Munich is FROZEN!

It is cold in Munich.  Really, really cold. Normally I wouldn't have even ventured out but I had signed up for a museum tour. I convinced my friend Vanessa that we needed to go and we were so glad we did!  We both really enjoyed the artwork of Gabriele Munter. It was fascinating to observe the changes in her style and also to learn that towards the end of her career her second partner influenced her style so it would sell...

Our Favorite

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary on a beautiful snowy evening, just like FIFTY years ago.  I was lucky enough to be able to fly in for the weekend and Stefanie and AJ were able to join me from school. We of course should have taken more photos but some are better than none!!

First I needed to taunt my siblings that I beat them to my parents house. Just a reminder I came all the way from Germany!

Before the party I visited the club with my parents to make sure everything was set, deliver the cake and finalize the details. My mom used her veil for a decoration on the cake table. While my dad was the official veil holder, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to revisit a moment from my childhood!

 

 I wish I had gotten more than a snapchat photo of me, AJ and Stefanie...

 My parents celebrated with a mass at their parish before the party.

Then it was time to celebrate!!

The happy couple!

 My mom's sisters of course came to celebrate. I love photos of the three of them together!

Elsie, Theresa and Kathleen
(when I was little this is what my grandma often called my mom, she just went through all the names to get to my mom)

 The bridesmaids and my mom's flower girl. There is not one in focus photo of them, I think this says something about what kind of fun they like to have - they can't sit still.

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 My mom's best friends from grade school and high school!

Mom, Terri and Pat

 My dad makes a toast!

 The happy couple!

Dad & Mom with Nathan & Jack

Recreating the first piece of cake moment!

My cousins Michael and Peg were the ring bearer and flower girl, how great that they could be part of this celebration!

Everyone had a wonderful time celebrating my mom and dad and their incredible accomplishment of fifty years of marriage.

The next day Stefanie had a little fun with Granny's veil.

 Meanwhile AJ, Nathan and Jack used all the snow to make a snowman. When you're from the south you don't miss a chance to make a snowman!

Beautiful Snow Run

This is the trail where I regularly run, it is looking particularly gorgeous this morning after a fresh snowfall!

Becca Comes to Town!

Rachel & Becca

The most wonderful Becca Gillie came to visit for a few days. She is working on her master's degree in Sweden and decided to spend some time with us on her way back from the US. We are psyched to see her and to receive her absolutely outstanding hugs. She is absolutely one of our favorite people.

We spent her first day touring Munich. While she didn't get great weather, she did get a thorough tour!

Missy & Becca

View from the top of St Peters

 The next day we spent at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. Although we had great tours and enjoyed what we could see inside. It was the foggiest day I have ever experienced there.  Below is what the castle looked like from the Marienbrücke today and under that photo is what it looked like on our most beautiful weather day.

I swear there is a castle there

On a perfect day...

Becca's final morning we spent at Andechs Monastery. It truly is one of our favorite places to share with guests!

How can you say no to these pretzels?

Feast of the Epiphany

I love that children dress as the Kings, sing a little song and collect money for their charity. They also chalk your door with this traditional blessing. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2018 is the year.

Pommes Boutique!

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The girls and I were checking out the map finding our way between shops and museums and we spotted a Pommes Boutique! How did we not know about this? It of course required a visit. The french fry loving girls give it a thumbs up!

Ringing in the New Year!

What luck to celebrate NYE with my brother Todd and his wife Abby. We joined a group of our friends for a spectacular evening at the Lowenbrau Kellar.  Thanks to my mom, dad and Dominic for celebrating with Nathan and Jack.

Train in, cabs out, no driving tonight!

They turn the Kellar into an elegantly decorated space. There is a three course dinner with unlimited drinks, a performance and a fabulous live band.

At midnight Munich is lit up with fireworks both professional and personal, The leftover smoke is impossible to fully describe but it lasts well into the next day. After midnight a traditional weisswurst breakfast is served. Weisswurst, pretzel and Prosecco. A fabulous way to start the new year!!