My birthday weekend

Last Thursday night my inlaws, Pat and Don, arrived for their visit in Texas. Eric and I drove to Austin to pick them up. Friday the girls did some shopping and the boys...guess what... did some car stuff .... also partially thanks to me- I ruined one of Sally's tires when I went to Austin last week. Thanks guys!!! In the evening we put on our Dirndl and Lederhosen and went to Walburg. Some German dude opened a really great Biergarden there which is very famous for the area. We all had a blast with Radler, Bratwurst, Currywurst, and Yodel music!!!



Eric making yummy Radler (beer and 7up)








Saturday we all went to Austin. At a mall we had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen- I discovered that restaurant with my Dad in California and they have my favorite pizza dish! The mall was nice too. Everything is outside and we had great weather for that. After the mall we went to THE CONTAINER STORE!!!!!!!! I was in heaven! Since I've heard of that store a couple of years ago I wanted to go to one. I think it's a great store filled with things that you don't really need but makes organizing and decorating so much more fun and easy!... well, I think you need all the things in the store.... boxes in every imaginable shape- Matt, you'd have loved it too!!!







Then we made our way home and went to dinner at Plucker's- Eric's and my favorite (chicken) wing place in Killeen. Don and I tried some of their signature drinks: I had Jane's (or was it Jenny's?) Juice and Don has the Psychedelic Frog. They both were delicious of course. The Plucker's crew even sang for me...and I had to do the chicken dance.







Sunday was just a lazy day with napping, snickers cake and barbecue. Monday we will drive to Austin again and drop of Pat and Don at the airport.
It was a great weekend!

Germany!

Germany was great!!! I had a fun time- especially with my little nephew Paul and my sis. Her belly is the most gorgeous I've ever seen! "Hannes" is due on my Birthday (May 23rd)!!!! I talked to her yesterday (on her birthday!!!) and she said he's probably not coming so soon. Maybe next week. We'll see!!! I can't wait to hear from them! Nelle is definitely ready for him to arrive she says.
I also saw my friend Mignon (from Niederbayern) and we had a great time. The first night she took me to see a bavarian brass band- and it was fantastic!!! The next day she took me to Burghausen- we stopped several times on the way to enjoy the views. On Mothersday I went home again to see my family and we had a nice German dinner with white asparagus, potatoe salad(-s) and baked ham. I really loved being with my family!

Here're some pics from Burghausen:




That was in front of a bakery. (Dog-)People tie their dogs to that little metal puppy before they enter the store!


The Pope's house in Marktl and some "Pope beer" ad:




Some views while we were cruisin'....can you see the alps????






The band "Labrassbanda":


My Opa (he just turned 90!!!)- always eating with his pocket knife!

Paul managing a spoon!!!

No comment!

Bpauuuuul!!!! (he usually "sprays" it!)

I am really enjoying my time here in Germany! Paul is really funny and veeeeeeryy entertaining! I just can't stop talking about him. Yesterday I heard him say "EEEEh-EEEEE"- yep- that means Vicki!!!! I am sooooo proud!

Other things he says are:
- Wvow-vwow = doggy,
- Mama = Mom
- ...mmmmmmmmMah = Oma/Grama
- mamamam....amamamamamamama..mamamamamamamama = I WANT THIS,.. OR THAT..!!!!!!!!
- nlnouwch = (watering-) hose
- aia = sleep
- ouwa = outch
- ba-bpah = Daddy
- dow-dow = vaccuum cleaner/broom
- mmmmmm-mmmmh-mmmmmmh = I want more!!!....

So far pretty good, huh? I looove it!!! Here're some more pics/videos of my little Shnouggmmmms:





















He really enjoys when you "chase" him!!!!....kinda like Nelson?!

....did you hear him say vwou-wvou?????

Deutschland

Last Thursday I finally got to Germany. On Friday my Grandfather turned 90 and we had a great party- of course I didn't take many pictures because I was busy cuddeling and hugging everybody...especially my little nephew Paul:



Then on Saturday I met with my dear friend Jana. We had lunch at a cafe in Neumarkt's city center and did some people watching...a typical German activity!





I really enjoyed seeing some real German everyday lifes.



Today (Sunday)I went to my sister's house and we had some yummy afternoon coffee while Paul entertained us (with his, I wonder from whom inherited, dorkiness????)!!!


Then my sister, her husband, little Paul and I went to our city's spring festival (Fruehlingsfest). We all had a blast! We started with watching some animals.











Then we were hungry and "went to town" on several goodies -> German fast food! Of course I had to have it all!!!! Emmentaler und Leerdammer mit Brezeln, a Mass Bier and Currywurst mit Pommes!!!!







It was a great day! On the way back to the car Paul had fun watching cars as we crossed a bridge. I tried to shoot a little video of him here as well but forgot to rotate my camera. I loooove the little clip though and want to share it with all of you- just "do the Nelson" and tilt your heads, please!