Note to self - next year, go to the “real” German Fasching/Mardi Gras parties…but here’s cute photo of Aodhan with some hip party glasses.
Day 59

Finally, made it to our little downtown (again) - had to pick up a package at the post office; coffee - nothing too exciting, just fancy coffee for Ed’s Nespresso machine.

So this is where my photos come in - a little church, well, okay a big church in a little downtown:

 Day 58

I just love old doors, too - here’s a couple from this church:

I don’t have any photos from today - yet…well, it’s 6 pm…maybe, I’ll make it.  Tomorrow, we’re going to a Mardi Gras celebration and I should have some photos from it - this is a big thing here - Fasching parties all week, even at school - pretty cool.

I’m also thinking up switching to blog engine so that I can do more with this blog, including a gallery and subscribe feed - but I want to make an intermediary blog and be able to keep this one as a archive…anyone have suggestions??  Do I rename this one as blog-old or something?

See what happens - I turn 37 and I forget to blog -

what happens at 38?

Day  50 - So, I had a great birthday - surrounded by my two sweet boys and Ed - he even bought me ribbon for a present, I was surprised…he picked out several different kinds to fit in a ribbon dispenser - very cool gift.  And we ate Hershey Cream Pie, yum!

And I put these photos together of me through the ages - always wanted to get something together like this.  I created a paper layout with them, but want to create a digital one, too - will post soon.

Day 51 - Aodhan was complaining of a tootache, so we had to travel to the dentist - he had a cavity and needed a filling.  We had to go to Heidelberg and got a little lost - but so okay, we looked across the river and saw this castle (below).  We have been to Heidelberg a few times and have never seen it.  Photo taken from the car window - so very cool, we have to go back and explore more.

Day 52- Bought my first Wallies from a newly discovered store - The Depot.  Oh, so fun:

Day 53 - This ones for my brother - the McDonald’s over here don’t have Double Cheesburgers - instead it’s a Cheesburger Royal, don’t know why:

Day 54 - We had to get out for a little bit and take Ed to work, on a Sunday - the teacher’s work is never done, he had a lot of grading to catch up on…we ate at Winger’s for lunch (I’m pretty sure they have these in America??) - nice American style restaurant, a lot like an Applebee’s. Here’s one of the goofy kids, guess he’s hungry:

Day 55 - My other sweet boy:

Day 57 - Finally, a glimpse that spring is coming - it was briefly warm, but then cold and sunny - it’ll probably be really cold again, but it’s there, looming.  Here’s a couple of photos in the sunshine.  Aodhan is a tree and Liam is a scarecrow:

Aodhan, asked me yesterday if he was born funny - he likes to make jokes, lol - he is so cute.

Plans for the day - go through school drawings, work and organize.

Well, it stopped snowing and it’s been raining all day - sigh…it’s washing all the snow away, and creating slush and the perfect place for ice….good times.  So I didn’t want to drive today, but wanted to get out of the house.  I took the train to the mall (just like an American mall)…lots of stores with things you don’t need, but that’s okay - I had fun browsing - bought a few groceries (german treats and wine).  And I had to take a photo of this store as I walked by - when we went sometime ago, Liam thought it was the funniest name - and said something like “What!  Mister Lady - that doesn’t make sense.” and he laughed - so I think it’s named that because it has both men and women clothing - I have not been inside and tried to discreetly take a photo…I didn’t think it would matter, but there I was sitting on a bench - “playing with the settings on my camera” and so I got this photo - Day 49.

Oh, I found some really cool spring home decor, too - I have to make a trip back with some Euro.

So, I’m wondering if we don’t plan on making a trip to the zoo if it wouldn’t snow or rain?  So we have more and more snow.  Well we will make it - the boys love zoos, museums, anything like that - just makes me happy.
 Day 48

I keep forgetting to post this layout, too - last year’s snow in Washington, using my Arctic Chill papers from Fancy Pants.  I think I need to scrap this year’s photos, too - just didn’t expect so much snow!

We’ve got a new cart system over at Little Dreamer Designs and really cool collab is yours for free just for registering - definitely, worth checking out.

We had plans for the zoo, if it didn’t rain - well it snowed - so the boys had a snowball fight - built a snow person - had a good time!

Aodhan was so cute about the snow though - he said something like - “oh man, someone wished for snow.”  He was disappointed - well it’s a long weekend, so we’ll try again if the snow melts and it doesn’t rain…
Day 46

I have a couple of photos from yesterday to share, too - but I wanted to start with today - Apparently, driving in the snow is just like going through hyperspace in Star Wars, according to Liam…so I asked which planet we were going to and I guess you can’t know this when you’re in the middle of hyperspace - so I have no idea where we ended up, but at least we got our errands done.  And yes, sliding mechanical opening doors are just like Star Wars, too - Liam will stand there and say “wait for it” - Ed says they take after me and my love for scifi…that’s okay with me.

Here’s what hyperspace could look like (snowy day in Germany) - snowflakes falling show up better in a larger photo:

and another photo for today, Day 45 - I was looking out the window and saw this the across the street - hearts that were created by tire tread - thought it was pretty cool, since Valentine’s Day is tomorrow:

Day 44 - No school today so the boys had a Valentine party yesterday - I caught a more candid photo of Aodhan looking at his Valentine’s, but Liam wanted to pose:

…so I’m still doing catch up work and finally took photos off of my camera - I missed a few days of photos for the whole 365, but that’s okay.  It’s totally cool to see all the photos together, too - to see a glimpse at life through photos - very cool.  Here are photos of Days 32 through 43 and my favorite just happens to be today, because it shows the studio table after a night’s work from the boys.  They’ve figured out how to play star wars, create with playdough, and do stamping all at the same time - I really think they’re on to something…

Just a quick post - I’m still catching up on things.  I can’t believe how much the flu knocked me off my feet…ugh.

I’ve got a new kit in the shoppe - just added it.

 All Heart

And a page I made with it

Hugs and All Heart

So the flu is going around here and made it’s way to my house - first Liam, then Aodhan, and before Aodhan gets over it - me…I’m still trying to feel better and hope to be back to my usual self in no time…

…but as I’m trying to sleep, tossing and turning and counting sheep and making grocery lists - I start to think about Burger King and how I can remember the layout of every Burger King in each place I’ve lived - but not McDonald’s. Is it because of the warm colors and bit more cozy feeling that BK has over McD? Is it just useless information that has filled my brain over the years - probably. But it does make me think about Europe and the layout and style of these two places here - cozy, warm - coffee shop feel (some are even two floors - my boys love this). It says to me feel at home here and come back again. So why the difference between the Europe and the states? Well, I think we’re really being cheated by giving us plastic, uncomfortable chairs and an atmosphere that says eat your food and get out of here…but then we go back, why?

I do have to add that I really don’t spend all my time at these places - in fact, I wouldn’t go if I didn’t have two little boys who love the kids meals, which is so much a part of our culture - I mean I can’t deprive them of the fond memories of a happy meal. I guess they probably really wouldn’t know the difference.

Oh, did I mention I have a fever? I’m done rambling - and hoping to feel better soon. I will get more projects posted soon.