Day 1: Meet the cast of characters **pictures to follow**

.... in this movie we'll call "Our trip to Europe that is the saddest trip in the world because the people that are here miss their daughter..."

Ok - maybe it's a bit much...

But, so far, Germany has been full of...surprises.

Craig said it best when he looked at me yesterday and said, "Doesn't it feel like there are so many people that look like they should be in movies?"

Strangely enough, he's right.

From the mass population of Muslims mingling side by side by the gay folks singing to Blondie at the top of their lungs.

To the monks...drinking beer...but really a bunch of guys dressed as monks.

To the 6 ft tall fairy - or guy dressed like a fairy - or was he an angel - in white spandex hot pants and feather wings that extended over his head.

Cast of characters - speaking all sorts of languages. From English, to German, to Chinese, to Spanish, to Portuguese...

The cast of characters continued as we arrived at our hotel to be met by a sweet German girl who spoke little English. She told us where we'd be staying, instructed us to go up the elevator (or closet that moves), and to enjoy our stay. Craig and I walked into a small, clean room - lacking air conditioning, containing the most dangerous shower known to man kind, and a bed that resembled a futon. Sometimes the reviewers on AA vacations/hotels.com/ and Trip Advisor ARE right.....

Or maybe it was the duo that we ran into at our "meet cute" at the Hoffbraus Haus. With the air in the legendary bar/restaurant thick with smells of tobacco, beer, sweat, potato salad, meat - Craig and I meandered through the crowd to find a table was no where to be found. So, I politely asked the nice couple sitting at a table of 4 if Craig and I could join them.

At our meet cute, we discovered the man was from Sicily, Italy and the woman from Spain. We found out that the man spoke very little English but could speak Spanish. So, our first night in Germany, in the quintessential German bar, drinking beer out of mugs larger than LeBron James' ego...we spoke to our new friends in Spanish and ate sausage, potatoes and one of the greatest things every created....fried pork knuckle...YUM.

We left the bar...3 lbs heavier due to the massive amounts of beer we drank. Cold, wet rain. Remember folks, we're still just 2 Texans trying to enjoy our vacation. So the combination of shorts, tshirts, flip flops, 60 degree weather, monsoon type storms and one small umbrellas was not the picture of perfection we were hoping for on our first day in Germany.

But we made it our little hotel room and slept.

Correction. Craig slept.

I woke up about 2 hours into falling asleep and my heart started to ache for Iz. I didn't think I'd miss her so much and I was sure I'd be ok once we got here. But, my heart still aches, even now. I just want to hold her, squeeze her, smell her, love her.

I try to push aside those feelings and enjoy my time here with my hubs. Because, it's 1 week. I can do one week in Europe. And so far...it's been quite the adventure.

Stay tuned friends as we continue on with our trip and you see how the next few days play out.

Woot woot

I'm crazy.

I am trying my darndest to get excited about a trip to Europe.

Yes...

You read right. I'm trying to excited about going to Europe. Not trying to get excited about going to the dentist...or to the va-jay-jay doc....

To Europe.

I never thought I'd dread a week with Craig exploring a new exciting city, learning the history, and getting time to just be carefree with the love of my life.

Then I had Iz.

And all of a sudden my world became bottles, and bibs, and Nick Jr., and Mac N Cheese, and chasing around a toddler as she tried to put her fingers in sockets, tried to eat dog hair, and dog _______.

The dreading part - really is mainly the missing that I'm going to be doing when we're away from Iz. Even on her worst day, I can't wait to see her and can't get enough of her.

Ok - now that's exaggerating. I do enjoy time apart from her when I go to work. I do enjoy the occasional afternoons free of Iz.

But a whole week!

What am I going to do? What am I going to do without her sweet kisses that are mainly open mouthed slobber fests?
What am I going to do without her scrunch face smile?
...or her constant "talking" about nothing?
....or her contagious laughter?
...or her little dance that is full out knee bending and arms flapping?

What am I going to do?
...without her tantrums?
...without her night wakings?
...without her clingy, spider monkey attachment?
...without having to take care of another human being?

Hmmm....

I guess I'll explore.

I guess I'll learn about the history of Germany.

I guess I'll experience the awe and beauty of the Bavarian Alps.

I guess I'll get to have a conversation with the hubs without worrying about meal time, naptime, bathtime, bedtimes....

I guess I'll get to witness an amazing Passion Play.

I guess I'll get to be carefree in Amsterdam....blush as I walk through the red light district, reconnect with my best friend, and be transformed into a true Dutch (...or is it Dutchess??) as I look at windmills and wear clogs.

Ok....so I can do Europe.

I'm excited. I'm sad about leaving Iz for a week.

But, it's Europe.

Woo freakin' hoo!

I should be arrested

For so many things.

Before you actually call the po-po and send them to my house, the only thing I should probably be arrested for is my infatuation with an underage animal.

I could hear my heart start pounding and an audible gasp *from my 30 year old mouth* as the werewolf of my dreams appeared on the big screen in his human form.

The 17 year old boy - he's a BOY for goodness sake - made me swoon out loud. Dang, Jacob! The "Twilight" series chose well.

Ok - maybe that's pushing it. So, keep the shiny handcuffs (I'll take the fuzzy ones though...oops...sorry underage readers...) to yourself real life police people.

I really should be arrested by the "fun police."

I am the ruiner of fun.

I break all the laws on good times....at least in the world of a toddler.

Because all things fun are hazardous to her health and cause my blood pressure to rise to the "n"th degree.

I feel like I should apologize to her for ruining her fun.

You know the kind...the kind of fun:
- the fun that involves handling sharp object.

- or running with toys in your mouth that could easily break and become choking hazards

- or making you slow down when you eat as you stuff the billionth Goldfish in your mouth causing you to resemble a non-furry cousin of "The Chipmunks"

- or tell you "no" as you attempt to take off the plug covers that could cause you to look like Don King

- or make you sit down in the tub as you nearly crack open your skull from the slippery water

- or prevent you from getting some kind disease as I pull you away from the toilet bowl...it's NOT a splash park in there!

- or ask you to slow down as I become your shadow when you attempt to run - when you just learned how to walk just a couple of weeks ago - your balance and agility take time young Grasshopper

- or turn off the T.V. after you stand inches away from the 57" mesmerized and zombie-ized by A Gabba, a Wonder Pet, an Olivia, etc...

All these things I do out of love and for the safety of my little ankle biter.

But, I do allow lots of fun things:

- like after dinner dance parties. With her signature knee bending and one arm raising moves, Daddy's moves that resemble something from the "Matrix" and my moves that could easily land me a spot on "So You Think You Can Dance."

- like singing every song I can think of to make her smile and laugh

- like letting her splash in puddles or play in the rain

- like trying new, fun things - like ice cream, chocolate, and cookies...for breakfast...

Ok - so maybe arresting me is kind of extreme.

But, if there is a crime for loving a little girl as much as I do....then lock me up..and throw away the key!!!