School Pictures

I picked up Nick's First session of School photos - remember those days, the awful haircuts, the plastic combs they would pass out to everyone.  I remember hoping that I would smile just right and it always came out all wrong (but my mom continually kept them framed and handed them to relatives.....) 

Here's our first round - Shane, can you smile?  Seriously, will that piece of lay down?  Nick  - perfect!  (yes, Nick and Shane signed up for a special session together - Nick was pumped to have his brother there - who only looked at the camera guy with skeptisism....)

Hysterical pose (but when we came home that evening, Nick was trying to demonstrate the pose - now I get it) 

Really, no smile? 

Nick informed me that the Camera guy asked him not to smile...  I am hoping something was lost in translation - don't you want to just poke his bellie??

And the whole crew 

I picked these photos up today in total German style.  There was a packet, it had my name on it and I paid 35 Euro - DONE -

I didn't get to pick a pose from the 1 million photos taken.  I didn't get to say I want 10 8X10s, 52 wallets etc...  it was here are your photos take it or leave it.  This would surely be a great study on social economics - meaning, does the photo guy make more $$ on less time by just packing and sending or would they profit more by taking a bit more time and offering up a tad more customer service?

Either way - I have learned the Germans are not terribly flexible - I am thankfully becoming more flexible...

Now I am off to Ikea to pick out frames for their walls - some that will hang for the next 15 years!

Spring time Visitors

Seriously, I cannot think of a more beautiful time to visit Germany - so if you want to pack your bags come one out. 
     We recently were excited to host Liz - Chris's sister for a few days.  She flew from NY into Zurich and managed to hop a train to Stuttgart.  Without any communication - we found her in the Stuttgart main train station!!  Impressive (it took about 15 minutes as she was most likely the first one off the train and we were still wondering around looking for the track at that time....  so if you have a cell phone, bring it!!)
     Liz enjoyed life in the big city and experienced culture shock twice.  Once being in a foriegn country and the other having shopping at every corner (life in Saranac Lake is simple and quite - beautiful for vacationing - but lengthy stays might make you a little stir crazy - especially since while she was enjoying the bright sunshine, Tam was at home with the kids still shoveling snow!)
     We toured her through Stuttgart, Neuhausen, Tubigen etc..  It was wonderful having her and great for our kids to get to know their Aunt.
Can you believe we didn't take a single picture?!?!  Geesh!

Spring weekend

Another beautiful weekend without a cloud in the sky.  (I vow to look back at these photos when the clouds come in and the rain doesn't stop) We are doing everything we can to take advantage of the time outside!  Saturday morning Chris treated us with Steak and Eggs outside.  Our is just beautiful  WE wish you were all here to enjoy a glass of prosecco outside with us.

After a few minor home projects we hopped the train downtown for a little big city strolling.  Its amazing how small the city can feel.  During out walk to a playground/beirgarden we ran into Lenka (a co-worker family of Chris's) and ran into Josh, Kristen and Cayman at the park.  Looks like we all had the same idea!  The McCulloughs met up with us for a few beers and a sunburn - seriously, the sun is that serious these days.

That evening we sat outside with our best buddies grilling, polishing off bottles of yummy drinks and keeping an eye on the munchkins.  A few times we poked our head in to see what they were up to and decided there is no more need for babysitters are the 4 kids just play so well together.  The night ended with a few memory lane muppet show episodes and a late bedtime for everyone. 

Some folks in Stuttgart are protesting a large train construction project that will apparently take down several old trees in the city.  Some folks are living in the trees as part of the protest.  Really a sign to me that you don't need to much to sustain a living..... 

Farrah is almost always able to get Shane to smile.  We thinking Shane is singing in this song in his head..... 'macy's mom has got it going on....' hahah! 

Someone sure if smiling!! 

Sunday we enjoyed a birthday party for Madelyn and some time with our friends.  Lundy and Bob excitedly discussed their upcoming move to Being China - WOW - and we thought living in Germany was an adjustment.  I cannot imaigne not being able to read the letters on a traffic sign....  WE are thrilled to have someone there to visit!!

Later that evening we dug into the Leadbetter Fun box and enjoyed one of our favorite activities - riding to the airport for a picinic.  This was Nick's first time riding the distance on his own.  He did a great job getting there, but wanted to discuss a different route home (too many uphills in his book)  Its fun to remember how big some hills were in your childhood and revisit them now...  All about perspective right??

Shane enjoyed watching the big planes come in and pointed every time.  However the planes were VERY loud and it started to bother him.  We realized this as every time one took off, he stopped what he was doing (normally running across the sidewalk after Nick)  Found me, and ran into my lap pressing his little ears against my chest.  So sweet.  I wanted to stay longer just to feel the 'protection' time with Shane.

So we had a few projects Saturday and one of them was rearranging the furniture in the boys room.  I helped Chris with the beds and a few dressers but left the real HEAVY lifting to Brian and Chris.  The boys room is HUGE so the bunk beds we recently found on Stuttgart Yard sales don't need to be stacked (thankfully as the idea of Shane climbing the ladder after Nick is something I might lose sleep over)  They are side by side with PLENTY of room leftover.  Shane won't be sleeping upstiars yet as we have plenty of room for that.  But its fun to have everything laid out and ready!  The 'TOP' bunk has rails all around - so makes for the perfect training bed for our little bugger =) 

The boys are doing great and playing together more and more.  I find Nick is often the one in tears as Shane will grab a toy and squack when Nick tries to grab it back.  He is so conflicted with not being able to be forceful with Shane!  Shane is talking a bunch, but we still can't figure out all the words.  Plus, I am betting some of them are German based on the 2 mornings he spends with his mutter tutter while I teach. 

I am about 15 weeks along and feeling great!  Limited nausea and my energy is back.  Matter of fact, I just signed on to help a co-worker tomorrow.  So I will be teaching my 6AM spin, a 9:30 Pump and a spin again at 11:30 - Now after that I will be tired, but I am guessing anyone would be =)

Hope you all had a great weekend - love ya

Spring really is beautiful here

These are really the beautiful days of spring here.  We start off in a light weigh jacket and by lunch time its T-shirts with shorts or pants.  EVERYTHING is in bloom and smells great (as long as you don't have allergies)  The boys are loving time outside and riding bikes (Shane's feet still can't touch on the run bike, but he really tries!!) 

Here are the boys before school on Tuesday morning.  I think Shane was dressed like a gym coach and Nick a football coach.  Oh the wonderful days of wearing comfy pants to school =)

Wednesday is our MOPs day.  We normally spend it at the playground in the bowling alley (which we still did) but Diane and I had an extended playdate at the soccer fields.  At one point, everyone was barefoot (not just the Mississippi girl!)

Here is sweet Blake Patterson Wisneski - already almost 3 months old!  Beautiful eyes - look out ladies!

I have a photo from about this time last year of Nick and Anna after an ice cream snack.  They love posing together (especially Anna)  I just wish I could snap this picture every year!

How do we like the bubbly water Shane?

Nice Kick Nick!

Enjoying the outdoors and making mothering look so natural

Shane is SUPER smiley, but turns it off everytime we turn on the camera.  I am FINALLY getting his grin captured

5 minutes later.....  sleepy shane.... time to go home.

Even my yard looks beautiful now - the weeds haven't take it over yet and everything is blooming!

Seriously, what ad is he posing for??

Later this afternoon we had lunch at the cafe in the square with Shannon and her girls.  It was a bit chilly to be soaked by the fountains, but the kids loved the idea that spring really is here!

Every morning the sun is shining and its beautiful to be outside I am reminded that life really is easier with sunshine.  We live in a truly beautiful place with beautiful friends.  Tonight we are sharing in Macy's dedication and headed to a Mexican Dinner with everyone afterwards.  Last night our home was filled with 14 ladies rolling the bunco dice and polishing off margarittas.  Farrah was my co-host and truly examplifies that life is better with friends - even if you are just cutting up tomatoes together =)  I hope to read back on this blog and feel the same warmth of hapiness that I feel at the moment I am typing this! 

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!!