Just Life

A rant...

2011-02-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

you dont need to invite every ridiculous screw-up into your life just in order to be a good and non judgmental person... It is good to give people second chances but there are some cases where people dont deserve a first chance, AND THAT IS OK. There are other, kind, people in the world more apt to take care of the people who are not capable of causing anything but pain and frustration. At what point are we able to have a clear conscience knowing that we trusted, we cared, we tried...again and again, and still we are burned. It IS ok to give up on someone...and if that doesn't sit well with you, then don't think of it as giving up, think of it as giving it to someone else. It is only as I've gotten older that I have come to this cruel realization....NOT everyone IS worth your time, effort, or heart.

*This really doesn't affect me DIRECTLY, I've just noticed through friends and family that it was something that needed to be said.....sorry for the rant, I had to be able to say this somewhere and no one reads this :)

Just a little Disney magic :)

2011-01-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

Booooo... no pictures

2010-12-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

I actually have lots of pictures but my camera cord is nowhere to be found....so here are some updates

-Corey and I moved out of our charming townhome-mostly becuase the company we were renting from was anything BUT charming!...and being that we are STILL waiting on our $1200 deposit to be returned I hate them even more.
-We went to my Mom's for Thanksgiving....it was a very active trip with Turkey Bowl Thursday and volleyball friday...then everyone got the stomach flu so I'm pretty sure noone gained any holiday weight :)...and Boy do I hate Overton, just so everyone knows :)
-I'll be staying in Salt Lake for Christmas which is fine by me it's more christmas-y up here...I do love the snow....which is crazy, I know, but after living in a desert wasteland for so long and living through a winter in the frozen tundra of Germany...Salt Lake City suits me just fine.
-I am taking the boys I Nanny to DISNEYLAND! :) WAHOO!! I am so stinkin excited, they have never been and I just can't wait to see how they react...We're leaving the day after Christmas :)

I think that's all for now... I'll be posting pictures of my little handmade christmas gifts, so please check in the next few days to tell me what you think... REALLY... :)

Birthdays, Birthdays.....BIRTHDAYS

2010-11-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Let me just give you a run down of the past few months as well as the upcoming ones....
august
Trent-Brother
Mom
Dad
september
Tudie-Aunt
Grandma
Miranda-Sister
october
Corey
Maddie
Halloween
novemberME
Thanksgiving
december
Frances
both of corey's sisters
Christmas

Does anyone else have siblings or family members birthdays all piled up on top of each other? I wouldn't mind it so much if the holidays weren't all at the same time as well! Needless to say Corey and I's money stash has taken a hit!

I am still so very excited to thanksgiving and christmas though...I went to 'Micheals' craft store last night and got nearly everything I need to MAKE the gifts I'm giving (yes make!) I really feel like i'm cheating though, i love crafty things so much I feel like I'm giving myself a gift.

YAY for the Holidays!!!

Is anyone else planning on giving homemade crafts?
I would love to hear what your doing!

How do you deal with stress?...

2010-09-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

I have been under and enormous amount of stress the past month or so. I ussually handle stress with ease it's something that I pride myself on...I would watch other people get angry at nothing or cry and the drop of a hat and I would think "dude, get it together". But now I am on the inside of the glass house and I dont know how to deal. The hardest part for me is that so many things are out of my control. I am in no way a control freak but when I can't do anything about something that is effecting me I just crumble. The 'stressors' that ARE in my control I havn't been dealing with so well either. I have a number of different things in the works right now that I am hoping will all pan out but the waiting game is killing me...I am grouchy, and tired, and mad at everyone, and I cry ALLLLL the time....PLEASE someone help me. What do you do when you are so overwhelmed all you can think to do is lie on the floor for a few years until things just solve themselves?

I just can't wait....

2010-09-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

til this becomes a DIY wedding blog :).... I have sooo many ideas and I have found so many other amazing wedding blogs that the excitement is killing me... hopefully I can maintain all this excitement until march 10th, 2012! until then let me just bless you all with these.

http://bridalhood.blogspot.com/

http://amountainbride.blogspot.com/

http://2000dollarwedding.com/

laceyandlikes.blogspot.com <---These guys have an AMAZING wedding video

Welp...

2010-08-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

I just watched THIS really sad video so I'm a bit depressed....but i'll keep on truckin and tell you all (meaning myself...i have no assumptions that anyone else cares to read this crap) that the girls went back to live with satan herself in satans lair (vegas) on sunday. So that was sad but we did have a fun day at lagoon before they made the trip

i know my face looks weird it's a combination of the pnuemonia that was setting in and the VERY bright sun which seemed to only bless myself with it's rays.

that's all for my update this week :) the following in really just for me...I need a place to put my TO DO lists... as well as random thoughts...and this seems as good as any.

Get Car registered in UT

get the emmisions test thing

find title of my car

Call insurance

Get UT drivers license

Send in transcript requests

get ticket fixed

look for houses

Just Cant say it enough

2010-08-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

I LOVE JACK JOHNSON

He is truly amazing, I love his music and everything he stands up for an believes in is so great....Did you know that 100% of the proceeds from his tour go to non profit orginizations that are dedicated to greener living? and before every conert he plays an accoustic set in front of the non profit booths at the venue he is playing at just to make sure people know they are there and get involved. Can anyone think of one other rockstar that would do that!?...I certainly can't.

So anyway Corey and I went to his concert here on the 13th and it was of course wonderful I was FRONT AND CENTER for his acoustic set and I truly feel like I can die happy now :)

This is my third time seeing him but my first with corey....The first time i ever saw him i went with Brooke and we had both agreed until recently that it was definitly the best day of our lives thus far, we bought Lawn seets and some very nice man was walking around looking for REAL fans and he gave us pit passes where we were just a row or two away from him...Then I saw him in berlin and he made me so happy and comfortable at a time when I was really struggling with the language and meeting friends...then this time I was able to actually touch him! :) it was amazing....

Ok moving on to the weekend :)....on saturday corey and the girls and I woke up early (as early as we could so about 9) and drove up to Lava hot springs for the day. It was SO much fun! if anyone in the area is able to go or is even thinking of going DEFINITLY go. I think Corey and I had even more fun than the girls did.

They also have on indoor pool with a little rock wall and more diving boards...it was seriousl SO fun

And here's a picture of corey and his girls for Amanda :)...This was from our disneyland trip

Just little Shout Out

2010-08-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to make sure everyone knew about PSYCH.....it's is one of maybe two or three shows that actually makes me laugh OUT LOUD... :) just watch it cause you might LOVE it

Just another manic monday....

2010-08-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

This was a fun week...It was slow to start but great to finish :) on Thursday we went to see these guys

Yes, I was RUSH-I-FIED.....:) They were really amazing, truly AMAZING musicians. And from what Corey tells me the Drummer (THE UNDISPUTED BEST DRUMMER IN THE WORLD) has had a totally tragic life thus far and has somehow come out of it an amazing person...and I'm not talking about drugs or anything like that, he's had actual tragedies that were not brought on by himself, if you get a chance google Niel Peart and you'll see what I mean.

On saturday we went up to Park city to take a look at the Art festival, there were all kinds of beautiful and amazing artwork, that were thousands of dollars out of our price range. :) So we went to a really cute Italian restraunt and SPLUUUURGED ....it was delicious, we colored on the table and ate Caprese and loved each other :)

This week ought to be pretty good too, Tab and Jess are here for Trents birthday tomorrow, We're having nice little BBQ at a park...And Corey is in Vegas now getting the girls so they can spend August with us. Friday is JACK JOHNSON!!! :) I love him and I know he'd love me if he knew me :) Then on the 31st we're all going to Owl City and John Mayer which will be fun but lets face it... They're no Jack Johnson :) YAY for a concertfulAugust :)

My Boys...

2010-08-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

SEBASTIAN

ALEXANDRE

These handsome fellows are the new men in my life, I've been there nanny since October (which is crazy to me because that means I will have lived here for a year in less than two months!? THIS YEAR HAS GONE INSANELY FAST!)....They are so very cute and remind me of the cuties in Germany that i miss so very much :)....Being a nanny has plenty of advantages as well as disadvantages but over all I do really enjoy it. The only things that ever make me consider just completely quiting all together are the parents, I always love the kids I nanny :) A little while ago Corey was nice enough to accompany us on a little hike to the Timpanogus Cave (no idea how to spell Timpanogas). So the rest of the pictures are from that, they both really did well considering it was a mile and a half STRAIGHT UP, Alexandre was on Corey's back and I'm not sure if you can tell how much of a chunk he is but Corey definitely had the hardest trip of all of us, poor guy...but oh I love him so! :) I have learned so much about myself, kids, marriage, and life in general since I decided to be a nanny it's an amazing way to look into other people's lies and figure out what works and doesn't work with out having to figure it out on your own life :)...I know now that while I LOVE kids i will be waiting a GREAT WHILE until I have my own. With Corey's two girls and the kids I watch I don't have the 'hunger' as some people put it and I get to see first hand just how much work it REALLY is. I also get to see how different couples interact with each other and what makes them successful or maybe not so successful...it's almost like therapy :) Any way I just thought I'd share with you, my Cute guys :)

My love, a hair cut, and a new home!

2010-06-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

Guess who's here! :)

This handsome man and I are finally living together in sin, again! :) Corey made the big move at the begining of may, YAY!!!

And just today we put the money down to move into this cute little townhome

It's really cute, and the second bedroom has the really neat little loft area with hardwood floors, and both bedrooms have really high vaulted ceilings.

Plus a nice little yard for this guy

:)... It's not our dream place but it'll work for as long as we need it!

AAAAND I got my hair cut! :(

BEFORE

AFTER

I'm pretty much used to it now, but I definately regret it... :(

Just Thoughts and happenings...

2010-04-15T23:04:00.000-07:00

I've been sick for a while.., It seems like everytime i get over something a NEW something starts up...Terrible cough into worst back pain EVER into food poisoning into terrible allergies and into lots of other gross and sickening things..perhaps my body is just breaking down?

Kids are so funny! The boys I watch are too freaking cute and such little...jerks?...that not the right word but you know what I mean...Sebastian is way to smart for his little britches he's constantly trying to compromise and insulting me in ways that I sometimes don't understand...his lastest comment "Haley, if you dont go get me some juice, I'm going to start putting you down"...on the cute side I was folding laundry while they were playing behind me and I was singing...I get done and turn around to see him sitting crossed legged looking up at me. Then he gets up and gives me a big hug and says "Thankyou for my beautiful song!"...the kid kills me.

Alexandre, the younger one has finally started saying random little words and I love it... he is SO cute! He does this new thing where whenever I'm sitting he somehow finds a way to climb on top of me and stand on my chest...I go home with bruises. on the NOT so cute side, the kid HATES taking naps!!...so I in turn hate him (only for a little bit)

I am anxiously awaiting Corey's arrival...He'll be here by the end of the month and I could not be happier. I know he's nervous about making a move (which is really hard for me to relate to) but i know everything will be so much better and easier for him....Hip hip HOORAY!

Last Week Corey and I took a nice little road trip to Phoenix, Holtville, San Diego, and Laguna Nigel. It was great... but it was A LOT of driving, we've both had back issues since then and our butts are so sore! We took pictures but I have'nt uploaded them yet.

I LOVE my Mom...She is so cute, she makes every holiday special and it make me want to do things for other people...also my cousins Megan and Court, they are just great Court is frickin hillarious and Meg is just about the cutest Mom there ever was...I'm so glad that they let me ambush their house most weekends.

I love Volleyball...it's like the one thing I can always look forward to. No matter if im sick or tired or injured I dont think I'll ever turn down a chance to play...

What's with bathrooms that dont have windows?...it's not right...dont you know how easily mold spores can build up? two or three bathtubs full and your breathing some nasty shiz!

I have some great ideas, I have good ambitions,and high hopes...if only I could get my butt in gear and do something great...Im not even sure what is happening to make it so hard to start, I think it's cause I dont have any good excuses for not doing them, I dont have kids or some crazy career, and yet I dont take advantage of this, what I need is a big SWOOping kick in the ass...but FER-REAL I have got to start doing some worth-while things or things are going to get ridiculous...

I think I die inside (just a little) when I hear of someone younger than my younger sisters getting married and having kids...for some reason it always make me rethink choices I've made...then I check myself and look at all my pictures from Europe, and start planning ways to go back, they dont make me feel bad about being 24, unmarried and childless...oh, I miss it...so very very much.

I think more than anything I need to be reminded at how short life is...I need to make sure that Im doing things I want to do...then if they dont work out I have no one to blame but myself and if they do work out, I can rest easy and feel proud that I was smart enough to know the right decision to make...
If I make a goal, or I have soemthing that I KNOW is important to me i NEED to do it and stop waiting around for something easier or whatever the hell it is Im waiting for, to come along...Come on Haley, your disappointing me and my hopes for you, get your act together and get good already!!!....fer-real

Zion

2010-03-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

Corey and I took a much needed little Vacay last weekend to Zion. My sisters and I played in a volleyball tournament in St. George on Friday then Saturday Corey and I headed up to ZION. It was Beautiful, a little cold and I was Sick and Sore from the tournament but we still had a great time, we stayed at a REALLY great place called 'Cliffrose Inn' and we got a room/suite for $100 that is ussually $230 because they were still on winter Rates (yay!). It was very relaxing and SO nice for us to just be together. While we were there we saw a wedding. They just had it out in the middle of nowhere at the head of the trail going into the narrows. It looked beautiful! small and you could tell everyone who needed to be there, was. Corey and I were completely jealous.

Heres to you...

2010-02-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

I've recently become aquainted with quite a few (more than I'd like) recovering addicts. Im always so surprised at how people treat people like this. Everyone is always so proud of them for quitting and happy that they're finally on the right path. And while I am completely happy for them and greatful that they're no longer on the wrong path and a danger to themselves their loved ones and society as a whole. I feel like the people who NEVER went down the 'wrong' dont get enough praise. So here's to you.....
-to everyone who never started smoking cigarettes because you knew they were addictive, disgusting, and bad for you.
-to everyone who has chosen not to drink alcohol, and for those that have chosen thankyou for being responsible in your extra-curricular activities...YOU dont drive drunk, YOU dont get drunk when your home alone with your kids...
-to everyone who never tried marijuana because you knew it was a gateway drug and would probably lead to even worse things, or turn you into a lazy butt that mooched off everyone you knew.
-To everone who realizes that their life is made possible by the people who love them and think about decisions that would affect them before they choose to do something foolish

I am proud of every person who has been faced with adversity, had things not go their way, or had terrible things happen to them or done to them (which is everyone) and not chosen an easy or lazy way out.

Thankyou all

DISNEYLAND!

2010-02-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

YAY :)...Corey and I, in our 4 nearly 5 years together, haven't even been together and I am so FREAKING excited! We're going the first weekend of March and it will be my first time going since I had my ill-advised blonde hair :)

This is Miranda and I in front of the glorious Teacups...i had an amazing video but for some reason blogspot doesnt agree with it :)....

Anyway, just thought i'd share my excitement!!! :)

I miss my Grandma...

2010-02-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

My Grandma Haight passed away two weeks ago today...the whole thing was really rough, I've never lost anyone close to me and I didnt know how I would handle it...so far not so good. The hardest part for me was that towards the end of her life everything was really hard, she and my grandpa had gotten in a terrible accident around 5 years ago (I mean terrible with shattered ankles and ribs, and peices of intestine needing to be removed). She also has a son she adopted, who is truly the worst human being on the planet, he stole money from them had friends come to their house and steal possesions...just terrible things...and on top of all that for the last 25 years she had excruciating pains in her face and head that came and went as they please, in order to try and fix this she had brain surgery, all of her teeth removed, continuos doctors visits and was on a TON of medication...NOTHING helped... then maybe a month or so ago we started to notice that she wasnt having them....it was because she had alzheimers and couldnt remember having them...Her alzheimers wasn't terrible, she could remember all of her kids and her life, just had trouble retaining new information....So I though FINALLY she get's a break, no pains, doesnt remember how terrible her son is...maybe she'll have a few great years. then about a week later she contracted a staff infection and passed away...I can't tell you how sad it makes me...It get even worse when I see my Grandpa. They were married for nearly 60 years, and when I saw him recently and asked how he was he replied "I'm lonely all the time, very very lonely" My grandparents are good people they raised 10 children together have loaned money to every child grandchild or orgnization that asked, have opened their home to anyone who needed it, and about a million other things that would qualify both of them for sainthood. I certainly hope that there is a heaven and that my Grandma is the queen of it because that's what she deserves.
I'll be getting married soon and the thought of not having her there makes me sadder than you can imagine. I miss her, she was the matriarch of the family and nonone can replaces that...I hate growing up, I hate being resposible, and i dont like that I have to deal with things like death and aging loved ones... it all just makes me very sad.

Going private...

2010-02-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

I realize that this sounds rediculous, I'm a single person i dont really have to worry about weird people looking at my kids or anything, but I just recently found someone wrote a whole post about something I wrote awhile ago that was very rude and not even accurate, this person isnt my friend I dont know her at all....I totally understanding the blogstalking stuff I do it too sometimes but I would never disrepect the complete strangers whose blogs I look at, by making them feel bad about something they wrote...a Blog is the ONE place I think I should be able to speak my mind without having to worry about who Im making mad or offending... I write things for me (obviously) If you dont like it then dont read it!!! so I'm just going to go private to make sure these people aren't subjected to my 'cruelty'....I dont care who reads my blog I just dont want people reading it then speaking badly about me, that doesnt seem right... My blog is NOT exciting at all and Im almost positive noone reads it anyway :).BUT, please let me know if you'd like to keep reading, regardless of who you are, and I'll add you to 'the list'.

Random Thoughts...

2010-01-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

I think its crazy how long it takes to find out what your having when your pregnant...I feel like its a dirty trick to get you attatched to this thing inside you before you really know what your in for...

Corey's Ex wife got married last weekend and I could not be happier that her last name is no longer Beck...nope, its reek, as in super smelly

There is a lot of weight being lost among my friends and family... I feel like I should jump on this bandwagon but I dont really feel like it, its not neccesarily a lazy thing it's more of like a lack of neccesity, I feel great, I work out a few times a week with no problems... I might not look as great as I feel but I luckily have a guy who thinks Im beautiful :)...Eventually I will get on a serious health kick cause I really would LOVE to do a triathalon (sp?)...but for now I'll divide my time as I see fit.

My Massage therapy school is ridiculous...I better get a job somewhere awesome when i graduate cause anyone that has to deal with these people for 9 more months, should be getting well paid...

My sister Miranda gives looks that, Im convinced, can REALLY kill.

I love used book stores

2010 Resolutions!

2009-12-31T23:54:00.000-08:00

-Marry Corey
-Sing or play in a Band
-Go back to Europe to visit
-Write/Finish writing a book
-Take a German language class
-Lose weight
-Start playing volleyball again
-Go to the Doctor
-Take my camera with me everywhere

it doesn't seem like a lot but a lot of people only do one thing, plus, it's all I can think of for now...
Here is to a happier, more productive, cleaner, BETTER year :)

Stalker

2009-12-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

ok maybe stalker is too strong a word, but my previous employer is completely insane and will not leave me alone. I gave her 3 weeks notice, she underpayed me, and then didnt let me say goodbye to her kids..you'd think she would have gotten over whatever issues she had by now, but no...at first it was only ridiculous emails then I got a nasty text a few weeks before christmas then I got a "merry christmas" text and then a "2009 is almost over send this to everyone who made you smile" what a psycho! She has no reason to be mad at me or to even care what Im doing! I've never written back and I only replied to one email, where I asked her to leave me alon. Everytime I get something from her it totally throws me off and I get sick to my stomach...I dont like to dissapoint anyone when I took that job I was sure that I would be staying in Las Vegas for at least a few years, I can't help it that nothing in my personal life went how I wanted it to go and I also didnt know how much I would HATE las vegas...I appologized a million times for letting them down and gave them plenty of time to find someone else and she seemed fine and all supportive until my last two days when she told me that they all had swine flue and that she'd leave my check under the doormat then the crazy emails and texts started. I really hate this woman I hated working for her and I hate that I still have to deal with her even after I've quit....how does anyone else deal with crazy people???

Ah... Christmas :)

2009-12-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

June Lake was beautiful, if anyone ever has the chance to go definately take it... the slopes were great and not crowded at all and everyone there was so nice and treated everyone like family I am so glad we decided to go here cause it was great! I'm sad its over and Corey and I are apart again, but hopefully he'll be moving soon and all of this ridiculous apart-ness will be over...

Online Shopping

2009-12-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

I truly love online shopping, I can finally experience the joy of giving without haveing to deal with all the crazies in the stores... PLUS the weather here has been really terrible and I could not be happier that I have gotten pretty much all of my shopping done...I am going to face WALMART today but Im confidant that my christmas cheer will get me through any kind of decay in society that I may encounter....I hope this doesn't brand me as a screwg (I have not idea how to spell that) Cause I really am loving the christmas spirit, but lets face it, nothing can make you lose the christmas spirit faster than hour long checkout lines or out of stock toys....

I hate the Law

2009-12-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

What the hell is up with me getting pulled over ALL THE TIME! I've lived in salt lake for about a month and a half now and have been pulled over twice!!!!! TWO $90 Tickets...JUST before Christmas...Some people go there whole lives without getting pulled over... there whole lives!!!! I truly hate the judicial system. And people who are attracted to cops have obviously not been harassed as badly as i am because when I see one or meet one I really wanna spew. Less than 6 months ago I had to pay over $2000 in tickets impound fees and DMV bs (things that expired while i was in Germany) just so I could drive! THEN had my moms truck towed because it broke down and wasnt in an appropriate parking place. I have had several experiences with police and not one of them good! I got in a car accident in Vegas in the middle of summer and the cop forced my sister and I all bruised and crying on the curb while he sat in his air conditioned cruiser drinking several bottles of water, another was when i got pulled over for all my stuff being out of date, the cop took my car in AUGUST IN ARIZONA and made my dog and I wait by the side of the road until my dad came from 2 hours away, it's one thing to 'do your job' and impound my car but it's another to leave a girl with a big ol suitcase and a cute dog on the side of the road in the middle of an arizona summer... Not once has the system helped me, NOT ONCE. I am not one for generalizing, so I'll say that I hate every cop i've met...aside from my good friend Gideon :)... So when the police call for a donation I'll just let them know that I have contributed ENOUGH...

the whoes of christmas...

2009-12-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

I just dont want to spend christmas with my family... its not that I dont want to be with my family it's that I dont want to be where they are... My Dad is coming up to salt lake (where I live) and My mom is staying in Overton (where I grew up)...I only get so many days off in the year so please forgive me if i dont want to spend those days in the places I have spent most of my life in...I am NOT a homebody, I like seeing other places... I NEED to get away as often as possible... so PLEASE family, try and understand this :)

June Lake, CA....Here I come :)

2009-12-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Corey and I are not great at desicion making...He is a little worse at it than me so it forces me into making decisions but the process of reaching our decision is a long and annoying process.

WHERE TO GO

JUNE LAKE, CA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

2009-12-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

Corey found out this morning that his Grandpa on his Dad's side passed away last night. His grandpa on his Mom's side passed away a little over a month ago. Both were good old men who lived good lives, but non the less, losing anyone is hard. Both seemed to have had such a hard time as life got closer to a close. His Grandpa Beck seemed to be doing ok aside from a little dimentia, until his roomate at a nursing home (which he had just gone to a few weeks before) attacked him! It was the middle of the night and apparantly this man just got very violent and beat him to the point where he was unconscious and had bleeding on his brain. you wonder why these things happen. You live your life as well as you can, you'd think that by the end of it things should start getting easier, I guess that's a silly thought 'life being easy', at any age. So many things are out of our control, bad things happen no matter who you are or what you do. The best we can hope for is good luck, and a small amount of stability.

Corey in front of his Granpa Becks house in Bear Lake

2009-11-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

I want this book for christmas :)....This is the description:

Designed to help sort out the next five years of your personal and professional life, this hardcover book will give recent graduates, perpetual daydreamers and those considering a career change a slew of inspiring things to think about.

It's called '5' by Dan Zadra...Hint hint Honey...Hint Hint

A new Start

2009-11-30T10:44:00.000-08:00

A few people told me it was going to be a hard adjustment coming back to the states after living in Europe, I didnt really take them seriously I figured I would be able to get back into the old me fairly easily but it is tough...I've been trying to deal with life moving forward and I've been having a hard time so I thought if I could get some of my feelings and thoughts down that might help... so here we go

Back in America!!!!

2009-05-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow at 9:36 pm I will be in Las Vegas!!!! YAY! :)

Going to rome in the morning!

2009-05-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

So about a week ago I got a TERRIBLE hair cut from a very unfriendly German woman (German precision my ass!)... in an attempt to make the uneveness less noticable I decided to die my hair a little darker brown... and vwua-la!... PURPLE!.... the post ends with me telling you that I'm going to rome tomorrow... with purple, badly cut hair....I thought the people in germany chose to have there terrible haircuts and oddly colored hair... but apparently those are the only options....God bless America friends... GOD BLESS AMERICA...

And YAY! I'm going to Rome!!! :)

Mom's Visit

2009-04-29T03:19:00.000-07:00

So because Im retarted this blog is kind of backwards... Salzburg was the last place we visited but the pictures are first :) oh well, cronological order is over-rated anyway

Salzburg, Austria

I think I wasnt supposed to be in there Best Friends :)

there were about 20 statues like this and we have pictures with all of them

the place we stayed was right next to a flamingo farm for some reason

Innsbruck, Austria

this was actually reall scarey to take cause it was STRAIGHT down over that ledge

The best way to "climb" the alps

Neuschwanstein Castle

easily my favorite picture of the trip

this was the castle where the guy who built
the BIG castle grew up

Just a quick note!

2009-04-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

I've been living in the land of no internet :)...it's actually been a little refreshing but never the less annoying. I can't beleive I havent posted anything since greece!... so here's what goin down...
My Mom come to visit and we took a nice little road trip through southern Germany and austria some of the Highlights were
-Nueschwanstein, the castle Disney used for inspiration! It was amazing and beautiful!
- Innsbruck Austria where I went to the top on the Alps!!!
-Salzburg Austria, the birthplace on Mozart, and where the Sound of Musice was filmed! we stayed like right next the Von trap house!
AND many more the whole trip was amaying and really fun and Im so glad that my mom finally got to europe! :)

Next Month Im going to Rome!!!! I am sooo friggin excited and Im going with some people who are actually from Rome so I really could not be luckier... I friggin love europe...

and lastly.... MY TICKET HOME IS OFFICIALLY BOOKED!!!! HOW CRAZY IS THAT! I'LL BE BACK INTO VEGAS ON MAY 29th 9:30 pm
I have to admit that it is a littl bitter sweet I'll really miss the family I've been with and the kids and all the people that I've become really good friends with, but It will be nice to get into the US of A!!! With family and friends and my Honey!:)... sooo
I will put lots of pictures up soon (if anyone still reads this thing)... and I hope everyone is well!!!

GREECE Pictures!!!

2009-03-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

This Post will pretty much just be pictures I'll do another one with all of the cool information I learned later... Until then... :)

The First ever "athletes Village" (is that what its called? its where the Olympians stayed during the olympics)

The First ever Olympic Stadium

The Island Aegina

Zues' Palace

The Acropolis

This was on the way up to the Acropolis, it's like the first Theater, EVER.

View of the acropolis from Zues' Palace

Some hillarious Quotes

2009-02-25T04:35:00.000-08:00

Most of these conversations took place in German... so the translations might not be as funny but these are things I want to remember

Man on Radio- Hallo Zusamen!
Me-Why does he say that? it means hello together right?.. I dont get what it means
Johanna- I know it just means like hello everbody
Me- Well that's stupid, why doesnt he just say 'hallo Jedeman' then?
Johanna- I dont know it is just another thing so Americans dont learn German

Yesterday was Carnival and all the kids dress up like halloween Johanna was a Jaguar...
Johanna was running up the stairs and fell and started crying so her friend came over and says
friend- It's ok, dont cry, Tigers dont cry
Johanna- Im a jaguar! they cry!

Me- tedddy why wont you go poop on the toilet? are you scared or just lazy?
teddy- I do go on the toilet but the poop is scared of the toilet and it wont come out.

Johanna- A girl in my class think that you are very pretty, I dont know why, I think she just like brown hair.

Emma was an astronaut(sp?) for Carnival
Emma- I dont want to be and astronaut when I grow up so maybe I shouldnt be one for carnival
Amelie- well johanna isnt going to be a jaguar
Emma- No but she can always drive one

Teddy- Haley, I am bad
Me- what?
teddy- I pooped

Teddy- I am blue, green and purple...what color are you? (not for a game or anything he was just saying this in general
Me-ummm.. I am red..
teddy- Just red?.... your boring

Me- teddy do you want apple juice?
Teddy- no I hate apple juice
me- ok do you want water?
Teddy- no I want apple juice

Johanna- Haley you are the best Aupair! when we get our new au pair I will tell her that she is the best au pair, but really you will be the best au pair.
Me- Ha!
Johanna- all of my teachers thin kthat they are the best teachers but I done even like any of them

Teddy- the sun is shining.... I hate it

Me- So how was your day?
Johanna- Good
Emma- Good
Teddy- Stupid

Teddy- when we are home you shouldnt leave, cause when you leave I will cry
Me- Ok
Teddy- is my Mamma home?
Me- I think so
Teddy- Ok when we are home you should leave.

Teddy was a Lion for Carnival...
Teddy- will you come down stairs with me?
Me- ya!
Teddy- no you should say yes, LION.

Überlegungen und Fragen über Blogging (thoughts and questions about blogging)

2009-02-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

I cannot beleive how many people my age and younger are working on there second and 3rd kids...It truly amazing and I give you people all the kudo's I could offer cause there is NO WAY I could be a stay at home (or working) mother right now, which is really a plus for me that all my friends started early cause now when/if I ever have kids, I'll be able to take all your old clothes toys and advice :)...On that note... CONGRAT'S to two new Mothers, Sheena and Meka! I'm so happy for you guys!
-I LOVE when people have those blog tracker things where it says from which town someone is from that is looking at your blog...cause when I go on there is says berlin and there's a little German flag, and I can just see people thinking 'who the hell is in Germany?'...
-Brittany Marshalls blog is like the best one ever, she should be some sort of comic writer.
-ok FOR REAL there is NO need for a highschool reunion anymore right?.. I mean with blogging facebook myspace, youtube, and every other 'networking site' that's out there I think we all pretty much know what everyone else is up to...
I have blogs already written with captions and everything, I just can't find a computer to upload my pictures!... it truly upsets me.
-Does anyone else jump around on blogs?... I'll look at blogs of people I dont know... I just think it's really interesting,,, and I'v found really cool stuff from 'date' ideas, wedding ideas, children rearing methods, photographers, places to visit, recipes... ect... Does anyone else do that or am I just nosey?
-I need to find a user-friendly site to change my blog... everyone elses' is really cute I dont even know where to go to get those cute layouts....anyone?

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone! Im in greece! :) I went to a BEAUTIFUL island today, rented a scooter and scootered around all day ... it was pretty much the coolest thing I've ever done and I'm totally buying a vespa as soon as I get home... I miss and love everyone! and happy V day!!! (especially YOU Buhb!)

2009-01-26T04:38:00.000-08:00

Mein Computer ist Wieder Kaput!....ya My computer is completely broken...I hate how technology makes you completely dependant on it, then just quits out of nowhere... so anyway I'm still alive.
I Going to Greece next Month! I'm REALLY excited...then Portugal, then Ireland, and I'm gunan try and get a trip to Milan in too, it's only about an hour and a half flight so I think I can go for a weekend or somthing.... It's really amazing being here, in europe you can jump on a plane and be in a completely different culture, government, language... you name it, in a matter of minutes, I love it.
I'm coming back home on May 29th, that's when my Visa is up so legally I have to leave, not that I'm not going to be happy to be back, but it will be a little bitter sweet I think.
I start another Laguage class next week, it's everyday like it was befor so I'm not really looking forward to the intensity but it's good cause I know that I'll be fluent by the time I get back.
It's still pretty cold here... the ice is starting to melt but it's supposed to get real cold again... :(.. I was talking to my friend from Arizona the other day and she said it was about 75 there, and I was like really? well I walked on a lake today!...I am definately NOT a cold weather person...
I found an American Library wich is now how I will be spending ALL my spare time :)

I think that's all the updates for now...I really wish I had some pictures!

Olympia-Stadion

2009-01-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest things I've seen in Berlin is Olypmia-Stadion....this was the site of the 1936 olympics which happened while Berlin was under Nazi control...I dont really know why I liked it so much but the whole thing really just made a big impression on me

This bell was in the tower above where hitler gave the opening cerimonies speech
I know this looks like a prison but it was actually an entrance to the pool

this was where hitler gave his speech (also the first peice of video to be broadcasted into space) ALSO there were a lot of first time things used in these olypics, the 'running camera' the camera placed on a rail to "run" next to the athletes on the track or in the pool....there are a few more I just can't think of them...

the stadium

Typical Nzi architechture, over bearing and dominant, there are still quite a few buildings around berlin that were built during this time and you can always spot them

They use the stadium mostly for soccer games now

the front entrance

it was cold and windy

this is my "why the heck does this thing look like a prison?" face

me trapped in the 'prison'

Correction...

2009-01-07T04:34:00.000-08:00

It seemed like I was calling my family boring in that last post, that is very FAR from the truth...My family is very exciting and accomplished

This video is too cute

2009-01-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

It's official, I am in love with Teddy...I'm completely attached and I cry when I think about leaving him :( He's so cute, and he loves me too he says it all the time and when I pick him up from Kindergarten he runs to me and says "HALEYYYYY!!!! Ich habe dich sooooo vermist!" (I missed you sooooo much!) I can't beleive how fast this year is going...I've learned a lot about myself as well as other people. I've had amazing oportunities that I will be forever greatful for and met wonderful people that will be lifelong friends. I am mad at my family for not taking advantage of me being here, and come to visit (you all are ridiculous and whatever excuses you all have hold no water with me). I am afraid sometimes that when I go back I'll becom like you and come up with meaningless excuses not to do things that I want to, too. That is the scariest part of going back....I dont want to get stuck in a boring life.... anyway, in addition to this Venting post I'm going to add the "101 things about me tag" I started it sometime in september and just finished it... It was a good tag.. and I think everyone should do it just to see what you find out about yourself...

1. I took a 'what year do you belong in' quiz... this is what is said....You Belong in 1987
Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.
2. I love to dance
3.I'm writing a book
4. I love every song that I've ever heard by Kanye west, I can't bring myself to buy a CD cause I think he's such an idiot.... but i love him!...it's weird
5. I get goosebumbs every time I see something cool, like someone singing well, people dancing together, stuff like that...
6. I REALLY want to sing in a band...
7I love live music...even if they're bad I can appreciate people who try.
8. I used to be really 'baby hungry" and now I dont even know if I want kids at all, and I heard the longer you wait the less you want them...oops
9.I love disney....like everything about it...they basically create happiness...I wanna get in on that
10. I haven't played volleyball in almost 2 months, wich is the longest I've ever gone without having an injury being the reason...
11.I love food, I hate diets, which is why I never do, when I want to loose weight I just work out more...I know I'm not disciplined enough to change my eating habbits
12.I love sleeping, I dont think a lot of people think of it as an actvity but i definately do
13.When I get back to the states my list of places to go is S. America (brazil, argentina), Australia New Zealand, southern Italy....and then I'm done
14. My list of places to go while I'm still here in Germany is Ireland, Greece, scottland, and Spain
15. I love any acoustic music.
16. I cant do one thing at a time, if I'm cleaning I'll have a movie on, if i'm reading I'll have music on, if i'm cooking dinner I'll check my email...
17. love my hair
18. I constantly get all dressed up and ready to go out, then change my mind and stay in I'll ussually tell my friends I'm sick or going somewhere else...
19. I would really like to live somewhere where no one knows me
20. Now that I'm not doing any sports I'm going to get REALLY skinny, I was never able to before because I always lose a lot of energy when I lose weight.
21.I love chinese food
22, I love mexican food
23. I love italian food
24. I love to cook
25. I Hate running, but I love toneing excersizes
26. I have a high threshold for physical pain, but I'll think about it for days if someone says they dont like me
27. I cry everytime watch 'the Notebook'
28. I've never walked out of a movie in the theaters
29. I take a nap almost everyday
30. I hate songs that have sounds in them that make me think my phone is ringing
31. I went to 3 different colleges and played on two volleyball teams and 1 softball team
32. I can jump high
33. I want to surf for a living
34. I want to retire to south america
35. I LOVE my dog
36. I want another Sharpei and a st. Bernard, but only if I live somewhere colder, cause they have to much hair to live in the heat...
37. My favorite color is Kelly Green
38. I have an aunt and uncle who are probably the best parents I've ever seen, I want them to write a book just so I can read it.
39. I have a terrible memory, most of the things I remember from my childhood are only because we have them on tape.
40. my front 6 teeth are Veneers
41. I brush my teeth after nearly every meal
42. My competetive nature gets mistaken for cockyness a lot
43. I am VERY competative
44. I have to have a movie or music on to go to sleep to, if I'm alone
45. My favorite number is 4
46. I want to name my kids (if I have any) Hayden, Tresten, Dartagnon (like the musketeer) Harrison, Raylee and Camiley...
47. I only want boys
48. I'm not judgemental ... at all
49. When someone is being talked about about even if it's a famous person, I almost always stick up for them, it's like I feel bad that they can't stand up for themselves...corey really hates this cause he thinks I'm never on his side.
50. I HATE being strong, it just makes people think they can ask you to lift heavy things
51. I need a lot of attention
52. My grandma Nanette is my role model.
53. I fantasize a lot.. about lots of things...
54. I talk to myself, and also reherse how I'm going to say something, or repeat something I have said so I can hear it again to see if it had the impact I wanted.
55. I love having dinner with friends....it makes me feel like a grown up
56. I almost always offer to pay, even if I know I dont have the money, I dont know why, it just seems polite
57. I copied two of my biggest habbits from friends... how weird is that?
58. I LOVE my engagement ring... I would have chosen it from all the rings in the world
59. I have little hands
60. I really like to play the Piano but I don't like to tell my family about it cause Tabetha is than me, and I dont like not being the best (remember the competetive thing?)

61. If I am around a really positive person I become very negativ and annoyed, and vice versa

62. I think I might be really bad at volleyball now, that's kind of scary

63. Seeing happy dogs with good owners makes me very happy

64. I am extremely sarcastic and I love it when people take me seriously...

65.I think that if you come from a big family it prepares you a little better for real life.

66.When I get back I want to visit my grandma for like a month

67. Sometimes I really think I am going to die... like I'll be in bed and have a weird breathing pattern or something weird will hurt, and I'll just think 'i'm not waking up'

68. I've never tried an illegal drug

69. I know I said Ilove my hair but I think about cutting it daily...

70.I really hate the cold

71. I hate driving in the snow!

72. I really dont have the proper shoes for winter, my feet are always cold

73. For my next 'present giving' holiday at home I am going to ask for a sewing machine

74. Im almost always tired, and if I wake up tired then I look that way the rest of the day...

75.I can look presentable within 5 minutes of waking up, I do it almost everyday.. but...

76.I really want to start taking better care of myself, wearing better clothes, brushing my hair more than once a week,... things like that :)

77. I like cute pajamas

78. I want to get married at Bear lake... I think

79. I like doing crafty things

80.I like organized things... and I like to organize things... I realize that dosnt make sense because am a slob but I really do actually like it

81. I made calendars to hang up in my little apartment, and I loved doing it.

82. Amelie and Mathias seemed genuinely surprised that I got them christmas presents... is it weird that I did?... I got the kids one too...

83. I love the show Arrested Development... and now thanks to Gemma's boyfriend I'm addicted to Greys anatomy again.

84. I really think about dissapearing sometimes... just leaving everything familiar and starting a new life... not that my life isnt good I just wonder what it would be like.

85. the 'W' key on my keyboard is broken.... I hve to press it about 100 times to get it to work.

86. I really like movies.

87. I hope lots of my european friends come to visit me in once I move back

88. There's this Irish guy here that I TRULY hate...he just really bugs me

89. I really miss watching Conan O'brien

90. I can spot people with low self esteem almost immediatly

91. I like painting my nails... I dont think a lot of people do that anymore

92. I love getting packages from my family :) they make me happy

93. I kind of want to go to the hospital while I'm here, like break a bone or something, just for the experience

94. It makes me very happy and proud when I hear the kids speaking English with each other it's so cute.

95. I think I might want to be a psychiatrist.

96. I am really surprised at some of the steriotypes Americans get over here...but there is a big difference from Americans and Americans who live in Europe...I think I might be in for a bi of a culture shock when I come back... plus it will be really weird not to hear accents all the time

97. I have too many interests, I wish I could be happy staying in one place and doing the same thing my whole life, things would be so much easier

98. I really enjoy reading, I started reading sluty/succesful girly books when I lived in Salt lake and I've moved onto historical fiction... not that I dont enjoy the former still :)

99. I've never lost anyone close to me, and am scared to death of it.

100. I have realized that 'plans' never work out....ever

101. I amFinished! if you actually read all of these I think you love me ;)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

I'm back! :) I went to Scotland for Christmas (Edinburgh) It was beautiful and I can't wait to back when it's warm so I can tour the highlands... The whole trip was great, I met really nice people and the the city was beautiful...Very picturesce and mid-evil...I'm really glad I was Able to go....I'm not sure what my next trip will be but my time is running short here (my visa is up on may 29th) so here is the list of places I want to go so everyone can hold me to it
Greece
Ireland
Rome (maybe, I think I want to wait until Corey can go with me)
Switzlerland
Turkey (the riviera)
Spain
Portugal

Me on top of a small mountain I climbed, I know it looks weird cause I had to et the timer on the camera... no one was around to take the picture :)

the small mountain thing that I climbed

A little more than half way up...

The Castle

on top of the hill that the Castle is on

You were supposed to spit to this heart for good luck:)

Part of the Edinburgh Skyline

View from my room

for inquiring minds

2008-12-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

I added some pictures of the WILDSCHWEIN....these are what they look like... I'm too afraid to pull out my Camera when i see them on the street. here are some random facts, as well as answers to questions :)
I live next to the forest... there are tree's everywhere here but there is like a full forest across the big river that's just across the street from where I live, and that's where THEY live... APPARENTLY they SWIM across as soon as it get's dark and swim back at dawn (not anymore, cause it's too cold so you don't see as many now, but I've still seen 2 this week)
They are MEAN! especially if they have babies with them, there is a guy that lives on this street who had his leg broken when one Rammed him out of nowhere while he was walking his dog at night... and another one killed a hunter a month or so ago.. .I think the hunter shot him so he was mad, but still!
The can get REALLY big, the biggest one I've seen here is easily as big as like a st. Bernard... I hate them...

i cant remember any other questions

This isnt what the babies ussually look like.. they're ussually just all grey, this picture is from a story about why they look like that...

Weinachsten! (Christmas)

2008-12-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

Germany is a VERY christmas oriented country... the celebrating lasts pretty much all month... they sit down with family and friends EVERy sunday of the month and drink coffee and eat homemade christmas cookies... and EVERYthing is decorated... from the streets to the doorknobs (i'll take more pictures so you get what I mean) They also have these things called WeinachtsMarkt (Christmas Markets)... they are great they have rides adn all kinds of little booths selling everything from sausages to socks, from Gluhwien (a warm cider-like wine) to handmad leather wallets...it's really cute and very festive I love it... but it's still SO cold! and I havnt seen the sun in months! I think I might be depressed... anyway here are some pictures of the happenings lately :)

Christmas Markets

Gems Boyfriends Birthday Party
(yes Grandma that is the sweater you sent me :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

So far I'm not too excited about the winter wonderland... and I know what everyone is thinking.. this is NOT like salk lake city cold... this is like the frozen tundra cold...REALLY

I went to see Death Cab for cutie! they were great...they are really excellent Musicians, and I had a smile on my face the whole time... The guy in the picture with me is my Polish friend Rox, I had to BEG him to come with me.. no one here knows who they are, but he said he liked them :)

I made a pumpkin Pie from a REAL pUmpkin!...Here's me so innocent thinking it would be fun

You have to take the skin of the pumpkin off while its still hot, and it hurt... this last one I don't know what to say about my face....but I think it accurately portrays my attitude at the time :)...i did turn out really good, I'll post the pictures of the finished product after my German Thanksgiving on saturday :)

Not a fan...

2008-11-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

Um... It snowed today, it was snowing, and I live in a place where there is snow and it's cold...It's so friggin beautiful but I'm pretty sure I hate it...I'm definately retiring to South America.

good and bad....

2008-11-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Bad: The car got broken into last week, they just smashed the passenger side window and stole the Navigation system
Since learning German my english spelling has gone to hell
I deleted 13 pages of my book on accident
This is the coldest weather I have ever experienced...and apparently it gets colder
Deathcab for cutie (one of my favorite bands) is coming and I have no one to go with! :(
The DVD player Corey brought me for my birthday is broken and I can't sleep without it!
After 6pm the Wildeschwein own the streets (wild pigs, they are huge and scarey and killed a hunter last week)

Good: Gem is back and has a new place in Prenzaulerburg (I nice place near the center of Berlin)
I've lost 15 lbs
I'm spending christmas with Gem's family in England and then taking a trip to scottland
I'm having thanksgiving dinner the saturday after thanksgiving
I still love Berlin, and the family I work for
The kids are really doing good with English, Und mein deustch ist nichts schlecks, Gleich, kan ish eine blog auf deustch machen.
....hmmm, that's all I can think of

WHAT a WEEK

2008-11-09T00:59:00.000-08:00

A few pictures from the London-in-a-day trip

Mathias and Amelie got back from thailand last night just in time to make it to a party Mathias' company was throwing for him to celebrate his making partner (for I got all thee kids in their sunday best)...the night ranked right up there with the day I broke my ankle, and the time I got in a car accident... It was basically just a concert and everyone there knew everyone else and were speaking very difficult german so I condemed myslf to a chair in the corner hoping not to be seen or asked "are you ok?" which is every Germans favorite question...I hadn't eaten all day (I had one meal all week I think) and I had a glass of wine wich made me even more tired, and anyone who knows me knows I get grumpy when I'm tired... so just as the wine was taking effect the whole 'fam' found me and drop everything they had on my lap, two drinks, a few presents, a jacket, and a VERY tired and unmanagable Teddy.. I seriously considered leaving never to be seen again, (keep in mind I had these three kids by myself for 6 days) so i found out there was a Downstairs 'quiet room' so I gathered everything I had and akwardly walked down stairs in my VERY high boots....and there I stayed with the girls running up and down between the two places, and Teddy crying for his parents the whole time. (insert throw-up noise here) so that was my night.

The week was a little better, it was stressful and sleepless but all in all ok. I got really sick with a sinus infection on friday and decided I couldnt be bothered to cook, so I called Mathias' Dad who had come in earlier in the day to "help" (cough-bullshit-cough, he was the fourth child)...I called to ask him what he wanted from McDonalds to which he replied "nein, du must fur mer Brote Kaufen"-"no you need to buy me bread"...I just about drove the car into a brick wall, had I not been so sick and tired I really wouldnt have minded.

I also had my birthday this week, it was really cute the girls woke up early and gt the present and cake that Amelie and Mathias had hid before they left and layed them all out on the table and woke me up by singing "hoppy berssday"... cute...The best thing is their present to me is going to b the plane ticket to wherever I want to go for christmas...(ths sandy beaches of ANYWHERE are calling my name)... I TRULY hate getting older, I'm only 23 but I still feel like I'm not doing everything should be doing or have done...let's just freeze it right here...another revalation this week had brought is I am SOOO not having kids, I dont want to say EVER but definately not for a long time, call it selfish (cause I'm pretty sure that's what it is)... I cannot believe how many people my age have kids and I can't help but wonder how many of them wish they would have waited knowing the difference they make in there life and marraige (not that any of them would ever admit it even if they did feel that way)...I look at Amelie and Mathias and how they have nearly NO time for themselves or even to enjoy each others company without someone crying, breaking something, or just wining about some other thing they're not grateful for (which is ALL German children by the way, they really raise kids different here)...I heard someone call Amelie too strict, and I about tackle them to the ground, she's the only parent I've met here that doesnt give there kids EVERYTHING the want, you go girl.

so boring... sorry

2008-11-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

I know this thing is so boring with out pictures... but my computer is still sucking... I have to put updates on here for me though so I can remember everything I've done here :) so first
I totally ate it down the stairs...they are like carved out of an oak tree and are very hard (and slippery) so I tumbled down about 18 of them and have huge bruises all up my left side from my ankle to my shoulder... its gross, and yet really funny...

Mathias and Amelie left for thailand today so I have the kids by myself all week, It should be ok, the toughest thing is all the activities they're in, so I'll have to do a ton of driving and entertaining Teddy wich is COMPLETELY impossible (corey can back me up on this, the kid is NUTS).... so we'll see how it goes...

Apparently I am the official dog walker for the street I live on, cause I am now walking another dog...It's actually for a German film maker who won an oscar...cool huh? Susan Surrandon was at his house like last week or something...

The lady whose house I live underneath is seriously the cutest, she wants to have a thanksgiving dinner for me, which is great Cause amelie and mathias have to go to some birthday party or something... anyway it should be reall fun :) and I'm excited to try and cook it.. hopefully I wont embarrass myself

My Birthday is Wednesday! :).. I wont really be doing anything cause I have to stay with the kids, but I'm gunna make them sing to me :) I might even have them make me cards ;) bleh... I hate getting older....time should just stop right now.. this is a good age :)

alright I think that's it for my boring blog I'm definately going to get some pictures of my bruises on here though! :) I'd really like to remember my clutsyness

hmm let's see if this works

2008-10-28T01:19:00.001-07:00

Ok so here is a link to some pictures of Corey's visit, let me know if it works please :) this isnt even half of them and there arent any of the one's from London... I'm workin on it

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59963&l=00b51&id=543181959

"AAAHH!" she said in frustration

2008-10-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

So my computer is pretty much broken... The internet is really just broken, it wont let me upload any pictures which really sucks cause have some great pictures from when Corey came to visit... :(...which was great! It was so fun having him here and exploring the city, we also did a crazy 'day-trip' to London that was exausting but so much fun...so anyway hopefully I'll get things fixed so I can post some pictures cause there are some good ones... in the mean time.. I'm gunna do a tag :)

8 TV shows I love to watch:
1. In Germany- Arested Development (Gem lft me the first 2 seasons and I watch them pretty much non stop)
2. whatever isnt dubbed in german that's on MTV
3. SpongeBob0 it's the only German show I can understand
4. I watch a lot of movies the rest of the shows I'll list are the ones that I miss from the states
5. Scrubs
6. Just shoot me
7. Greys anatomy
8. seinfeld

8 favorite restaurants:
1. In Germany-I like all the restraunts at the Savigney Platz station
2. there's a good little italien place near where I used to go to school
3. Places I miss- IN-N-OUT!!!! so verymuch
4. Anything mexican (the mexican food here is terrible they always, ruin it with some weird ingredient like brocoli in a bean burrito... just ridiculou)
5. Chipotle!
6. Capriotti’s
7. Olive Garden
8. Mimi's Cafe (but for sentimental reasons)

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. took the girls to hockey camp
2. Took teddy to kindergarten
3. went grocery shopping
4. overstayed my welcome at the families house (I was bored and didnt want to come back to my place by myelf)
5. made the best dinner ever!
.6. Watched Arrested Development
7. made hot chocolate
8. cleaned the kitchen

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Going somewhere for christmas
2. Gem coming back!
3. sleeping
4. finishing my book
5. learning 'love song'
6. trying to cook a thanksgiving dinner
7. drawing
8. more traveling

8 things on my wish list:
1. warm weather
2. I want my dog! :(
3. Someone in my family to come visit
4. a better grasp of the German language
5. New Zealand trip
6. New jeans
7. I wish I never needed to wash or brush my hair
8. MY COMPUTER TO BE WORKING PROPERLY!!!

Updates

2008-10-05T06:40:00.000-07:00

I was excited at the thought of 4 seasons, and now all I have to say is Fall-schmall....It's just like winter only not as cold and it tricks you with it's decent weather one day and freezing rain the next...It's beautiful with all the leaves changing color and all, but I am FAreezing.
Corey get's here on friday! (with a big wool coat for me) and I'm so excited... we're going to try and go to Munich and are for sure going to Milan next week...It's gunna be great.
Sadly, my best friend here, is leaving the day before Corey get's here. She says she'll be coming back in about 3 weeks for my birthday, so I don't have to be too sad.
The options for where I will be going for christmas are stacking up and I think I've narrowed it down to the top 3; South Africa, Morocco, or Portugal....I was planning on and REALLY looking forward to going to Greece but i think it will end up being a little too expensive for me to spend two weeks there.
I've got two new kids that I'm 'nannying'...the couple who's house I live underneath (how very Harry potter of me) have two big black muts. I walk them twice a day, and I even get paid!... It's really great and it get's me out of the house so i love it. They're really cute too, and very well behaved, i don't need to take themon a leash and whenever they get to far ahead they'll stop and wait for me... it's really cute. I miss my puppy so much, and It really made me sad when I told Amelie I missed him and she said "you should have brought him with you!".... I miss my TUCK :( He would love Germany...
I went out with some friends last night and had a GREAT time dancing into the wee hours of the night...We ended up at some anti-fashist magazines birthday party. Half the group I was with were a little preppy and the other half had pink hair and combat boots...when we first got there the were playing really heavy drum beats which was ok but most of the 'preppy' half took off, and as soon as they did, they started playing things like Rihanna and Britney spears... I can tell you how funny it was to watch the peirced, black leather wearing crowd get down to 'SOS'....hillarious

I think that's all that's been happening...

The American spirit is being spread...

2008-09-20T11:54:00.001-07:00

I made a funny face at the kids the other day, and now they won't stop trying replicate it... they're always asking me to show there parents (which I don't)... and all I can say to Amelie and Mathias is aren't you so proud of all the wonderful things I'm teaching your kids?

The weather...dum dum dummmmm

2008-09-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

It is as cold here now as it was/ever will be in Vegas, and apparently it gets colder... not lookin forward to a dark cold holiday filled winter in BERLIN without my family! but i guess I'll have to survive one year whithout them...I rode one of the bikes into Potsdam today (trying to be active) and on the way back I was convinced I had pnuemonia and was going to die in Germany. I DO NOT handle the cold well, and I certainly did not pack for the occasion... I thought I did and I tried my hardest to... but alas I have failed... I'm freezing even now...

A Historic post...

2008-09-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

We went to the most famous castle in potsdam this weekend...Sanssouci...I copied and pasted some info below cause it is kind of neat that something with so much history is literally minutes away from me...The castle was beautiful, unfortunately we couldn't take pictures on the inside...but the floor plane in kind of like one long hallway with different 'apartments' branching off...you could walk through the whole castle and see every room staying on the same walkway (I dont know if that makes sense) ...as it says below it was built by Fredrick the great... he actually died here and they have the original chair and writing desk where he was found, just a little bit creepy. In the pictures below I posted one of the windmill just to the left of the castle wich was there when the castle was built... apparently there ahve been plays and stories and 'legends' about this windmill, and when I asked Mathias and Amelie what the big deal was I still didnt really understand the expanation as to why it was so important. THEN I realized why.. first of all here is the story.... So This king bought the land for the castle back in the day... apparently the Windmill was supposed to be torn down, but the guy who owned and worked it said no and so it got to stay... so that's it nothing exciting right? big deal... HOWEVER you have to take into account that this happened before the US was even around (in the columbus sense) This windmill guy was like the first rebel, the first person to stand for what he wanted, against government and kings alike and actually get it... Coming from the good ol US of A I forget that people once lived under the law, there were no rebels and the one's that tried to be were killed, no questions asked....so here's to the lowely windmill man, and to Fredrick the great, who was too lazy to care about it, and who inadvertantly opened the door for people standing up for they're rights....

Sanssouci is the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, at Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is notable for the numerous temples and follies in Sanssouci Park. The palace was designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfil Frederick's need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court. This is emphasized by the palace's name: a French phrase (sans souci) which translates loosely as "without cares" or "carefree" symbolising that the palace was a place for relaxation rather than a seat of power. The palace is little more than a large single-storey villa—more like the Château de Marly than Versailles. Containing just ten principal rooms, it was built on the brow of a terraced hill at the centre of the park. So great was the influence of Frederick's personal taste in the design and decoration of the palace that its style is characterised as "Frederician Rococo", and so personally did he regard the palace that he conceived it as "a place that would die with him".[1] Because of a disagreement about the site of the palace from the park Knobelsdorff was fired in 1746. Jan Bouman, a Dutch architect, finished the project.
During the 19th century, the palace became a residence of Frederick William IV. He employed the architect Ludwig Persius to restore and enlarge the palace, while Ferdinand von Arnim was charged with improving the locality and thus the view from the palace. The town of Potsdam, with its palaces, was a favourite place of residence for the German imperial family until the fall of the Hohenzollern dynasty in 1918.

Frederick the Great (1712–86).
After World War II, the palace became a tourist attraction in East Germany. It was fully maintained with due respect to its historical importance, and was open to the public. Following German reunification in 1990, the final wish of Frederick came to pass: his body was finally returned to his beloved palace and buried in a new tomb overlooking the gardens he had created. Sanssouci and its extensive gardens became a World Heritage Site in 1990 under the protection of UNESCO;[2] in 1995, the Foundation for Prussian Palaces and Gardens in Berlin-Brandenburg was established to care for Sanssouci and the other former imperial palaces in and around of Berlin. These palaces are now visited by more than two million people a year from all over the world.

This picture has nothing to do with the castle My grandma just sent it and I think it's the cutest...I look insane :) and I love it...

crap-olla

2008-09-04T13:18:00.001-07:00

I just realized my last post was a "Mom Blog" ...haha YIKES! for real... it was one of those things you see from every blogger with kids
ie..Payton loves cookies and reading and playing with mommy! Hannah loves her brother and pretty things!

what has happened to me... I used to be so cool

EEEsh

2008-09-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little down lately... nothing too serious just lacking some adventure I suppose....BUT!!! Miranda is coming to visit in 8 days!, and Corey is coming for the Begining of October!... so that's exciting :) here's a little overall of some of the 'happenings' on this side of the pond

Last Saturday was Teddy's Birthday Party... it was too cute all these 2 and 3 year olds running around like a buncha crazies...And Amelie had the whole thing planned so cutely with games and cake and just everything... there is definately something to be said for how organized these German folk are (I wish i could say that I'm learning something!)... Also Teddy's English is getting really good, He is sooo cute! he's always saying "oh my geeeedness!" , "I dow know!" and "Please Hilp me!" I just love him :)

Johanna had her birthday last week too, she's 8 now. She's so funny and already like a little teenager, wanting to wear makeup and dress up and dance all the time... she does this funny little move where i think she's having a seizure, but she tells me she's "hip-hop" dancing... these kids kill me...

Emma is still a little mystery to me, I love her to death but she still thinks I dont know any german, so she's always asking Johanna to ask me things for her, and telling her friends that I don't understand what she's saying... she's not doing this to be hurtful at all, that's just how she is, she's really cute though and always wanting to be around animals... she REALLY wants a dog, you know a girl is desperate for a pet when she starts naming the insects she finds around the house...

I am going to Dublin on the 26th! I am SO excited... Miranda's Birthday is on the 28th so we'll be there for the celebration of her birth... she's so lucky... :)....so now because I hate blogging with out pictures I'm going to leave you with some of my favorites that I've taken in my travels...Oh and Also!! PLEASE email me or just leave comments... I really love them, and it's really the ONLY connection i have to home... :) Thanks guys!

The London Eye

Notre Dam

A beautiful 'private' Garden in London

Stonehenge (sp?)

a man drawing inside the louvreEiffel TowerAustrian AlpsNotre DamReistag

A Good Quote

2008-08-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

I found this quote on another Blog, it's seemed like something that everyone should be reminded of. There is so much good in the world and in people, you may need to look pretty hard sometimes but it's there...and the more we remember that, the happier everyone will be.

"I would like to suggest that we stop seeking out the storms of life and enjoy the sunlight. I am suggesting that we 'accentuate the positive.' I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and hard effort. There is good all around us - if we will only look for it." Gordon B Hinkley

The funniest night...

2008-08-23T05:05:00.001-07:00

This is the cutest book I have ever seen and I needed a picture of it...

I went to dinner at a book store last night...and it was completely crazy, so let me paint a verbal picture of this hillarious event :)

When Gem said her friend told her about this place with good dinner and it was only 5 euros I thought alright, then she said almost everyone who goes are native english speakers and I started thinking I should REALLY go (Gem is like my best friend here and she's leaving in Oct. so everything we do now has the underlying mission of finding her replacement)...so we get there and it's actually a really cool like second hand book store, everyone was hanging out talking and drinking wine and smoking (I CANNOT get away from the smoke here! I come home everynight REAKING! I TRULY HATE IT) it was all very european...anyway so we went downstairs where the dinner was supposed to be and there was an older English guy in MC hammer pants and an apron with hair to his shoulders bringing out all this WONDERFUL looking, homecooked food. So in we dig, to the dilecious food, and we ended up sitting next to 3 new yorkers and 2 girls from isreal, 2 of the new yorkers were an older couple who moved here about 5 months ago the girls from isreal were old friends, one lives here and one lives in New York, the other new yorker was just kind of traveling through europe...
In the middle of eating dinner the Older english guy that cooked the food came down, and he had slightly changed his outfit :)...he now had on a black gurdle with black and white flower-y pants and silver coated highheels...it was almost cute in a way like when little kids play dress up, I was like awww what a cute little old man...in his "big girl" clothes :)....so we finished dinner and half of the people went up stairs to watch 'batman begins' and the other half of us stayed down just talking, and playing the random board games that were around... Gem, me, an english guy, the two girls, and the new york guy played scrabble...
During the games and conversation, the older lady dresser came around with two big bowls of pastries and and a small box of brownies....now, you know how much i LOVE brownies! so just as I was about to grab a few I hear someone saying, "where are the space cakes?"

all I could think was Damn! I really wanted some brownies!....

So that was my interesting night...three Native english speakers ended up losing at scrabble to the two girls from isreal by over 100 points...(I can see my mother's dissapointed face now) Also a funny little side note, the people who ate the most substance-filled brownies was the older couple from New York.. the lady grabbed three, looks at me and says "it's been a rough week"

Golly, I love Berlin :)

YAY! I got tagged :)

2008-08-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

Rules: Name 5 random things about yourself, then tag 5 people. Make sure you comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged!
Plus - If you want, add a random picture.. kinda makes it more fun!

*My Random Picture

Random Photo: On a cruise to Mexico about 3 years ago :)... I just think my face in this is classic :)

1: I really WANT people to mess up... not just any person but like gymnasts in the olympics, or when a group is dancing I want someone to be "out of order"

2: I rarely brush my hair, let alone do anything with it... I get away with it cause my hair is long

3: I HATE 'bad' movies, I dont mean like "oh I thought that movies was bad" I mean where people do bad things in them to name a few; No country for old men, cape fear, american phsyco... I think they should have never been made and I really think the people that like them or that 'pretend' to like them because they're trendy, have deep phsycological issues (JUST MY OPINION)...all movies should have happy endings, you want to see bad things happening to people watch the news

4: I love fashion, I love putting weird outfits together and getting all dressed up, but I ussually chicken out and put on jeans and a t-shirt....

5: I have a really sensative stomach, I've thrown up at least once a week since I've been in germany...

I think all of the blogs I read have already been tagged but if not then i tag Krysta, Jessica, Meka, Amanda... and everyone else that wants too :)

it's boring, don't bother

2008-08-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Ok so lately I have had NOTHING to do ...The Girls are in an english camp all day and Teddy goes to kindergarden from about 8:30 til 3:00... I know I should really be exploring the city more, i mean it has SO much history, but i don't really like going on my own...it's not really a problem I ussually dont care about going places by myself and... alright fine, I'm over it... i'll go explore the city....

but right now I'm still bored...
I've been thinking of all the stupid things that have happened to me since I've been here, all my problems with the language, and all the funny things too, so i wanted to make sure i got them all down.. this will be a boring post for everyone... so, you can stop reading now if you'd like :)

Stupid things I've done or that have happend to me:
-2 parking tickets 5 euro each
-1 ticket for not wearing a seatbelt 30 euro (they stopped me at like a road block and i had to pay the 30 right then, it was terrible)
-1 ticket for talking on a Cell phone 70 euro (they take random pictures of drivers, just to see if they're on they're phones...)
-Flat Tire, radio antenna fell off, as did the rear view mirror
-lost a cell phone
-made a big screen fall off a wall
-I used my Debit card (the german one) at a grocery store, and it didnt work so panicked thinking someone stoll my money or my family didnt pay me...drove to three different banks...figured out there was nothing wrong with my card or account the stores machine just wasnt working (doesnt sound that bad but it was really stressfull)

Annoying german words and rules:
meine Fruend(in): My friend and Boyfriend(girlfriend)
kuche kuchen kochen gucken: kitchen, cake, cook, watch
When you learn 1 word, you have to know how to conjugere it into the tense that your speaking in so you really have to learn about 8 words for every word... if ya know what I mean ex.. Schlaufen (sleep) I sleep, you sleep, they sleep, we sleep, they slept (ish schlaufe, du schlaufts, sie schlauft, wir schlaufen, sie geschlaufft)
Gibt: give and also is there...
Mit is with, but you can't say without wich would be mit Kein... you have to say ohne...
they repeat words and everything is backwards to me... I ate a cookie is Ish hat eine cookie gegessen which when you translate is it I had a cookie ate/eaten...
Entshuligung: Sorry/excuse me it's like THE longest word ever
There are a billion other annoying things... this is just what I had to deal with today

Okay done complaining :)... I'm really doing ok here, I enjoy and appreciate everything but it's friggin hard sometimes!

some silly randomness

2008-08-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

I think it worth mentioning how terrible the German Music is...thank heavens they play mostly Emglish speaking bands on the radio but every once in a while a German rap song will sneak in there, YEP German rap...who even knew they had rhyming words here?....I'm pretty good at understanding the language now but the rap songs are still just jibberish there's one song that's call ish und meine maske which means me and my mask....he wears a silver plated skull mask in the video and it has all these "hot" ladies, but all in mask's....it's really terrible...and funny :)

Teddy did the cutest thing the other day...He drives me nuts a lot and when I get overwhelmed with him I always say "OH MY GOODNESS!" so he hears it a lot.... I took him to the park yesterday and we were walking over a rope bridge the kind that you really have to be careful cause your feet slip through pretty easily and everytime teddy's foot slipped he said "ohmygeeedness!"... It was the cutest thing EVER :)

A little while ago Gem and I and some other friends rented a little boat at a lake by Gem's house it was wonderful! i wore my American flag bikini...represent
This is Brandenburg Tor...or Brandenburg Gate... The American Embasy is just to the left of the gate in this picture
This was a random Karaoke place in the basement of a bar... no one else was there so we all just sang our little hearts out all night.... the guy standing up in the back was HILLARIOUS! he has a REALLY thick german accent and he only sang meatloaf songs... it's impossible to tell you how funny it was

Thuringa (I'm sure that's not how it's spelled)

2008-08-11T05:38:00.001-07:00

Okay! so this is that last of the pictures from my little trip :) the last place we stayed was an old castle in Southern Germany (Thuringa)..Funny thing happend...the doors here run off of keys...what I mean is you can't open the door without one... the doorknobs dont turn unless your on the inside, and even then you have to have a key to open it if the door is locked... soooo one of the days we were at this castle I wasn't feeling well so i stayed in the room while the fam went exploring... while I was in the shower the maid came and cleaned and locked the door on her way out so i was locked in the whole day! so now i can officially say was locked in the tower of a castle.. . funny huh?:)
The last day we were there it wasa teddy's birthday, and the video is him playing in the little courtyard with his new toys he's sing the theme to Bob the Builder although here it's called Bob the Baumeister it was just too cute not to share

this is the oldest part of the castle the stone part of it is over 1000 years old
this is the toilet! there's a hole in there and "everything" just drops on down! ha!

this was the little courtyard where we ate all our meals

Kitzbuhl, Austria

2008-08-09T04:44:00.000-07:00

This was the AMAZING hotel we stayed at
View from my room
going up a mountain :)
This is how Tedy was.... the whole time... hahaha! this picture really cracks me up
We went to a little "mountain adventure" amusement park thing... it was really cute

This was a photo frame... just sitting on the mountain :)
Theyhad all these little frogs explaining where you were suppose to go (we were supposed to try and be finding the 'captured' frog) and this was the one that spoke english... he was my only friend
Everything there was carved out of wood and really impresive... this thing kind of scared me but was too cool not to take a picture of :)

Going up the mountain by our hotel

The rest of the pictures are from a hike we did up the tallest peak in Kitzbuhl

No this was NOT taken from a plane...
Good thing this sign was here cause I was really going to do that...friggin austria, taking all the fun out of falling off mountains
The Girls and I at the restaraunt at the top... we were all VERY tired and hot

you can see where the car was parked it's the very far away house looking thing in the middle

this is by far my favorite picture :)

A Wedding in Italy

2008-08-08T11:29:00.001-07:00

Hi! here are the pictures from my trip to Italy....I was in Northern Italy (the Italian Alps), at first I was kind of sad that we werent going more south but I think I'd rather wait until i get married cause it's just to romantic of a place to go by yourself ;)

these guys were so cute they played and sang old American songs but in german... really

johanna toke this I just thought it looked cool

some cute little town in Italy...there were vineyards everywhere sooo beautiful
it took all my will power not to burst into "the hills are alive.... with the sound of musiiiiic" this was outside the church where the ceremony was

This wedding consisted of a welcome dinner, a ceremony, a reception(above), a Dinner, and a brunch....apparently they've got some money :).... the whole thing was really cute

this was the view from our Hotel Room

who is this world traveler!?

2008-08-04T11:37:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!... sorry havn't posted in a while, but i've been in Italy and now I'm in Austria! it is sooo beautiful and once I get home you will all LOVE the pictures...I can't beleive how lucky I am to have this opportunity, we went on a hike today (in the alps, ya that's right we're staying in the alps) and I really had to stop for a second and think about how I got here, I'm just so greatful for whatever steps I had to take in my life to get me here, because I really love it :) ok... keep an eye out for

pictures I should be back by monday... I miss and love you all!!!!!

Un-exploded WWII Bombs

2008-07-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

How crazy is this??? This particular bomb was about 6 Kilometers from my language school... the roads were closed so I couldnt get to class.....READ ON!
this is a story from the Jeruselem Post

"Police say some 5,000 residents have been evacuated as experts work to defuse an unexploded World War II bomb found in Berlin.
The British bomb was found during construction work in the capital's western Wilmersdorf district.
Police said Wednesday that experts are conducting tests on the bomb's detonator to determine whether it can be transported elsewhere for disposal.
Around 400 of the evacuated residents were put up in schools and other public buildings while others stayed with friends.
Unexploded bombs from World War II are still found frequently in Germany more than 60 years after the conflict's end."

I Heart Jack Johnson

2008-07-16T00:56:00.000-07:00

I Went to see Jack Johnson last night!!! it was absolutely wonderful :).. I think everyone knows how much I love him, so I'll just let you look at the pictures :)... ahhh! I love him!! :)

My terrible horrible no-good very bad day...and a half

2008-07-12T04:19:00.000-07:00

well it all started in Wednesday (mittwoch) I was on my way to pick up the girls from French class (which is a really long ways away, adn I had Teddy with me wich is always stressfull and full of 'nein!'s and 'Benimdig!'s) when one of the girls on the volleyball teamI had been practicing with texts me and said that I could'nt come anymore becasue i missed too many practices!? (I had to miss the last three to watch the kids)...Crazy!? esspecially when I told them i didnt want to be on the team I just wanted to practice with them!... anyway.. so that sucked. Then I finally get to the french class and haul teddy up the 8 flights of stairs only to find out that the girls will be sleeping at a friends house, so i didnt need to go at all....and that was wednesday...so Thursday I wake up SOOO tired... and take teddy to Nursery, I decided I was to tired to deal with my language teacher so I went back home to bed and woke up when I needed to get everyone from school... when I woke up it was really hot so I put on some capri' and a T-shirt with flip flops and left. As i was making the last turn to the girls school a bunch of scarey looking Turkish guys were yelling at me that my tired was flat...and it was...and then it started raining, really hard. The Turkish guys tried to come help me change it but I could'nt find anything to jack the car up with... so I called Amelie to see what I should do (still outside, still raining) I got the number for the ADAC which is like AAA, so they could come help, and let us not forget that I'm speaking my terrible broken german at all times. So the ADAC says they'll call me 5 minutes befor they get there so I can go somewhere inside to wait....SO I go get the girls from the school (who were supposed to have a doctors appoinment...missed that) and take them to a bakery across the street... we ordered the food and everything then I realizied I didnt have any cash only a bank card.. and for some reason NO ONE takes bank cards here!?! so we didnt get any food... then we walked outside just as the ADAC guy was pulling AWAYY from my Car! (long german story short, he came back) so the girls and I are there waiting for him to fix it... me soaking wet the girls withthe umbrella...and all the sudden the jack slipps off the car and it comes crashing down...I guess it was okay but he basically had to start all over and it was taking forever, so one of the mothers from johanna's class offered to take the girls to her house to get them out of the rain...so they went...the car was fixed about 20 minutes later.. I signed something I didnt understand, and got the girls from a REALLY difficult to find house....THEN we went to pick up teddy only to find that his bag had been sent home with some other kid... not a big deal but still annoying...We went to the house, and I told the kids they could watch a movie because i was to tired to play anything...so they watched a movie and made them some dinner, then they had to go to bed.. so i went to pull up the screen (they have this really big expinsive pull down projector screen) and it came crashing down.. yep i broke it....I put the kids to bed, and decided that I needed to go running to releive some stress, i took my keys and my phone with me, becasue amelie and mathias werent home yet and if the kids needed anything they could call me, when i got back from my run I realized I had lost the phone, it was too dark to go back track my steps, so I woke up at like 5 the next morning and did the whole run again trying to find it with no luck.... it was a terrible horrible no-good very bad day... and a half...

the name of the town is Quidlinburg... i think... it's in Hortz, anyway...

2008-07-09T04:54:00.001-07:00

see how this house is like bending? that's totally normal here :)

soo this is a castle :).. in on the hill that is in the next picture

this is the hill that the castle is on

I know this looks fake but it's not...the youngest home in this town is like 400 years old, the oldest is over 700

this is me in front of a church

this is the cutest street ever... and on the street is johanna, emma, Tadeus, and Mathias

this is the smallest all in the town... there's a hotel through here call "voram zu Hol" wich means frontyard to hell... beautiful huh?

this was like the town square

there were canals like this all through the town it was so pretty!

address correction

2008-07-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

ok it is..
Wernicke/Haley Noble
strubenrauchstr. 33
14482 Potsdam
GERMANY

enschuligung!(sorry!)

for inquiring minds

2008-07-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

The internet is out at my place onece again and I can't up load any pictures, but this weekend we went to this REALLY old area called hortz...I'm not gonna talk about it though cause I too many cool pictures I want to show, so I'll wait til the internet get's fixed :) but the houses in this town are over 700 years old.. cool huh?....alright so here are a few things about germany that you might not know :)
the people here have no problem talking about sex and beer, but mention anything on the toilet and it's like shaking hands with hilter...for real, this guy in my language class started saying how his girlfriend has Dhiarea (I have no idea how to spell that), which is really gross in any country but my teacher went on this rant about how inappropriate it is...I didnt really mind because for once he wasnt yelling at me! :)

There is a radio station here called Jam FM and it's slogan is "black people music!" Hillarious! and at club n stuff when they advertise DJ's that play Hiphop or R&B they always say "DJ so-and-so with Black music!" I laugh a little everytime I hear it

The weathere here is completely nuts...you can never plan your day for tommorow based on the weather from today...hell, you can`t plan your afternoon based of the weather from the morning! it`ll be hot and humid then cold and rainy...crazy

my address here is Wernicke/Haley Noble
Stubenrauchstr. 33
Potsdam, GERMANY...for Mom and Grandma and anyone else who wants to sed me goodies from the good ol US of A! :) I hope everyone had a good fourht of July! i really missed being around family and friends!!!! :(

Kannst du bitte hilfe? (will you please help me?)

2008-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of cutting my hair like this again and going darker,... you can't really tell with the black and white but it's pretty dark.. and my hair now is really light... so... help me decide k? :) thanks!!!

Fuzsbal....or is it soccer? :)

2008-06-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

Germany (Deutchland) is in the Euro cup finals, and as i'm sure all of you know! this is a really big deal....Germany hasnt won a euro cup in somthing like over 30 years....these pictures are from the playoff game against Turkey...they have all kinds of public viewing parties the biggest one at brandenburg gate which we tried to get into but by the time we got there it was closed, there were like 500,000 people there! so we ended up going to this craxy little warehouse that just had a few screens up...but it was really fun!... the girl in a pictures is Gem, my friend who is also an au pair... :)

all is quiet...

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

No I was NOT drinking!.... for real

Mcdonalds....not just for food

2008-06-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

TOO funny...yesterday I picked up Teddy from Nursery and Johana from school, and emmediatly Johanna starts telling me how hungry she is... so i tried to stop at a backery that turned out to be a restraunt...so i told her she'd have to wait til we got home...however the traffic was so bad I had to stop for her...(she really never complains so if she says she's hungry I know she really is) anyway we stopped and I got her some fries at mcdonalds...and they both just had SOO much fun with the bags I had to share...

the touring of a Castle

2008-06-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

so a couple weekends ago we toured a castle... it was pretty much the last, or one of the last of the prussian kings... it was actually where the stalin convention(?) (where truman and stalin and everyone else met to talk about stuff)...but more importantly it was built for the kings wife... then world war II happend and they had to leave... so they lived in it for a bout 6 years... then had to leave...then came back afterwards and lived out the rest of there days... it's really cute story...You'll notice that it doesnt really look all that much like a castle...it's because they both really loved english architecture...so the hired an english guy to Design and build it... which is why it looks like something out of snow white :)

cute huh??.... it was in a park that ran along a lake which was beautiful

I just love my German family :)

2008-06-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

My kids are so good...Johanna and Emma are always helping me out.. and they always want to do things..(not just sit around and watch TV) and Teddy, while crazy, is just the cutest little boy, and I totally miss him when he's not around...The other day we were watching "Enchanted", Johanna can speak english pretty well so she kind of got the jist of the movie and about half way through it she asks me "Haley, are you a princess?" HOW CUTE!!! :) I said "a princess? no" and she says "but you are always laughing like her and you have long hair"... I could have died, she's so cute. And she's always saying things like "haley, you are fe besses Au Pair in da veld" and I say "you are the bestest kids in the world!" :)

I'm Blue...

2008-06-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

Ok so last night I went and practiced with this volleyball team that compete's kind of nationally, I was so excited esspecially when I got there and found out they were actually good! :)....down side...completely tore up my ankle again...I'm an idiot and didnt wear my brace (because i didnt think I'd need it) so now I'm forced to walk around the unlevel streets of berlin with a busted wheel...So I took my 2 Kilometer walk from my parking spot to my language school in agony, only to get there and be yelled at by my Teacher (lehrer)! He doesnt like it when someone asks what something means and you answer for him in English, HOWEVER! before class started he was asking this other guy in my class where he bought his shirt and the guy though he was asking how much is cost. so I said "he wants to know where you got it" and that unleashes the fury that is the german language teacher!... He totally let into me, saying how I can't do that and yadda yadda yadda...so anyway I just apologized and said I hadnt realized class had started...so then through out the class everyone else keeps doing what he yelled at me for, and the whole time I held my tounge....then the last few minutes of class this guy asked what Idee means, and seriously like, everyone said "Idea!" except me, and I looked at my teacher with this "what the hell!" look....and he yelled at me again! only this time in German, and all I could make out was something about you americans....blah blah blah....then I said kind of off to the side "I dont know why he only get's mad at me" and everyone agreed like ya! why is he so mean to you??? so it's not just me, and it's not because I'm american cause there are like 3 other americans in there too....this is a problem cause I'm supposed to be taking this course for 10 weeks! and dont think i can handle this guy for that long!!!....blehhhhhhhh

AAAAAnd 2 (zwei)

2008-06-08T02:30:00.001-07:00

okay... on to the bus tour :)...let me just preface by saying... these pictures are terrible... and I have no idea what half of the buildings are...so I'll just try and tell you as much as I can :)

This is the Philharmonie....ummm they pretty much just do concerts here...(classical) it was in the news just befor I came here because It caught on fire...

This is Check point Charlie...there were 3 major American checkpoints along the wall the most famous is Checkpoint Charlie...I honestly dont really know why but was a really weird seeing it, because it is the original post... the wall ran along the sides of it the next picture is the original sign pretty much warning people they were leaving American protection...

This is a TV tower... they said it was one of the tallest structures in Europe...Some 300 somthing meters?... ask me how long a meter is... I dont know...

I look like a friggin cow in this picture but i wanted to post a picture with me in it so you all know that I am actually here... no one took stole my Identiy :)...except some stupid fat girl, but she'll be gone soon :) anyway!... this is the capitol building, it was under heavy fire in the war and you can still see bullet holes across from this is basically like our equivelent to the white house and the embasy's are not far either, the amrican Embasy is re-opening on the 4th of July and there is suppossed to be some big party in Teir Garden (which is like berlins "central Park")...inside is the capitol Building (ricetag) is the Parliment and it was funny because where they all sit looks a little like a cafateria.. and the chairs are this bright purplish blue, and look like waiting room chairs... the color was actually made up by the architecht and has specific name... ask me what it is.... I dont know....if you look in the upper right corner you can kind of see the dome.. that's just all windows and mirrors...here's some pictures of that

that's Amelie on the left, Tadeus, and Mathias....

This is a Memorial for the people who died trying to cross the wall...also saw the Jewish museum and the holocoust memorial but I can't find those pictures!.. it's ok though I'll go back

the rest are buildings that I have no idea what they are... but I promise they're important... :)

BLOG 1.....I'll have to post two

2008-06-08T01:49:00.000-07:00

What a weekend!...Yesterday (saturday) Amelie and Mathias took me on a bus tour around Berlin... and I have lots of pictures and cool facts.... but that will be in Post #2, because I need to get somethings out of the way....alright first just so you know... to pronounce the O with the two dots above it you must be a magician with your mouth...you make the O with your lips but say E in your mouth....I wish i could hear all of you trying right now because you probably sound just like me which is rediculous :)....oh here's a few pictures of my flat!.. they're from when i first moved in so things are a bit more tidy now oh! and the couch folds into a bed so everyone needs to come visit :)This is the picture of the families house with the berlin wall there house is pretty much the only one you can see and the wall runs along the bottom of the picture they said it curved around just after this and went through their backyard...there were also strange places where it went around different houses property lines... like they justchose (this house will be communist and this one.. not) crazy huh?... on saturday morning we went to Emma's Feild hockey game...it was at a very exculsive club where you pretty much have to inherent the membership, or have a LOT of money ... this place was seriously cut right out of the forest...okay... on to blog two! :)

2008-06-04T06:43:00.001-07:00

I took two of my friends from my Language class home today...(they are two old Gay men... how funny huh?) and on the way we passed this church...The damage was done by the bombings in world warII...I can't even describe how I felt when i saw it, it looks like it just happend...This church is in the very "trendy" part of Berlin...my friends (the gaymen) were pointing out all of the big expensive stores and then out of nowhere here is this old blown-to-bits church.. crazy huh?

I'm also going to add a video of Tadeus, cause he's just too cute :)

Americans can't speak German!

2008-06-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

Well I made it through my first "working day" :)... I took the girls to school and Tadeus to preschool, and then found my way to my language class...I really am quite impressed with myself :)... these are not the easiest streets to get around, nor are they very well marked. I'll be alone with Emma and Tadeaus this evening so hopefully that will go well :)... The language class is hillarious... The teacher only speaks German so in order to tell us what things mean he really has to be animated, he literally broke a sweat. I feel so stupid not know what he's talking about... i mean he was talking directly to me and I had no Idea.. it's really just jibberish at this point... he was trying to explain how to pronounce a word to a student and he was saying all kinds of fast german words when i suddenly understood that he was saying "it sounds like when a cow goes moooooo" and I shouted "Cow!.. Ya! I know that!" it was like a reaction, i was just so excited that I understood something I had to let everyone know... it was really embarrasing... then he made me repeat some stuff and after i was done he said "not bad for an American" so i hope I wont have to be hearing American jokes the whole time :)....

I made it!

2008-06-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Ok this will probably be a long one cause a LOT has happened in a very short amount of time...sooo I left Vegas at 11:30 on the 28th and arrived in Germany at 3:45 on the 29th... it was a VERY long trip consisting of NO sleep which leads me to my biggest problem thus far, I have the worst jet lag EVER... I go to sleep and different times but i always wake up at 2am! which would be 5pm in NV so i have no idea why my body has picked this wake up call, and I try REALLY hard to go back to sleep, but i cant... I tried taking a sleeping pill one night and I slept for 16 hours!...sooo if I could find some sort of medium that'd be great!...okay now that the bad stuff is out of the way on to the good! The Family is VERY nice...and it seems like this is a very lucky thing because some of the other people I've met or the other families that I've seen seem to be very strict and really serious. They both (the parents...the kids dont understand english to well) laugh at my jokes so that's always nice :)...I am living in a little "flat"/basement apartment two houses down from the family... It's really cute and reminds me of something you'd live in for college :)...Tommorrow is kind of my first official working day. And basically i just have to take the girls to their school, and the boy to his preschool, then pick up the girls. I drove the route myself today, which was a little difficult but i think i got the hang of it :)... the streets are very narrow and the people who know where they are going drive much faster than me. oh! and the lights are Really hard to see! when you stop at them you are right underneath them so you have to really strain your neck to see when it turns green.The Town I am in is called potsdam, this is what the main road into town looks like....and it's apparently right where the berlin wall was... there's is accutally a picture of the house with the wall running throught the back yard. here is a picture of the back yard (we eat dinner out here a lot and they listent to old german songs I swear it's right out of a movie).....And this is the area where Stalin and truman stayed during the communications about the WWII they pointed out the specific houses to me. There is also a little dutch village that is kind of like downtown potsdam, it's really cute......The kids are really cute... the older girl, johanna, tries really hard to speak english aand she really does pretty good! the younger girl, Emma, is a bit more aprehensive about it and I think this makes her not really like me very much... this morning I went with Mathias to pick her up from a friends and she said, in german, I want haley to take my bag!....She may think i am her slave... but I'm sure we'll be good friends in no time :) the little boy is SO funny! oddly enough he is teaching me the most german...so far he's taught me Kliener ball (smaller ball) Nacht Mel(again) Dogh( Ya huh!) and Diene Plotz (your seat) :).. I'm sure there's more but Miene Duetsch is not so good :).....alright i guess that's enough for now....

YIKES! Help please

2008-05-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

WELP.. 4 days and Counting...I'm rushing to do so many things that I'm REALLY kicking myself in the a$$ for not doing a month ago. I Ordered a power cord for my lap top that I paid an extra 20 bucks to have it delivered quicker only to find out I most likely will not be getting it in time....(DooFUs!) and I am having the hardest time finding a European outlet adaptor! I suppose I dont really need it TOO badly (really just for my Laptop) the only other appliances I'm taking are like a blow dryer and a curling iron which are two things that we all know I RARELY use...SO not the end of the world... ALSO and i could really use some help on this one... I want to get the kids something just a little present or whatever... I found little bracelets for the girls and I was thinking about bringing little Horse/cowgirl figurines/toys. But for the little boy.. I'm drawing a blank... he's only 2.. any ideas? I was thinking like a truck? or... I have no Idea...

Off to Germany!

2008-05-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

YAY! I'm a blogger!...

Alright I set this thing up to keep all my friends and family updated on my many adventures :) Current adventure?; Germany....I've decided to become an au pair for a very nice family located just outside of Berlin, Germany. The picture to the right is of the kids.... Cute, huh? :) hopefully this will suppress my appetite for kids for at least a little while!... So the countdown is totally on... I leave on the 28th of may and after stops in three countries I will arrive in Berlin on the 29th. I have two new suitcases (I got them for very cheap.. I LOVE Ross) about a billion new sweaters, and some killer heals to get me through what will hopefully a life changing experience....I was talking to my friend Brooke (who I love.. there ya go bro-ly!) and she was asking me if I think I'll get home sick, and I can honestly say I'll be just fine... Of course I'll miss everyone but it will be good for everyone to get a break from me for a while, absence makes the heart grow fonder remember! :) I am SOOO ready to get away, and do something new. I caught myself thinking the other day, about what I'm going to do when I come back, but I immediately put a stop to that...cause it just stressed me out :) So here it goes! I'm SO excited and I hope that everyone will enjoy reading about what's going on!