New Jersery!

We got picked up on Friday night by my aunt and cousin at the airport, after an extremely long flight! Went home and rested up!

The next morning we woke up before anyone else! Talking with family and planning our daily excursions! Through out the day we just rested, hung out with family, caught up with conversations, and had a good time! Later that night we were reunited with some more family as we had a big old family BBQ!

Then Sunday rolled around and we all got up bright and early! It was time to go shopping at Woodberry Commons! It was SO nice to be back in a regular mall, my mom and I could practically hear the angels singing again! We were there from about 10 to 3 and everyone was s9 tired after. Worn out from the shopping all day we cooled off a little, picked up my cousin, went to a normal American grocery store! We had a delicious dinner and after went and saw the Ugly Truth! It was nice to be back in an American theater and to see a movie in English again!

We have had such a fun time so far and look forward to the days that come! :)

xo

Tomorrow....

is the day I will be flyin my way home...well, first NJ, then home! :)

And I haven't even started to pack yet! My mom and I feel like we are already running behind, we usually are the type of people that begin the packing process around two days before...but not this time! I'm not sure why we didn't begin with our usual ways....maybe just avoiding the all day process?

Well, enough wasting time....must pack!!

xoxo

Today I....

Went shopping with my mom!

Had to bathe the dog...

And then, in some mysterious way got cut by the wheel of a wheel chair on the bus!

Not really sure how something round can cut you the way it did to me, but it happened!

Wishing all a fun and wonderful day! :)

xoxo

Thankful

Last year today...

I left my life, all that I ever knew, my family, and my friends behind and my family and I started a new experience.

Today, looking back at the year, that I thought would last a lifetime but truly sped by, I am thankful for the experience that I have had so far. I have met so many wonderful people, seen so many beautiful places, and have learned so many things during the last 12 months.The knowledge and understanding of other cultures and languages that have come to me during this time is something I will always cherish.

But everyday I think of family and friends back home, wondering What they are doing? How are they doing? and What kind of experiences I would be having with them if all of this never happened? Though I miss everyone and everything so much I am thankful for my families situation.

My life changed, and so have I during this first year, but as our 'New Experience' continues, I know that it will be something I will look back on in the future, something I will grow off of.

Not everyone has the chance to change their life like my family did, though it was hard at first, my family has grown from our experience and we are all glad for the memories we have created so far on our journey.

What a great day!

Today we were blessed with absolutely perfect weather!

The rain finally stopped and the clouds went away, letting the sun shine back in and the blue sky show!

It was a bit breezy out but just the right temperature, a totally perfect day for being a tour guide through out Bremen!

We took my Grandparents and my cousin into the city today.

Walkin to the bus stop!

Waiting at the bus stop!

On the bus

Market

Allie

My Grandparents!

A church in the City Center!

Random smelly Toilette!

Allie rubbing the Bremen Town Musician's legs for good luck!

xoxo

Update!

Well so far since the fam. has been here we haven't really done much at all!

Last night we went to an early dinner at a nice little place down the road and got back just in time before the travelers eyes gave up to sleep!

All slept in this morning and had a nice late breakfast...

We got ready for the day, with the idea in our head that we would go to this pretty park along the tram line....when the rain decided to start falling once again!

It has been raining ever since!

To pass the time we played cards, read and have been sitting around catching up.

So it's been a pretty calm first day so far, good rest for their jet lag!

xoxo

The fam. is finally here!

Their flight landed in Bremen right on time this morning!

My mom made her way through the rain and went and picked them up at the airport.

They all crammed into a taxi and drove through the city all the way out to our house.

So far we have sat around, talking about everything...

My dad and I took my cousin, Allie, on a walk with Sophie on our county walk route right when the rain broke its never ending fall!

We came back and played a game and now the tired little travelers are having some issues keeping their eyes open, fighting the time difference. I think my cousin gave up and let her heavy eye lids win, I hope the time doesn't affect them too much! :)

Enjoy your day!

xoxo

Ready to go!

Tomorrow is the big day!

And we've been getting ready for it pretty much all day!

The day started off with German! My mom had her German lesson first thing in the morning...

and while she was learning I had the honor of cleaning my room and bathroom.

Then my mom was off to Sophie's grooming appointment.

While she was gone I....continued cleaning! Vacuuming, dusting, striping the sheets and changing the towels, all that fun stuff! :)

Sophie arrived back looking so pretty for her guest's tomorrow!

Before:

After:

With Sophie all pretty as can be, the house clean, and only grocery shopping left it seems like we are totally ready for tomorrow to come and our visitors to arrive! So excited!

Now only if the rain would lighten up a bit! :(

It's been raining all day, hasn't stopped once! We all hope it clears up so the fam can have a nice, warm, and sunny summer trip! :)

Scary skies!

Isn't Germany green enough? We don't need anymore rain!

Puddles everywhere....the rain just keeps fallin. :(

Hope everyone else' Summer is bright and sunny like Summer weather should be! :)

xoxo

Count down!

Only two days left until the family arrives!

We are all soooooo excited to be able to show people around and let them see what our new life is all about!

My Grandparents and my cousin, Allie, (my same age) are coming on Saturday morning...

so you know what that means:

CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN!

My mom started the ordeal today!

Dusting every surface downstairs. vacuuming, etc. And tomorrow it's my turn to help with the upstairs!

Though I strongly dislike the cleaning part of all this..

I really like the family visit part of it and am super excited!

:)

I guess we won't be getting any Summer sun today :(

A week in review

As another Summer week past by my mom and I used up the freedom of no school or homework with relaxing along with busy days of getting things done!

On Thursday we went into the city. We did a little shopping and went to Starbuck's, of course!

On Friday we started early! We left the house at 10:30 and made our way down town again with the buses and trams. Already sticky and hot from another day of crazy high humidity we went into the train station and bought our tickets for our trip to Bavaria with my cousin and grandparents next week. After purchasing our tickets, that took a little longer than expected, we ate lunch!

Ready to go out again and face the heat we were off on yet another tram then a bus to get to Ikea. It took us about 50 minutes to get out there. Once inside we raced through the maze of furniture and got everything we needed!

Our cart was just a little to full to take the trams and buses back home...

so we took a taxi, which was also much, much faster!

That night we met some friends for dinner at a restaurant in the oldest part of Bremen, called the Schnor. The restaurant is called Schroder's. It has wonderful food and a wonderful atmosphere. But we had a small problem. Most of the restaurant is outside and right after we arrived it started to downpour!

We were seated under an awning in a very nice outdoor place of the restaurant. It was raining so hard at times that it would splash up against everyone's feet. It died down a bit and finally stopped once we got our meals...but the rain did not help the humidity! You could feel it get higher as everything started to dry up..not so good for curly hair when the person with the hair is not expecting curl at the time!

All in all it was a great time with friends and delicious food!

Statue soaked by the rain...

My Dad

My Mom

On Saturday we did our daily chores. Biking to stores here and there. Later in the afternoon we met on of my Dad's coworkers for dinner near the river. We ate dinner, people watched, talked, and later went for ice cream. The weather was perfect. Temperature not too hot with just the right breeze, clear skies and beaming sun, all made the city look so beautiful!

City Hall (Rathaus)

Later that night we came home and celebrated the 4th of July in the only way we could...

Sparklers!

The things you miss....

On the 19th of July will mark the one year anniversary of my family living in Germay.

We miss so many things from home, but have learned to love so many things living here.

One major thing we miss are the American holidays!

We were home for Christmas, and Easter is the same here as anywhere!

But holidays like...

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Valentines

St. Patrick's

and the 4th of July are really missed!

The 4th of July is coming up this weekend and it will be weird not to celebrate it in our usual way! Our family, like any family, has their yearly traditions..

Parade with the extended family..

Dinner party with the friends....

and so on!

I will defiantly miss the fireworks...

red, white and blue decorations...

and the patriotism that goes along with the holiday!

But we are going to celebrate the best we can! Making cookies, meeting friends, and wearing our colors! It will be different but our spirit's still the same!

Wishing you all a joyful and sparkling red, white, and blue holiday!

:)

xo

I have....

a hot and sticky body that cannot cool down...

Curly hair that used to be straight...

and a mind that is set on never leaving the house again with out a portable fan!

All because of 85 degree weather and 100% HUMIDITY!

I love Summer. Hate humidity!

:/

xo