Birthday Party!!

We love birthday parties! David is (almost) 17! He had a group of frineds over to celebrate - I mean, really, when do the boys not have friends over, anyway? But, celebrate we did! Cake, ice cream, presents - the works!

Isn't this a cowgirl birthday party?

Everything seemed pretty normal...

Until David was suddenly attacked - by a pink cowgirl hat!

Wonder where that came from??

Later, David and his best friend, Chris clowning around

Squadron Christmas Party

Keith and I trade off Scout activities...so today he had the boys out selling Christmas trees at our fundraiser and I had the pleasure of taking Hannah to his new squadron's Christmas party for the kids. It was tons of fun and nice meeting the new people that he works with. Hannah had fun until some big guy in a red suit showed up. Then...

Hannah's first glimpse of Santa

She was not real thrilled with going to see this man. I kept her off to the side until all the other kids were finished. I made sure that she noticed that Santa was giving out candy. So...

Lured by the idea of candy...

She finally made it onto his lap. Now we did not discuss asking Santa for presents. I mean, we don't really do a lot of Santa at Christmas - that is not what it is about. But, Santa is a fun game to play, but anyway, I didn't tell her that Santa was going to ask what she wanted for Christmas. When he finally asked the question, she answered the one thing that she was really there for, "Candy!". He piled it on! I think she had almost as much candy then as she got at Hallowe'en!

The right way to eat an Oreo

Are kids born knowing how to do this?

Snow!!

Snow already??!! It is not even Thanksgiving, yet. Oh well, when life gives you snow...make snow angels! I did not even have to ask the boys to take Hannah outside to play - they are so helpful! I did have to make hot chocolate and do several loads of laundry - but what a small price to pay!

Snow!!

A self-portrait, I am sure.

Making snow angels.

All Hallow's Eve

Hallowe'en again. I have to admit that we reused Hannah's ladybug costume from last year. It's not like she actually got to go out in it last Hallowe'en; I think she only wore it for about 30 minutes.

This year she went to our church's Fall Festival - and made out like a bandit. The boys joined in on the fun and worked a few booths. It is such a blessing to have children who enjoy serving others!

Hannah in all her glory!

Aaaaaaayyy! The Fonz is here!

And if you get lost, Tracker Jeremiah is here to help!

Notice that Hannah is in all the pictures. Keeping her out of a picture is like trying to keep from getting wet in the rain!

Book-lover

Hannah loves books a lot. She usually takes three or four of them to bed or nap with her, and sometimes sleeps with stacks of them on her bed. I have to go into her room after she falls asleep and remove the books so that she has a place to sleep.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah...a man of many talents!

Bandaids!

Hannah was a little too quiet. It took me a little while to find her...hiding behind her door...and playing with "ban-aids", with every bandaid in the box aptly placed over each mysterious "boo-boo" all over her legs. Hopefully we will not actually need a band-aid until I can get to the store again.

Jeremiah's Birthday Party

Jeremiah's birthday party was a bit delayed for our move on to base housing. Moving is "nicht so guet", but living on base will certainly have its benefits. For Keith, it means faster DSL. For David and Jeremiah, it means a much shorter commute to school and closer proximity to their friends. For me, it means a park next door, and not having to drive to base to pick the kids up from their extra-curricular activities, saving me MANY hours a week!

Well now, back to this here party...and now 2 teenagers in the house!





Jeremiah and his friends...playing video games, of course!





Sleeping beauties...



The "Wake-Up Monster" has arrived!!

It was a lot of fun - probably one of Jeremiah's best with all his friends in attendance. Welcome to teenagerhood, Jeremiah!

???

Sometimes you just have to wonder...

When you have teens in the house, you never quite know what all the pictures are for!

Independence Day

One of the challenges living overseas is celebrating American holidays in American style. I mean, what do the Germans really care about our independence from the British? They are cordial about it, but for them, it really means nothing. so, the bases here really try to offer something to make us feel a little more at home. This year, Keith's squadron took the celebration a little further with a cookout, bouncy castle, ball games, movies and even outdoor RockBand! It was a lot of fun and nice to be able to enjoy the fireworks without having to look for a parking place!


Hannah in the bouncy castle



Soccer, anyone?



A perfect view to watch the fireworks!



RockBand, anyone?



Jeremiah raising the roof!

Rothenberg

Rothenberg is one of Germany's most popular walled cities from the Middle Ages. It is a little touristy, but not too much. We went with our church group and our next-door-neighbors and had a really great time. A historic detail is that during WW2, Rothenberg was saved from total destruction by the American Secretary of War. The town was occupied by the Natzis and the Secretary of War ordered that it be taken without artillery fire to save the historic portions of the city.

David in the City Square

Jeremiah, David, and Hannah on the fountain in the city square

I said "Smile!", not "Pick the flowers!"

Our family and our neighbors on the stone "steps" under the wall to the city

Hannah and Mommy in the garden

David and Jeremiah in the stockades!

Puppy Love

Bruno loves Hannah and Hannah loves Bruno!

Two Song Artists in the Making?

Hannah practicing for a lead singer position!



Actually, she is trying to help Jeremiah sing in Rock Band...or is she trying to eat the microphone? Hmmm, we can't tell!

Wet Fun in the Sun!

Here in Germany, there are not a lot of days where it is warm enough to go outside and play in the water. Today was really no exception, but "too cool" to us must mean "warm enough" to Hannah. She loves to wear her swimsuit, even if she is not going "wimming". Today was no exception...and when she caught Daddy outside refilling the dog's water bucket, she let herself outside to get a little bit wet!



First a little wet by the spray...



...then one foot in...



...now try the other foot...



...OK, a leg...



...now both feet...



...oooh! Cold!



Good thing the dogs are not thirsty right now. Even better that Daddy got finished cleaning out the dish BEFORE Hannah got in!

Naps are not Sacred

Poor Jeremiah, trying to take a nap. Wake up, Bubba!!



Certainly you were not trying to sleep!



Fine, if you will not get up and play with me, I will play with your computer!

Father's Day

Keith is such a great father and husband. We are so blessed that we have a godly head of our household. Hannah certainly loves her Daddy!

A Day in the Life of Hannah

Life is good...and Hannah loves yogurt!

She eats it all by herself...without making a mess (almost)!


Outside to pick some flowers; hope the neighbor doesn't catch us!

(Kidding, they are in our garden.)

A quick game of basketball, or was that just holding the ball??

Finally inside for some homework.

Now take a look at that Algebra test...a 91! What a smarty...mind you it is Jeremiah's, but who is telling?