Traveling Thieles

We had a super quick but fun visit with my high school bff Christy and her daughter Carmella. I spent the one full day I got with them touring our Bavarian trifecta. Oberammergau, Ettal Monastery and Schloß Linderhof.

They spent a day at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles while I attended to all things prom!

AJ Is 20!

Happy 20th Birthday to AJ! So great to be watching him grow and find his way into the adult world! Insomnia Cookies did a great job helping us help him celebrate - thank goodness for these services!

Dominic is 21!

Today Dominic turns 21! It has been a great journey watching him grow into the young man he is today. From a 21 point of view, he has been "lucky" enough to celebrate being legal three times, at 18 in Europe, 2 days ago because his driver's license has the wrong date and today. I'm glad that's done!

Ohsoooosweet! was happy to help me out with the birthday baking again. So appreciative of their service and the picture they post when they deliver! One way to "see" your kid!

Phil visits from Down Under

Phil, Missy & Steve - Starkbierfest Ready!

We were the lucky winners when our friend Phil had to spend a month in Germany for work. When you come all the way from Australia, you just stay even though you have a week gap in between work assignments.  We haven't seen him in sixteen years but it was just like old times and we had a super time with him.  We of course toured Munich, spent some time at Andechs and enjoyed Starkbierfest. Phil also remembered to bring along a long standing joke between him and Steve. This picture of Bruce has been cleverly hidden in our houses and their offices for the last 22 years. One of them hides it and eventually when the other finds it he returns the favor. I think Steve last hid it in Phil's suitcase when he visited us in Delaware! Steve only found it quickly this time because he was hiding an Easter Egg in the Münchener Kind doll.

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Sports Parent Award

This is NOT a real award, well at least not an official award. Rachel's basketball coach made it up, but we still appreciate it. Rachel has had Cedric for the last two years as her basketball coach and he has been amazing with the girls. This year at the end of the season award ceremony he did something extremely unusual. He called Steve and I down onto the stage. He called us the best sport parents because even though Rachel was injured for a fair amount of the season she still went to all the practices (except when she was at the doctor) and we went to the games. We have always tried to instill in our kids that as a member of the team you always go to practice and to the games, even if you don't get played or for some reason can't play. To our American friends this I'm sure seems normal, however in our international community not all families emphasize sports the same way.

Starkbierfest

Phil enjoying his first Starkbier

In general we try to participate in as many German traditions as we can. Since our friend Phil was here visiting from Australia it was the perfect reason to once again go to Starkbierfest. Starkbier is the heavy, dark, Lenten beer that the monks drink.  It's more of everything, alcohol, calories, color, taste.

We of course had a fun evening, it's always a great time at Löwenbrau Keller.  My friend Charlotte and I also "competed" in the Ms Starkbier Contest just for fun. Charlotte won third place and even though I asked not to stand next to her; seriously, LOOK at her! I still did, so really I didn't stand a chance. But it was funny to participate.

Oops...She did it again!

Pre-Surgery

Well, Rachel made it 17 days injury free. Track season started this week and at the end of practice they were participating in a "fun" drill and racing running backwards on the track. Rachel tripped and landed really badly on her wrist.  Yes, the same one that had just healed. So, back to the ER we went. And yes, the x-ray confirmed another break. This time was a bit more spectacular and because of the position of the broken bone she required surgery and a metal plate to put everything back in its proper place. Upside - no cast and she can still participate in track. Downside pretty impressive scar and removal of the plate at some point. Rachel however thinks this is cool, especially no cast but she also thinks the scar is awesome.

Post Surgery

Thankfully they put her in the children's wing for her one night stay. They originally had her in the adult part of the hospital but the head nurse changed that because as she said, "everyone is really old". Rachel had a sweet little girl for a roommate. Antonia was quite sad that Rachel was leaving the next day and wouldn't be with her.  Rachel read her stories and watched movies with her. It was excellent for her German too because her little friend didn't speak any English!

Antonia & Rachel

Hopefully it will fade over time...

Rachel's Basketball Season

Rachel's basketball team competed at the International School Sports Tournament this weekend. They played seven other teams in Geneva, Switzerland and came home with third place. Rachel was psyched to have her cast off and be able to help her team!

Rachel is Sweet Sixteen!

Happy, HAPPY SIXTEENTH Birthday to Rachel!

Rachel really wanted to celebrate with her friends on her birthday, but her birthday was on a Monday. So we had a sleepover Sunday night and she and her friends stayed up until midnight to welcome in Sixteen! Rachel's friend's parents are thankfully very understanding!

The flowers aren't in the picture but Dad didn't forget!

That evening varsity basetball team needed a player and Rachel needed some time on the court since she had just gotten her cast off, so Rachel played basketball. Afterwards we celebrated with dinner and chocolate silk pie, Rachel's favorite birthday treat!