the calm before the storm...

the storm I like to call our lives that is! I'm not sure what I was thinking when I signed both Emma and Mason up for soccer this fall. Probably that they both would enjoy it and it would be a fun after school activity for them? I think I forgot to factor in games, practices, snacks and oh yeah that I am missing the other adult in this family! Oh and on top of this, Emma starts ballet in two weeks! So on Tuesday and Thursday both kids have soccer practice, on different ends of the game fields, Mason has games on Friday night, Emma plays on Saturday afternoon and dance class is Wednesday night. Throw in a few graduate seminars, FRG meetings and the fact that Emma will be attending a REAL school and we might have created a monster of a storm! Oh well, we like chaos and being busy I guess. This will definitely test my level of planning and organizational skills. Whew! I'm tired from typing this out! Here are a few pics of little man doing his best "david beckham" pose. hahaha.

what we did this week...early addition!

I'm having to update you all today because the kids and I, plus one super sitter, are heading to Ramstein AB this weekend for my very first Masters seminar. To say that I'm nervous is an understatement, but I am also very excited! Ramstein is home to the largest military exchange in Europe, probably the world...but I'm not sure. As much as I am excited to some very needed shopping at their PX and commissary, I don't know how much free time I will have! But I have researched the hours for each and determined that it can be worked out! haha! The kids and I also celebrated my birthday this week, I'm pretty sure I had food poisoning on my birthday, but it was still a wonderful day with them. The kids started back to the German school this week and boy did they miss it! Emma only goes until the 31st of August and then she is done, which is kind of sad since she loves this school! I think she is starting to get excited about the 'big' American school though and it doesn't start until September 6th!

I believe it is German tradition to make these 'school kid' cones for children that will be starting their first year of formal school(Kindergarten). Since Emma has been attending class with the German kids who will be attending the big German school next month, she was included in this cute tradition! Inside the cone, adults put candy, surprises and school supplies! So cute! Emma also made this cone in her class!!
Each student was able to pick out a 'theme' for their cone, of course Emma picked the fairy princess!
Emma with her wonderful teachers! I'm not sure there will be a dry eye on the last day of school for her! These ladies have been more than wonderful in helping incorporate Emma into the German kindergarten and exposing her to the language! Susanne, Sophia & Marianne
Mason's normal sleeping arrangement...I have to tell each one goodnight, give kisses, hugs and tuck them in...correctly. Mason will let me know if I the 'tucking in' wasn't up to par. :)
Mason with his two loves, Daddy and Bumblebee...life is complete for this little man, for right now at least...
The Daddy Dolls came in the mail this week and I was a bit worried about the reactions. Emma really misses Dave so I wasn't sure if it would make her more sad or upset, but she was very happy to see his face! I really had no clue how Mason would react, he still thinks that Daddy is going to walk in the door at the end of the day and that is hard for him to comprehend. He seemed pretty excited to play with Daddy and even more excited to see Daddy and Bumblebee play together! Boys!
Honey sent this great book that I had wanted for a while! It is a great tradition to start with the kids!
Who is going to be the cutest kid at school? This girl. Her backpack is amazing!!! I want it.

busy busy bees are we

My new textbooks for the first grad class...very exciting!!!
This has been a popular week for mail in our house! We are SPOILED ROTTEN! I'll show you what we got later on...
I did want to include these beauties. Emma is having the birthday party of the century next month and both sets of grandparents are supplying special treats and favors...these came from Honey yesterday. She is going to be SO excited...

what we did this week...

I made these babies for our weekly girls dinner night. This night should not be confused with our weekly pizza night! These are red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting...yummo!!!
My sweet friend Linda made me a faux cap and diploma since I wasn't able to walk in the UMUC commencement ceremony, they only have one and it was in May...so this leads to....(see next pic!)
Fun graduation modeling photos that my mother would take of me! Instead, I did self photos...haha. Here I am with my diploma....
And the lovely cap...

Sorry for the lack of photos and fun information this week, it was kind of rushed! I was trying to wrap up my last two finals before I was officially considered 'complete' with my undergraduate! Sometime next month I will be the proud recipient of a Bachelors of Science in Social Science! woot woot! This truly would not have been possible without the endless support from my family and friends, sure I did the work but they cheered me on! And watched my kids and helped when I stuck on paper topics and answered surveys and the list goes on! I start my graduate program on Monday and I honestly say that I am EXCITED! A bit nervous about being back in a 'real' classroom but super excited to learn about the world of counseling! I will only be taking one course this first session so I expect to have lots more time on my hands to blog and take pictures! I am trying to get some pictures from Dave so we can show you a bit of his day to day operations in the sand. Oh and the birthday party of the century is being planned for a very special princess so be ready for that picture overload!!!

the day we had coffee with a General...

Today General Hertling traveled to our small post in the back-country of Bavaria to probably do some other important Army business, but wanted to stop in and check on our group of spouses. I think VIPs are checking in on us often because we are just a company deployed in support of a whole different unit, not our own...so it's sort of unique I guess? It is really nice that they think of us though. His wife had suggested the organization that donated the Battalion Buddies that I blogged about before, so all the kiddos brought their bears in for him to see. He didn't make a huge speech or to-do which I thought was very considerate of him, he acknowledged that we all had small children who were antsy, hungry, needed the potty and so on. Emma did win him over with her toothless grin and sweet southern bow. So, he just had to hug her. I don't blame him, she gets away with a lot in this house.

what we did this week...

Another week down! This last week pretty much flew by because we had things scheduled everyday, from playgroups to coffee to pizza night. I turned in the last term paper for my undergrad and I have to say it feels pretty amazing! Ask me again next week though, when I am reading through my syllabus for my first grad class, lol! We were able to also have what has become a weekly get-together at our house last night. Bad Lyndsay, I have NO pictures from it! I really love having them on the weekends because I find that those are the days that drag the slowest. We had some amazing food, company and even played a hilarious word game that had us all feeling less than stellar in the brains department! Here are the pictures from our week!

A very happy girl after getting to shake hands with the cast of the USO Sesame Street show!
The USO put on a FREE show for military kids with the cast of Sesame Street, it was about a little girl having to move to a new base and leave her friends behind...very fitting.
Mason was very excited about the show, but not so comfortable with the characters coming too close to him!
What happens after the toy gets too close to your face...see picture below.
When the kids walked into the show, the USO volunteers handed out these great light up toys, until the kids figured out they could spin really fast...Emma wrapped my hair up in hers and Mason hit himself in the face multiple times with his...lol.
Emma wanted to choose dinner one night, so she picked a spinach, cheese and bacon tortellini bake. I love that she is such a good eater!!!
Posing during the Marshmallow fight...
Mason proceeded to shoot me, then gave me kisses. I guess that makes up for it?
He was very 'into' pelting his sister with the marshmallows...
On Tuesday nights, a little gasthaus down the road from our town has a discount pizza night. So, we have made it our girls night out, with children of course. I LOVE their pizza, as you can see not much is left of this one! The owner is very sweet and sets aside a section of the restaurant for us girls to take over for a few hours. He also makes this wonderful hot sauce that compliments the pizza perfectly! I know you are thinking, hot sauce and pizza? It works, I promise.

do the slugs like marshmallows?

We will find out this week, that's for sure! Side note, the children are wearing jackets because the high this week is....60. Oh, summer I would tell you that I miss you and to come back...but you were really never here! :)

what we did this week...

Biggest news of the week???

We got to snip one of these off!!!

Well, we survived our first week into this deployment! I knew we would, but it seemed to drag at times. This was also the last week of school before the German school break. The kids will be out for two weeks before returning for the new school year. Emma is schooling it up, she will attend the last week of August at the German school before moving onto Kindergarten on post. She is a bit nervous about leaving her German friends behind but I think she is excited for 'real' school as well. I had lots of get togethers with my girlfriends this week, I think we needed things to look forward to, so we just made up excuses to meet up! Last night was a dance party using the Xbox Kinnect. I'm just glad there is no video evidence of my performance to Lady Gaga's Poker Face! I think the kids enjoy getting together as well because they can all relate to missing Daddy. Rio was purchased this week, and if you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for???!?! It is by far the cutest animated film I have seen in a while, and trust me...I see them ALL. I really like the latin soundtrack too. Dave is doing well, flying a lot, but that is his job. School is winding down for me, but not for too long! My first graduate class starts an entire day after I graduate with my Bachelors of Science in Social Science. An entire day off, who would have though?! No, I am very thankful because I am able to have this paid for through my veteran's benefits.

These two were supposed to be in time out on the stairs...but ended up playing around and trying to win me over...
some special gifts arrived last week that I've been hiding until I get the "I'm bored!!!" during their school break...I expect to hear it within the next 24 hours...
Yummy cherry coconut cupcakes I made for the dance party...I can use coconut in everything now that Dave isn't here to tell me how disgusting it is. :)
Mason had some asthma issues this week, but is much better!

Well, we survived our first week into this deployment! I knew we would, but it seemed to drag at times. This was also the last week of school before the German school break. The kids will be out for two weeks before returning for the new school year. Emma is schooling it up, she will attend the last week of August at the German school before moving onto Kindergarten on post. She is a bit nervous about leaving her German friends behind but I think she is excited for 'real' school as well. I had lots of get togethers with my girlfriends this week, I think we needed things to look forward to, so we just made up excuses to meet up! Last night was a dance party using the Xbox Kinnect. I'm just glad there is no video evidence of my performance to Lady Gaga's Poker Face! I think the kids enjoy getting together as well because they can all relate to missing Daddy. Rio was purchased this week, and if you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for???!?! It is by far the cutest animated film I have seen in a while, and trust me...I see them ALL. I really like the latin soundtrack too. Dave is doing well, flying a lot, but that is his job. School is winding down for me, but not for too long! My first graduate class starts an entire day after I graduate with my Bachelors of Science in Social Science. An entire day off, who would have though?! No, I am very thankful because I am able to have this paid for through my veteran's benefits. Biggest news of the week?

It's a Daddy bear!!!

A wonderful company/group provided our company's children with these Battalion Buddies. What a thoughtful and compassionate thing to do! Emma and Mason loved receiving their buddy bears tonight at our FRG(family readiness group) meeting. Emma has since changed her bear into a dress, didn't see that one coming!! We had a potluck tonight with all the girls and it was awesome! There was some amazing food and I'm pretty sure I stuffed my face! We took The Pioneer Woman's Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork. If you've never had it, you better run to the store and buy all the ingredients! It is a nice change from the usual BBQ pulled pork. I'm hoping to have some pictures from Dave soon so I can share them with you all. He's been pretty busy flying lately and I've heard from other wives that the internet was down yesterday and parts of today. We are missing him, but the first week is almost over!!! Only 50 some odd left right? :)

this little piggy went to market...

Mason argues with me that he does not sleep in my bed...I have proof.

guess what came in the mail today?

these little beauties! Now I can't decide if I should keep them for her birthday or just show her the pure awesomeness they are! I'm a bit bias about Toms Shoes if you can't tell...