Landen Batting

I know some of you are probably getting bored with my blog because it's been more about my kids than our travels. It will be this way for a while, as I'm trying to keep Matt entertained while he is away. We'll begin more European traveling in the fall when he returns... Berlin and Italy are on the list and hopefully a few other quick trips!

I caught the end of Landen at batting practice last night. Did I mention that the practice ended early due to a big thunderstorm coming through? Yep, pouring rain... and I can't find my keys. After getting drenched and a friend finding them after about 15 minutes of searching, they were in the middle of the field of grass on the ground. Jordyn evidently decided to play with them for a while without my knowing.

Here it is!




I'm also considering making my blog private. I'll let you know more about that soon...

13 Years and Counting.....

Happy Anniversary, Matt! Nothing like being in different countries on your anniversary. Ah well... last year we were together so we wouldn't want to be too greedy by spending it together 2 years in a row.

Look how young we look! Could my bouquet be any bigger? And, I need a little powder for the shine... too funny. I would post more, but this is the only wedding picture I have over here. I left all my photo albums back in the states....

My Little Gymnastics Star

Waiting for it to start...

Showtime!



Awards



Ok. So I don't know if she's a star, but in my book she is! It was so much fun to go watch Jordyn at her first "event." She started gymnastics in January and has just loved it. It is a mom and tot class, so we get to be out there together. She has so much fun and laughs pretty much the whole time she is there.

The hardest adjustment the first few weeks was not crying when it was over. Once she got into the routine, she knew when the end was coming. Jordyn also went through a couple of weeks of being terrified of the bars, but she soon got over it and now it seems to be her favorite thing to do. Walking across the beam is definitely not her forte. She needs some work on it :-) She's too interested in what other people are doing and not watching what she is doing. She also tries to run down it 90 to nothing!

I'm posting a few pictures from the show, though some are really blurry. Landen tried to help me out while I held the video so I could send it to Matt. He did really good, it's just that the lighting is not great in there and my camera doesn't do well. Here's the video.





As a side note, I took her to the hospital this week for her kidney tests. I won't go into details but it was horrible and I never want to do that again. The good news is that her kidneys have improved and she no longer needs a daily dose of medicine!!!

Awana

Our days are going by one by one. To my surprise, they are going by rather quickly at the moment. We are unusually busy every day it seems. My list of things to do keeps growing as we count down to our big day of flying over the ocean again. I knew when I got off that plane alone with 3 kids, it wouldn't be the last time I did it alone. I even told Matt that... I was right.

Anyway, it's rare I can post about something that all 3 kids were involved in together, but today I can. Awana. Church has been a bit of an issue for us living overseas. It's not because we have to go to some great big fancy church to worship, it's just taken some adjustments and getting used to not having the luxury of visiting several churches until you find that certain one you feel a part of and it all falls into place. Here, there are 2 churches to choose from if you want to hear the sermon in English. One on base and one off. We went back and forth a few times, and ended going on base. However, there was no child care for the longest time and it wasn't until January that we found out Jordyn was able to attend Awana. So, every since then the three kids go to Awana while Matt and I attend the 5:00pm service. It's odd not getting up on Sunday morning and heading into church. When there is only one church, they have to schedule services for every denomination and the contemporary service, which is the one we enjoy is only offered in the evenings.

Back to Awana. The kids have done great learning their bible verses each week and going to their class. Some weeks it is a struggle on top of completing homework, but they have managed. They play games and have lots of fun activities for the children as well. Tonight was awards night and it was almost 2 hours long! That can feel like an eternity when you are sitting in a pew full of 2 year olds. They managed though and we made it through. It was so funny to watch Jordyn up on stage with all the other 2 year olds. All the kids got certificates and each one was recognized in some way.

On another note, Matt is settling in and doing well. His days are long and he works 7 days a week, so I can't imagine how tired he will be after months and months of that. He's had a little bit of an upset stomach this past week but seemed to be feeling much better when I talked to him tonight.

This week we have sports physicals, kidney tests at the German hospital (Jordyn), and a gymnastics show on top of our normal activities. Stay tuned...

Thankful for Technology

Who says we can't have dinner with daddy while he's away? I'm so thankful we were born at the time we were so that our children have the advantage of "seeing" daddy on the computer and talking to him. Matt is still getting settled, but he managed to get a Skype call in tonight to the kids. It just so happened the kids were eating supper so they ate dinner while daddy watched. It's not a perfect connection, the video is slow and it's hard to hear when they are all talking, but it is much better than nothing.

I can't imagine what it was like before all the technology of today. Women told their husbands goodbye and wouldn't hear from them for weeks and weeks, months and months. I am fortunate and must remind myself of that, often! Two weeks down...... many to go, but at least we have started.

Hayden's Baseball Game

Just wanted to share a few pictures from Hayden's baseball game today. I'm going to get some of Landen at his next game. He didn't have one today. Anyway, I'm really proud of Hayden. Matt and I asked for him to be able to play "up" this year with the 7 and 8 year olds. Technically, he was still 5 the first game but now he can say he's 6 so it doesn't seem so drastic. He had already played a year of t-ball before we got here, then played another year of it here. He was ready to move up into a league with actual outs and where the ball is pitched. It's amazing how much difference it makes when you have an older sibling and they are around the sport so much more. Anyway, he's doing great and we definitely made the right decision for him.

Matt got to see one game before he left. I'm so thankful that he did. Hayden asked me today if I could take pictures of his game and send to daddy and Pop. So, here they are... Nana, you may have to show Pop as I'm not sure he looks at this blog much. :-)


Hitting


On First Base


Coming around 3rd


Playing First Base





Game Over!

That Deodorant Can Be Dangerous

Ya know how in the morning, you're in a hurry and you grab that deodorant to slather it under your arms as you multitask doing other things? I suggest you pay attention to what you are doing because when it's a new container and it has that oh so little plastic shield on top of it, it HURTS when you scrape it up and down your armpit. It wasn't my first time and I'm sure it won't be my last. One of these days I'll learn. Now, I must live with the after effects for a few days. Beware of your deodorant! Maybe this is why the German's choose not to wear it???

Let the Countdown Begin!

Packing,


Presents,



Pictures,


Tears,
Driving,


Chili's for lunch,
Airport,



Flight canceled,



home again.


More tears,
More goodbyes,


More driving,
Subway for lunch,
Airport.


This time he didn't return with us. It was a long week, but we made it. The kids had a rough time of it, but they are trudging through and today has been a better day. To my surprise, I have been able to hold it together in front of the kids for the most part. It's not until the quiet hits and the night is upon us, that I began to feel the tears fall again. Thank you for the prayers. We have felt them. Please keep Matt in your prayers over the next several months. Pray for his safety and for his time to go quickly. We love you and miss you already!