Thanksgiving 2011

We had a good Thanksgiving this year. As always, we go around and list all that we are eternally grateful for and blessed to have in our life. Family and friends are always at the top! We definitely have much to be thankful for!

With us being relatively new to a different country still and Thanksgiving not being (obviously) a German holiday, we were perfectly content celebrating alone. But when we found out that some friends from church along with the sister missionaries didn't have any plans for the day, we quickly invited them over! We love our extended family.

As we started the day preparing the pies and turkey, I looked at our dining room table and felt it was desperately needing some color and decoration for our dinner with friends. The walls throughout our home are nothing but plain and white and it drives me crazy with the lack of personality. Another reason I strongly look forward to the day we have our own home again...so we can completely personalize it like we want it. I decided to walk down to the nearby grocery store: Rewe. I found some nice brown napkins and a bright orange vase with a fall colored bouquet of flowers. And I also snatched up some red apple scented candles to add to the look. It wasn't much but I thought it looked nice on our tan table cloth as well as with our new pottery pieces from our anniversary. I have to add that the walk to the store was a wonderful break! :)

The day started off with the kids coloring and helping me make jello molds. Aubrey made some paper cranes to go on the kitchen table - she's so cute! And then the kids were engrossed with some Mario Cart on the Wii. Landon slept, ate and played. He's usual! :) By the time our friends came over, we had most of the things in the kitchen finished for our dinner so we took our kids down to the playground to run off some energy and have some fun! John in the mean time stayed behind to finish the remaining dishes. He LOVES to cook - and I let him any chance I get. I love to cook as well but a break is always welcomed after a long day with the kids.

We had the traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, stuffing, homemade mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans with bacon, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and these amazing pumpkin whoopie pies that my friend made. Drinks were sparkling cider, soda and egg nog. Everything was delicious! And so were all the foods we snacked on all day long! I'm so glad we only pig out once or twice a year like this. So much food!! Oh, and for the record, Landon LOVES pumpkin pie. And whipped cream. Not sure in which order! :) What a fun night! We had an amazing time with some pretty awesome people!

Family and friends that live afar where greatly missed! We thought of you all and look forward to the day that we can be with you again! xoxoxo

White Wings

Because atttending any NBA games this season is impossible - and more impossible with us living in Germany - we went to go watch our friend play on the European Hanau Basketball team called White Wings. It was SO much fun and I'm pretty sure John would agree. He loves anything basketball!

Some other youth from our church and their parents came to the game also. Aubrey ran off and rooted for the team with her friend and some noise makers. Jocelyn and Andrew had a good ol time climbing up this wooden structure attached to the wall. Easy entertainment...but a little scary for their mama to watch. I stood close by just in case. Otherwise, we were watching the game and rooting for the team from the bleachers. Andrew was sad we couldn't get the mascots attention - he really wanted to say hi to the Beaver. Maybe next time we go to a home game we'll make that happen. And Landon surprisingly did very well. Just sat with John and I and watched everyone around him. He's such a good baby!!

I do have to say though that it was hard not to chant, "Let's go Blazers, let's go!!" :) For years, we got used to that phrase when watching Portland play.

Instead, we chanted, "Let's go White Wings, let's go!!"

And they played really well - it was a fun game to watch. I don't remember the final score but let's just say they pretty much creamed the other team!

A special thanks to our friends for getting us tickets to come watch the game! You guys are awesome! :)

{Our friend #6}

{Group shot - minus Jocelyn...I think she was climbing the wall again. LOL}

A Tiny Peek of Christmas in Germany

One of two things. I really needed a break from the kids. It doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like or should get so I was ALL about going with a friend today on the train to downtown Frankfurt. I need to do this more often!!! I love my kids immensely but I deserve some alone time every once in a good while! You now, once a week? :) The other thing is I needed (or wanted) to find some German Christmas cards. My friend knows her way around the town better than I do at the moment so she was able to walk me through a few really neat card shops and craft stores and kid toy shops. SO many cute things! I can't wait to go back down there.

So not only did I find some cute German Christmas cards, but I also spotted the beginnings of the Frankfurt Chrismas Market coming to life. Wow was that awesome! They were hammering away on almost every corner or street down there. So many people bustling around getting things ready for the holiday season. I can not WAIT to experience my first Christmas here in Germany! Especially with my brother, sister-in-law and their adorable daughter coming out to pay us a visit! This is going to be so much fun!

I was able to take a few snapshots while down there today. I really can't wait to go back! And I must say, after the first few months of living here...I'm really starting to love it! The first few months were a little rocky. Not that it's horrible here by any means, but I missed home. The list was long at first: family & friends, familiar places and stores (TARGET). I think I was going through a bit of a culture shock. I'm thankfully now over that. It's for sure going to be a sad day when we move away! And it's a good thing we still have a few more years left to be here and take it all in before we do have to leave. What a beautiful country...I'm so thankful for this once in a lifetime experience! :)

We Have Ourselves A Young Woman!

Big news! Our first daughter has graduated from Primary and is now in the Young Women's program at church. We are SO proud of her and she is SO excited! :)

I remember what it was like (some years ago) being in Primary...so ready to move on and be with the big girls and not the little kids anymore. It's a sad yet happy transition. She's going to miss going to Primary with Jocelyn but has already met and become friends with some really great young ladies and they are so happy to have her!

"You are growing up way too fast my dear...we love you sooooo much!!"

Offenbach Fireside

Our area here in Frankfurt was invited to attend a Fireside at the church building to hear President Uchtdorf speak tonight! I could hardly believe it - I've always wanted to meet him! It was originially going to be held tomorrow (Sunday) evening but last minute, due to so many planning to attend, they divided them up and our Stake was asked to attend the meeting on Saturday night and the other Stake the following night. Saturday arrived and both John and Andrew were still very sick! John and I going together wasn't going to happen and I was really bummed. We were on base getting groceries earlier in the day and it was just taking way too long that I thought for sure I wouldn't make it in time to the Firesdie and was starting to get a little disappointed. Before I gave up all hope, I called up my friend Ashley to see how the parking was (she went early to save seats) and found out that it was actually going to start at 7pm and not 6pm and I had an extra hour than I thought I had. The girls and I quickly got ourselves ready and jumped into the car and got there an hour early! Which was perfect timing might I add! We got the very last parking spot at the very end going out the driveway! It was truly a miracle! You'd know this if you knew how hard it was to find parking in Europe. It's no wonder people walk or find other means to get around! The missionaries also ended up saving our seats for us (Ashley got there when there was only a handful of people) so we were very close to the pulpit. Another miracle! We were for sure blessed being there! When we got inside the building, it was PACKED! Everyone shared the same excitement as we waited for him to arrive. Ashley is such a good friend and I'm so thankful she was able to help me and I'm also thankful to my husband for keeping the boys for the evening even though he was sick so I could attend this once in a lifetime experience!

Another new experience for us here in Germany is that we got to have an English speaking translator. Someone up front translated into a microphone. We stuck on our ears the awkward ear piece and turned on the device and enjoyed hearing him and his wife speak to us for about 1 1/2 hours. She started first, to introduce him to us. She even had us laughing a few times! :) About us not being perfect, including her husband, President Uchtdorf. And how they were here visiting their homeland and area for President Uchtdorf's birthday and that their driver drove them all around Frankfurt to see the shops and for some lunch. They were so excited to get some green sauce (a treat to have as she stated) and some other delicious German food and because they couldn't find one single parking spot, they had to go back to their hotel and eat a salad! All this way for a salad! :)

President Uchtdorf talked to us of many great things. That we should use the short time here for the good as it goes by way too fast. That Jesus Christ is at the head of this church. We need to focus on scripture study and temple attendance. The simplicity of the gospel. To go on with our faith and do as we believe no matter what people think about us. We, through our example, have an influence on others. Help and strengthen each other. If we have faith, it can be done through Him. It is His work. It's not up to us or our desires. It's the Lord's will. Let us do His work with an open heart. Jesus Christ lives. He is reality. Through our faithfulness, miracles will happen. These are just a few things he mentioned that I felt inspired to jot down.

When the Fireside ended, he quickly mentioned that he wanted to chat with people before leaving and for us not to run off. :) As he was making his way down the isle of the chapel where we were (and many many others), he finally turned around where we were standing and smiled at Ashley's daughter and my daughters. He came over and started talking to us in German and Ashley quickly mentioned that we were Americans and spoke English. He was super excited to hear that and asked how we were doing and where we were from. He then shook our hands and gave the girls hi fives. He was super sweet and kind to take the time to have mini conversations with so many people tonight. What an inspiration he is to me and to so many other individuals. I'm very thankful I was given this opportunity to see him and have him meet my daughters and to go and be spiritually fed. :)

Fall in Germany

Fall here, in our neck of the woods, was starting to fade fast! Fall happens to be my most favorite season and I was watching it slip away from the window in Landon's room while we were playing - with all the beautiful colors and leaves starting to fall. While the boys slept, Aubrey stayed and watched them while doing homework and Jocelyn and I headed out and took some pictures of Fall before it slipped away! I'm so glad we did too because just a few days later, it painted an entirely different picture! One with most of the leaves already scattered to the ground. So here's a little slide show of Jocelyn and I's mommy-daughter date outside enjoying the view and some fresh air! Oh, and we can't forget to include her baby doll and stuffed animal she included in our afternoon fun! ;) Such a funny little girl.