Snow!

It snowed here! 3 times since Saturday... I have a feeling it's going to be a long winter.

The view from my classroom.

(As I type this, I'm wearing a hat, scarf and my uggs. Inside my apartment. Brrrrrr!)

You've Got Mail

Hilarious e-card I received from Charlene:

 And the BEST LETTER EVER from my best friend Lily:

Auntie! I hope you have lots of fun in Amsterdam!!!!! I like that I'm going to be with you when I grow up! Love, -Lily!

(For those of you who don't read Lily's Blog, when she grows up and doesn't live with her mom and dad anymore, she's going to live with me. We're also getting married. She is indescribably awesome!)

Bedankt-Giving!

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy and cranberries + new friends = Thanksgiving in Amsterdam :)

Just taking a walk with my turkey...

Friday Fun

A colleague shared this video at a recent training, and I found it both hilarious and inspiring. A little fun for your Friday, y'all :)

Thankful

I'm thankful for Skype, because it lets me see my family:

 (Some family members were happier than others!)

 Of course they have a giant, eight person cupcake. Isn't that what Thanksgiving's all about? I love and miss you all very much! (And am sad that I'm not getting any of that cupcake.)

St. Paul de Vance

On Saturday afternoon, after completing all of our obligations and not skipping a single session at the conference, we took a bus ride up a long, windy road to an artist's colony - St. Paul de Vance. Words truly can't describe how beautiful it all was - the tiny alleys, the patterned cobblestone streets, the views of the countryside. So no more words, just pictures!

It's Nicer, Much Nicer, in Nice!

The view from our hotel balcony:

Serious French faces:

 

 The view inside the room:

 It cracks me up that in Europe, a double bed means two single beds just pushed together!

 Fountains and palm trees:

Yippee, I'm in France!!! 

(Can you tell I haven't traveled much?)

I loved all the old shutters on the buildings:

And the balconies too:

Terrible picture of gazillion dollar (euro?) yachts:

 They were GINORMOUS!

Memorial lit up at night:

Pretty little side street on the way to dinner:

Um, so this is how they served my fish:

 He was looking at me the whole time!

And of course there was wine:

This was the delicious "Beaujolais Noveau". It's only available for 6 weeks during the year, and was released the weekend that we were there. It was kind of a big deal!