Fort Lauderdale & 4th of July

Now I have just less than 30 days left in my last semester and it was a roller coaster ride so far. My capstone class is extremely time-consuming and adding to that I have a second class as well. These two are keeping me really busy and with all our daily stuff - work, household, trying to maintain a social life - it got kinda hard.

This and the reason what happened with my dad, JT and I decided that I needed a break. After a long talk we agreed that I would fly down to Fort Lauderdale and see my family. Luckily, we had the day before 4th of July off at work, so I decided to take half day off on Thursday and head to the airport. My flight had an almost 3hr delay, but that gave me some time to study for my mid-term which was due that Sunday. My aunt and uncle picked me up at the airport and it was so nice to finally see them again after over 3 years :-) It felt like we just saw each other yesterday! Back at their house I was able to say hi to my dad's cousin and her family. So glad I made the trip down there. We had a blast. I relaxed at the pool, had german breakfast in America, had some time to study and even do some sightseeing in Fort Lauderdale with the whole family.

In three days my aunt, uncle and my cousin will fly to Maryland and spent one more week with us. I am super excited for them to see our life here ;-)

Nothing comes as planned...

As the title says... nothing comes as planned... I received a call from my mom beginning of June and this was a call I was dreading the most... My father had a heart attack - one day before his birthday. My uncle, aunt and cousin were luckily there since they wanted to surprise him on his vacay with a birthday party. When my mom called and told me, I was under shock. I felt so helpless.... It was a few rough weeks. But after two surgeries and his rehab he is finally getting discharged next week. This is the reason why it became so quiet here. I had to figure a few things out, worrying about my dad and struggling to keep up with school and work. But I managed it somehow...

My lessons-learned that nothing comes as planned... but we can managed it :-) I am glad everything is fine. June just wasn't my month I guess *haha* I don't know who remembers, but someone rear-ended me a week before eastern and guess what?! I just got discharged from physical therapy and two days later someone rear-ends me again... This time it was a hit and run and unfortunately the police wasn't able to locate the person. Anyway everything will go uphill from here ;-)

I wanted to share with you guys some pictures from our Memorial-Weekendtrip to Connecticut. We also went for a day-trip to Boston and my friends decided to get married that weekend. German beer, sushi, bbq's, sunny weather, great people :-) We had a blast and JT handled his first flight great considering the bumpy right we had to CT :-/

A late Happy New Year :-)

Happy New Year to everyone. I know it is a little bit late, but I was not feeling that well. I updated my german blog though :-) I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and a good start in 2015.

Our Christmas was just lovely. We baked and cooked a lot in December, watched Christmas Movies and cuddled on the couch, I got to wear my Ugly Christmas Sweater evey friday in December and just enjoyed the time with my hubby. I skyped a lot with my family in Germany as well and let them see how we spend our December.

Christmas 2015 we celebrated at my mother-in-law's place. We all came together on Christmas Eve :-) She made a great dinner with ham, mashed potatos, brussel sproats, rolls and pineapple stuffing. After dinner we all sat together in the living room to unwrap some presents. It was so much fun :-) later that evening we all went to church and met up with my brother-in-law's parents. It was a lovely mess and I was able to sing most of the songs - thanks to 97.1 WASH FM :D they played Christmas music since Thanksgiving Day - a tradtion of the radio station. Afterwards we all went back to the house for some coffee and dessert.

Back home it was time for my hubby and me to unwrap our presents. This year I put a lot of thought in it. We had a lot of presents under the tree, but small ones, things we need and loved to have. My hubby got some Yankee Candles, his favorite sweets, passport covers for our first big journey together, a book to learn german and the big surprise: a indoor grill :-) we just got a grill in May 2014, but than we moved. We are not allowed to use our grill on the balcony and since than our grill isnin my mother-in-law's basement. So I thought that would be a great present. He also got some steaks to it ;-)

I got really spoiled this year by my hubby. First he suprised me with a camera for Nikolaus which is why I expected something really small for Christmas. But I got a bodymist and body lotion from Victoria Sectret, sweatpants and a sweatshirt from Under Armour aaaaand a Michael Kors purse :D Oh my gosh :D so lucky to have such a great man who sometimes spoils me too much hihi I love everything he got me. I was suprised how nice the Body Lotion is and my purse :-) so nice!

Christmas Day my sister-in-Law, Kelly, came over for breakfast and she spent the rest of the day with us. For dinner we went to my father-in-law's place. He made a yammi stew :-) on friday most of americans had to go back to work, but not us. JT got off from his work, so I decided to take off as well and enjoy a long weekend with my hubby :-) We both got sick on our long weekend but we decided to got for a walk to the Great Falls Park in Maryland to enjoy that first sunny saturday in days.

For NYE we invited JT's friend, Ronnie, and his girlfriend, Abby, over for Dinner and movies. We had a great night. Abby and I went grocery shopping and than cooked Rouladen with Knodel and Red Cabbage - my favorite german dish. It was so much fun to cook with Abby. The guys were playing N64 and after dinner we all played Mario Kart on N64 and Wii :-) it was so much fun!

Last week we had our first Snow Day of this year. We enjoyed it at home and later that afternoon - when the snow stopped - we went out for a nice walk to Savage Park. Afterwards we stopped at this cure french bakery and got a little dessert for the way home :)

My last two weeks of my winter break started today :D time is flying I guess. I will enjoy this as much as possible and just do nothing. Or not nothing but enjoy the time with my hubby, see friends, go outside, party and than it's time to say "Bye-Bye social life"! :-/

Visit from Germany

Mommy and daddy came for a visit to the States - again! After like 9 months not seeing them, my hubby and I picked them up at the airport mid-august :-) I was so excited to finally get a hug again!

They spent over two weeks with us and we had a wonderful time. They did some sightseeing in D.C., we went to Baltimore and the National Aquarium, visited a Amish Market, had a great cook out with the whole family and the cherry on the top was our trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina :-) only downside of that trip: JT and I both got stung by a some Jellyfish *grrr* That really hurt... Back in Maryland both JT and I had to work, but with this stressful schedule my parents where happy to spent some time at our place and just relax ;-) 

Wait the real cherry on top? My parents were able to be a part of another major decision in my/our life :-) updates following soon ;-)

Flight to the USA

typical German breakfast :)

Welcome BBQ for my parents

D.C. sightseeing

D.C. sightseeing

D.C. sightseeing

surf 'n' turf by my hubby :D

 

last night in SC - rain :-/

Seafood Muddle - so delicious

 

back to Maryland

National Aquarium in Baltimore

stupid jellyfish *grrr*

National Aquarium in Baltimore

Doriiii :D

I found Nemo ;-)

National Aquarium in Baltimore

Inner Harbor in Baltimore