Since when was it August?!

I've found myself saying at a variety of points throughout the past year . . . spring is just busy! The holidays are nuts everywhere! Summer, well - what can you do? But, I've come to realize, accept, and even love that we are just people on the go.

In the past 2.5 weeks alone, we spent roughly 50ish hours on a combination of cars and buses (we tried to fulfill a dream of Baxter's a take a train - but no dice or tickets for that matter), but all going and doing wonderful things. We are both wiped and fighting a cold I think as a result of this month's travel madness, but are so grateful for the friends and experiences that have filled our days.

Here's a BRIEF shot of what we've been up to . . . 

 Celebrated SIX years of marriage to this hunk of a man . . . can you even believe it?!

Visited the home town of these dear friends and loved our time in this beautiful part of our country.

Wandered empty morning streets of an ancient city . . . 

Made sure all fires were completely clothed . . . 

Shopped and explored . . . 

And maybe even did some dancing over a city while on a hike one morning. Looking at these pictures makes me want to laugh at the memories and go to bed all at the same time. Thankfully, we've got a solid 24 hours before we hit the road again - so I'm off to enjoy my couch and my adventure buddy of 6 years!

The Pictures in My Heart

Whew. Did we have a good weekend or what?

Ummm . . . seriously?

So this week has to have included hands down one of the weirdest moments of not only my time here, but perhaps in my 28 years of living. Our company consults with area kindergartens to supply English teachers, and this week I pitched in to help out at a children's English camp. The schedule for Monday said butterfly garden, which I figured would be relatively simple. "The flower is BLUE", "the butterfly is BIG" is simple enough to say 150x in a hour in an insanely slow pace, so no big deal, right? It was raining when the kiddos arrived at the park, but no worries, come to find out there were "other" attractions at this particular venue. Imagine my surprise to see this:

 Followed by this:

 

All to announce him:

  

Yes my friends, your eyes are not deceiving you. We had come to watch an extravaganza of "little people", or as I noticed on a sign later "The Dwarf Empire", and the man you see above in the "King of the Little People". Singing, dancing, tiny motorcycles - you name it, this place had it. I took pictures partially out of complete disbelief, and also because I knew my husband would kill me if I didn't. (And if you STILL think there is no WAY this can be true, see here or here).

And of course no empire of little people is complete without . . . wait for it . . .

The cow with a fifth leg growing out its back. I know, I know, just when you thought it could get absolutely NO MORE ridiculous, it did. And this my friends, THIS, is my life.

Ummmmm . . . seriously?

If you need me . . .

I'll be at . . .

I'm filling in for a team member of ours at English Summer Camp for the first part of this week. This is basically a week where local kiddos get away to study . . . wait for it . . . ENGLISH! Just how you wanted to spend your summers as an eight year old, right? So far my favorite activities on the schedule include "milk", "find the deer", and "learn to wash our socks starting at the beginning." Thankfully these all follow nap time. : ) Wish me luck! Good night campers!

This is No Lie.

But this weekend, I made quite possibly the most delicious chocolate cake. EVER. Now, I can say this, because I was raised by a woman who taught me "if you can read, you can cook." So, I in no way am being obnoxious or a braggart, but simply affirming the divinity of Ina Garten.

A handful of our good friends graduated from college this past week, so we thought a full on feast was due to celebrate. I made Ina Garten spaghetti & meatballs (minus the veal + homemade tomato sauce [canned anything is kind of a no go here]).

Italian herb bread:

 

And then, the mother of all goodness . . . 

And yes, this little piece of culinary perfection was my first (a) layered cake of any nature and (b) attempt at buttercream icing. I added some sprinkles to make it more festive, but just looking at this picture makes me want to slam my face in it, and I'm not even really a cake person!

And sadly, I took NO pictures of the anything past the cooking part of my day - but I promise it was a wonderful and delicious evening with precious, precious friends!

So, moral of the story, go HERE, and bake this as fast as humanly possible. Trust me, you'll thank me later. Ina don't tell no lies.

Happy Father's Day to Dan the Man!

World's Greatest Dad - June 9, 1983 . . .

Now the World's Greatest Granddad (or "Dumpy" as the first grandchild calls him), June 9th, 2011!

I love you Dad - 28 years later, you are my and two tiny Hall girls' hero!

*Promotional thanks given to my rock-star sister in law for having my newest niece ON my birthday. Seriously Beth, you're too much - a gift card would have done the trick! : ) Love you!!

Besties

Recently we had dinner with some of our dear friends, who we realized we have celebrated every American & local holiday with. Spencer and his girlfriend Mary (not their given names), have been friends of ours since the very first weeks we moved here, and we love sharing our lives with them.

As we were wrapping up a wonderfully fun evening together and exchanging good bye pleasantries, another dear friend who was present happily proclaimed in English that we were all "BFF's". Spencer scratched his head and thought. Even having studied English for a number of years, he was stumped.

He slowly sounded it out "Best . . . Friends . . . hmmm", and then suddenly and proudly proclaimed "Oh! I know - Best Foreign  Friends!" We all of course died laughing, and decided that although not the original idea, his assessment was perhaps an even better description of our friendship.

I am so, so happy to have such fun and hilarious BFF's!!