End of month picture upload

Every month I download all the pictures from the camera cards...here are Mays random pictures...

I finally finished all of the paper sorting.  The kids were great helpers most days.

I try every month to take a few photos of them dressed nicely together.  Sometimes they turn out, sometimes not so much.  This photo-shoot wasn't too bad

they even shared a book (thanks Auntie Stacy)

We've been having such yuck weather this month.  We finally caught a one day break, not a full day, but we dressed summery anyways.  I loved this outfit on her!  I'm sure the white capris are a horrible choice for a toddler, but Dreft spray stuff works wonderful so far!  It took out smashed grapes.

She is such a ham!  And this cutie has 2 new teeth.  Both top molars!

Our favorite weekly activity for at least an hour is to watch the lawn tractor guy.  Such cheap entertainment.  One nice days, we usually stand on the patio, but this day it was rainy.

We've also been riding this guy around.  We're trying to drain the battery before it gets packed on Tuesday.  We wouldn't want a corrided battery once we get it in the states.  This is a favorite ride to fight over.

This beauty sure is quick.  She started showing signs, standing up on her own in the middle of the floor, taking one step...on May 2nd.  On May 9th she started walking from couch to couch (not too far, but a good start, IMO).  We went to the Netherlands on the 17th she was walking more, but not taking more than 10 steps at a time.  The evening of the 22nd, this girl was full on walking.  She was walking all over the house, and hasn't stopped since.  She tries to run, hilarious!

She's loud!  I had to take the kids to the store with me on Tuesday and my oh my do I NOT miss taking them along.  She has lungs that are on fire and can burn anyone's ear drums.  This poor old man walking by had his ears hurt by her.  His response..."whoa!" as he covers up his ears in pain.  I apologized for her.  

She's been referred to a girl version of the chucky doll.  Her daddy wants to buy her a chucky doll and get her an outfit to match.  He's serious too!

We still love you, loud and vivacious little girl!

Tomorrow and Sunday we will finish prepping the house to get packed.  Movers come Monday and Tuesday.

Have a great weekend!

Can I put this here?

This week has been filled with watching Xander like a hawk!  With the movers coming next week, things are totally disarrayed in our house.  It's chaotic.  It's a mess. It's expected.  With new things out, that means new toys?  Um, no!  Kids please leave stuff alone. Yeah right.

He's been putting food in odd places.  Ears and nose!  Last night he shoved 2 pieces of macaroni so far up that I had to use the plunger (you know, that baby one) and tweezers.  At first, I thought it was one small piece.  Well when I had him tilt back so i could be sure it was all out, there was more, farther back.  It took a good 5 minutes before I got a hold of it.  It was huge!  I mean, this boy was determined to see what goes inside the nose.  Silly boy, not food!  He does the same with his ears too, but so far I catch him before anything gets all the way in.

While I'm unloading the dishwasher today, he gets the step stool.  Puts paper towels on the burner.  I turn around and he has 3 of the 4 burners and the oven on!  Holy smokes kid!  Are you trying to burn down the apartment before we move?

He's tired.  Hasn't napped all week.  He's bored.  I'm busy trying to get things done for the movers in a few days.  I'm trying to entertain the kids in the midst of needing to get things accomplished.  Today I cleaned off the stuff from the patio.  I let Xander "help".  It's a project that is kid friendly, so why not.  Sure, we got wet. But, he had fun and did something new and different from our ordinary day.  He's typically easy to please.  I just have to let him be involved.  Sterling.  Not so much.  She wants to do it too.  But, she won't let anyone else help.  Only her.  So, I let her "help" when it's done.  Satisfies all.

We made Nick's Father's Day card today.  Because the movers come next week, I had to get it done so I can pack the paints and he'll still get a handmade card from the kids.  Thoughtful, yep, I know.  I really like it, I hope he does too.

I can't wait until our stuff is gone and our stuff will be simple.

Back to the rigmarole!

Have a great day!

Happy Memorial Day

Sterling telling brother what this day is all about...

"Thank you daddy and all the brave men and women who defend and defended our country!"

A day of Remembrance

Have a great day!

New recipe on my birthday

I have to share this recipe so I will have it for future.  It was simply divine!

I found the recipe at Mels Kitchen Cafe...my absolute favorite recipe website!  The recipe is super simple spicy thai noodles.  I decide to do something I wouldn't dare do before.  Adapt this recipe with another.  OMG...this was to die for.  So, I used this recipe a little and made my kung pao recipe, then I decided to pair it together.  Seriously y'all, go make it!

For the noodles recipe...all the same except...

-only used a half pound of linquine

-I used the rice vinegar instead of lime juice

-I only used 1/2 TBSP of pepper flakes (didn't want to burn the babies mouths)

-didn't use any of the green onions, carrots, peanuts, or cilantro (because I wanted to pair it with the kung pao chicken and that has peanuts and lots of flavor)

I don't think I'll be making rice with kung pao chicken any longer.  Noodles are the way to go!  Big family hit!

Kung Pao Chicken

I use the recipe from Cooks Illustrated but am too lazy to write it all out so I found a site online that is exactly the same as I use with some specifics...

-I use pepper flakes in this one too

-Instead of fresh ginger, I use 1/4 tsp ground

-I use chicken breasts

-I use peanut oil

This meal whipped up quick, less than 45 minutes from prep to finish.  

For dessert, we had some yummy birthday chocolate cupcakes!

Happy 33rd to me!

Have a great day!

Volvo's gone and reservations!

My car is on it's way to our new home!  It should be there waiting for us when we land.  Bye bye car.    The truck to truck it up north showed up just as we were leaving the parking lot.  That means it will leave today from Frankfurt and make the vessel next week to Baltimore.

(now we just have to figure out how we go about getting license plates (for the states), not an easy task)

Safe travels to the mid-west!

Nick came home from work (which he only worked for 3 hours today!) with our flight itineraries in hand!  Hallelujah!  We have a date!  It might not be my dream flight situation, but we have confirmed seats!

I then contact lodging to see if we could reserve a room because everyone has been telling me they are booked and are getting letters to stay off base.  Much to my surprise, we have a reservation ON base!  Hallelujah!!
Now just waiting for confirmation on our reservation at our new place.

Things are coming along!

Have a great day!

Move update

Things are starting to come along.

My car is getting cleaned to be shipped right now.  Tomorrow we will drop it off to ship to our new town.  How exciting!  Now we just pray it will get there early so we're not with a rental for too long.

We have our household goods pickup scheduled.  In 2 weeks our home will be empty of all our things except the items we hand carry or mail.

Things we need to do:

I have to finish getting our 'fast shipment' stuff together.  This pickup will be first.

I also have to go through all of our electronics and write down the serial numbers.  Take videos of the items in working order.

Bring suitcases up next week to pack what we will need for 2 months

Empty out a room and put the stuff that is staying with us in there so the movers don't "accidentally pack them"

Put high value items (crystals) in one area, take pictures.

Buy another pack-n-play.  I think we're going to have the kids play in these on moving day.  That way they're not in the way and they are safe.

Finish shredding.  I've got one bag filled up of shredded documents!  Many many more to go though.

Call vet clinic to have Hawkeye scheduled for his move exam

Ship Nicks car

...and so much more

On moving day...put important stuff in the vehicle locked up.

It's sad, but there has been a high theft result of moves.  The movers/packers have been stealing belongings of others.  We're hoping not to be victims.  I think the problem is the moving company sends in 6-8 members to pack up a house.  There's usually only the husband and wife watching all the packers pack.  So, some packers could be in one room and really you can't be in every room watching.  I'm hoping since we have such a small space, one of us can be up front and the other can be in the back.  Then when they go to the basement to get the items in storage, one will follow.  I'm just going to let them know that the basement will either be packed last or first because we're not going to have people down there and us up here.  Hello theft reason!  It's my stuff and I want to see it go in the box, not their pockets.

We're still waiting on our port call date (flights).  We're beginning to think that the hold up is the dog.  Flying with pets is challenging.  Hawkeye can't fly if the temperature is above 75 degrees.  We're flying in the summer.  It most likely will be above 75.  Coming here we flew at night, so temps are lower.  Going back we fly during the late morning, early afternoon.  Temps are higher.  I'm going to doubt that he's going to be on the same flight as us.  Not sure what we are going to do if that's the case.

I dropped off a bunch of stuff at the thrift shop last night.  I wanted to take the stuff to the Airman's attic, because then it's free for enlisted members.  But they were closed and yesterday was the last day i had my vehicle to load the stuff and drop it off.  Hopefully the thrift shop will sell the stuff reasonably.

I think that it's for now, 

have a great day!

Netherlands trip

Honestly, I had a whole different post written, but have decided to spare all of you the drama that I was venting about.  So, we'll do picture overload instead.

Family picture in front of the North Sea in Katwijk....it was COLD and windy!

taking a walk in the sand

village of Katwijk

The guys and kids hanging around while us girls see the sights

the ball pit in the hotel.  Xander loved it!  The hotel also had extra large legos, play tables, jungle gym, and some play stations for the bigger kids.  An awesome play zone for the kids to have hours of fun!

We also took them to the pool.  They screamed bloody murder the entire time so we took them in the sauna.  It wasn't actually on, but it was warm so we warmed up the babies from the cold pool water.

Blurry, but you get the idea.  This is how the babies fell asleep...

but ended like this...

sibling love right there!

Now the tulip garden in Keukenhof

Lets give a little history on the morning, ha!

We got up, ate, got ready, and headed out Sunday morning so we'd beat the major rush of people.  Nick gave Sterling yogurt that he bought from the market on Friday night.  I gave Xander and I a croissant that I stuffed with Nutella, yummy!  On our drive out to the gardens, Sterling projectile vomited everywhere!  We're 99% sure it was the yogurt.  My friend helped me clean her up and get her in her spare outfit so we could get inside and enjoy the flowers.

The picture above is how Sterling felt about it.  See how well Xander is sitting there?

inside the Japanense garden area

hiding in the Holland shoe

Look at the lace!  I LOVED these flowers and there were so many of them, but these ones were my favorites

This is how Nick felt of our time seeing the flowers...poor Nick, ha!

Now, look at Xander!  This boy was a nightmare.  Screamed 80% of the time!  He didn't want to sit in the stroller.  He didn't want to walk.  He wanted to be carried.  Nick didn't want to carry him, because that's what the stroller is for, so I did for awhile, but the gardens is huge.  So, back to the stroller he went.  And he was NOT happy!

 

I just love this photo.  The flowers look so fake.  There not though.

found upside down tulips

Ducks found Xander

"quake quake"

Sterling ended up taking a nap for half of the time.  She was woken up by Xanders girlfriend and this is how she felt about that!

We also had plans to visit Cologne (Germany) on our way home since it's on the way, but Nick was grumpy because the kids were grumpy.  So, we parted ways from our friends and headed home.  I'm glad they still went and enjoyed Cologne.  I'm a bit jealous, but with my husband, it's predictable that plans won't go as planned.  I'm being to think he has social anxiety.

I'm enjoyed the trip.  It was relaxing.  Nothing rushed (except the tulips).  The kids weren't strapped down all day to sight see.  The kids were able to play and be free.  I loved it!

Have a great day!

Celebrating being a mom

I woke up and instantly started making my mom's monkey bread.  It's the most wonderful, mouth water tasting, delicious treat.  I decided the week prior I was going to make this and not tell Nick.  He'd have tried to stop me!  It was my day, and this is what I wanted along side my coffee.  Yummy.  So, even though I couldn't have my mom by my side, I enjoyed a yummy treat she'd make when I was growing up.

I painted these canvas' on Saturday.  I have plans to put Xander's hand print on each.  Since we missed age 1, we will start at age 2 and work our way to age 5!  How fun!  And I have to give the boy props...he's a master at hand prints!  I love working with hand print art with him because he lays his hand down so perfectly!

I choose these colors because I found a quilt at Target and I'm hoping they will have it when we move!  If not, can always repaint, except the hand print one!

We also finished this on Saturday.  Sterling needs a bit more practice.

On Sunday I got busy painting Sterling's canvas'.  I'm trying to decide if I want to start her hand prints now or wait until age 2 like Xander.  I'm leaning towards now.

While I was painting, Xander of course had to join in (I made the circles...to get him to color all over rather than in one place)

I LOVE this picture of Xander!  His new favorite thing is guitars and so we're always pretending to play one.  Too cute!

I was so mad that Nick put those pjs on Sterling!  She's been fighting a cold for the past 2 weeks and we only have 3 pairs of footed fleece pjs and the other's were dirty...so these were the pick.  

My babies and I on Mother's Day!

Nothing special happened that day.  Just another typical day in our house.  

We received our official move orders yesterday.  We've started getting things scheduled and now wait for appointments.  If anyone knows the Air Force, it's "hurry up and wait".  That's where we are...waiting.

My car is getting shipped on the 24th!  Yippee!  I pray that it will be at our destination waiting so we're not stuck with a rental too long.  Before shipping it out,we have to get the vehicle steam cleaned and de-register the plates and get "qq" plates.  Don't ask, I have no idea what they are for.  Nick says it just lets them know your car is getting ready to be shipped.

Nick has our households appt on Monday morning.  We were told that 99% chance our 22nd dream appt for pack out would not happen.  Ha!  I knew that, just wanted them to know we want our stuff gone...like yesterday!

I mailed off our cell phone cancellation notice this morning.  Hopefully we'll hear good news back from that.

We submitted our request for flights to our new destination yesterday.  Not sure how long that takes to get scheduled, but hopefully we'll hear by the end of next week.

Getting ready to go on our trip this weekend.  We're all beyond excited!  It's going to be a great time, I hope.

Have a great day!

Mother's Day 2013

source

Love is patient; love is kind.  Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

~1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Happy Mother's Day!

Have a great day!

small weight lifted

No, we don't have our orders yet.  Hoped and prayed, but not yet.  I'm getting so upset over these orders, that I decided to do something to help financially in the long haul.  After pinching our numbers and saving for the past 3 months we paid off a bill.  I was a bit nervous to do this right before our big move, but I think we will still be fine financially for the move.  Let's hope anyways.  We will.  Paying this bill off leaves us with sitting more comfortable and can now save rather than send towards a bill before the move.  After we get moved and settled, we'll use this money to pay towards one of the vehicles.

We came to Germany with 8 bills (not including the basics; cable, phone, internet, etc).  We're leaving Germany with 3!

I also scheduled our goods pickup.  Our date is not firm yet as Nick has to attend a briefing and will get either a confirmation or reschedule.  I'm predicting the reschedule.  It's the Air Force way!  Hoping for a date very close to the ones requested though.

Next week is a short week for Nick at work as he has Monday and Friday off.  Monday his unit is off and Friday he took a day of leave so we can take a trip to the Netherlands.  This will most likely be our last overnight trip.  Sort of last minute planned, but really really looking forward to it.  I think I'm most looking forward to the hotel.  Silly, I know, but it looks like a lot of fun.  This hotel has a children's play area and it's huge and indoors!  They even have a nanny that will watch the kids for 4 hours in the evening.  Yep, I'm planning to take me some wine and sitting in the sauna!  Kid free!  I'm a bit excited!

In case I don't get back on this weekend, I hope all of you lovely moms out there have a fun and special Mother's Day with your families!

Have a great day!

The beginnings of walking

Today Sterling and I have been working hard at walking.  Before Nick came home we were up to 7 steps.  She's getting confident and makes me one proud happy mama!

Maybe only a few more days and she'll be on her own?!?  She stands up by herself.  When told to walk, she'll put her arms down and kind of behind her, get stable and start walking.  So cute!  She gets pretty excited too.

Way to go baby girl!

Have a great day!

Can we leave yet?

We are ready.  So ready.  Ready to be back in civilization.  Okay, it's not really that bad, but sometimes it feels like it.

We are still waiting on our official orders.  The piece of paper that authorizes us to ship our household goods and vehicles.  The piece of paper that allows us to cancel our cell phone service (more in a bit).  The piece of paper that allows us to book our flights.  We're anxious to get this piece of paper because we want our stuff packed up and on its way.  We want to ship at least one vehicle in advance and have it waiting at our destination so we're not stuck with long rental fees.  Tomorrow is the day that this piece of paper was promised to us from the Air Force.  Is it going to happen?  I highly doubt it!  I pray and pray that it does because I can then stop stressing.

I've had a major headache for the past 4 days and it is not going away.  Having a headache is enough, put some stress on top, add a few whines and screams from toddlers all. day. long, and I think I found the cherry?  Dream on, I know.

Top three stressors?

1.  Getting our households shipped soon.  We'd rather be without our stuff here because the military will give us temporary furniture and a kitchen pack with all the basics.  It'd be like living in a hotel, only in our home.  Where the kids are comfortable.  When we get to the states, we only get 3 days in a hotel authorized by the Air Force.  Not a lot.  So, it makes a little more sense to have our stuff shipped early, use the temporary stuff available here, and get our goods shortly after arrival (hopefully).  Here's a time example with the shipment...we packed up our households in VA on June 23-25 in 2010.  We received our unaccompanied baggage (the quick shipment, small, less than 1000 lbs) on Sept 10th (this actually was in country earlier, but we didn't have a place to stay yet).  Our main shipment didn't get here until Sept 21st.  It'd be pretty miserable in the states without any furniture.

2.  Shipping one vehicle by the 15th to ensure it's ready and waiting at our new destination.  This does not look like going to happen.  It might if the orders arrive tomorrow, but again, I doubt it.  Again, this will cut down on the expense from a rental vehicle.

3.  Cell phone.  Oh, the beloved cell phones here in Germany.  We signed our contract July 30, 2010.  It was a 2 year contract with an automatic renewal 3 months prior to ending.  So, last year I went to cancel the service since we don't use the phones all that much.  I was a few days too late.  So here we are another year later, still with these beloved phones.  I went to the service shop in March and spoke to the representative about our upcoming move.  She'd told me that all we needed to do was to bring in our orders and our contract will end with the date on our orders.  Or we could bring in our flight information and it would end on that day.  But since we only leave a week before our orders date, we'll just leave it with the orders date.  So, ours would be Jul 26.  I thought all was good.  Not so!  I've actually been stressing over this for the past week thinking something was wrong.  Sure enough, my friends that are leaving the same time as us found out it changed.  Are you serious?  Furious!  So now our contract extended another year because when I went in in March the lady told me we didn't need to do anything but bring the orders in and it'd be taken care of.  Supposedly all this changed Apr 1.  No notice to anyone.  If a notice would have been given, I could have went in before Apr 30th to give our 3 month notice.  Fricking TKS/T-mobile in Germany sucks!  Anyways, I went in today and spoke with the same lady and she said because we have our original contract, receipt, and boxes with accessories, they have to honor the contract.  Which is it can be canceled with orders.  Here's the tricky part.  This company is known for scamming the military members lately.  So, lets hope we get our orders soon to see which way this stressor is going to fall.  Hoping we won't need to get legal involved.  But we will because we will not pay for a year of service when we're not even here and being told 20 million different things.  Frustrating!!!

What's the common link with all my stressors?  Money!  We're trying to make this move with as little funds from our own account.  I guess the Air Force didn't get my memo.

What's positive of all this?  We will get to the states this summer!  No ifs, ands, or buts about it!  I'm not going to stress over the flights because I know that even if we don't get the date they told us, we will get out of here.  May not be stress free, but the stress will end eventually. 

Have a great day!

Where do I begin?

I'm suck at keeping friends and family updated lately.  We really haven't been up to much.  I've started working out and actually sticking to it (3-4 days a week so far).  I gave up all soda.  Kids are talking all the time.  Kids are rotten.  Spoiled rotten.  Filled with love rotten.  

This little thing thinks she needs her paci more and more.  We typically only give it at bedtime, but Xander likes to sneak it out of her bed for her or she'll grab her outing paci from the diaper bag.

The old man thinks his job is to antagonize his sister

Two Saturday's ago Xander and I went to the basement to separate our stuff for the movers.  While I was busy organizing, he was keeping busy with some toys.  

I also made the kids knot blankets that day.  The love them, but in all respect, they love all blankets that are soft and cuddly.  I think they are cute!

I also brought up Hawkeye's kennel.  He's not been a good boy, so he's been staying in his house a lot (especially when the kids are up)

one morning before heading off to the gym

I thought this was cute.  I was out cleaning on the patio putting getting boxes ready for recycling and Xander grabbed a magazine, sat down and started "reading" it.  Too cute!  Maybe he'll be into cars when he grows up?

This scene happens a lot in our house.  Xander to the rescue!  He's the boy that can spot a mess a mile away.  He runs to grab the towel and cleans it up.  

Just today the kids were sitting on the floor and Xander all of a sudden got up, grabbed the towel and started wiping Sterling's foot.  Her foot wasn't actually a mess, but there was a glare from her sparkles on her socks.  He thought it was a mess!  Too funny!

Playing peek a boo...while sitting on sissy!

What am I absolutely loving?  Putting Sterling to bed at night in girly pajamas!  Thanks to my awesome sister!  She sent all (or most?) of her daughters old pjs to us.  

Our next biggest news.  Sterling stands up in the middle of the floor.  She started doing it on Thursday before having to go pick up Nick.  She hasn't stood completely up since, but she gets into position every time we say "stand up".  And now I'll leave you with my overexcited self loving that my baby girl is actually making progress.  May be small, but it's huge to us!

Have a great day!