My birthday was on the 3^rd of May and Mother’s Day was the 12^th. Robert was gone at a Fulbright conference for the weekend of my birthday, so the two celebrations were combined on Mother’s Day. Robert’s GVSU colleague, Roger Ferguson, was in town. We had him over for lunch on Mother’s Day. It was nice to see an old friend from Grand Rapids. We’ve known Roger for 20 years.

We also thought it would be fun for to celebrate ½ birthdays while in Austria. Robert’s fell on the 14^th of May.

Seamus has made a couple of good friends at GIBS. His friend Nathanial is originally from New Mexico. The first time Nathaniel came over Seamus had to show him how to swing on the Linden Tree rope! The other friend is named Dennis and he is originally from Turkey.

On the 9^th of May Faywen celebrated her 11^th birthday. Since it was a school day we didn’t celebrate until later in the evening. She enjoyed a delicious charcuterie followed by a Gummi Cake, which was made up of lemon, orange, raspberry, and strawberry flavored gummies!

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After dinner and dessert she enjoyed opening all her gifts. Some of her favorites included the “Mary Poppins” and a “Pippi Longstockings” books, llama themed plush toy and bag and blanket and pillow, a handmade Austrian top, clothes, and the plush Nuzzle Bunny I give her every year. She really liked all of her gifts!

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As the sun set we all went outside and swung on the large rope hanging from the 100+ year old Linden tree in the front yard. It was the perfect way to end her birthday!

The following day was a Friday. The boys went to the one English movie theatre in town to watch “End Game” so we decided to have special time with Faywen. We took her downtown to shop and then go to her favorite restaurant in town, an authentic Greek restaurant. They know us so well that she even got a free candy after her meal as a special birthday treat!

While downtown we ran into her two best friends from school, Manon and Elis. Manon is half French and Australian. Elis is a New Yorker who’s Dad is from Puerto Rico. Faywen has been blessed to make such nice friends while in school here in Graz!

Below are a few random photos from the end of April and beginning of May. On May Day (1 May) Robert and I took a nice stroll through the Graz Stadtpark. All the spring flowers were in bloom and it was a lovely day to be out and about. May 1^st is a national holiday in Austria. It is their Labor Day, so all the schools and businesses had the day off.

Kathryn is a good friend from Michigan, who came to visit us. She spent three weeks in Austria traveling around. She came to Graz for a couple of days and we had a lovely time visiting and treating her to a traditional home-cooked Austrian meal. We have known Kathryn for a few years. We met her at Irish folk dancing in Grand Rapids and she is also one of my voice students. It was very nice to see a familiar friendly face from the USA!