Halloween and Wedding

This year Halloween was extra special. In addition to the standard parade of approximately 2200 Trick or Treaters ... 

we also hosted a 9 PM wedding in our living room. With the Bride dressed all in black as Morticia, and the Groom dressed as Gomez ... 

I officiated the wedding ceremony dressed as Dracula.

It was a hoot.

Let me tell you ... you don't see this every day.

Happy Halloween 2018.

Germans in California - Samantha turns 38

Samantha's birthday was extra fun this year as part of the German Family flew into San Francisco to help us celebrate. 

Iris and Uncle Harald brought

Iris' daughters, Leanna and Ariane.

Mark joined us too which doubled - maybe tripled - the fun.

We all stayed together in a wonderful old home in Menlo Park. While they explored the wonders of the Bay area, Helen and I either worked

or hugged grandchildren. 

We also joined them at a Carnival-like birthday party for one of their 3-year-old buddies.

Our good friends Emily and Dave hosted all of us for a wonderful dinner party on their back patio. Clea and Sebastian - who were in town from Geneva - joined us late and missed the photo.

We did other fun stuff too.

And Helen got to do her favorite thing with the grandchildren.

Oh yes ... we even wished Samantha a Happy Birthday.

Mega thanks to the Germans, Mark and The Qs for making this a super fun trip.

Laurin, Sven, Yannick and their Chevy Cruze

Extended cousin Laurin and buddies, Sven and Yannick, are traveling the US during their gap year from school in Germany. After exploring the west coast, including a visit with the Qs in Menlo Park ...

they arrived in Topeka after a long (49-hour) and adventurous bus ride (mechanical breakdowns and fellow passenger arrested) from Los Angeles.

After a nice visit, they were ready to explore the eastern half of the US. No longer interested in riding the bus, we helped them buy a car. They decided on a nice 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco 6-speed manual.

Next stop, Chicago. Then off to Toledo/Erie, Niagara Falls, Albany/Kingston, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Myrtle Beach, Jacksonville, Miami, Key West, Orlando, Atlanta, Memphis and then back to Topeka to sell the car. Then home to Germany.

Stay tuned for more.