California

We had a wonderful visit to Christy's parents' house for Thanksgiving. We started off with a weekend in San Francisco, where we got to see Sue Ellen and Scott and Becky. Then we headed to Rancho Murieta for some relaxation, family time, and sunshine! We spent a day in Merced so David could see Christy's old haunts and we could reconnect with Jerrimy and Susan, and Friday night we took a trip into Modesto to meet Liz and Craig for dinner. Wednesday through Saturday Katie and Jeff were home as well so it was a full house. We saw a King's game Wednesday night--they lost in overtime but it was still a good game. All in all, a wonderful trip spending time with family and friends.




Buck in our parents' neighborhood that we saw during our golf cart ride

Thanksgiving family photo

Katie and Jeff

us

Christy driving the golf cart

one of the buck's 12 doe

David and a view of the Golden Gate bridge

stop on the Dave Rhodes' tour of San Francisco

Mom and Dad

view of San Fran

Top of Lombard Street

David and Scott bonding over beer samplers

Ghirardelli Square

the sea lions at Fisherman's Warf

The girls--Becky, Christy, and Sue Ellen

Alcatraz

Enjoying our obligatory clam chowder in a bread bowl

trolley ride

We found an Ohio State bar to watch them beat that place up north at 9 am Saturday morning

and enjoyed our bloody mary's.

Now we are safely back in Berlin and Christy has jumped full-swing back into work. We brought up all the Christmas decorations from the storage unit and are slowly starting to decorate and write Christmas cards. We also scoped out some Christmas markets in anticipation of David's parents' visit starting this Saturday! We know it's the Christmas season because the Brewbaker, our neighborhood brewery, has Christmas beer. Happy Holidays!

Marine Ball

Another busy weekend for us. Friday night we had dinner with the Office Director of EUR/PRA, where Christy interned when she was in DC. Saturday was the big day, the Marine Ball. Happy 223rd Birthday!!!!

Getting ready to head out

the girls
the guys... aren't they handsome?

the marines had a good time

hanging out

love a guy in uniform!!

hanging out with Susan and Margaret

our table

Christy and Paula

Sunday was a busy day too.... Christy cleaned and David cooked, and we pulled off our early Thanksgiving dinner with friends and neighbors.

random band on a boat that went by our apartment this afternoon

The table with the Rosenthal china, and the centerpiece from the ball last night

about to dig in! The Kitchenaid makes great mashed potatoes, by the way!

Berlin Hertha game

It was another busy week for the Machak family. Thursday night we hosted a dinner party and invited Christy's boss, our newly arrived sponsoree family, and some of our neighbors. It was fun but by Friday night we were exhausted. Not too exhausted to try some Pumpkin Lager, though, at Brewbaker, a local brewery in our neighborhood. Saturday we took a short trip to Potsdam for some pre-Christmas shopping. Sunday, in true European fashion we had tickets to the big "football" game--Berlin Hertha soccer! It was a big upset in our favor--#5 Berlin upset #1 1899 Hoffenheim, beating them 1-0 with the lone goal in the 70th minute of play.

David fit right in, finally getting to wear his Berlin Hertha jersey that Christy bought him for his birthday last year on our way out to Berlin. The crowds were enthusiastic but not too rowdy. All in all, a good time.



the Olympic Stadium

go Hertha! (sponsored by Nike and Deutsche Bahn)

David with our friends Paula and John

the Diplo-cat gets a bath

Where did the weekend go?!?! The family we are sponsoring arrived about 11 hours later than planned (who knew the Frankfurt to Berlin flight was so popular??), so we picked them up after work, got them settled in their new home, and headed a bit late to the planned Halloween party at Chad and Cecile's. No costumes for us this year (between the 2nd Hand Party and Oktoberfest we were a bit costumed out). Lots of kids running around though, and the first Gluhwein of the season as well as yummy pumpkin soup!



Saturday was a big day for the Moe cat.... bath time! We didn't think to break out the camera until the end, but...




getting rinsed off...





all wet and not very happy





how do I get out of here??

drying off on daddy's lap

so cute....

Saturday night we left Moe alone to sulk/recover and headed upstairs for the first of three stops of our Bundesratufer Progressive dinner. The prize goes to the Barbians-- wild boar rague and lemon and caper pork medalians. We like having a resident gourmet chef in the building :-)

Sunday was cleaning day, now it's time for football. Go Browns!!!! (and tomorrow the Steelers will hopefully be beating the Redskins!)

The 2nd Annual Machak Pumpkin Carving Party

We managed to squeeze quite a bit into this short weekend. Friday night we hosted our 2nd pumpkin carving party--pumpkins and wine, who would have thought it would be such a hit?

kids.... creativity at work

a little bit of politics.... 'tis the seasonand a little football (you can guess whose pumpkins those were)
the whole group...

Saturday night was equally as full. After attending the haunted house and costume party at the Marine House, we headed back to Bundesratufer to bid farewell to Kelly and Stu

some of the costumes from the marine party lingered... and got exchanged....

After that it was back across town to watch the OSU-Penn State game with fellow Ohioans. (The game started at 2 am-- who needs sleep?) We gave it a good run but alas, it was not meant to be this year.

After catching a few winks we did enjoy yummy blueberry pancakes and American sausage for brunch, though! Then back over to the Marine House to clean up after last night's festivities. After all that, in to work at 4:30 p.m. to work an event...... So it wasn't exactly a restful weekend but most of it was quite fun!

Dublin

Mike was here visiting from DC, and he and David went to Amsterdam earlier in the week (but the pictures are all on Mike's camera so they will have to wait). They came back on Friday and Saturday we set off for Dublin on Ryan Air. (Christy's first successful Ryan Air trip!). We arrived in Dublin around lunch time and after checking into our hotel and a quick lunch it was off to the Guinness factory.



Lunch at the restaurant next to our hotel on Connell Street



Guinness!



in the factory



Guinness train



we really liked the exhibit showing all the old advertisements



at the Gravity Bar on the top floor of the Storehouse

What's wrong with this picture? (St. Patrick's Cathedral, sponsored by.... Bailey's?)
in front of the Cathedral

Stephan's Green park
so they had Heinz "Brown Sauce" (like A1, we discovered), but no Heinz ketchup....
The Temple Bar is a bar, but it's also a whole neighborhood of bars

great live Irish music at this one
shout out to the Lir
Dublin Castle
we were actually allowed to take pictures inside. This is the Lady's drawing room. Supposedly that entire rug is hand-knotted.
the rooms are still used for State functions today

Trinity College was beautiful, and the book of Kells exhibit was really cool
many buildings were rebuilt or added, but the bell tower is the original
church near Grafton Street, the shopping area