P. Spence European Vacay

Mons : Frankfurt : Aachen : Brussels : Ghent : Bruges : Caen : Mont-Saint-Michel : Normandy : Oostende

My dad came to visit! I still kind of get exhausted thinking about all the stuff we did.  We went to Germany, France and covered all the good stuff in Belgium.  We got to see the US Women's National Soccer Team play the German Women's National Team in Offenbauch.  The stadium was sold out and the game was amazing.  The score ended up being 3-3 in the last minute.  On the way home we stopped in Aachen, Germany for lunch, a fantastic college town on the border of Belgium before meeting Rob in Brussels for dinner.  Then we let my dad have a day of rest before we went to Normandy, France for 3 days. Normandy and Mont-Saint-Michel was my favorite trip so far.  Of course the weather was crap, but that is nothing new.  On a positive note, since the weather was terrible, we were the only ones on the beaches that day.  We are finally getting some spring weather here, everything is blooming and Rob will be mowing the grass every 3 days if he wants to keep up with our neighbors.  My soccer team is 4-1-0, undefeated! We have two more games and then we go to Kaiserslautern, Germany for the European Championships in a few weeks.

US WMNT Game Offenbach, Germany

US WMNT Game Offenbach, Germany

Beautiful day in Bruges

Straffe Hendrick- Bruges Brewery

Bruges

Aachen, Germany

Rob showing his wall climbing skills

Mont-Saint-Michel

Inside Mont-Saint-Michel at the foot of the Abbey 

Mont-Saint-Michel gardens

At the top of the Abbey overlooking the sea...in the rain of course

Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey

Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey...and the top of my list of European  door obsessions

Duke made it to France with us, but couldn't go any further than the parking lot of  MSM

Rob overlooking Omaha Beach

Duke and I "storming the beaches"

Hard to read, but France thanking US and Allied soldiers 

Omaha Beach Monument

Omaha Beach from the American Cemetery

American Cemetery

Utah Beach from Pointe Du Hoc

Omaha Beach from Pointe Du Hoc

Pointe Du Hoc

Tuckered out after a long day

Chateau de Caen, France

The Duke and his Joker

Duke, are you ready to go home?

Venice, Italy

Wow, it has been awhile since I have blogged. Life is so much better when I am busy. Unless you are Duke, he prefers me to be home so he can have someone to lay on during is morning and afternoon naps. Between coaching soccer and starting my new job I actually have a life, sort of. Since my last post, we went to Venice, Italy.  I will be honest, it was not my favorite trip.  About 85% due to the HORRIBLE weather and the other 15% due to it being a tourist trap.  We expected the tourist trap part, but still felt like we had to go there.  It is a beautiful, unique city with an insane amount of rich history- that part I loved.  But, it is so expensive to live there that anyone that works in Venice doesn't live there, which means a lot of shops and restaurants close early so the employees can get home on the last ferry. So, there is no night life.  It may change in the "high season" but I don't even want to know what Venice is like in "high season" after seeing the insane amount of people that were there in March. I have never wished for a day without rain more than I did in Venice. Three days straight of rain, with maybe a few hours of break but I don't even remember that. The weather and the tourists didn't stop us from getting some great pictures, and let's be honest, we were in Italy- it wasn't ALL that bad!

Our flat was the bottom floor of the yellow building

Venetian Masks

Gondolas

St. Mark's Square

Doge's Palace

Canal by our flat

peaceful canal

beautiful flower market

smallest cup of coffee, ever. It cost almost $9

impromptu concert we went to, it was pretty amazing

Venice at night

haha, it's flooding. haha, we have to walk that way to get home

3 years, thankful

It has been almost three years since my mom passed away.  This time of year always brings a lot reflection from where I was 15 years ago, 10 years ago, 3 years ago, last year, etc.  I think about who was in my life, where I lived, what was important to me at the time. My mom is in almost every memory. Including those made from that last three years.  She still influences every decision I make. WWMD. What would mom do? Yes, I still do that. I also think to myself, this is not how my mom would do it. Like the looks she would give knowing I wear leggings as pants and that I just went 4 months without getting my hair highlighted. Or that I refuse to use canned soups when I cook.  The same look she gave me when I insisted on wearing my Sambas and Umbros to school in 5th grade. Oh the looks!  I also remember the looks she gave when I would win a tennis match and score a goal in my soccer game.  Or when we would go dress shopping in high school (even when she didn't like my date) and I always ended up buying the dresses she found because that woman could SHOP. Her reaction and reassurance were better than any mirror will ever be.  Those looks are the ones that cannot ever be relived but I will also never forget.  Remembering those looks is nothing new, but laughing and smiling as I write about them is.  I can confirm that time does heal all wounds. While I cannot remember what Rob just called and asked me to do (for real), those memories are locked in a place that I can always access and still continue to shape who I am.  Three years is a long time to be in a tunnel but when you can see the light at the end you know it was worth it, and I am finally there. Realizing that, I am fully aware that I wouldn't be where I am today without my family and friends that have been helping along the way.  As three years approaches, the word t h a n k f u l is truly how I feel.  Thankful for my past, present and future.
 

Paris

First day on the job: Paris.  No complaints here.  Six hours total on a coach bus + 7 hours to explore makes for a long day but it was awesome.  The only bad thing is I got the flu/bad cold on Monday and am just now feeling better. Some of the trips we plan have set itineraries but this one did not.  Although a majority of the group went to the Louvre since it is free on the first Sunday of each month.  My friend Julie and I explored some of the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral (line was too long so just saw the outside) and Eiffel Tower.  And of course stopped to eat a fondue and wine lunch.  Amazingly, it didn't rain a drop all day.  I loved the short time I spent in Paris. From what I understand, I will be going there all the time with my job so I am looking forward to getting to know the city even better.  I was supposed to go to London yesterday but I was still not feeling well.  I am pretty bummed about it but it was for the better. I got to spend the day helping Rob get ready for his big road trip to Berlin, Cologne, Belgium and Amsterdam with two friends from high school. They will be in Cologne during Carnival which is one of the best German festivals of the year, I am pretty jealous. I am definitely looking forward to having guests this week and then I will be headed to Reims, France on Saturday for some champagne drinking. We lead such sad lives these days.

In front of Pyramide de Louvre

Inside Pyramide de Louvre

Inside  Louvre looking outside (not supposed to take pics inside)

Notre Dame Cathedral 

Last stop: Eiffel Tower

For the record, January is still the worst month, and probably always will be. It's freezing here. Mild winters my ___.  But, I must admit that January has been good to us. And when I say "us" I am actually referring to me in this post. Things are good for Rob too, but this post just happens to be about me. I know we are only half way through the month so I really hope I don't jinx it.

I made my list of resolutions in my new years post and I already have an update and have met some of my goals!

• Been reading more. Finished Gone Girl by Gilllian Flynn in a week.  I loved it.  It took place in Carthage, MO for all of our Missouri people out there! 
• I am the new SHAPE Women's High School Assistant Soccer Coach! It was a very competitive interviewing process....just kidding I got the "job" since I was the only one who volunteered.  That starts in March and goes to mid May. 
• I went to the yoga class offered on base today, so much better than I expected.  I can't wait to go back.
• Last but not least...drum roll....THIS GIRL GOT A JOB!!!  I just found out today!  I will be part of the SHAPE Trips and Tours group starting in April.  I will be planning and organizing trips throughout Europe, Asia and Africa for anyone stationed here.  Some are day trips and some are 10 day trips like India and Africa.  The next two weekends I will be going to Paris and London with my friend Julie who helped me get the job and start learning the ropes. So I may actually meet my travel goals a lot faster then I expected.  Rob will even be able to tag along too if he wants :)  I haven't broken the news to Duke yet, so keep it quiet until I find the right time. 

So now that I know that the spring is going to pick up and be pretty busy...I will enjoy the winter weather...under a blanket with hot cocoa in hand, and not even worry about it. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Rob has a 4-day weekend starting tomorrow but we don't have set plans, except enjoy the winter weather....under a blanket with hot cocoa (and baileys) in hand, and not even worry about it. 

#goldfishproblems

Maybe the lack of sun is finally making me crazy but I laughed for about 10 minutes straight when I saw this. This is a real, genuine plea for answers concerning her new goldfish.  Some comments recommended taking the goldfish to the vet while others recommended antibiotics.  Either way, I want to meet this goldfish.

We survived 2012, now on to 2013!

WHAT A YEAR! I am actually amazed we made it. Okay, that is a little dramatic but I can't think of a year that has tested me mentally, physically and especially emotionally as the last year has.  This is about the time when you can begin thinking "I don't know how Rob does it"...I often ask the same thing.  When I am upset I often say things like "I am not cut out to be a military wife" or "good thing my 20k/year college education is doing me a lot of good these days".  I also say a lot more irrational things when I am upset, but I will leave those between me, Rob and Duke and spare you my ridiculousness.  The reality is, life is good. 2012 was good.  Was 2012 easy? NO.  But neither was 2011, 2010, 2009...etc.  Point is, I could list all the things that went wrong in 2012 but I will only go over a few, for comical reasons really. For instance, did your husband get the mumps 2 weeks before you move to Europe? Did you hit the worlds largest raccoon on your way to SELL your car?  Did you drop your wedding band down a hole in your floor and have your husband make "surgical" tools out of household items to retrieve it? The last one happened on Monday, about 12 hours before we rang in the new year...he actually got it out, like the hero that he is.  Sorry I couldn't resist mentioning those things, way too good not to bring up.

Without question, I will never forget 2012. I will actually list some highlights, they are way more fun. 

• Finding out we were moving to Belgium and making waffles while we looked up where it was and what language they spoke, important things like that.
• Meeting our niece Sylvia for the first time when she was only a few weeks old
• Traveling to Missouri SO many times to see friends get married (I think 4 after our wedding!)
• Helping Payton celebrate turning 2, the cutest hula girl ever
• Our weekend in Vail, CO. A much needed break from life and a glimpse of what a honeymoon would be like
• Being with friends and family the last few weeks before we left for Belgium, a whirlwind but such a special time for us
• Arriving in Belgium, completely exhausted, but ready for the next chapter
• Getting to see many great places like Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, Garmish, Ostend etc. 
• Having our first visitor, my brother Andy
• Celebrating our first Christmas, just the two of us. I think every couple should do it at least once, we missed our families but it was also great to relax and not let any of the holiday stresses get to us.

And on to 2013! I am not much of a resolution person, never has worked for me.  But I have been thinking about things that I want to accomplish in 2013, some big and some small, some fun and some daunting.  

• Read more, even more than 2012 which was a good reading year for me
• Volunteer 
• Continue to learn french
• Turn 30...is that an accomplishment?
• Make ideas a reality (very broad, but I have been struggling with wanting to do things and actually making them happen)
• Stay fit, laying off the delicious breads and sweets and do more yoga and continue to run
• Get organized...feels like I am typing a cuss word
• Travel more!  Over the holidays we sat down and went over our travel goals for the next year, only a few set in stone...the rest are for me to plan- my new favorite thing to do.  All could change depending on visitors too.  Also, any other must-see places you have been that we shouldn't miss while we are here?
• Berlin and Prague- Rob's dudes trip in February
• Venice- booked for March
• London- May and maybe new years next year
• Spain- June
• Oktoberfest in Munich- September
• Ireland- October
• Skiing in France or Germany (hopefully this spring, if not next Christmas
• France- Paris and Normandy
• Belgium- Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Ghent, Antwerp
• Wish list- Canary Island Cruise, Dubai, Croatia

Well, now I am just giddy about 2013 and will probably spend the rest of the day making travel plans...and not worry about practicing french and organizing....oops. 

Wishing all of you the best in 2013. We are missing everyone back in the states so much. Who knows...maybe we will have to plan a trip back there too!

I never did mention anything about Rob's birthday on here.  He turned 29 on December 19th! We had a great day except for popping a tire...but that was 2012 and we are moving on :)  Oh and I love him, a lot.