Happy 2016

 Getting Nox to sit still and Newton to look toward the camera was next to impossible, but whatever, I guess these photos are more realistic. The following poses include...

-Ah, this isn't that bad... Newton, please look at the damn camera.

-Nox shows off his gymnastic skills while Newton... look at the camera!

- Newton, looking at Nox, who is looking at the camera

-I commence choke hold on the crazy, Newton... is getting closer

-Newton says "screw this" lays down, Nox is getting wilier by the second, and Zachs head disappears into the background

I hope your 2016 is filled with crazy, good, times.

Merry Merry

It is safe to say that this year has been extra special. We have grown, learned, fallen flat on our faces, accomplished much, made new friends, made genuine fools of ourselves, but we have smiled through it all (well kind of). It is weird to think that we spent the first two-thirds of this year in Kansas City, it feels like the distant past, I guess we have been through quiet a bit in a small amount of time. Even as I sit here writing this, I can't believe we are living in Germany.

 In another of our many firsts, it is our first year as a married couple spending the holidays apart from at least one of our families. It has been a bittersweet transition to say the least. We dearly miss our loved ones back home, but we have enjoyed making this Christmas our own.
Our favorite is coming home to see our lit Christmas tree in our window, so warm, and welcoming.
I have especially enjoyed decorating our new home for Christmas this year; I am finally starting to feel like a grown up for the first time in my life. I went crazy with the candles and bought some simple bunches of greenery to put here and there. Nothing extravagant, but enough to make our home feel festive.

Merry Christmas, we love you dearly.

We decided to take a trip into Cologne last night to visit their Christmas markets, and it was simply lovely. I think of all the ones I have visited this year, this one was my favorite.  Not just because it was in our city, but mostly because it was Gnome-Themed! It was raining on and off, but people were still out and about; the Germans really go all out for these things, from the lighting, to the stalls, to the food, the results are quite impressive. I think if goes without saying that we ate our little hearts out! Zach was tired of me pointing out every little gnome I saw by the end of the night; there were gnomes riding animals, gnomes holding up bratwurst, there was even a gnome sitting on a toilet, holding a sign to the bathrooms. The best!

Oh Christmas Tree

We found a Christmas tree this weekend, and had a jolly ol' time. As usual, the scenery and surroundings were lovely, the food delicious and the Glüwein in top form...oh, and there was a petting zoo and a castle, so it was pretty much perfect.

Thinking of Home

Random

Christmas balls Christmas balls Christmas balls....

Someday I will stand on a balcony like this, and sing sweet Opera to the world.... or maybe not...

Christmas balls, Christmas balls...

Best view in town

Where I sit and write this

Almost killed myself cooking with this guy laying between my feet, so every now and again I must risk soggy pasta, and do this.

Oh, just another amazing building that happened to tickle my fancy

Looking good

yes please

nom nom nom nom

What? There's more?

And more? Yes people, we spend 90% of our time here eating.

Had the guts to actually bring flame to these puppies, have been afraid of wayward dog tails.