It Happens in 3s.

A note in prayer as it does happen in 3s. 

I spoke with Chelcy friday morning upon learning her Aunt experienced a massive stroke that previous evening.  All the emotions of life's fagility were fresh with her and her family.  Within an hour, I received an email from my mother saying my grandmother had a storke as well.  She was in the beauty salon having her hair and nails done.  They wondered what was taking her so long in the bathroom....  Her sweet hair dresser went in and found her.  They rushed her to the hospital where she is recovering and my mom is with her right now.  Later that day I spoke with Chelcy to find that her Aunt had passed.  As we discussed what the 3rd would be Chelcy noted that one of our close friends discovered her father has prostate cancer.  Thankfully discovered early - so hopefully will be treatable.

Just take this time to be thankful for your health and your family's because life is to be cherished.

chillin with Shane

We mounted a fancy glass 'to do' list our entry way - it has rules - You can only put something on the other person's list if you have crossed something off yours.  Just a little nugget for family taskings....

This weekend Chris REALLY wanted to travel.  But - note above - our to do lists were filled with little things as part of Spring cleaning and planting... in addition, Diane and I signed our families up for the 5K on Patch - so as not to waste money and in the name of exercise, we went.  The boys ran for an hour before the race and than were tasked with the double joggers for race time.  Diane and I were not interested in hearing them complain about not getting a god work out!.

Later that day we headed to downtown stutgart (using public transportation) in search of Lederhosen for Chris & Wayne and Drindle dresses for Diane & I.  Spring fest (the Ocktober fest of Suttgart) is right around the corner and after being here a year, its time to fit in.  Thanks to the Schucks, Shane and Nicholas are already all set! photos to come for sure!  As the story goes, we found the perfect outfits, but wanted to make sure they were the best, so during our additional search, the perfect store closed.  Have I mentioned before that Germans are not all about making the sale!?  We had a wonderful dinner outside at the Pauliner (froze our little fingers off) and headed home via train and bus.  Both boys fell asleep in the stroller - oh how I love the Phil and Ted - let me count the ways

Here's my little Shaney Roo - giving you guys a shout out.  He still amazes me that he is such a happy dude.

Chris captured this one and is convinced it should be recorded to put the rest of us to sleep - its Shane snoring in the stroller and quite theraputic.

Sad god byes - and - Seriously - a biker!

Yes, Macy - saying goodbye is often very sad - especially when you see the love in Shane's eyes. Yes, he wore that shirt for you - since even though for many months, your hair was no where to speak of, he loved you still.....
Thankfully this separation is only for 3 months - but in baby time that is LONG. heck Macy might be walking when we see her again and hopefully Shane will be crawling fast enough to keep up. We will so miss Farrah, Brian, Tate and Macy. Tomorrow they will hopefully hop a Space A flight to the east coast where they will begin their 10+ week stint in the states.



Yes, Macy, that means some serious Target shopping. Enjoy! We will miss you!

As part of Farrah leaving, I asked if we could borrow Tate's bike. I wanted to test my run bike theory. Nick seems to have amazing balance and his legs are getting longer - so maybe we will give a shot at the pedal bike. All the german moms say they started at 3.5/4 years old and that is where Nick is. Plus he LOVES bikes.

He spotted it stashed in the garage and had to try it. After 5 minutes with the training wheels on he said - 'take these things off' so we did. I could feel his balance as I held the back, but he needed help starting and stopping....

We headed off to the local paved park and gave it a shot and this is what we got!

Lance Armstrong WATCH OUT!

The Family Easter gathering

We wanted to post these while it was still easter (and while I was still soaking in the good food coma) Wonderful day together - thank you to Farrah and Brian for hosting =) The Argyle family - where is Shane's?

A successful hunt (see the video below)

The Wisneskis

The Price Family

The Dorsey's
The Coles

The Roberts The lovely ladies
The Kids table - can you believe Nick was the biggest eater?!

The gracious hosts!

Beautiful shot of the country side on the way home

This video is hysterical - especially the part where Nick and Tate are 'sneaking up' on the easter eggs!

The one year assessment

365+ days here in the Stuttgart Germany area and how do we feel about it?? (I am not counting the time in the apartment - althought I will not get that time back, its erased!)

I am currently reading a book called The Happiness Project. Its a month by month focus on just being happier - I love it and wish the author Gretchen was actually my friend. We try to get together monthly with my buddies here to chat about the month and as another wonderful excuse to share an afternoon together. I have tried to get my family in the states to join on - but maybe the pace of life there makes them put blinders on and drive forward - that being said, maybe I am getting better at life here.

This month the Happiness Project refers to a Happiness Fog. You see it all around, but when you try to further investigate it, the 'evidence' it not clear. The month focused on Parenthood which I have been trying to focus this past year as well. Being a stay at home mom has been a source of MANY days hearing Nick run around emptying every box of toys that he owns and Shane asking when his food is coming and me just trying to get life together and get out the door to kindergarden. On Monday of this past week I woke up, showered, brushed my teeth and was READY before ANYONE woke up - AMAZING and I felt great all day. As if I was ahead of the game. Well, Tuesday I woke up 5 minutes after Nick and felt as if I was chasing the 8 ball all day (no I never caught it) that was how the rest of my week continued.

I am living the theme of 'the years go by so fast, but the days are so long!' and trying to find the pleasure in each day. On Monday(yes, the same Monday where I was up early and ready), my cars gas guage was ON EMPTY. (note, gas stations are not open on Sunday) so I drove to the nearest Esso (going to a different gas station result in a $100 fill up as opposed to the $30 fill up, so yes, its worth the drive) I arrived to the station and it was PACKED. Cars were literally stacked in the street. of course I said to myself, crazy germans, if you were open on Sunday this wouldn't be a problem. But as I got closer, I noticed the note on ever pump said - NO DIESEL. Serously? Did Monday morning sneak up on your guys?? No Diesel?? So off I head to find ANOTHER Esso (yes, another 20 minutes on the road) thankfully I made it - but that my friends, is life in Germany. My diamond in the rough that day - I got to listen to Bobby Bones Podcasts for an extra 40 minutes and Shane got a longer nap!

My shining star when I think of the frustrations of Germany.....

they deliver beer - could they really be all bad??

So here's the age old question - 'when are you coming back?' to which I will aswer on the blog where EVERYONE can hear, we have NO idea. I am thankful that Chris enjoys the folks at MC Dean. He is challenged. He is clearly needed and there is plenty of work here right now. Also, his job affords me the ability to stay at home and pursue other interests (right now I am thinking about tackling a fitness instructor position - there I said it, now I have to do it right - 50+ certifications later, I will let you know... Test #1 is Friday 9 April, #2 is 29 April and yes, I should be studying as I write this!)

Chris has asked several times if I would like to work at MC Dean - of course working as husband and wife may not be our best decision (even though we make a killer team)- so it goes out to the rest of you! If you are the kind of person and family that wants this adventure - apply now! The offer is there!

I should also say that we will come home once all our friends and family finally come out here for their Eurpoean vacation!! Imagine that?!

Until than here's hoping Chelcy can atest that my phone calls that sound as if I will hurl myself off the nearest tall building or have removed all my hair in frustration are fewer and further between. Its been a struggle - but we are stronger for it! I must run, the beer delivery truck is here..........

Love you all!

Its official - we have lived here long enough for me to recover our breakfast chair backs - its about darn time - if you cannot already tell - I love Ikea, it just feels like home.

Happy Easter

We wanted to post a few photos and videos of our Easter morning. Nick woke up on the wrong side of bed, so it took a while for us to get in the proper 'Easter mood'.

Here's some time to reflect - On Friday our group of friends set out in search of a german beer garden. We wanted some German beer, a playground for the kids and fest tables outside (nothing specific really...). The original selection was closed due to weather (odd since Friday was opening night and although it was a bit chilly, the sun was out and the weather was beautiful - since when are us Americans more hearty than the germans) well 6 phone calls later and a few address inputs to the GPS we all finally landed at a rather American/German beer garden in Boblegin. The menu was in German and English. The waiters and watresses spoke English and they even served up cheeseburgers and pitchers of beer. You would think we would be extatic - but maybe we are spoiled by the true German beer gardens and felt this one was stuck between Germany and America - Are we getting good at this place??

That night we enjoyed some colorful conversation amound the friends we call family. We even chatted about spending holidays with family. What is it was like to live so close to family that you could spend every holiday with them? What a novel idea. Of course since college that has never been the case for either Chris or I. In order to spend holidays with family it involves plane tickets - schedule deconfliction - coordinating dog sitting - air mattresses - room selections. Its never been a weekend drop in type of event. But thankfully we have lived with friends that truly become family. We can parent eachother's kids (it takes a village), we can sift through eachother's kitchen in search of the water glass or serving spoon needed. We can even pack our bags, heading down the street for a sleep over.

Therefor today I will reflect on how fortunate we are to have family in places truly all over the world. Today Chris's folks will be celebrating with Liz and Tam's family in DC. My folks are celebrating with my sister's family in CT. The Carson's will be celebrating with Deakon's family in Georgetown. We will be thinking of friends hosting celebrations in Yuma, Michigan, Savanah, California and coutless other places. We are thrilled to be wearing pastel and cooking food to share with the wonderful family we have here in the Stuttgart Germany area. Where today we will enjoy colorful conversation - crazy kids willing to be parented by the nearest adult - great beer and amazing lamb .

As you read this blog we hope that you spent a wonderful weekend with family or with friends that are like family.

Yes, Nick FINALLY got around to opening his easter basket
Sweet shades - just like dad!
Now for the search - we kept it simple (as you can see the eggs are just jumping out at you) but Nick needed to get some practice time as this afternoon he will be competing with Tate, Eve, Anna, Darion, Elise, Casey, Vivian, Gianna and Frankie (I can safely leave Macy and Shane out of this year)



These eggs were passed along from my family - so they are every bit of 30 years old. We cannot find the 'openable' eggs here. Therefor my mom was thrilled to get them outta her house and into ours. The tradition continues - even through easter eggs!

Shane is 6 months

yes, its the time for the perverbial - its all happening too fast!

Shane is really 6 months!

He's getting to be a real dude - even in his snoopy dude hat!. He sits up for long periods of time and has the STICKEST fingers I have ever encountered. His wing span is increasing faster than mom can get stuff out of his reach. He is very inquizative and pretty communicative as to what we wants - we still need a few classes in his language - but we are getting better. Matter of fact, last night the family we for a walk. 2 minutes into Shane started wailing uncontrolably....Not normal at all. Chris and I assessed - we just fed him, so he isn't hungry, its not time to sleep, so he's not tired.... Than I looked at Chris saying you changed his diaper after your run right? No, I thought you changed it after his nap, Nope - Shane was wearing the same morning time diaper - Parents of the year right here! So we turned around and headed home in hopes of changing him back to 'happy baby status'Dad - I see that both you and Pauli have your tongues hanging out.....The dudesPauli is finally becoming a source of entertainment for Shane - and clean up!Come on, everyone loves Pauli kisses!Shane got a new chair just like Nick!

Not sure if you can tell in this photo - but we get lots of compliments (I think they are compliments) on the color of Shane's skin. Its a warm yellow. I am hoping he received Wyland Jr's skin tone as he tans easily and seems to have Indian skin! But I think its all the carrots that he gets.... I am trying to go more green - keep you posted on the results.