Weiler Castle

Last weekend Rob and I went with the youth group to Weiler Castle in Bessenbach. While Rob soon became known as "Ranger Rob" because he was never far from the big bonfire, I simply helped out where needed. The theme was "Questing for Excellence" and I think that for the most part the kids did acheive that.
Rob and I headed up a few hours behind others since we had to wait until he got off from work. So while they were getting scared inside the big castle as a big wind and rail with hail storm blew threw and knocked out the power- Rob and I were driving in it! The next day our mission was clear- there were plently of trees down and branches to clear (and burn- Rob's favorite part it seems.)
I am looking forward to returning to the castle sometime for a future service project. It was so nice of Jim & Kristen to give us the big suite with the tower room. The building and grounds are just amazing- not to mention the kids we got to bond with over the weekend.

You're a Good Man...

Charlie Brown!
Yesterday was a good day. Rob had the day off and made me breakfast before I went to work. (I just love cheesy eggs!) Later we finally got our new GPS up and running- still trying to figure it out of course. Then we went out to dinner at a new place and went to see "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Heidelberg's Roadside Theater. It was a cute play with only 6 actors. Then it was home and to bed for us. All in all a nice little date night. Can't wait until next year- they are having some fun plays and special activities for the theater's 50th anniversary. Well... I am off to get the place spic and span for friends coming over later tonight.

Eyelashes & Kisses

A couple of weeks ago I posted about how it had been 10 years since Rob first told me he loved me... well yesterday was 10 years since we had our first kiss.

We had talked about it plenty and I told him flat out that I wanted him to kiss me and not me kiss him first.. had I know it would take over 2 years from when we met for him to lay one on me I might not have said that. But it was well worth the wait and now, a decade later I remember it for the sweet moment it was.

Even with all the talk of kissing we did leading up to the big moment Rob still was nervious to actually kiss me. We were at a nearby park enjoying the sunny day when he said I had an eyelash he needed me to close my eyes for so he could brush it away- next thing I know his soft lips were on mine. Even now we sometimes joking say "oh, I think you have an eyelash loose..." when really we simply want a kiss.

A Plug

Yup, this is a plug for my brand new blog. I created one to show things that I am selling. It doesn't hurt to have a little looksy, does it? Have fun!
www.mystuffup.blogspot.com

My Mom

Mother's Day: It is simply not possible to create a post that attempts to put into words all that my mom means to me. She is my mom. She is my best friend. Sure I share her blood, her hair, her eyes, and other features... but better than all this we share a likeness of spirit- and that is what makes this mother-daughter bond something truly special.

Thank you mom. I owe so much of who I am today because you are my mother. I love you.

2 Years of German Dust

Today makes two years since we moved to Germany. We celebrated by enjoying the wonderful sunshine we have been having and went out to lunch and did some shopping. Then we dusted --and dusted some more *cough, cough*-- and got some organizing done (oh, it feels so good to get chores done!)
Today also marks the half-way mark of our time here. We still have 2 more years to enjoy Germany and travel Europe (unless we, hopefully, are accepted to flight school sometime next year and need to move back stateside early for that) .
So, that also means our family and friends only a year or two to plan that trip to come visit!

Rob's 28th & a Decade of "I Love You"

Today was Rob's 28th birthday. It was a mellower one than his last couple have been. (A week of sightseeing in Colorado, swinging by a single rope over Royal Gorge, and horse riding for his 26th, and a month in Scotland and Ireland with a promotion for his 27th.) -- Rob just read over my shoulder and said I was gloating, but when it's about my man, and- say- not me, it isn't technically gloating.-- Today we went to lunch at Chili's and visited some gardens nearby since it was a nice, sunny 77*.
Now you look and wonder what the second part of the title today means: "A Decade of 'I Love You'." Well, it was in a park 10 years ago today on Rob's 18th birthday that he first told me he loved me. Not wanting to say I loved him back simply because he had said it-- I wanted to really mean it-- he ended up waiting 5 months for me to finally muster up the nerve to say those three magical words to him. A full ten years later, again in a park together, how long did it take me to tell my wonderful husband I loved him, too? about .5 seconds-- things only get better with time, right? Here are some pics from the day, no captions... simply enjoy.

To my 100+ Readers

Thank you!

I was surprised today to see I had over 100 people visit my blog. I hope you enjoy the posts-- but please leave me some comments so I can get some feedback and a feeling for how to make this blog of mine even better! Again--thanks... to all 100 of you!

My parents: Criminals & Homeless!

Back ground: My parents sold my childhood home on Lake Sawyer last summer and were renting a house while their new one is being built on Angel Lake in Seattle. The garage with a one bedroom apartment above it was to be completed first so they could move in there while the larger house was being built and they wouldn't be paying rent and a mortgage at the same time. So as of last week they were living in the mother-in-law style garage/apartment.

But when I called last week my mom told me they didn't have the final inspection done to get the city's OK to be living in it yet. (There was some delays and this just somehow hadn't been done yet.) So they had to hide the shampoo bottles and anything else making it look like they were living there and left if they new construction workers or people from the city were coming to check things. So, technically... my parents were criminals and acting like Squatters on their own land!
Well yesterday, calling to tell them of my trip to London I found out that the inspection was done and did not pass! So the door was taped off until some very minor, silly things were done and they could come back out to inspect it again. So my parents are having to stay in a hotel until either later today or tomorrow, but for now, technically... they are homeless!

"Frankly, my dear..."

Here we are with the Tower Bridge behind us in London. We flew in at 8:30 and had the morning to collect some smashed coins (from the machines that smash them and put a design on pennies- I LOVE those!) We also went to the Tower of London and across the New London Bridge. Then it was off to Drury Lane. (Sorry, I was hunting down a smashed coin machine and didn't have time to travel all of Drury Lane in search of the Muffin Man. ) and off to see "Gone with the Wind- The Musical" at the New LondonTheatre (pictured here). We both agreed that we had the best seats there. I bought a pin and have plans on making an apron I saw at the gift shop that I knew I could make with an even better design for less than they were asking for in pounds. The show ended at 6:15 and we had a flight at 8 with about an hour tube ride. As the applause started we hurried out hoping we wouldn't miss the flight and have to find a room for the night. Surprisingly we made it there before they had even started boarding and were back home in Mannheim before midnight! It was a whirlwind day, when I asked Rob what he thought of it all he said he enjoyed himself. I bet if I had asked Rhett though I know what he would have replied-"Frankly, my dear I don't give a ...." . Well, Fiddle-dee-dee!