Bringing in the New Year: Germany Style

In the States if you want a real firework show on New Years Eve you have to go looking for one. Sure you might step outside, bang some pans, blow those noise maker things, light some sparklers. You may even see a few fireworks go off in the distance. But, unless you live near a large city, or have made the adventurous trip to one, chances are you watch the big celebration on tv - the ball dropping, the millions of people crammed into time square (which, don't get me wrong, I think would be super awesome to go to some day) and that's pretty much the extent of it. (Atleast that's been my experience)
Sure they have those giant city celebrations in Europe too ( I hear Berlin is bigger than NY even), but just staying at home in your own neighborhood here is quite the event.
Here EVERYONE has their own firework show, right in their own back yard. And I'm not talking those measly little firecrackers. These are full blown, 4th of July quality fireworks. Tonight when we stepped outside at midnight you could see fireworks in every direction. Both neighbors on either side of us were lighting them off, and pretty much 1 out of every 3 of the houses in the entire town were lighting them off. And to add to it all the church bells rang for a good 10 min. The streets were so filled with smoke in a matter of minutes it was actually hard to see most of them. But it was awesome anyhow!

I forgot to take my camera, and I doubt I could have really captured it from where I was anyways. But these pics kind of give you an idea of what's it's like looking down on a German town on New Years Eve

Faithful Friends Gather Near To Us

This last weekend I got to go up to Logan and spend time with a lot of great friends.
On the way up I went to a party with my ex-roommates from my freshman/sophomore years. (Still referred to as "the roomies"). Sadly it was only 4/6 of us (plus husbands), but it was still a good time. We try to get together at least once a year.

Me-Ghan and her little man Davin

Mandi and I

Mandi, Me, Chels, and Meghan
I'm so lucky to have been randomly put with such awesome girls - and am glad we're still such great friends.

I LOVE Logan. I have every intention of moving back there someday. It just feels so homey to me.
*disclosure: I managed to not take any pictures while there, so the rest of these pics are stolen from previous events...or from google images

I got to stay with my Wingman for a few days :) It was way fun.
I also got to go to her American Festival Chorus Christmas Concert (which was way good by the way. I recommend it.)
PS - If you hug someone with a glittery shirt, you will be glittery For-ev-er.

I also got to see these crazy cats. These guys are great and I sure miss hanging out with them.

It was a weekend full of many a good time, and few inside jokes which I'm sure will last for years to come :)

Last Week in SA

These are my last few days in San Antonio!

Monday we had a branch "ugly sweater" Christmas party.

These are my two little sailor friends, Auston and Tyler.

This is me and my good friend Chanel

Tues night my branch got to go and do baptisms at the SA Temple

Wed was graduation from LRO School
These are a few of the guys I play basketball with here

Getting my badge from the commander

Tomorrow I fly home for Christmas!

Saturday Service Project

During school we're asked to do service projects. This weekend a few of us helped out with Habitat for Humanity. If you don't know what that is, it's building houses. The foundation was already there so we just put the framing up. It was a lot of fun to be building stuff again. Made me miss working at the shop.

First thing in the morning. It was a bit chilly.

Putting the first walls up

Raising the roof

End of the day

That night we went out to dinner then went to a Spurs game. We were way high up. It was pretty fun but I still prefer going to an Aggies game