Ludwigsburg

Ludwigsburg palace, the best preserved Baroque residence in Germany. Located about 25 minutes from our home.Kind Ludwig's bedroom.
Portraits of the Royal descendants lined this hallway. The woodwork throughout the palace was beautiful. Beautiful gardens surround the palace.

Andrew and I managed to ask a lady to take our picture.

We had an enjoyable time checking out local history. We only toured the main palace and walked around the town for a bit. We decided to check out the gardens when someone comes to visit us. It's a quaint town with plenty of shops and a Farmer's Market on Saturdays. We also have a Farmer's Market about a mile from our house every Saturday. It comes in handy when the Commissary doesn't have what we want. Although, it tends to be a bit pricey.

We finally have someone committed to coming to see us!! My sister, husband, and son have purchased tickets to come visit over my Christmas break. Andrew has no definite guarantee of when he will be around, so I figured it would be nice to see some family here instead of going to the US alone. We have started to plan a bit. We hope to make it to Paris and London over New Year's and of course check out the Christmas Markets.

Also, I have made plans to fly to the US in mid July through mid August. The days depend on when an open flight is available and or cheap. Andrew is supposed to be gone during part of the time, so I figured why sit in Germany alone or travel alone when I can go to the USA and be with family.

Milan, Italy (Milano, Italia)

Milan is the cultural, industrial, and financial center of Italy. It is also one of the main fashion centers in the world, and the second biggest city in Italy. We were able to tour a cathedral, an opera house, and part of a castle. We were unable to see da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper because you had to make a reservation to see it and we didn't know. We did a lot of shopping and walking. I bought tshirts, wine, shoes, and an umbrella. Saw many beautiful buildings and a billion people. It was a great day spent with Veronica and Kailyn (Andrew can't go more than an hour away). Kailyn did well for all that we did. She was definately ready to head home. This is the second largest cathedral in the world.
We went inside, but due to lighting pictures did not turn out so well.

Me.
Part of a larger courtyard in front of the cathedral.
Vendors lined this street. I bought a pair of cheap shoes here.
Yummy Italian Gelato. I had half a cup of cherry and half a cup of chocolate.

Milan Part 2

Castello Sforzesco. This is the clock tower above the entrance to the courtyard of the castle. The whole courtyard was being renovated.
This is a tower viewed from inside the courtyard.
This is a garden outide the rear of the castle.
Archways exiting the courtyard.
Lunch...Italian pizza. Also, here I paid the most I have ever paid for a pop (5 euro). In Europe, pop/soda is often more expensive than beer and you do not get refills.

Sonnenbuhl Easter Market and Barenhohle

The day began with two cave tours, we toured the first and drank cocoa during the second. Seeing one cave was too much for us to handle or rather for a 18 month old to handle.
Veronica soon found out the cave was quite dirty! Kailyn fell down and spread the joy of dirt with both of us.
Stalagmites or stalactites? Which were formed thousands of years ago. Interesting, but I would have rather done something more associated with shopping for souvenirs
Lunch at the local pasta factory ALB-GOLD Kundenzentrum. Where I purchased noodles and Eier-Schoko Likor (Chocolate egg liquor). And enjoyed lasagna and apple juice (they did not sell pop and I do not like their carbonated juices).
Next, we headed to Sonnenbuhl, home of the first and only Easter Egg Museum in Germany. Many artists were there selling their eggs: painted, carved, etched, etc. This lady is painting her eggs.
These eggs were etched using a box cutter. All of these eggs are hollowed out eggs. VERY FRAGILE!! Thus I only purchased wooden ones, which aren't as beautiful, but do not break. I also purchased a couple of metal rabbits to sit next to the eggs on the windowsill. Also at the museum were antique Easter decorations. There were eggs from all over the world, eggs of all sizes, exquisitely decorated, and unique. It was a enjoyable day. I bit much for Kailyn, but I'm glad I was able to experience the Easter Museum and eggs.

Snow!?!

We were awoken at 330am by the school calling to tell me that we were having a 2hour delay due to the snow that had fallen. It's been snowing off and on for 3 days now, but had not stuck around until today. They are overly cautious about the weather here because people live all over, not just in one town, and no one wants to be responsible if someone got into an accident. So school started at 10am today. I have had an overly easy day due to many kids being gone and many classes not doing school work to keep all the classes on the same track. It was nice getting a little extra sleep, but I hope it doesn't ruin the weekend. Andrew got to sleep in as well. Our neighbor gave him a ride today.
We hope to go out to eat with friends tonight and go back to the mall I went to last weekend tomorrow. Our clocks change tomorrow night, and Sunday I head to the Easter Market. I will be sure to take pics to share with you all. I hope it's nice out for the trip.

Busy

Sorry it's been so long since, we (I) have written, but with the new job and all I haven't had the time or energy to get on here and write. I have been going to bed early. The new job is going quite well, I enjoy the ladies I work with, but the kids are turds. I have to catch the bus at 630am, with my friend Veronica, who is an aide in the kindergarten room, and catch it after work too. Only downfall is our work hrs. are 8-230, we get to school at 715 and the bus doesnt leave until 3, so we do a lot of waiting or working for no money. The bus we ride home on sucks because many kids from the middle school ride it to our base instead of riding on their assigned school buses. They do many naughty things and I am the one who enforces not breaking the rules. My goal is to be the lady they all hate ;). I think subconsciencely I am getting back at all the kids who annoyed me in school by doing stupid things. Veronica hopes to switch to the elementary on our base because the teacher she works with is a nut, if I didnt like the ladies I work with, I would do the same. The kids I work with are basically LD with a few behavior issues. My job is very easy, I go to class with certain students, keep them on task and take notes. I get to eat lunch with adults and get a long lunch.

Our couch finally arrived Thursday and it is HUGE. We had to rearrange to get it to fit. The delivery guys had quite the struggle getting it into our apartment. Now we need to figure out tables and rugs.
Friday we went to a spring bazaar on base. We bought truffles, cheese, meat, and some mini donuts. They had vendors from all over Europe selling their wares, but nothing struck me.
Saturday Veronica and I went to a mall we hadn't been to. It is now my favorite place to shop. I bought some new clothes for work and hope to go back to get a few more things.
Sunday we were lazy all day and Andrew went to the movie 300. He thought it was pretty good.
This coming weekend, Veronica, her daughter, and I are going to a Easter Market and Easter Egg musuem, in Germany. The following weekend, the three of us are going to Italy. Andrew decided not to come on these two trips. He plans to go with me in April to France. His trip to the USA has been postponed for a bit. He has more to do here before they send him to the US. He just finished a four day weekend, and is gradually getting used to his new group.

HIRED

The week has flown by, I spent three days babysitting (620-345) and had interviews the other two days. The first interview was for a position in an after school program on our base, running their computer lab. The second job was at the middle school on another base, integrating a couple of special needs individuals into the regular ed classes. I was the only person interviewed at each of the jobs. It sounds like both have been open for quite sometime. I took the school position because it pays better, I get summers off, and it is a better fit. I start Monday at 740am, but "get to" catch the bus at 630am. This will take some getting used to. I have adjusted my sleep schedule to nonemployment. As of Tuesday, I would have been unemployed for 6 months exactly, perfect timing to get a job. I will miss the freedom of being jobless, but look forward to having something to do M-F, especially while Andrew is gone.
Last nite we went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant. We tried to go to a Mexican restaurant a bit further from home, but unfortunately they weren't open, even though their sign said they were. I really wanted to try a new place, but I suppose I have a few years to get to go.
This morning, I drove downtown with my friend, Veronica, to an outdoor market. I purchased some fresh carrots, strawberries, and potatoes. After, we headed to the gym to watch our husbands participate in a dodgeball competition. Andrew's team got first place!!! Now he is recuperating from abusing his body. We plan to go out with friends tonite for dinner, but the weather is getting very rainy and windy. So I may decide I need to stay in.