Okay, where has the time gone????

We prepare and anticipate, think about gifts for loved ones, food for the occasion and all that fun and enjoyable things this special season brings and then it seems to be over so quickly. Maybe it's just me, but I am always hoping for more Christmas; more time, more fun, more conversations, more play, ... Yet it was very nice and I didn't want it to end. No, not yet!!! And once again, nobody listened!

Daddy says I'm cute

It was a great to hear Luke this morning shouting: Daddy, Daddy, Santa has been here already! By the time Luke had seen the gifts (which was right as he walked from his bed to our bedroom) Lani had already walked past them numerous times. Interesting how oblivious 2 year olds can still be. Once discovered, it didn't take long for them to start opening. Christmas is so much fun with little kids. There were lots of: "Cool", "Awesome" and "Oh, wows". I think everything was a hit!!

In the late morning family and friends came over. After some visiting, we had some delicious food. As you can imagine, everybody was stuffed and there was tons of food leftover but I am looking forward to not having to cook for days (even though I enjoy the cooking and baking so much).

This was one of our crafts. We had a blast - needless to say, they went straight in the tub.

We will have pumpkins growing on our patio next year. This one was still leftover from Halloween and we all thought it was time to get rid of it. Looks like Luke and Lani understood destroy instead of remove or get rid of - I need to get their hearing checked.

Santa and the Christmas Fun

Alrighty, it's been a while again. I just hope that I'll be able to get my life organized again someday. I never quite realized what people were talking about, this being the hectic time of year. Having made sure to get the shopping done early and being somewhat organized, it still has been really really busy the past two weeks. Christmas party here, there and everywhere. Oh, don't think I'm complaining. They were all fun and as you probably know, I love a party, no matter where or when. Nevertheless, I haven't gotten things done, this blog being one of them.

Here a little summary of the different parties. On December 6th was Nikolaustag. That's always that date and this year it was a saturday. There you have it, a weekend and a reason, all that's necessary for a party. We got our german community and some american friends together, everybody brought some goodies, we had organized a nice clubhouse and most important a german Nikolaus. Well, the german part isn't essential, but it was great, since most of the kids speak german and it is a german holiday. Luke said a little Christmas rhyme and Lani sang Twinkle, Twinkle little star for Nikolaus. Otherwise they wouldn't have gotten any gifts from him. That's the rule and of course I told my kids about that rule (it's not mean, is it?).

Last week we had the Christmas parties at school. It is so incredible and exciting to see how much Lani has changed during the first half of the school year. She has grown up a lot and has become much more confident around other people. She can still be clingy and shy, yet nothing compared to before. And..if I haven't told you already...she is everything BUT shy and calm at home. Lanis party was fun, but unfortunately they didn't have a little show this year. We all enjoyed each other though. Luke's party was a lot of fun. Since they are a little older, they had quite a show and he was one of the biggest participants. He loves to sing (why wouldn't he, he loves to talk all day long, so why not sing too, right?!) and dance. That boy's got some rhythm too. Jay and I are really proud of our two kiddos.

Most of the pictures below (and the one above) are from Santa's Village. We went there last week. It's in Huntsvilles constitution village and it's all decked out for christmas and kids. They had a maze, cookie decorating, reindeer, snow machine, Santa, Mrs. Santa, choir music, sleigh,.... The kids had a blast and therefore we did too.

We were making christmas cookies - huge mess, tons of fun

Luke is trying to control his imaginary reindeer



A little girl and her daddy, or maybe

A daddy and his little girl

Smiley boy

One proud mommy

Our Christmas tree.....or what it looked like that day (changes daily, due to the decorating sense of our daughter)

Help, help, my kids need beds. They have to sleep in the tree box!!! Donations are gladly accepted at our location :O)

Visit from Good Old Germany

The last two weeks have just been awesome. My cousin Lars and his girlfriend Andrea came to the US and honored us with their visit. They spend 2 weeks here and about 1 1/2 weeks with us. It was so much fun and we were very sad to see them leave. Lars and Andrea got to see a lot of places (Mobile, AL, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville,...) and I think they had a good time. Last Sunday Jay and I went with them to Tennessee Titans game in Nashville. I didn't think I would have that much fun at a Football game. Unfortunately the Titans lost (their first and only game this season so far). So, FYI, we are no lucky charms!! After the game we went downtown to listen to some music and have some beers and dinner before heading home and being reunited with our kiddos.

On Turkey day we had a traditional Thanksgiving meal. My thought was the two Germans should have a real Thanksgiving experience. The food was delicious (of course it was, I made it and I have to say so) and the company was great.

All around, it was fun and nice. There isn't any better company than some really nice easygoing people we can simply feel comfortable around and be ourselves.

A laid back afternoon at home

On the way to the Football Game

Lani and Andrea while touring Lynchburg, TN

Lani was helping me make Pie Crust

Another one of those casual times

Smoky Mountains

After all the excitement of Halloween and Luke's 4th Birthday had passed we went on a nice extended weekend vacation (planned by Jay!!!). I was very thankful, since our trip to the beach this year didn't happen. He rented a very luxurious cabin in Pigeon Forge, Smoky Mountains Tennessee. It was great! We left Saturday morning and returned Tuesday afternoon. It's only a 4 hour drive from us. Even though we missed the Indian Summer up in the Mountains, the valley was still beautiful and colorful. The cabin was in a nice and secluded Resort. Luke loved the hot tub!!!! We drove up the mountains on Sunday. It was cold, but no snow (which was actually very okay with me). I did see some snow in a pile on the side of the road though. After a stop at a Mountain Farm Museum we went to eat and headed back over the mountains towards Gatlinburg. Luke was arguing with us that he wasn't tired at all. It wasn't but 2 minutes later (at the most) I turned around and he was sleeping. Lani of course wouldn't! We discovered a place called Clingmans Dome. It is the highest point of the Smokies (6643 feet high). We parked, Luke awoke and hiked up the steep hill. It was hard work to get two tired kids up there, but it was so worth it. Beautiful - just breathtaking.

Monday was more of a kid day. We saw the sharks at the Ripley's Aquarium, went up a Tram to Ober Gatlinburg where the kids got to see some bears and rode a Trolley, besides other minor things. At night, after Dinner, we went to a Christmas shopping place. It was huge and I got lost among all the trees, garlands, balls and what not.

It was a awesome! There is so much to do, we are looking forward to our next trip up there. I can highly recommend a trip up there.

Beautiful, isn't it?

On the way down from Clingmans Dome

On top of Clingmans Dome

View from our front porch

It was a blast!!

Luke had been waiting so patiently for this Halloween and his party. We decided to celebrate his birthday with a Halloween party on Saturday. A few days early, but he didn't mind at all.

He couldn't wait to get dressed up on Friday. Of course he loves to go to peoples houses just to say hi anyway and now he even got some candy for doing so. What a deal! He had so much fun and had such a biiiig smile on his face when he got back to the house. Lani isn't so outgoing and didn't care about wearing her fairy wings too much either. She went out for a little while and then we stayed home and handed out candy. It is so interesting to me, how different my kids are. All in all I would say she enjoyed it though.

We really tested Luke last week. He had to wait for Halloween and for his party. He passed the test and I am so proud of him for how he handled it. His party was awesome...I believe. Parties always go by so quickly to me and I feel like I didn't get a chance to really talk to anybody. And of course then I start thinking and thinking and thinking.... oh well, back to the party. We had a ton of kids here. Luke wanted to have all his friends to celebrate with. Since it was a day after Halloween, we asked the kids to wear their costumes. I tried to make cakes and snacks halloweenish too. The kids really seemed to like that. We had a pumpkin pinata and that thing didn't want to break. All the kids tried their hardest. After all the kids getting their turn twice, I gave it a couple of whacks. The kids cleaned everything up, even the tiniest stickers I had put in their - that was great and I was thankful for that, since I didn't want to sit on the ground later and pick up all those little pieces from in between our patio stones.

Fun Fun Fun

Saturday was fun! It was a busy day and we didn't have any time to get bored (which is the key to my sanity).

The kids and I went to Sci-Quest where they had a Truck-a-thon. There were moving trucks, fire trucks, army trucks, dog catcher trucks, tractors, bulldozer and a lot more. A very important one was the Ice Cream Truck. Of course my kids had a Popsicle at about 10:30 in the morning. It wasn't warm either. The moving truck gave out lollipops, oh what joy! I was able to put those away until after we had a PB sandwich and some Goldfish though. Go Mami!!!! The kids climbed all over the trucks and sat in the drivers seat, honked the horns (you can imagine the concert). It was awesome! We ran into friends of ours and Luke had a lot more fun with his friend Liam and his dad than if it had only been boring old me.

And here a little story about the quality stuff our army gets to work with: There were two Humvee and the boys looked at and sat in both. The one had a look out (you have to excuse my ignorance, but I honestly have no clue about the proper descriptions) and you sit in a sling to look out. Then you turn a handle and the whole thing turns 360 degrees. Luke had a blast turning and turning and oops...the handle came off. One of the soldiers laughed and just said: That shows the stuff we have to work with; a 4 year old can break it. He was able to fix it though. Leave it up to my boy!!! He'll find a way.

After naps we went to Disney on Ice. The kids loved it. They were just smiling and watching. Well Lani only sat for a certain period of time. Too much to climb on for her to waste time sitting nicely. She did wave at Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy Duck and yelled something in "laniish". Luke enjoyed it a lot too. He of course had to look at everything in a somewhat analytical way. "Mami, why are they doing that up there?" He was watching the workers change the set, instead of looking at the skaters. "Mami, how did the mermaids open those shells?" "Mami, are those things on wheels?" "Mami, look there's an elevator" .... Overall the kids really enjoyed it and clapped and waved. At the end Lani blew kisses at the characters. Jay and I had fun too.

This morning was an interesting one to say the least. Jay had sound duty at church and the kids and I are having a lazy day at home. I was doing dishes in the kitchen, Luke went to the potty and Lani was playing with her kitchen. Luke is screaming for me, telling me he was done with you know what. It took me a sec to get my hands dry. When I get to the bathroom, my sweet little girl is standing there wiping her brother. And Luke is acting like it's the most normal thing. I had to laugh, it just looked too funny. Lani had to get on her tippy toes to reach and well, she's only 2. We got everybody all cleaned up and hopefully this was the first and last time that happened.

Summary of a few weeks

Okay, I don't even want to know exactly how much time has gone by since my last (and actually first) entry. I'll just move on!

Things got a little busy here for a brief period of time. We are kinda looking for a new house and actually found one we like, or shall I write "liked". The offer was made, accepted and then came the Home Inspection. That didn't go over so well and the Seller wanted to reduce the price and not get the actual work done. From working in the remodeling business I know that there are often hidden problems. Anyway, no deal! So now we are happy again/still in our house here and wait for something else to come up. Who knows, with the way the economy is, it's probably better that way.

The kids are doing great. Lani is learning so much from Luke. It's amazing. And if you are wondering whether it's good stuff or bad...well both. She can almost sing the ABC song and can count a little. Luke sings the song: One, Two buckle my shoe... a lot and Lani sings with him. Half her words are completely mispronounced but she gets the numbers right. The song ends with: Nine, Ten - a big fat hen... and Lani changed the lyrics to Nine, Ten - a big fat hell. Oops!

They both still talk about Germany a lot. Luke and Lani talk about everybody often and slowly but surely I am getting more information from Luke about what he experienced when I wasn't around (like the hiking trip with Opi). He talks so much that I sometimes just feel like taping his mouth shut, but yet, I don't really get informed about valuable, interesting or important things by my son. So what does he talk about every day, all day long, every second that he's awake? Just jibberjabber as I call it. Oh yeah, Luke solution to our problem with the school district that we live in is: Let's just move to Omi and Opi. The school are good there!

A few weeks ago we went to Little Rock to visit PapPap and Grandmama (aka Rod and Lenore). As always we have a ton of fun, but the time is too short. Since Lani has grown up so much and isn't the shy little thing anymore, Grandmama finally has gotten some of the loving she so patiently has been waiting for. While I appreciated her patience (we all now people that just want to make kids do things they don't want) I was very happy Lani has opened up. Luke wasn't a problem, as you can imagine. He hasn't met a stranger yet.

Here are some Halloween pictures. Our son is sooo obsessed with Superheros. He is always playing Superman, Spiderman or Batman. Where he get's it, I don't know. He has never seen any cartoon or movie of any of those. It's fun to watch him and listen to him come up with all these things the superheros do. I have to remind him though, that they are good and do good things (like don't hit sister, don't backtalk to Mommy,...). Doesn't he look cute as Batman? Since we don't have a costume for Lani yet, she is wearing Luke's Puppy from 2 years ago. Jay is determined to turn Lani into the Joker though.

First Attempt

Alright, I created this account a few weeks ago, thinking I would start writing what's happening on a (hopefully) weekly basis or worst case bi-weekly basis. Well.....it has not started very well at all, has it?! I guess I will do, as I do so often, I will try to better myself. Bet you have heard that one before. We shall see......or read.

Luke and Lani are down for a nap right now after a fun morning at school. (Okay, it's supposed to be, but Lani is just talking and screeching in her bed. You know how it is, right?!) Luke is loving his school and asks about every morning if it's a school day. He goes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday he would be okay to go to school, but he is happy to just stay home with me. Which that's good for my mommy heart. He calls Tuesday and Thursday "Eli Day", since that is when his buddy Eli is at school too. They really love each other and it is so cute to see the two of them together. Lani on the other hand is a different story. She is alright now, but didn't like being away from me at all in the beginning. She likes the school and the teachers, but just didn't like being away from me. That was hard for me. My mind knows it's okay and I am not damaging her for life, but it was a different story for my heart. Ever heard of the expression: Mommy guilt? Well, yeah, thats a major thing in my life. Now, after about 5 weeks of school, Lani is learning that I come and pick her up with a big smile on my face. I love when they walk out of that school towards me. They are sooooo cute.