Oktoberfest

September 28, 2013

Today unexpectedly we decided to try to go to a mini version of Oktoberfest in the town near us. We heard about it from our New Zealand friends. We were not sure if we would be able to get in as we hadn’t bought tickets. However luckily there were tickets we could buy when we got there. It was very cool. Lots of people dressed in German outfits, huge beers, pretzels, sausages, and great music. We met up with Suzanne and Martyn as well as their friends Jim and Linda and some German friends. We sat at their table and enjoyed our beer and food chatting until the music began. Once the music began the whole scene changed as every song involved standing on benches or tables, joining hands, dancing, and clapping. It was wonderful! We had so much fun enjoying the music, the company, and of course the beer. Heavens enjoyed it a little too much lol getting very drunk. But it was very fun and a great way to celebrate Oktoberfest! A once in a lifetime experience, a very German experience. It was a great night.

Until next time,

¬D¬

Germany

September 1-20, 2013

It took a very long time for us to get to Germany. When we arrived we took a very long train ride to meet up with Thomas and his family. They were so kind to take us in for the weekend. Then we moved into a hotel whilst our apartment was set up. We met some very nice people who helped us to do everything we needed in order to set up our apartment, get bank accounts, register with the town and everything. It took us a few weeks but we finally got everything we needed and moved into our apartment. It started with only a bathroom sink, toilet, and bath. Nothing else. Not even lights! But we managed to make it look like a home. We also walked around the town, very small town, but the view from our balcony is very pretty. I learned to drive standard, which is difficult at times, especially in a new country but after a few minor problems I think I have it down.  I started school and it is difficult at times because of the language barrier but I try. It is very different here. In the mornings the children have breakfast and then playtime. Then for an hour we do circle time and learning time which is usually in English. After that we play outside before lunch. Then after lunch they brush their teeth and sleep for an hour and a half. Then most of them go home and the rest play outside for the rest of the afternoon. My classroom is filled with 15 children mostly aged 4 turning 5. I have another teacher working with me who speaks German and some English and she helps to translate some of what I say to the children and vice versa. I have started to create some resources for my classroom and will begin doing some centers in a couple weeks.

Until next time,

¬D¬

Our Honeymoon!

August 19-25 2013

19- We began our honeymoon by going to the town court to get our marriage certificate. Then we went to Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands for our honeymoon. We arrived on Monday at the Rock Ledge Motel and checked into our cute little cottage. Then we went into Alex Bay to look around. We did a little shopping looking through town then stopped to pick up some dinner and took it to our cottage to eat and watch tv before bed.  

20- Today we decided to do the Two Nations Cruise. We bought tickets and then went to get some breakfast at a café before the cruise started. Then we took the boat tour through the waters and into Canada. We saw many expensive houses, very tiny islands, and learnt a lot about the Thousand Islands region. The boat then stopped at Bodlt Castle. We got off and decided to have a look around the castle. Poor Mr. Bodlt’s wife died before she could see the castle completed so therefore they renovate it but will never complete it. We walked around exploring and then took the boat back to Alex Bay. We went back to our cottage and took a nap before returning to the Bay for dinner. We went to the Dock of the Bay and had a lovely BBQ chicken and pork meal. Then we went to the drive in- Heaven’s first- and watched Kickass 2 and the beginning of We’re the Millers, but fell asleep in the middle of it. So we drove back to our cottage to watch tv and go to bed.

21- Today we were supposed to go on our hot air balloon ride. However, there was a storm approaching which meant we couldn’t fly. I was very sad but maybe it was for the best. We decided to go on the Singe Castle boat tour. We sailed the waters and arrived at Dark Island and got a guided tour around the Castle. You can even stay in the Master suite for a lot of money! That was the one room we couldn’t see on our tour because it was being rented out. The Castle was very cool as it had many secret passageways that were originally used for the servants. Because back in the days the servants were not allowed to be seen when guests were there. Not only did the Castle have many rooms for the family and guests but also very strange rooms like a sports therapy room. It also had some beautiful gardens. It was a nice tour and very informational. Afterwards we went to Callavarils for dinner. It was the best meal I think I have ever had. I ordered baked stuffed shrimp with rice and beans and Heavens ordered manicotti. It was absolutely delicious. I can’t describe how amazing the shrimp was. It just melted in your mouth and is now my favorite meal. After dinner we went back to the drive in because they were showing new movies. This time we watched Immortal Instruments which was weird and incestual and then Elysium which was good. Then we went back to the cottage to go to sleep.

22- Today was not a very nice day out. The storm had arrived but we decided to go to Clayton which is not very far away and go on yet another boat cruise. This time we went on a glass bottom boat to Rock Island Lighthouse. Because of the storm we couldn’t see very much through the water under the boat but it was still cool to be on a boat that had a glass bottom. We went to Rock Island Lighthouse and got to go up to the top of lighthouse and look out which was cool and see a little history of the lighthouses. When we got back we went to Alex Bay and did some more shopping and picked up a pizza, watched a film, played cards and drank some wine before bed in our cottage.

23- Today was our last day in Alex Bay. We checked out of our little cottage and went to the mini golf and go carts place down the road. We did three laps on one of the longest go cart raceways. My car was super fast and it was really fun. Then we played some mini golf and Heavens beat me by one stoke! On the way out of town we stopped at MazeLand and GOT LOST! Lol. Not really, we eventually found our way through. Then we drove to Syracuse to Uncle Mike and Aunt Jacks house and hung out with Minnie until Uncle Mike got home, then had some dinner and hung out until Aunt Jack and Mikayla got home from NYC.

24- Today we got up and hung out with Uncle Mike, Aunt Jack, and Mikayla then made our way towards Oneida. We stopped at Fort Ricky or as Heavens likes to call it Rickety Farm. She got to see a wolf show where the trainer went inside the enclosure with the wolves. She got to feed the goats and an impatient, persistent deer. We got to hold a snake and get our picture. We walked around looking at all the animals and enjoyed being together. It was lovely. Afterwards we went to Karlee’s house and had a drink with her mom who lives next door and then headed to Turning Stone Casino to meet up with Shelley and Matthew. We went for a buffet dinner and even had a chocolate fountain!!! It was great catching up. We made our way to Exit 33 which has lots of clubs and saw a club that looked cool. When we got in there was a couch with the British Flag print on it and when Heavens asked to take a picture the security guys said we could sit there. So we sat down and took some pictures and then a woman came over and said we could only sit there if we ordered a bottle which was 100 dollars!!! Ridiculous!! Maracia and her two friends showed up and we listened to the band for a few songs, but they were really weird. They looked like they didn’t belong together and they weren’t very good. So we headed out and saw that next door there was a Burlesque show at midnight, I asked about it and they said it was free you just had to buy two drinks and that there was no dress code. So we decided to go to the Tin Rooster to have some drinks and listen to the band, and maybe even do some line dancing until midnight. It was so country and they had a saddle disco ball!! But because dinner was still going on there was no place to sit. Well, Heavens being the charmer that she is talked to the hostess who was so excited that we were newlyweds that she made a table right in front by the band just for us. So we ordered some drinks, listened to the country band, did some line dancing and regular dancing and had a great time. Afterwards we went to go to the Burlesque show and found out that it was a black tie dress code, which we clearly were not prepared for, how annoying!!! So we headed back to Karlee’s house to go to bed. 

25- Today we got up early and went for a nice breakfast with Karlee, her mom, and Maracia then we made the journey home. Once home we got ready to go to the demolition derby finale with Matt and met up with Nick, Lorraine, and Chris and Rian. We cheered for our cars and had a nice end to our wonderful honeymoon.

Until next time,

¬D¬

Our Wedding!!

August 16-18 2013

Our wedding began a few days before the actual ceremony with a beautiful, personalised vase with sunflowers in it from my bride to be! And continued with Heavens dad and sister arriving and picking up the suits with the men. It then continued with spray tans, nail appointments, and decorating of the hall which took all day!!! Followed by a rehearsal dinner where everyone from the wedding arrived to practice their parts! Then pizza and chips to eat and a wonderful lantern celebration to wish us a wonderful marriage. We exchanged pre-wedding gifts and Heavens received a scrapbook of the time we spent together and I got a handmade jewellery box with a beautiful music note necklace. The day ended with Heavens and I sleeping separately which was very difficult, but made easier by my two besties- Racia and Molly who slept in bed with me. Our wedding day began with me getting up super early to go to my hair appointment and leaving Heavens a surprise to awake to. I organized her family in England to leave her video messages and created a video for her to watch on the morning of her wedding. Unfortunately I couldn’t see her in order to give it to her so I left it for her to watch and heard that she bawled her eyes out with joy! I went to my hair appointment and then to the hall in a rush to get ready in time with everyone showing up at all different times. I did my makeup, jewellery, dress, and shoes and then Molly put my garter on for me and gave me a beautiful present of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue! Then I pinned the flowers on the guys and was all ready to go. Matt, our little hero for the day, said we might want to wait a few more minutes for guests to arrive and good thing we did as a golf ball was hit at the tree right where we were getting married!! But we missed it because we started late! All of a sudden I was told it was time to walk down the aisle! It all happened so fast. I stepped out and saw my beautiful girl waiting at the end of the aisle for me. She was so beautiful! The whole ceremony went by so fast, but it was so lovely to hear Tammy and Molly’s poems, as well as my girls vows. Despite the fact that I said I wasn’t going to cry, I had to pull myself together during my vows….but I made it and we put our rings on and were pronounced wife and wife!! And yes Lorraine did say it without crying!! YAY!! Then we went to take a group photo and a great receiving line getting to say hi to everyone which was nice. Then time for pictures!! YAY!! Lots and lots of pictures!! But amazing pictures!! After that we called Heaven’s mum in England to say hi and then walked into the reception as a married couple, with confetti flying everywhere…even into Heaven’s mouth! Thanks Chris lol. Then we had some wonderful speeches from some wonderful people! Loved it! Especially the famous Daddy Heavens speech! Heavens and I gave our speeches and gifts out and it was time to eat. The rest of the night went by quick with the first dance, mother daughter and father daughter dances, cutting the cake…and smashing a cupcake in Heavens face….oops lol, and the wonderful garter toss with our dance that went great and surprised everyone!! We enjoyed the photo booth as well as everyone else, danced, laughed, and had a great time. Before we left the hall we opened our gifts and saw our decorated car! We made our way to the hotel and opened up all our cards and drank some wine, as well as leaving the hotel room with very much confetti to pick up… The next morning was wonderful, meeting up with everyone for a lovely breakfast! It was so nice to have everyone together and get to say a meaningful goodbye. As well as a goodbye to Heavens dad and sister which was hard. Then everyone helped tidy up the hall which was so wonderful of them and that night we had leftover food with some good family and friends. Overall it was a wonderful few days and definitely a night to remember. It was everything we could have asked for plus more and we can’t thank everyone enough who helped make our wedding day special and beautiful. We love you all and are so glad we got to celebrate the best day of our lives with you.

Until next time,

¬Mrs. Heavens-Soda¬