Veteran's Day 2007

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The Burg Eltz Castle

Curran just bought a new schwanky camera and wanted to
start taking pctures right away. He decided he would
take some pictures of Grace and she was more than happy
to help him out.

Can you say cute!!!

Gracie dresses for Reformation Night

O.K. I know this doesn't look like a reformation costume,but it was too cute not to dress her in it. We celebrated at our church and everyone dressed in costume and diffrent people stood and talked about there part in the reformation. The kids were all in costume

and there were games and lots of candy. With 5 kids that is way to much candy to have in the house!! Grace had a great time and was wired from too much sugar.

Gracie

Happy 40th Birthday Mike!!!

Mike turned 40!!! I am so happy, because I turned 40 last year and he is finally catching up to me. We are all so blessed to have such a great man to lead us and love us all so much. We really enjoy it when he is home spending time with us and he always gets us laughing. He is truly my best friend. We had a fun party at home and the boys put up funny banners . The candles on the cake almost set off the fire alarm. Grace loved all the smoke, she is reaching up trying to grab it in the picture.

Oct 2007

It is getting colder here and we are all enjoying the fall colors. Grace has been sick with some kind of flu bug,so the day we went for pumpkins she just wanted me to carry her around and was not so thrilled about picking out a pumpkin. Everytime we would put her down for a picture she would scream,poor thing, so the only picture we got of her is on Mike's shoulders. She is usually always happy so today is a bummer!! The boys all got pumpkins and Rylan got a light one to make me some pies. He enjoys cooking and baking and has been known to make a scrumptious chocolate cake. All the boys are busy with school and after traveling all summer it is nice to just have time at home.

PUMPKINS

Swimming

The weather gets pretty gray all winter long in Germany, so most towns have nice indoor pools with slides and play areas for the kids. There's a great snack bar for food and coffees. We always get french fries and my kids like them the German way with mayo {YUK!!} It's a great place to come in the afternoons when school is done. The boys always finish school faster when they know we are going to swim. This day a bunch of mom's met with a bunch of kids. I thought this was a great picture! One thing that is different in Germany is there are no rules. There may be a few, but they are never enforced. Therefore if you kill yourself it's your own fault. I have to remind my boys that 15 people on the slide at once probably isn't a good idea.

Curran WinsThe Photo Contest

Curran saved his money and was able to purchase a pretty shwanky camera. You usually don't see Curran now without a camera around his neck. He has been taking a photography class and has been taking family pictures for people in our church. He really enjoys it. Curran entered a photo contest and won a 1st and a 3rd place. The first place was a picture through a wine glass called Glass View.The 3rd place was in the nature category and was a black and white picture of a dock at the lake where my sister lives. It was called Summers End. The pictures will go on to another base wide level for competition. We Hope he wins!!!

Oktoberfest

Curran Opening Gifts

CURRAN TURNS 13

Curran is now officially a teenager. I have heard all kinds of horror stories of what happens to nice children at this age. Hormones raging and all kinds of attitudes. I have to say by God's grace alone I am totally enjoying life with my older boys. There is always something totally funny happening between my two oldest boys and of course we all have to get involved in whatever it is. We have been doing a lot of laughing lately,the two of them are quite comical and they know it. Curran is planning to have a sleep over for his birthday also. It isn't the same kind of party as my younger boys. This party has beverages served like mountain dew and cappucinos with a lot of blog checking and you-tube videos. Then they stay up, eat a lot of junk food,watch movies and in the morning they actually sleep in. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful boys. WE LOVE YOU CURRAN!!!!

Hadyn Opening Presents

Hadyn's Party

HADYN TURNS 10

Our little boy is growing up. It's like I don't notice it until they reach double digits. Yesterday he was still little, but today, 10 WOW!! He opened presents at home and then he planned to have a bunch of friends for a bonfire and sleep over. They were outside at the fire for a long time cooking smores with big sticks of course. Then they played some flashlight tag down in the woods, but after several injuries we thought we should call them inside. They stayed up late and got up early,but that's what makes a great party. Happy Birthday Hadyn WE LOVE YOU!!!

Lets go to the castle!!

It's a great sunny day and Mike is off work, so we have to do something, we just can't sit inside. The boys suggest the castle. It's a ruin only a 15 minute drive from our house and there are some great hiking trails too. Grab the backpack for Grace and we're off. We plan long trips like this too. The boys have to bring their own sticks, like they won't have any in the woods when we get there,but I'm informed that the sticks we are bringing are special sticks. They look like ordinary sticks to me. Grace is able to run,jump and climb now, so she is off chasing the boys. She really is becoming a little mother, she would tell them what to do if I'd let her. They all adore her and she is fully aware that most of the time she is the center of attention. She is such a joy and blessing to all of us.

Charging The Hill

This is what I see as I get out of the car. Curran is already over the hill. You would think these boys never get out to play.