November 2013

November was a busy month. Not a bad busy, just lots going on.  There was a lot packed into this month.  One of Sam's contractors owns a farm and does horse rides.  She always brings her horses to the 4th of July celebration on post.  Sam has gotten to know her well and has been out to her farm a few times, so one Saturday he thought Elly would enjoy going out to ride a horse.  It was a little rainy and nasty weather, but we went anyhow.  We had to wait until she was done with a class, so we looked around.  She has some donkeys (or mules??) and a couple of babies.  They were so cute.  Elly wanted to get close to them.

Finally it was time for her to get a ride.  This look on her face tells the story.  She was so tickled to be riding that horse.  Sam had to walk her around the corral.  Thankfully he had taken his boots along because it was pretty muddy and nasty out there.  

We just found out this month that our good friends, Kim and Chris (and their daughter Sydney, who is Elly's best friend) are heading back to the states.  Chris got a job, so they were leaving.  That is such a hard part of living overseas and around the military.  Most everyone we meet is only here for 3-5 years, so we're always saying goodbye to people.  It's especially hard to say goodbye to them though because we've gotten to be such good friends and our girls are just like sisters.  Kim, I and the girls were together 3-4 times a week, so it's a real loss to me to have them leave.  

They had never been to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, so one day we all took a road trip together to check it out.  It's one of our favorite places, so they didn't have to twist our arms to get us to go along.  

I wonder what they were thinking about....so serious.

Another of Elly's frends, Maddie, was turning 5 at the end of November so we were going to her birthday party.  Elly wanted to make a card for Maddie.  I am so impressed with her writing skills since she's started pre-school.  She loves going to school and I know she enjoys it, but she's really learning alot too.  Here is Elly's card to Maddie~

Waiting in line to get their cupcake to decorate.

The birthday girl.

Being Kim's last Christmas in Germany, she wanted to go to a few Christmas markets again. We've been to the Esslingen Christmas market before and loved it, so we took the girls there one day.  It was cold, but we had fun.  

Getting a ride on a medieval ferris wheel.

This year for Christmas I decided to do 24 days of books with Elly.  I bought 24 Christmas books and wrapped them up so she could open one a night until Christmas day.  She had a lot of fun things this season.  We did the books and I did an advent calendar for her this year for the first time.  And she always gets an advent calendar from Oma.  She really made out this year.