Our adventure begins

It has definitely been an adventure and a half.  Traveling with six people from Germany all the way across the Atlantic to the United State.  It hasn't been easy but we have all grown from this experience in ways I never imagined.  

The kids were so excited to get on the plane.  Mara thought the airport was the United States.  Little did she know we had a 9 hour plane ride ahead of us. 

Everything must go.

So it's official.  The movers came and went and everything we own is in crates on it's way to the US of A.  They came in like a swarm of locusts and what was once a home is now an empty shell of a house. Yes I'm sad but most of all this move has reminded me how unimportant all of my stuff is.  The most important things I still have with me.  

My sweet family.  Through the entire experience we've tried to stay positive and give lots of hugs and encouragement.  We've lived here in Germany in the same house for almost 8 years.  That's the longest we've lived anywhere.  Myles and Mara have never known any other home.  But they seem to be doing just fine.  

We've always been honest with our kids.  They see their friends move away and ask when it will be our turn.  We tell them someday. So I think this has made the transition that much easier for them.  There have been no tears, only some disagreements and lots of running around an empty house yelling to hear the echo's (echo, echo, echo).  

I think that it has been harder for me to let go than it has been for the kids.  I'm just glad that they are here to remind me of what's important.  It's not the house that you live in but the people that fill it up with love and laughter.  Okay no more sentimental posts I swear.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and now it's off to a New Year and new beginnings.  

~Sunny~

We're Moving

It's official we are moving from Germany back to the USA! 

We're sad to be leaving our friends and the country we've grown to love, but we're happy to be closer to our family and friends in the states. When we leave this January we will have lived here just shy of 8 years and we've enjoyed every minute.  Our children don't realize yet what they'll be missing but I'm sure we'll find wonderful new adventures and friends in Maryland. Yes we are going to Maryland a beautiful state filled with culture, history and very close to a lot of really fun stuff.  I am trying to contain my excitement about being able to shop at large craft stores and Target and Walmart again and Starbucks. 

It's bitter sweet though because we love our life here and feel like we are leaving a part of ourselves behind.  So bear with me the next few months as our family makes this huge transition back to the states.  

Have a wonderful New Year!

~Sunny~

Rothenberg Christmas Market

When my bloggy friend Rebecca from Living Wright at Home, asked  me to go to the Rothenberg Christmas market with her friend Natalie, there was no doubt in my mind what to do.  If I had to pick one Christmas market in Germany it would be Rothenberg ob der Tauber.  It's like the medieval wall that surrounds the village has kept out the passage of time.  The moment you walk through it's gates the hustle and bustle of today's busy world just melts away. Cobblestone streets and horse drawn carriages make this town the perfect place for one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets. 

Client Party, Leopard Print 16th Birthday

I'm loving this leopard print dessert table by Chanda of Two Left Spoons.  She used my glam party package in custom brown and red to add some cute accents to this ultra glam 16th Birthday party she catered. 

Our family Christmas card mini book

Yay I finally finished our family Christmas card.  Every year I struggle with how to get at least one good shot of each of our four kids onto one card.  So this year I decided to go with a photo mini book.  What better way to show what we've been doing all year.  

A Real Princess Tea Party

What could be better than dressing up like a princess and sitting down to a traditional British tea?  Well for a five year old girl probably not much.  Unless she gets her nails and her hair done too.  Now that's the bees knees. I don't know of a better way to make a little girl feel like a princess for a day.  

Whoohoo! Hostess with the Mostess {Party of 5}

I'm not sure how I could have missed this but I was featured on Hostess with the Mostess, party of 5, last Friday.  Every Friday they pick 5 parties from their directory and feature them on their gorgeous blog.  My Minecraft party was listed along with four other beautiful parties last week.  

I'm just happy to be anywhere near Hostess with the Mostess.  I love their blog and their parties.  They are the go to blog for inspiration, resources and just plain loveliness.  I'm super psyched to be listed along with all those other amazing parties and designers. 

Thank you, thank you Hostess with the Mostess for including me on your site.  I'm tickled pink.  

Super excited!

~Sunny~

{All imagery was taken from the Hostess with the Mostess website.}

A Cowgirl Birthday Rodeo

It's not often you get to go to a rodeo themed party at an actual horse ranch.  We got to do just that at the Bonanza Horse Ranch in Katzweiler.  If you love adorable cowgirls, cowboys and horses then read on partner. 

Minecraft inspired Birthday party

My kids love Minecraft the video game.  They play it together and separately and sometimes with me.  I'm secretly a Minecraft junky too (shh, don't tell).  When they aren't playing it they like to pretend they are in the game and our house turns into a mining/ building/ construction zone.  This is why I wasn't the least bit surprised when Myles and Marina both asked for a Minecraft birthday party.  I actually got a little bit excited because this is something I'm pretty familiar with and I knew we could make it really fun.  

Thankful Thanksgiving

Wow, I'm thankful that Any Given Party featured my Thankful Thanksgiving party.  I have so many things to be thankful for this holiday season.  I hope You all have a wonderfully thankful Thanksgiving with those near and dear to you. 

~Sunny~

Vera's 2nd Itsy Bitsy Birthday

Yay I love it when I get customer pics.  Here are some adorable pictures of a sweet 2nd birthday party for Itsy bitsy Vera.  I love the cute spider centerpiece and the puffy spider head bands.  Thank you Sarah for sharing.  I can't wait to see what you do with your twins playground party.  

~Sunny~

Fabric Flower headbands

We are getting down to crunch time for our double birthday party this weekend.  I'm running around finishing all of the things that I've put off for way too long.  Fabric flower headbands were on yesterdays list which tumbled over into today.  But they are finished, I'm relieved and Mara is happy. 

He or She gender reveal party.

He or she - what will it be?  I recently attended my first gender reveal party for this lovely lady right here.  Lips and mustaches helped us pick a side and cast our votes for a girl or a boy.  

If you don't know what a gender reveal party is, no worries, just read on.

A Simply Elegant Baby (boy) shower

A few weeks ago my friend Elizabeth asked me to help her throw a baby shower for her best friend Gro Eli who just happens to be Norwegian.  I jumped at the chance because American baby showers are not the norm in Norway (tee hee I rhymed).  I also happen to think Elizabeth is pretty awesome so I probably would have helped her no matter what the circumstances. 

Elizabeth and I planned and worked tirelessly for weeks and then took over Gro Eli's home for an evening of fun, food, games and lots of her lovely Norwegian friends.