Guten Blog!

Getting Ready

2012-01-27T07:12:00.001-08:00

Since the holidays are now over and we are well into 2012, the Barber household has been focusing on getting everything ready for our new arrival. Reese is settled into her big girl bed which means the crib has been installed in the baby's room and I think we are pretty much ready for his big debut. Of course I have a long list of tiny things I want to get done between now and then but all the big items are in place--we have the crib, the bassinet/co-sleeper, the rocking chair, lots of diapers, cute clothes, etc.

I am obviously not having a shower this time around because 1) we still have a lot of gear from when Reese was little and 2) I live in Germany away from my shower throwing friends and family! However, we have received several very sweet and large boxes in the mail filled with goodies for baby Chance. Reese and I have little mini baby showers whenever we get a box and she loves to see what's inside.

She is very much looking forward to her brother's arrival and asks almost every day if he is coming today. She also knows her Dog Dog Papa (my Dad) is coming in a few weeks so she thinks Chance will get here the same day--like Papa is the stork who is bringing him! She says she can't wait to pet him and be sweet to him. She also loves looking at all the swings and bathtubs and things she used when she was little. She always says " but I'm a big girl now...but I'm still Daddy's baby!". Which is true and I've realized that even more lately. It doesn't matter how old you get, you are still your parents' baby!

4 weeks to go....

Changes

2012-01-09T23:10:00.000-08:00

Reese is at the age where she is going through many changes. Over the last 6 months she has potty trained, given up pacifiers and a number of other things as she transitions from baby to big girl. She has taken most of it in stride and yesterday saw another big change for our little girl. With her little brother's arrival just around the corner, it was time for Reese to move to a toddler bed and out of the crib. We've been talking about it for a while but yesterday was the big day and she could not have been more excited! She thanked Troy repeatedly for getting her a bed and was so excited that she would be able to get out of it to go pee pee! She said it was beautiful and she was so happy!

Going to bed was a slightly different story. She was excited to get in the bed but then it took about an hour for her to get settled. There was a lot of weepiness and a little confusion over what to do in the big bed. I think she was excited and didn't realize that going to sleep in the bed was the same as going to sleep in the crib. However, she eventually went to sleep and had a good night in her bed. This morning she told me she loved it so I am hoping after a week or so, the weepiness will fade and she will just snuggle up in her bed and go to sleep. I've only got 7 weeks left before I am up again all night--I need all the sleep I can get before then!

Loving her bed!

My big baby belly!

Christmas Fun

2011-12-29T06:30:00.000-08:00

We had a very fun Christmas this year. Reese was super excited and the big day did not disappoint. Reese's friend Avery came over on Christmas Eve and the girls played, watched Christmas movies and decorated cookies for Santa. They played for hours and had a big time. Reese was worn out when it came time for bed!

Santa came and was very generous to Reese. She got a great easel that has a dry erase board, chalkboard and paper so she can paint. She loves it and paints several times a day. We started Christmas morning off around 8:30 and I think we sat down to breakfast at noon! Reese wanted to keep stopping to play with her gifts and she was the official present opener for the first hour or so. Eventually Troy and I did get to open a few gifts ourselves but we didn't have anything to do so we let her take her time and enjoy herself. It was fun for both of us to watch her and to enjoy the morning.

After our brunch of pancakes we took a rest and watched one of Reese's new movies then spent the afternoon playing with toys, cleaning the house and organizing all the new goods! It was a great day and we were lucky to have Troy home and not at work. We all got to enjoy a long weekend together and although we missed our friends and family, it was a wonderful Christmas filled with fun!

Christmas Vacation

2011-12-24T01:38:00.000-08:00

Posing with a Santa statue at the toy store

This is the first time Reese has been on Christmas vacation--that wonderful time when kiddos have no school for 2 1/2 weeks and get to enjoy the holiday season and go wild! She seems to be having a great time. It has been rainy here but not too much snow so we have been able to get out and do a good bit. She is super excited about Christmas this year and talks a lot about Santa and his naughty list and how she doesn't want to be on it! We are very excited for Christmas tomorrow and will post pics of it over the weekend. Here are some pictures of her enjoying her break!

Dancing around the kitchen to the Chipmunks Christmas songs and eating her candy from the Advent Calendar

Doing our Christmas crafts--then telling me to stop taking photos! You can also see her Christmas money from sweet Granny and sweet Aunt Evelyn in the picture--she LOVED opening the cards!

Taking advantage of free bowling on base!

Driving the new BW as she calls it--she also picked out this spectacular outfit. It consisted of her PJ pants, black boots, Santa dress and a striped shirt! She wore it all day and was super happy about picking out her own outfit!

Christmas Pageant

2011-12-18T23:52:00.000-08:00

Last weekend Reese had her Christmas pageant and we could not have been more proud of her. She started practicing the songs at school in early November and we heard them a lot around the house. She did great when performing for us at home but I was a little nervous about how she would do on stage in front of hundreds of people. Before the big event when I was explaining to her that she would be singing her songs for people she said "NO" and that she did not want to sing. At that point, I wasn't sure how the big day would turn out....

I volunteered to help get the kids on stage and lined up for the singing and dancing. It was both classes combined so there were about 25 two and three year olds to herd along...it sounded daunting but they were all so excited, they were super alert and attentive and listened to us and got lined up with no troubles. When the singing began Reese joined right in. She was up front and clapped and sang and danced and knew all the words and moves. At the end she took a HUGE bow and was so proud of herself--just as she should have been. My little performer put a big smile on my face that lasted all day!

I tried to post the video but didn't have any luck. Instead, here are few pics of Reese pre-performance with her friend Avery.

Big Birthday Weekend

2011-12-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my baby girl turned 3! I can't believe how the last 3 years have flown by and how big my baby has gotten. Reese went to school yesterday morning where she got a small gift and card from her teacher as well as a crown. In the afternoon they had cupcakes and goody bags to celebrate.

After school we took her and her friend Avery to Yabadoo which is a giant indoor playground. They had so much fun and ran and screamed and played as hard as they could until it closed at 7 last night.

After we got home she opened the gifts from her grandparents and Aunt Shelly and Uncle Rusty as well as her Nannie and cards from many other sweet relatives. Each time she opened one I would tell her who it was from and she would say "It's for me"--just to make sure it wasn't for someone else. She got so much great stuff--baby dolls, pajamas, books, movies, a Barbie, dress up clothes and regular clothes. She loved all of it and immediately started using all of it.

This morning we had a little party for her at the house. We invited 4 of her friends over and they had a big time. They all played with Reese's dress up clothes, shoes, and jewelry and played with lots of toys. Then we did a craft where they got to design their own wooden princess mirrors and it was on to presents and cake. I think everyone, birthday girl included, had a great time. Though she got grumpy when we sang Happy Birthday (she doesn't like for other people to sing--she is the only allowed to sing!), it was a great day and a great birthday.

Reese does have a bad cold right now, which wasn't such a great birthday gift but she is being a trooper. We took a 3 hour nap after the party and have spent much of the afternoon snuggling on the couch, which is fine with me. I don't know whether it's the pregnancy hormones, the realization that there are only 12 more weeks until Reese is no longer my only baby, or the fact that she is growing up so quickly but I have been very Reese needy and a bit teary the last few days. I've wanted to snuggle and hold her close before she is too big to let me! But I am glad to see her growing bigger, stronger, funnier and more beautiful every day and I look forward to the next year!

Her birthday 3 years ago...sniff sniff!

Goodbye Old Friend

2011-11-20T12:12:00.000-08:00

Today marks a week since Reese has said goodbye to her yum yums (pacifiers). They were definitely her go to comfort, her security blanket, her way to relax, her dear old friend. She loved them so much and as much as she loved them, I think I loved them more. They instantly calmed her, lulled her to sleep and gave me some much needed moments of quiet and downtime. But, as she grew older and could have a full conversation with a paci in her mouth, it became clear it was time to tell them goodbye.

I decided to go the cold turkey method--it worked for me when I quit smoking years ago so I thought it would be the best way to kick her addiction as well. Although since she is a toddler and was giving up pacifiers rather than nicotine, I softened the blow by calling on the Yum Yum Fairy to assist. I talked up the fairy for weeks to Reese. I told her all about the fairy and how Reese would leave her pacifiers out for the fairy one night and the fairy would leave her gifts in exchange. She seemed to like the gift idea but was concerned what the fairy would do with the yum yums. I told her she takes good care of them and gives them to all of the little babies who need them and this seemed to make her feel better.

So, last Saturday night we made a pretty card for the fairy and sat at all of the pacifiers. It was a rough night in the house that night and neither of us got much sleep. Seeing the money and gifts left the next morning seemed to help some and over the last week, she's gotten down to asking about them only once a day. Bedtime is still a little tough though but she's adjusting to yet another toddler change...our next challenge will be the big girl bed!

Halloween Fun

2011-11-01T00:08:00.000-07:00

We have had a big Halloween/Fall season! We started by going to the pumpkin patch for Reese's field trip and her school's fall carnival a few weeks ago. This was followed by a busy weekend of her class party, trick or treating, and a pumpkin carving party. All were great fun for the adults and kiddos!

At the Carnival

Her class party was cute and fun on Friday. The parents came in around 2PM and the kids ate snacks and treats and then paraded around the school to get some candy. Reese was adorable in her Minnie Mouse costume and was very pleased that Mommy was at school with her.

Saturday was trick or treat day at the bases around here so we met up with some great friends. Reese's good friend Avery and her parents met us there and we walked around the neighborhood. The girls scored big and were really cute. We all went out for pizza afterward and it was a great night!

Sunday night we went to a friend's house for dinner and pumpkin carving. It definitely took Troy the longest amount of time to carve but he picked out the pattern himself and the finished product was great! All the kids had a great time running around playing and the adults had fun chatting and eating dinner.

Troy did awesome with Nemo!

A very pregnant friend put together this pumpkin!

It was a fun filled and exciting weekend--hope everyone had a great time celebrating their Halloween days!

Hello Little Guy

2011-10-22T12:57:00.001-07:00

We had a big day yesterday. It started with a field trip to the pumpkin farm with Reese and her class. It was very cold but we had fun and all the kids enjoyed seeing the animals on the farm and picking out pumpkins.

It was also our fifth wedding anniversary! We celebrated on the cruise so yesterday was pretty low key as far as that goes. Troy had the day off so we spent the day together which was exactly what I wanted.

After lunch we had our mid pregnancy ultrasound appointment. The baby was very busy in my belly and luckily he was not shy about showing off the goods and we got a very clear picture that it is indeed a boy! We would have been excited no matter what but we are very excited about a boy. We have such a beautiful and healthy baby girl and we feel like adding a beautiful and healthy baby boy to the mix will just be perfect!

He is already pretty big--over a pound which puts him in the 95th percentile for size! He has big feet too and we got to see him doing lots of cool stuff. He was sucking on his toes, he was opening and closing his mouth a lot, he was playing peek a boo--all kinds of really neat things. Even the ultrasound tech commented on how funny he was being! All appears to be healthy so we will continue to hope it all goes well and we cannot wait to welcome our little man into our family!

Where to Begin??

2011-10-19T23:36:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a vacation we had! It is definitely too much to fit into one blog post but since I could go on for 2 weeks about our travels, I will do my best to sum up the highlights from our adventure.

The best thing was meeting up with my parents and Troy's parents and getting to share this adventure with them. Seeing all new places together was a very memorable experience and Reese really enjoyed being the center of everyone's attention for almost 2 weeks! And I don't mean just her parents and grandparents--she made many friends on the ship and ashore--she was a hit, as always!

NOTE: This review will contain lots of food details! We got to eat some great things while traveling--one of my favorite ways to explore new places!

Barcelona

We were in Barcelona two days--one before the cruise and one after. We learned our way around using the tram and ventured out to a delightful restaurant at the beach. We actually ate there twice and it was so good--seafood and paella, yum yum. We boarded the ship pretty easily and got settled in to our home at sea. The first night on the boat was a rough one. Strong winds and seas made for a mess in the dining room--dishes were breaking, waitresses puking, barf bags set out by the door...needless to say, I had to leave early. I didn't get sick but I had to lie down in the cabin for the rest of the night.

We also visited La Sagrada Familia--the church in Barcelona that has been under construction for hundreds and hundreds of years. It was the ugliest church I have ever seen. It was way too busy on the facade and then had weird plastic fruit on the top and things like that looked like big pink ferris wheels. Very odd looking but glad we saw it!

Monaco

We woke up to beautiful weather and calm seas for Monaco. It was gorgeous and we toured around on our own. We went to the Prince's Palace and watched the changing of the guards. We saw where Princess Grace and Prince Ranier were buried and we enjoyed lunch by the port. After lunch the men walked to the world famous casino in Monte Carlo and the ladies returned to ship for a relaxing afternoon by the pool.

Pisa

We started with a bus trip into Pisa where we saw the famous Leaning Tower. It was very pretty but an odd town--everything looks kind of brown and normal and then you turn this corner and are in this giant square with the tower and the baptisery--everything is green and beautiful with these bright white buildings. After the tower we went to a nearby winery and olive farm. It was great--we got to sample many products they made--bread, balsamic vinegar, sun dried tomatoes, olives and olive oil, cheese, salamis, wine, etc. It was delicious and a beautiful setting.

Rome

Wow, what a long day! We started at 6:45 AM and didn't get back to ship until about 8:00 PM. We had a bus ride into Rome where we drove past many epic sites like the coliseum. We walked around Rome on our own for a few hours and sampled gelato while visiting the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain. We went to a great restaurant for lunch and enjoyed some down time. After that it was off to the Vatican. The Vatican was much larger than I expected and very crowded! It was cool to see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel but we were all worn out after that big day!

Naples

Although we disembarked in Naples, we did not spend time there. We instead hired a driver to take us on a private tour. We went to Sorrento, which was lovely. We had a delicious lunch of seafood and pizza and pasta and sampled many of the lemon products for which Sorrento is known. Next it was on to Positano on the Amalfi Coast. There we had granitas and shopped and enjoyed the amazing scenery. We bought some cool pottery and I had a pair of shoes hand crafted for me while I waited!

After that it was off to Pompeii. Although an entire day could be spent there, we stayed there for about 2 hours. We explored the sites and we all were overwhelmed by the size--it was a much larger place than any of us had thought. It was crazy to think the whole place was wiped out by the eruption of Vesuvius. This was definitely one of my favorite days!

Sicily

We took a bus to Taormina in Sicily and it was wonderful. We met our friends Jay and Jen who live on the island and toured around the beautiful seaside town. It had a gorgeous view of Mt. Etna--which was smoking and had just recently erupted--and the coast line. We saw beautiful scenes, ate, and shopped. My favorite gelato was definitely here--it was amazing! Chocolate and coffee creamy gelato swirled together and piled about 5 inches high on a flaky cone--yum yum yum! Again, one of my favorite days.

Day at Sea: Much needed rest and relaxation!

Palma de Mallorca

Gorgeous little island off the coast of Spain. We toured on our own. Reese was begging to go on a horse and carriage ride so we indulged her here. It was fun and she had a great time. We had some tapas and ice cream, of course. My parents had a crazy banana split which involved a freshly made crepe filled with banana and nutella, topped with ice cream and caramel sauce. It got rave reviews!

Marseille

We toured Chateauneuf de Pape and got an elaborate history on the area and it's interaction with the pope--the name means New Castle of the Pope. We visited a winery and wine museum and then had an unscheduled trip to a gourmet chocolate shop. Both were amazing and I stocked up on delicious french chocolate. We then went to the old town of Avignon. The entire old section of town is still enclosed by the city wall and it sits on the banks of the Rhone river. We had a typical French lunch (Dad gave the French Onion Soup great reviews) and Reese enjoyed rides on the carousel. After some exploring it was back to the ship for our last night.

In addition to all our off ship adventures, we had many great times on board as well. Plenty of eating and enjoying the entertainment and each other's company. Reese loved the on board candy shop and Troy couldn't get enough of the sushi bar. Danny Barber was a big fan of the ice cream on board and we all enjoyed relaxing by the pool, playing miniature golf, shopping and relaxing! It was a wonderful trip that we will all remember for years to come!

Sweet Girl

2011-09-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

Blue Lollipop Tongue

Reese is so sweet and funny. I just showed her a picture of what the baby looks like this week and she said "she's not wearing any clothes--I need to get her some clothes!" In addition to these witty observations she has been giving the baby kisses by kissing my belly and she pats my belly too to let the baby know she is here.

Reese has also gotten really good on her scooter and her bike. We usually go on at least one long walk a day where I walk and she either scooters or bikes. She's really into playing dress up now too and tonight while she was watching the Smurfs she asked me to get her a hat so she could be like Smurfette. Then she went and got her dress up skirt and heels and wore that and her hat--she pranced around all evening saying "hello, I'm Smurfette" and posing like a supermodel!

For every bit as rascally as she is, she is equally as sweet!

Smurfette!

Dress up and Chillin'--two of her favorite activities

Scootering, above

First day of school, below

Rockin' out at the Sesame Street Show

Counting the Days...

2011-09-12T23:28:00.001-07:00

While this title could apply to our upcoming cruise or even the arrival of our new baby or car...it doesn't. This applies to a countdown that has apparently started in Reese's head.

102 days.

There are 102 days until Christmas.

While she hasn't mentioned the holiday specifically, she has already started asking me to read Twas the Night Before Christmas. She has already started requesting to listen to the Chipmunks Christmas album in the car. She has already watched The Grinch. She is quite cute singing along to the Chipmunks and asking questions about the Christmas book but I don't know if I can sustain the holiday spirit for another 102 days...!

Mosel Wine Fest

2011-09-04T00:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon we headed up to the Mosel Valley for their annual winefest. We had never been to it and Troy had heard good things so we left around 4 PM to see what we could find. The town of Bernkastel was beautiful and very picturesque on the banks of the Mosel river. We wandered around the river and had lots of good fair food--snausages, french fries, ice cream, etc. Reese rode a very cute ride for about 30 minutes and seemed to really enjoy herself. Troy sampled the local wines and enjoyed knowing he had a designated driver to take him home at the end of the festival.

The festival was capped off at 9 PM last night when we were treated to an amazing fireworks display overlooking the river and the castle. Reese really enjoyed the fireworks and every time one would explode she would say " Why you do that fireworks?". She was very entertaining to us and the people around us, as usual!

Reese taking in the scenery!

Finally!

2011-08-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

We had such a good time biking last year. We would load Reese up on my bike and go several times a week throughout the spring/summer/fall. It was always fun, even with the super big hills! This spring when we went to put her on the bike again, she had fits. Not just whining or crying but throw herself down on the ground fits! She refused to get on my bike. It went on like this all spring and with us being gone part of the summer we didn't get to try the bike again until earlier this month.

I didn't hold out much hope but the big bike festival was a few weeks ago. I covered this last year on my blog--it's the Sunday where the main road in front of our house is blocked to all traffic except bikes, walkers, roller bladers, etc. I took Reese on a walk to town that morning so she could see all the bikes and hopefully get excited. I was also surprised she stayed in her stroller for our hour long walk so that was another step in the right direction!

We saw all the bikes and I told her we were going later and she didn't object, so I thought that was good. She got a balloon from one of the vendors and was excited about that until she lost her grip on it and it floated away. I told her if we went on a bike ride later she could get another one and I think that must have been what did it because when we got ready to go she didn't fight or struggle or cry. She said "fun" and hopped right on as if she hadn't protested biking for the last 4 months!

Troy was able to go with us this year and we had a great time. We stopped for snacks along the way and Reese even fell asleep on the back of my bike! It was a fun family day and now everytime I ask Reese if she wants to go on a bike ride she says "yes, fun fun fun"!

Ready for our walk

With her ice cream and new balloon!

MIA

2011-08-24T00:31:00.000-07:00

I have been missing in action on the ol' blog lately. Troy was out of town last week so Reese and I shut ourselves up in the house for potty training bootcamp. It was a tough week but Reese is now at 8 days without diapers (except when sleeping). I'm very proud of her and she has been getting lots of rewards for her hard work--pizza parties, stickers, gumballs, ice cream, and a Barbie.

It has also been rather warm here so in the afternoons we open the back doors of the house. Once this is done, Reese prefers to pee in the backyard and will go outside to relieve herself. I'm not sure if she is more house broken than potty trained but either way it's not in a diaper or on my floors, so I am happy!

Big Sisters

2011-08-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

I love my big sister. I have obviously known her my entire life and she is much more to me than a sister--she is a dear friend. Jodi is always good for a laugh and she is one of the greatest people I know. She is fun loving and sweet and loves to keep busy. I often say that Reese is more her child than mine because much like Jodi she has trouble sitting still for long periods and is always on the move. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with my one kiddo, I think of Jodi and her 4 children and I realize that I can handle it! She multi-tasks like no one else I know and I look up to her in many ways. Although I may not always take her advice I do seek it often and always give it consideration. She is especially good when it comes to questions about fashion and kids (see reference above that she has 4 of them!).

Our relationship has always been a close one but has been very close over the last 10 years. That is when I moved to Charleston and we both had jobs and homes, followed by husbands and children. I had the greatest time when Jodi visited last year in September. Our jaunt around Europe was so fun and I just never thought we would take our daughters to Paris and hang out--it was a very cool moment.

Needless to say our relationship is wonderful and we are close and I'm not sure what I'd do without her. I hope that Reese will feel the same way about becoming a big sister. I hope that she will form a strong bond with her sibling and it will be a lifelong friendship for her as well!

Baby B (named by my sister) will make its debut in late February. We are all very excited and I think Reese is already a very proud big sister!

Yes, I think that baby is flipping us off!

4 Wheeler Fun

2011-08-07T10:55:00.001-07:00

Troy bought a new four wheeler when he was in Tennessee. He had his previous one for 15 years and just parted with it last year so it was time to find a replacement. I think he made a good choice and so does Reese. She rode on it non stop with him and loved every minute of it! It made for some good Daddy/Daughter bonding time.

Odyssey

2011-07-30T13:05:00.001-07:00

By definition an odyssey is a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune. That is most definitely what the Barber family has had over the last week. As our epic summer vacay drew to a close, it was time to start thinking about our epic voyage home. We planned to return on a military flight that while free, is far from easy. Troy joined us for the last week of our vacation and planned to fly home with us. This was great for many reasons 1) we had really missed him and were very happy to see him 2) he would be able to help me with Reese and the luggage and 3) flying with him gave us a higher priority than flying alone and increased our chances of a quicker return.

The beginning of our return trip started last Sunday when we rented a car and drove from Castalian Springs TN to Jackson MS. It was about a 7 hour trip with lots of rain and lightning. We made it our hotel however and had a nice night before heading over the Jackson Air Base the next morning. Not many people fly from Jackson but they have 3 consistent flights a week that go to Ramstein. We had no problems getting on the flight and a bit before takeoff we got on a bus and went to the plane. Then there was a weather delay, so we got back on the bus and went back to wait. After an hour or so, we did the same thing again however the plane took off that time.

The plane delivered us to Andrews AFB Maryland where we waited for a bit in the terminal. We were then bussed back to the plane and took off for McGuire AFB NJ. Because of flying rules we had to then get off the plane and compete for seats on the same plane that was flying to Ramstein. However, we were too late and could not get on the flight. We got to a hotel about midnight and devoured a delicious pizza from Dominos. It was the only hot food we had all day and it was great. Reese ate about 3 slices.

The next day we went back to the airport and at about 4:45 PM we found out we got on a flight that was going to Dover AFB Delaware and then on to Ramstein. This was on a C5 though and they are notorious for breaking. We didn't think we would make it out of NJ but the plane took off and after about 20 minutes of flying we landed in Dover.

Of course the plane broke there though so we were sent home for the night and told to return the following night around midnight. It was again midnight when we got to the hotel and it was delicious double cheeseburgers from McDonalds this time around! We rented the hotel for 2 nights so we could lounge the next day and catch up on some much needed rest. We slept in, played in the pool, had lunch and naps and then we were getting ready to go to the airport when we found out the plane, though fixed, had been pushed back by about 18 hours. So, it was another night and day in Delaware. We had no car but we were close to about 3 restaurants and a gas station and we made do.

Finally on Thursday night we boarded the plane and took off around 11 PM. I was very happy to get on the plane as the terminal was starting to look like a refugee camp. We weren't certain we would make it home until about 2 hours in because those planes have been known to fly for a few hours and then turn around because they broke. Our plane really came through though and we arrived in Germany around 1PM on Friday afternoon.

Reese did great on the flights and throughout the whole traveling process. She was great and every time she saw a family we had gotten to know she said "there are our friends, Mama". Also, I did not yell at anyone so I think I too did pretty good.

We had a great trip home visiting with all our friends and relatives but we are very happy to be home. For all of those keeping track, here is a list of the states we visited/traveled through while home. Keep in mind we traveled through some of them on more than one occasion!

Ohio

Kentucky

Tennessee

North Carolina

South Carolina

Mississippi

Maryland

New Jersey

Delaware

Reese Time!

2011-07-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

Reese has been a real trooper on our visit this summer. I have loaded her up on planes and in cars and dragged her half way around the world and all over the country. While these trips could have been miserable, they have not been. She has been a great traveler and has gotten to asking me "Where we going next Mama?". She expects to be going from place to place now and I like that about her. She's not afraid of a little adventure and seeing what the next day holds.

For these reasons and more, I thought it was time she deserved a little time just for her. When my friend Kelly suggested we take her to the Discovery Kids Zone in Huntersville NC, I thought it sounded perfect. We met up there on Wednesday afternoon and Reese played for nearly 3 hours. It was an awesome place. Everything was designed for kids her age and there were really no rules. She could go and do and be a kid and have fun without Mom having to constantly say "no" or "don't do that". It was a spectacular afternoon and as always, it was a pleasure to see Kelly. We have been friends for about 12 years or more now and I always love to see her, even if it isn't as often as I would like. Yay to Aunt Kelly for coming up with such a splendid idea.

Afterward, Reese declared Kelly as her best friend!

Driving her Ferrari through the bank window

Learning to change tires

Driving the boat--she's an old pro at that!

Manning the submarine

The market was very cool. All Earth Fare products for her to choose from!

Picking corn

In the Drs Office

Her favorite was the restaurant. She's enjoying her cheese sandwich here!

Reese's Big Adventure on the River

2011-07-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

One of things I wanted to do while staying with my parents on our vacation was to take Reese on a boat ride on the river. I spent many mornings fishing on the river with my Mom and Dad while I was growing up and I have fond memories from those times. Catching big fish, riding on the river, snacking, reading, etc.

When we took off for the river yesterday Reese was very excited. She wanted to know where the river was, when we were going to be there, and where the boat was. Once we got there she insisted that she was going to drive the boat and she did just that. Papa let her navigate out of the creek and she loved it. Once we got to the open river, she sat back and enjoyed the wind in her hair while we were going fast.

We fished for a little while and Reese (with the guidance of Papa) was able to reel in her first fish! It was a proud moment for everyone. Dad informed me that the spot where we were fishing was very close to where I once lost a fishing pole to a large fish. It amazed me that after probably 17 years he knew where that event had taken place. While the river is beautiful, it looks much the same to me. Dad, however, seems to know every twist and turn and where the coves are and all the fishing spots. I find that fascinating.

We saw a big raccoon, lots of crabs, fish, and tons of cool birds. Needless to say it was a fun trip and we had a wonderful time!

Fun Fourth

2011-07-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

We had a great day on Folly yesterday. Since the island is notoriously busy on that holiday we made the wise decision to not leave the local area at all. We got up early and had breakfast--Conor actually had 3 breakfasts!--then we got all decked out in our July 4th gear. Chapel, Reese and I were in charge of decorating the golf cart. Jodi gave us some old streamers and flags and we turned an ordinary golf cart into a grand celebration of Independence Day!

We carted around the island and received many compliments on our cart and attire. We made it to the pier where the kids looked at the ocean and posed for pictures. Reese, as she is in the habit of doing, ran way far ahead of us. We had to send Eli after her and I think he may have a future in law enforcement. He doggedly chased her down and then tackled her. After that he held her in a bear hug until the adults could get to the scene!

After the pier we had ice cream for the kids and snow cones for the adults. Then we went to a nice shady park on the marsh where the kids played and played.

After some lunch and rest, we were joined by Robert and his mom and we had a great dinner. Then we all loaded up again on the cart and went to the beach for the fireworks. The weather was great and fireworks were lovely.

It was a very fun and enjoyable day and I was happy to spend such a wonderful holiday with my family. I do miss my husband but it is because of guys and ladies like him who serve our country that we have such great freedoms and can celebrate like we do!

Fun in the Sun

2011-06-29T19:15:00.001-07:00

Reese and I have been enjoying our summer vacation in the states. We ventured down to Charleston last Monday and have been staying with my sister Jodi and her kiddos. Charleston and Folly Beach are beautiful as always but it is HOT! I forgot how miserably, energy-sapping hot it can get during summer. So to beat the heat we have been going to the beach, going to pools, going on golf cart rides and eating snow cones and ice cream. It's a rough life!

Poor Reese has been getting attacked by mosquitos. She has a horrible reaction to them just like I did when I was kid. She's being a trooper though and hopefully they will heal up soon.

Today we are in Conway visiting my parents. We will head back to Charleston for the weekend and then be back in Conway next week. After that it's on to NC to visit friends then back to TN. After that, I will head to Illinois to visit Troy and pick him up from a conference, then it's back to TN for a few days and then on to Jackson MS for our departure. I feel as if I need to get one of those big magnetic maps for the truck and I can check off all the states I've been to on this trip. I have a feeling I would be able to cross off a whole lot!

The temp up there says 101. It actually went up to 105 later. I forgot how hot it is here!

Reese enjoying her Jack's Cosmic Dog!

She put these on and said "Look, I'm Daddy!"

Good Times

2011-06-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Reese is having a great time in TN. She is getting hand fed ice cream, eating donuts, playing on the farm, playing dress up and watching Barbie and cartoons non-stop! It's fun to see her getting spoiled--I will worry about the consequences later and let her enjoy this time with her family!

Summer Break

2011-06-18T05:51:00.001-07:00

Reese and I decided to spend our Summer break by visiting all of our friends and relatives in the States. We began the journey last Friday. We wanted to take a military flight over--very good because it is free but very iffy because it is like the lottery. You show up at the terminal and wait for a seat to somewhere in the US to open up and then you jump up and hop on the plane! We were lucky enough to get out of Germany on day 4 of trying. We got on a flight going to Ohio which was only a 5 hour drive to Vincie and Danny's house in TN. It was a long day but Reese did great on the plane. The good thing about the military flights is that there are lots of kids and they can all run around and play together. Also, it's so loud that your child could scream at the top of her lungs for 9 hours and no one would hear it. Reese, however, did not scream so it was as pleasant as a 9 hour plane ride can be.

After getting a car in Ohio we stayed the night in a hotel. We ordered dinner and then crashed. It was fun to stay in a hotel with Reese. She loves hotels, just as I do and I felt like it was a good bonding moment!

We got up early on Tuesday and drove to TN. Reese was great on the drive and was overall a real trooper on this trip. I was proud of her.

Since our arrival, she has been basking in the attention of Nannie, Nene, Donut Papa, Rusty, Shelly, Laynie and others. She loved Laynie Baby and held her for a long time. She has been running around on the farm like a true country girl--getting dirty and muddy and loving every minute of it!

We will be here until next week and then head to Charleston and Conway to see our wonderful family and friends there. After a few weeks there we will make our way to NC to visit friends and then back to TN. We are both very exited about our big vacay and can't wait for the next adventure!

In the terminal in Germany trying to catch a flight!

Fun at the Gallatin music event on Thursday

Beating the heat by playing in the fountain while shopping

First trip to Cracker Barrel--she loved it!

Playing Catch Up

2011-06-04T23:31:00.001-07:00

I have had a very busy week since getting back from Spain late last Sunday. I can't really recall what I have been doing, but I feel like I haven't stopped going. First there was catching up on laundry and cleaning the house. Getting the dogs, giving them baths, etc. Reese went to school this week and had a great time. She had her end of year luau which I volunteered for and I was exhausted afterward! It was 4 hours of running back and forth, standing in the sun and wind, and I ended up being tired and smelling like a big cheeseburger from standing in front of the grill for hours! But it was fun and all of the kids had a great time.

We took a brief trip to Frankfurt on Friday to try to get Troy's computer fixed. We didn't have any luck with the computer but the area we were in was very pretty with lots of great restaurants and shops. Also, Troy finally got his Strawberries and Cream milkshake from Starbucks. He has been wanting one for months now so we were happy about that.

Now it is the weekend and I am back to doing laundry! Reese and I will start trying to catch a military flight home next Sunday so I will go ahead and start getting our stuff ready for that. It takes a while to pack for a long trip for two people.

Hope everyone has had a great week and is enjoying the weekend!

Fast Friends

2011-05-31T02:03:00.000-07:00

Marisa Vara is one of my oldest and dearest friends. We have known each other for 18 years, which is both awesome and makes me feel super old when I say something like that!

Marisa was our Spanish exchange student when Jodi and I were in highschool. She was a natural fit with our family and our friendship has endured many years and miles. Jodi and I both have been to Spain several times to visit her and her parents and sister. We were there for her wedding and she for Jodi's and she and her sister visited the US in 2005, which was the last time I had seen her.

We always keep in touch through emails and calls but a lot has happened in the last 5 years and we wanted to catch up in person. She has had two beautiful boys with her husband Gustavo and I, of course, have married Troy and had my beautiful Reese. We were both very excited when I made the move to Germany since that put us on the same continent! The timing for both of us has been tough since the move but all the stars aligned and we decided May was the perfect time for a visit.

Reese, Troy, and I boarded a flight last Wednesday and we were greeted by Marisa just a few short hours later. It was as if we had seen each other last week and we had an amazing visit.

Reese and Marisa were fast friends! Reese loved "Misa" and if Marisa had stepped around the corner or out of sight for just a moment, Reese asked "Where Misa go?". The instant bond was very cute and very understandable--I think both Jodi and I had that same instant bond with Marisa as well--she's just that kind of girl!

Marisa was a gracious host and we had a lot of fun. We went on a bus ride through Madrid on an open roof bus, stopping to take walks in parks, view buildings, and eat some delicious tapas!

Reese excited to be on the bus!

We spent time on her terrace eating dinner, talking, drinking wine, and enjoying the beautiful weather and each other's company. We took turns cooking and on Sunday Marisa made us Paella which was heavenly!

We also got to visit her parents' bakery--one of my favorite places on earth. The fresh bread, palmeras, cookies, and empanadas are truly out of this world. Marisa took us to a giant food market, which we loved and on Saturday we spent the day at the zoo with our kids--letting them run around and have fun and be kids!

It was so great to see Marisa with her beautiful family in her beautiful house and country. I hope to see her again soon and cannot wait for our next reunion!

The kids at the zoo

The horse took a nibble at Reese just as Troy was taking the picture!

She will be signing autographs from 4-6! Very cool!

Great tapas!

Marisa's family and the bakery

Vacay in Brugge

2011-05-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

On Friday we got all packed up and headed north to the picturesque town of Brugge (Bruges) Belgium. It was the four of us plus our friends the Menjivars. We had booked an apartment for the weekend and were very excited to visit some new places. Technically I had been to Brugge for a day when I was in college but that was a long time ago. I do remember liking it a lot however and was anxious to go check it out again.

Above is Reese showing us her excited face when we told her about vacay!

Below, Reese and I preparing to depart!

The apartment turned out to be lovely and centrally located. There was tons of room for the kiddos to run around in and for the adults to lounge in. Brugge has everything you need in a city--history, beauty, beer, chocolate, and french fries! We took full advantage of all it had to offer.

On Friday we had a great dinner and walked around the city for a bit. On Saturday morning we started off with a horse and carriage ride around the city. Reese, a big fan of horses, loved this part of the trip. It was fun for all of us--a good way to see the city and get some info on the highlights. Next it was off to lunch and shopping and chocolate tasting. After naptime we took a boat ride on the canals, shopped some more and then had dinner. It was a fun day and we all agreed that the town was awesome.

On Sunday we drove over to the coast which was only 15 minutes away. The beach was the widest one I have ever seen--probably 1/3 of a mile wide. It was chilly and windy so there was no sun bathing, but it was nice to see water and smell the salt air.

Troy said that Brugge was his favorite town so far which is saying a lot! I have a feeling we will make a return trip and I can hardly wait.

Nene Visit So Far

2011-05-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

Troy's Mom Vincie arrived on Monday. Around our house, she is better known as Nene. I told Reese about 2 weeks ago that Nene was coming for a visit and she has asked non-stop if it was time to go get Nene from the airport. When I finally woke her up at 5:30 AM Monday morning, she said "hello Mommy--time to get Nene now?". I could finally say "yes" and we set off for the airport. Reese was very happy to see her and took her some flowers. Once we got home they napped together and then it was off to the playground for a picnic. It was a great first day.

Yesterday we took Reese to school and Vincie and I headed off to the spa to relax and in celebration of Mother's Day and Vincie's birthday. We went to a great spa that I had been to once before and we were pampered for a little over 3 hours. We got home about the same time Reese and Troy did and we all went to dinner at the Kipperhof in town--a very old and delicious restaurant. It was a relaxing and fun day. The only bad part was that we discovered our favorite (and only) ice cream shop in our town has closed for business. We were all very upset so we had to come home and have some ice cream!

Today we all went to Idar Oberstein. It's a really cute town about 45 minutes away. We toured the Stone Church which is actually a church built into the side of the mountain. Very pretty. We continued our climb to the top to view 2 castles and views were breathtaking. We then had lunch in a very cute little town square. After lunch we walked to the other side of the square and had ice cream since we didn't get to go to the ice cream shop last night. It was wonderful and Vincie and I split the spaghetti ice--vanilla ice cream that looks likes spaghetti but is all ice cream!

Tomorrow we will do a little shopping while Reese is at school and Troy is at work. Then on Friday, it's off to Belgium!

Date Day

2011-05-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Since we moved, Troy and I don't get a lot of dates. Our friends have kept Reese once for us but we usually rely on those times when relatives are visiting or we are visiting the states together--so they are few and far between.

Today, however, was a great date day. Today was the first day that Troy has been on day shift and has been off work since Reese started school way back in February. So, it's been the first day we have been able to spend together while she was occupied and we decided to make it a date!

We dropped Reese off at school around 9 and took off on some bike trails that are beside her school. I had really been wanting to bike because we used to go every day last Spring-Fall. This year, however, Reese has adamantly refused to get anywhere near my bike. So we took this opportunity to get some biking in. It was a beautiful day and we ended up biking about 15 miles. Not a lot for some people but a good haul for the two of us. We saw lots of beautiful towns and ended up eating some delicious lunch at an outside cafe and then finding our way back to the car.

We ran some errands and then picked Reese up. It was a wonderful day together and hopefully we will get a few more before she gets out of school in June.

I didn't take any pictures today but here are some recent ones of Reese (and Troy) looking cute, as always!

Good Friday

2011-04-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

It was about this time last year that we went to the Kaiserslautern Gartenschau for the first time. We have been wanting to go back and since the weather was so beautiful yesterday we decided to re-visit. Because it was Good Friday, almost everything was closed. The gardens, however were open and were very popular.

This seems to be a week for doing things a second time with Metz on Monday and the gardens yesterday. Much like Metz, it was even nicer this time around. Last year, though pretty, they were doing a lot of construction and I don't remember being completely overwhelmed by the flowers.

This year, however, the flowers were in full bloom and were spectacular. Even Troy commented that they were the most beautiful and perfect flowers he had ever seen. We met Andrea and her family there so Reese had fun playing with her friend Ada. We played around the gardens and then had lunch on an outside patio while the kiddos played on the playground. It was another great spring outing!

Me and Andrea

Below are two pictures--one from this year and then one from last year. Yes, I am wearing the same dress (I am now calling it my Gartenschau dress) and I look the same but look how different my little girl looks!

Girls Gone Wild...hee hee

2011-04-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

Pardon the title, but I could not resist! Today was yet another beautiful day here so we went to the Potzberg Wildpark. It's a nature park that is only about 15 minutes away. We went with Andrea and her girls and it was awesome. The park is on top of a very big hill so the view was great and the girls were in fact wild!

There were tons of animals for them to see, pet, and feed. My favorites were the Shetland Ponies. Very cute and gentle and they would eat from your hand and loved a pat on the head.

Reese ran around screaming "piggies" really loud in an effort to lure out the pot bellied pig. We finally saw him and he did not disappoint.

My least favorite animals were the pygmy goats. For some odd reason part of the playground was inside the goat pen. I took Reese in but held her because I had a feeling she wasn't going to be crazy about the nosy goats. I was correct and in a horrible turn of events, one of them reared back and butted me with his hard head and horns. I'm pretty sure my legs will be bruised tomorrow!

Goat maulings aside, it was a fun day and the kids ran and played and had lunch and ice cream.

Take Two

2011-04-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Troy has been wanting to go to Metz France for a while now. He kept bringing it up and how he wanted to go visit for the day and do some shopping and just see what it was like.

I, however, was hesitant because my first visit to Metz was not ideal. It was the day after Christmas 2009. Vincie and Danny were here and since Troy had to sleep because of work, we decided to head over to Metz. It's only an hour and a half away so we set out without much of an agenda.

Well, it was cold and everything was closed. We kinda wandered around for a while and then had a late lunch. After the first bite of my lunch I started to feel really off. I made the request that we cut the day short and head home. I made it most of the way home before I had to stop the car and puke in a parking lot. I was sick for the next 2 days, followed very closely by Troy, Vincie, Danny, and Reese. It was not a happy time in our house and I was not anxious to head back to Metz. I know I didn't get sick there but I just had a bad association with it.

However, Troy had today off and it was supposed to be sunny and in the 70s. I could put him off no longer, so we decided to go. I am happy to report that Metz definitely redeemed itself on the 2nd visit. The weather was perfect, stores were open, and there was no vomiting involved. We walked all through the town, did some shopping (we bought chocolate and bread--our favorites), played in the parks, and took in the lovely scenery.

On the way home, we stopped at the grocery store we like and Reese took in her purse that had some money in it so she could buy her own Meows. She picked the most beautiful pastry with strawberries and it was decorated for Easter with chocolate bunnies and little egg candies on it. She already has very fancy taste in food--just like her parents.

Sunny Saturday

2011-04-09T04:46:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful day here so we decided to go on base on Saturday morning and take advantage of the Easter egg hunt put on by the community center. Reese had a bit of a cold but was up for going, so we grabbed her basket and headed out.

We met our friends Andrea, Ada, and Baby Ella there and made it just in time for the 0-2 year hunt. Reese did a great job and got 12 eggs all on her own. She wasn't crazy about the Easter Bunny and didn't want to pose with him but then she got very concerned about him when he left. I told her he would be back to visit in a few weeks and that seemed to satisfy her.

After getting all the loot, she and Ada enjoyed the gummy bears that were in the eggs and a lot of time on the playground! She finally wore herself out and we headed home for nap time!

Frankfurt Zoo

2011-04-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

We have been blessed with beautiful Spring weather this weekend so we made the most of it today by venturing out to the Frankfurt Zoo. The 3 of us piled into Andrea and Dennis's Volvo...so it was 4 adults and 3 children...and we headed out for the zoo. It was a nice zoo--not overwhelming but quite large and plenty of space and places for the kiddos to run around. Reese and I really loved the giraffes and zebras because we talk about those a lot when we do our animal flashcards. The girls also played in the giant playground and we all enjoyed a day out in the sun.

Warming Up

2011-03-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

The weather seems to have taken a turn for the better. It is still cold at night and chilly during the days but the sun has been out and this week promises to bring temps in the low 60s so we are very excited. I noticed today that the bulbs in our front yard have sprouted and along with them the dandelions! This is not fair and I am not prepared for the full on dandelion war we had last year. I feel that if it's not warm enough to go outside all the time, it's not fair to already have weeds sprouting! Anyway, I digress...

The other day brought sunny weather so Reese and I took the opportunity to go in the fields and let the dogs run around. This is also a time for Reese to run and run and run and she enjoys it so much. She likes to go for walks in the field and the woods and can even make it up the really big hill all on her own now. It was not too long ago that I would have to carry her so my back is very happy that she is now doing it all by herself!

Along with the warm weather will come more picture taking opportunities--let's face it, there are only so much pictures you can take of your child hanging out in the living room while it's winter outside. So enjoy these pictures of my little model. It's easy to take good pictures when the scenery is so beautiful!

A Little Privacy Please!

2011-03-12T12:19:00.001-08:00

I would say that as a toddler you don't really get much privacy. Usually if you're by yourself and being quiet it means you're up to no good and a parent will come searching for you momentarily.

The whole privacy thing really goes out the window when potty training rolls around and you've got a parent hovering nearby while you pee and poop.

So, I guess that is why my cute, sweet little toddler decided enough is enough and moved her potty to a more secluded area this morning.

Yes, that is her sitting on her potty, which she has placed between the curtains and the back doors. She kept the curtains shut so she could have just a little moment of alone time!!

A Good Day

2011-03-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

I have had a very long week. Troy had to work more than usual so I saw him for about 6 hours in the past week. Reese got really sick on Tuesday and ran a fever of 104 and higher at times. She had tonsillitis and has been on medicines and has just not been herself all week--very tired, very weak and sick, very whiny. Today was the first day without fever and I think she has been feeling a bit better today though still tired.

We had planned to let some friends keep her this evening while we went to dinner for my birthday but after her sickness and our very long and tiring week, we decided to cancel the dinner plans. Instead we had a low key afternoon. We went to our favorite grocery store in France and took full advantage of their Spring wine sale and their great food. Reese was surprisingly well behaved in the store and it was a good trip.

After we got home and Reese went to sleep, Troy and I enjoyed some great wine a meal that you really can't go wrong with--filet mignon, french fries, good bread and chocolate cake!

Also, Troy taught Reese to say Happy Birthday Mommy and I think it was the cutest thing I have ever heard! And when we got home from France she kept saying "Bonjour Apollo" and "Bonjour Bailey"--also VERY cute!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Goings On

2011-03-01T23:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a while so I thought I would write a quick entry. We have been busy with day to day life--preschool, playdates, activities, and such. We went to an aquarium not long ago and that was fun. It was too cold to tour around outside so we hit up the aquarium and the Technology Museum in nearby Speyer. We went with some friends and all the kiddos enjoyed seeing all the fish. Reese was on a hunt for Nemo and the aquarium did not disappoint--they had tons of Nemo Fish! She selected 2 balloons as her souvenirs--one Nemo and one dolphin. She currently enjoys chasing the dogs with them.

Reese really seems to be settling into school. She talks about her sweet teacher Miss Maria all the time and has stopped crying when I drop her off. She is under some weird delusion however that while she is at school I am off somewhere pee-peeing in the potty! That's what she says when I pick her up. I'm not too sure where that idea came from!

Although it is still pretty chilly here we have had sun for the last 3 days which is a record in the last 5 months! I'm starting to see small buds on the trees and some bulbs poking up through the soil so I'm hoping that Spring is just around the corner!

These two are from the Technology Museum:

Skiball!

2011-02-17T11:05:00.000-08:00

OK, it was actually bowling but Reese insisted on calling it skiball. Our friends Andrea and Dennis invited us to go bowling this past Sunday and Reese and Ada had a great time! The adults also had a great time but I'm pretty sure Reese scored higher than I did in both games! I decided to use the bumpers in the 2nd game to give myself a competitive advantage and make myself more equal with Reese but alas, I think she still out bowled me!

Reese and her friend Ada playing!

Reese's favorite part seemed to be the waffle fries and she snuck a sip of my Coke!

Reese picking out her bowling ball. She kept trying to go for the 12 lb ball!

Adding to the Collection

2011-02-03T11:59:00.001-08:00

Troy and I plan to retire* to TN in about 10 years or so. We will live out in the country and the hills and build our dream home on the farm he grew up on. It is something we talk about often and when we visit TN we usually have a date night at the Bluffs and sip some wine while talking about our future home and looking out over Old Hickory Lake. It really is one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots (except on mornings during duck season) I have ever seen.

While we are living in Germany we are taking advantage of all the antiques and collectibles and have been slowly but surely adding to our collection of items that will one day be displayed in our family's dream home. Not only will they add charm to our wonderful home but they will serve as daily reminders of all the amazing places we got to see together!

*It should be noted that while Troy will officially be retired--I will not!

These are really old wooden skis for kids. We got them on the most recent trip to Garmisch. Very cool--we like these a lot and think the will be beautiful hanging on a wall in our home.

This is a wine barrel that is from one of our favorite wineries in Germany. It currently serves as our cafe table/bar area in the kitchen!

These are containers that were used to store pasta and rice. We think they will be neat with some pretty candles inside and maybe sitting on the hearth.

This is a champagne rack that is from Epernay, France. It was used in the caves to age the champagne and keep it inverted.

Lucky Girl

2011-02-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

I think it is safe to say that very often we get caught up in the day to day stressors like work, house cleaning, cooking, more house cleaning, tantruming toddlers, and all the errands we have to get done--post office, grocery store, dr visits, etc--that we feel overwhelmed and lose sight of all the things we are blessed with in life. I know this is true for me and I find it very comforting and reassuring to remind myself daily of how lucky I am to be married to a wonderful man who loves me (and puts up with me!), to have a healthy happy crazy-funny and beautiful daughter, to live in a cool place that many only dream of visiting, and to have such great friends and family that support me and my little family.

Each night before I put Reese to bed I rock with her and tell her how much I love her and how I have had a wonderful day with her--even if she threw many 2 year old tantrums--and how proud I am of her for all her various accomplishments of the day. I tell her about how Nene and Baba, Papa and Gigi, Didi and her cousins, Rusty and Shelly, Granny and Nannie, and many other friends and family miss her and love her very much. Because when she gets older (and even now) I want her to be able to take a moment out of a busy and overwhelming day and reflect on how she too is lucky to be so loved.

I am a lucky girl to get to see these two every day and have them as my family!

SCHOOL!!!

2011-02-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

We have been trying to get Reese into school for quite some time now. Ever since she realized her cousins go to school, she has constantly demanded school time. I have to tell her that the activities we go to like story time and play group and gymnastics are school so she will be happy and think she too is in the cool kids club!

The childcare centers on base are akin to the most exclusive country club--they see your child's attendance as a privilege and one they are most likely not going to bestow upon you. We have been on their waiting list for almost 16 months now with no end in sight. Many of the off base options are for those children 3 and up so we were super excited last week when our friend Andrea mentioned a center that was off base and had some openings for Reese's age. We scheduled an appointment immediately and went for a visit. It is a very pretty school with small class sizes so the kids get lots of attention. Reese visited the class she would be in while Troy and I took a tour and did some paperwork. When we returned to get her she cried because we made her leave...

So, she officially started today. She will go on Tuesday and Thursday from 9-3. I was very worried all day long. I didn't really know what to do with free time but I think I checked my phone every 2 seconds. I just knew they were going to call to tell me she was inconsolable and miserable and that I had to go pick her up. I went to the gym and had a really good workout to get some of the nervousness to go away but I was preoccupied the whole time thinking about what my little girl was doing on her first day of school.

When 3 o'clock arrived and it was time to get her, I peeked in on her classroom and she was talking to the teacher and playing games and having a great time. She was happy to see me but apparently she did great and my worries were for naught. Her teacher, Miss Maria, said she was a great talker and very nice. Reese played in the gym, pee peed on the potty (twice!), napped on a little mat, and did some art projects. When we were leaving she demanded "more school" so I feel really good about this and hope that she will continue to love her new school and all the cool things she gets to do there!

Here are some pics from the last few weeks:

Hee hee...troy and reese made a friend in the pool while on vacay!

Troy enjoying a well earned and manly drink after a tough day on the slopes!

A Big Neigh Ride

2011-01-27T12:25:00.001-08:00

By far, the highlight of Reese's vacation was the horse and carriage ride on Tuesday evening. As soon as I saw that this was an activity, I scheduled it! My little girl loves horses--she loves to talk about them, to look at them in the fields, and now she loves to have them tour her around town!

She kept telling me and Troy all weekend how she was going on a neigh ride with two big neighs. She was so excited and the actual event did not disappoint. The horses were big and beautiful and they toured us around Garmisch for about an hour. We got some of the history of the town and I was amazed that many of the farm houses are well over 400 years old!

Reese, as usual, was the highlight of the event. She talked to the horses and the other guests as well. She sang songs and made sure everyone felt included in the activity! She is still talking about the event so I hope that means my big girl had a very fun time on her vacay!

Vacay!

2011-01-25T01:15:00.000-08:00

NOTE: I wrote this post on Tuesday while we were still on vacation but had trouble with my pictures uploading. We are home now and I will post about the rest of vacation very soon!

It is our 2nd annual trip to Garmisch Germany and I think we are all enjoying it even more than last year! Reese is old enough now to understand what vacation (commonly known as "vacay" around our house) is and she also knows that the normal rules do not apply when on vacay! She has been high as a kite since Saturday (the day before we left) and I think it will be a harsh reality when we return to our normal routine!

Ever since we dropped the dogs off at the kennel on Saturday, Reese has said the words "vacay" and "neigh ride" every 5 seconds. She is super excited about the big horse and carriage ride we have scheduled for tonight and she had trouble understanding that we weren't doing that activity right away. In the meantime, however, she has made the most of her break...

We arrived midday Sunday and took Troy to the slopes so he could get re-acquainted with some Alpine snowboarding. Reese and I went to a great Italian restaurant and had pizza for lunch. It was excellent and she made many friends as usual. We then checked into our hotel and got settled. After that, it was off to the pool. Although the pool is indoors, it is very cold so we stayed there for about an hour and then picked Troy up. We had a fabulous dinner out on Sunday night and then came back to our room so Troy and Reese could go to sleep. They were both exhausted by 7:30. I went downstairs in the hotel and enjoyed some me time--having a nightcap and finishing my book. It was a fun and relaxing day for all!

Yesterday we also had a wonderful day. Troy did not go to the mountain yesterday and it actually snowed all day long so we had a very relaxing day around town. We had tentatively planned to drive to Austria for the day but decided high mountain passes may not be the best place to be during a lot of snowfall. So, we all had breakfast and then Troy did some homework while Reese and I went to the kids play area. She got to ride lots of fun rides for free and I spent several dollars trying to win her a Mickey Mouse doll out of the claw machine--I am yet to get the doll but I will keep trying!

After that, Reese and I got bundled up and took a long walk in the snow. She posed for quite a few pictures but then decided she was tired of walking and that I should carry her--not an easy thing when a 30 lb baby is wearing another 10 lbs of snow gear! We met up with Troy after the snow walk and went to the much more pleasant and heated outdoor pool. It was wonderful and after soaking in that for about an hour, I went off to the spa while Troy and Reese took a long nap.

Once we were all refreshed, we went into the town of Garmisch which is very beautiful. The Bavarian style of buildings is so cool--a lot of murals and wood details. We walked around for a few hours and did some sightseeing and shopping. It was great but when our toes got super cold, we returned to the hotel to meet up with some friends for dinner. We all went out and had a great time together and some delicious Italian food!

Troy is snowboarding again today and Reese and I are getting ready to return to the pool. Then, I think we will venture downtown for some lunch and maybe an afternoon nap. Tonight is the big Neigh Ride so I will have plenty more to post about tomorrow!

I Got It...

2011-01-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Reese is so independent these days and she can do just about anything all by herself. I often ask her if she needs help with something and she says "No Mommy, I got it". She is so freakin' cute when she says this that I will ask her several times in a row if she needs help just so I can hear her say it over and over!

These last few days, however, the only thing she has got is a nasty bug. She's had a fever since Saturday and a horrible cold. Being sick is no fun at all but it's about 100 times worse when it is your kid that is sick. Every cough hurts your chest and every sniffle pulls at your heart. We've had a lot of couch snuggling time but I'm ready for my girl to be back to her sassy and healthy self! In the meantime though, I get to tell her "I got it"...I've got taking care of my baby and nursing her back to health as my top priority and she can relax and get better and let me handle this one for her.

Here are some pics from last week when she was feeling much better than she is currently.

This is Reese in gymnastics last week...she did the balance beam all by herself with the teacher just there in case she fell!

Cutie

2011-01-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

I don't have anything super exciting to post about today--we have just been going about our daily activities this past week. Reese is funny and entertaining as usual. She dances all around the house and will only listen to the Chipmunks these days. We sing along while in the car and she seems to really enjoy that.

We have been going to the pool and to playgroups and story times in an effort to meet people and have fun. It has been going great and we enjoy all of our outings!

Since not much is going on, I thought I'd just post some recent pictures of Reese. She is a super cutie and gets sweet and cuter and sassier by the day!

Enjoying her ice cream at dinner

Using her new laptop

Hiding in the locker at the pool

Waving her flag around like a crazy person!

Mary Lou Reesie

2011-01-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

Reese and I started Tot gymnastics today and I must say, she was a natural! Though not too interested in the warm up activities, she was a pro at the pull up bench and the balance beams! She tumbled and played and flipped and had a great time. She didn't want to leave when it was time and I think this will be a great new activity for her. I only have a few shots of her pre-class. I'll have to take my camera in with me next week and get some of her in action! Summer Olympics 2024...here we come!

Her leotard is totally '70s glittery! I love it!

Wild Wild Nights...

2011-01-01T07:39:00.001-08:00

Is not what we had in the Barber house last night! There have been New Years in the past when we have celebrated with fancy cuisine and chilled champagne but last night was not one of those nights. We had a nice steak and all toasted the new year with glasses of water (it wasn't even bubbly!) and apple juice! Of course our toast took place around 7PM and we were all asleep by 9PM.

Troy had to be up at 4AM to be at work and I am getting a cold and well, Reese is 2, so none of us even planned to make it to midnight last night. We did all wake up around midnight due to the extreme enthusiasm our neighbors have for fireworks but it wasn't too bad.

Although not filled with glamour the night was special nonetheless because we were all together and we are all happy and healthy and looking forward to another exciting year!

Happy New Year everyone--we hope it is wonderful and filled with happiness and health for all of our friends and family!

Christmas is the time of year...

2010-12-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

For being with the ones you love...so goes the song from my most favorite holiday movie--Christmas Vacation! Although we are very far away from our family and friends on this holiday we are very lucky to have one another and to be blessed with so many caring and wonderful people in our lives. So, it has been that sentiment that I have focused on this holiday season rather than moping around about being away from the family. Luckily I had the excitement of a 2 year old to keep me on track and she has really enjoyed this holiday season. Today--the big day--was no exception!

Reese woke up around 6:30 this morning and to be honest, I did not try to get her to go back to sleep. For the first time in many many years, I was so excited about Christmas that I had trouble sleeping. I could not wait for Reese to come down the stairs and see what Santa had brought her! I was not disappointed! She loved all of her toys from Santa (except for the rocking horse) and has played and played all day. She was also a big help in opening the gifts--she opened ALL of them! It was all Troy and I could do to get a peek at the name tag to see who the gift was for. Our family and friends sent very thoughtful gifts to us that made us feel very loved and not quite so far away today!

After playing and taking a 3 hour nap we went for a walk around the neighborhood. We do have a white Christmas and it was actually sunny today so we were greeted with a beautiful sunset! Now Reese is eating some dinner while we stay cozy in front of a fire. Troy and I will have some appetizers and champagne after Reese goes to bed and quietly celebrate this day that is indeed the time to be with the ones you love.

Whether it's beside each other on the couch or across the big Atlantic, all my friends and family are close to my heart on this day and I would like to say Merry Christmas and we love you all!

Modeling her robe and snow boots!

Modeling my new snuggie I stole from Troy!

Lots of meows in the stocking!

Checking out some gifts

Reese was very good this year!

Meows!

2010-12-24T00:57:00.000-08:00

Reese has been getting more Meows (treats) than usual lately with it being the Christmas season. She got a big cup of hot chocolate for helping me shovel snow the other day but her favorite meows come from Daddy. Each evening after dinner, Reese sits in the floor and waits for Troy to bring her the Advent calendar. They figure out the date and then open the little cardboard flap to see what today's treat will be. She never fails to get excited and often, the first words out of her mouth in the morning are "Daddy Meow"! She so looks forward to the treat and is waiting by the door each night when Troy gets home.

I don't know what we'll do come Dec 26th. It has been so easy to get her to cooperate this month because of the incentives of Santa and the Daddy Meow! I think she might be too young to understand these traditions are only for December! Perhaps Santa will bring her some meows for Christmas and we can spread those out so she can still get her Daddy Meow each night and I can still get her to cooperate!!

Troy also gets a meow each night from a giant box of Lindt Caramels!

Reese running around in my socks and her Dad's hat!

The Reality of Snow

2010-12-17T23:37:00.000-08:00

We have had a lot of snow so far this year. It started pretty early in November and there have been very few days without it since we got back at the end of November. We've got about 6 inches on the ground right now and while it looks beautiful and everything is clean and white and peaceful looking, the reality of it is that it can be a big ol' mess and interfere with our plans!

We went sledding yesterday. The concept of sledding is very fun. The reality of sledding, however, is that it took about 30 minutes to get all of our cold weather gear on and actually get out of the house. Reese is like a little marshmallow with all her gear on so she can't walk up the hill like normal and I have to carry a big ol' 30 lb baby up a very steep hill that is slippery with snow. Once we got to the top of the hill we went down it twice before Reese had enough! She has to sit in the front of the sled and because she is so little, she gets all of the snow directly in her face, which she does not appreciate! So, we came back home and piled all of our snowy wet clothes by the door. The floors stay messy and I spend a good bit of time each day wiping up the melted snow.

This morning Reese and I were scheduled to go to the Breakfast with Santa. However, because of the snow it was cancelled!

But, I don't want to be a big pessimist about the weather. As I said earlier, if you are sitting inside looking out at everything blanketed in beautiful fluffy white snow, it is gorgeous and peaceful! And that is exactly what Reese and I are going to do today. We are going to enjoy our Christmas tree and catch up on some holiday baking. We will listen to Christmas music and drink some hot chocolate on the couch while looking out at the beautiful white landscape!

I think this picture captures all the beauty of winter and the snow!

A Deutschland Christmas!

2010-12-14T23:21:00.001-08:00

Christmas time is upon us and we are very lucky to be in a place that is BIG on Christmas! There are Christmas Markets every weekend and in almost every town. Every store is overflowing with Christmas themed candy and treats. It makes it very easy to get into the spirit of things and enjoy the season.

Reese is big enough this year to get VERY excited about her treat each day from the Advent calendar. She gets her treat after dinner each night. She and Troy sit in one specific spot on the floor and eat the treats in the calendar. Her first words in the morning are "Daddy Meow". Meow is what she calls any kind of chocolate treat. It originates from her favorite treat, a Kit Kat bar which she started calling Meow Bars. I don't know what we're going to do for the next 11 months when she doesn't get a treat every day after dinner. I'm thinking I will need to go stock up on advent calendars so I have one for every month!

Our tree this year is a bit healthier than the one we had last year. I have had trouble naming it this year but have finally decided that because she is full and beautiful and strong, it will be a girl name this year. Reese says we should name her Reese but I want something a little more German, so I think this year we will go with Elke Von Baum. Elke means "noble" and Baum means "tree" so it's a good name for our sturdy tree!

Reese is having fun with the tree and lights and ornaments but it is a chore to keep her from opening all the gifts prior to the big day! Having her so excited is contagious though--it seems to bring out the inner kid in me as well!

Reese and Elke!

Reese posing with her window decor--she has since taken them all down!

Reese hanging the first ornament

Troy testing out the lights--it only takes one strand for our tree!

Cologne Christmas Markets!

2010-12-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

Today we traveled a little over 2 hours to visit the Cologne Christmas Markets. Cologne actually has 7 Christmas markets spread all over town so it was tough to figure out which ones we should attend. While I had several picked out we ended up making some spur of the moment changes that involved visiting the only indoor market--after 3 1/2 hours in the cold, we needed to warm up!

The first Christmas market we went to was the one at the base of the Koln Dom--or the Cologne Cathedral. This cathedral is enormous and the Christmas market was equally impressive and large. It was packed with people and was a little difficult to navigate but it had tons of beautiful items from around Germany.

After sampling some food and hot chocolate, we visited the Gnome's market. Gnomes were said to be very good with crafts so the market is dedicated to them. All of the stalls look handcrafted and there are tons of gnome statues and carvings. There was a merry go round so Reese and I rode that. It was a lot of fun. She loves to look at the horses on the merry go rounds but will not sit on them! Troy had a little more food there and then we set off for the river.

On the banks of the mighty Rhine sat the floating Christmas market. It was on a boat and offered great views of the river and the city, not to mention heat!

We got a couple of really cool things at the market and enjoyed the day out. When I asked Reese if she had fun, she gave me a very enthusiastic "uh huh!"

Above is the gnome market and below the cathedral market

Sankt Nikolaus Tag

2010-12-07T05:57:00.000-08:00

St. Nikolaus Day is big here in Germany. St. Nikolaus is known throughout Europe for his many miracles and secret gift giving--he was often said to leave gold coins for those that left a boot outside their house for him. He was the model for Santa Claus and is celebrated every year on December 6th.

Reese put out her boot this year and was very excited to see if it got filled with goodies or with a stick. She told me she had been really good this year and that she had done everything Mom and Dad asked of her, so she insisted that she should get treats rather than sticks.

Well I guess St. Nik agreed because when she woke up yesterday, she ran to her boot and it was full of treats! She kept saying "Nick, Nick" and was very excited about what she had received. This was a very fun tradition and I'm glad we have added it to our family. Something makes me think, however, that Reese really thinks our friend Nick (Husband of Missy) came over here and left her treats. She keeps saying his name a lot and I'm pretty sure she hasn't made the distinction between the two Nicks! Perhaps she will be extra nice to him next time she sees him!

Happy Birthday Part 3: The Finale

2010-12-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

Reese's actual birthday was on Thursday. Compared to all the parties and hoopla leading up to it, the actual day was very mellow but also very Reese-oriented.

We started the day with Reese's favorite special breakfast--pancakes! She even got chocolate chips in them. Next, we all went to the pool since that is her favorite activity. She played for a long time and it was evident that she had indeed missed her pool visits.

After leaving the pool we stopped at a small German bike shop and picked up her new bike. It's very cute and we figured she could practice riding the bike indoors all winter so when spring arrives she will be ready to hit the streets and trails!

When we got home we listened to all of the sweet phone messages from the family and watched some videos from family members as well. Reese seemed to really enjoy them and the gift she received from friends Missy and Nick.

For dinner, we dined on Reese's favorite--spaghetti! It was very delicious and then we gave her a big chocolate cupcake and sang Happy Birthday to her. I think that may have been her favorite part. You can tell how special this song makes her feel!

It was a very good day and I think my big 2 year old had a wonderful time celebrating with her parents and her beloved dog dogs!

Happy Birthday Part 2: Revenge of the Cheese

2010-11-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

The birthday queen and her court!

Reese and Chuck

Reese got to celebrate her birthday again while we were in Tennessee with the Barbers. We decided to have the bash at the Chuck E Cheese and it was a great time! The guest list included Reese (of course), Baba and Nene, Nannie and Helen, Rusty and Shelly, Ben and Trina plus their little boy Bryson, Donna and Karla and Reese's new favorite TN playmates--Charli Jo and Maddie.

The kids (and adults) ran all around and spent lots of tokens for the first 45 minutes of the party. Then we sat stage side for a show by the band and some pizza. Reese sat in the seat of honor and danced while eating her pizza and soaking in all of the entertainment. We all had some cake and then Reese got to pose with Chuck himself. After that it was on to gifts and the ticket blaster! Because Reese was a touch on the small side Maddie decided to volunteer in her place. She did us proud by collecting lots of tickets for Reese and the party ended with a few more games and some prizes for Reese!

The party was a huge success and I am very thankful for all of the friends and family that came out to help us celebrate Reese's birthday! Reese was tuckered out at the end of the day and had that wonderful glow that the birthday girl should have after a fun party!

Maddie making us proud in the ticket blaster!

Reese waving to Mr. Cheese

Hanging out on the Neigh!

Neigh!!!

2010-11-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

Troy recently dug up an old rocking horse toy from his parents' basement. He has long talked about this toy and how he could not wait until Reese was old enough to enjoy riding the horse and pinching her fingers in the old and rusty springs! OK, so he didn't want her to pinch her fingers but he warned that it was a very real possibility. However, thanks to a little ingenuity and some tape, the springs were covered and the riding commenced!

Reese was super excited as soon as she saw the horse and the pictures cannot do justice to the pure fun and joy she had when trying out her new toy. She screamed "Neigh" and jumped up on the horse as if she were an old pro!

I don't think I will get tired of watching her with this new toy and I think it's really sweet that her Daddy has passed it on for her to enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Part 1!

2010-11-13T16:52:00.000-08:00

Reese will turn 2 on December 2nd but since we will be back in Germany by then, we decided to celebrate early. The first party was today and we had it at Papa and Gigi's house in Conway. All of Reese's cousins were here--Chapel, Eli, Jude, Conor, Hailey, Jackson, and John Redden. All of the aunts and uncles on my side of the family made it as well. We were also very happy to welcome Granny, Mama Anne, RaRa, Jennifer and Anna Margaret.

This was the first party I have given for Reese and I didn't know exactly what to do but I got a lot of help from Chapel and Aunt Didi (Jodi) who are party experts! So, a big THANK YOU to the Barker Ladies for helping me out!

At the suggestion of Chapel we had a dog themed party because Reese loves dogs. We had a dog pinata, pin the paw on the dog game, doggy themed gift bags, and of course a doggy cake. Papa did a great job decorating the house and Gigi cooked up an awesome meal! Reese ran and played with all the kids and opened her gifts with the help of her big cousin. Her favorite part, however, was when everyone sang Happy Birthday. Her face lit up and I think she finally realized that all of this hooplah was all for her!

Part 2 of the birthday celebration will come in TN when we are with the other half of the family...stay tuned!

Birds!

2010-11-08T16:26:00.000-08:00

Since arriving in the states we have been staying at a lovely beach front hotel on Folly Beach. The hotel is close to Jodi's house so Reese can spend a lot of time with her cousins and I can spend a lot of time with my sister. The Barkers are notorious for their love of hotels so all of the kids came over this afternoon for a little afternoon ice cream and play time in Aunt Mimi's hotel room.

The excitement of the ice cream was quickly eclipsed by the excitement of feeding the birds that kept flying by the balcony. Chapel and Eli held out pretzels until the birds would fly in and try to get them, then they would pull them away at the last second. One bird got clever and did manage to get the pretzel from Eli and that was followed by tons of squeals and giggles from all the kids. However, as it usually does with five kids, the fun quickly got out of control and they were being mobbed by birds! We had to shut the door and watch the frenzy from inside the safety of the room. At least they had their ice cream to comfort them!

A Very Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight we took our little girl trick or treating for the very first time! We got Reese dressed up in her scarecrow outfit and set out for one of the nearby bases. They had the festivities today rather than Halloween because Sunday is very much a down day in Germany.

So, off we went to see the wizard, or in this case, the mobbed people who live on base! I mean, these people must have had 500 kids come by for candy! It just so happened that as we started walking around the neighborhoods, there was a little girl dressed as Dorothy in front of us, so that was kinda cute! Of course her parents kept talking about how cute our little boy was dressed as the scarecrow...oh, one day she will have hair!

While Reese seemed to really enjoy putting all the candy in her little plastic pumpkin, she did NOT like the people in scary masks who were giving candy out. She didn't cry but she would stop and plant her feet firmly on the ground and refused to move forward. If the mask was removed then she would ease up on her stance a little bit but usually I would just pick her up and let her hold her pumpkin out to get the treats and that seemed to suit her just fine.

I tried to teach her Trick or Treat on the way over and we worked really hard on the ol' "Trick or treat, smell my feet..." rhyme. She would babble enthusiastically so I think she got into the spirit of things! Her favorite part of the evening (aside from the candy) was of course all of the dogs that were out and dressed up!

She lasted about 30 minutes before requesting to be carried and she got quite a few treats along the way! We will definitely put this in the Success column of childhood memories and milestones and we are already excited about going next year!

Dorothy made it into this picture!

Why?

2010-10-28T11:30:00.001-07:00

Well, we have gotten to that stage that I think every parent must go through...the WHYS?

Every time I say something now, Reese says "why"? And I give her an answer and she says "why"? And so it goes for a while until I am able to distract her, which usually involves gummy bears or chocolate.

Troy said I should be expecting this for the next 14-16 years! So, I will be patient and try to answer all of my little girl's WHY questions!

Here she is looking cute in her Halloween outfit. She's the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. We can't wait to take her trick or treating on Saturday!

Bool!

2010-10-27T03:40:00.000-07:00

Reese's favorite activity these days is the pool on base. It's a wonderful facility that is only a few years old. It's big and new and pretty and she talks about it from the minute her eyes open in the morning. She calls it the "Bool" and we can't even go check mail anymore without going to the pool since the two are right beside one another.

Once at the pool, she runs to the dressing room, jumps into her suit and is out to play! She loves the many slides and the toys but her favorite activity is jumping up and down in the water, over and over again. She can even launch herself out of the pool--I call her a little Michael Phelps!

I think the pool will be a great winter time activity since we can no longer go to the playground as much and that will be just fine with Reese!

Burg Eltz

2010-10-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

We were in the mood for a short day trip on Monday so when Troy suggested we go see the Eltz Castle which is only a few hours away, it sounded like a great idea!

The Eltz Castle is one of the oldest privately owned castles in Germany. It has been in the Eltz family for over 800 years and it currently belongs to the 33rd generation--Dr Karl Graf von und zu Eltz! The castle was built in 1157 and has a very rich history.

It was built in a strategic location on a hillside surrounded on 3 sides by the Eltz River. Reese liked to refer to these as the castle's pools!

We decided to hike to the castle rather than taking the shuttle bus. It was a very pretty walk and the castle was most impressive. Very big, very old, and lots of cool stuff in their treasury--old guns, crossbows, china and jewelry!

We had fun taking in this little bit of history and will probably return to the region as it is rich in castles to explore!

Brrr...Fall is Here!

2010-10-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's not freezing yet but it has gotten quite chilly here and it seems to have happened pretty quickly. Just last week it was sunny and in the high 60s and now it is cloudy and dreary and the highs are in the 40s!

I am totally being a wimp and although I would like to sit inside and sip hot tea and eat soup, Reese and Troy will simply not allow that level of laziness in me! So, we have still been getting out but not going too far from home. September was a busy month with lots of very welcome guests and fun trips. October on the other hand has been spent close to home.

Reese and I have been going on a lot of walks and taking the dogs out for hikes in the field. There have been a lot of trips to the pool and lots of baking projects as well.

With each passing day, I can smell a few more Fall fires in the air and a new chill. And although I have been a bit complainy about the dreariness, I really do love Fall. I love the chill in the air, the switching out of summer tank tops for long sleeves and boots, snuggling up with Reese on the couch to stay warm, and contemplating what we will cook this year for all the upcoming holidays! All in all we are enjoying the new season and looking forward to the chilly days ahead!

Growth Spurt!

2010-10-06T12:11:00.001-07:00

As Reese fast approaches the 2 year mark, she is getting bigger and stronger each day. It amazes me how much she has grown this summer. It seems like almost overnight she can reach new shelves, open new doors, and cause even more trouble than before!

What were once considered safe zones where we could put things of value like computers and phones simply no longer exist. She climbs in chairs and grabs things off of the table and yesterday I had to deadbolt the front door because she kept opening it and peeking out! All of her pants she wore this summer are now too short and I have had to move her to the 2T pants which is a big milestone, for me at least!

It's crazy how fast my baby is growing up but rather than look on it with sadness I've decided it is best to look on the bright side at how I am getting such a big girl who can help around the house, put her dishes in the sink, climb up and down stairs on her own, and let herself out of the house if necessary!

I haven't taken any pictures of her this week so I will just post some of the most recent ones.

Family Resemblence

2010-09-30T03:59:00.001-07:00

It is no secret that my baby looks absolutely nothing like me. I often say that had I not given birth to her, I would swear she wasn't mine!

I have dark hair and very dark eyes and even dark skin. Reese, however, has fair skin, white blonde hair and startlingly blue eyes! I know she got the eyes from her Daddy but I could never figure out about the white blonde hair. I knew it had to be from Troy's side of the family and figured it came from his Mom.

I was absolutely shocked, however, when I saw a picture that Vincie sent back with Troy this week. It was taken around the time Troy was Reese's age. I just cannot stop staring at this picture because it looks EXACTLY like Reese--hair, eyes, face, crinkled up nose, chin--everything!

She is most definitely her Father's child and they could not possibly be any cuter!

Girls Trip!

2010-09-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

My sister Jodi and my oldest niece Chapel have been visiting for the last few weeks--hence the lack of posts. We have been very busy vacationing and hanging out and enjoying our girl time together. Troy was in town for the first week but he had to work a lot and he was out of town the 2nd week, so it really was a girls vacation.

Reese loved playing with her big cousin, whom she insisted on calling "Eli", which is the name of Chapel's brother. I don't know why she decided to call her Eli but she did all week and luckily Chapel didn't seem to mind so much.

We went to Paris for a few days and saw the city in one day! What a day it was--touring around from 10AM to 2AM! Then it was on to Versailles the next day--the palace was beyond grand but Jodi and I really loved the vibe of the town. Very pretty and lovely and I think I will definitely return.

We took the kids to Europa Park as well. It's a big park that has a different sections for many of the European countries--Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Iceland, etc. The weather was perfect and though busy, there were no lines for the kids rides we went on. The girls (and their moms) had a wonderful time!

In addition to those trips we went to the playground, to the pool, to parks, on walks, out to dinner and did lots of shopping! It was a fantastic trip and Reese and I really enjoyed ourselves. We will miss Didi and Eli but we look forward to seeing them in November!

Nene and Baba

2010-09-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

After a very fun visit, Nene and Baba (also known as Troy's parents) have safely returned to TN. This is the first visit where Reese has called them by a name and since their departure yesterday morning, she has repeatedly called out for them, hoping they were just around the corner with a treat to share or maybe a hairbrush to brush her hair.

I told them before they left that if they had to cry to wait until they got on the plane. I just can't get sappy and emotional about saying goodbye considering it is something we will have to do over and over again for the next 3 years at least. However, it tugged on my heart quite a bit to hear her asking for Nene and Baba when we came down the slide at the pool (they had been there last time waiting and taking her picture) or when we got home or even when she woke up in the middle of the night. Each time she asks for them, I tell her they had to go home and that we will see them soon and she replies with a simple "oh".

She does seem to be acting extra sweet to me yesterday and today--I think she realized she had ignored me for a week straight and that she had better make nice since she was stuck with just me and Daddy again!

So thank you Nene and Baba for spoiling our little girl for the week. She is already excited about our visit in November and is talking about seeing Papa and Gigi and Nene and Baba! I don't know what she'll do when all 4 of them are together to spoil her all at once!

Reese went into a little baby trance whenever Baba would brush her hair!

Reims France--The Mini Paris!

2010-09-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Troy decided he wanted to make a return visit to Reims France. We first went to Reims in November when Kelly Smith visited as it was the home of Veuve Clicquot champagne--one of our favorites! It was a day trip then and kinda hurried so we decided that when Troy's parents visited we would go there for an overnight trip.

It's about a 3 hour drive away so we arrived around 11:30 and began by touring the Notre Dame Cathedral. The world famous Notre Dame cathedral is in Paris, however, the one in Reims is not chopped liver! It was very big and old and beautiful. We toured around there for a while and also found the Joan of Arc statue which is located near the church. Joan of Arc helped to lead the French Army and liberate Reims during the Hundred Years War, so she is very much a hero to the city. Troy also wanted to see the statue because it was featured on the Amazing Race last season!

After a little touring and sightseeing we returned to the La Paix restaurant in the heart of Reims for lunch. This is the place we dined with Kelly last year and it warranted a return visit. The weather was perfect so we dined al fresco and enjoyed steaks, mussels, frites, champagne and chocolate mousse.

I think we know who Reese looks like!

To walk off our lunch we did a little shopping and Reese took her first spin on a carousel. Though hesitant at first, she settled in nicely and waved at all of her fans (Daddy, Baba, and Nene) each time she saw them.

We next traveled to some Champagne houses. Reims is in the heart of the Champagne Ardenne region of France and produces the only wines in the world that can be called Champagne. We went to the boutique at Veuve Clicquot since we had previously done the tour there. We purchased a few bottles and moved on to the GH Mumm Champagne house where we had reservations for a tour. The coolest thing about all of these tours is that their champagne is housed and aged in enormous limestone caves underneath the city of Reims. GH Mumm stores 25 million bottles in their caves and the other champagne houses store about as many in their caves. It really is an amazing sight!

We moved on to our home for the night--the Mercure Hotel. It was directly on the river and very affordable while still be extremely spacious, clean and all around great. Reese had been somewhat trying all day so Troy and I kept her while Vincie and Danny had dinner in the hotel restaurant. After they returned, Troy and I walked to a late dinner at La Table Anna. I had found reviews of this restaurant on Trip Advisor--my new go-to travel website. We were not disappointed! It was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel and was exceptional! Troy started with the escargot while I had a delicious Reims Ham with salad and fresh parmesan cheese. Troy's entree was amazing--raviolis filled with creamy cheese and topped with seared scallops. I had beef brochettes with fresh vegetables which was also delicious. We sipped a local rose champagne and finished with a selection of desserts. It was one of the most delicious meals we have shared in a long time and we were very happy that Baba and Nene watched Reese while we dined and had a lovely evening.

On the way back to the hotel, we agreed that while Paris is lovely, Reims is a great place to visit for a big dose of French culture and is a lot less hectic than Paris. We will probably return to both places several times but this time we really enjoyed our visit with our family and had a very memorable time!

The Rhine!

2010-09-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went on a USO tour that included a visit to a spa as well as a tour along the Rhine river in a town called Bingen. It was so beautiful and I had such a good time, I decided that we should take a day trip there while Danny and Vincie were in town. It's only an hour away so it makes for a good trip.

Unfortunately the weather clouded over and it was kinda cool and several of the activities and shops I wanted to visit ended up being closed. However, we still had a great time and enjoyed the scenery. Reese really loved the ducks and followed them around saying "Hallo" and "Quack Quack". It was all very cute until a giant swan started heading our way--it has a menacing look on its face and we didn't want to stick around to see if it meant business!

Spoiled Rotten!

2010-08-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

Troy's parents arrived yesterday and Reese is overjoyed to have someone to hang out with other than her parents! She is already being spoiled rotten and I am loving watching her interact with NeyNey and BaBa--yes, she has given them names now! Although shy when we picked them up from the airport, that lasted all of about 10 minutes. Now, she can't get enough of them and Troy and I are but chopped liver to her!

Year One!

2010-08-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

This past Friday we marked the first anniversary of our arrival in Germany--Yay! It has been a really fun and good year full of new sights, cultures, and adventures. I had some pictures printed the other day so I could make our first year travel scrapbook and there are SO many places to document. I keep remembering a few trips that I forgot to print the pictures for so the list just keeps getting bigger. Hopefully I will get a chance to finish that scrapbook before year 2 is over!

I think the thing that shocked me the most when I was reflecting on our first year was how big Reese has gotten. She was only 8 months old when we got here and I looked back at the pictures from our first days here and I was floored by how tiny and baby-like she looked. She is such a big girl now and has mannerisms closer to those of an older child rather than a baby.

So our first year was great and we have high hopes for the remaining three years we have here. The 2nd year looks to hold a lot of fun things--the Barbers will visit us again in a few weeks and then Jodi and Chapel will be here later in September. We are very excited about both visits and about seeing what the future holds for us!

I've put some pictures of Reese when we first arrived and some recent ones to commemorate the last year!

Strange Bedfellows!

2010-08-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

I think Reese must get lonely in her crib at night because she has recently shown great interest in having Apollo hang out with her before bedtime. She likes to have him in there and she covers him up with the blankets and hugs him and dances for him. This, of course, can only be done when both Troy and I are in attendance and clapping for her super cool dance moves. Apollo tries to get out after about 10 minutes but Reese has none of it and corrals him back in! They make pretty cute cribmates!

What a Great Idea!

2010-08-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

Pretty much everything in Germany is closed on Sunday. That means that we usually don't do too much on Sundays and we tend to spend the day around the house.

Well, today, we really didn't have a choice in the matter. It was the 16th Annual Erlebnistag Autofreies Lauteral. This event occurs the first Sunday in August and it involves shutting down a major highway to all car traffic and letting bikers, hikers, skaters and the like have free reign for some 35km.

Since this major highway is the only way to and from our neighborhood on the top of the hill, we knew we weren't going anywhere today unless it was on our bikes. So, Reese and I set out around 11 today to see what this event was all about and we loved it. It was so awesome to go out and ride down the highway through little towns and not worry at all about cars. There were a ton of people out and everyone was having a great time.

There were, of course, tons of roadside stops where you could get food and beer. We decided to stop for lunch at a place that also had a jump castle and balloons. Reese really wanted a balloon and I could not deny her that request! She selected the giant cow. We got a lot of funny looks with cow balloon tied to the back of the bike seat!

I really wish Troy could have joined us but he is at work--he managed to get out before the road closed and he will have to wait until it reopens tonight before he gets back home. So, other than that minor issue, I think this is a great idea and we had a wonderful time!

Our new cow balloon

Reese found some bikes she liked!

Reese doing some stretches at the halfway point!

This thing up ahead of us was a 6 person contraption!

Bay and Ba

2010-07-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Reese loves her dog dogs! She has always paid them a lot of attention but as of late they seem like the best of friends to her. She is always loving on them, chasing them, talking to them, playing in their crate, etc. She can't stand for them to be in their crate when we are at home and let's me know right away that they need to be out and playing with her. She also likes to get in the crate with Apollo and hang out for a while. She is constantly talking about them and when we are away from home, she can't wait to get back and see them.

She has shortened Bailey's name to just Bay and Apollo is affectionately known as Ba. She is so sweet to them and loves to give them attention. Of course, sometimes they don't really crave the attention and they run from her but they should know better--that just encourages her even more and she runs right after them!

This is a picture Reese took of Bailey!

Ciao Bella!

2010-07-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

I don't really know where to start...we had a big weekend! We departed our house on Friday afternoon and headed out for Loano Italy. The plan was to make it to Lucerne, Switzerland on Friday night--it was about the halfway point. The weather wasn't great and the traffic was even worse but we finally made it to our halfway point stopover for the night. After a good night's sleep we hit the road early Saturday morning, Italy bound! Unfortunately the trip that should have taken four hours on Saturday took seven--apparently half of Europe was headed to Italy for vacation! It was a beautiful drive, however, and we got to see all kinds of new things. The Swiss Alps were beautiful and we saw some of the most gorgeous crystal blue lakes in Switzerland and Northern Italy. We also went through the 3rd longest tunnel in the world--the Gotthard Tunnel. It was 17 km--a little over 10 miles long and got up to 95 degrees inthe tunnel. Absolutely gorgeous scenery on the drive even if we were seeing it at 5 mph!

Once we got to Loano, we took it easy. We stayed in a beach front hotel that had a couple of pools and a great view. We hit the beach immediately. Most of the beaches in that area are private. You pay $10/day and you have bathrooms, showers, playgrounds, nice chairs, umbrellas, etc. After the beach, we hit the pool. Then it was off to dinner and gelato and playground and an unexpected street carnival. It was a great day and was followed on Sunday by an equally wonderful day of family time at the beach and the pool.

Our little family was probably the only Americans in that town! It was definitely where the Italians go for vacation. Luckily, Spanish and Italian are similar languages so were able to communicate a little. Reese wasted no time in getting to know the locals--talking to them, pointing to the sea, telling them all about her fun vacation. They all seemed to love her and they said Ciao Bella--Hello Beautiful! We heard that a lot.

So, even though the drive was long and it made me grumpy, it was a wonderful weekend and all grumpiness was forgotten once we arrived at the beach. It was so nice to see new sights and enjoy some beach and family time!

Our First Tomato!

2010-07-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty big garden when we were in Charleston. I always had better luck (and preferred) planting vegetables and herbs as opposed to flowers. I just don't do well with flowers. But, I can grow some crazy tomato plants!

We don't have a big garden here but we did pot 3 tomato plants and a basil plant several months ago. One of the tomato plants had a very short life due to Reese's investigation as to what that little green thing in the pot was but the other two have done really well and have lots of small little green tomatoes on them. Today, our first tomato turned red. It was a little funky looking on the bottom so I picked it and gave it to my assistant gardener, Reese. It took her no time to dissect it and figure out just what was inside of the little bugger!

It's Always Better When It's Homemade...

2010-07-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

I have a ton of great childhood memories that involve churning homemade ice cream under the big trees in Granny's yard. It was usually a hot summer day and we would make pineapple ice cream and I can still remember how it tasted. We recently ordered an old fashioned hand crank ice cream churn and I bought a book full of ice cream recipes and could not wait to try them out. I did have to talk Troy into getting the ice cream maker but I didn't have to twist his arm too hard! His only request was that our first batch be peach ice cream and I was more than happy to oblige.

It was a simple recipe and resulted in a rich, creamy, fluffy ice cream that was perfect eaten right out of the ice cream maker! Reese hasn't quite gotten the hang of the churning but we are teaching her and she will be earning her keep before too long!

Summer Has Arrived

2010-07-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

It is officially summer over here...temperatures are going well into the upper 90s this week and the car thermometer even said 101 today! Although that may not seem much different to what we dealt with in Charleston, let me remind you that we do not have air conditioning here! This presents a whole new challenge of how to keep the house cool on very hot days. Luckily we have heavy shutters we keep closed during the day and that keeps the house livably cool on these hot days. We also bought a ceiling fan for our room which has been wonderful.

Today was the hottest day we've had yet so we spent most of it in the car where it was a cool and crisp 70 degrees! We went to the mall in Mannheim where Reese played for a while and Troy was able to get his beloved Starbucks Strawberries and Cream drink. Reese had some ice cream as well and the mall was considerably cooler than it was outside!

I think, however, that summer doesn't last that long over here. I remember when we got here last year it was already quite cool on some mornings and that was mid to late August. So, for now we will enjoy the nice summer weather and soak up all the warmth we can for the cool and chilly winter that awaits just around the corner!

You know it's summer when your baby has grocery store feet!

Mail Call!

2010-06-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have always loved getting mail. Not bills or junk mail but letters, magazines, books, packages and postcards have always been wonderful. It's like a little treat waiting for you at the end of the day!

Living overseas has made those special deliveries even more special. I think my purchases from Amazon have increased ten fold since we moved. This is not only because they have EVERYTHING but because they also ship here and it's fun to get my books and other things through the mail.

Reese also gets lots of mail from her grandparents and she too now gets excited about checking the mail. She got some very cute dolls from Mrs. Wheeler today and she loved both the dolls and the packaging they were in! She does not discriminate!

Hay-Lo!

2010-06-29T23:45:00.000-07:00

Not much has been going on here this week. Troy had the weekend off and we took it easy. Checked out some outlet stores in France and grilled a good bit since the weather has been exceptionally nice.

I thought I'd take a few minutes to share some Reese-isms with everyone. Hay-lo is how it sounds when Reese says Hello. And she says hello a lot! Since we don't have air here and it has been warm lately, we leave all the windows open. There is a little boy about her age that lives across the street. We'll be inside the house and she will hear him talking and she'll stop what she is doing and tell him "Hay-lo" and have a little conversation with him and then go about her business. Very cute!

She also claps for either me or Troy (whoever happens to be driving) when we go around a particular curve that is in the road a few miles from our house. We can't figure it out. It is a sharp curve so we figure maybe she is happy we made it through safely!

She has also taken an interest in taking pictures. She enjoys holding the camera up to her and I help her press the button. She's taken some pretty good photos so far!

The next two are Reese's work!