Yes our little girl turned 16! It is hard to believe!
Yes this is Belle ... but we are all dreaming of Christmas Break... when we can lay around in our PJ's! As you can see we've been too busy to get the tinsel on our tree just yet(or icicles as Joey reminds me is the correct name for it!). But it is in the house... as of yesterday, I ran to pick up the two most important T's of the season... tinsel and toilet paper!! So soon it will go on the tree! The tinsel that is, not the toilet paper! hee hee hee....
We have the most beautiful tree this year! Went Sunday morning with our next door neighbors to a place where they allowed you to cut them that day. We had alot of fun! And when we brought it in the house it has really turned into the most beautiful not to mention the softest, "kindest" tree we have ever had. We really like short needled trees but they usually bite! This one is kinda medium length but has the shape of a short needled tree and is so soft!
Yummy Gluwein and kinderpunch!!
We now have had more snow... on this Dec 3rd... than we had all winter last year. The German bus didn't even make it into Mittlebrunn this morning and all the German kids who stood at the bus stop from 7:15 to 9am... walked home! No school today. Joey tried to drive M and S in but could not get past Aztel... the very entrance to Landstuhl. So he came home... he did make it out to work about 11 am... fun times!! A fire, lots of hot chocolate, and some Christmas movies are on the agenda... well that and a little catching up on Homeschooling...and perhaps we'll make it out later this afternoon to swim practise... we never really stop do we??
These beautiful children were wide-eyed and eager to hear what we had to share about our holiday, Thanksgiving. I shared about the origin of the holiday and how we celebrate today...then showed them some of the crafts my kids had made over the years which I had saved. They clapped. 
Universal communication!! Smiles, claps, laughter. Food... whip cream! We shared some pumpkin pie (most actually like it!)and then made a turkey together for their classroom (the one at the top) each writing something they were thankful for on their feather.
For the past four morning we have woken up to a dusting of snow. We all LOVE snow, so it has been fun... and good news for J cause he didn't want to wear a coat until winter came. He kept asking me "when will winter come?"... I would say "it is here...it's cold" and he would say ... "no it's not... there is no snow!" The first morning with snow on the ground he told us "well now Christmas is just three days away!!" as if it was a little magical formula! So anyway, this photo is dark because this time of year we get like 3 hours of daylight (yes I am exaggerating!). It really was still pretty early... even before dinner. Sunday it started snowing about 6:30, pitch dark... so we let them go out and play in the dark with head/flashlights on. Oh what fun! They slept well! Truth is yesterday (Monday) when they build this snowman I didn't even know they were outside... what an attentive mother I am. When I went to look for John to talk to his cousin (HI Kiefer! We miss you!) on the phone I realized they were out. Actually I did have a hint cause I saw R out my office window carrying shovels full of snow to the back yard. I really don't know how they mustered this big snowman with so little snow on the ground... but boy is it nice to have independent children who dress themselves... and dress their younger siblings! I did fix the hot cocoa... even right before dinner...so maybe I am not so bad a mom... and growing boys that they are, they still ate their dinner!!
I never intended to chronicle the loss of my youngest child's teeth... but now it is the routine, expected if you know what I mean. It is good to see him feeling better. Joey is gone TDY and now C and I have the crud. M and R had headaches and sore throat but fought it off as quick as it came. Mine on the other hand came with laryngitis... oh fun... now there is no parent to get the kids attention with a quick yell. S is the only one left to get it... which is unusual cause he is always first to be sick! C has had it pretty bad last night and this morning, so along with my laryngitis there was no going to church and AWANA. It actually has been a day that Joey always dreams of! No activities, no time schedule, deadlines or pressure. Just rest. Your right again hubby! We need more Sundays like this!
Here you can see the big guy didn't make it to his St Martin Day events. His little lantern he made is sitting next to him... he felt so yucky he really didn't care that he was not going... not sure if this was good or bad... I guess both!
S and C were able to go...(M stayed home with J for me, and R had alot of homework). Seth made his lantern from scratch. This was for his German class and going to the service and fest in our village was extra credit. C wanted to go cause all her friends from school were there and it is fun to parade down the street with a lantern! St Martin's Day btw is celebrated Nov 11 every year here in Germany. Click to learn a little more.
btw... the little one we grew in our garden... and J insisted it was his!
We have a pirate, the Phantom, a medieval maiden,
Halloween is not our favorite holiday... in fact we have not carved pumpkins in about 5 years nor have we taken the kids trick or treating in about, well, I can't really remember. We've done lots of alternative fun things...but this year M asked... ..."please mom, can I take the two little ones trick or treating??... I remember the year I got to trick or treat and we had so much fun... and I'm still OK, right... and C and J have never trick or treated." She begged (respectively)! Joey always says I am a wimp... I prefer the "weaker vessel". Anyway, he gave in this year as well. Thankfully it actually gave us one more opportunity to get to know and be with our neighbors and friends (in fact I think last year we confused them by not participating). It was a way to be a light to this world yet not of the world. So many times when we take a stand we do not allow ourselves to go into those dark place, like Jesus did, and that is where the people who really need Him are. There is a delicate balance I know... not putting ourselves in difficult situations but still be accessible to those who need Him. Anyway, on to less heavy things... like the election huh!?!
Well, we got lost causing us to be a few minutes late...then in our hurry I left my camera in the car! So here is the one pic I have and the details!!
There is a new pool at Ramstein AFB. All the Germans are very curious about it as they do not have access on to the base unless sponsored by someone who works there. So we decided this would be a good opportunity (it was also very easy as I would not have to clean my house before and after a party!!) to share it with a few of our German neighbors who are also in the kindergarten and play with John. They really did have fun...although a little taken aback by all the rules, and the separate changing rooms for men and women. In the German ppols/swimbads there is one "locker room". There are little changing rooms for privacy but everyone goes in the same way. This is actually very practical and helpful for moms with young boys or fathers taking their little girls to the pool! At this American pool all boys over 6 have to go shower and change by themselves. Kinda scary for me now that my baby is 6!! Also the rules for the slides - feet first, and under 6 with an adult over 18...this made me pretty busy for the night! The slide is so small Joey gets stuck! Then there is the 10 min mandatory "saftey check" on the hour every hour... just in case!! Anyway, we have our issues with the pool but at the same time are very thankful for it as we now have 3 on the swim team, it is convenient for Joey to use regularly, John is taking swim lessons and this allows me to get some much needed excercise as well!!!
It is hard to tell which one is the teenager huh!!
They both had a wonderful evening at the dance. Joey was amazed the dance floor was never empty (not like when we were teens). He also said the music was good and there were plenty of chaperones so nobody tried anything stupid. He really had fun watching. He was also honored as one of the last slow dances M came running, grabbed his hand and pulled him on the dance floor to dance with her. He was the only father to get to dance with his daughter that evening.
C's first start...right now she prefers the side of the pool rather than the block.
R after his 100 free, looking back shocked ..."where is everyone?"
The Homecoming Lord and Lady of the Kaiserslautern Sophmore class.
This tough guy didn't even shed a tear... even when he got kicked in the mouth by his brother's size11 foot (one size short of his daddy's 12's... but R is only 11 yrs old!)We took a ferry across the
We also rode the train, the “Tube” and a big double decker red bus.
We arrived in
We walked St James Park.
We walked
We rode the London Eye, saw Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and WestMinster Abbey.
We went to the
We saw Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
We walked Regency Park and went to the London Zoo.
We ate fish and chips! And had a scone!
The highlights had to be St James Park where we fed the squirrels, the
What was so amazing to us… the public transportation! And so many beautiful parks!!
If you ever get a chance to go!! Do!! It is a wonderful place to visit!!
On our way home this was the sun setting over the Mosel River... and
J is busy relearning his job as they redistributed everything by standing up a local Wing this summer for his group to fall under. This has actually reduced his workload some for the time being... which for a man who likes to work, and is used to working 12-13 hr days, can be a little stressful... believe it or not. He is filling his time with exercise... biking back and forth to work... about a 45 min workout.
Before... see that wiggle tooth?
After... and still pretty happy about it all!
Merry Christmas Eve to all! Click on the picture for our link to a portion of our Open House.