Trial Photo Shoot

I did an at-home photo shoot today. Out in the fields I had my sister just take pictures of me doing funny little things. I'm trying to get more comfortable with the camera. Here are a few fun photos! Some of them I even entered in a "Seventeen" magazine scholarship contest as identification photos. I sure hope I can win, but if not I am still as happy as ever! I didn't put any makeup on or even really feel that pretty, but I was kind of in the mood to cooperate with the camera so I took advantage of it. It was so windy and rainy during the shoot that we brought the umbrella home in tatters.

This is my Angelina Jolie face.  Totally by accident.

Ja, I'm a tree-hugga.

Entered in the "Seventeen" Scholarship Contest!

Entered in the "Seventeen" Scholarship Contest!

The Eensy, Weensy Spider

I met this spider today near my trash can outside. I flipped out and screamed (which for me is a bit unusual) because he was such a creepy looking thing! Lucky I had my handy dandy camera because he was a nice little guy and let me take a few great photos of him just before he went into hiding again. I was only an inch or two away from him! He was about the size of a horse-fly. He looks like an old grandpa spider to me. 

A WiFi Signal Booster (that works!)

Yeah, pretty much I feel like a genius because I just built a WiFi signal booster so I can get internet upstairs in my room. I feel so smart, but honestly, a two year-old could have done it. Here is the link: http://www.ehow.com/way_5436170_homemade-signal-booster-wlan.html

PS. It totally works!

Bleeding Heart

Ok, I had no idea that Bleeding Hearts existed. I stumbled across them in my backyard a few days ago and pretty much they are my new favorite plant. They are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Easter 2011!

In Germany these trees are all over the place just before Easter. This one I saw in Rothenberg. <3

My Easter started at this place. It's gorgeous!

The Elders helped us "hide" the eggs for the children in the ward. 

On our egg-hiding journey we discovered the Easter Bunny's nest. Who'da thunk?

Stampede!

Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castles

Pretty much this weekend was amazing! It was one of those days where you just can't wait to get up and see the world! The fact that my family was with me made it a billion bajillion times better! We made the 4 hour trip to Bavaria to see the legendary Neuschwanstein Castle. Way exciting!

This is the Hohenschwangau Castle that we toured just before seeing the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is not as well-known, but just as awesome to go see. This is where Ludwig II grew up in Bavaria. One of the highlights of this castle is the swans. As, you can see, the fountain is a swan. There are probably hundreds of swans that adorn the castle in various ways and places. I was told in one room that there were at least 100 swans that you could find hidden in the decorations. Of course, I was totally fascinated. I wasn't able to find them all, because they just kept showing up everywhere!

Afterwards, we rode a horse-drawn carriage up the mountain to the Neuschwanstein castle. I felt a bit sorry for the horses. They looked like they were going to fall asleep walking! When we got inside it was absolutely gorgeous! High ceilings, spacious rooms, and paintings all overs the walls that were inspired by Richard Wagner's operas. The king's room was so terribly intricate and detailed that it nearly killed my eyes trying to take it all in. My favorite room, though, was the throne room. Symbolic paintings of past kings and even Christ covered the walls and the high, arched ceiling. It was a Byzantine-inspired room that I absolutely adored. <3

View from the horse-drawn carriage we rode up in. So fun!!

The Byzantine-inspired throne room that I fell in love with. Love the pillars.

This inspires me just a bit. :D

The wonderful weather and a nice view of the Hohenschwangau Castle from the Neuschwanstein.

Dear Diary,

Today was epic! I had so much fun with my sister! I love her! We ate cinnabons, rode buses, walked miles, got honked at by passing truckers, and spent lots of moola on fun little things while we tried to figure out how to best communicate with these amazing Germans we live with. Pretty much one of my favorite days ever!

              Love,
                   Me

Ich liebe Deutschland!

I'm finally out of the hotel! Yes, I lived in a hotel for two straight months and it got old near the end of my stay. I started missing doing dishes! Gasp! I used to hate doing dishes with a passion, but now I'm grateful for my own cupboards and sink, AND MY OWN ROOM! I'm so excited to do all the homey things like decorate, garden, and even wash dishes. Who da thunk? I love this house. It has enough rooms for my whole family to have their own, including me. I get my own apartment. Isn't that just great! There's an apartment attached to the house with its own door and everything. I'm so blessed. The movers who helped move our stuff when it got shipped to our house were German. I love the German accent. I love the German language, really. It is so rough and fun to speak. (Which I still don't speak, but I understand a lot of it now.) We took up pretty much our whole street that day. My favorite part about where I live now is the wide open fields. There are walking trails all over them and they are just down the street!