraging, she was still able to help us out. She called Ingrid, who was downsizing and moving to a tiny studio apartment. She gave me Indgrid's number, and we went over there and bought a lot of her stuff! It was such a huge blessing, because I was able to get cookware, houseplants, platters and vases and that sort of thing from her-- it saved me SO much money and work! She has been really kind and helpful to us-- she spends the cold part of the year in Australia, so her English is excellent and she knows what it's like to be a foreigner. I have been able to call her and ask her cultural questions, and she has given me lots of helpful advice on where to find various items, when it's OK to haggle, etc. She called to tell me that the very best flea market in the area was in a town called Neumarkt, and it was being held this past Saturday. She assured us that there would be plenty of antiques, unlike the "flohmarkt" here which was mostly people selling their junk on card tables, like a neighborhood yard sale (although that was not so bad-- we came home with a drill-- it wasn't what we'd hoped for.)<br /><br />We are still lacking SO many household goods-- even as people who like to live minimally. So we ventured out, and were very well rewarded. The size of this market was surprisingly big, and the stuff was all amazing. I just walked around, smiling-- it was all so beautiful, unique, interesting and cool! We didn't even get to see everything, there was so much! I swear I could have taken one of everything there, but I was very happy with what I walked away with. Five euros seemed to be the magic price of the day, and it certainly helped that we were there right before everyone was packing up, and eager to unload a few more items. Here are all of my Five Euro Finds:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DQ-vMTCw85y0aZxSC5AyczVmjII15sHsSfr5vRXvG_dtwcEuRIG8PHwXmkTQ0K0pHlwlPAzx6DT2ddZ-qA6GPLMjz5f-IBMMqFVAE2u_grzPNt46cfskymCdece39T9_jAfzAg/s1600/P1010369.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DQ-vMTCw85y0aZxSC5AyczVmjII15sHsSfr5vRXvG_dtwcEuRIG8PHwXmkTQ0K0pHlwlPAzx6DT2ddZ-qA6GPLMjz5f-IBMMqFVAE2u_grzPNt46cfskymCdece39T9_jAfzAg/s400/P1010369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524378867503186" border="0" /></a>Isn't this the coolest little tea kettle?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPLB0PnFnTQh8jz6LuwY6c04ifqv7x3G6ojmlWuD_67ZlflU70aEt9VtNsoewGXsdLOu5wLKicO2ZZslcR8xyDbJA3FHqT2ENiIdmWf20JufXrjQeM4HDj5A1y0IwLce2u5f98A/s1600/P1010386.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPLB0PnFnTQh8jz6LuwY6c04ifqv7x3G6ojmlWuD_67ZlflU70aEt9VtNsoewGXsdLOu5wLKicO2ZZslcR8xyDbJA3FHqT2ENiIdmWf20JufXrjQeM4HDj5A1y0IwLce2u5f98A/s400/P1010386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524658399008594" border="0" /></a>I had been hoping to find something like this, and I had seen some on various websites, but of course for much much more.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r4QAjCBMDjHPRsf6qRYYEnNULhF2o_TQfdGWSUhd0kZWSsfjuXfWgdaqkGaobUD7EDZeXff0ZimPkrwmnrah6Y-WBwlearuHzb3c40GT7FLu9cjWS4SjON7Qi-DMa0RWUDlJaw/s1600/P1010382.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r4QAjCBMDjHPRsf6qRYYEnNULhF2o_TQfdGWSUhd0kZWSsfjuXfWgdaqkGaobUD7EDZeXff0ZimPkrwmnrah6Y-WBwlearuHzb3c40GT7FLu9cjWS4SjON7Qi-DMa0RWUDlJaw/s400/P1010382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524647524158258" border="0" /></a>This is solid iron and super heavy. It's hard to see the size from the picture, but it's big-- about a foot wide.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ywUzfPrHRBHCBdfPQudh4a7xA6qVfP2IO6mX-gK9Hsqly1Q95K7mfowovCWdxur7w8m6-z0JesDGrp74iZaejfiP6v4TK_YbjyrdAOtptFVNXIxs0Qh8LiPYOTFIBWAYBRrrQ/s1600/P1010379.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ywUzfPrHRBHCBdfPQudh4a7xA6qVfP2IO6mX-gK9Hsqly1Q95K7mfowovCWdxur7w8m6-z0JesDGrp74iZaejfiP6v4TK_YbjyrdAOtptFVNXIxs0Qh8LiPYOTFIBWAYBRrrQ/s400/P1010379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524636297866674" border="0" /></a>I could have seriously gone crazy with all of the beautiful table linens-- embroidered, striped, etc., and all pure linen. This one was a good bargain, and just the right size for our tiny dining table.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW_OiKRuX5Nqr-SjJ4qudoxRIVVNn9IGE4nBvMEsUfCto2L-OvTzf0C5Yt0wkK4XqNn0tgcJZE5LmO33P3F94gDqKLlRBCmWglqCc99Y3yUxEyxb_H-3pJIIkAFNG0_3SDSLvDg/s1600/P1010377.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW_OiKRuX5Nqr-SjJ4qudoxRIVVNn9IGE4nBvMEsUfCto2L-OvTzf0C5Yt0wkK4XqNn0tgcJZE5LmO33P3F94gDqKLlRBCmWglqCc99Y3yUxEyxb_H-3pJIIkAFNG0_3SDSLvDg/s400/P1010377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524415888042386" border="0" /></a>No matter how many fancy ways I've tried preparing coffee, nothing beats a cone drip. I love the ceramic ones, and although it's hard to find them in stores here, there were plenty of vintage ones there. Now to find a matching Melitta coffee pitcher...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxGSJ6sWS9xmR6RXTdUAWva3xgTvqxkePVHucQmEKrzyBZlV_mrKC2XExGcST2v8Aez8swEgqlaXKbCI33EPnvqrT_hfiTetKkAU9wzyYI8LnXWtUWoH_VTdGSzgZh5sMtGOhpw/s1600/P1010375.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxGSJ6sWS9xmR6RXTdUAWva3xgTvqxkePVHucQmEKrzyBZlV_mrKC2XExGcST2v8Aez8swEgqlaXKbCI33EPnvqrT_hfiTetKkAU9wzyYI8LnXWtUWoH_VTdGSzgZh5sMtGOhpw/s400/P1010375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524410525872162" border="0" /></a>A little enamel bowl. So practical, so irresistible.<br /></div><br />A couple other things were definitely worth a little more, but were still very good deals:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBc1c5cL-UadsJJfTCCf1VFuBaVtlJa32E5ZNvBH4-Ns_98payq9juxm0aHhIl5B-7hh-4zPn3OgNWWOV_7QzqMb0jQ1E8Q2xsW3UhZuL4rDmo7RfuMGik3legZGJXNiHqgbPow/s1600/P1010372.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBc1c5cL-UadsJJfTCCf1VFuBaVtlJa32E5ZNvBH4-Ns_98payq9juxm0aHhIl5B-7hh-4zPn3OgNWWOV_7QzqMb0jQ1E8Q2xsW3UhZuL4rDmo7RfuMGik3legZGJXNiHqgbPow/s400/P1010372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524395440624194" border="0" /></a>An antique Swiss military first aid box! This will be perfect for vitamins...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUULhgKUcTjuqrPlyx0vvfRhnPOE3QHQwRGV1J5shJwSWljKixNveE_NWO2pohvrw76oLZnJXCGOIcwoFpp9maeok4HkDbpdVS5KE_CH512rFNlQNyTOYNW-5xxb-5R8fy5y9hPA/s1600/P1010367.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUULhgKUcTjuqrPlyx0vvfRhnPOE3QHQwRGV1J5shJwSWljKixNveE_NWO2pohvrw76oLZnJXCGOIcwoFpp9maeok4HkDbpdVS5KE_CH512rFNlQNyTOYNW-5xxb-5R8fy5y9hPA/s400/P1010367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514524368476530930" border="0" /></a>And, my favorite, a vintage educational poster on brassicas. Our walls need to be painted really badly, and this is not only wonderful to look at, but covers a very awful-looking wall in our kitchen.<br /></div><br />Driving away with all of our new things, I felt so lucky! I really felt like was taking advantage of living in Europe, and although everything else seems to be much more expensive here, I had finally hit the jackpot. This market is held once a month, and I think Jeff and I will try to be there every time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-71574551058462522332010-09-07T00:11:00.000-07:002010-09-14T00:30:22.015-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Let's Get Down to It.</span><br /><br />Yes, I am rather backlogged on things I want to share with you. First, we'll talk about Munich.<br />Three weekends ago, we planned a rather last-minute trip to Munich. We found a European version of <a href="http://www.hotwire.com/">Hotwire</a> and locked in a great price on a "top secret" hotel near the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englischer_Garten">English Garden</a>. It turned out to be a gigantic Hilton, in a truly amazing location. Our hotel room, while not anything special, looked out onto a river on the edge of a forested area surrounding the garden.<br /><br />The weather was sweltering-hot. I had no idea it would be the last warm weekend here in Bavaria-- I might have enjoyed it a little more in that case! But the cement and stone of the city just made the heat and the sunlight really intense. It was a three hour drive because of terrible traffic, and our car doesn't have any A/C. The evening that we arrived, we a took a bus to a nearby shopping district and mostly walked around, and did some clothes shopping for Jeff. I also found my very own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirndl">dirndl</a> at a quirky little shop there. (As a side note, people <span style="font-style: italic;">really wear </span>dirndls and lederhosen here! I couldn't believe it. Sure, there are the older gentlemen in the full ensemble, including feathered hat-- but also young guys chilling at a coffee shop in their lederhosen! And whenever there is a festival, women are seen everywhere in their cute dirndls, and it's a common restaurant server uniform as well.) We had some wonderful Greek food for dinner, and called it a day.<br /><br />The next morning, we set out to really "see" Munich. Unfortunately, it was Sunday and most everything was closed. But cafes and restaurants were open, and plus you don't have to go through any doors to see all of the incredible Gothic architecture of the city. We wandered around for a very long time and finally came to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marienplatz">Marienplatz</a>, where we found some breakfast. The sun was so hot and bright, that we tried to stay in the shade us much as possible. The place was just crawling with tourists, and we were right next to the city hall with a famous Glockenspiel that people were crowding into the square to see every hour. We mostly walked around for the morning, then were looking for some refuge from the sun. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjbZmuBfSL6lhL6OrgT_HszuDNdE0hotPslF6C5lp_0ARJJTuQ9dVsYRZnu9pDI5RXm0hVfoh2602pwJAyx_R-S5y7f3Pq6Epd1Of8d1wMX_F4LP7T6p7sMfEXvDYCsqq8Sn2xQ/s1600/P1010273.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjbZmuBfSL6lhL6OrgT_HszuDNdE0hotPslF6C5lp_0ARJJTuQ9dVsYRZnu9pDI5RXm0hVfoh2602pwJAyx_R-S5y7f3Pq6Epd1Of8d1wMX_F4LP7T6p7sMfEXvDYCsqq8Sn2xQ/s400/P1010273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514073725894703170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4rk-0MpAiTCv35AThGc0_5lnITgdkF4y_wKvvTt4byr2zsxUwgCm_kY07p0Er1OUw21Byz2gm1QTbPxDDtVebdcW2pVM_OilUQci5C9iG0opOWKTS0VGsdIjm9POsWNzSL9RDg/s1600/P1010265.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4rk-0MpAiTCv35AThGc0_5lnITgdkF4y_wKvvTt4byr2zsxUwgCm_kY07p0Er1OUw21Byz2gm1QTbPxDDtVebdcW2pVM_OilUQci5C9iG0opOWKTS0VGsdIjm9POsWNzSL9RDg/s400/P1010265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514073736524849074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXJQZ9EIITnPYxz24MpMPGNELeLfqx_24V4Rp9EEftJzfZwZv-FoTVPzSAGRhX6vFy2mKrvrJUr7OmwLEpjgoIYaK601eBix8kt4L8jHx54HK8zhOdnzxj5n_Yde0gVz6e_JmMA/s1600/P1010279.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXJQZ9EIITnPYxz24MpMPGNELeLfqx_24V4Rp9EEftJzfZwZv-FoTVPzSAGRhX6vFy2mKrvrJUr7OmwLEpjgoIYaK601eBix8kt4L8jHx54HK8zhOdnzxj5n_Yde0gVz6e_JmMA/s400/P1010279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514073749142199138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67ZsgYIA1AGWEKtqCz-7HrhU8II0mKRQlMxN_GBHFipN_W57Dm8qwbJJxq1lIIWDMTkgw1AZJ6ij7ViaGyHsd1_6FihSG53oDmDME9ro7PUu3eKRg3k5Q9elrUvHq_EFxXrijdg/s1600/P1010276.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67ZsgYIA1AGWEKtqCz-7HrhU8II0mKRQlMxN_GBHFipN_W57Dm8qwbJJxq1lIIWDMTkgw1AZJ6ij7ViaGyHsd1_6FihSG53oDmDME9ro7PUu3eKRg3k5Q9elrUvHq_EFxXrijdg/s400/P1010276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514073747885216626" border="0" /></a><br />The English Garden was the perfect shady escape. It's not so much a <span style="font-style: italic;">garden </span>as I would think of one, but a really big, beautiful green space. It was actually kind of like a nature amusement park. It is one of the worlds largest public parks, even bigger than Central Park. It was fairly crowded, and there were various attractions-- the Chinese pagoda, a lakeside restaurant, meadowy sunbathing spaces, etc. Also, lots of live music, of the oom-pah-pah variety. It was really nice! One highlight was a rickshaw ride from one end to the other. I didn't get many good pictures, but you'll just have to trust me that it was like a movie set akin to the "Jolly Holiday" scene in Mary Poppins.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLxfiP9g1EdVsFjbdhXpD3xoVkh66wPPoG7I9W7pP9qZgUqhSfA1O9i0p0f19qLP7MYKQAQ63u2RYSQYbzRSxDDZbPahr60h3gXH9ULY_fWnqaSo3sBoWL-8qyGlYHf3T81wYPw/s1600/P1010292.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLxfiP9g1EdVsFjbdhXpD3xoVkh66wPPoG7I9W7pP9qZgUqhSfA1O9i0p0f19qLP7MYKQAQ63u2RYSQYbzRSxDDZbPahr60h3gXH9ULY_fWnqaSo3sBoWL-8qyGlYHf3T81wYPw/s400/P1010292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514073761003365922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Crammed into the rickshaw!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyYg0jPIqy7ZR4cGTewlIbs3zcVOayC0w1IZTmZC1VQ_MRWAEQrqVipL98A4zDUy1LMcT0ekmQKVZYIRyiqoAGjPEhFWiilOmZhj-MI6EYtSeGnA59PW0y48KIMZw0QtErcH4aw/s1600/P1010300.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyYg0jPIqy7ZR4cGTewlIbs3zcVOayC0w1IZTmZC1VQ_MRWAEQrqVipL98A4zDUy1LMcT0ekmQKVZYIRyiqoAGjPEhFWiilOmZhj-MI6EYtSeGnA59PW0y48KIMZw0QtErcH4aw/s400/P1010300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514083159335613106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">One of several stream that help keep the whole place cool-- we had fun taking our shoes off and wading in it.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgx0UNFp1E6_SUVngiNltCXsmk3liRam503fg_VFAarQTvQjI2vmQlgUBn6jkOR_0ExeCYRHMRG_QaOH_Wuxoi9jbHte8XT7MP5-ZhOGuSlSQN0fUvjejyNmGCr-cYkEhBByY2g/s1600/P1010312.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgx0UNFp1E6_SUVngiNltCXsmk3liRam503fg_VFAarQTvQjI2vmQlgUBn6jkOR_0ExeCYRHMRG_QaOH_Wuxoi9jbHte8XT7MP5-ZhOGuSlSQN0fUvjejyNmGCr-cYkEhBByY2g/s400/P1010312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514083180591848050" border="0" /></a><br /></div>After the long, hot drive going to Munich, we decided it would be best to hit the road early in the afternoon. Fortunately, we made great time getting to Amberg, and having the full evening ahead of us here made us feel more refreshed after a fun weekend. Although I don't have any more plans to travel for now, it was so much fun to get out and be a tourist for a couple of days, not needing to worry about anything but having a good time as a family-- such a welcome relief after all of the packing, moving, unpacking, adjusting, etc! We really look forward to going back again, and can't believe it's such a reasonable drive for us.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-76342421185570689382010-09-06T23:48:00.000-07:002010-09-07T06:29:59.205-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >It's the "First Day of School" Post</span>.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpUI-6ZfQKoQXhkDJdD6kOr3EKSnYEgbBpLKH-psOrIPAHCGAUJZscu2bfQjrib0iKiKjCXHl-CTpWBXo2xNJQcyj8I4djeO3eaxROs8gujkDhhIFpRJNsj4mOjrFA06qp96f8w/s1600/P1010353.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpUI-6ZfQKoQXhkDJdD6kOr3EKSnYEgbBpLKH-psOrIPAHCGAUJZscu2bfQjrib0iKiKjCXHl-CTpWBXo2xNJQcyj8I4djeO3eaxROs8gujkDhhIFpRJNsj4mOjrFA06qp96f8w/s400/P1010353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514061158069802690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Somebody is <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> excited.<br /><br /></span></div>Ever since we arrived, we've all sort of been waiting for that magical moment when Amelia would start going to school. She does so well with lots of variety in her days, and plenty of social interaction. I do so well with solitude and less excitement. It was a very long wait. But now we have entered that wonderful season of morning routines, busy days for Amelia and quiet, productive times for me. She is SO excited about her school!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4Bi6LtiI7jFNcmQHNA_-IxK_m0AerYEK2TyhAK8WuJhyphenhyphenHu8kD1gahKhoeuGYbpTFp7hwJX1NDfGjlkm_lV3xppwA5lrrSnOkuE96pPi38BgE9niULN0LLRsF3kJvtvGJLcZNdA/s1600/P1010356.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4Bi6LtiI7jFNcmQHNA_-IxK_m0AerYEK2TyhAK8WuJhyphenhyphenHu8kD1gahKhoeuGYbpTFp7hwJX1NDfGjlkm_lV3xppwA5lrrSnOkuE96pPi38BgE9niULN0LLRsF3kJvtvGJLcZNdA/s400/P1010356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514061164607506274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This is our "front door" to our apartment, although it's shared by several others.</span><br /><br /></div>She has come home very happy every day. It's hard to figure out what exactly goes on over there, since she has always been very tight-lipped about the events of her school day. But there is lots of snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables. They serve herbal tea, very diluted juice, and water. Eating and drinking have always been the main-events of Amelia's days. There is a little dining room where she eats lunch, that looks like a kids' restaurant. No one speaks English well there, but she comes home each day with a few new German words.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVWZ9uSX5_QC4YCNByX6AR5orlhefIfTEJ3vRqkfXQCiP0wLnyFb6chswW_ykJBUIPUmgOg36mojDK0ECf8HgXF8wCnjDL7msVwdK7iHkd-LfEgaNOHknF_aFlx4nuIwnIirSmw/s1600/P1010358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVWZ9uSX5_QC4YCNByX6AR5orlhefIfTEJ3vRqkfXQCiP0wLnyFb6chswW_ykJBUIPUmgOg36mojDK0ECf8HgXF8wCnjDL7msVwdK7iHkd-LfEgaNOHknF_aFlx4nuIwnIirSmw/s400/P1010358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514061174657212018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I love crossing the bridge each morning. <br />Here, she is getting really tired of me snapping pictures, and just wants to <span style="font-style: italic;">get there</span> already. I'm glad she humored me anyway.<br /><br /></span></div>The walk to school each morning is really wonderful. It is at the same time as one of the church's bells toll for morning mass, and we pass by the big beautiful doors as all the elderly ladies line up outside and coo at Amelia passing by.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh16nXrs_DEXreFVzT6mZDxD5zfUCQuMlT3MgSbQVTAfWTssUyBMuT4SdDexMbH_8HJvrO92sIh7eo-x1XPLNqkBt_pukEY8lD8mBSrVoMQ3wGC-sxxefFe7-UW1QsjDRyrbRODw/s1600/P1010360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh16nXrs_DEXreFVzT6mZDxD5zfUCQuMlT3MgSbQVTAfWTssUyBMuT4SdDexMbH_8HJvrO92sIh7eo-x1XPLNqkBt_pukEY8lD8mBSrVoMQ3wGC-sxxefFe7-UW1QsjDRyrbRODw/s400/P1010360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514061183314934578" border="0" /></a><br />I love the above picture. Amelia's in school six hours a day now, and it seems like such a big change. Even though the kindergarten is very play-based, it seems like she's really started her school career.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFEw3TgblplrjnUf911_yzqgKIveZNknwV7gdse3kgLGWGRFYZ93SSACDmyO6bx_ubv8zsEIlaW5S_MdAUA11QEiiJcmh731yckoMJj1J0xwI0vPZQRAtCq-GgHqzllhkuZY3qw/s1600/P1010361.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFEw3TgblplrjnUf911_yzqgKIveZNknwV7gdse3kgLGWGRFYZ93SSACDmyO6bx_ubv8zsEIlaW5S_MdAUA11QEiiJcmh731yckoMJj1J0xwI0vPZQRAtCq-GgHqzllhkuZY3qw/s400/P1010361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514061190221893442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Her adorable classroom. I think she spends most of her time in this play kitchen.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Exciting times for all of us!</span><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-64543665637697275612010-09-05T10:26:00.000-07:002010-09-07T06:29:59.205-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Sassy Pants...</span><br /><br />Amelia was in fine form tonight at dinner. Here are a couple of snippets.<br /><br />"Some moms don't really make very good food for their kids. But Mama, <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span> are doing <span style="font-style: italic;">very well</span> with your cooking."<br /><br />Amelia: Papa, tomorrow YOU get to take me to school!<br />Jeff: I'm excited-- I've haven't been there before.<br />Amelia: Yes, and I will even show you the bathroom.<br />Jeff: Could you show me the snack room?<br />Amelia: Sure! But you can't eat in there. The food is just for the kids.<br />Jeff: But what if I'm hungry?!<br />Amelia: (Firmly) Well, then you can eat your saliva.<br /><br />Also, I think we need to watch the way we talk to her, because when she talks to us, everything comes out as super condescending.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-21160114185326028842010-08-19T13:42:00.000-07:002010-09-07T06:33:19.553-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Between Then and Now....</span></span><br /><br />It's been a few weeks since I wrote a real update, and it really feels like months. So much has happened! I will list here some occurrences of note, so I feel like I've caught you up.<br /><br />- We moved into our apartment! I have a whole blog post about that day waiting, actually. It's on our other computer (a macbook air, which doesn't have the right ports to connect it to our DSL cable) and I can't get on the internet on that one to email it to myself!<br /><br />- We bought a car! It is a little navy blue VW Polo wagon. It's old, but rather young in miles. Make that kilometers. I haven't driven it-- I don't have a license!<br /><br />- We found a babysitter when I was about pull my hair out, and she came a few times and quit. On the upside, Amelia realized that I'm actually a pretty nice adult! For example, one time she was having a meltdown and I was like, "Hey, it's OK to cry sometimes. It really helps you feel better." And then the lady from Poland was all, "Ehmeelia! Why you cry?! You BEEEG girl now!"<br /><br />- We visited Amelia's future kindergarten, and that went really well. She seemed to feel right at home there, in spite of the fact that there were a bunch of [shudder] <span style="font-style: italic;">children</span> there, and didn't want to leave. It was very bright and cheerful, with lots of things to do. They had the cutest little locker room and also what they call their "bistro" where the kids eat their meals. Her teacher is really sweet and her parents actually own a local health food shop that specializes in gluten free foods! We are all super excited for school to start in a a couple of weeks.<br /><br />- I have done a lot of cleaning. To my serious dismay, the previous tenants left the place absolutely filthy. It's really bad. As much as I have cleaned, it is still very dirty. It's gross. I've decided that I am officially making cleaning my hobby, so it doesn't feel so unreasonable to spend all of my free time doing it. Ick.<br /><br />- I can now get around in stores, cafes and restaurants in only German. Although all I ever wanted to do was blend in, there is just absolutely no way that is happening when I have congenial little Amelia with me. Something that has been weird here is that everyone speaks in hushed tones <span style="font-style: italic;">all of the time</span>. Amelia's vocal volume is permanently set on "bellow." It's embarrassing for me, but I can only assume that there is some sort of issue about feeling conspicuous that I am supposed to be working out here. We'll see. There is nothing like not wanting to be noticed as a newcomer to motivate you to learn a foreign language!<br /><br />- Jeff turned 33 today. It's a fun year to share life with him! We are planning on driving to Munich this weekend. We'll spend one night there. Although I feel like I've done enough traveling for now, it will be able to leave the "settling in" feelings and duties behind for a day or so to just enjoy Germany.<br /><br />I'll leave you with some pictures from dinner tonight.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjF_KZwYjI478EtTvY_cauP58-tlpTenpIwJQwAMIRR5owgSpXlIhjPEbYalgq0pRFuUdsCajE0qw9-WtKwl0TOMqUGYZ3O2dyHA60oxzm2QGwoIOEDEurzYrxtcnICMyNT1uog/s1600/P1010151.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjF_KZwYjI478EtTvY_cauP58-tlpTenpIwJQwAMIRR5owgSpXlIhjPEbYalgq0pRFuUdsCajE0qw9-WtKwl0TOMqUGYZ3O2dyHA60oxzm2QGwoIOEDEurzYrxtcnICMyNT1uog/s400/P1010151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507231135747064674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Here's the man of the hour! It may be Jeff's birthday, but I'm the one who's finally starting to look their age...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL6-IGC_xZJHO1EY2Yjf6WOgyoo8kPXzNL60yzzDFm0ZtoYopozMrRaa2nOB2rEK3rJ7KNctTdCF8SQmIV6jEWzNWY8cyIs_qQ5gLcn0rwk-z76FjtQGYsJklgkrK7aFZpWq8Zw/s1600/P1010139.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL6-IGC_xZJHO1EY2Yjf6WOgyoo8kPXzNL60yzzDFm0ZtoYopozMrRaa2nOB2rEK3rJ7KNctTdCF8SQmIV6jEWzNWY8cyIs_qQ5gLcn0rwk-z76FjtQGYsJklgkrK7aFZpWq8Zw/s400/P1010139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507231122895203746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Our entertainment!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXHfDx_R-6sSbJHcMqce6EJLblP_bUHD1IvUBNxW9M3eOI9jN2U9OhJNSqbIeIGEjQU8Y2_wmlFJo9xGTQcYw78ECI-GlaXtNz5PoFSO70QXUExEtQjepkCfrRedgJQdbM5q_Xg/s1600/P1010144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXHfDx_R-6sSbJHcMqce6EJLblP_bUHD1IvUBNxW9M3eOI9jN2U9OhJNSqbIeIGEjQU8Y2_wmlFJo9xGTQcYw78ECI-GlaXtNz5PoFSO70QXUExEtQjepkCfrRedgJQdbM5q_Xg/s400/P1010144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507231132929003186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The "Biergarten" courtyard we ate at tonight.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-75826226149950153332010-08-10T06:20:00.001-07:002010-09-07T06:31:13.960-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Real Housekeeping</span></span><br /><br />--Kitchen Floors--<br />Step 1. Thoroughly sweep tiled kitchen floor. Twice.<br />Step 2. Spray floor with light layer of cleaning spray.<br />Step 3. Apparently inflict cruel and unusual punishment on your four year old by asking her to "go around, not through" the kitchen for the next half hour.<br />Step 4. Fill bucket with hot water, and mop the floor. Realize that you used way too much soap and that you will have to rinse again and again.<br />Step 5. Rinse again and again.<br />Step 6. Walk out of the room backwards, erasing your steps with the mop, and wait....<br />Step 7. Tip toe back in on damp floors to make lunch for your "Super, SUPER huuuuungryyy" little girl.<br />Step 8. Underestimate your own strength while opening a bag of rice, sending it flying all over the kitchen floor.<br />Step 9. Turn around to see a child standing in the doorway with eyebrows raised, looking totally unimpressed...<br />Step 10. Briefly consider getting cranky. Laugh instead. Sweep, then make that kid some lunch!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16558004.post-55002054405193119562010-07-22T08:34:00.000-07:002010-09-07T06:31:34.912-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">About the food...</span></span><br /><br />We are in a unique position to really find out what food is like here, since we have no kitchen and must eat almost all of our meals out. It has been very hard to find a bad meal here! We eventually did at an Italian place, but I suppose it's our fault for deviating from the great Bavarian offerings here.<br /><br />It's funny, because when I read descriptions on the menus, even in English, the entree usually sounds fairly unappetizing. I guess they don't mince words much. I have generally been very surprised and pleased by what shows up on my plate. As I have mentioned before, the salads are really good and fresh, with great flavor combinations-- like one with curried chicken and fresh oranges. There are a lot of deep fried items on the menus, and schnitzels and bratwurst, and many items are accompanied by fries. None of these are things I would usually eat, but there have been plenty of other options. And, the quality of the meats and everything is so good that the meals don't feel as heavy as you'd think. The other night, Jeff and I had steaks that were just amazing, accompanied by fries. I don't know what they did to those fat little wedges, but I swear that they had almost a butterscotch flavor to them-- also enhanced by some kind of dipping sauce that was more like hollandaise than aioli. Salads come with a lot of pickled vegetables, which I love. And I thought I knew what sauerkraut was, and really enjoyed making my own, but it is nothing like what they make here. First of all, they serve it warm, and it is heavily spiced, with allspice and cloves, for example.<br /><br />Restaurant food seems to cost about the same as it would in the US. Maybe a little cheaper, even, but of course we did most of our eating out at happy hour, and I don't think they have those here. Wine and beer is very affordable, and of course very good! I'd never had a German red wine before, and I really can't understand why! They are delicious, and remind me very much of California reds. A local recently confirmed this impression, telling me that many of the original vintners in CA were German, and brought their vines over to propagate. Ironically, what we need to keep under control when we eat out is our water consumption. It is unheard of to serve tap water at the table, and so we have to pay for our bottled water-- almost always carbonated. I find myself drinking a couple of glasses before we go out so I can save a few euros!<br /><br />The style of service is also very different, but I kind of like it. Waitstaff are generally paid a reasonable wage, and tipping is very minimal. No one is overly eager-to-please, trying to get everything just right for a higher tip. You seat yourself, and the table is yours for the evening-- no trying to rush you out the door so someone else can sit there. Someone will come and bring you a plate of napkins and silverware for you to place for yourself. Service is a little slow, and food doesn't typically arrive all at the same time-- so the rule is to just eat yours when it comes, and don't wait for the others. It all seems so laid back, with the emphasis being on the food. But of course everything is also very clean, which is extremely high on my list. So far, we've eaten most meals outdoors-- it will be a slightly different experience when the weather changes.<br /><br />I have yet to go to a real grocery store. We don't have a car yet, but we'll rent one on Saturday and I will finally be able to put some substantial food in our fridge. Fortunately, there is the daily open market that I mentioned previously. I have bought a lot of produce there, and it is all great. And, I think, quite a bit more affordable than in Portland. This is very satisfying to me-- that we can afford to actually shop from farmers, and to do so on a frequent basis. Today I also bought some dairy products from the local convenience market, and all of it was both organic and very affordable. This is fantastic!! I will have so much fun cooking here.<br /><br />The greatest challenge with eating here actually has nothing to do with local food. We had Amelia's food allergies tested before we left Portland, ostensibly to simplify matters once we arrived here. She has had so many limitations that I hoped we could find out some good news and eat more freely now. Well, there <span style="font-style: italic;">was </span>good news but also some bad. She had graduated from many of her old allergens, including eggs, corn, bananas, melon and tomatoes. However, she has since developed a severe allergy to peanuts and almonds and.... the dreaded GLUTEN. Believe it or not, she hasn't had a bit of bread since we arrived here! The only way this is possible is because there are so many other good options for her, including potatoes, which are served everywhere. The hotel we're at has a crazy-extravagant "continental" breakfast. There are plates of cheeses and cold cuts, desserts, weird salads-- even one with oysters-- sausages, eggs, breads, an assortment of mueslis, fruit salad, and a range of yogurts. Amelia really packs it in, usually eating a bowl of muesli (with fruit juice in it,) three breakfast sausages, two slices of ham, and fruit. She is a very happy camper! And she has also had more meat on most days than she used to have all week! She doesn't mind of course, and I keep watching for a big growth spurt!<br /><br />We were told that people here really like to eat sweets, and boy!-- They weren't joking! People hand Amelia candy all day, and there are bakeries on every corner selling cakes and danishes. I am trying to just be flexible and not make it a big deal. Also, the portions are huge! I think I've probably finished everything on my plate only a couple of times. Even salads are hard to finish. I have heard that Germans do not like to waste, and my sources confirm that they do indeed finish their portions. I'll work on it-- it shouldn't be too difficult!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747747919718890319noreply@blogger.com3