Pumpkin Fun!

btw... the little one we grew in our garden... and J insisted it was his!

We have a pirate, the Phantom, a medieval maiden,

an almost teenager (with a teddy bear!), and an angel!

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!?!

European Cross Country Championships (sorry to brag)

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!!

It was a blessing I was not there for the start as Mary was tripped and left behind on the ground getting her a 90-something place start and I think I would have sat down and had a heart attack to see my little girl have to struggle like that after all her hard work and her high hopes!! The course was like a clover leaf so we were there for the 3 turns and every time we saw her she was passing girls! Her first year running and she finished in the top 20 of 101 girls. # 17 to be exact! She was # 12 in her district (District 4- the largest schools in Germany) and # 3 for her team. Her time for the last season race was 22.30. Her coach (who was just as proud of her as we were!) chided her with a big smile on his face when he told her the time she ran for this race...."I told you to run a 22.20 ... not a 21.47!!!" Yes that was her time... she cut more than 30 seconds off her time! We both cried. It was a great season!

John's Pool Party with his German friends!

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!!!

Happy Birthday!!

KHS Homecoming Dance - Masquerade

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.
If I had a pic I would put in here but M left her camera in her purse all night and J being the man he is took 3 the whole night...in his defense it was dark.

So here is what I have.

All in a day!!

The day started early for Saturday, but it was our first swim meet for C and R so getting up at 6:30 wasn't too difficult. The have been practicing hard and were ready for a challenge.

C swam the 50 freestyle and then 50 backstroke. We were so proud of her. She did very well, especially for her first competition. Her strokes are amazing... beautiful technique. A little work on her starts and finishes and she'll be smoking! The only "time" I remember of the whole day was her first race, the 50 free, and that was 1:01!C's first start...right now she prefers the side of the pool rather than the block.

Reuben swam the 50 free, 50 back and then the 100 free. With his first race his goggle were pulled off with his entry and he swam zig zag (at one point his arm went over and was even hooked on the lane line, oops...) and came in second. His backstroke was a little straighter (which is more challenging in this pool than most because the ceiling lines are diagonal... someone wasn't thinking when they designed that!) and he came in first. Then in his 100 free he was a good 20 meters ahead of the rest. Of course he is a good head and shoulders taller than the rest too... so it looks like he will swim with the 12 yr olds next meet.R after his 100 free, looking back shocked ..."where is everyone?"

While they raced... Seth played 11 holes of golf!! This makes him very happy!
(but not mom cause she can't get pics of that!)

Then we headed off to the KHS football game as just the day before M was selected Homecoming Lady for the sophmore class and she informed us she would be riding in a BMW at halftime! How could we miss that??? She has always wanted a crown! Her daddy will escort her to the dance tonight. (so I'll add pics of that tomorrow...)

The Homecoming Lord and Lady of the Kaiserslautern Sophmore class.

When we got home R, J and C were playing and R accidently kicked J in the mouth ... then C finished the job by pulling the tooth. I was informed of the whole event when C came to the kitchen, tooth in hand!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!)

Poor Joey's got his size 12's out on the dance floor with a bunch of highschoolers... I'm tired can I go to bed now??? or do I have to wait up???

A weekend in London

Our trip to London was amazing. We did so much in such little time!!

We took a ferry across the English Channel and saw the White Cliffs of Dover!

We also rode the train, the “Tube” and a big double decker red bus.

We arrived in Victoria’s station and then walked to Buckingham Palace.

We walked St James Park.

We walked Trafalger Square, saw Nelson's Column, Piccadilly Circus, and Leicester Square.

We rode the London Eye, saw Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and WestMinster Abbey.

We went to the Tower of London, saw the crown jewels, Henry XIII's full body and horse armor, and the Tower Bridge.

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 Tower of London, and Phantom!

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

PS... Mary qualified and is going to European Cross Country Championships for KHS.

A picture is worth 1000 words.

R got up this morning with this "do"... it just made me laugh... as it is a little of what the last two weeks seem like... just busy...nothing too terrible but a little crazy and we've been having fun along the way.

M continues to progress with her Cross Country times and manages to keep straight A's.
If S is not doing school work he can be found pounding the drums.
R and C have Herbst Ferien (Fall Holiday) these next two weeks so they are loving slow mornings. They are both swimming 2-3 times a week preparing to compete.
and J is still keeping us all smiling with his ever-so-cuteness.

My house looks alot like R's hair... but I make small baby steps of progress on my photo albums. The mess doesn't seem to bother anyone but me... so I learn to let it go... just don't drop in on me with little warning... actually, drop by anytime... just expect a mess and to sit awhile and look at pictures with me!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.

But that is all for now...
BTW... Happy Birthday Joni. We miss you.