Travel, Baby, and School

That's pretty much what I'm doing these days. Since December I've been to Italy, Malta, Greece, and Berlin, and in the coming months we have possible trips to Scotland, Sweden, and/or Spain.

Don't ask.

When I'm not traveling I'm at school working, which I mostly love. The job that I do is not stressful, I'm getting to hang around the band room, and there is a small, small, small possibility that I could get hired part time for next year. Getting your foot in the door and your face recognized is pretty important around there, I think.

When I'm not traveling or at school I'm hanging out with Maggie and Matt. Maggie is thriving in day care, although I have some mommy guilt at times about "dumping" her there. She is talking and signing and loves her teachers and other kids.

Maggie's current word list includes things like bubble, chair, banana, more, bath, up, hair, and hat. She gets new ones every day. It's very difficult to keep up with her. We are not anywhere near potty training or toddler beds. She has two molars that are breaking through, giving her a total of 10 teeth and a one chapped chin.

It's finally cold in the Pfalz. I'm working on my last 3 cruise posts (I've had to step away since the sinking of the Costa Concordia- the twin ship to the Costa Serena we were on) and a Berlin post.

The sheep are back in their winter pasture so Roxy has her yard back, although she prefers being in our house asleep on the couch in a nest of pillows. AJ is doing very well at Nicola's for now. He has grown a spectacular winter coat the likes of which we've never seen on him before.

We have been in Germany for a year now. I've learned German pretty well and have managed to go to France, Austria, Italy, Greece, Malta, and a ton of places in Germany. We love the Euro lifestyle and we are really hoping to get a second tour to make it a total of 6 years over here. We're dreaming big about what's going to happen in the next few years but trying not to get our hearts set on anything.

Here are some pictures of life recently. That's what we've been up to. What about you?

It's still beautiful and green up on the mountain

We had sleepover company the other night. Maggie wanted to make sure Albert got his veggies so she is giving him a piece of lettuce.

It did finally snow in December but it melted an hour or so later.

One and only Christmas present- a baby doll!

I was making a carrot cake and Maggie surprised me by mimicking me shredding a carrot. Then eating a whole peeled carrot. Without dying.

 Got herself a big girl table!

Ate some dirt for snack at day care.

Loving on AJ during a visit to Nicola last week. He loved her and vice versa.