Because I can't sleep and its an important day.

The emotional blogger strikes again.
With a truly amazing Christmas behind me, now starts an awesome ski vacation in Austria! But before that can happen, I am being blessed with a sleepless night. Awesome. Getting up in four hours never sounded better.
In all seriousness, that was one of the most amazing Christmas's ever, certainly one I'll never forget. Its hard not to miss family during this time, so I called my grandmas up this evening and surprised them and it gave me the warm fuzzies inside :)
(We're just going to go through all the updates here in no particular order)
The 24th was not only Christmas, but also my boyfriend and I's one year anniversary! Woohoo! That was cool, I miss him so much!
Today (tomorrow?) The 27th was my Aunt Whitney's birthday. Its strange to think about how fast the time has passed since her passing... I miss her incredibly, but I'm thankful that all is good at home with her family and I can only hope for the best for them.

Everything here at the house is going well, we're all super ready for the much needed vacation. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that sleep deprivation and a bad cough won't keep me off the slopes (but honestly, what could keep me off the slopes.) I've missed mountains so much, it'll be so awesome being around that fresh air once again.

With my fifth month behind me, and six months ahead, Germany is now a completely normal place. My ears have gotten so used to the language, its strange being able to understand tv, but really cool at the same time.

Big awesome thanks to the Kless's for an amazing Christmas and an awesome opportunity! Thank you to my family back home for supporting me :)
And if anyone has nothing better to do with their time, send me a letter!!! I'll get one back to you!!!

Weihnachten!

Its Christmas!! When I was invited to go tree shopping and told that we would get the biggest tree, I thought to myself "Oh yeah, big tree woo!"

Little did I know, we really would get the biggest tree there. With glühwein in hand, my host dad Matt pointed to the biggest one right in front and asked me what I thought. I thought like, he was joking or so, and agreed it was an awesome tree. 

And now its in my living room. 

Truly a spectacular sight to behold and something completely unforgettable, this tree can only start to begin to symbolize how German's do Christmas. 

From awesome adventkalendars (thank you mutti!) and to St. Nickolastag, everything is decorated and celebrated! We've made tons of batches of cookies and the candy drawer is never ending. My peanut butter cookies have been a huge hit so far, next week we'll be making the third batch because they go by so quickly. 

School is zooming on, my German is zooming on at a slower pace, and suddenly we find ourselves already in December. After December, I'll have six months left. Somewhere in January is the halfway mark and I'm honestly astounded at how fast this has all gone. Suddenly I feel like I'll be left with no more time in my hands. Germany is becoming apart of me...its regular life for me now. And despite that I'm really glad that I feel like this, it will be strange to leave...

 Because we live life on the dangerous side here in prison.

 From the top of the stairs...

 My younger brother Tommy and I!

 I just had to put a picture in of my lovely gorgeous doggie, Arthos. Oooh mygoodness I love him!