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. 

One year down

looking through the album Rob's dad made us

Hard to believe, but we have been married for a year! Our anniversary was December 3rd and we decided to spend it in Brugge/Bruges/Bruge depending on which sign you see or which book you read. It is pretty safe to say that most people here like Brugge better than any other city in Belgium.  We decided to drive since we chose a hotel that wasn't in the city center. Normally we would stay in the middle of everything but we both loved this hotel based on photos and reviews and it was cheaper.  Booking.com is the best site for hotel prices and reviews.  We stayed at the Vander der Valk Hotel, it was amazing even if the money we saved staying outside of the city center was spent on the taxi ride home...

hotel room, amazing for Europe

Finally used our champagne flutes since we forgot at the wedding!

 We made a tentative plan to do the brewery tour and the bell tower.  Neither happened. After we started walking around and discovered they had Christmas market, beautiful shops and multiple restaurants we decided that was more appropriate for the time of year and we can save the "tourist" stuff for visitors.

 Where we got our Gluhwein, Christmas coffee and hot cocoa from. Multiple times.

One of many beautiful storefronts and turned out to be our favorite shop. Javana.

Watching the ice skaters in the middle of the market

favorite food of the trip at a bar called 't Brugs Beertje which was recommend by our friend Linda Elbow, delicious cheese and awesome atmosphere, can't want to go back

and the Christmas beers to go with the cheese, of course

bell tower we planned to go up. If you have seen  movie "In Brugge" you will know of this bell tower. Another day, another trip.

The one "touristy" thing we did decide to do was the Ice Magic exhibit they have each year.  Its basically a big freezing (or below) tent with incredible ice sculptures in it.  Rob was more excited to do this than I was but it was actually pretty neat.

Ice Magic Festival

This guy was HUGE

Rob coming down the ice slide

frozen but smiling by this point

In between the eating, drinking and walking we finished our Christmas shopping...the earliest I have have been finished and we all know Rob has never started before December 23.  The past year has been quite a ride. We found out we were moving to Belgium about a month after our wedding, went to Missouri about 25 times before we left and now we have started our European explorations!  I have never claimed this transition to Europe to be easy but I can't imagine doing it with anyone else.

To Rob: Prost! To many more years of not knowing what tomorrow will bring but as long as I have you, I know it will ok.

To my readers: Don't worry I am done with the mushy stuff.

Now, on to the next thing to celebrate...Rob's birthday! Stay tuned.

Also, Happy Birthday to my MIL Nancy! Hope its wonderful! We love and miss you!

100

This is my 100th blog post!  Only took me three years to get here.  Thanks to everyone who has been reading.

It's officially December. Like I mentioned in my last post, November was kind of a blur.  I'm not sure why but I think it has to do with getting settled and finally getting into some kind of routine.  November started in Germany and ended with us planning trips for next year.  It could also be blurry because Rob grew a mustache for "movember" and I have chosen to block it from my mind.

About mid November we had a conversation about when Thanksgiving was. We had no idea except that it was on a Thursday. Rob had to work on Thanksgiving and the day after so it did feel pretty strange.  But we did spend the evening with friends and had some delicious food and great company.

Life is starting to feel pretty normal around here.  We were told it takes 3 months and they were right.  We have started going to the Soignies market on Sunday mornings.  My french improves each time I go so I have been really enjoying it.  I was able to order all this in french...with a little bit of pointing and smiling.

Rob and Duke have been having some serious man-conversations about Duke making his way to dad's pillow throughout the night.  This documentation of the deal they made.  Duke promised he would sleep at the end of the bed as long as he didn't have to sleep on the floor.

Masterson Peace Talk

Last weekend we took the train to Brussels to do some Christmas shopping.  We came home with 2 loaves of bread and 3 Christmas beers.  All delicious and not any closer to buying Christmas gifts.  Believe me, if we could send beer Christmas shopping would have been done a long time ago.

St. Bernardus, Delirium, St. Feuillien

In this post I showed the table I bought at the Waterloo market. I finally found a fabric store and reupholstered the chairs.

before/after

It's Christmas market season in Europe.  Most cities have them through December.  SHAPE also has small markets each weekend.  We have gone to the Canadian, Norwegian and German markets.  All have native food and drink like Gluhwein, bratwurst, moose milk, etc.

Canadian Moose Milk, eh. So much better than eggnog.

We have started planning trips for next year. We booked Venice, Italy over Easter and hoping to take some kind of beach vacation next summer/fall.  I also started training for a half marathon in Paris in March so we will be going there, although I am not sure I can consider it a vacation. 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend, we are watching yesterday's football before we head to the Brussels Christmas Market!

First Visitor

So November is flying by.  I guess that means we are having fun?   A few weekends ago we had our first visitor! My brother Andy came through Belgium on his way to India for work.  He was only here for about 48 hours but it was a great visit.  Luckily his main goals were to drink Belgian beers and eat some frites, both easily accessible in these parts.  We picked him up Saturday morning and started the weekend by heading to Mons to show him a little bit of where we live.  We did a little shopping for Sylvia and soon found a lunch spot before heading back to Soignies to finish the afternoon of Belgian beer tasting.  It was great for Rob and I to get out and explore our town.  We finished the evening with skyping with Sylvia and Stephanie before hitting the sack.  On Sunday we woke up and went the Soignies market and stocked up on fresh veggies, eggs, and chocolates. Note, when ordering a kilo of spinach, be prepared to feed about 20 people...lesson learned.  Andy made breakfast and then we headed to the Chimay Brewery about an hour away.  It was so much much fun.  We ate at the restaurant, and by eat I mean we tried the Chimay cheeses paired with the Chimay beers.  Both were amazing.  We headed home and made dinner with our fresh produce and again went to bed early like a bunch of old folks.  Andy left early Monday morning and Rob and I enjoyed two more days of the weekend since he had a 4-day.  On Monday we hung out at the house and on Tuesday I met with some friends from french class and went to Mons for lunch and shopping.  We ate at Boude de bleu (I think the site is messed up, or maybe its my computer, can't tell).  So, good, so so good. Putting it on the "take visitors there" list for sure.

  I don't have too many pictures from Andy's visit that don't include beer...ooops.

Chimay Cheeses and Beer

Chimay Grand Reserve

Enghien Noel Beer- Enghien is only a few minutes from us

Duval and Andy

Brasserie de Silly Beer

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! We will be feasting with friends that we have made here.  I am currently making homemade applesauce and dutch apple pie.  Our house has never smelled so good.  Oh and I started decorating for Christmas...don't judge. 

Garmisch, Germany

We got back from Garmisch about 10 days ago and I think I'm still recovering.  We kept referencing our week as "spring break" for adults, and we weren't that far off.  

As a practicing dentist you must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education each year to keep your license.  Fifty-six years ago the US Army started holding a week of continuing education in Garmisch, Germany for all military dentists stationed in Europe and this year was no different.  So Rob and the other dentists went to classes from 8-4 each day while the spouses got to play.  I met some awesome girls and got some much needed girl time over coffee and apple strudel. 

Our drive was about 8 hours and the last 2 hours were in the snow.  It was one of the most beautiful drives ever!  Garmisch is a ski town so they are no stranger to snow but I was still fascinated. 

Road to Garmisch

Road to Garmisch

My days were filled with shopping, sightseeing and eating delicious food.  Our nights were filled with planned dinners, monastery tours, karaoke and more delicious food.  

Benediktinerabtei Ettal Monastery and Brewery

The Ettal Monastery has been brewing beer for 400 years, so they must be doing something right.  They also  have a distillery, produce herbal teas and are active in local agriculture.  

Benediktinerabtei Ettal

Benediktinerabtei Ettal

Monastery monk who made our tasting experience one we will never forget 

Benediktinerabtei Ettal

Linderhof Palace

This palace was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria although he died before it was completed.  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside but you can go here and take a virtual tour of the inside which was incredible.

Linderhof Palace

Linderhof Park

Linderhof Park

Swarovski Kristallwelten

After visiting the palace we crossed the border to Austria and went to the Swarovski headquarters and museum.  It was pretty interesting and a little weird but the jewelry to purchase at the end was beautiful.  

Museum is inside the fountain

Swarovski chandelier

Bavarian Night

Toward the end of the week the conference sponsored a traditional Bavarian night complete with Bavarian food, drink, dancing and of course dress.  It was a super fun night we were excited to wear our new lederhosens and drindls. 

Bavarian Hall

Aren't we awesome?

Your Belgian dentists hard at work

After a long week of fun we drove half way home to Ramstein Air Force Base for the night.  We ate some mediocre American food and I went shopping while Rob watched Sports Center.  Both getting our American fixes.  

One of the best things about Garmisch is that we got to meet a lot of people that are stationed in Europe. We are planning to meet  up with them soon to do some traveling.   I can't wait to get back to Germany hopefully sooner than later.