Fasching Celebration

In Germany, they have this tradition called, "Fasching Season". I'm not entirely sure what it is, but it has to do with the celebration of Easter (I think) and each area celebrates it differently. Carnivals, Parades, Costumes, lots and lots of drinking ... the works. 

One Sunday, we came home from church, hoping to have a nice relaxing afternoon and we were instead ... greeted with this: 

A block party on our street. It was loud. And it took us a good five minutes to make it up that hill with all the people and floats for the parade. We decided we would celebrate with the Germans (since their music was preventing a peaceful Sunday) so, we headed out with the masses. 

Seriously. It was a block party. My first block party, courtesy of German Fasching Celebration. I like it. 

The parade had all sorts of different groups. Mostly adults dressed up in random costumes, with random floats. Or adults dressed up in costumes, playing in a marching band. I am sure they all had meaning and purpose but, our lack of German skills preventing us from knowing what they were advertising. But, they threw us lots of German candy so, we really didn't care. 

Brad's RCO was actually in the parade. *Go America!*

And of course you can't have a parade without a priest playing the bass drum ... 

Or a cockroach on the Baritone Horn ... 

We had a flashback to the 70s ... 

And of course, it's not a true parade until there's a tractor pulling a trailer. We felt right at home. 

These guys were actually really fun to listen to. They were a piccolo band. I could have listened to them all day. Too bad we got to listen to loud German redo's of American songs instead. 

This float just made me laugh. "Noah's Party Ark"?? Really? 

One last picture for good measure. Even though it was sunny ... it was pretty cold that day. We were happy to see the end of the parade. But, now we can say: We've been to a German Fasching Parade. Check that off my German bucket list! 

Happy 6th Birthday!

This little dude is 6 years old today ... it's crazy that he is already that old. 

He's such a fun kid. Full of life. He has a very compassionate attitude and is always wanting to help those he is with. He loves his friends and family and would play all day if we let him. Kason loves the gospel and church and is always asking us thought provoking questions about the gospel. He is absolutely fascinated with Joseph Smith. Kason's testimony is so strong, even at age 6! Kason is already reading easy books and can sound out pretty much any word in front of him. He's so smart - I love it! 

He is a wonderful little guy and we love him so much - I feel SO blessed to be able to be his mom! 

I will post more about his birthday, day later but for now ... here's a little look inside the mind of the little man: 

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Sport: Basketball

Favorite Show: Brave

Favorite Thing at School: Play with my friends 

If you could go on a airplane anywhere, where would you go: To Paris

Favorite Color: Red

When You grow up, what are you going to be: A Scientist

Favorite Song: Gangum Style

Favorite Book: Rise of the Guardians

Favorite Scripture Story: The Lamanites

Three words that describe you: Crazy. Smart. Fun.

When you were little, you used to: Pee on the Carpet

Favorite time of year: Christmas

Favorite Snack: Ice Cream

Yuckiest Food: Macaroni Salad

My Best Friend at School: Ethan

My other Friends at School: Ryan, Jaden, Bria

My Best Friend at Church: Karissa

My other Friends at Church: Chloe, Grace, Cooper

Places I want to Go: Paris, France, Scotland

People I Miss: Camden & Ethan, Kambree & Brook, 

Favorite Animal: Puppy!

Teacher: Ms. Stansbury

Happy Birthday, Buddy!!! 

Welcome to our Home: Germany Style

I like our home. I don't love it. But, it works for us! I also want to remember it when we are living stateside again. We live in a house with an elderly German couple. They don't speak a lick of English, that always makes things interesting and slightly awkward every time we see them. I always hope it's morning so I can say "Morgen" otherwise, they don't usually get a greeting. I really wish I spoke German. Anyway, the elderly couple own the house and they live on the main level. We are basically "attic dwellers" Or, in German terms, we live on the first floor (the main level is "level zero") 

So, here it is. Our home, in all it's German glory. Our Jeep BARELY fits into that garage there on the left. It's always a pretty tight squeeze. 

If you walk in between the garage and the house, you walk up some stairs and then you get ... our front door! They automatically lock once they shut, so make sure you ALWAYS have your key with you to prevent getting locked out...our landlady always puts cute little decorations out for each holiday. Kason loves them. 

Once you buzz us, we will let you in ... 

Here's our staircase ... it's really not a big deal, unless you've just done a huge shopping trip, or you have a basket of laundry in your arms, then it's a pain! (Our laundry room is in the basement) 

Welcome!

When you first walk in you get an eye-sore. Sorry about that! I hate this room. It's ugly and honestly, I don't know what to do with it. We don't have furniture to fill it up, so it has the ever-so-ugly Army couches in it, among other random odds and ends. It's really a pointless room. I wish they had just knocked out that wall and made the living room bigger. Oh well ... 

Turn to the left, and you have our "hallway". All three bedrooms are down this way, as is the bathroom. Lucky for you, the bathroom was clean today. Unfortunately, the bedrooms are not. So, you get to imagine our bedrooms. They have beds and dressers ... really nothing exciting. I promise. 

Sometimes, I dream about a normal American bathroom....

Turn around ... walk straight ahead and you'll walk into our Living Room! I love this room. For me, it's the most comfortable room in the house. It's where we spend most of our time and lots of laughter goes on in here. (Try to ignore that those curtains are a foot too short ... I bought them on a guesstimate of the window size AND they're better than the lace ones that were there ...)

I love that we have a balcony. Today, it was nice enough outside to open up that door and enjoy and nice breeze and SUNSHINE!!! This is our view from the balcony:

Those blue skies are beautiful. I sure wish we got to see them more often. 

Alright, back inside. To your left, from the balcony door, is the kitchen. I swear our kitchen is straight out of the IKEA catalog. I'm not complaining ... I love it. And I even have the Farenheit to Celcius conversion down pat (well, mostly down pat). 

The door to the right is our pantry. We are one of the lucky few in Germany to have a pantry. They're a rare luxury around these parts! 

The other side of our kitchen has our table ... (see those beautiful lace curtains?) 

To the left of where I am standing is another door that goes out to the "ugly room" ... so, basically, it's a big old circle. That makes it fun for indoor tag...

And there you have it! 

That's our home! It's not perfect ... but, it's home. 

Thanks for coming to visit! ;)