I’m sitting here in the empty living room of our new house, lounging on a Tommy Bahama beach chair with Hawaiian sand still in the cup holder, wishing I hadn’t just devoured an entire bag of M&Ms. But here I am at 1:42am, hanging out with a jet-lagged 3 year old who is wondering why we haven’t seen Santa Claus here in Germany yet.

Thinking about | what this next year is going to look like, wondering how hard the European driving test is going to be, and hoping to find a preschool that has openings so I can take a full course load spring semester.

Reading | Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Listening to | trains passing our house every  20 minutes or so. They are electric so it’s just a a low hum (no horns or whistles – take that Kent)! I also thought I heard a faint newborn cry. Could be my biological clock ticking, could be the neighbors… who knows.

Drinking | Lots and lots of water. I can’t wait to try all the different local beers, but for now I MUST REHYDRATE.

Thankful for | 2 playgrounds in walking distance of our new house – best thing ever!

Missing | my fam back in Washington. We got to stay there for 8 weeks between Hawaii and Germany and my son got used to having aunts, uncles, and grandparents around all the time. Maybe one day we can live in Washington again *sigh* 

Loving | that my son calls our new house the stinky house (They just repainted and replaced the carpets.)

Well, that’s it for now. I gotta run because my son is calling from the other room that he is stuck in the laundry hamper (again). Hopefully he gets back to sleep before the sun rises in Germany – wish me luck!

Have you been to Germany before? What cities/castles/fests would you recommend seeing while we’re here?