All day today, I put off taking a picture, knowing that I would be going to Girls' Night Out at Rachel's house this evening.  I went, with my camera in my purse, and of course forgot to take a single photo.  I am especially disgusted with myself that I didn't think to pull the camera out during our parallel parking adventure.  It truly would have answered the question, "How many giggly women does it take to park a Volvo?"

So, I am digging into my photo archives for today's picture.  

This photo was taken in Nauvoo, IL in June 2007.  We stopped there on our way to Utah and spent a couple of days going on wagon rides, touring the homes, and enjoying the shows.  When we left on a Sunday morning, we got into the car and did a final drive through Nauvoo before saying good-bye.  

That is when we saw this sign hanging on one of the missionary houses:

For those of you who don't know, Pepper's real name is Spencer.  When we saw this sign, we did a serious double-take and Brad slammed on the brakes so we could take a photo of OUR Spencer Bitner with the sign.  

We knocked on the door of the house, hoping to find out more about this Elder Spencer Bitner, but there was no answer.  So, it has always been a mystery.  Especially because the sign was posted on missionary housing, so the Elder would not have been going "home" - he'd still be on his mission.  And, missionaries don't use their first names, so it is weird that this sign included the "Spencer".

What would be really weird is if someday Pepper was called to serve a mission in Nauvoo, IL.
(Is anyone else hearing the Twilight Zone music in their head?)

She's here!!

This is the day Jessica has been fantasizing about for months!  Her best friend Braedyn came from Michigan to spend the next week and a half here in Berlin.  Jess has been dying to show Braedyn her crazy German life and now she can!

As if her presence weren't enough, Braedyn also brought a suitcase-full of American treats.  We get lots of requests for Pop Tarts here, which I don't really understand.  Pop Tarts aren't something I ever buy in the States - I think they are like eating frosted cardboard - but Jess and her friends are wild for them. 

Tonight, the kids' school had a celebration of sorts inducting students into the Drama 100 Hours Club.  All the kids who have spent 100 hours or more in drama productions got their picture put on the wall in the drama room.

Since Jess has 220 hours, she got her picture up.  So, even though we are leaving at the end of the school year, Jessica will always be remembered at BBIS.  Or, as Pepper says, she will be famous.

After the ceremony, I caught Jess and her friend T chilling on the playground.

So cute.

Today was the elementary school student-led conferences.  This means that I went to the school and Adam and Luke showed me all the stuff they've been doing.

I was so mad that I forgot my camera, because I missed a real moment with Lukie.  He recited this ditty about a mouse family that he learned in his German class, and he did so wearing a mouse mask that he had made himself.  Since I didn't have the camera at school, I did the annoying mother thing where I made him recite it again for me at home so I could video it.

Try to imagine all this happening from behind a blue and green mouse mask.  All you can see are two twinkly eyes through the holes, and they are alight with the knowledge that this is adorable.

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!

It's BBQ season!!

When we moved here, Brad had to leave his big, beautiful Weber grill in the States.  He loves that grill (we call it his Bestie), so this three year separation has been hard for Brad.  We bought this rinky-dink charcoal grill, but it has not eased the BBQ pain.  If anything, it only drives home the difference a good grill makes.

Nevertheless, today's BBQ was a rousing success.  The anticipation of barbequing after church was the only thing that got a very grumpy Jessica thru sacrament meeting today.  You can see she is pretty excited to dig in!

This morning we went to Adam's school basketball tournament.  Basketball is Adam's new passion, so this tournament was a big deal for him.  

When Brad was in fifth grade, he also started playing basketball.  His mom told him that she'd buy him a doughnut for every basket he scored in a game.  So, Brad has made the same deal with Adam.  Sadly, no doughnuts were purchased today.

We finished off the day by going to Hunger Games with Jeremy and Denise.

This was our first pose - making the sign Katniss gave to District 11 after Rue died.  You can see that the flash didn't work.  While Brad was fiddling with the camera, we decided that this pose felt like we were doing the Heil Hitler sign.  Probably not the best idea in the middle of Berlin.

 So, we abandoned the offensive political reference in favor of a more traditional pose.

We all loved the movie, btw.  Book=good.  Movie=good.

Well, we're home.  We came home to open windows and beautiful weather.  At least Berlin was kind enough to have sunshine waiting for us.  

...aaaaand, I'm posting about the weather.  No more musicals.

*sigh*

 For today's matinee, we saw Dreamboats and Petticoats.  It was exactly what you'd expect a show called that to be - a slightly corny story about teenagers in the 1960's, providing an excuse to sing a bunch of songs from that era. 

By intermission, I was about to burst from not joining the singing, so I bought the CD.  My poor children can expect to hear me singing at the top of my lungs to "Let's Twist Again", "Poetry in Motion", "Runaround Sue", and "Da Do Ron Ron."  It will likely happen in the car, where there is nowhere for them to hide, so that should be fun for all.

Originally, when we bought our tickets for this trip, we weren't sure we'd be up for another show on this night.  Silly us, we worried we might be Showed-Out.  Silly, silly us.  We were most definitely NOT!

 

So, on the advice of my friend Alyssa, we got tickets for Ghost.  This is what we passed on our way to Picadilly Circus, which is where Ghost was playing:

The cuteness of this moment was ruined when Brad left the booth and told me it stank strongly of urine.  Gross.

There is just something so right about all those suit-clad men in front of the Sherlock Holmes restaurant.

And, here is our only photo of a London landmark - Big Ben in the distance.  This trip was all about shows and entertainment, and we made a conscious decision to not worry about seeing everything.  In fact, we sort of decided not to see anything touristy.  It was more fun to linger over meals and wander somewhat aimlessly through the London streets.  Even though I've only been here once before, London feels so familiar, like visiting an old friend.

We couldn't get the sign to show up well in the picture, so here is another try:

 See, aren't you glad I got a better shot of it?  Super romantic!

Ghost blew my socks off!  I think it was the staging that was most impressive.  I don't know how they made Sam walk through doors or magically appear in place of Oda Mae.  And of course, there was the scene with the potter's wheel...oh baby.  Everything about this show was slick and modern and emotional.  It was the perfect way to end our trip-o-shows!

A friend of mine who lives in London told us about this Chipotle restaurant just down the street from Singin' in the Rain.  When I told Brad of its existence, his eyes rolled back in his head in anticipated ecstasy.  I believe his words were, "This London trip just got 100% better!"  We ate a LOT of Chipotle on this trip!

After eating our weight in burritos, we headed to the matinee of Singin' in the Rain.  You know that old-school glamor you imagine all Broadway musicals to be?  Well, that was Singin' in the Rain.  Perfect singing, pristine dancing, lots of colorful costumes and bright lights. . .it was amazing!  And when they rained down actual water on the stage and Don Lockwood did his legendary number, splashing audience members as he stomped and kicked, I just wanted to scream!  DELIGHTFUL!!

Then, we switched gears completely for Billy Elliot.  This musical is gut-wrenching in its story of boy from a northern England mining family who wants to dance ballet.  It's a good thing the theatre was dark, because I was doing the Ugly Cry during a couple of numbers.  Both Brad and I were astounded at the young boy playing the lead.  Where do they find talent like that?

London Baby!!

Today, Brad and I left the kids in Berlin with my friend Denise and commenced a fabulous trip to London.  We'd planned a Scandinavian cruise with the Fellows', but when Pepper was diagnosed with his diabetes, we didn't feel like we could leave him and not be reachable.  So, this trip to London is our Consolation Prize.

Incidentally, that blue bag I'm holding is full of Diet Cherry Cokes.  Oh, the magic that is London!

Brad had the fantastic idea to go to London and see as many plays as we could.  So, that is the plan.  We'll be here for 3 days and have tickets to 4 (hopefully 5) shows.  YAY!!

 We started things off with a bang at Rock of Ages.  After wandering the streets of London, I wasn't sure I wanted to lose my Mr. Darcy Feeling by sitting through a musical based on 1980's hair bands.  But, it was so fun!  I was surprised by how much of the music I remembered, and let me tell you, when a good singer wails perfectly on tune, you feel it down to your core!

I understand they are making this into a movie released this summer.  I am SO going!

Look what popped up in my back yard!  

I love these little crocuses; they seem to come out of nowhere and are just so cute.  Come on Spring!

My little bruiser.  

Lukie collided with a boy in his sports class a couple of days ago and got a gash on his nose.  He also has developed a bit of a black eye from the crash (it's pretty faded by now, but you can kind of see the purple under his left eye).

When I told him he had a black eye, he looked at me closely for a few seconds, then said, "Well, you have TWO black eyes, Mom."  I think I need more sleep.

Tonight, Brad and Pepper went to the Hertha vs. Bayern Munich soccer game.  This is what Brad gave Pepper for Christmas, and Pepper has been anxiously awaiting this night for weeks.  Sadly, Hertha lost, 0-6, which is an official butt-whooping, but Pep still had a great night.

Adam and Louisa's Pity Party

Poor Louisa has a bad cold so she couldn't go to school today.  Her parents left for a cruise *jealous* this morning, so Louisa got to spend the day with me until the couple who will be staying with her and her brothers is off work.  

Adam is also home today with a bad cold, so the two of them got to hang out together, sniffling, coughing, and generally trying to act sick while they played video games and watched movies.  Best. Sick. Day. Ever.

Tonight we celebrate the End of the Nagging.

Here is Jessica proudly displaying her 10th grade project.  She made a children's book, complete with illustrations that she painted herself, about the American revolution.  It was a lot of work, and there were some tears along the way, but now it is all finished and it turned out AWESOME! 

YAY for Jessica the author/illustrator/publisher!

Tonight was our Relief Society monthly meeting.  I don't know what to call these anymore - they used to be Homemaking, then Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment meetings, and now they are just Meetings. 

 Lucky me, I've had the Coordinator calling under all three names in two different wards.  The guidelines keep changing, but essentially the calling stays the same - I stress and plan each month to put together a meeting the sisters feel obligated to come to.

 Although, this month it was not so bad.  I didn't find out this meeting was on the books until last Friday, so the RS councilor in charge took over.  I brought centerpieces, and when I arrived everything was already decorated so I just sort of plunked my centerpieces down in the back of the food table and then basked in the praise that everything looked so cute.  

Definitely Low-Stress-High-Glory this month. 

Tonight, Beatrice and I went downtown to see The Vow.  It was cute!

And, we got to see Channing Tatum's bum.

Do not be deceived.

This only looks like I'm sitting blissfully alone in my living room with my feet up watching reruns of Mad Men while enjoying a cold beverage.

But if I turn down the TV volume and listen very hard, I can hear the washing machine churning my family's clothes clean.  So technically, I'm hard at work doing laundry.

I really am very busy.

Sunday Night Dance Party!

We've had this beast of an old TV upstairs in a corner, and today I had the brilliant idea to bring it down to my and Brad's room and hook it up to an extra DVD player we have.  I thought we might as well use it to occasionally watch movies in bed, since it wasn't doing anything but collecting dust upstairs.

So, my obedient husband did as I asked and got it all hooked up to the DVD player and the voltage converter so we could use it.  Then, he turned it on to make sure it was hooked up right and within a few seconds he heard a big pop and smoke started pouring out of the TV.

Apparently, the voltage converter is kaput.  And now, the TV is too.

Tonight was another great party at the Robertsons'.  The theme was "There's No Place Like Home", so everyone brought a comfort food from their home country and we played games like Guess This House and another game in which the Germans answered questions about how they perceive America, Americans answered questions about how they perceive Germany, and then each group tried to guess what the other said.  It was hilarious!

We also did this relay where we had to do all the household chores that Denise hates most.

First, we had to change a diaper one-handed, because that is usually how most mothers have to do it.

Then, we had to change the batteries in the toys.

And finally, we had to put together the four puzzles that were all mixed up on the floor.

  I love these people!

We stayed up waaaaaaaay too late, but it was worth it.  Thanks again Jeremy and Denise!

This cereal brand has been doing a promotion in which these light-sabor spoons are included in the box.  Lukie thinks it is the coolest thing ever.  I've bought several boxes of Honey Bsss Loops just so Luke can rip open the package and see what spoon he got.

I'm so glad I have a five-year old who reminds me how awesome things like plastic spoons in a cereal box are.

Someone explain this to me please:

Here in Germany, the legal drinking age is 16.  The legal driving age is 18.  So, apparently, they believe that young people are more able to make responsible choices about drinking than driving.  

Whatever.

But, this is what really surprised me this week. 

  Jessica went shoe shopping with her friend and picked out these shoes.  Yes, they are a little hoochy-mama, but they are just shoes.  The salesperson told Jess that she wasn't allowed to purchase these shoes without a parent present because she is under age.  Under age for what?  For wearing high heels?  This is a first for me.

So, I guess here in Germany, where children can drink and watch pornography in their own living rooms (which is broadcast on TV after 10 p.m.), they are not allowed to own high heels.  Heaven forbid they turn an ankle or something.

(PS - Even though the salesperson initially refused to let Jessica purchase these shoes, obviously she relented when Jess and her friend argued for a bit.  So much for protecting our children.)

(PPS - Jessica insists that I acknowledge that these shoes do NOT go with the outfit she is wearing.  I made her put on the shoes so I could take a picture and rant about it on my blog.)

Laundry day.

The fun is officially over.

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig!

In order to ease the pain of ending our fabulous girls' weekend, Susanne invited us to her house to make consolation cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing. . . I think I'm in love.

(Wanna try the peanut butter icing ?  Yes, you do.  Here is the recipe.)

Our trusty guide from Friday's tour had recommended this cafe, so we went there at about 11:00 for breakfast.

By the time we were seated and the waitress came to take our order, it was past 11:30, so we couldn't order from the breakfast menu.  

 

Our disappointment lasted until they brought us these amazing hot chocolates.

One sip from these babies and all was forgiven.

We ordered sandwiches, which were out-of-this-world, and then some of us were still able to gobble up a slice of cake.  I think the waiter was a little blown away by our ability to enjoy the food.

But, everything about this place was scrumptious!

After eating, we rolled ourselves onto the subway and headed to the city park, where we strolled around a cool bath house and continued the random goofiness of a Girls' Weekend.

This castle was built in 1896 for Hungary's millennial celebration.  It shows the different architectural styles of Hungary's most famous buildings, which we don't know anything about, but it was just fun to walk through and take pictures.

Legend has it that touching this guy's pen will make you a better writer.  So, if I suddenly start writing Shakespearean blog posts, you'll know why.

Near the park, in Hero's Square, we saw these awesome statues of King Mathias and his men.  

Tons of kids were climbing all over them, so we thought we should do that, too.

The four of us climbing up there wasn't pretty.

But, we made it, boo-boos and all!

After walking down a street full of diplomatic mansions, we caught the subway back to our hotel to pack up and head to the airport.

We had to take photos of the subway.  Budapest is very proud to have had the first subway system on the European continent (London's was first, but they don't count because they aren't technically on the continent), so they have gone to great lengths to preserve the stations exactly as they were in the 1890's. 

Bye bye, Budapest.  You treated us well and we will miss you!