Adventures!!

I'm not sure if these pics will post, but here are a few of them anyway. So, the first is when I biked with the boys down to Konigswinter to try to hike up to the Drachenfels ruins (shown here), but the way was far too steep so I'll have to do it when I can get somebody to come with to help carry the boys up.
Secondly, a picture from Koko's office overlooking the Rheinau park which I bike through several times a day, and in which there are numerous adventures to be had...playgrounds, paddle-boating, kite-flying, bier festivals, rock concerts, flea markets, etc.
I went with the boys on a "mini-cruise" up the river (which is actually south because the Rheine flows south to north) to a little island where we had lunch, this was the boat we took.
And finally, it rained profusely today so I took the boys to the Haribo store where they make every kind of gummy candy you can imagine...gummy bears, boys, butterflies, snakes, strawberries, lots of black licorice, licorice, sweet, sweet yummee, yummee licorice...Let me know if there is something in particular you are craving and I'll see what I can do about getting you a delicious gummy treat.
I shall try to be more consistent in my picture taking and blog posting. Too many things happen to not document. I am headed to southern Austria, or Corinthia, on Saturday with the Merls. Should be much fun! I will probably leave a little early, not staying the whole week, so as to be able to take a detour to Switzerland and see some friends there before returning to Germany.
And the adventures continue...

And we all float on anyway...

So sorry to all who have been looking for a new post. I don't have many, but I did take a few pictures this last weekend when I went with Patrick and the boys to our home teachers 70th b-day party at this farmhouse converted medieval restaurant. Very
cool. We were entertained by bards and ate our whole meal with just our knives and fingers. This is a picture of the
veggies that were in the middle of the table, we picked out what we wanted to eat from this delectible selection, then they brought out these huge plates with meat, which we cut off, put on our plates, then ate, again with just our knives and fingers. Very fun!!!

Anyway. I've been having a grand time here in Bonn. It's been really fun with the Merl family. I have to admit though, it has also been a little difficult as Koko, the mother, has been gone a lot...1st week, I had Nicholas (almost 4) all week from 7-whenever Patrick got home...5:30-8pm. Now Koko is in Munich for the week and I have both boys (Phineas is 18mo's), same schedule. This is the last week like this and it will get a lot easier after this. I tip my hat to all parents, especially mothers, who spend so much time taking care of their children all day everyday. Paul said that with your own children it is an eternal investment which makes all the difference. That gives me encouragement and hope. =)

My cousin, Krista might come over to take my place which would be so great!!!

We've been spending a lot of time in the park which is right by the Rhein, the forest, the Zoo, etc. I will take pictures and post them. It is so beautiful here! Koko and Patrick got rid of their car so we bike or walk everywhere, sometimes taking public transportation. I'm really excited about this, I , I'm hoping to get fit from this last long winter in Alaska, as I've gotten a bit, um, shall we say, soft. =)

Perhaps tomorrow will be a bright, sun-shiny day so I can take some more pics.
love,
Millie

Update on moi...

so, i'm headed to Germany on the 5th of July. I left Alaska almost a month ago, not sure where I would go or what I would do. When I was in Utah, Koko's mother, told me that Koko and Patrick's nanny got engaged and is leaving asap, and they needed someone to help them out for a few months. She asked if I had job, I did not, I talked with them and bam, I'm headed off to Germany for a few months. I'm excited, but also excited to get back to the states and start the next stage of my life...enjoy the updates thus far...

Seattle

Daniel, Sean, Sadie and I spent the day at Pike's Place Market. It was the 100 year celebration. I found this Pirate Pig for Jakey Jack Sparrow.

Sadie and I went to the top of the Space Needle...incredible views!!

Daniel and I went out for a drive and stopped at Deception falls, beautiful. It would have been nice if the hike was a little longer than 200 ft.

We then went up to Leavenworth, a little German town in the mountains. Incredible! I kept expecting people to be speaking German. We ate wurst, rot and weise kraute, spatzli, and schnitzle at a little restaurant...ah, nostalgia, I loved it!!!

Utah

I stopped in Utah for a few days, stayed w/ Mary and Aaron...many thanks...saw a few other people including Stacy, Tom, and baby Ethan and Carrie at Stacy's.

I also met up with my friends Janine, Heather, Sarah, and Heidi to go wedding dress shopping for my roommate Sara, who is getting married August 11th.

California

My next adventures took me from Vegas to California. I got to spend time w/ Paul and Rachel... fantastic!!! I was so bummed to not be able to see everybody that I wanted though. =(

The trip 'cross country to Philly

We started from Vegas Sat afternoon, arrived at Grandma Connie's in Ogden Sat evening. Early Sunday morning we headed out w/ Grandpa Scott and Blair in the Penske truck, Elsa, Jacob and myself in the camry, Sean at Grandma Connie's. We stayed the first night in Nebraska, the next in Iowa...I went for a run up to a cemetary in a light drizzle, when I got to the cemetary, it started to pour so I took shelter under a big tree, peaceful, beautiful...sorry, no pics of that, I left my camera charger in my car in Utah. =( Tuesday we stayed in Ohio...I went for a long walk at dusk by endless fields of young cornstalks, again, no pics. We arrived in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, stayed in Bensalem. I got to share a bed w/ Jacob, this is about how it was every night...bed hog.

Thursday we went to Valley Forge.

Friday, Elsa and Blair closed on their house and we started moving in...we've been moving in ever since!


What a faboulous trip! We still have to go do the Philly tour, I also want to take a trip into NY to see a few people. I'll keep you posted.

With my nephews, Jake and Sean, in Philadelphia. It's been so hot and muggy, we rarely get outside, though Sunday was nice enough to be outside for this photo-op.

Me and Reece

Reece and I looking fabulous. I think this was a B-day party for Charise (and Buzz)/going away party for the Nunez'.

Kierstin and Kammi's prom

I stopped by Kierstin's prom last night. Kierstin went w/ Spencer McCallugh and Kammi "took coats", but mostly danced. Ah, the days of High School Prom...we go together like shama-lama-lama-sha-bipidi-boom-de-boom...

Lily's

Daniel Pascucci gave me these lovely lily's for Good Friday. Aren't they lovely?! And, they smell fabulous, too bad you can't smell them over the computer. =)

We be jammin'

I got to chaperone the church dance last weekend. Kierstin, Kammi, and I had a lovely time dancing. It was a formal. I thought I should also dress up.

When it rains it pours...

Daniel Pascucci...awesome!! Daniel pulled curtains in Beauty and the Beast and we've been hanging out ever since. Very cool guy from New Hampshire. He's full of all kinds of fun and exciting bits of information and wisdome. Daniel, or Dirty D, as he is known by many nature folk, came over for Easter dinner last night, most enjoyable.

On another note, usually it would be the patient getting flowers, but one of my patients sent me these flowers. We went out once. Yeah, anyway. I've also gone out w/ a couple of other fella's, but none to mention here.

I went down to Homer this last weekend to watch my cousins Lyssa and Dean in their High School production of Guys and Dolls...so fun! They were fabulous. I also took a drive out on the Homer Spit. It's a lot more interesting in the summer, but still beautiful.

The view from my house

I love that the days are getting longer and longer. I was heading home the other night and I caught this sunset. Beautiful!!!

More Beauty...

W/ Cogsworth and Lumierre, Gaston and the silly girls, and Kierstin, Kammi, and myself as napkin, plate and spoon...the napkin laughed to see such sport and the dish ran away w/ the spoon. =)

Here beastie...

Latest Beauty and the Beast pics. Spencer McAuliffe is our little beastie friend.

Salad Spinner

"I was tired of wet, soggy salad. I needed a change. I got myself a fabulous salad spinner and have never been happier. Get one, start spinning!!"

B-day

Happy late b-day to me. G'ma McCubbins and Lisa made dinner for me and got these little treats for me.

Beauty and the Beast

I'm in our community musical, Broadway's version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I'm a silly girl and a plate...fine china. We've been having play practices pretty much every day, which is a lot of fun. I got to sing with the orchestra last night, empowering! Opening night is the 22nd of this month...coming right up! I worked at the Nikiski clinic today, very slow day, so I brought my music in and practiced for several hours while cleaning out an office. Yeah for the slow days. I'm sure the patients who were here enjoyed the entertainment. =)