Daddy's Birthday

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Last Minute Dinner

A quick stay over in Leipzig before our little biking adventure left us with the tiniest bit of time to be able to see our GKS's.  We had a great dinner, some good wine, great homemade beer, stories, and lots of laughs.  

I was amazed how well the girls got along.  It's been over six months since they've seen each other and they played just like they did when they were seeing each other every week.  Is it possible that they remembered each other?  

They colored.

How stinkin' adorable is Sophia?!?

Look at those curls - too cute!

We finished off the night with Ring Around the Roses.   

Too much fun.  I can't wait until next time.  

Charmian

Happy Birthday Auntie Lisa

I promised Auntie Lisa we'd have a drink in her honor for her birthday.  

So here it is - the dinner time production of "Cheers Auntie Lisa"

Please forgive the squeeky voiced singing and poor lighting.

And Auntie Lisa...  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

The Show

A few weeks ago our buddy Sanford invited us to the Netherlands Winter Guard finals.  I was of course sold instantly but I knew Jon was going to need some convincing.  Friday night rolled around and we still didn't really have a plan.  We sent a message to Sanford to see if he was still in.  Saturday morning we woke up to the news that Sanford wasn't feeling well and all of the sudden our bed started to get even warmer and cozier and getting out of the house was starting to feel a little impossible.

Jon hopped online to figure out the logistics if we were to go and that's when he discovered that our old friend William (Old because we've known him for ages not because of his perfectly cut salt and pepper hair.) was actually judging the competition.  This instantly lit a little fire under our butts and gave us the motivation to get out of the house in record time.  Get to the train station and onto the train just as the doors were sliding shut and the whistle was being blown - oh, and with a couple of pastries in hand.

After an hour a connection and another hour, we were there.  Then we just had to figure out the buses, try to remember a little Dutch (it didn't happen) and get to the competition hall.  We did it and without breaking too much of a sweat.  We walked in and Jon instantly took notice of the beer stand and made a comment about how much better Winter Guard would be in Colorado if they would just sell beer - but I digress. We walked through the arena and I heard the familiar sound of clanging flag poles and popping rifle straps.  With every familiar sound it pulled at my heart strings bringing tears to my eyes as all of the beautiful memories danced through my head.  This was such a huge part of my life and it will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart.

We made it to the stands and did a sweep for William.  We found him and my heart was overflowing with joy.  So was Jon's and he couldn't help but interrupt William while he was finishing his tape to give him a huge hug.  I waved and tried to get Jon and Alessandra up and out of his hair a little bit but it didn't work Jon pulled me down on the seats right there in his row.  As soon as he was done we chatted for a minute after exchanging hugs.

Alessandra loved watching the guards - it helped that they were all so young (and when I say young I mean little kids - like grade school aged kids).  I have this theory that anyone under 4 feet tall is instantly Alessandra's best friend and these kiddos were young - and so cute - and pretty darn good too.  We watched a few guards then went with William to hang out during his break and catch up.  Then we slipped back in to watch a few more good guards before heading back home.

It was a spur of the moment, whirlwind of craziness, but that's just how we roll.  It was the first time Alessandra had been to the Netherlands, the first time she's been to a winter guard show, and all in all it was pretty darn fabulous.

To all of my dear friends I marched with so many years ago - know that I love you all and that there's a special place in my heart just for you.  For all of you crazy kids who are still performing,  knock 'em dead at State this weekend and WGI next.

Charmian

Springtime in Dusseldorf

Here we are at the biergarten.  First of the season.  

Wish you were all here to enjoy the beautiful weather, good beer, and even better company.  ;o)

Charmian

What Would You Do...

for a cup of cold Asti?

We would try opening the small bottle until we break our only bottle opener
and then resort to the

screwdriver.

As you can see Alessandra didn't know what to think.

It's a good thing that Jon's first purchase when he moved to Leipzig was a power-tool.

Otherwise Alessandra wouldn't have gotten dinner and a show and
Jon and I wouldn't have been able to enjoy our cool beverage.

Charmian

Happy 4th

Here's a little 

Red White and Blue

from our favorite Irish Pub in Leipzig.

Happy Birthday America!!!!

Marrieds Baby Bumps

Our Marrieds are growing by leaps and bounds.

I may be biased, but I do believe those are the most adorable baby bumps ever!

First time Dad, Luke, is super stoked!!!

While second timer Todd is already trying to mellow out his little man.

All in all it was a pretty typical marrieds - we ate, we drank, we talked, the kids played, the babies slept.

And because I was there, we capped off the evening with a very squished squishy!

I love you guys and I miss you all SOOOOOO much!

Charmian

Happy Half Birthday!!!

Happy half birthday to my beautiful daughter.  Congratulations, mommy and daddy have kept you alive for 6 whole months!! We were even able to celebrate your 6 month dippy as a family....and it was Bitburger......mmmm

We love you ms. poopy pants!


Dad

Heading to Berlin

This morning turned out to be an eventful one.  We were heading to Berlin today and our dog sitter had a change of plans and wasn't going to be able to puppy/house-sit after all.  So there we were scheduled to catch a train in 4 short hours and we don't have anyone to take care of the girls.  Jon was asking some of his classmates while I hopped online to see what I could dig up.  The marrieds made it over to our flat all packed up and ready to go.  I told them about our little predicament and the boys went into fix-it mode while the girls helped with the puppy arrangements, the kids, and tying up the loose ends around the flat.

Have I mentioned in the last few posts how much I love these people!!!!

If you haven't gotten it, let me tell you again - I LOVE MY FRIENDS!!!  They are amazing!

So the boys headed to the train station to take all the bags and to pick up some dog food.  They dropped the bags off in lockers so we would have one less thing to think about when we were trying to board the tram - all 5 adults, 4 kids, and 3 strollers worth.  After that they headed back to our flat just in time for us to pack everyone up and head back to the train station.

We were all go, go, go, until we got to the train station and found out we couldn't take the train we were planning on - so we grabbed a bite and hopped a squat.  Jon was finally able to catch up with us after he got the dogs taken care of with the kennel (they actually came to the flat and picked them up, they didn't speak any English but luckily Jon's German is better than he lets on.)

We caught the train and enjoyed our short ride to Berlin.  We managed to get off and out to the taxis with only a little sweat off our brows.  Jon, and the Reps were in the first taxi and I was with the Enfumes in the second.  Jon's taxi pulled away and that's when our taxi driver told us the babies couldn't go.  I guess this afternoon was pretty eventful too.

Jeremy - My protector
Photo by Kendra

I quickly called Jon and told him our predicament.  He told me to take Jeremy (not Heather because he wanted Jeremy to be there to protect me - isn't he sweet) and catch a tram to the flat we were renting in Berlin.

Okay switch on Amazing Race mode:
First objective - find where we are on the map.
Second objective - find where we want to be on the map.
Third objective - find the trams that run from point A to point B.
Fourth objective - find the place that sells tram tickets.
Fifth objective - figure out what tickets we need to buy.
Sixth objective - catch the tram.
Seventh objective - get a beverage!

Done and Done!!!

Watch out Berlin, here we come!!!

Plans

Photo by Kendra

Photo by Kendra 

Photo by Kendra

Photo by Kendra

The funny thing about making plans is it NEVER goes the way you thought it would.  You would think that after this and this I would learn this valuable life lesson and give up on trying to control everything but, I'm human, and it's really hard.

Photo by Kendra

So here I am in Leipzig, Germany with some of my best friends in the world over for a visit.  I have three days to show them my city/home, while Jon is busy with school, and what do I do - I get all wrapped up in the details and forget my girl scout training.

Photo by Kendra

So today's big plan was to sleep in and then head to the park for some fun in the sun.  After a beautiful day of beer garden and playground hopping we would end up at Tamer's for some delicious Turkish food before calling it a night.

Photo by Kendra

When I woke up - it was raining.  But the tricky part was it stopped raining and looked like it was going to be a beautiful day.  Until we got to the beer garden that is, and then it rained, and rained, and rained.  

Photo by Kendra

UUUGGGHHH!!!!

Photo by Kendra

This was not on the agenda.

Well, because of that tiny little stint of beautiful weather I didn't bring warm enough clothes for me and Alessandra.  So she had to be all bundled up and in her carrier the whole time which made her a bit cranky and I was cold and wet which made me cranky and I was just sure everyone was having a miserable time.

Photo by Kendra

But that's the thing they weren't - yes they were cold but we were all huddled under the umbrella nibbling off of each other's plates, enjoying our beer and hot chocolate.  Talking and reminiscing and having a grand ol' time.  I just wish I would have been a good girl scout and come prepared with the proper number of layers.  But I didn't so I had to step inside a few times to get my little Sweet Pea defrosted.  It was too rainy to go to the park but we just hung out all day and then headed to Tamer's.

All in all it was a great day - but really how could it be bad when it's a day I get to spend with my Marrieds?

Charmian

Ostern Sonntag

We had four options for our Easter service.  They were; 6:30 a.m./9 a.m. with great music at the Thomaskirche (the resting place of Johann Sebastian Bach) or 9 a.m./11:15 a.m. at the Nikolaikirche with good music.  But, let’s be honest, after everyones busy travel day we really only had two options because there was no way we were going to make the 6:30 a.m. service.  So our two options were sleep in and have good music or pull ourselves out of bed and have great music.

Photo by Kendra

We pulled ourselves out of bed and we were all glad we did.  

The service was all in German, but I have a feeling they talked a little bit about Jesus, our Lord and Savior, dying on the cross for our sins and after three days rising again to take his place with God the Father in Heaven.  Just a guess though.  ;o)  The music did not disappoint - I do believe it may be the most amazing music I've ever heard during a church service.  The boy’s choir performed, the organ played, the regular choir performed.  It was amazing and I do believe Bach would have been proud.  

After church we went to one of the few places in Leipzig that was actually open on Easter Sunday for brunch.  The place was packed which forced us out in the sun and none of us had any sunscreen - big red bummer!  It was hot, and thank goodness we weren't in Colorado so none of us actually got sunburned so that was a plus.
  

Photo by Kendra

Photo by Kendra

After our buffet breakfast we headed back over to the Thomaskirche for a quick photo shoot in our Sunday best and then home to change, and pick up the girls before we made our way to the park for the rest of the afternoon.

Photo by Kendra

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the birds were chirping.  

Photo by Kendra

We stopped by a beer garden for some refreshments. 

Photo by Kendra

Then walked on stopping for some play time at the playground.  

Photo by Kendra

Photo by Kendra

We headed home to find the Easter Bunny had stopped by and left some goodies for the kids.



The boys slaved away in the kitchen making us a delicious dinner of meatloaf, veggies, and salad.  It was wonderful, we were all exhausted but none of us wanted to call it a night so quickly but we knew we had a big day ahead of us tomorrow.  So we called it and everyone headed home.

The Leipzig Marathon

Today we packed up the Kinderwagen and headed into town to watch Jon's friends from school run finish a marathon.  As we were watching all the people run by Jon and I were talking about how we needed to do one before we get any older.  How much fun it would be to train for one and how nice it would be to get in shape and start running again.

We were definitely inspired and a little envious when they walked towards us all sweaty, smiling, medals around their necks, and carrying beers.  Yup, that's right, here in Germany when you finish your marathon they don't give you bananas and water - nope they give you beer.

Gotta love Germany!

Charmian