I'm BAAAAACK!!! (part 1)

So, I know it's been way, way, way too long since my last post, but I'm back at it now, I promise! After I got back from my tour, we had guests beginning the next day up until just before we left for our FL vacation! We really wanted to make it up to NYC and VA, but, alas, it didn't happen this time around ;( We did, however, get to see lots and lots of people in FL! Here are some highlights of our FL adventure 2010! Enjoy :D

Jessica Sidler Folsom was our first visitor from the US! We had great fun picnicing and hanging out around Essen!

The afternoon that Jess left, Sidonie's Mom and cousins Lyn and Monique came!

A couple of days later, Lyn's husband Kenny and their little guy, Malloy, came over! It was the first time we had met Malloy, and he was adorable!

We went around the area doing various things. As you can see, they visited during the 3 weeks of German summer! We're getting ready to take the train to Köln here. It was about 95 degrees, and there's no A/C in most places in Germany...

After the cousins went home, Sidonie, Mom and I went up to Hamburg - Sidonie and I were working with a musical theatre workshop there. We got to meet and talk with a lot of aspiring and talented US Musical Theatre Students - a good time was had by all. Mom headed home and we headed back to Essen to wrap things up there. We moved our things into storage under our church, and we stayed with some friends from our church for the last couple of days before our US trip.

On our last Sunday at our church here in Essen, our Pastor's wife, Sarah, made this very thoughtful poster with lots of cards for people to write blessings and notes and verses on. The congregation also gathered around and prayed over us for our upcoming trip and all that was happening as we planned our next step when we returned! It was absolutely wonderful!

Sarah and Tommi's boys, Benni and Joshie made this card for us with the help of their cousins. They also sent us this stuffed animal as a going away present. So sweet!

We got to the US just in time for Ashton, my brother-in-law's, graduation! He graduated from FSU with a Sociology degree, and is planning to save up to go to law school! We're very proud of him - GO ASHTON!

Mom and Dad joined us for a little post-graduation-celebration at a restaurant in town.

Shortly after that, we were able to see a musical put on by Pyramid Studios, the school for developmentally disabled adults, where Jared, my brother, teaches! It was terrific! The following week, Sidonie and I were able to do a musical theatre workshop and talkback with the Pyramid students. It was such a blessing to see the enthusiasm of these students - thanks for that opportunity, Jared!

We also got to meet Jared's beautiful 9 mo. old daughter, Harper, while we were in Tallahassee! She's gorgeous, and I'm not just saying that because I'm grossly biased! We had a blast in Tally spending time with my family and seeing Harper's personality and not just her face in pictures! What a precious little one. We love you, Harper!

My parents are pretty much amazing and can do everything! My Mom knitted this dress for Harper, so I decided to do a Harper photoshoot in it!

She gets very excited when she sees Grandpa (or Aunt Sidonie!)

Pointing was the newest trick when we arrived!

Since we had so much fun with the photoshoot indoors, we decided to do one outdoors!

Aunt Sidonie is VERY FUNNY!

SO precious!

Cousin Deb and her Pug, Cousin Sarah, came to visit while we were at Mom and Dad's. Sarah, however, was the only one who joined in the photoshoot-fun! ;)

Well, I'll keep it short and sweet this time, but don't worry, there's much, much more to come...stay tuned!!!