Mommy Rockstars

So the dad's are away and Farrah and I aren't about to just sit home right???  Diane booked a beautiful place in Belguim (not near the race, but a location that she could enjoy with her munchkins and show her sister Carrie some Beguim country side too!)  Farrah packed her bags and came over for a night at camp leadbetter.  The boys enjoyed a pizza and movie night while we caught up on American Idol and Grey's Anatomy

The next morning Farrah had the wonderful idea of heading to the Steiff Museam.  Apparentaly there is a little Steiff in the Farrah family tree.  We aren't quite sure which branch it is - but what better reason to check it out right?  We also decided to use the train as the kids would be able to walk around during the travels etc... 

Another reason why we make the perfect team - Farrah with the ideas, and I the logistics. 

Here we are at the playground prepping for the first leg of our adventure.

The Bus. 

Farrah is literally singing the 'wheels on the bus'.  her bag of entertaining tricks is truly endless!

The Train.

Of course this is a firemand's poll

Once we got off at our stop, we both wondered how we would find the museam....  it took 2seconds to notice the painted bear tracks.  The perfect tracking method for Tate and Nick!

The museam was PERFECT and very kid friendly.  It was re-constructed about 6 years ago.  The tour was in English too - what a bonus!

The first cuddly animal made by Margaret Steif was actually an elephant (just as cuddly as you can imagine)  she later developed the first teddy bear with movable arms and legs.

A true example of the handcrafting entailed in these bears.  She was making one right here.  The boys were thrilled to watch!

The little ones were entertained by the coloring station

Here is Shane in front of one of the exhibits

The final stop was the gift shop.  We are blessed with children that don't quite understand the 'gift shop' concept yet.  They don't ask for a thing! However, we did say we want to pick out a small gift.  Macy and Tate did just that.  A hamster and a mouse.  Nick on the other hand wanted a pricey dragon - yikes!  Farrah discovered a rather reasonable 'police dog' similar to the one we saw on the train earlier - bingo!!  Shane was happy with his little bear. 

Next we went to the cafe that had a playground attached. This place is awesome!

Farrah couldn't resist a photo of this place.  If only we could give you a tour inside.  It was not western in our definition - but maybe it qualified for soft rock....  Or maybe there were a few things 'lost in translation'

A boy & his hamster and a boy & his dog

Snuggling up for the train home.

Farrah and I made it home with just enough energy to quickly bathe the layer of scum of the kids and toss them in bed.  It wasn't an 89 mile bike ride, but it was a workout!

Daddy Rockstars

On Friday, Chris, Brian, Wayne, and Ben (a buddy of Wayne's in Ramstien) all headed to belguim for the Tour De Flanders ride.  Its a famous ride through the hills of belguim and more notabily along the coblestone hills!  The professionals ride on Sunday - but the route is open to all registered cyclists on Saturday.  From what I understand, there were 20,000 cyclists that rode on Saturday and only about 200 professionals that rode on Sunday.

Their coodination for this weekend cracks me up - After several unanswered calls to Wayne (who has been glued to his desk dealing with Lybia and we were sure if the Airforce would let him leave) the boys took off to ramstien in hopes of linking up with Waynes friend (who no one has his email address, phone #, or a place to meet him - but hey, lets try right??)  A few hours into the drive in a house not far from here, Farrah receives a slew of phone calls.....  #1, Wayne, looking for the cell #s to Brian and Chris, - -  #2, Tom (another friend, but not a biker, just the link to Ben-Waynes friend) looking for Brian and Chris's #s to help Ben link up with them.  Somehow the boys managed to find eachother in Ramstien and than link up with Wayne in Belguim.  They snuck in under the 7PM registration deadline (thankfully it took the race volunteers a few extra minutes to clean up and they helped the boys at 7:15!! - imagine the disappointment if this part went bad)  They all made it to the hotel and grabbed a yummy dinner before their 5:30 race time wake up!

Saturday morning was truly a BEAUTIFUL day for them and a pefect day for an 89 mile ride.  In this photo below you and see all those helmets crammed in together heading up the hill.

Oh, cobblestone =)  I hear there were bike parts everywhere.  Chris lost his pump, but others lost water bottles, water bottle cages etc...  They are lucky they all still have their fingers as the vibration from the cobblestone really tends to numb them! 

Riders Ben, Wayne and Brian 

I must admit - Chris has a thing with hills!!  Back when we started riding together and I was considered the more experienced one, we could stick together on hills.  but my training has lacked while Chris has excellerated.  He rides up those hills making it look so simple!!  Matter of fact, he was at the top each time taking photos of his buddies.  Great legs Chris!! 

Looks like we are walking this hill..... 

pedal pedal pedal! 

They enjoyed beguim waffles, redbull and several other treats along the way.  Once the ride was finished they laid down in a field of grass and wild flowers chatting about their amazing experience.  Brian said the ride took 6 1/2 hours and he was smiling for about 6 hours of it.  Chris believe it one of the top 5 things he has experienced in Europe. 

They hit the town that night for some yummy beguim food and most importantly some beer =)  Sunday morning they loaded back in the car heading home full of stories and experiences - what a great weekend!!

Training for the Tour De Flanders

Chris's solution to getting in shape is often to just sign up for the race (or ride in this case)  just signing up if the first step - the training will come.  Well Brian, Wayne and Chris will be headed to Belguim for the Tour De Flanders next weekend.  Its a 85-95 mile bike ride through the beautiful hills and terrain of Belguim.  Its a boys weekend, so surely they are thrilled.  But we will see how ready their legs are!! 

I am always impressed with Chris's ability to 'Just do it'

This is Chris last night after a 50 mile ride with Brian to Tubengin(we are hoping there was beer involved since the ride took all afternoon!). 

He was stretching his legs -  Nick joined him.  When we asked Nick to see if he could touch his head to his knees this is what happened.

Future Yoga leader maybe?? 

Bike ride this weekend and Marathon in May - bet those legs will look amazing!!  Go Chris =)

Super hero celebration

First it was Thomas, than Lighting McQueen and now its the Super friends. 

Nick and Tate cannot get enough of this phase.  They enjoy their special treats of watching the old super friends dvds (which we like too, they don't have all those crazy special effects, the computers are so OLD, and the crimes are pretty outlandish, aliens, water enemies, etc!)

Well for Tate and Anna's birthday party, Farrah and Diane put together a high energy super friends party.  The kids got to dress up and enjoy a dreary morning at a munchkin wonderland!  We have a dress up box that includes Batman, Robin and Superman.  For his party, Tate asked if he could borrow a costume.  I asked Nick and he said 'sure, he can be Robin and I will be Batman'  I said 'this is his birthday, let him be the star, he can choose' 

Meanwhile in a car across town Farrah was asking Tate, what super hero would he like to be for his birthday party.  Tates response, 'I want to be Robin and Nick will be Batman'

We are too lucky

Underdog? 

The husbands enjoyed the playground too 

This photo may show Tate & Anna while Nick is with Cassey, but we all know its the other way around=)  Beau is chatting up Macy.  I really love the super hero capes that Farrah had made for party favors.  I really need to start taking notes (or never lose her #! - as I am still in denail that my life will someday not have them in the same timezone....)

Look at that bowl of french fries in Super Brian's hands.  I am happy to say, there were a few remaining when we left the table 

Shane wore this slide out!! 

Super Girls activate! 

Thanks Farrah and Diane for hosting the perfect Saturday morning celebration.  Everyone in the family enjoyed it (and we all got naps to thank you for it!)

The faces of my boys

Yes, we have clothes for this one -but how can you resist this photo. 

Shane is a real HAM. he loves to sport his wide grin and run about the house in whatever you let him. He seems to have mastered 'thank you' in my book, but Chris isn't a believer yet. He loves drinking from a real cup (although mistakes tend to come too in the way of juice down his front....)  getting a little more finicky in the food department - but i guess that comes when you realize how good french fries are!

He has an affection for both of his animals.  If given the chance, he would feed them all day long (yes Cayman loves that idea - and grandpa roy, i know cats shouldn't be on the counter, this is a RARE moment for Cayman)

Nick finished up basketball season and is moving onto T-Ball this spring.  Maybe he is the next Bo knows....  hahha...

This photo is from Blake Wisneski's baptism - our wonderful group of families had the church to ourselves for this memorable event.  We were all proud to represent Blake's family.  The priest was just wonderful with children and Shane had no problem sitting down right next to him.  There are more photos of the children just gazing at the priest as he blesses little Blake.  He has them say 'I do' so many times we are convinced he married them all off at the same time!!

Just some fun photos for now - more to come!