tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63762543430544954702024-02-07T02:01:35.335-08:00The Burke FamilySeangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-24169700262301484342011-04-03T03:25:00.000-07:002011-04-04T11:42:15.319-07:00Colton's BirthdayColton turned double digits on March 11th. I was supposed to be the one to whisk him off to Disneyland Paris for the day, having fun, going on rides and spoiling him rotten. The only problem with my idea was that I had surgery three days before his birthday. I thought I'd be fine to drive the four hours and ride the big rides, surgery or not. I was wrong. I was still super sore a few days later and there was no way I was going to be able to be jostled and shuffled around three days later. So, Sean came to the rescue. He already had the day off from work, so as soon as Colton was done with piano lessons Thursday afternoon, Sean and Colton drove off to Paris. I was so glad Sean could take him, but I really wished I could have gone. Sean was under strict orders to spoil Colton just as if I was there, (I tend to spoil the kids just a tad more than my husband). Sean agreed and off they went. They spent all day Friday at the park and had a great time. They didn't get home til almost midnight. It was soo strange and a bit sad to not have Colton around for his birthday, but they had a great time and we celebrated again when he got home. We celebrate brithdays for at least a week around here, so we had Colton's birthday on Saturday when we got home, then a week later again at a birthday party with his friends. Here he is Saturday morning after getting back from Disneyland:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5AOQwm06bHiKy9_10Oesccgix549PHTCETYad5gq8zei7TS4-SXETHfw6PNEiIgeJoTqV8XFzG5Tm_i8dkt0Ul0MOpTHildTib4O9q1-7f9VbKMuuJZMiqQeu8_Z55HbIxrouXGobw/s1600/DSC_0466.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5AOQwm06bHiKy9_10Oesccgix549PHTCETYad5gq8zei7TS4-SXETHfw6PNEiIgeJoTqV8XFzG5Tm_i8dkt0Ul0MOpTHildTib4O9q1-7f9VbKMuuJZMiqQeu8_Z55HbIxrouXGobw/s320/DSC_0466.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591305940587023602" /></a><br />Colton only wanted Lego's for his birthday. We discovered Lego.de which is awesome! We can order lego sets from the German lego store and they arrive at our door in about three days. Plus its really cool to try to translate the German emails that they send us. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeSA-okZavdm9udx615fXBlPuq2JSIUpuapNQqkrEVeV2zIIRmwC-bQbVcxILEioMroYrWEmLIEY9xfw3r3ey74NeeAdvHfa5QQXj3g1T-D20jMS2mEMxaCUgJf7RRUnDYaO3ATT5WQ/s1600/DSC_0467.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeSA-okZavdm9udx615fXBlPuq2JSIUpuapNQqkrEVeV2zIIRmwC-bQbVcxILEioMroYrWEmLIEY9xfw3r3ey74NeeAdvHfa5QQXj3g1T-D20jMS2mEMxaCUgJf7RRUnDYaO3ATT5WQ/s320/DSC_0467.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591309121742983794" /></a><br />Colton had a cool 'Knight's Training' birthday party the next Saturday with his friends from school and church. Sean organized an obstacle course in the backyard for the knights to work their way through, with Jaxon, the Black Knight, being the biggest obstacle they had to face. They practiced shooting a bow and arrow, threw a javelin, and battled with Nerf weapons.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm8vSY1UNWMRH_WVEfXd8aKvOELNf8XReeJLgZPUxeQyJe_1owdiA6CDG9fJRPHwMUQQKDb1C_QW6_m1mrk78_2LrlYiQJkZzGNi8RuVCUsIbfKiADyEdSv0zIkxrXIHXq0tQ66JKSg/s1600/DSC_0497.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm8vSY1UNWMRH_WVEfXd8aKvOELNf8XReeJLgZPUxeQyJe_1owdiA6CDG9fJRPHwMUQQKDb1C_QW6_m1mrk78_2LrlYiQJkZzGNi8RuVCUsIbfKiADyEdSv0zIkxrXIHXq0tQ66JKSg/s320/DSC_0497.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591312059425742962" /></a><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4JhRUy0U7rsiYJ3ejmfMEyuNXfFpBFt6D1NvSZKoh-j0JIAisX9cgoMET1J-7z8brbiPJzqpSG3pQTl6eoSUD3WV3xHttFXJTHyK_VV-lkmxLi56_MDvsymiC3nHzUBv9IrK2oBIDA/s320/DSC_0505.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591313661260618018" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiUsxHLkZifh_mVZJadKBX6lRHlVVO1zxnQv6IAW1tsbhZiLBIcL9Qv8JPJpOHrG2ibGjl_gzihbuEsZajdJIyDJs3Da7svV2fmhDovvyyhS5lMq0nouVzwqOsX-1ug6aY12XNlTfVw/s1600/DSC_0522.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiUsxHLkZifh_mVZJadKBX6lRHlVVO1zxnQv6IAW1tsbhZiLBIcL9Qv8JPJpOHrG2ibGjl_gzihbuEsZajdJIyDJs3Da7svV2fmhDovvyyhS5lMq0nouVzwqOsX-1ug6aY12XNlTfVw/s320/DSC_0522.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591619226997902722" /></a>kjfskldfjSeangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-61187105592065680812011-03-25T07:04:00.000-07:002011-04-03T03:25:40.591-07:00Fire PitI like our house. So does Mason. The other day, he went around saying, "I love my house. Mom, I love this house. Did you know I love this house?"<br />Me too, it's pretty nice. One of the cool features about this house is the backyard. I probably won't think it's that cool when it takes me 3 hours to mow it while using a riding lawn mower, but for the moment, I think it's great. About a month ago, Jaxon had his friends Spencer and Dallin over. It was still chilly outside, although Jaxon refuses to wear a jacket on most days, and the boys asked if they could start a fire in the fire pit. Well, they are boy scouts, and the hose extended over there in case things got out of hand, so, ok, sure, you can build a fire. They spent about 1/2 hour trying to get one started. They were never able to get a roaring one going, but it was fun watching them try. They gathered sticks, twigs, leaves, anything they thought would burn well. Jaxon even grabbed antibacterial hand sanitizer because he read "flammable" on the label and thought that might get stuff going. We tried to roast a few marshmallows and hot dogs, but the fire didn't last too long. They had a great time trying and it was fun to see the possibilities for smore-making that are in our future. Mason and Ella LOVED being out there, watching the action. Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying the pit:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7OUtwTCeAU7nhUJJMXuXCwCVWS2-F_GwbeIDRGXIbIHm2dqEe9FeXR3-7z6_FbYE8pevwzv9cRtQLfRVzmBdZUMOx6O9fQ7T241EwRJZxt3HApO1temIcivCrRKH-Uy5B_meRus7og/s1600/DSC_0382.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7OUtwTCeAU7nhUJJMXuXCwCVWS2-F_GwbeIDRGXIbIHm2dqEe9FeXR3-7z6_FbYE8pevwzv9cRtQLfRVzmBdZUMOx6O9fQ7T241EwRJZxt3HApO1temIcivCrRKH-Uy5B_meRus7og/s320/DSC_0382.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588019617740590194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqICHBiLI36UakRyaYZ0j5rjLCXmybsqhX4uGf7c3PMcTDUAnzWOnt4bQq4m47x0VCI3ZPHOf1tkB6BcD5LG0Opu5vGfa-hAiAz4cNNeA4vrOQ5tspdLOKpfi3LNasTZ-h3wIa7uQPA/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqICHBiLI36UakRyaYZ0j5rjLCXmybsqhX4uGf7c3PMcTDUAnzWOnt4bQq4m47x0VCI3ZPHOf1tkB6BcD5LG0Opu5vGfa-hAiAz4cNNeA4vrOQ5tspdLOKpfi3LNasTZ-h3wIa7uQPA/s320/DSC_0389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588022603591789586" /></a><br />Mason liked eating his marshmallows off of a skewer. Even though he didn't want to waste time roasting his, but rather dig in and eat them right away, he wouldn't just put the marshmallows in his mouth. He had to stick them on the skewer, then eat them off the stick. Funny kid.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-HSyQxvHjnlGeH6TmOyXZTlfKOuMhjy4zaYH1EinEaITLmTX0GfHSUeYOXM_03OXfjoKg3kI7rQ08HoU2K2StHk1Q9kDNqqqdHaeMm_BrBQGGaFoc4-ADIpAVeuq_iTmlefO_FdwDw/s1600/DSC_0383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-HSyQxvHjnlGeH6TmOyXZTlfKOuMhjy4zaYH1EinEaITLmTX0GfHSUeYOXM_03OXfjoKg3kI7rQ08HoU2K2StHk1Q9kDNqqqdHaeMm_BrBQGGaFoc4-ADIpAVeuq_iTmlefO_FdwDw/s320/DSC_0383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588044737664896386" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-45101326868928810062011-03-24T10:16:00.000-07:002011-03-24T11:57:38.026-07:00Ella Turns 6!!Princess Ella turned 6 on February 8th. We celebrated a few days early since Sean had to work all day on the 8th and we wanted to celebrate the WHOLE day, so we pretended that Saturday the 6th was Ella's birthday, too. We opened presents, Ella decorated her own cake, and we went to the ice skating rink. Here is the birthday girl with her brothers:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3VqkSzp-lsyallpMMQ1peGd4lLnTaacUHEh_DqLBmk-aR4_dPtk3ysxKnrRxOvF330JBQbbtN8U9pH0Xw3O2lyeGEQBrsShBgBPhsEO4PodYo7VB-YDsgImFYF4MgOsGyMGlx2w6ag/s1600/DSC_0380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3VqkSzp-lsyallpMMQ1peGd4lLnTaacUHEh_DqLBmk-aR4_dPtk3ysxKnrRxOvF330JBQbbtN8U9pH0Xw3O2lyeGEQBrsShBgBPhsEO4PodYo7VB-YDsgImFYF4MgOsGyMGlx2w6ag/s320/DSC_0380.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587698052207062658" /></a><br /><br />Here's Ella with her cake that she decorated all by herself:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQfB8ZOCUo0aDzyrDnFwGVm1-j4LnQsZBpBrgZ1KJy-ep04XLaoljB_EkexjUbWlg_C_ThMIzDwM_HXI8jMcIdmO89Wn2m-_U_VLcp7rqE25shs1rvlgF7wyd3hpP9V4tnyFpdCDQIQ/s1600/DSC_0370.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQfB8ZOCUo0aDzyrDnFwGVm1-j4LnQsZBpBrgZ1KJy-ep04XLaoljB_EkexjUbWlg_C_ThMIzDwM_HXI8jMcIdmO89Wn2m-_U_VLcp7rqE25shs1rvlgF7wyd3hpP9V4tnyFpdCDQIQ/s320/DSC_0370.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587704006030044818" /></a><br /><br />Ella loves dolls and was so happy to get some new ones from her grandma:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YsL0Og_7G8d8_NCrSAiUizrwuVPhhZJ6kZ9H15vAX8Aq-Ow6N8i_muMJ7qMb5kdzGGly-C9LG0Xal_SM2OOy6PzHEiyJjU9M50sqQnr-rJVJLHia2E2Tiu6CpWgTP2TFlVDH9NlXiQ/s1600/DSC_0363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YsL0Og_7G8d8_NCrSAiUizrwuVPhhZJ6kZ9H15vAX8Aq-Ow6N8i_muMJ7qMb5kdzGGly-C9LG0Xal_SM2OOy6PzHEiyJjU9M50sqQnr-rJVJLHia2E2Tiu6CpWgTP2TFlVDH9NlXiQ/s320/DSC_0363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587705922644180242" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-54328125714689484392011-03-23T12:58:00.000-07:002011-03-23T13:08:32.987-07:00Batman and RobinMason and Olivia are an amazingly awesome dynamic duo. They are faster than a mini cooper on the Autobahn, more powerful than the Euro compared to the dollar, and able to leap tall bunkbeds in a single bound. I love when Olivia comes over. Cookies are baked, toys are played with, and adventures are had. She helps Mason get in touch with his inner super hero, and fun is had by all.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K4KYgYp-HeXweb8CANN_vi-5_QWB2hlHju8bPGa9bVwxs9jZgPOW3zbzKw2Q5XjCZFEl1oROZDGRxNLDAH6WtmqAQxJZrOYe7y4WvWJrUOejRvAXH6s6nTViErw2ttKxTU9RMSS-tQ/s1600/DSC_0446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K4KYgYp-HeXweb8CANN_vi-5_QWB2hlHju8bPGa9bVwxs9jZgPOW3zbzKw2Q5XjCZFEl1oROZDGRxNLDAH6WtmqAQxJZrOYe7y4WvWJrUOejRvAXH6s6nTViErw2ttKxTU9RMSS-tQ/s320/DSC_0446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587368702388453970" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-42101099585125169162011-03-23T03:45:00.000-07:002011-03-23T04:31:59.447-07:00Finally!!!Yeah!!! I waited and waited and waited to see if I could finally upload pictures to the blog so I could keep all of you on the edge of your seats to find out what we've been up to the past few months. And, it took forever, but I was able to add a picture!! Which means....I'm back!! I probably won't be able to upload as many pictures as before for each post, but that's ok. So, let's catch you up: In January, Sean and I escaped for 48 hours to London to see a couple of plays. We had a 'Wicked' good time seeing the true story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and the next night we were thrown back into revolutionary times as we watched (and Sean quietly sang along to) Les Mis. It was his second time seeing that one, my first. I am a girl at heart and although I thoroughly enjoyed Les Mis, my favorite was....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfr2MNy8ugCs1B-p-DftfJrXHtxQaBDLcCufEaLhmHXZanu7eJwC6DEWLH9g5808Cvn0qe-24DJ8awhP8LQvGNljg3bE4Tmu6nDcWLVZpTBoXfPBTlWWd3UXz0etiuXP0c9Mk9G7m-g/s1600/IMG_1089.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfr2MNy8ugCs1B-p-DftfJrXHtxQaBDLcCufEaLhmHXZanu7eJwC6DEWLH9g5808Cvn0qe-24DJ8awhP8LQvGNljg3bE4Tmu6nDcWLVZpTBoXfPBTlWWd3UXz0etiuXP0c9Mk9G7m-g/s200/IMG_1089.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587229193380440786" /></a><br />Yup, Elphaba won me over. I loved the plot and the twist at the end (go see it, I won't ruin the surprise for you!) and the MUSIC!! I downloaded the music a few days after getting back and guess which child LOVES to dance and sing to the Wicked soundtrack in the kitchen on a daily basis? You guessed it, MASON!! We have been singing 'Popular' so much that it is always running through my mind, morning, noon, night, middle of the night...<br />Well, Sean and I had a great time and a big shout out THANK YOU to the Turner's and the Creer's for watching our kinder so we could enjoy London as just a couple. Fun. Here we are on the Big Bus tour, driving around London, with Big Ben in the backround:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM0nEAbqJUxdnbY7VbN5ahAYM1_ssyuwk5OrRA78PAJoWt4YUOhWwQ5ZLe7XTwZQFO2L2gza-_NskCvm_O7vlE3t0rPZ9Y9t0eNFBgOPlqLwE8_GBuMXwCj-08KdrbcH6SyPhDkl28A/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM0nEAbqJUxdnbY7VbN5ahAYM1_ssyuwk5OrRA78PAJoWt4YUOhWwQ5ZLe7XTwZQFO2L2gza-_NskCvm_O7vlE3t0rPZ9Y9t0eNFBgOPlqLwE8_GBuMXwCj-08KdrbcH6SyPhDkl28A/s200/IMG_1095.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587225608855356898" /></a><br />We went to the Tower of London and took a Beefeater's Tour. What is a Beefeater? Go to London and find out!! Here we are with the London Bridge behind us after touring the Tower:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nqjy1BhlOfKnVkcWTJBdGLI_jY9-OptsOd0d7oi9KjXop1BsvIuznsDpUaKNmXFTlZgGejYF4FVSiUwyR49KQiAB4Lyyy8dnzBK5FRD0rFEpGGlCv5YIshdfoXCNM8YrOfaGw-AXuw/s1600/DSC_0342.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nqjy1BhlOfKnVkcWTJBdGLI_jY9-OptsOd0d7oi9KjXop1BsvIuznsDpUaKNmXFTlZgGejYF4FVSiUwyR49KQiAB4Lyyy8dnzBK5FRD0rFEpGGlCv5YIshdfoXCNM8YrOfaGw-AXuw/s200/DSC_0342.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587231873087271938" /></a><br />We got caught in a rainstorm Friday afternoon. The closer we got to Buckingham Palace, the worse it rained. I think the Queen may have been a little bit threatened by our awesomeness and caused the rainstorm in a feeble effort to drive us away. Didn't work. We got drenched, had to go to the nearest department store (thank you Gap) to buy me new boots since my shoes were completely squishy, warmed up with some hot chocolate from Starbuck's, (delicious, I might add), and dried off before setting out to see Wicked. The rain storm made for some amazing views as the sun started to set:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Rp6-soDv6oTJYPgrl1uIXtS3lm-wDKyS1hnOVvDsYso0jX0tK8ZqQX3Vaka1P5O46vGwCsjkDGU_BXbQZsw5vPNx87cfwLnfvQxMYPD5m-BL6VCpedPNeVJgwFdIOpgwH_EZfDDDqQ/s1600/IMG_1084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Rp6-soDv6oTJYPgrl1uIXtS3lm-wDKyS1hnOVvDsYso0jX0tK8ZqQX3Vaka1P5O46vGwCsjkDGU_BXbQZsw5vPNx87cfwLnfvQxMYPD5m-BL6VCpedPNeVJgwFdIOpgwH_EZfDDDqQ/s200/IMG_1084.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587233524726343522" /></a><br /><br />All in all, a fabulous weekend getaway!Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-66782517733134581962011-01-13T11:21:00.000-08:002011-01-13T11:29:26.174-08:00Super HeroesSo who do you call when there is trouble in your neck of the woods? Who do you turn to when there is no one else around?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"I need a hero............I'm holding on for a hero til the end of the night........he's gotta be strong.....he's gotta be fast.........and he's gotta be fresh from the fight......................."<br /><br />(Flashback for all those of you who grew up in the 80's and remember Footloose)<br /><br /><br />Here are my favorite heros:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uW25zxUxBKGHPHYbIqP85esNb1Oi498ob-emoQ4ht8VD2vnmSBaytSWrWAP6Mdzbgw0Xjhhv-mp6iJR-z-2ynYXRM08CaKqEZWDv94csFX4X0U0KE-OLGxybe_gK2SoqMiSRxFZyrg/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uW25zxUxBKGHPHYbIqP85esNb1Oi498ob-emoQ4ht8VD2vnmSBaytSWrWAP6Mdzbgw0Xjhhv-mp6iJR-z-2ynYXRM08CaKqEZWDv94csFX4X0U0KE-OLGxybe_gK2SoqMiSRxFZyrg/s320/DSC_0248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561753900706839074" /></a><br /><br />No one is messin' with the Burke Household when these superheroes are on duty!Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-88148276016416802282011-01-13T11:15:00.000-08:002011-01-13T11:21:15.836-08:00Sibling AffectionMy kids love each other. They don't always like each other, but they do love each other. The other day it was heart warming to see Jaxon return from an outing and the other kids swarm him with hugs. I think he was even touched by their outpouring of affection. Usually they are physical, but not in the 'hug and kiss' sort of way. More of the 'attack and wrestle' sort of way. So, luckily I had my camera handy and was able to remember this moment in time, because I have a feeling it will be a LONG time before such outward expressions of affection are displayed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfP4cMZxNEs24muGDBz7xq7aWPHt44MPHoip4jFrckI0493tYdNYN16ZU-3t5L__-Yl0AvOsYcXzmLkQmqmpE4eRqfsR1xHnKl4tkEnsGr7Z_Ox0OLZxZea9_aUCAIUlccuR7p-COvA/s1600/DSC_0251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfP4cMZxNEs24muGDBz7xq7aWPHt44MPHoip4jFrckI0493tYdNYN16ZU-3t5L__-Yl0AvOsYcXzmLkQmqmpE4eRqfsR1xHnKl4tkEnsGr7Z_Ox0OLZxZea9_aUCAIUlccuR7p-COvA/s320/DSC_0251.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561752343686953202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJcMyGtLxDZhyphenhyphenunzBJtQ9fneniESag1CcpY0_CVyHZ0qvEDK_niDy2Vg1Tdge0x7eH9UErAook7Mbi7SGzKWjFNAq_dW3qtJlSeJpAvcVktlFqeYpvniP1U4XZaE9hnEDqrlcno25mA/s1600/DSC_0253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJcMyGtLxDZhyphenhyphenunzBJtQ9fneniESag1CcpY0_CVyHZ0qvEDK_niDy2Vg1Tdge0x7eH9UErAook7Mbi7SGzKWjFNAq_dW3qtJlSeJpAvcVktlFqeYpvniP1U4XZaE9hnEDqrlcno25mA/s320/DSC_0253.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561752168895524338" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-67553035289284389872011-01-12T09:36:00.000-08:002011-01-12T09:59:37.743-08:00Can't believe itSean and I don't have the best of luck. It's not like we are UNlucky, we just don't really have the best of luck. As long as we and the children are healthy and safe, that's all that matters. When we moved to Germany, I thought we would get a really cool house. Well, we weren't unlucky, we found a house that is big and works well for us, but we didn't find the dream home we were kinda hoping for. When our landlord informed us a few months ago that he is trying to sell the house, we figured we wouldn't worry too much quite yet, and if the perfect house opened up, we would jump on it. Well, since we don't have the best of luck, we have just been patiently waiting and hoping that our house wouldn't sell. A few weeks ago we started inquiring about our friends' house that they are moving out of this month. This house is amazing; basically, my dream German house. I didn't think there was any way we could afford it, so I didn't think too much about it. Then things started to happen miraculously. The house was appraised in our price range, the landlords are amazingly wonderful, our friends who are moving out helped us tremendously, so now, I can't believe the LUCK we are having, because we are moving into a really awesome house. So, allow me to indulge for a minute as I shamelessly brag about the new house and show a few pictures. It is in the quaint little village of Elschbach, about 15 minutes from base. The backyard is the size of a football field. No, I'm serious. There are livestock in the neighboring field: Mason couldn't be more excited. We have a fire pit. The kitchen is BIG. 6 bedrooms. A basement. A pink princess room for Ella. A blue room for Colton and Mason. A new stainless steel refrigerator, a deep freezer, and the best part: A RIDING LAWNMOWER!! So, now, if Jaxon starts up with some pre-teen attitude, I can say: "Go mow the lawn!" and we'll see him in about 3 hours. Ok, Ok, I know, you want to see pictures, so here they are:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wyl2wTV_rPSec644sgXVPr4ntOi10OoIA-pzCSB1WJV2AqmsxpyPO3JcbRMeji9BlcwR8lzkko8ReS_yg0o25fEpfza_vrRewcUiSiSMcc8DVrKmIKgS-jH640kiuLQWx2fb1J0a3w/s1600/DSC_0283.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wyl2wTV_rPSec644sgXVPr4ntOi10OoIA-pzCSB1WJV2AqmsxpyPO3JcbRMeji9BlcwR8lzkko8ReS_yg0o25fEpfza_vrRewcUiSiSMcc8DVrKmIKgS-jH640kiuLQWx2fb1J0a3w/s320/DSC_0283.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561357448568519506" /></a><br />The backyard:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqhK8JmVqHN5PqgdQQ_3TtkGYQoF7aUyXh07RBKmZO0tgXDxjA68HjlfiaCJ7fPzA4KePyiqcxTfUbIEmlTgUrR5lCI63nvEP8ECUEZHEXfsCR34HI8ec2VihW1fUng1_1M3iKvZ3Mw/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqhK8JmVqHN5PqgdQQ_3TtkGYQoF7aUyXh07RBKmZO0tgXDxjA68HjlfiaCJ7fPzA4KePyiqcxTfUbIEmlTgUrR5lCI63nvEP8ECUEZHEXfsCR34HI8ec2VihW1fUng1_1M3iKvZ3Mw/s320/DSC_0284.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561357683719600386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e00_anr98plhmf9q2cToURYl4YnWGaEEKqkYRYSkOCW6rMHyDVC9HPqCmYKolCu75sxt2w7XtYhwntcpYu105DnUnLGlpFhXROs0bWq2AGsiEI7OTg43fkGya-xvu9cSdGS7CQoffg/s1600/DSC_0285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e00_anr98plhmf9q2cToURYl4YnWGaEEKqkYRYSkOCW6rMHyDVC9HPqCmYKolCu75sxt2w7XtYhwntcpYu105DnUnLGlpFhXROs0bWq2AGsiEI7OTg43fkGya-xvu9cSdGS7CQoffg/s320/DSC_0285.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561358032664707154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyW4POvZFpwIinN98FwwCeYQLeED0UF9VrzM-I1dRs7MvO7dLXi7OVWzfj5DXiP1nHL7au3Tp7gT_x5_VUSTU1m8VfSCZJibjoLVrtapI3h_oJT4PUbbPpjXvbeIp-mBa1-x2lm0vBJg/s1600/DSC_0286.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyW4POvZFpwIinN98FwwCeYQLeED0UF9VrzM-I1dRs7MvO7dLXi7OVWzfj5DXiP1nHL7au3Tp7gT_x5_VUSTU1m8VfSCZJibjoLVrtapI3h_oJT4PUbbPpjXvbeIp-mBa1-x2lm0vBJg/s320/DSC_0286.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561357909012442658" /></a><br />Ella in the fire pit:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMNGW6ha-mWE5tnhPLs-UYNpFcEd_ejvBrgWhrCU-PYVCg0aMLAv-KPG_24Ea6XZPyEStDKje_9ySKwWlyvANMXTxuRTR5JftpWIFrnm6csFB5kVA5jXXRNl-tEAnTsfcMR_GMb4RjQ/s1600/DSC_0288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMNGW6ha-mWE5tnhPLs-UYNpFcEd_ejvBrgWhrCU-PYVCg0aMLAv-KPG_24Ea6XZPyEStDKje_9ySKwWlyvANMXTxuRTR5JftpWIFrnm6csFB5kVA5jXXRNl-tEAnTsfcMR_GMb4RjQ/s320/DSC_0288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561359724055730786" /></a><br />The living room:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjnu9fYlbGw0B_KxooNTfF7uDZssn4XHpZlZ1zKXARFHEHFpYXHMS3_SEhwJFTU3PULB2ZkKJfa1ysz77Mv4VWqUXlil2iejlNAjjXbxdnqEX2LfxojsDeTICRt8tk2zT4rrIWq50nw/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjnu9fYlbGw0B_KxooNTfF7uDZssn4XHpZlZ1zKXARFHEHFpYXHMS3_SEhwJFTU3PULB2ZkKJfa1ysz77Mv4VWqUXlil2iejlNAjjXbxdnqEX2LfxojsDeTICRt8tk2zT4rrIWq50nw/s320/DSC_0304.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561358272325684802" /></a><br />Entryway:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIzAzTRsmvyFz6jOboKgEj3Z8tt4E1IW5H-a3c3H2BECntH_Z5hK7XwPQ4_xzkhv-SfmZtXSff5jPeRXTv5GfU_rSQmlVkt5Hbx6T8Q0k5-P0p2qeKhIas-eL6B3RzInrYGDrxpv33g/s1600/DSC_0300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIzAzTRsmvyFz6jOboKgEj3Z8tt4E1IW5H-a3c3H2BECntH_Z5hK7XwPQ4_xzkhv-SfmZtXSff5jPeRXTv5GfU_rSQmlVkt5Hbx6T8Q0k5-P0p2qeKhIas-eL6B3RzInrYGDrxpv33g/s320/DSC_0300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561358470003327842" /></a><br />Kitchen:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipOF1Z3s4gHR0G6BiOOnKFnQCUDY2KKuTMZj4BSkgdBdsl46nKozgdGBRN11Sg_UfGtShBOtJRzdi0jwLRkTbjczdq1ikYHlDRESTGXw18lalfifKWekT6AuJEKrvbjNGvlUDDSP8lw/s1600/DSC_0292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipOF1Z3s4gHR0G6BiOOnKFnQCUDY2KKuTMZj4BSkgdBdsl46nKozgdGBRN11Sg_UfGtShBOtJRzdi0jwLRkTbjczdq1ikYHlDRESTGXw18lalfifKWekT6AuJEKrvbjNGvlUDDSP8lw/s320/DSC_0292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561358711903077474" /></a><br />Mason in his new blue room:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfJN7veybVGe1F8lvfQI2cwbEx0LJT6D6Ch4xDgsru-Am7Gpirobs-x8Nfq9sW_rTxL0d_GlJKFtlMEr_49RDd484yUCJMlGT-wsW9SVQnQnJ4bp7eiLCkZhPtMSoLSfeIdwOLNvwJQ/s1600/DSC_0289.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfJN7veybVGe1F8lvfQI2cwbEx0LJT6D6Ch4xDgsru-Am7Gpirobs-x8Nfq9sW_rTxL0d_GlJKFtlMEr_49RDd484yUCJMlGT-wsW9SVQnQnJ4bp7eiLCkZhPtMSoLSfeIdwOLNvwJQ/s320/DSC_0289.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561358927912856914" /></a><br />Extra bedroom:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QDRjm-1IYG7A0o2Z4wwc8HHdJAA_h3z-ZodpifQeQ0ev6-lugX3w0zldU5fwKB_u52WfitHNw98yjBjUxnTesP7X23zhWjijF_i-4xnysXoCCGDJhnNTbHGunYnLXRyF4fia1Yg2yg/s1600/DSC_0296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QDRjm-1IYG7A0o2Z4wwc8HHdJAA_h3z-ZodpifQeQ0ev6-lugX3w0zldU5fwKB_u52WfitHNw98yjBjUxnTesP7X23zhWjijF_i-4xnysXoCCGDJhnNTbHGunYnLXRyF4fia1Yg2yg/s320/DSC_0296.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561359129954922066" /></a><br />Ella's bedroom with huge closets to fit all her clothes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo3xlJwFnP12E6SggdxL706CoTcBpd3DkE7C4x1rBsp5iAqKRZP5exGA3WjVMeQxCXkWdNm1qOwoyotTRXAhM9r0HPP84VG8_dJM0JoPWJxpjPEggKzJDZhiqT90Jb6XLU1HqycyHUg/s1600/DSC_0294.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo3xlJwFnP12E6SggdxL706CoTcBpd3DkE7C4x1rBsp5iAqKRZP5exGA3WjVMeQxCXkWdNm1qOwoyotTRXAhM9r0HPP84VG8_dJM0JoPWJxpjPEggKzJDZhiqT90Jb6XLU1HqycyHUg/s320/DSC_0294.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561359468768931506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLqsZ9z4s9TVeqxlv6d9CFUpkVWsljL4i1jN-X6cE8iN7ATHyRA8BPTSG3oJcFdcci1g_PIqgNTLj-40dGZjqDpPWZRB4R8fVMxKkOORr8XsD0uy77IeAZwk5esWGYMTUoFAKq-UYCw/s1600/DSC_0295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLqsZ9z4s9TVeqxlv6d9CFUpkVWsljL4i1jN-X6cE8iN7ATHyRA8BPTSG3oJcFdcci1g_PIqgNTLj-40dGZjqDpPWZRB4R8fVMxKkOORr8XsD0uy77IeAZwk5esWGYMTUoFAKq-UYCw/s320/DSC_0295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561359318648017282" /></a><br /><br />Toy Room/Office with door that open to the patio and back yard:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf5sxB0J_L8vWEh-U5efhgOUxX6x9HeF2CE2PnxovoC3VM363KaYWrtr-FqhdwI948RTwj6B6yqXOkvCvyO0JmL8q4RUp2a3mrHF2d9CzwzAYwGel9hwGMSJ5eOhZWvznV0visWHlMQ/s1600/DSC_0305.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf5sxB0J_L8vWEh-U5efhgOUxX6x9HeF2CE2PnxovoC3VM363KaYWrtr-FqhdwI948RTwj6B6yqXOkvCvyO0JmL8q4RUp2a3mrHF2d9CzwzAYwGel9hwGMSJ5eOhZWvznV0visWHlMQ/s320/DSC_0305.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561357134318812066" /></a><br />And last, but not least, Sean getting the low down on our new riding lawnmower:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQtQsjNrmLIKV3Ri9pdBckNVWJuyVIQswchSmy3etWNc5SnTCZpN-7oJMJcdnX6mGknB8W7fZX0vynHx-mUcvUrgDeK1KvdKJB27hVNH-_EXvYRYiLHwzcxjsWVwqQkvt9tyDDOepIg/s1600/DSC_0287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQtQsjNrmLIKV3Ri9pdBckNVWJuyVIQswchSmy3etWNc5SnTCZpN-7oJMJcdnX6mGknB8W7fZX0vynHx-mUcvUrgDeK1KvdKJB27hVNH-_EXvYRYiLHwzcxjsWVwqQkvt9tyDDOepIg/s320/DSC_0287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561360001810300770" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-12490783292154887052011-01-11T01:03:00.000-08:002011-01-11T01:18:37.127-08:00New Year's EveOn New Year's Eve, we headed over to the Turner's for some good food, good friends and good times. Christy made an amazing assortment of appetizers, I made a few desserts, and our friends the Bowser's made awesome smoothies and salsa. We played some fun games and the kids ran around wildly having a great time. Around 10 pm, we headed outside to start lighting the many fireworks we had all purchased. In Germany, "Sylvester", or New Year's Eve, is a huge deal. This normally quiet, reserved society gets a bit crazy. We started hearing fireworks earlier in the evening, but by 10 things were starting to pick up. My boys LOVED LOVED LOVED setting off the fireworks, especially Jaxon. He turned into a bit of a pyro that night and couldn't get enough of lighting the fireworks. Ella loved the sparklers the best. And Mason? He was cold. And tired. He lasted til about 11, then fell asleep in my arms. Here are the kids having a 'blast' with the fireworks:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUlBKZA4HS8m_j8WimdssF8k66HqBhMCdt5luwVcJXNdliEbhf8GQEg-JVwr2bx26B87rsklUPNEGsgdHD0ypetmWjC65dZNwNQLeQ4DF0cA6rHScGUSOHzHbxD2ClGlVoxTuJ0BDSA/s1600/DSC_0257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUlBKZA4HS8m_j8WimdssF8k66HqBhMCdt5luwVcJXNdliEbhf8GQEg-JVwr2bx26B87rsklUPNEGsgdHD0ypetmWjC65dZNwNQLeQ4DF0cA6rHScGUSOHzHbxD2ClGlVoxTuJ0BDSA/s320/DSC_0257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560855210559156034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5M4x75I2uWlcwz8nmleQNTTqyCHyXm_nkQtflEUMFtBy0JNOjTavi_1GnwbFhBTEnogksTMvzdCpsChxS_23IrHAiZSdotB062VzhjezmEYhQmQermEiMqEjEJ8zHJioess110I8zg/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5M4x75I2uWlcwz8nmleQNTTqyCHyXm_nkQtflEUMFtBy0JNOjTavi_1GnwbFhBTEnogksTMvzdCpsChxS_23IrHAiZSdotB062VzhjezmEYhQmQermEiMqEjEJ8zHJioess110I8zg/s320/DSC_0259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560855071854202338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJswmMcyDL-4RvOFaxtYrlk8iEScPgllI6yQqq5VPm0HxGHpBuNjV7qEBf__L_V6dN9ckpE8ugQnZJMWp-O3BIljxrkj0GGstlENJTjL9X4tCYxnWvHXytKywMxurhkSUpWiNPIUbJA/s1600/DSC_0260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJswmMcyDL-4RvOFaxtYrlk8iEScPgllI6yQqq5VPm0HxGHpBuNjV7qEBf__L_V6dN9ckpE8ugQnZJMWp-O3BIljxrkj0GGstlENJTjL9X4tCYxnWvHXytKywMxurhkSUpWiNPIUbJA/s320/DSC_0260.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560854936857299362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HVDLo17s2IWArvxONTrJvZqTffC40UU_rAmuFnaMTc3hgHMPfAH1JMcl_0gmi8TT0YCgoIfhPR2fybbMGF3Vqtg5utK4QfdT9IlFF5UBwawuAnEvkMLMp6V3cW7xZW-uMElGd7-gYw/s1600/DSC_0262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HVDLo17s2IWArvxONTrJvZqTffC40UU_rAmuFnaMTc3hgHMPfAH1JMcl_0gmi8TT0YCgoIfhPR2fybbMGF3Vqtg5utK4QfdT9IlFF5UBwawuAnEvkMLMp6V3cW7xZW-uMElGd7-gYw/s320/DSC_0262.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560854811205257394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShFl1jduRUE39O0H8sf9pD2egeEMmHHaMEc1mfPO2flLeXwJKOHFMJah16dLy0thnkQxzOzWQwG8V74sfakc2rjD5D_xKsLN2Nl61vaf10I5O26F3pqxvGt8RjnNLIeVeENuaJdPplw/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShFl1jduRUE39O0H8sf9pD2egeEMmHHaMEc1mfPO2flLeXwJKOHFMJah16dLy0thnkQxzOzWQwG8V74sfakc2rjD5D_xKsLN2Nl61vaf10I5O26F3pqxvGt8RjnNLIeVeENuaJdPplw/s320/DSC_0264.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560854634133781362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrBj6SZ2ebaoK7eaukACNBn2fBg3PzGXbfW77x8_MMTJGgV25GlxBoeI_g-v3QTuANZAEJg8S7emLJ-tz6GyUGBzhBjLjhPce88HnvreWbHImnHeQTExN2W7_WXSOXPf_UV1mwN_jvQ/s1600/DSC_0265.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrBj6SZ2ebaoK7eaukACNBn2fBg3PzGXbfW77x8_MMTJGgV25GlxBoeI_g-v3QTuANZAEJg8S7emLJ-tz6GyUGBzhBjLjhPce88HnvreWbHImnHeQTExN2W7_WXSOXPf_UV1mwN_jvQ/s320/DSC_0265.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560854508121298834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNIe-ntQXMh_mQG9BbLbvjbmMOh5kDrY6OEfLGQtZGnauszPhbnzVylI4uNat2IvVBLvS9JtaKAjQ-O9dctHV8805pajOehlF6RiIZnLszCE8JJS7AoZ2Q3omxt8kJ52x5LrAgQTnqg/s1600/DSC_0266.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNIe-ntQXMh_mQG9BbLbvjbmMOh5kDrY6OEfLGQtZGnauszPhbnzVylI4uNat2IvVBLvS9JtaKAjQ-O9dctHV8805pajOehlF6RiIZnLszCE8JJS7AoZ2Q3omxt8kJ52x5LrAgQTnqg/s320/DSC_0266.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560854367156073234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKZcAK35UjX4IcCJFL5mwWcLBIAFwmOwUHLjq0ha9XaJG7GWuxc3mCkDqwX7d6sqRd141Bd_hoJwgPnTYixuInw8TPvi1AauNPETLb7785TCxfMoEDvJmnDodbpbBEemMCgvqLBj8CQ/s1600/DSC_0267.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKZcAK35UjX4IcCJFL5mwWcLBIAFwmOwUHLjq0ha9XaJG7GWuxc3mCkDqwX7d6sqRd141Bd_hoJwgPnTYixuInw8TPvi1AauNPETLb7785TCxfMoEDvJmnDodbpbBEemMCgvqLBj8CQ/s320/DSC_0267.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560854233659574082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9zvlB2G56M-iuVLpJnw7c1en-ir4mznWnuXLsEVOoX9YmcjkibycSZ-Tdj1FtNV0p4mKT7DCFymEV1H_CRRCBmgvZlJ1POweMB0qTycmrd0Gm1jyJUqSUSxy_zI1Ieivabo2aOPMiQ/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9zvlB2G56M-iuVLpJnw7c1en-ir4mznWnuXLsEVOoX9YmcjkibycSZ-Tdj1FtNV0p4mKT7DCFymEV1H_CRRCBmgvZlJ1POweMB0qTycmrd0Gm1jyJUqSUSxy_zI1Ieivabo2aOPMiQ/s320/DSC_0268.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560854113879272178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9cwSfd3iZAyA_Ecyp6oq2O7MZBjwWVffRVuSaxXJvzQRdQz9FooTf6kdSoKUSC-LRwYI_134n7CSNgiAxbhPvxgpu5m13sPSmlhbW540AyIaPoAnZ6APlw9Idt4_6exZCxXPOCNRmw/s1600/DSC_0270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9cwSfd3iZAyA_Ecyp6oq2O7MZBjwWVffRVuSaxXJvzQRdQz9FooTf6kdSoKUSC-LRwYI_134n7CSNgiAxbhPvxgpu5m13sPSmlhbW540AyIaPoAnZ6APlw9Idt4_6exZCxXPOCNRmw/s320/DSC_0270.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560853986450614370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP617AD_KZf78OK25IAlb69m30Y6oC-rsVzY5R7P_KNUIzhp7p4fVi7bej9Io3VrlGSDbXBA_wIeYabMx2bAZU3DWGr53WpjEhHWeHogyBHbpq_aBXXobv0wCcig4YoVl1AcadJumIQ/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP617AD_KZf78OK25IAlb69m30Y6oC-rsVzY5R7P_KNUIzhp7p4fVi7bej9Io3VrlGSDbXBA_wIeYabMx2bAZU3DWGr53WpjEhHWeHogyBHbpq_aBXXobv0wCcig4YoVl1AcadJumIQ/s320/DSC_0271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560853857580194402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcuM9aXmg6uke9ZDfoImRu5Ted1BRNmWAldpUpGQlHUBVvk5ffE-H0w3SWc_k9FD9Scz-dYBsYU9BFsyWLJNYCxIao5Jbd05yTtuHvSpA6lg13Buk5m5b0GG2-NJkNU6FIEY7bjyw0A/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcuM9aXmg6uke9ZDfoImRu5Ted1BRNmWAldpUpGQlHUBVvk5ffE-H0w3SWc_k9FD9Scz-dYBsYU9BFsyWLJNYCxIao5Jbd05yTtuHvSpA6lg13Buk5m5b0GG2-NJkNU6FIEY7bjyw0A/s320/DSC_0273.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560853521213103938" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-46856703060851845462011-01-01T02:24:00.000-08:002011-01-01T03:19:46.354-08:00Frohe WeihnachtenMerry Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.We started out the 24th with some holiday dancing. Mason and Jaxon rocked out to Jingle Bell Rock in the dining room:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-geqWP7P15sw7fS2iJXBCTHrCjRiHkx-uEcNNYMnfBenGlyNXCl6c1Ud_5K4EPhSAvtC_yU4dzFJDsfbm2sqV1m5wr8TkUNbmMiONGL9EkO2yzJXGk9lA4O1LC8XVZbTe8gfi2Q9jtg/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-geqWP7P15sw7fS2iJXBCTHrCjRiHkx-uEcNNYMnfBenGlyNXCl6c1Ud_5K4EPhSAvtC_yU4dzFJDsfbm2sqV1m5wr8TkUNbmMiONGL9EkO2yzJXGk9lA4O1LC8XVZbTe8gfi2Q9jtg/s320/DSC_0160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557162665708803218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-7CbvNnCexPC4AlP-bfy-3Sq6FVMs3q0soODonED8mdyE6i3txCwxmPlU20_ad4ktxqRSn0UaSZI3tgIO6KAP9Ketlu19BdRrvDK1w5bKI9ajgEU3vxcX9EZCV1Kv3YGIY0LlFOFeQ/s1600/DSC_0159.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-7CbvNnCexPC4AlP-bfy-3Sq6FVMs3q0soODonED8mdyE6i3txCwxmPlU20_ad4ktxqRSn0UaSZI3tgIO6KAP9Ketlu19BdRrvDK1w5bKI9ajgEU3vxcX9EZCV1Kv3YGIY0LlFOFeQ/s320/DSC_0159.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557162518921094594" /></a><br />We had more snow today so Sean had to spend some time shoveling outside:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1R6WLHR3x7aFQh5Vi3nn8DWuIcwlKuHllElyoO-KFQFbbstfcnpww40Edo6-WY7CYLc_Ae4e11r1TCBC8GRVVqJf_eYCBkuF1CIF8mid1wHFFAm2j9RfsYgLvqRyw7ohMYYzNMNCfA/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1R6WLHR3x7aFQh5Vi3nn8DWuIcwlKuHllElyoO-KFQFbbstfcnpww40Edo6-WY7CYLc_Ae4e11r1TCBC8GRVVqJf_eYCBkuF1CIF8mid1wHFFAm2j9RfsYgLvqRyw7ohMYYzNMNCfA/s320/DSC_0162.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557163091671957538" /></a><br />Look at Santa's favorite elves:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgrPaetp22Dz-NV60f-QH5UKjvLdAuLzlsDs_W4GfphVBYLE18lI5OWHJ0F3wW0WgKLO3CMufnDua-3DtarH44jTESF_xdzYyZu3s0FHNckYmGNEdWG7uTI5JSG-qxiVV7DFWTjjyjg/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgrPaetp22Dz-NV60f-QH5UKjvLdAuLzlsDs_W4GfphVBYLE18lI5OWHJ0F3wW0WgKLO3CMufnDua-3DtarH44jTESF_xdzYyZu3s0FHNckYmGNEdWG7uTI5JSG-qxiVV7DFWTjjyjg/s320/DSC_0161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557163331638178226" /></a><br /><br /> We spent Christmas Eve at the Turner's, eating the most delicious food in the world and acting out the Nativity story. Here we are eating dinner:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLBy5c60PmYGKitxGHjzoD05rlSV9BFN4WWVB1FxFWBQ3OJa9N-dpGavTbTGUpKsdnwkFCr4LX6qwtc_ucA6ZgU9VKn8hbp3Koi3wjwD61x1bugXhVhaI6OKUtqPneZyGDE7dd3RHYA/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLBy5c60PmYGKitxGHjzoD05rlSV9BFN4WWVB1FxFWBQ3OJa9N-dpGavTbTGUpKsdnwkFCr4LX6qwtc_ucA6ZgU9VKn8hbp3Koi3wjwD61x1bugXhVhaI6OKUtqPneZyGDE7dd3RHYA/s320/DSC_0169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557162003321840274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBuK_IfNlFD2U5gW1dzhgQEHSRegU1K3FrFa6Vt8tgvVOGcSQSlToNC0GKVuf7uJC6CG2SFiaa_YDTtg1Bajw968bDJw98k6F_nghNQR37OAWixx2qKUIUqd5snACv8ycgkPi7inwEw/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBuK_IfNlFD2U5gW1dzhgQEHSRegU1K3FrFa6Vt8tgvVOGcSQSlToNC0GKVuf7uJC6CG2SFiaa_YDTtg1Bajw968bDJw98k6F_nghNQR37OAWixx2qKUIUqd5snACv8ycgkPi7inwEw/s320/DSC_0172.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557165727128860818" /></a><br /><br />Here's the "kid's table". Look how happy Mason is to be sitting down and eating:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNAfXfjneG-BP21Wa0rp2cLWbImYs0Ixb6UVu-tHRr00cc779oznrcUUjFqIfXe8o6T5-ByzritGfEFhKADvNWylbdrN1-zdoqDt_wdUz449rshXI4KKdhk0W-zzmjdBUiEvV-ShGGQ/s1600/DSC_0167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNAfXfjneG-BP21Wa0rp2cLWbImYs0Ixb6UVu-tHRr00cc779oznrcUUjFqIfXe8o6T5-ByzritGfEFhKADvNWylbdrN1-zdoqDt_wdUz449rshXI4KKdhk0W-zzmjdBUiEvV-ShGGQ/s320/DSC_0167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557162183902252850" /></a><br />If you know Mason at all, you know he LOVES his juice. A lot. So here he is with his 'juicy' while Sean is downing his favorite 'juicy' as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWICBIX7dZfDu2RZu24xlHY1emvxOgyLqWSBTBxUcEEPe0KcdWEP6uEFjdsH1jw_-ZiM_5mkxGa7FuVbCeGVSIIhIGITSETNKrnymJOzF0n0VHMz2NTyLek3QdPiEazJmbiI9jpPKww/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWICBIX7dZfDu2RZu24xlHY1emvxOgyLqWSBTBxUcEEPe0KcdWEP6uEFjdsH1jw_-ZiM_5mkxGa7FuVbCeGVSIIhIGITSETNKrnymJOzF0n0VHMz2NTyLek3QdPiEazJmbiI9jpPKww/s320/DSC_0163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557163781881775778" /></a><br />We tried acting out the Nativity Story. Mason refused to be Joseph. He insisted he was Sarah. Still no idea who this Sarah is, but Mason channels her sometimes and pretends he is her. So, we had Mary (Ella) Joseph/Sarah (Mason) some wise men, shephards, and an inn keeper. Guess who played the role of the innkeeper? For which of my children is it NOT hard to be rude and slam a door in someone's face? Yup, the pre-teen. <br />Here is our cast:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwoIeDJ5JG1PLVVnUovqghfwgtnYDUdmKaUa6x3TaHMH1OEgSXdBJXuX7E5o2_tMs_x2rUDjAbSHWWPH1kcXZnWBEaJiLfpM3fTHS9tN7_qp3lAfLThBGYIatV_tzGrj1tZigEVNWqg/s1600/DSC_0173.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwoIeDJ5JG1PLVVnUovqghfwgtnYDUdmKaUa6x3TaHMH1OEgSXdBJXuX7E5o2_tMs_x2rUDjAbSHWWPH1kcXZnWBEaJiLfpM3fTHS9tN7_qp3lAfLThBGYIatV_tzGrj1tZigEVNWqg/s320/DSC_0173.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557165093406416370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_5Z2Y_laJjk0MGzyfoZ6ubF_oA8xDuXTpugAaYkdhg-w-WwSkqCeDPXhRWN6IxBOm9VJsSfjJ0nyDMhzd8owIIEL0FPFg21Ia9-Geu3bHA15b97d7eFg6x7ru67MuDGYtVVoQT5w0Q/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_5Z2Y_laJjk0MGzyfoZ6ubF_oA8xDuXTpugAaYkdhg-w-WwSkqCeDPXhRWN6IxBOm9VJsSfjJ0nyDMhzd8owIIEL0FPFg21Ia9-Geu3bHA15b97d7eFg6x7ru67MuDGYtVVoQT5w0Q/s320/DSC_0174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557164966713419746" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPOOPDi8fJTu0ar9VA4KquiTms0tiEb6YmJfxNVNxAnF9MtBMYkCBAI8S0SQeXYZJSMqw0gFxLC4980PbegsnnccjOdiuj70NTlGjM-9yw70Rz6Wi-_C6X1Zg6R20hL1KQTF1k465zQ/s1600/DSC_0182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPOOPDi8fJTu0ar9VA4KquiTms0tiEb6YmJfxNVNxAnF9MtBMYkCBAI8S0SQeXYZJSMqw0gFxLC4980PbegsnnccjOdiuj70NTlGjM-9yw70Rz6Wi-_C6X1Zg6R20hL1KQTF1k465zQ/s320/DSC_0182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557164756266407586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGsCGuCj87y-Yz0D6LMw-Cv4AqDUTlpGNaJwgR8OBvXVZ63valHAu9GUpNhu6zNm2cPW4rVgtRdRNp-SA1nel7QfmxJcZMwaCmPZqoxNC7NDz_jsEMergRLIewyS193che__4QRpSjQ/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGsCGuCj87y-Yz0D6LMw-Cv4AqDUTlpGNaJwgR8OBvXVZ63valHAu9GUpNhu6zNm2cPW4rVgtRdRNp-SA1nel7QfmxJcZMwaCmPZqoxNC7NDz_jsEMergRLIewyS193che__4QRpSjQ/s320/DSC_0183.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557164512235017314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscGdyoJu_jZ2rcU7CZjE6SvMtONgpZUXmoOgVwadDF_ksU6AOMM9eXLyixxdbHSftlfzRAK3y1d8nQA5DzpelUHj2fBI5RbUCSezKZDSvYt-bTfyUmVJD7WkdOxNJpFPGaXQTMpuNeQ/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscGdyoJu_jZ2rcU7CZjE6SvMtONgpZUXmoOgVwadDF_ksU6AOMM9eXLyixxdbHSftlfzRAK3y1d8nQA5DzpelUHj2fBI5RbUCSezKZDSvYt-bTfyUmVJD7WkdOxNJpFPGaXQTMpuNeQ/s320/DSC_0180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557165525005987186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3hAVta8xBR4hib5j3uFAe610Eye0h3pHC-bN0NnU4QG7qjZubzb6nkFPF6HDO-Dfmgv5kzwspt0_1T4J8svguvgSsKkiTjlMuqEJ7M_g99R68XhlcB-JBYX9OoMz8grmSweTC4_bNQ/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3hAVta8xBR4hib5j3uFAe610Eye0h3pHC-bN0NnU4QG7qjZubzb6nkFPF6HDO-Dfmgv5kzwspt0_1T4J8svguvgSsKkiTjlMuqEJ7M_g99R68XhlcB-JBYX9OoMz8grmSweTC4_bNQ/s320/DSC_0181.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557165333006035554" /></a><br />We exchanged presents with the Turner's. Ella LOVED her candy making jewelry set almost as much as Mason loved playing with it too. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ8cOFp0i_C9b0YNuvvYcZXW3StrjFeuQETYELSKpL61Hv0K8sV8CiSHjM0LojW1_Ex5loBxizQd3lepxBXdGnWI5wOeBgdnejrcGK-pv3SAeJmA_yZrm5NOwn2ssWa7Kr8Yljgpebw/s1600/DSC_0186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ8cOFp0i_C9b0YNuvvYcZXW3StrjFeuQETYELSKpL61Hv0K8sV8CiSHjM0LojW1_Ex5loBxizQd3lepxBXdGnWI5wOeBgdnejrcGK-pv3SAeJmA_yZrm5NOwn2ssWa7Kr8Yljgpebw/s320/DSC_0186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557166170880169970" /></a><br />And this is how we ended the night, with Colton handcuffed to the stairs with the new set of handcuffs I bought Aedan:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oPeGElBHICiNjZcy0S-Ve7dU9uh_4wYkXEqEFp01Wf0sfsl0vCpkp2eWrKhzq8laYD96p3xIpspNJwqAtapmvrXVuynIgov5Z00eD22cgy4o-Pb13hjtrUZP9BBhd29xZ9JIYa5GfQ/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oPeGElBHICiNjZcy0S-Ve7dU9uh_4wYkXEqEFp01Wf0sfsl0vCpkp2eWrKhzq8laYD96p3xIpspNJwqAtapmvrXVuynIgov5Z00eD22cgy4o-Pb13hjtrUZP9BBhd29xZ9JIYa5GfQ/s320/DSC_0187.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557166498301464370" /></a><br />On Christmas morning, our children slept in!! They didn't wake up til after 8:00 am. WOW! Here are our blurry eyed children walking into our family room to check out what Santa left:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtbhwCj7sCUBpyDbR8nhiaGydHDMe3hYPn5y2dtFUI_KhGb9C62XuxhlBXn7Myyi46xUxmXoqtM0zw9uBZo_X1N4zeLxt0AtTb7jl6fJkuYTzn5GCXyphQhD7RenYCwly1VQqooYFkQ/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtbhwCj7sCUBpyDbR8nhiaGydHDMe3hYPn5y2dtFUI_KhGb9C62XuxhlBXn7Myyi46xUxmXoqtM0zw9uBZo_X1N4zeLxt0AtTb7jl6fJkuYTzn5GCXyphQhD7RenYCwly1VQqooYFkQ/s320/DSC_0189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557172291642497842" /></a><br /><br />Polly Pockets and Princesses were high on Ella's list this year.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaIwiRh7oOOjvWvIUsPE6ajzTm_jV5W_UXXyJNhYzXfM-uKO40YqJu3a1z9FVTrhxOyR1xYo2CJN6u_fU5hh6VrV36Vhrxa3ctfR9O1Ke0GrhjtZNWOgBlIF26EVntDFOubGkLIA9Xw/s1600/DSC_0198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaIwiRh7oOOjvWvIUsPE6ajzTm_jV5W_UXXyJNhYzXfM-uKO40YqJu3a1z9FVTrhxOyR1xYo2CJN6u_fU5hh6VrV36Vhrxa3ctfR9O1Ke0GrhjtZNWOgBlIF26EVntDFOubGkLIA9Xw/s320/DSC_0198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557173511967943474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvAl_4odPaLNgQXarspZAKDjfIMsPm1sWUkMadyVDfrQKZsMNnd4MM2g-deuXZn7M7Mw09bxgTC4jBrFrk6356brlwHIqlZevtsbHmna1eOofZRH5H2QoLpLJvFZ_yRprsjPP1yarSw/s1600/DSC_0196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvAl_4odPaLNgQXarspZAKDjfIMsPm1sWUkMadyVDfrQKZsMNnd4MM2g-deuXZn7M7Mw09bxgTC4jBrFrk6356brlwHIqlZevtsbHmna1eOofZRH5H2QoLpLJvFZ_yRprsjPP1yarSw/s320/DSC_0196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557173361988596162" /></a><br />We were privileged to have Batman and Robin show up for a few minutes Christmas morning to share in our festivities:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe_Ddypvp_7mUU1MsoZbERwMpkUtPBQetTnvMR35ppZRHd1HvVAiNjdsShcZsCWaWbrTafeMCevIqANE0te_6fIMPLiSP0EgoPJte1vKfJl-V6jUeDmdwSA0ymtHxycj7betHVvL8Fg/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe_Ddypvp_7mUU1MsoZbERwMpkUtPBQetTnvMR35ppZRHd1HvVAiNjdsShcZsCWaWbrTafeMCevIqANE0te_6fIMPLiSP0EgoPJte1vKfJl-V6jUeDmdwSA0ymtHxycj7betHVvL8Fg/s320/DSC_0219.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557173193301301186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaei9i6WHvwq9_NTpWo7_db1iwsiUBqJ29joz4vcvardmN76D89ZBZT5R7eAQWUoLhshuyM2Jsh5kie7L_zlmdSF8LC4ZEd70u8_ym8ogQKUwOJtCJSmP2Qo86NWrTmrnB63heD9kd0Q/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaei9i6WHvwq9_NTpWo7_db1iwsiUBqJ29joz4vcvardmN76D89ZBZT5R7eAQWUoLhshuyM2Jsh5kie7L_zlmdSF8LC4ZEd70u8_ym8ogQKUwOJtCJSmP2Qo86NWrTmrnB63heD9kd0Q/s320/DSC_0223.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557172823408324162" /></a><br />Colton had only one big thing on his list, a Lego castle. His list slowly got longer over those last few months, but this was the one big ticket item he really was hoping to get. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHTFZPhK5UKw0Nb6mlgi87i4oTqrKUgTki_GPaovrCzcSzIGgCxmbSHHUB6IO0bVJfuL5TxSB7etB0ZgKXMGPpjksJgJNLAwE9IvOhbvViMWD9o1Ix4K5MDX319z7UsrM2_tGIethsQ/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHTFZPhK5UKw0Nb6mlgi87i4oTqrKUgTki_GPaovrCzcSzIGgCxmbSHHUB6IO0bVJfuL5TxSB7etB0ZgKXMGPpjksJgJNLAwE9IvOhbvViMWD9o1Ix4K5MDX319z7UsrM2_tGIethsQ/s320/DSC_0215.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557174091072499682" /></a><br />Mason was happy to get a new Batman jacket and some fun Playmobil sets:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgPzW2dIeYhIJ_B6HGfemrkrXJ3TG_e7OUvaDBmRpj3b1MOBSVOR3rpMU4eBPSppK-_XLwWFikc7I3-HhT_gt0h-_Yp5OQoKK4-9yxD9At6bmybOdj56sO3_hcnlV62Ua2AzvglIkOQ/s1600/DSC_0212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgPzW2dIeYhIJ_B6HGfemrkrXJ3TG_e7OUvaDBmRpj3b1MOBSVOR3rpMU4eBPSppK-_XLwWFikc7I3-HhT_gt0h-_Yp5OQoKK4-9yxD9At6bmybOdj56sO3_hcnlV62Ua2AzvglIkOQ/s320/DSC_0212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557174637485474674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR72x-fcWHTUtldf4MaQh1zRmSvbmcaW6jZlDDW4Hw8WG1XvL7vGVjDy-fuLzOvecIeOrVRzCl0couoAZp_VzeUWbHnO1bo5PKhAqlZ7bcITGhadl8AE5Wm_4mRymHiWHbUepJvLzJXQ/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR72x-fcWHTUtldf4MaQh1zRmSvbmcaW6jZlDDW4Hw8WG1XvL7vGVjDy-fuLzOvecIeOrVRzCl0couoAZp_VzeUWbHnO1bo5PKhAqlZ7bcITGhadl8AE5Wm_4mRymHiWHbUepJvLzJXQ/s320/DSC_0213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557174499334766018" /></a><br />Jaxon already got his big Christmas present early, an Alienware computer. But you know me, I couldn't have him opening NOTHING on Christmas morning. So, he ended up with some history books, a computer game, and some board games.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsSD6-SvqpMtzZwCUp6C_-LCx6izeK2zlP3CrtsT3hHvgShI_rl0UeDfElQsjHb1PCZ7eXULJCFRK9IcJjGMJU9kG8HxA6hFdupL3koh3KdmXREHAl3lDnKYdYl8BIQUc_1e4us2hxQ/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsSD6-SvqpMtzZwCUp6C_-LCx6izeK2zlP3CrtsT3hHvgShI_rl0UeDfElQsjHb1PCZ7eXULJCFRK9IcJjGMJU9kG8HxA6hFdupL3koh3KdmXREHAl3lDnKYdYl8BIQUc_1e4us2hxQ/s320/DSC_0202.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557174936584462546" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-40165765249124716312011-01-01T01:56:00.001-08:002011-01-01T02:24:28.138-08:00RudesheimWhat do you get when you add a German Christmas market, your bestest friends, no kiddos and kinderpunch? A great day!! Last Thursday Sean and I had our first date in over 6 months as we traveled to the quaint town of Rudesheim along the Rhine River with the infamous Turner's. We love those guys!! We left around lunch time and traveled the nearly hour drive in the comforts of Dennis' cool Volvo talking and catching up. No Disney movie playing in the backround, no snacks being passed around, no fighting, no whining. Pure bliss. It was a bit chilly, but who cared!! We were together in a gorgeous Christmas market with endless supplies of kinderpunch and hot apple cider. The Germans make a warm alcoholic beverage called gluhwein that is quite popular at these markets. The vendors couldn't understand why grown adults would ask for the nonalcoholic version of their popular drink, but we were goofy and silly on our own, no alcohol needed to add to our crazy behavior. <br />Here we are:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUieLy82TxKtYLA7Kp0vk6Ikw7B1Wy7pTpea9j_KBDxrV2-zuILtVRWVZL5Zl8u1yCRKZXVr_8ElpVewyeVMvwXlgMEm_ANowpK97q7028SrhAU4Bs-a1DusVsZfY68Hu9umP1FP1vcw/s1600/DSC_0138.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUieLy82TxKtYLA7Kp0vk6Ikw7B1Wy7pTpea9j_KBDxrV2-zuILtVRWVZL5Zl8u1yCRKZXVr_8ElpVewyeVMvwXlgMEm_ANowpK97q7028SrhAU4Bs-a1DusVsZfY68Hu9umP1FP1vcw/s320/DSC_0138.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557155980232178914" /></a><br />And here are the coolest people with their kinderpunch in hand:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiejHrK74PEgaiG7WUtoR0gJML_sLcww41hOzm6FXuej27obnKkrnJgnQlcZK9CnEXLbsYcRwKfKOEbdT-eOq7ztAsk6o0Z_O7pneIg2DRsml_5K8VT_3btcfO1Et4i1YYW4Ot9Ow1A/s1600/DSC_0139.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiejHrK74PEgaiG7WUtoR0gJML_sLcww41hOzm6FXuej27obnKkrnJgnQlcZK9CnEXLbsYcRwKfKOEbdT-eOq7ztAsk6o0Z_O7pneIg2DRsml_5K8VT_3btcfO1Et4i1YYW4Ot9Ow1A/s320/DSC_0139.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557155851700114258" /></a><br />Christy and I found humor in the fact that there was a giant Santa statue right outside the Torture Museum. Maybe Santa had to put himself on the Naughty List for drinking too much gluhwein and driving a sled at the same time:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXB20DSoWUncV87oALPm0GWqpuY4DAMApljjIxdEcIgyyCuCZHJYnR38kRYsgdI7ZJZOmUaPT3YG5FrX-UAWx70ZUpQCjAUOXeEUprrdgIEeyGqv0mC-mEWuc-VfevHqX7qanjk0OsQ/s1600/DSC_0140.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXB20DSoWUncV87oALPm0GWqpuY4DAMApljjIxdEcIgyyCuCZHJYnR38kRYsgdI7ZJZOmUaPT3YG5FrX-UAWx70ZUpQCjAUOXeEUprrdgIEeyGqv0mC-mEWuc-VfevHqX7qanjk0OsQ/s320/DSC_0140.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557156592299516546" /></a><br />There is this amazingly cool little street that reminds us of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. There are old, like hundreds of years old, buildings on each side of this narrow little road along a cobblestone pathway. We found some fun stores along the way to duck inside of and shop for a few minutes while we warmed up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGLnojsgtMFOMK3M8ov9mxa9QD1AoM0QaYY1U5OXZgSmB4Ub-zjnUo-R2-c_mHoe-zVQE6N_wII9f_wJsQdnCpfOBbMasgUpwLLYTgiiIBSkDxGQA314ZJgzIH31nxcg4W9UfQrng7g/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGLnojsgtMFOMK3M8ov9mxa9QD1AoM0QaYY1U5OXZgSmB4Ub-zjnUo-R2-c_mHoe-zVQE6N_wII9f_wJsQdnCpfOBbMasgUpwLLYTgiiIBSkDxGQA314ZJgzIH31nxcg4W9UfQrng7g/s320/DSC_0145.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557157855954616002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeFd5UinIuVsQjOkxmSA53uCoetXkrk0mdEwHbOITgLOrfNzM_8DQT4_H76uO4Mdvo4eUIHLWwMU2g9WMtZlG87Difd7u1Xe8MBfkeBUqfSFrIEmD3TEbM-0B3e65erVig6r1RzbE3A/s1600/DSC_0146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeFd5UinIuVsQjOkxmSA53uCoetXkrk0mdEwHbOITgLOrfNzM_8DQT4_H76uO4Mdvo4eUIHLWwMU2g9WMtZlG87Difd7u1Xe8MBfkeBUqfSFrIEmD3TEbM-0B3e65erVig6r1RzbE3A/s320/DSC_0146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557157705794838770" /></a><br />What happens when you ask some people to take a picture you that have had a little too much gluhwein? One of them insists on being in the picture with you. This guy is supposedly a local German celebrity who gives wine tasting tours. He spent a few minutes trying to convince us that we should take one of his tours. Maybe he couldn't tell that our cups weren't reeking with alcoholic beverages so he kept asking us. We were finally able to shake him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9tm4yHSvRdRGscRy_ecAJi6LFD7MrnaptbkNsiQE5Gkv1XGshL-1Z0F2GM-GpOqgFDFzWvkl633m8yFW5OUdcTJzPlHhilcrLMnvhU7JYs32eQV0bP3kSSTyVcmM6umSzzuDqU3J7g/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9tm4yHSvRdRGscRy_ecAJi6LFD7MrnaptbkNsiQE5Gkv1XGshL-1Z0F2GM-GpOqgFDFzWvkl633m8yFW5OUdcTJzPlHhilcrLMnvhU7JYs32eQV0bP3kSSTyVcmM6umSzzuDqU3J7g/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557158401100649746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgO1ZCZrodzf8k-4s_-U4KA4Q7mV62ZTRQGQ86TQd3KbBfh7zwj_8GmkqHrlhawWo4rhQXZTzDcMO3cDSjuiDIa1TO4VGw_Q1jOMReghaqa02D3U1ggropC0yqHQAiwh4x4aKCEQCFw/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgO1ZCZrodzf8k-4s_-U4KA4Q7mV62ZTRQGQ86TQd3KbBfh7zwj_8GmkqHrlhawWo4rhQXZTzDcMO3cDSjuiDIa1TO4VGw_Q1jOMReghaqa02D3U1ggropC0yqHQAiwh4x4aKCEQCFw/s320/DSC_0152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557158240198943746" /></a><br />I had to take a picture of this store's front window. This is a total Jaxon store. He would have spent the whole time in this store had he been with us. It was in this store that I found a cool Roman/Greek chess set for him for Christmas. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFnTsS155V-4ylmd9plcuRMB1H-iptqsiSOnX-W8M2rgAdwenkbhtsvNBoW6cddhaW2eqg-Dg5IC4ziGX3c7t2PnT7pc8oA9vj9mpl5tyonTgOcoSs-rDzNbEYx1l41A3hBzzoG2eMg/s1600/DSC_0150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFnTsS155V-4ylmd9plcuRMB1H-iptqsiSOnX-W8M2rgAdwenkbhtsvNBoW6cddhaW2eqg-Dg5IC4ziGX3c7t2PnT7pc8oA9vj9mpl5tyonTgOcoSs-rDzNbEYx1l41A3hBzzoG2eMg/s320/DSC_0150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557159212934327378" /></a><br />Look how much fun we're having! I love this lady!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFNWXL08BDt_BAi4sw9vnPl5QXSf85n6hkVcZeZFH3S9yJ-j9zJcai7dZITIhP0BaV_IlM9tfHGWPUEj43IfHNQ8ZSLnoe-1s7I1k-W5q7BnAhIqcbKF6xmvUpNUj0iHtBhBj-Yu0ZA/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFNWXL08BDt_BAi4sw9vnPl5QXSf85n6hkVcZeZFH3S9yJ-j9zJcai7dZITIhP0BaV_IlM9tfHGWPUEj43IfHNQ8ZSLnoe-1s7I1k-W5q7BnAhIqcbKF6xmvUpNUj0iHtBhBj-Yu0ZA/s320/DSC_0155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557159637025877794" /></a><br />Here we are in front of a sign for our new favorite town: Inside joke, don't ask!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1hjYgKbhq4oI7LWUnewRRHmxwuRFEGrimdI75Pk_-80RwzJNmfIbAlEmuhi52G1-Y2Umbstvmo76m0mFnoYDSg1eQSp-G7r5rUV0avHlzPavxdTf4UQsMPtU8fEQvLMCQKtra2GjaQ/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1hjYgKbhq4oI7LWUnewRRHmxwuRFEGrimdI75Pk_-80RwzJNmfIbAlEmuhi52G1-Y2Umbstvmo76m0mFnoYDSg1eQSp-G7r5rUV0avHlzPavxdTf4UQsMPtU8fEQvLMCQKtra2GjaQ/s320/DSC_0154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557160047079489874" /></a><br />We ended the day with a wonderful meal of duck and German potato soup. The soup was served in the coolest little jars with lids:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGPHkkTWgJorP1-9qwxt5LE2ke39mtXR5yuyc_JVNXZfxm0Kh_oa7ugWek5K3K87zSOdMnuO2vAN2xPOf17OjW55y_y_K0Rtvb0sKNB0Nr3-6Rw8DKjJN_W254-0DIRTVUBnzhW_0Mw/s1600/DSC_0156.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGPHkkTWgJorP1-9qwxt5LE2ke39mtXR5yuyc_JVNXZfxm0Kh_oa7ugWek5K3K87zSOdMnuO2vAN2xPOf17OjW55y_y_K0Rtvb0sKNB0Nr3-6Rw8DKjJN_W254-0DIRTVUBnzhW_0Mw/s320/DSC_0156.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557160404615878914" /></a><br />We took a picture of the duck since Jaxon has a new found fascination with eating duck so we had to show it to him:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIN9r-PWCQmO6AJ7Ogurdl9d6ImaS2SLMnva3ai5S1fMfADBdqUnu7sH4Mhdx9qFVd7Glb-lK7fYos0S5qUPfNI5IwmiU_jgDwe9tQBYiyQEXC8_Cs2O_e7S3a_q0lofdB3K0avC3b0w/s1600/DSC_0158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIN9r-PWCQmO6AJ7Ogurdl9d6ImaS2SLMnva3ai5S1fMfADBdqUnu7sH4Mhdx9qFVd7Glb-lK7fYos0S5qUPfNI5IwmiU_jgDwe9tQBYiyQEXC8_Cs2O_e7S3a_q0lofdB3K0avC3b0w/s320/DSC_0158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557161249166257250" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-13885540790613689002010-12-26T12:05:00.001-08:002010-12-26T12:37:18.964-08:00Mannheim Christmas MarketOn Tuesday, we loaded up the kids and drove in the rain to a town about 45 minutes away, Mannheim. Many of the villages and cities here have had wonderful Christmas markets throughout the month of December which have booths displaying and selling traditional German food, goodies, clothing, decorations, and gifts. Mannheim's Christmas market was really great because it had a lot of fun rides for the kids. Even though it was raining, we arrived in high spirits and started off with a ride for the kids. Mason, Ella and Colton rode around a track in different vehicles while listening to Christmas music.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYgVntN1Xd1RH37JkCHtqdzk-aT6YDFFXgcQ4dO2FIh5GprNTyWIbUJBsvT5CsxaSJ6SXBmaXjvFKYXrRwwHXv_ZN_p0wNMLrJn1l6Lt5KaLlONF1zcUIMLBpbrjQge4baMH_l-C2DQ/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYgVntN1Xd1RH37JkCHtqdzk-aT6YDFFXgcQ4dO2FIh5GprNTyWIbUJBsvT5CsxaSJ6SXBmaXjvFKYXrRwwHXv_ZN_p0wNMLrJn1l6Lt5KaLlONF1zcUIMLBpbrjQge4baMH_l-C2DQ/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555086546654543874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtXib__wEFUJCnmm72nMYYKfw-yEBs97SC14L6UQQKKbndceukMqsORu0yxSRdIgA7Y7a6BOLGAVObR75c8IX7B4zxOcucURxnaya2kT64YNeZ1d_lDj1WOVwCXtaonaYQ1EqRbvtpg/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtXib__wEFUJCnmm72nMYYKfw-yEBs97SC14L6UQQKKbndceukMqsORu0yxSRdIgA7Y7a6BOLGAVObR75c8IX7B4zxOcucURxnaya2kT64YNeZ1d_lDj1WOVwCXtaonaYQ1EqRbvtpg/s320/DSC_0097.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555086417597282578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRmTMvbv6MWfTriAS_Z6amruva80o_1NOQbtDsHYWZpl_d04ptbwNO8-AnYW3szFoLeOX2AcVwEUtNfxhC9zkQvGd1cJu3ueTSfxlsrXP_nU-WDc5_e7bUyvpDi1rp0UFmhCh4OwfIA/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRmTMvbv6MWfTriAS_Z6amruva80o_1NOQbtDsHYWZpl_d04ptbwNO8-AnYW3szFoLeOX2AcVwEUtNfxhC9zkQvGd1cJu3ueTSfxlsrXP_nU-WDc5_e7bUyvpDi1rp0UFmhCh4OwfIA/s320/DSC_0102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555086267866531106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAwvGEgVSzz505x9zF1mosFyqf6QFfBTQIBWcGKYyX_PyJz7ca3sfuEy-LzgnGA8UEZXpFH9O6RjI_Pw7F_2dYLZnaCYQ7_nA3wN87_32_lc3QbE8MHO1TIEaCkxYOT5VdIN5xxuZiA/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAwvGEgVSzz505x9zF1mosFyqf6QFfBTQIBWcGKYyX_PyJz7ca3sfuEy-LzgnGA8UEZXpFH9O6RjI_Pw7F_2dYLZnaCYQ7_nA3wN87_32_lc3QbE8MHO1TIEaCkxYOT5VdIN5xxuZiA/s320/DSC_0103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555086140213132274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT-IsNOhuWO_1IiNBtsC4bd7NP02_PlhoE2mp7BUeoelOQQNqdF9Cjkv1-dc4pQAaoExrwvbxW6vQERuCjWH88pUE6cAH_jSSbjqq0PTABYVJc65whlkh2NTENY8S0dfamHH4CuZHWQ/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT-IsNOhuWO_1IiNBtsC4bd7NP02_PlhoE2mp7BUeoelOQQNqdF9Cjkv1-dc4pQAaoExrwvbxW6vQERuCjWH88pUE6cAH_jSSbjqq0PTABYVJc65whlkh2NTENY8S0dfamHH4CuZHWQ/s320/DSC_0104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555085980427859170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVwh1UA-FXRHpri1DAxVyBvIpvCuL5kndemF1P9El5axDpIQsU_zAEnXe9yDNcOtg1_Diqjgvx5Z0qD29cq4_EuX5kAlL3bswMFmAVSNSEOs4W0a_STVjVqwWJpLm3gMOYUeVTNie2w/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVwh1UA-FXRHpri1DAxVyBvIpvCuL5kndemF1P9El5axDpIQsU_zAEnXe9yDNcOtg1_Diqjgvx5Z0qD29cq4_EuX5kAlL3bswMFmAVSNSEOs4W0a_STVjVqwWJpLm3gMOYUeVTNie2w/s320/DSC_0105.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555085835128146930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOISjR8SWbUr_mVU7Ih6MRQ-4JNpC5hl8sL8KZby_fWVmcSHxbCXJo7MTkbK62UVLRvdAbkC4EocjMx-EBr5wN0vtbOChZg2SCxIprGqGODyCjfSRHqH_Njt81P95BEvxMCMOobDMNNQ/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOISjR8SWbUr_mVU7Ih6MRQ-4JNpC5hl8sL8KZby_fWVmcSHxbCXJo7MTkbK62UVLRvdAbkC4EocjMx-EBr5wN0vtbOChZg2SCxIprGqGODyCjfSRHqH_Njt81P95BEvxMCMOobDMNNQ/s320/DSC_0106.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555085690345654018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TmZegmQMBHT5uWJYZzxg2zuDwqYiqp2aiIXZB0EcoKsoLyIBaaj6PtK9vvWvE_qNNE5zAWVc7wmH0N4L-AMpsp1TPJh_ue3JpD81oFZLKRAOkbMwyySEmIqjG_XkWdLBwzZq6ekUbg/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TmZegmQMBHT5uWJYZzxg2zuDwqYiqp2aiIXZB0EcoKsoLyIBaaj6PtK9vvWvE_qNNE5zAWVc7wmH0N4L-AMpsp1TPJh_ue3JpD81oFZLKRAOkbMwyySEmIqjG_XkWdLBwzZq6ekUbg/s320/DSC_0108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555085539203456226" /></a><br />We went on a ferris wheel next. At first, Mason wanted nothing to do with the ferris wheel, he just wanted to be an observer. But as he watched his siblings going around and around, he decided it looked pretty fun so I went with him on the ride the next time and we got to see the whole Christmas market from up above.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYsc9AV3AuiCcopWu4u1MnibNQYCuaSyKnu9pup64pmDz6U0c_PAdew_O_N1Atf0Ls76BsUehyphenhyphen0YA7fycy7u-1Hgs_caH-DfyYWgN_Ado2n0HklshtOvoz70iy4QYbkRBKbq_0q8rKA/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYsc9AV3AuiCcopWu4u1MnibNQYCuaSyKnu9pup64pmDz6U0c_PAdew_O_N1Atf0Ls76BsUehyphenhyphen0YA7fycy7u-1Hgs_caH-DfyYWgN_Ado2n0HklshtOvoz70iy4QYbkRBKbq_0q8rKA/s320/DSC_0110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555087352740191522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4AB4djNtUCfWLdYX5H9ahKGCac_K01gxRPMJWaYb7L8FwtWF32sIyZCJPRMabAw3lSqxI2dzJXL34gDWaT55fcT6T-TEwGA5tjrgG6Gimu57T3ye8YzdpO13eFOXKwlqtvyWOd13yQ/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4AB4djNtUCfWLdYX5H9ahKGCac_K01gxRPMJWaYb7L8FwtWF32sIyZCJPRMabAw3lSqxI2dzJXL34gDWaT55fcT6T-TEwGA5tjrgG6Gimu57T3ye8YzdpO13eFOXKwlqtvyWOd13yQ/s320/DSC_0111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555087204437267682" /></a><br />Next we went on the German's version of the Polar Express, a little train that took us around in circles and instead of showing scenes of winter wonderlands, we saw big beer barrels and unidentifiable sausage products: Christmas German Style. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl3C8Q3lR-wmJIqWLaxIK0Gqv6qvSHiZYI1nzoiJcMD9vr9B3wjZkL_oclO_9iPcJNQBd_OusphoOH7AcG4eFThulLbTwNXuiLljp0gLIO8GL4_0IcPPLchp4Nb5YbAm3qidMfZYQeQ/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl3C8Q3lR-wmJIqWLaxIK0Gqv6qvSHiZYI1nzoiJcMD9vr9B3wjZkL_oclO_9iPcJNQBd_OusphoOH7AcG4eFThulLbTwNXuiLljp0gLIO8GL4_0IcPPLchp4Nb5YbAm3qidMfZYQeQ/s320/DSC_0115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555088397315498418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKafFW9Zsp4p8MMsp8_bgBjn8pt1to17D51X6IFzMu1ME6DGkwvZW_b3K7qEVLWtsjEeF8DLY7UuJeSOBQLslSdkkZ9pcZ4ojXGGOb5KrkBrk6RA00ePKkZRYzWMRW1MAqXilgTkaW-A/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKafFW9Zsp4p8MMsp8_bgBjn8pt1to17D51X6IFzMu1ME6DGkwvZW_b3K7qEVLWtsjEeF8DLY7UuJeSOBQLslSdkkZ9pcZ4ojXGGOb5KrkBrk6RA00ePKkZRYzWMRW1MAqXilgTkaW-A/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555088261582637058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HZveLc8pk94mPvvosklXh347EXbip6lsX1epedZmVvXrCMNEHpjHyMlk-FDu5j58j2nE0TjBWgjhv3R_nwPqLNdBOioHPx-JCS-bS2djDrdnOG3HNbUDPtQQR-yrEipYFj-yEBaAYg/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HZveLc8pk94mPvvosklXh347EXbip6lsX1epedZmVvXrCMNEHpjHyMlk-FDu5j58j2nE0TjBWgjhv3R_nwPqLNdBOioHPx-JCS-bS2djDrdnOG3HNbUDPtQQR-yrEipYFj-yEBaAYg/s320/DSC_0119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555088094620868386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSN_liraHgvJateuqEV40DHxYV4TBzMJ8B4v-aqNlcohh2pCtLZy23rDcIPwoC_4NqE0_5fibw4gn9JG1SEuCmkbqLFnd60qJ8A1RByzNhIwwdnjlmtk1_3lziMCkdx4wKWMQOkvrSg/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSN_liraHgvJateuqEV40DHxYV4TBzMJ8B4v-aqNlcohh2pCtLZy23rDcIPwoC_4NqE0_5fibw4gn9JG1SEuCmkbqLFnd60qJ8A1RByzNhIwwdnjlmtk1_3lziMCkdx4wKWMQOkvrSg/s320/DSC_0121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555087964976758642" /></a><br />By now the boys were getting hungry, so we sought out a bratwurst stand and Jaxon and Sean found some good 'brats'. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSzTqg71G1dAOGn1T3ZIDs0BDQGtK0-sxYhqEQoHTTUb8wZ25tVCAs8x_KH_bYCeql9PvZIPeDK8ZX6K_VEV8jwTKG_hd8Fk-KAlxZfzcLb7zSrIXkw-MuoVOvnyJmd3VpGKj3KrWXw/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSzTqg71G1dAOGn1T3ZIDs0BDQGtK0-sxYhqEQoHTTUb8wZ25tVCAs8x_KH_bYCeql9PvZIPeDK8ZX6K_VEV8jwTKG_hd8Fk-KAlxZfzcLb7zSrIXkw-MuoVOvnyJmd3VpGKj3KrWXw/s320/DSC_0122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555088742250083666" /></a><br />We tried to pose for a family picture in front of the water tower, and almost everyone was looking happy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMRv1k1efsuR03UhUZgJrQLf5NDULj3vF7BBhOognrOqMSHD_-ct4-i2vz-wngSftCyM8cqx_derUeTSPeqYS2tS2IhJDBiuq88oWoie0QS9XsQcXomSHL4wbBaD_0F5LQfk1gtDI2Q/s1600/DSC_0124.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMRv1k1efsuR03UhUZgJrQLf5NDULj3vF7BBhOognrOqMSHD_-ct4-i2vz-wngSftCyM8cqx_derUeTSPeqYS2tS2IhJDBiuq88oWoie0QS9XsQcXomSHL4wbBaD_0F5LQfk1gtDI2Q/s320/DSC_0124.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555089017317367410" /></a><br />We bought crepes: (zucker and zift: sugar and cinnamon ones)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1r3BbSuTpj5YLDX0oLU5HnJpedtBXbDWLaiT5HJyITJAnQJC675GEmxMfkBbWU5uQUxrErT83tO_fsJTX23BEhoOcEjJVN_ID93xLl1TVyJD2x309lf4R4hj_o3gSbVtLo2YotFSVQ/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1r3BbSuTpj5YLDX0oLU5HnJpedtBXbDWLaiT5HJyITJAnQJC675GEmxMfkBbWU5uQUxrErT83tO_fsJTX23BEhoOcEjJVN_ID93xLl1TVyJD2x309lf4R4hj_o3gSbVtLo2YotFSVQ/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555089383098016786" /></a><br />The kids rode ponies:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fwLejtQ47lFz4vXApBx1oMoxAjduBuM7b7tbI8LsbcMBFd7XVI04ZnIhLj-WbBcioykoYt16MoMimuNz-gRNsmANZiZ7qJPEd9AKwOVYB5m45BMAJ8A7KU0F_sL75vAuba0KodSngg/s1600/DSC_0130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fwLejtQ47lFz4vXApBx1oMoxAjduBuM7b7tbI8LsbcMBFd7XVI04ZnIhLj-WbBcioykoYt16MoMimuNz-gRNsmANZiZ7qJPEd9AKwOVYB5m45BMAJ8A7KU0F_sL75vAuba0KodSngg/s320/DSC_0130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555089929959419362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pzPHH7K_MMXk_FfPFiqbnpR6TgadOHyNc2PXZVNlGnrtOu56jt6QqxZ8oBGFifVBrM-9P1m4At7noD8oPiJsrdd7Z3KrnoqxSlM1U1uJsUU5WnWfcIsrjHV51uvETRY1_EUFNyS9Aw/s1600/DSC_0133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pzPHH7K_MMXk_FfPFiqbnpR6TgadOHyNc2PXZVNlGnrtOu56jt6QqxZ8oBGFifVBrM-9P1m4At7noD8oPiJsrdd7Z3KrnoqxSlM1U1uJsUU5WnWfcIsrjHV51uvETRY1_EUFNyS9Aw/s320/DSC_0133.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555089785833891746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK8W7pG-3Kh7_hFuaXVrxtbcc0L1FDENM1slVqSIsR6XQ_e-W4j70fnGXXBJZOM7zaUlMPsXUFy0aH0X205M779lrwrU6n_ID9nVtcUTp9nfZRnveKor9EO3ctFNJ71lGo6aWHt2UFw/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK8W7pG-3Kh7_hFuaXVrxtbcc0L1FDENM1slVqSIsR6XQ_e-W4j70fnGXXBJZOM7zaUlMPsXUFy0aH0X205M779lrwrU6n_ID9nVtcUTp9nfZRnveKor9EO3ctFNJ71lGo6aWHt2UFw/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555089625481812882" /></a><br />I gotta tell you what happened when the kids were getting ready to ride the ponies. A German lady approached me and started talking to me in German. I had no clue what she was saying, but I could tell she was upset. Her tone of voice let me know that if I could understand her, I probably would be getting in a fighting stance and putting up my dukes for her to meet "thunder" and "lightning". But, since I had no idea what she was saying, I just smiled and kept saying, No Clue. I was worried at first that she was Anti-American and was criticizing us for something. When we lived here before, every once in a blue moon we would run into someone who didn't like Americans. I know, crazy, but true. So, I feared this lady could just sense my red, white, and blue blood and was giving me an earful. But no, I finally figured out what the deal was: she was ticked off that the animals were being used as a ride. She thought it was cruel to let the kids ride on ponies. She started yelling at the people who worked at the ride, and I just stepped back and thought that a German Jerry Springer would probably pay big bucks if I was recording this on my I phone. Oh well. The kids didn't notice and had fun. We went on a merry go round to end our Christmas market experience:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAVoSGOn23EJEH4vTwyj72_VPvMeIGyiSE8PN07cvTkHwzC68bekMA_9CjpJCs-GXLSoEjXRLwFpcuMSu3riTWFxCHM7toxzBd71hcW9tjz0t3PGEz_4_m7f4kylH5jflsOqxr8MniQ/s1600/DSC_0135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAVoSGOn23EJEH4vTwyj72_VPvMeIGyiSE8PN07cvTkHwzC68bekMA_9CjpJCs-GXLSoEjXRLwFpcuMSu3riTWFxCHM7toxzBd71hcW9tjz0t3PGEz_4_m7f4kylH5jflsOqxr8MniQ/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555091613808559490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB8oZ30o042NWsDDde_mC9QAmuL9dPyJnAVLUQCG3UN7CJNj1eUEGXNU1kd8GKxaLHIOeoLxpzrOEq5GBcudB5eHjfQBLu1N2C6uy-qpfnqY_vFFZ1uys5uG-86QssFKAu5CDOKuH6g/s1600/DSC_0136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB8oZ30o042NWsDDde_mC9QAmuL9dPyJnAVLUQCG3UN7CJNj1eUEGXNU1kd8GKxaLHIOeoLxpzrOEq5GBcudB5eHjfQBLu1N2C6uy-qpfnqY_vFFZ1uys5uG-86QssFKAu5CDOKuH6g/s320/DSC_0136.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555091482804587170" /></a><br />By then, Mason was cold and couldn't feel his toes very well, so we figured we would call it a day and go back home. We had our first 'schneeballs': a German pastry consisting of pie crust rolled in a ball and dipped in sugar or chocolate. Yum. Double yum. We ate them on the way home, making a huge mess but enjoying every minute.Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-83207968203847908062010-12-22T11:24:00.001-08:002010-12-22T11:33:50.908-08:00Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It SnowWe have been having a Winter Wonderland here the past three weeks. It has snowed A TON, literally, over the past few days. School was delayed twice three weeks ago, cancelled twice two weeks ago, cancelled on their last day before Christmas break, and even Church was cancelled on Sunday. We were literally snowed in. We had the necessities: food, water, and fudge, so we were fine. We've been playing lots of games, shoveling loads and loads of snow, and watching lots of movies. The kids have had numerous snowman building competitions, snowball fights, and sledding expeditions. Sean has shoveled more snow than he ever imagined was possible. There is now a new P90X workout: the snow shovel. He is more sore from all the shoveling than from Tony's pull ups. The main roads get plowed, but we live off of the main road, so we are on our own. The Germans, once again, are amazing and such hard workers, so everyone is out there morning, noon, and night shoveling snow. The only problem is, there is sooooo much snow, there is no where to shovel it!! You are supposed to shovel your sidewalks and driveways, but the piles on the side of the road are HUGE!! There is no where to put all the snow. <br />This is the view out my kitchen window:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeAuhKdvV6xK_F20hsk9pABS0JLkVJbxzM-8QHL_FuXsJxehtfh1fW_5MmVtSKGqjNvWDYDFjh27qvjCgdHJtkXw2xdAznVtws7g-fcIJrvj_h01qFkBdXnLoibj2mYmXRHLibPzzXQ/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeAuhKdvV6xK_F20hsk9pABS0JLkVJbxzM-8QHL_FuXsJxehtfh1fW_5MmVtSKGqjNvWDYDFjh27qvjCgdHJtkXw2xdAznVtws7g-fcIJrvj_h01qFkBdXnLoibj2mYmXRHLibPzzXQ/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553591473451744994" /></a><br />Here's Sean pushing Ella for a ride:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA7Lubwee-SgCLl1aCp4INRTQmLZfMMhpyy_Ri51YLsxXLi7_3I5tLpsZOw2SNGDtnnxaRUFB9Fcwi0VTv_8okP6r7G_E_lmMMHVy9Sc8x7f_5lRLMBVd8B5mKUD8Q49HQNcRZ95xGw/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA7Lubwee-SgCLl1aCp4INRTQmLZfMMhpyy_Ri51YLsxXLi7_3I5tLpsZOw2SNGDtnnxaRUFB9Fcwi0VTv_8okP6r7G_E_lmMMHVy9Sc8x7f_5lRLMBVd8B5mKUD8Q49HQNcRZ95xGw/s320/DSC_0057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553591329678673602" /></a><br />Here's Jaxon and Ella going for a ride down our street:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV8_J5rBvazNcGEELNPq_CauZlqrzJx_Q4tMWQ-uOUbQry8AQpBVxFoDD8rnNjrV59R4sWplqmDKMJlKqYAWOZbqMVcGzyJUNtIz8l6CoZCYbYVC6ygpJkwJMAiYP-cezLS88szkydw/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV8_J5rBvazNcGEELNPq_CauZlqrzJx_Q4tMWQ-uOUbQry8AQpBVxFoDD8rnNjrV59R4sWplqmDKMJlKqYAWOZbqMVcGzyJUNtIz8l6CoZCYbYVC6ygpJkwJMAiYP-cezLS88szkydw/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553591184735956482" /></a><br />And here's Colton with the awesome cake he made for his class but never got to give them because the last day of school was cancelled due to the snow! So, we 'took one for the team' and ate it ourselves. We are so SELFLESS!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vTMnUwsBhubAT8iSmKAsHdgOWUSmonRnNqAfQvt8k9of7OPOLkowSFYVSVG_G5bIH0D8Oly2frf3sEdzmVAKekpFX5fp-H6dsKaVCcwasCglx8RlDphQ8t8rwQazkOn4J6ugppazGQ/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vTMnUwsBhubAT8iSmKAsHdgOWUSmonRnNqAfQvt8k9of7OPOLkowSFYVSVG_G5bIH0D8Oly2frf3sEdzmVAKekpFX5fp-H6dsKaVCcwasCglx8RlDphQ8t8rwQazkOn4J6ugppazGQ/s320/DSC_0051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553591891252580770" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-90309265017959435262010-12-22T11:13:00.001-08:002010-12-22T11:24:05.252-08:00Decorating the TreeThere has been a whirlwind of fun and business since Sean has been home. The first order of business was decorating the Christmas tree. We had gone the night before he came back to pick one out. It was freezing outside, literally below freezing, and the kids were tired, so it didn't take us long to find one. Most of the trees were still wrapped in the netting, so we found one, uncut the netting to see if it was ok, looked at it for .2 seconds in the freezing cold, deemed it 'acceptable' and quickly bought it so we could head home. Mason had slipped and fell in some ice, so he had already headed back to the car with Jaxon to take off his wet shirt and watch a movie. Colton has 1% body fat, so he needed to hurry home too. Our church Cub Scout troop was selling the trees that night, so nice Bro. Jensen tied the tree to our car roof and we were off! On Monday night we decorated the tree as part of Family Home Evening. Mason and Ella had been waiting so long for this to happen, they each took a section of the tree and hung every ornament they could find in that one section. The tree fairy came later that night when they were asleep and magically rearranged the ornaments in a more aesthetically pleasing lay out. Sorry, the tree fairy can be kinda 'Type A' when it comes to ornament-hanging.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXVTwOIYYoqwjuanfXrDqNXyMdnI16yB-rK4IqVazgKlSLkWAvigC0NH9HaDSaowuXo1BT9toKD28sMj4OfkSeimb73pUU_E7Gd8n5Y2N5xvVkwj1x2oM7Lilx1FCG-uqtuYit2FKMQ/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXVTwOIYYoqwjuanfXrDqNXyMdnI16yB-rK4IqVazgKlSLkWAvigC0NH9HaDSaowuXo1BT9toKD28sMj4OfkSeimb73pUU_E7Gd8n5Y2N5xvVkwj1x2oM7Lilx1FCG-uqtuYit2FKMQ/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553588625490626354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NUR285R9HRnadqGp4yUkURtGgCge-5KZoJqQQHePskJ7Eq-Krr8sbaLwG-F2jB5T098S_7Xx5u69HaI7pRZltWxT12KcdLpJ2e0H14HRPl6OTbcXH2KD0pmjAM-KVr1nEsBw9G8uHw/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NUR285R9HRnadqGp4yUkURtGgCge-5KZoJqQQHePskJ7Eq-Krr8sbaLwG-F2jB5T098S_7Xx5u69HaI7pRZltWxT12KcdLpJ2e0H14HRPl6OTbcXH2KD0pmjAM-KVr1nEsBw9G8uHw/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553588470615374386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZTndbOag5vwWChytLcpnCiG-pv6wTtV-hZ_BzBa4wqEBnkrwogMV1zrIivGw12ICzm-FZH_PzUSHdValCeJjr4fEkdSyourDs766XpV2AqwF9YAAaqvpef2s91_679dY5qgPrNZrsg/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZTndbOag5vwWChytLcpnCiG-pv6wTtV-hZ_BzBa4wqEBnkrwogMV1zrIivGw12ICzm-FZH_PzUSHdValCeJjr4fEkdSyourDs766XpV2AqwF9YAAaqvpef2s91_679dY5qgPrNZrsg/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553588348219313458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFco_fpPQlVPsIMWSFNX-QUtKskxPE1wC4pJPP0YN8cZPN5Vx7RfOaE3CxxPh1vdnAxtJmnEZ79b2XAuivXw9HVvCJJFhRh6k3VSIGTdZX1YpnntqhJG4ChjHjbtQKlFVbe8E8QqFkA/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFco_fpPQlVPsIMWSFNX-QUtKskxPE1wC4pJPP0YN8cZPN5Vx7RfOaE3CxxPh1vdnAxtJmnEZ79b2XAuivXw9HVvCJJFhRh6k3VSIGTdZX1YpnntqhJG4ChjHjbtQKlFVbe8E8QqFkA/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553588215559939378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxn40Fxf3cUSJbZgiHy98D0rMTsfD6aDmMvvGP7v_BK7mCxdGpaLP3lz9Xf8-F3tKUMpCt8CBeRWkHgmvh2mKTr2T3TPG-WDtF-mxnrNDOL10SJNgqLR99eSFJ5Vsz9cUghcaZpMw2Q/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxn40Fxf3cUSJbZgiHy98D0rMTsfD6aDmMvvGP7v_BK7mCxdGpaLP3lz9Xf8-F3tKUMpCt8CBeRWkHgmvh2mKTr2T3TPG-WDtF-mxnrNDOL10SJNgqLR99eSFJ5Vsz9cUghcaZpMw2Q/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553588082398125042" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-16306843517693896842010-12-22T10:58:00.000-08:002010-12-22T11:12:43.260-08:00Ice SkatingElla has been asking to go ice skating for a while. That was the one thing she really wanted to do when Sean got back, so things worked out nicely last Saturday when we were invited to Kaitlyn Turner's birthday party at the ice skating rink. The last time we lived here the rink was a temporary structure set up under a tent: translation: COLD. This year they built a rink inside a building that is right by our church and the infamous Dino Park, so we were happy to be inside and not super cold. I had gone a few days before with the Young Women and Young Men in our church for an activity, and Jaxon went ice skating that night for the first time. He fell 12 times and loved it. He kept getting back up and trying again, and by the end of the night, a possible future ice hockey player was born. On Saturday, he and his buddy Spencer had fun skating around the rink. Remember Colton's first time roller skating a few months ago? Ice skating for Colton was a similar experience: lots of arm flapping and waving to try to keep himself upright. A few falls, but lots of laughs. He had a great time too. Ella went around one time and said she was done. Really? No way, she had been waiting MONTHS for this moment! She took a little break and told Sean she was ready to try again! That's my girl!! She ended up loving it too and doing great. And what about Mason? He was found playing with Aedan most of the time, not really excited about trying out the ice. Maybe next time. He did play with the little penguin guy that beginner skaters can rent to hold onto, so that's a start. Here are some pictures of the ice skating adventure:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm76-jjsKntCdq5zH1uHcLAcKvWDBrCSgOjC4PNpvrX0L0QFrrroeconi4sX-QTAt9n5jXPDvTesKt_I2hYS7GRUPaBnn7lqtkighLpwAX3Oz1Hcq8IP73hdbGEJxHpsiUieUrGOulOQ/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm76-jjsKntCdq5zH1uHcLAcKvWDBrCSgOjC4PNpvrX0L0QFrrroeconi4sX-QTAt9n5jXPDvTesKt_I2hYS7GRUPaBnn7lqtkighLpwAX3Oz1Hcq8IP73hdbGEJxHpsiUieUrGOulOQ/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553586098281058290" /></a><br />Mason with his beloved juicy cup and new found friend, the Penguin.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41jY66MUuAlzS6sbHc2ZPZASwda2gTi7v8xupFIylw6mMXtQTxM0Vgp1379PtDk48sOoEVXRNTIuO1oaVVm_n_LbZq3cFEYUUjzOh2UOKuDLR9f0NEdkFsWaiQzz7zjNbmXOjVYlj1A/s1600/DSC_0066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41jY66MUuAlzS6sbHc2ZPZASwda2gTi7v8xupFIylw6mMXtQTxM0Vgp1379PtDk48sOoEVXRNTIuO1oaVVm_n_LbZq3cFEYUUjzOh2UOKuDLR9f0NEdkFsWaiQzz7zjNbmXOjVYlj1A/s320/DSC_0066.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553585961818942450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEZo4JE36UFNY4y82eedX-ncNuvRmMGvWcL5S0mwVb7a5T7vnNuC3HeG-vor9hR3fdpBWhDEaAVkAI2Fg5tisxTu4LXxVTRaLEapWLK-KW8eQEkMdTsLDhCYmEB3rMhSb5BpgMlY0Iw/s1600/DSC_0067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEZo4JE36UFNY4y82eedX-ncNuvRmMGvWcL5S0mwVb7a5T7vnNuC3HeG-vor9hR3fdpBWhDEaAVkAI2Fg5tisxTu4LXxVTRaLEapWLK-KW8eQEkMdTsLDhCYmEB3rMhSb5BpgMlY0Iw/s320/DSC_0067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553585811360025842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfvOik2Gd43t5N0zP9p157a_gwYJlyVzCyPI3J5p9M8_gQ78bZ0X9PHp3TdLGP5Pn6da4EN_RAqrEGyIA7bGx_2ksQJ5_86rIzFsRfD1azDqn7L5qx9y561U4ks__c4qacakENZL6EQ/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfvOik2Gd43t5N0zP9p157a_gwYJlyVzCyPI3J5p9M8_gQ78bZ0X9PHp3TdLGP5Pn6da4EN_RAqrEGyIA7bGx_2ksQJ5_86rIzFsRfD1azDqn7L5qx9y561U4ks__c4qacakENZL6EQ/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553585645608273058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jYRvBzvlykykvs47iBdwiz9N-wICc7marTqKDfp6Pw29s5cePj-qAgF7ImFen5SC1u7hlYpF_nZpRuBM7LBKLw8BSdSAzfEG6czHtTemFducpNeglo-zylAvXSj0MAKUSjJRMb8IKA/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jYRvBzvlykykvs47iBdwiz9N-wICc7marTqKDfp6Pw29s5cePj-qAgF7ImFen5SC1u7hlYpF_nZpRuBM7LBKLw8BSdSAzfEG6czHtTemFducpNeglo-zylAvXSj0MAKUSjJRMb8IKA/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553585493683539762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjv6AYyhoHdU-aFmzZFR2vtjLaV3sI3p-MOEi-8_pGVKvWD7L9TkU5VbW45mfNtRoNPZi0tZB6Azr5Bl0FTL6l7I407HCjky39JsPnVR4wafHSCNscQw2k99J81JqSNHD1LiGenHLpQ/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjv6AYyhoHdU-aFmzZFR2vtjLaV3sI3p-MOEi-8_pGVKvWD7L9TkU5VbW45mfNtRoNPZi0tZB6Azr5Bl0FTL6l7I407HCjky39JsPnVR4wafHSCNscQw2k99J81JqSNHD1LiGenHLpQ/s320/DSC_0081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553585283386517842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_NtoF3RjO85gTT3kHZRyac5etVXUibv-DMnsmd3GzwgS5SeiS75bU3fPivkub8eUnw1pqsPM5_wjrxaIc7cRKnbc-6-hy9Ol9hzzFn2qFyctT56_gsBUwXiUKvc1Hz499lfnWITvAw/s1600/DSC_0084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_NtoF3RjO85gTT3kHZRyac5etVXUibv-DMnsmd3GzwgS5SeiS75bU3fPivkub8eUnw1pqsPM5_wjrxaIc7cRKnbc-6-hy9Ol9hzzFn2qFyctT56_gsBUwXiUKvc1Hz499lfnWITvAw/s320/DSC_0084.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553585138138659122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fPnghwpbPDP1AinP0rj9Oz8y8vmfQOHHcBU9iYEXr5H-3PTG2gEu1cNbCDOjNqvLBeyWptRD_z_YImj43I0HF7YgFzj_xBFyh1PxEaWEDB9ZXn-ETCUApTLuf5TS3eb9a_abu7qTyA/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fPnghwpbPDP1AinP0rj9Oz8y8vmfQOHHcBU9iYEXr5H-3PTG2gEu1cNbCDOjNqvLBeyWptRD_z_YImj43I0HF7YgFzj_xBFyh1PxEaWEDB9ZXn-ETCUApTLuf5TS3eb9a_abu7qTyA/s320/DSC_0087.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553584978288587746" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-49420654654444485652010-12-18T08:45:00.000-08:002010-12-18T09:31:27.819-08:00SEAN IS HOME!!! OH HAPPY DAY!!I know I am a week behind, but Sean is back so we have been so happy and busy that blogging hasn't been a priority, sorry. Sean called last Friday night and told me he was on his way to the airport in Georgia to fly to Frankfurt. He had left Camp Shindand in Afghanistan on Monday, the 6th and caught the first flight out of every place he had to go to, so he ended up coming home earlier than we had expected. I dropped the younger three kids off at Christy's on Saturday and told them I was going caroling with the Young Women. I drove up to the airport and figured out where to park and where his flight was coming in. That alone was a feat in itself. Then I saw the bad news: his flight was delayed. First it was delayed an hour, then two hours. Yuck. I waited and waited, hoping that if I kept staring at the flight information screen the news would somehow change. It didn't. His flight finally reached "APPROACHING" the runway status. Then "LANDING" status. It told me which gate he would be arriving at, and I quickly ran over there. Silly me. It still took another 40 minutes before he came through the doors and I was rewarded with the sight of my best friend and eternal companion that I've been missing for the past 182 days. Oh happy day!! We hugged, kissed, and cried. No pictures of the actual reunion, some things are private, sorry. It took another half an hour to get to our car and drive home. I called Christy and asked her to bring the kids to our house for a little surprise. I had rented a Santa suit so that he could surprise the kids as Santa when he came back. I thought he would arrive when they were at school, so I thought it would be fun for Santa to come into Ella and Colton's classrooms and pass out some candy canes, then pull down the beard in front of our kids and expose his true self. Reality was slightly different but just as fun. Sean was dressed as Santa, sitting downstairs next to our tree as the kids came down the stairs. I told the kids I had brought Santa home with me from caroling. Sean gave some good "ho ho ho"s, then pulled the kids on his lap and asked them what they wanted for Christmas. After Ella recited her list, he asked her, "How about your Dad? Don't you want your Dad for Christmas?" Then he pulled down the beard, took off the wig, and showed his true self. YEA!!! The kids were so happy and we all stayed up late talking to Sean and telling him about our last 6 months. <br />Here's Sean as Santa:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YhJqAAPsV29mZn2qtip7N6LI2XLg-ZV040Waeaywf8J1GkXjGC2lyIOhNY_5lfopoiWoUkCbVJPdr-pGySOw_DLl8PCFqfhzO_SJBhuOP3ABI-jamb98Sx3tEl3zEWTQffshYwHmqg/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YhJqAAPsV29mZn2qtip7N6LI2XLg-ZV040Waeaywf8J1GkXjGC2lyIOhNY_5lfopoiWoUkCbVJPdr-pGySOw_DLl8PCFqfhzO_SJBhuOP3ABI-jamb98Sx3tEl3zEWTQffshYwHmqg/s320/DSC_0008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552074807586177362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tqLDlvlJo0UT6fxlYgl9QN4iw_OtHveuEcnJaMbImlPgFUPVprABm5yFK6ChzAke69aM_2Opalzr6I-HyTCLi1T0329x2DIB97cusO5mtlH7piMhjF5U3De7A3a3J0EHCJHfURSDIA/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tqLDlvlJo0UT6fxlYgl9QN4iw_OtHveuEcnJaMbImlPgFUPVprABm5yFK6ChzAke69aM_2Opalzr6I-HyTCLi1T0329x2DIB97cusO5mtlH7piMhjF5U3De7A3a3J0EHCJHfURSDIA/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552074682768777730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkizY8svboQybbEwrvaVkrW-0sV3sIZsquSGuC4pZtKU86fVX3whyRlEH5rWWHCFfFK8N30c_ROoCu04w6O4DRtnuud3A-GgSXZza-BogtZy55jNk-ZN8ErYY0CqlIyhym36Oo3ofWA/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkizY8svboQybbEwrvaVkrW-0sV3sIZsquSGuC4pZtKU86fVX3whyRlEH5rWWHCFfFK8N30c_ROoCu04w6O4DRtnuud3A-GgSXZza-BogtZy55jNk-ZN8ErYY0CqlIyhym36Oo3ofWA/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552074561386292802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5w8ccllCHwjPZsV9sJ5BQWZj76zMfqyNjntIcPOIdEPgq8xZNs0u4C1ClV0ansTaEbidzdpSvosxDUt2Q11ooYAn3N-PL25H6N-bmL4GlqjgKYDWdGWC8406IWHP1ulRLsmEf7tgLw/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5w8ccllCHwjPZsV9sJ5BQWZj76zMfqyNjntIcPOIdEPgq8xZNs0u4C1ClV0ansTaEbidzdpSvosxDUt2Q11ooYAn3N-PL25H6N-bmL4GlqjgKYDWdGWC8406IWHP1ulRLsmEf7tgLw/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552074415359299794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyavlBon6DhecaKqSVzSs_51oaNG4vkOwmXSSAXhvjvoEFey1JsVKZwfVgDjcw5OJvuL1RD8rFIlju9P6sGooVcMLnkZ-0eOC12V5DQ669UoognZDt3zsmrECqgUQzASqYDRy-7bhQw/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyavlBon6DhecaKqSVzSs_51oaNG4vkOwmXSSAXhvjvoEFey1JsVKZwfVgDjcw5OJvuL1RD8rFIlju9P6sGooVcMLnkZ-0eOC12V5DQ669UoognZDt3zsmrECqgUQzASqYDRy-7bhQw/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552074221298094994" /></a><br />For Jaxon, we did something different. I came in the house first, telling him that the caroling took forever. Sean was outside on my cell phone calling our home phone. I told Jaxon that the phone was probably dad, so could he please answer it for me? Jaxon started talking to Sean, and a minute later, in walks Sean with the cell phone, still talking to Jaxon, and then Jaxon realizes it's his Dad walking towards him, talking to him at the same time. Don't have a picture of it, but I have it on video, give me some time to figure out how to download the video, and I'll post it, it was great. <br />Here's Jaxon with Santa Sean:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFrXIV_VRHzGmgc039RJbiNKAngxcHhwI0LVFQoaGgS1viL9U97fsN-zjjxfOIkkj90KyP2-p4bM3wyhWy26QnmHkL5qmED_cq04Ww-DtauiONMTA16ec4_JdsEoU7egdfhv9pMz4AA/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFrXIV_VRHzGmgc039RJbiNKAngxcHhwI0LVFQoaGgS1viL9U97fsN-zjjxfOIkkj90KyP2-p4bM3wyhWy26QnmHkL5qmED_cq04Ww-DtauiONMTA16ec4_JdsEoU7egdfhv9pMz4AA/s320/DSC_0006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552075607550031970" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-71578719732424559792010-12-09T04:11:00.000-08:002010-12-09T04:33:36.193-08:00Snow DaysSo, last week the kids had late starts for school on Tuesday and Thursday. This week, they had school cancelled completely on Tuesday and Thursday because of the snow. It is cold, but it is absolutely beautiful, and truth be told, I am enjoying having everyone at home for some extra time together. Cookies have been baked, Christmas movies have been watched, and lots of snowballs have been thrown. It snowed all day Monday. I don't remember it stopping once. So, of course they cancelled school on Tuesday and we had a good day. Ella and I ventured out for a while to deliver some movies to some friends that were in need of Frosty, Rudolph, and some chocolate chip cookies. The roads were fine, just slushy. Then Wednesday night, it started again. Lots of snow. I sleep horribly so I checked the road conditions and school reports at 3 am, and the roads were condition red, but the schools were listed as being open. Then at 5, the roads switched to amber, but the schools were closed. Now, the boys were excited on Tuesday when there was no school. I was under strict orders from Jaxon to check the weather report before waking him up at 7 to see if there was indeed school that day. The funny thing is he woke up on his own. Jaxon and Colton were a bit too optimistic on Wednesday that school would be cancelled again, or at least delayed. I tried to prepare them that they would most likely have school again, but they didn't believe me. Then again they woke up early to ask, "Is there school?" to which I had to bust their bubbles and say, "Yes". They were super excited as the snow fell last night. Colton started asking around 7, "So, will school be cancelled?" I tried to tell him we wouldn't know for sure til the morning, but he wanted answers right then and there. My door opened around 6:45 with Mason coming in first, asking if he could sleep with me. Then in came Colton. "Is there school?" I said, "Jump on in bed with us, cuddle up, and enjoy the day. NO SCHOOL!! Let's do some baking and movie watching!!" Well, I could have been Santa with all the good news I was delivering today. Jaxon was upstairs a minute later: "No school? YES!!!" Then they all went downstairs and watched A Christmas Carol. I started the second round of snowball fighting last night as I went outside to move my car into the garage. I brought in a few snowballs, and went around saying "Hee Hee: SNOWBALL!" and pummeling the kids with snow. Mason and Ella were in the bath and squealed with delight as the snowballs melted right away in the warm water. Jaxon tried to protect himself with his notebook, but even throwing left handed, I got him. Colton was an easy target. But then, so was I. They retaliated, and we all got a little wet. It was fun. Here are pictures from the past few days. I finally broke down and got a cheap little digital camera since I am STILL WAITING for my nice new camera to come in the mail, and if you can keep a secret, I'll let you know that I need a camera REALLY SOON to take some wonderful pictures of a happy reunion. More details on that later as they become available, back to the pictures:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUrxzVYvaWXKX2a79h8m08Key6LdkyMi9FMkADR7VQ0GtPYR28YbfzyFFbYKDqfqUJyMMlpQgLzthDJ4F6ZvFHkkYp4Qf8KabJWJBlYj3Nb3eAPp0LUgPgSB1XeIDWfAOFGP0yVuC6g/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUrxzVYvaWXKX2a79h8m08Key6LdkyMi9FMkADR7VQ0GtPYR28YbfzyFFbYKDqfqUJyMMlpQgLzthDJ4F6ZvFHkkYp4Qf8KabJWJBlYj3Nb3eAPp0LUgPgSB1XeIDWfAOFGP0yVuC6g/s320/IMG_1046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548657705275366018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnmjq7OyL1XM4tLCUubn34noG2hPkiahVQ7HXQww5vQzdnPOMqUTMTC4dSFzRNnIOANXYqM80DBr6LK6pZ_hWCEAIzGCqLvXDslabCIN7F8oCSZEBwP0wO55fxMPVkHs-PlBfioIkxQ/s1600/IMG_1048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnmjq7OyL1XM4tLCUubn34noG2hPkiahVQ7HXQww5vQzdnPOMqUTMTC4dSFzRNnIOANXYqM80DBr6LK6pZ_hWCEAIzGCqLvXDslabCIN7F8oCSZEBwP0wO55fxMPVkHs-PlBfioIkxQ/s320/IMG_1048.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548658014099313378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcumEkZwSJxzDrzEbiDo1vfIY9DhpE_4uISIw-U21xioJcEZrW9N-ULMWpducLV4Ujn6eEbcI3A_bPnRgmZPrn7p0jcsZ2UL4tQbAmw1NglYVVyIgZhjRKorpdAu_bgqV4_pPTFZyxw/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcumEkZwSJxzDrzEbiDo1vfIY9DhpE_4uISIw-U21xioJcEZrW9N-ULMWpducLV4Ujn6eEbcI3A_bPnRgmZPrn7p0jcsZ2UL4tQbAmw1NglYVVyIgZhjRKorpdAu_bgqV4_pPTFZyxw/s320/IMG_1044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548657907614848034" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeDLewxc8-75WyPhiN7EaRQHSxzYPeIqiaKtn1eub8VnLUNLoSiBF00R5R4guDNCGhcsldVboso7knhw6TuuIFBFhJ3KvQHqVJL6oWxpGbeCacdLq0buB0KoVrJYus8n2vFyihhbD3w/s1600/DSCN0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeDLewxc8-75WyPhiN7EaRQHSxzYPeIqiaKtn1eub8VnLUNLoSiBF00R5R4guDNCGhcsldVboso7knhw6TuuIFBFhJ3KvQHqVJL6oWxpGbeCacdLq0buB0KoVrJYus8n2vFyihhbD3w/s320/DSCN0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548658220184834690" /></a><br /><br />Here's our budding Picaso with one of his latest masterpieces:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt0HNHHGAFd5S0hvAL0Tr8M7W6vU7hdyJXgkMVKsiPQbzL3D-m1RcnO6k53u3wv63snhLZMdAHCSlDathGAoE9qTRuk1vx1pCRybFGAqqrpI3fWYI_yWpPCZOqFl_x-mKA2dBkRIipQ/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt0HNHHGAFd5S0hvAL0Tr8M7W6vU7hdyJXgkMVKsiPQbzL3D-m1RcnO6k53u3wv63snhLZMdAHCSlDathGAoE9qTRuk1vx1pCRybFGAqqrpI3fWYI_yWpPCZOqFl_x-mKA2dBkRIipQ/s320/IMG_1050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548657341596763506" /></a><br /><br />And here is our new reward system in the Burke Household: THE MARBLE JARS. The kids each have a marble jar and are rewarded at the end of the day with a certain number of marbles, depending upon their attitude for the day and whether or not they completed their daily chores. Extra jobs earn extra marbles. When the jar is full, they get a reward that we agreed upon earlier. Colton already filled his once, and earned two new Lego figures. Ella is working on hers to get a trip to the ice skating rink. And Mason just likes playing with the marbles. Jaxon is still working off his computer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7eOltbTU3rfdHHPb0w3HQ_ggqOrO-Kf_FDmgBDduwVZfTIm4dqwocfamvMKJz3DmrCLjmFLOpp9UOQaTzsfHQ3rn8w7T4A8zd-0ECT8Mf1EFM0czr43T_MyvyBL1M9DQ8CKs_EdoUQ/s1600/DSCN0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7eOltbTU3rfdHHPb0w3HQ_ggqOrO-Kf_FDmgBDduwVZfTIm4dqwocfamvMKJz3DmrCLjmFLOpp9UOQaTzsfHQ3rn8w7T4A8zd-0ECT8Mf1EFM0czr43T_MyvyBL1M9DQ8CKs_EdoUQ/s320/DSCN0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548658375736893826" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-72594692872805653992010-12-06T09:27:00.000-08:002010-12-06T09:40:02.821-08:00St. Nicholas DayDid you leave your shoes out last night so St. Nick could fill them with a few goodies? Well, if you are in Germany, it is almost a requirement. Although it was touch and go for a few minutes last night whether or not a certain Burke child would be receiving goodies in their shoe or a stick (the traditional naughty child's gift), everything ended up alright and all kinder were pleasantly surprised in the morning. Here are the shoes all lined up and ready:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGrvxzWpe8YwG8LYlqQM5IeWZkLM-aZWB3xDBMqes_wD8Wb-LKF4lQ7Wv8bY2aVrxUkHBDyRH_1Uiht7FunpNvlfCKqOmsdC7jL5hnY4gwJxqg3g6aoXO46TaNPApOb2nvZJo9u7sLQ/s1600/IMG_1033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGrvxzWpe8YwG8LYlqQM5IeWZkLM-aZWB3xDBMqes_wD8Wb-LKF4lQ7Wv8bY2aVrxUkHBDyRH_1Uiht7FunpNvlfCKqOmsdC7jL5hnY4gwJxqg3g6aoXO46TaNPApOb2nvZJo9u7sLQ/s320/IMG_1033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547623311701293826" /></a><br />So, how was church yesterday and Young Women's, you ask? Great! I taught the lesson, on creating an uplifting environment. Hopefully the girls left with a better idea on how to create a good, nurturing, loving atmosphere in their homes (and then let me know how to make it last cuz I am DONE with the fightin' around here!!)<br />I had my own private German lesson today because I was the only one who showed up for class. I think that makes me the teacher's pet and I get to big ol' gold star. We went over our homework, which I must say, kept me up for two hours Saturday night cuz it was dang hard!! What fun did you have Sat night? Date night? Movie? I did German homework! Aren't I reckless and carefree? Does the rebel in me just scream "HAVE FUN!" or what? We went to see Tangled Friday night and it was adorable. I am going to take Aedan and Mason to see it again tomorrow during the day. What fun! <br />It snowed all day today. Big, beautiful flakes. It hasn't stopped once. It is warm enough that most isn't sticking to the roads, so it is fine to drive in (thank goodness!) but I'm curious to see if they delay school tomorrow. I braved a German store today in order to get a cool tree stand. I went to Toom, and asked the saleslady in German where the tree stands are. Except I told her I was visiting for a tree stand, instead of looking for a tree stand, but I think she understood and even rewarded me with a two syllable "Tschuss!!" when I left the department. I love speaking German. I stink at it, but I love trying. My goal is to order all our food at McDonalds one day in German and have the McDonalds person speak back to me in German. Right now, I speak to them in German, and they laugh when their mike is turned off and speak back to me in English. I won't give up though. <br />Here's Mason trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue as we left Toom:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27bfhOnZAfHiaPz3yxJsVoajQ_lxL5nuUto3dBv_b6-DrhWl8YvZpgfsffxvhw9ND_gRV9cO3HOPZHAbgjbj16TUs5A48Uof30X39JiUsQBNo6UNUOri9ez-xoQcKciCo_Z3GZkczpg/s1600/IMG_1039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27bfhOnZAfHiaPz3yxJsVoajQ_lxL5nuUto3dBv_b6-DrhWl8YvZpgfsffxvhw9ND_gRV9cO3HOPZHAbgjbj16TUs5A48Uof30X39JiUsQBNo6UNUOri9ez-xoQcKciCo_Z3GZkczpg/s320/IMG_1039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547625380134345698" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-53932323974636134292010-12-03T00:20:00.000-08:002010-12-03T01:21:53.916-08:00Ich friereThat's I'm freezing for you monolingual folks. It's been mighty chilly round these here parts this past week. At this time I'd like to pause and take a moment to thank the person who invented space heaters. You Rock!!! Radiators are ok, but nothing beats sitting in front of a space heater with a mug of hot cocoa. We've been busy. What else is new. Christmas cards had to be addressed, German classes had to be attended, homework had to be checked, and gingerbread houses for our ward Christmas party had to be assembled. The kids stayed out late Tuesday night since I had to go to Mutual and Christy was kind enough to watch Ella and Mason while I was with the Young Women. The problem was picking them up afterwards. It had snowed that day and the temperature dropped, so the little hill in front of her house became a huge ice skating rink. I couldn't get up her hill. I had to wait at the bottom and send Jaxon to her house to retrieve the kids. Before leaving for Mutual I had to get Ella's Daisy outfit ready for her meeting tomorrow. More patches!! Remember how much I LOVED sewing Jaxon's on to his scout shirt? I started getting the shakes before I realized Ella's patches were iron on ones. YAY!!! So, I started ironing them, before I realized, Hey, Ella can do this!! So I put the girl to work. And she loved it. She asked for more to iron afterwards. Unfortunately we had to leave, otherwise I would actually have ironed clothes for once this decade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHRBL2QL7xIfnBvpVYH6mSIIVClfH0Z4IPANDz72h0Mshfr6fqbh-ly1INEM7xaeALTJRHAcH9KHP0N9OcJ2-R7Ut-e2gT7i5-8NVMzMKQKrCqewhsH0GF6FV1Mrz1BdXxHwf1PdlqQ/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHRBL2QL7xIfnBvpVYH6mSIIVClfH0Z4IPANDz72h0Mshfr6fqbh-ly1INEM7xaeALTJRHAcH9KHP0N9OcJ2-R7Ut-e2gT7i5-8NVMzMKQKrCqewhsH0GF6FV1Mrz1BdXxHwf1PdlqQ/s320/IMG_1016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546378160246689762" /></a><br />On Wednesday, we had more snow. It got COLD!! Look at the temperature on my car dashboard:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdbrU5qIKsk2Nn9mDTjR9lFDYDnM82CIB1eaWPJ9KzdoVNTHs_C1LVWoXkH1z6nMEKpGEzeKZfmjprgAtlw7WwN6dhDsmrrTHtH0Wn6ALNuJOHFJr5xKM80MK-pWK30RnqY99FJAGJA/s1600/IMG_1020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdbrU5qIKsk2Nn9mDTjR9lFDYDnM82CIB1eaWPJ9KzdoVNTHs_C1LVWoXkH1z6nMEKpGEzeKZfmjprgAtlw7WwN6dhDsmrrTHtH0Wn6ALNuJOHFJr5xKM80MK-pWK30RnqY99FJAGJA/s320/IMG_1020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546379178216742210" /></a><br />The kids were tired from being out late Tuesday night, but I had no problem getting them up? Wanna know why? Two words: ADVENT CALENDARS!! Wednesday was the first of December, or otherwise known in our house as the start of advent calendars. The kids were so excited to start opening the little doors and seeing what treasures were behind them. Ella ended up opening three doors instead of just one, and Mason opened two. Oh well, it's ok if they run out a few days before Christmas.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0RejqOetUHYR-PagXTfkM7Ibw4J60rnw8OOaffHhEvX7AMTC7slmEjPOrViCJWlhwC52t7sc6SARQNHoA8XSyQgz4M3qXxwv1wclfdq3-m1IisOTbMUnrxFbwVfS1goR-cja3dRqAg/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0RejqOetUHYR-PagXTfkM7Ibw4J60rnw8OOaffHhEvX7AMTC7slmEjPOrViCJWlhwC52t7sc6SARQNHoA8XSyQgz4M3qXxwv1wclfdq3-m1IisOTbMUnrxFbwVfS1goR-cja3dRqAg/s320/IMG_1019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546379759087023666" /></a><br />Ella has a Polly Pocket calendar, Mason has a Playmobil one and the older boys both have a Lego calendar.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz6O4N6POxlaX-kIqUdhg65HHIXMiiELdV41y-XIGL5jYjXfKynHH2UwVRipejEMg3fNfOh15u2s7L0v2Y2vMfaxMTEc_dvLYcz4sRz3K98Brhwa_cnNZaE-AXxuKd-6yif48NJOjaw/s1600/IMG_1018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz6O4N6POxlaX-kIqUdhg65HHIXMiiELdV41y-XIGL5jYjXfKynHH2UwVRipejEMg3fNfOh15u2s7L0v2Y2vMfaxMTEc_dvLYcz4sRz3K98Brhwa_cnNZaE-AXxuKd-6yif48NJOjaw/s320/IMG_1018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546380062086261346" /></a><br />It started snowing pretty hard by the time the kids were being dismissed from school. I was on base so I went over to Ella's class to see if she still wanted to go to her Daisy class. I thought it might be cancelled because of the snow. I was secretly hoping it was so I wouldn't have to drive back on base in the snow when it was almost dark. No such luck. Her leader is a trooper and had the meeting. Ella had a great time and that's all that matters. Oh, I forgot to tell you, the kids had a two hour delay of school TWICE this week. Both on Tuesday and Thursday, the start of school was delayed two hours due to the icy roads. It wasn't too bad getting out of our little neighborhood and driving to the bus stop, but the extra two hours were fun for the kids. They were a little bummed this morning when they found out school was actually starting on time. On Thursday, we had German class here. We practiced conjugating verbs and answering some basic questions. Then Christy and I got down to business: building gingerbread houses for our church's Christmas party this Saturday. We decided that it would be easier to come with a whole bunch of little houses already assembled so the younger kids can just decorate them, and not get frustrated with trying to stick the sides together. We spent three hours working on them and got 60 finished. I was gonna help Christy today finish up another 40, but that girl has the work ethic of a serious CEO and knocked out a bunch this morning before I could even get over to help. Last night was piano lessons. Again, COLD!!! Since the only parking for piano lessons was in European Country Living's parking lot, we parked there and ran inside to look at their Christmas decorations, which, I must say, are GORGEOUS!!! The only problem is that the decorations are in a garden room that is partially outside, so it was freezing while we were picking out some fun decorations. I'll have to return when it is not in the 20's. Here are a few of the fun things we found:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP4RPj34EkLNoY1XCSdEg7tOKgPxeftRCTHXfxEpC1nv8OhDCss3wj_aVLqH-wTohatxb4biTnC0eumEQEqgKhI9CiQH3RpnCKnFMXELUa2mH_2XO97_G1QCMF5YsPybGIaywJCWOPQ/s1600/IMG_1022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP4RPj34EkLNoY1XCSdEg7tOKgPxeftRCTHXfxEpC1nv8OhDCss3wj_aVLqH-wTohatxb4biTnC0eumEQEqgKhI9CiQH3RpnCKnFMXELUa2mH_2XO97_G1QCMF5YsPybGIaywJCWOPQ/s320/IMG_1022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546382233470113682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQS7rJ_TUSpSIa0HKE71X32930TJM1K2OadwRoOVdu6CFwDDrJ6gVR2842E-l2fhejlxSLJs7z6NbHpue0LxzalDFcv8J-loSWacxLDl4Grq4MH9ropXtt4H2Bhh21b2bJ5p7YYHfkQ/s1600/IMG_1025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQS7rJ_TUSpSIa0HKE71X32930TJM1K2OadwRoOVdu6CFwDDrJ6gVR2842E-l2fhejlxSLJs7z6NbHpue0LxzalDFcv8J-loSWacxLDl4Grq4MH9ropXtt4H2Bhh21b2bJ5p7YYHfkQ/s320/IMG_1025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546382145287804434" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-87559881529389404562010-11-29T10:40:00.000-08:002010-11-29T11:04:15.298-08:00Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It SnowThis weekend we started taking out the Christmas decorations and getting ready for the Main Event. The kids have been so excited for Christmas for the past few weeks, and loved opening boxes and pulling out decorations. It was especially fun since we haven't seen these things in two years. I found a bunch of Christmas piano music on line for Colton and he has been practicing every day in preparation for a Christmas eve concert. Information on ticket sales is coming. The kids all played together with legos. Nicely. For a whole half an hour. Wow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnaSUI3ubNe2SRwy1ltpVlQtsCsQDT96TokL1ki3avhjKZckoq6IG96waA9XIE7x20XXdn38QB-Ha9lkLOV9loCseVnft6HvKEf6nUirxUj8j5QbC-ym3WK2BnT3vO63iDnF9xDztrQ/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnaSUI3ubNe2SRwy1ltpVlQtsCsQDT96TokL1ki3avhjKZckoq6IG96waA9XIE7x20XXdn38QB-Ha9lkLOV9loCseVnft6HvKEf6nUirxUj8j5QbC-ym3WK2BnT3vO63iDnF9xDztrQ/s320/IMG_0999.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048029913305282" /></a><br /><br />We had another Thanksgiving dinner at Christy's house Saturday night and all I can say is, That girl can cook!!! She brined a turkey and it was scrumdeliumptious. She is kinda like a cooking King Midas: everything she touches turns delicious. I picked up Jaxon Saturday night from his campout. Remember how I thought they were going to be camping in a cabin? WRONG!! My son turned mountain man for the night and braved the sub freezing temperatures in a sleeping bag and tent. Take that Bear Grylls!! Needless to say, Jaxon's teeth were still chattering when I picked him up. But, he had a great time, got to take down the flags at Patton's gravesite, and saw the Battle of the Bulge site. He is destined for a tweed jacket with elbow patches with all this history he's been soaking in.<br />On Sunday, we all slept in. Yes, even me. And it was GLORIOUS!!!!! I can't remember the last time I slept in til 8:30, but it was fabulous. I just need to keep the kids out late eating Christy's yummy food in order to lull them into a food induced sweet slumber.<br />Church was good, my first week in young women's and it will be wonderful getting to know these amazing ladies a bit better over the next few weeks. <br />Monday morning was a SHOCK!! We woke up to some serious white powder, EVERYWHERE!! The snow was falling when we awoke and didn't stop all day. Here's Excited Mason as we got in the car to take the kids to the bus stop:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDPrMZ_y3sNPP_TLEbQRYvxoZPg3_j06ddorvNoX12OuZ2F04Gq4W56zVYETmQyH7ZLzeXroBENIWaoIbkpRIhRLIh5mRM9PkguQbP55DLucuFsfEnydaQ2-0EpSh9M5SYPXLY37UBQ/s1600/IMG_1003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDPrMZ_y3sNPP_TLEbQRYvxoZPg3_j06ddorvNoX12OuZ2F04Gq4W56zVYETmQyH7ZLzeXroBENIWaoIbkpRIhRLIh5mRM9PkguQbP55DLucuFsfEnydaQ2-0EpSh9M5SYPXLY37UBQ/s320/IMG_1003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048405404078642" /></a><br /><br /> I drove Sean's car, which was a big mistake, since the Durango has rear wheel drive. Can you say "Fishtail?" Can you say, "Slip and Slide?" Well, that's what I did as I drove Mason to the Bishop's house so his sweet wife could watch him during my German lesson. I can't count the many prayers I offered up this afternoon as I drove to and from German class. I thought, wouldn't it be ironic, as soon as I get the minivan back from the repair shop, I need to take the Durango for repairs thanks to the wonderful snowy road conditions. The kids were soooo excited about the snow when I picked them up. Their number one wish is that school will be delayed tomorrow, since their teachers were talking about this possibility in the afternoon. Mason started eating the snow as soon as we got home, and I quickly reinforced the number one snow eating rule:<br />DON'T EAT YELLOW SNOW.<br />All the kids played outside in the snow, throwing snow balls (at me through the window), making snow angels, and sledding down the street. Between you and me, I am a bit shocked that it is snowing already. It's only November. We are in for a LONG winter. But, I say, BRING IT ON!!! I'm ready with gloves, scarves, boots, chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6BX-s1SjS9w5eFeefaumQCdkZqf2qnQ1Q__0R4raBamsV4krux045Bz7aPFmgcCEifE8cLIg81DLtOY8AjU1HCb4Ua53sOWJ2-Aw4gDybq9UHMC6_XTOpi5xbWds1Jfmg1wvKF1CLA/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6BX-s1SjS9w5eFeefaumQCdkZqf2qnQ1Q__0R4raBamsV4krux045Bz7aPFmgcCEifE8cLIg81DLtOY8AjU1HCb4Ua53sOWJ2-Aw4gDybq9UHMC6_XTOpi5xbWds1Jfmg1wvKF1CLA/s320/IMG_1006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048872120416834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDpamxLA5edzZgkDiSKK3eeOKzusDqJWTmHv84prn8bE_Yp7nSDBYJ7LQl7REtBuaYWpPWV-P2JWh0td7ekzocBf1Xgs0ikrrvFHjn1RSIeA4jk40dvj7BN46TzVzzRJfo9puZQgXlg/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDpamxLA5edzZgkDiSKK3eeOKzusDqJWTmHv84prn8bE_Yp7nSDBYJ7LQl7REtBuaYWpPWV-P2JWh0td7ekzocBf1Xgs0ikrrvFHjn1RSIeA4jk40dvj7BN46TzVzzRJfo9puZQgXlg/s320/IMG_1007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048751902390434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdad1wpUhESvCK_PF01OBH1exrNN0vaT7RvIcxkwyNVidnR66Yv3cm1Im_2GkuJhwvfDgT4aQ7Lxd79perYi6jb6KxCuEOYLeiooUz4pK57OkFJGVrUE32GdH6mQyQDiK4Z4I7lKuG3g/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdad1wpUhESvCK_PF01OBH1exrNN0vaT7RvIcxkwyNVidnR66Yv3cm1Im_2GkuJhwvfDgT4aQ7Lxd79perYi6jb6KxCuEOYLeiooUz4pK57OkFJGVrUE32GdH6mQyQDiK4Z4I7lKuG3g/s320/IMG_1010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545048655199409554" /></a><br /><br />For FHE we talked about the four foundation stones of our religion: The First Vision, The Book Of Mormon, Temples, and the Priesthood. Then we built a gingerbread house. Each wall of the house stood for one of the four foundation blocks. We are big into recycling here in Germany, so we pulled out our leftover Halloween candy to finish decorating our Knusperhaus, which, I must say, turned out fabulous. If I was Gretel, I definitely would have been tempted by this one:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-DdgpzX2D18kVo4fn-4CEVZ_3MdXgKIp42vDyK1pRauroRba2NpRThzRsXHT3FoQzFe1RkQqgPjJt0Zr_7gNSOiAbfzGG31RRRamhOAdubLpbXRXp3Ko1mvhGMbYGbLtajOheXWmMA/s1600/IMG_1014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-DdgpzX2D18kVo4fn-4CEVZ_3MdXgKIp42vDyK1pRauroRba2NpRThzRsXHT3FoQzFe1RkQqgPjJt0Zr_7gNSOiAbfzGG31RRRamhOAdubLpbXRXp3Ko1mvhGMbYGbLtajOheXWmMA/s320/IMG_1014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049219554386450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDniUArEH7YI9MBPKn9bdTP8UCo6ZhdxV3fGIU3_GUoF2Tm1l5lDdw01PVebFCfkCG8CHAgtKAVTYXvpDGB4-JqdFNTy7NbeRfmO2IDYoGigD9H-PD4iFSUG4fACfbGItzkav7j8XvUw/s1600/IMG_1015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDniUArEH7YI9MBPKn9bdTP8UCo6ZhdxV3fGIU3_GUoF2Tm1l5lDdw01PVebFCfkCG8CHAgtKAVTYXvpDGB4-JqdFNTy7NbeRfmO2IDYoGigD9H-PD4iFSUG4fACfbGItzkav7j8XvUw/s320/IMG_1015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545049060196602162" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-21279131371483999972010-11-27T02:01:00.000-08:002010-11-27T02:27:03.662-08:00Thanksgiving and SNOW!!!We woke up on Thanksgiving morning to a glorious sight: SNOW!! We hadn't looked outside as soon as we woke up; working out took priority so it was about an hour later that the kids and I came upstairs and looked outside to the marvelous scene of snow. The kids were so excited. They rushed to put on boots and coats and play outside; for about 5 minutes, until they realized that it was REALLY cold and wanted to come back inside and warm up. Ella lasted outside the longest:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSZ4D1HD-4840nDuwEjfc3KNr596RknEr6jnV_-d3I1sJadb82NgN9Hm-9ZA_CwnKeZeMqT_sjG_mzreG7QdTJjhXMOAWcAdWoko4tr5QFzYsWfnkoHRN7nS55uN5mxHGBjvTduzgbQ/s1600/IMG_0992.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSZ4D1HD-4840nDuwEjfc3KNr596RknEr6jnV_-d3I1sJadb82NgN9Hm-9ZA_CwnKeZeMqT_sjG_mzreG7QdTJjhXMOAWcAdWoko4tr5QFzYsWfnkoHRN7nS55uN5mxHGBjvTduzgbQ/s320/IMG_0992.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544169002267844722" /></a><br />We (I mean, I) finished the last minute baking and cooking for our Thanksgiving feast and headed over to the Wilkenson's house for dinner. The food was fabulous, the friends were fantastic, and most importantly, the desserts were divine. We ate, talked, ate, joked, ate, and hung out around the gorgeous new dining room table for about 3 hours before realizing that we needed to go. The kids ate so little so I felt it was my parental duty to make up the difference and eat enough for all 5 of us. Only Jaxon ate a worthy plate full of delicious food. We rolled our way out of the door and headed home. I am very thankful for wonderful friends who have adopted me while Sean has been gone and treated me like family, maybe even better. I am so thankful for my children who make life worth living. I am excited that this is the last holiday we'll be celebrating for a LONG time without Sean. He better be back in time for the jolly fat guy to make his appearance. On Friday, there were no stores to go to at 3am for Black Friday deals. We're in Deutchland: no Walmart, Target (moment of silence) or Best Buy. There's online shopping, but it isn't the same. But that's ok. I will take living here over super special deals on stuff that I really don't need but end up buying because it is such a good deal that I must need it somehow, sometime, right? So, I saved a bunch of money, which I will later put to good use at ECL or another favorite German store. German stores have awesome Christmas decorations. Friday morning, my cleaning lady came and I got to practice my German with her a little bit. That was fun. We dropped Jaxon off at the commissary parking lot for another fun filled Boy Scout camping trip this weekend, this time to Belgium and the Battle of the Bulge site. We bundled Jaxon up as much as he would let me, loaded him up with chocolate, and sent him on his way (with his toothbrush and toothpaste, which he keeps 'forgetting' to pack). We started to take out Christmas decorations in the afternoon and the kids were sooooo excited to see things we haven't had in two years. That is one of the biggest downfalls of moving at Christmas time, we kinda miss out on Christmas every third year. I took the kids over to Christy's in the evening so Colton could go sell Christmas trees on base with Cameron and Dennis for the Cub Scouts. Danielle watched Ella and Mason while Christy and I escaped, I mean, went shopping at some German stores for some final Christmas presents. All in all, a great last few days, and a few extra pounds that will have to be taken care of pretty quickly. Curse that extra helping of fudge!!<br />Here's some fun pictures from the last two days:<br />Mason calling Batman on the phone:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYFgWFR_3SDWkAiVrrNI42TJPcrK_mcxllMSNZ1dQ0u8AeH4D4_qjktFTZbiHy15-RZPH3PVlVhE1l6ZBjQ0YDmkwq5nn2PdBCfNMVUj6wThMmzAaQFGaHCP5wtK4_7pTQF57U9hZVg/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYFgWFR_3SDWkAiVrrNI42TJPcrK_mcxllMSNZ1dQ0u8AeH4D4_qjktFTZbiHy15-RZPH3PVlVhE1l6ZBjQ0YDmkwq5nn2PdBCfNMVUj6wThMmzAaQFGaHCP5wtK4_7pTQF57U9hZVg/s320/IMG_0993.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544173951407730434" /></a><br />Ella learning to read and reading some words for me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHirqS3c5rT2jZtWPt-VdNGx8WvJ8HR4QW_o3-a-47NDnOt3Tqd07Ptzohrw8Sf7NUGaQUNOvPoYVDdllRlldI374rP30w2oR0RDt5Ig4fwV1QzUkQ3p_85UVihod6Mh1xvENkYAjJA/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHirqS3c5rT2jZtWPt-VdNGx8WvJ8HR4QW_o3-a-47NDnOt3Tqd07Ptzohrw8Sf7NUGaQUNOvPoYVDdllRlldI374rP30w2oR0RDt5Ig4fwV1QzUkQ3p_85UVihod6Mh1xvENkYAjJA/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544172710903372146" /></a><br />And a picture of the white stuff outside my front window:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NAAR1o5V-OhhMLGqaUb3CfhWb7EdrB5KgD60AY0TBPbfvynW2YV7R-nT4rQthcmadicupKF6DnCva2xgx9bFzv5MXUgbkdl1ASGT-4zSgS6Kpm49Do1cBVMBniUTEXgZhbHOiu9Aog/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NAAR1o5V-OhhMLGqaUb3CfhWb7EdrB5KgD60AY0TBPbfvynW2YV7R-nT4rQthcmadicupKF6DnCva2xgx9bFzv5MXUgbkdl1ASGT-4zSgS6Kpm49Do1cBVMBniUTEXgZhbHOiu9Aog/s320/IMG_0996.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544172903197463842" /></a>Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-53094055697151095702010-11-24T11:18:00.001-08:002010-11-24T11:37:37.637-08:00It's Beginning to Smell A Lot Like ThanksgivingSo, what have I been up to these past few days? BAKING!! Yup, our kitchen has transformed into a German bakery with yummy desserts being produced almost hourly. Yesterday we mastered fudge and a pumpkin pie, today was pumpkin bread, pumpkin bars, chocolate caramel bars and brownies, and tomorrow morning we are scheduling an oatmeal cake. Aren't you getting hungry just reading this? I don't need one of those Yankee Candles that is scented for the holidays, like pumpkin pie or sugar cookies. My house is smelling like that for real for the past two days and it's awesome. I think I'm gaining weight just through my nose. I love to bake and this is such a fun time of year. Last night, Colton wanted to make something special for his class for Thanksgiving. Since he has a male teacher, the idea of a Thanksgiving feast or party wasn't gonna happen, so we decided to make today a little more festive for his class by sending in some Pilgrims' hat cupcakes. Here's Colton with his cupcakes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMez555CGtbOQ89bvhyphenhyphenIwTO8GZ1zu4Hy8IQz9c3X4EV66YTqA8OuQPiMhxeLNGrQwNc4dsetpPqwg9uttno8wptmYtLiRJ9cyk5FLPCd0VGoSevCnunnEMfW5UzbvwCfgPRf21Hisoqg/s1600/IMG_0988.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMez555CGtbOQ89bvhyphenhyphenIwTO8GZ1zu4Hy8IQz9c3X4EV66YTqA8OuQPiMhxeLNGrQwNc4dsetpPqwg9uttno8wptmYtLiRJ9cyk5FLPCd0VGoSevCnunnEMfW5UzbvwCfgPRf21Hisoqg/s320/IMG_0988.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543198821139910370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGj4zzoz1o6-WHOk5wKP_5gvtKHbqE5F0bLbSuzIEhno0H9oA_WfGmmAOgux0eFFjY6NXKmCuH4ylAr2DTXuI1Cpoj0csvjqT8sktuBCxxlpYp5jlIpq16qKdzjOO8YGVHAax92KWWA/s1600/IMG_0989.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGj4zzoz1o6-WHOk5wKP_5gvtKHbqE5F0bLbSuzIEhno0H9oA_WfGmmAOgux0eFFjY6NXKmCuH4ylAr2DTXuI1Cpoj0csvjqT8sktuBCxxlpYp5jlIpq16qKdzjOO8YGVHAax92KWWA/s320/IMG_0989.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543198704188980802" /></a><br />On Monday, Ella and I worked on a project of hers for Kindergarten. Each student needs to decorate a box that will become their special treasure box to carry reading books to and from school. Thanks to my artistic and creative friend Christy who loaded us up with cool craft supplies Sunday night, we were prepared for this project. Here's Ella, Mason and I working on her box:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtRbC9JqYdxuKc3ochtR33oX5RUYiVbHAw_-r7YT15oRi2d6UW-EqQolsNW3gj2QNdvsZos2jwgZ-I975JcZhvC-Lj_p6R9S2FI5q9soRNMVBRgYC-b9fUxNLVuipNq6Bs80L5oIdbw/s1600/IMG_0985.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtRbC9JqYdxuKc3ochtR33oX5RUYiVbHAw_-r7YT15oRi2d6UW-EqQolsNW3gj2QNdvsZos2jwgZ-I975JcZhvC-Lj_p6R9S2FI5q9soRNMVBRgYC-b9fUxNLVuipNq6Bs80L5oIdbw/s320/IMG_0985.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543200029413425458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweoxhY9Gh_XUsAV2wmlIU_JCBSEJYlckPMi77wfk6j1H1HkUTZg7hUOcYN26sjFUUN60SRQxzvQ6MTJeQLSM8Kk0lcV1eG4qb4ofqKQfccd3_UUEFQHTiwOBTB_D6kT20-nrCTKB-EA/s1600/IMG_0983.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweoxhY9Gh_XUsAV2wmlIU_JCBSEJYlckPMi77wfk6j1H1HkUTZg7hUOcYN26sjFUUN60SRQxzvQ6MTJeQLSM8Kk0lcV1eG4qb4ofqKQfccd3_UUEFQHTiwOBTB_D6kT20-nrCTKB-EA/s320/IMG_0983.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543199831604754258" /></a><br />Yesterday I was lucky enough to borrow Aedan for a few hours to come over and play. Mason stayed in boy clothes for a majority of the time, which I consider a step forward in the progress department. I found Mason at one point, hiding in his closet, dressed at Batman, but with a pink purse. I asked him who he was. The answer? Baby Bat Girl. I know the picture isn't great, (I'm STILL waiting for my new camera) but here is Baby Bat Girl:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU755sGWaR0K2fmGFhTqYd531GNiWKvCEE4xcIbG6-1iMPOOJQ5NUBEhRBqjCfBu3QDyYPzdkHLx4ma-77RC9XiC4GWf0gMbtWSTG_1mX-EmoHKXnV1JoFjjCGL35JLo3GJnM6L0wvBw/s1600/IMG_0986.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU755sGWaR0K2fmGFhTqYd531GNiWKvCEE4xcIbG6-1iMPOOJQ5NUBEhRBqjCfBu3QDyYPzdkHLx4ma-77RC9XiC4GWf0gMbtWSTG_1mX-EmoHKXnV1JoFjjCGL35JLo3GJnM6L0wvBw/s320/IMG_0986.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543200864137767762" /></a><br />The best part of the past two days was this morning when I caught Mason chasing Colton around the house, wearing a Santa hat, wielding a toy knife, shouting "I'm Evil Santa!! Watch out!" Here's Colton before the attack:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfu5JTTtwn3qzUSOx09ElP8BA8xXCIh0a946fiLN31Npd0EcVyU5M3WG6Eahp4DPaFbViB0ctDLCmiE-mIb5vcEWlCYAhsIXDN1bSG33hY3VXyLuxjJBRVuHMmGoNE9P32bkAbNBjVQ/s1600/IMG_0990.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfu5JTTtwn3qzUSOx09ElP8BA8xXCIh0a946fiLN31Npd0EcVyU5M3WG6Eahp4DPaFbViB0ctDLCmiE-mIb5vcEWlCYAhsIXDN1bSG33hY3VXyLuxjJBRVuHMmGoNE9P32bkAbNBjVQ/s320/IMG_0990.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543201619405828882" /></a><br />I wasn't fast enough to catch a picture of Evil Santa on the loose. I put out an APB for him and eagerly await his return. So, tomorrow we are off to the Wilkenson's house for some serious turkey eating. I learned how to say turkey today in my TWO HOUR German class. Class was cancelled on Monday so we had a two hour session today. My head still hurts from trying to understand and speak German for that long. The class was small though, which was great, and I really like learning the language, although I feel I am making very S L O W progress. Oh well, guten abend!!Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-8562036145899103532010-11-22T05:56:00.000-08:002010-11-22T07:12:16.366-08:00Happy Monday!!!I've got to backtrack for a moment and share pictures of the birthday party Colton, Ella and Mason attended on Saturday. It was at Kinderspiel, an indoor German playground with trampolines, inflatable slides, a ball pit, electric cars, and tons of things to climb on and fall from. The kids were in heaven! Of course, they spent half of their time looking at the things they couldn't do, like the climbing part that is for kids over a certain height or the train and swings that weren't running at the moment. How come we can't just be happy with the 4 million things we CAN do, and not focus on the three things that aren't available at the time? We brought along a little girl, Katie, who hit it off right away with Ella. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7l77eqSuCvl1TogTaosMSDqIy0XIsKoUUgmiXfx11wNraU4hXccyngvcG-i8hk2EdTAOjXHa9rVZGmgENDlExP127L0ukVSshyphenhyphenrfUI-8cY6t7ugffaX-Io8EkiRYcBILUuIB746jjw/s1600/IMG_0966.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7l77eqSuCvl1TogTaosMSDqIy0XIsKoUUgmiXfx11wNraU4hXccyngvcG-i8hk2EdTAOjXHa9rVZGmgENDlExP127L0ukVSshyphenhyphenrfUI-8cY6t7ugffaX-Io8EkiRYcBILUuIB746jjw/s320/IMG_0966.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542389988993637282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fAATl-yYwZDDx_Hop-fv3buI-mfz92k4YeAGOmsXDl9gcjZhtKbR5YGe3qnnPhwx-P6TDbxkaCNBpT0Fhi-B91Fq3kkUkdsFYpdK216O22FOSQVzwtF4ZlwVeUx1OM1CgsdQXVzihQ/s1600/IMG_0964.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fAATl-yYwZDDx_Hop-fv3buI-mfz92k4YeAGOmsXDl9gcjZhtKbR5YGe3qnnPhwx-P6TDbxkaCNBpT0Fhi-B91Fq3kkUkdsFYpdK216O22FOSQVzwtF4ZlwVeUx1OM1CgsdQXVzihQ/s320/IMG_0964.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542389735867585442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77-ZLVk4B0yxvOFO_HUQjv-OM4qXFWdqB7cjXT5zqRWdyslerBZ1m_f8b83b1rpd1TggUfpft1DK42WsBp8LV41mzl-zF_L4xqsteC74keyE8b9ROPHgwI9fbmGxF7D1nQr2D-asa_g/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77-ZLVk4B0yxvOFO_HUQjv-OM4qXFWdqB7cjXT5zqRWdyslerBZ1m_f8b83b1rpd1TggUfpft1DK42WsBp8LV41mzl-zF_L4xqsteC74keyE8b9ROPHgwI9fbmGxF7D1nQr2D-asa_g/s320/IMG_0962.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542389627745620130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYJilJ0tkFQ_p92gth7NCrGhvIsYmDYFWXC2ISj9Y2KvcRcsyVyJigrfXBhxO5WKATI1Kmo1EEdGsfBeIfLNGhUJTag8hYUe2svP_zpntJqOddjSOo3L0E61l4tKGj84K-0Ui1qjW_A/s1600/IMG_0961.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYJilJ0tkFQ_p92gth7NCrGhvIsYmDYFWXC2ISj9Y2KvcRcsyVyJigrfXBhxO5WKATI1Kmo1EEdGsfBeIfLNGhUJTag8hYUe2svP_zpntJqOddjSOo3L0E61l4tKGj84K-0Ui1qjW_A/s320/IMG_0961.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542389515735782226" /></a><br />The kids all loved riding around on the electric cars the best. Mason was perfectly content sitting behind Colton and being chauffered around the track. Katie held on to Ella and perfected the princess wave as they did their laps.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismTpeQs1oP_K1NDF2tJ8hA-Rv4D9deRghO4XBkQxD_DkupKZvRmB4A9KeNozGd4dxrNucIZk-OLUa2fqql4dJFxIPupJvXOSXocUQCBtODwUnYJKoki0D9waPhdOJrQxYNTJkDQ6q6g/s1600/IMG_0967.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismTpeQs1oP_K1NDF2tJ8hA-Rv4D9deRghO4XBkQxD_DkupKZvRmB4A9KeNozGd4dxrNucIZk-OLUa2fqql4dJFxIPupJvXOSXocUQCBtODwUnYJKoki0D9waPhdOJrQxYNTJkDQ6q6g/s320/IMG_0967.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542390656385636418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxsvZZGjZAN152qDHJM589rhY5PFU9CDsTXpIau3Ecm0hD14yJpdGlUjPuZqQFtcCH3kdSWgmExr3iTyAQpOX6GNLDMgdP92qZRZ0QpQ9Ex4jO6ra2rRnwhYEFH3gyspJFLq0-7Qy_Q/s1600/IMG_0969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxsvZZGjZAN152qDHJM589rhY5PFU9CDsTXpIau3Ecm0hD14yJpdGlUjPuZqQFtcCH3kdSWgmExr3iTyAQpOX6GNLDMgdP92qZRZ0QpQ9Ex4jO6ra2rRnwhYEFH3gyspJFLq0-7Qy_Q/s320/IMG_0969.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542390548209171522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_VOrrc_u5nDVDYqCDr8AF_t6hbwLuCqKGAUYb6JpU4PHg4z4SeurofRhOUnm5JHvga3iFKxIzhiK_af1dkHASih34o8Hcw3oqxu1X5Z3uft4P73T6c5enCrSSW8Bfh9GkTquHC_Diw/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_VOrrc_u5nDVDYqCDr8AF_t6hbwLuCqKGAUYb6JpU4PHg4z4SeurofRhOUnm5JHvga3iFKxIzhiK_af1dkHASih34o8Hcw3oqxu1X5Z3uft4P73T6c5enCrSSW8Bfh9GkTquHC_Diw/s320/IMG_0972.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542390438525340930" /></a><br />I know Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, but not in this house. I put Colton to work helping me make a cake for Mr. Dennis. I needed egg whites whipped and knew Colton was the man for the job. He was a little disappointed when he found out he wouldn't be using an actual whip on the eggs, but he was a trooper and did a great job with the beater.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0SJHUjSeY4yyp8B96DVHrWOEpwoaSlI5BsBH_MOGObCr-fX-2sKaHAwWv1UCmMuowXTZUNzOBmaRag8IwINUCKiqD03PbjGllZdOK7i-6ZtOxOqxhkpT6iYyRGLXTuh2ISzgoSWRhQ/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0SJHUjSeY4yyp8B96DVHrWOEpwoaSlI5BsBH_MOGObCr-fX-2sKaHAwWv1UCmMuowXTZUNzOBmaRag8IwINUCKiqD03PbjGllZdOK7i-6ZtOxOqxhkpT6iYyRGLXTuh2ISzgoSWRhQ/s320/IMG_0973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542391320081413154" /></a><br />The Primary Program was fabulous. My personal favorite part was when Mason ran up to the Primary chorister, Bro. Price, who was trying to get his music stand situated in the aisle way, and didn't notice Mason for a moment who had run up to him and was waving frantically up to him saying "Hey! He's my teacher!!" (Side note: Mason loves singing time in Nursery. It is his favorite part of the experience.) And, I might add, isn't it cool that our ward has a male Primary chorister? We are so out-of-the-box here in Germany!Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-44553944247796596662010-11-21T12:11:00.000-08:002010-11-21T12:21:36.288-08:00And the new calling is.......Have you been up all night wondering what my new calling is? Have you been so in touch with the Spirit that you knew what it would be and didn't have any moments of nail biting wonder and anxiety? Well, put your mind at ease because all is right with the world again: I am back home, where I belong, in Young Women's. I was called as the first counselor in the Young Women's Presidency and I couldn't be more thrilled or excited. I LOVE LOVE LOVE working with the young women. They are awesome. They rock. I love it. I must have bribed the right person or delivered homemade goodies to the right house to get this sweet calling. I can't wait to get to know the girls better and serve them. Now Jaxon has no excuse for not going to Young Men's on Tuesday nights because his good old mom will be there to drag him with her. The only problem is, I am so out of the loop on what is cool in the mind of a 12-17 year old girl. I don't know the cool musicians, actors, tv shows, or movies. I'm not up to date with the latest slang phrases or text messages. I will just have to show up and wing it for a while, with a big ol' smile on my face, and a batch of homemade brownies to make up for my un-cool-ness. I'm a quick learner so hopefully in no time I will be dishin' with my girls and sharing personal secrets. Wish me luck!! <br />I have some cute pictures from the first of our two birthday parties that we attended on Saturday, but since I just devoured half of an Italian Creme cake that I baked for Dennis' birthday but personally ate most of, I will just roll over to my bedroom, read some scriptures and call it a night. I will post pictures tomorrow. Oh, I get to go share lunch with my favorite girl, Ella, and her classmates as they have an Italian Thanksgiving Feast for lunch. Aren't you jealous? As you sit down to a boring pb&j sandwich, I will be sharing stuffed shells, (that I personally made) with the cutest 5 year old around. Stop by Mrs. Waldrup's Kindergarten tomorrow around 11:30 if you're not doing anything. I'll try to save you a shell.Seangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376254343054495470.post-30690862299346445792010-11-20T01:04:00.000-08:002010-11-20T01:19:22.435-08:00NEWS FLASH!!!!We interrupt your regularly scheduled broadcast with this important announcement: <br />I have been extended a new calling at church. Yes folks, Sister Friendly is retiring. The Bishop nabbed me in the commissary parking lot this morning while dropping Jaxon off for the temple trip. He asked if this was ok, instead of asking me to come in tomorrow for a meeting. SInce my last calling was extended to me in European Country Living, which in my opinion can be a very spiritual place, I had no problems talking in a parking lot. NOW, what, you may ask, have I been asked to do?<br /><br /><br /><br />I shouldn't say anything til tomorrow, when the call has officially been extended and I've been sustained. So..............<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />you're just gonna have to wait!! Or call Christy, since you know I called her as soon as I drove off base and could reach my phone. Hee hee! Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion of:<br /><br /><br />AS THE WARD TURNS or<br />THE OLD AND THE RESTLESS or<br />ALL MY KINDERSeangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11139607378415179617noreply@blogger.com0