A trip down memory lane

It started as a chandelier shopping trip...... My mom, drew and I packed up and hit the road. I coordinated for the boys to be busy all day and enjoy an evening with daddy, so we were off!! 4 hours in the car and drew was fabulous! Love newborns!!

Here is the store. I will safe all the photos as the one I liked was $3400. So I saved $3300 by purchasing a bohemian garnet ring instead. Sweet.


Now to Vilseck where my adventure as a young army officer began.

This was my favorite restaurant. First because it was walking distance from my house.


Second because they served the best garlic creme soup. I sat at this table MANY times, with my dad, Chris, Meghan Ederle (girl where r u?), my mom... But never with a carseat;)


Rainy dreary vilseck.... Guess it's fitting. We stayed at the on post hotel to be immersed in memory lane. Just walking into the hotel, the scent of the entry way brought back memories of being alone in a foreign country, but having the excitement of the potential adventures to come. It was in vilseck I met some of the most amazing and influential folks in my life-most importantly my husband (who ironically worked 2 hours away)


At 6:30, reveille played (almost right outside of our window) and several units ran by calling cadence. A smile spread across my face as my mom was shocked, but I snuggled drew and went back to sleep.

I loved 'reliving' the memories.

Here's the formation sight for bravo company, 94th engineers.


And here was our company headquarters location (B co and HSC) The unit is different now as the engineers were relocated to ft.lewis. But that didn't change the buildings, the red doors, or the soldiers in the gazebo;)


Next stop, the town. We had a train station in my town-fabulous! Direct shot to nurenburg. Used it plenty! Picked up my family here as they were such savvy travelers. (my mom remembered it!)


Next, to my old house...... I drove down blumenstrasse and was crushed when it didn't jump out at me. I swore it was #3. Why did it not instantly feel like my old home? Well let me tell you, this is what it looked like when I moved in circa 1999.


This is what it looked like today! They spent the passed 3 YEARS renovating it.


I walked up to the door to investigate, as I did, I spotted my old landlady and instantly knew I was in the right place. So, I rang the door bell. Now I had anticipated seeing her for a while, but I'm quite certain she was rather shocked to see me! Thankfully I brought a photo of my family to leave with her. It was fun telling her about Chris. I asked her if she remembered the boy that was always visiting me, cause I married him!! We have 3 boys! I put all our names on the back and a swear she must be looking at it right now.

This photo was taken in my old kitchen (this is my landlady and her grand daughter)


However this is what it (and me) looked like in 1999.


Her husband was there to and I loved giving him a hug. They asked me about the motorcycle (long story if your haven't already heard it) about my mom, said the dryer i bought it still awesome. (keep in mind, this is them speaking in German, I in English)

I was so glad I went. What a truly meaningful visit that bridged time, travel, culture and family.

So as I was scanning the old photos I came up with these gems..... This was my car in 1999. It was awesome! Nothing was automatic. I remember one day trying to get to PT on time and the muffler fell off, yes, fell off, so I grabbed it, threw it in my sunroof and headed to PT... I wasn't even late (loud, but not late). My dad helped me fix a taillight by grabbing one from the junkyard (windshield wipers were bonus)! $500. I wish I still had it. Sort of


Looks at these Christmas beauties.


Oh wait, look at these Christmas beauties;)


A true Charlie brown Christmas. What a great tree;)

Another smile, and ANOTHER GOAL!

Its Fall and its BEAUTIFUL out here this weekend.  We are taking advantage and getting some great vitamin D.  Saturday started with a soccer game.  I captured this photo as i LOVE the smile on both of their faces.

Right after that I got TOTALLY lucky as I captured Nick's GOAL.  well done little Beckem =)

We had a celebratory lunch at a beer garden with the Duelleys - Great job for the dads =)

Here is Drew, trying to open his eyes.

Nick is always looking for the oppurtunity to hold his little brother.  Here is one of his atempts. 

Finally a little funny photo.  I got to purchase some 'girly' things for our little Chloe who turned 3 on Friday (yes, I am late but that's not shocking!)  The boys were enamered but the combs and curlers so I had to snap this photo.  Chloe, your gifts come tried and true!

Hope you all had a great fall weekend!

An A+ Kind of Day

Its a beautiful fall Friday in Germany and our schedule was packed! Before going to bed i told my mom to bring her 'a' game as we had many things that needed to be accomplished.

1st routine service for the mini-never a good time for this. But this morning Chris took it in at 8 and rode his bike on to work
Check 1

Minor diversion, when left to their own devices, the boys are quite creative, this was originally filled with our winter hats, scarves etc. This morning it was filled with Nick or Shane being pushed throughout the 1st floor.

2nd-my mom walked Nick and Shane downtown. Nick to kindi and Shane to his 2 year check up. I met up with them in the car, knowing I was calling it close for the next appointment for Drew.



Shane's appointment was a huge success mostly as he didn't need any shots. But I loved the appointment as they asked him to stack blocks, he did it, asked him to extract the ball from the bottle, with a little dexterity he did it about 100 times. They asked if he could put two words together at the exact time that he looked at me while playing with the office wood click set and said, 'momma, this car is broken'-check. I know things tend to get lost in translation during some of my German doctor visits, but the doctor said 'he's perfect'. What's a momma to say? I know,gag.... But we were trying to get him to say 'I'm perfect' all day and the word perfect just doesn't come out right, I guess he is modest;)

Here are the two middle children bonding!

Next onto Drews circumcision check up. I found street parking in front of the building. Seinfeld style!! I strolled in right on time to see our awesome kinder urologist. During our appointment he said, successes like this make surgery exciting. I love the pride they take in a good circumcision-hehe.. Guess with 3 boys I should learn to appreciate this too. Drew enjoyed his lunch in the office and off we went.

My mom was already home with the two boys finishing off their lunch

Next, a little commissary shopping and mail run. 4 packages! What a bumper crop!! Thanks Heidi and Diane for totally brightening Drew's digs!! And no, Chelcy, that pack u sent 43 days ago still has not appeared...

Finally, soccer practice with dad (who just completed the mini van pick up cycle!)





Dinner was in the crockpot ( is there another way?) and we are going to bed with low expectations as there is no way to have another successful day like today!!


Night night!

Its all in the eye

I love professional photos and am always in awe and how differently a professional can capture emotion, serenity, and have focus on the important.  Little did I know Eleanor was quite the professional.  She popped over to the hospital on Saturday as my boys were in Heidleburg shopping for clocks and wine.  She brought an amazing bottle of wine, some truly decitant cupcakes and took some of the most treasured photos of our sweet Drew.  Thanks for Sharing your talent Eleanor!

A rare moment of 'shut eye' in his hospital crib - don't be fooled, he didn't do too much sleeping there.

Love this creative photo - captures that double cowlick that my father has as well as Drew's older brother Shane.  With Chris's hair, that is a recipe for a constant fro-hawk!

His cradle identification tag - notice the lack of first name =)

Eleanor came back on Monday for a second session =)  I say that sweetly as she also toted one of the most amazing Chicken Pot Pies my family has ever enjoyed.  But here are some sweet shots with her trained eye.

Nick loves to pass along sweet kisses

Guess Drew was showing some true colors!

Thanks for the beautiful treasures.



Family time

Friday morning, Nick popped into our room to find only dad. Where's mom? Chris told him the baby came last night! Nick in all his excitement in wisdom quickly responded with, 'what's his name?'. We are still kind of working not that!!

After kindi and Shane's nap, the family joined us to meet the new little brother!

Oma sue enjoyed some true baby time as the boy were more interested in what drew brought with him


Thankfully Drew already knows about NASCAR





This is Shane relinquishing his title as baby


This is Nick proving he is capable of the big brother role


And here we all are!!


We can hardly believe it


Drew, r u ready for a nap after all that?


I sure am!!