3 more days...

In 3 days we will be flying to T-Town for X-Mas. We are really excited. I wish I could be done packing. Well..I'm almost done. I have 2 more loads of laundry. Although the kids clothes are already packed, most of mine & Steve still has to pack. I DO NOT want to pack on Monday. I would like to do my last minute shopping, cleaning & go to bed early since we have to get up at 5am on Tuesday. We will be flying out of Munich Germany. That's a 2 hr drive. Then we have a 10hr flight ahead of us before we land in Atlanta Georgia. After that, we have a layover of maybe 2 hrs & another 2 hr flight to Tulsa. We will be arriving after 8pm.

I hope that my kids do good in the airplane. Such long flight for 2 kids under 3 yrs of age. EEEEKKK!!! So I better start packing books, movies, toys. ayayay!

We have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog. Well I do have a blog saved on my drafts. It's pretty long with tons of pictures, but I would have to twick it, since I was supposed to have posted it abt 2 wks ago. Maybe I'll post the pictures.

Okay so I finally decided to go ahead & get a haircut. I haven't gotten one since February, so you can imagine what it looks like, long & boring. I saw an advertisement on a window display of a shop for a 16.99 hair cut, washing & drying. Well you know that's false advertisement when you walk in & tell them you want a hair cut, show them a picture & then ask you, which hair cut price do you want. 20 something for the washing & cut, no drying , you fix it yourself. Steve & I laughed a little when they asked us that question. Then the girl says or 30' something for the whole shabang! Well that's the hole point about getting a haircut, no?, wash, cut, dry & style it. We chuckled a little more & agreed. Oh well, that's how much you would pay for a hair cut any way. Although I still don't trust anybody with my hair. Good thing my hair grows fast I said & the idea was to got for a safe haircut, just in case they messed up I can still pull it back & have my hair dresser in the Tulsa fix it.

Mind you, I don't know all that the girl is saying, Steve is my translator & she spoke very little English , but didn't manage to have a conversation, she was nice, but I knew how she felt. Okay I show her a picture & doe s she do what I showed her to do , NOPE, she hopped it all off. So not what I want it, but she did a good job & I do like my hair cut, specially since I've already had this hair cut before. It was suppose to still be long, just choppy from the bottom & long layers & long bangs. Well it has layers alright, short ones that is & uneven on the left side it's a bit longer on that side. You can't tell unless I don't fix it. Oh & check this out. She charged me 2.10 x-tra for my hair being long. I thought WHAT?? If she would of done what I told her, I wouldn't of had to pay 40'something. Again I know that's a normal price for a hair cut. What gets me is the fact that they don't just a give you a flat price. Oh & by the way the 16.99 was for washing & drying your hair only, What? I can do that my self, thank you very much. So non the less I will NOT be getting any more haircuts here or at least at that one place, EVER, but I do like it. Even thought I have to get it fixed a bit next week.

In the meantime, this week we decorated the church with X-Mas decorations. Here is Andre & I decorating one of the trees. This one goes in the foyer. That was fun. Wednesday we had youth X-Mas party. The kids loved it, Although not all the kids that I expected to come came, we still had a good group & had fun. We had pizza coming out of our ears. Games & prizes. Here are some pictures. It was so funny to see the kids dance with an orange in their foreheads, the couple to drop it last won. Then we played the white elephant game. It was funny to see how some kids didn't want to give up their chocolate, last was a game of charades. Some acted, some drew & some had to gargle a x-mas tune. This was hilarious!

Yesterday was the Bible School X- Mas Banquet, today is the women's ministry X-Mas banquet. Tomorrow is church, Monday we do last minute things & Tuesday we fly out. Yippee!!!

It's Nutella

Can you guess what this is??

blogging bloggin gloging...

What to write. As I was or have been thinking of what to write, I could not think of anything. Absolutley nothing. I guess one might say, those are the best blogs right. Well I hope this ones a good one. As I was loading more pictures into the laptop I saw how much I can blog abt. Well mostly about my kids. Specially when I see some of the pictures that I have taken, spare of the moment. snap, snap snap, I suddenlz get the feeling that I am turning into my kids paparazzi. Well it's all about capturing that moment right? I think this blog is mostly going to be pictures that tell you my story.

Ok I have to admit, I have been wanting some cake. More like a chocolate torte. May I say we have some of the best ones here. With that glazed chocolate on top mmmm. I think I just put on 5lbs just by thibking abt it. haha, hope not. I have been doing good in eating healthier, not snacking but on fruit, ok maybe 1 or 2 cookies max in a day. I ahve been drinking my water like I should. Have NOT been riding my bike everyday as I should but have been walking as much as I can, not as much as I would liek too, but at least I'm doing something. N-ways, so we cracked & bought a small chocolate torte at the grocery store. I am letting it thaw out so I can have a small slice. So here is a picture of that.

mmmmmm...yummy...chocolate torte!!!

Can you say "this is literally a half eaten bowl of cereal"

This is how my living area looks like every day, I do clean it I promise!!



Look at my pretty stockings with apples:

Holly Frijoles!!! I've gotten into mommy's scrapbook stuff...hmmm these "photo splits" look like stickers, where can I put them...oh look around me & on mommy's stuff:


These are the trees that are along the path we walk:




The path where we walk & ride the bike:




Along the path we see walnut trees, red & green apple trees & pear trees:

I can't stay awake for dinner:

Audrey blowing kisses & she loves her new winter hat:


mmmm...yummy stew:

hmmmm...

Well, it's been quite a busy last week. It pretty much started Tuesday evening with meeting with a couple who moved to Germany. We went over for dinner. Got a babysitter, the kid spend the night since it was a hr drive each way & we knew it would be there at least 4hrs. We got home at 1 am. You would not belive what happened to us. We were locked out! There is a key that stays, or we keep in the lock on the inside. When we leave the house, we pull it out a little bit to be able to lock it from the outside. Well the door was locked & the key was inside, we could not open the door. Rang the door bell 3x's, nothing. Call the kids phone several x's, nothing, called my cell phone which I left in a room, so ofcourse it could not be heard.

I'm praying that the neighbors don't come out b/c they are not so friendly, specially the husband, he is very rude. I wouldn't blame him for being upset at 1am. So Steve climbs up the garage roof, throws a tennis ball at our balcony window, since that is where our living room is & the kid is sleeping on the couch. still no answer. By this time the neighbours dog behind us starts barking like crazy, I mean he's already annoyingly loud, but this was LOUD!!! and my husband is on top of the roof, not to mention he starts knocking on the kitchen window. More barking, non stop barking, by this time I'm feeling like somebody's gonna call the cops. Still nothing. do you know what finally woke this kid up? The dog barking. Cheeze. This kid was completeley out! He did not hear anything!!! The mom couldn't stay that late so she brought her son with her. She took care of the kids, put them to bed & left late but not that late. We just had to take him to the train station the nxt day. Normally I would not do this but it worked out that way. Nxt time I'll get somebody else.

Wed was church, Thursday & Friday I helped the Pastor's wife do things around her house since she is still recuperating from surgery. Friday I was on my feet all day. Saturday we went to a conference all day. Finished gathering some stuff for some friends that are coming from America as missionaries to Germany to help some friends out at their church. Sunday was church. Steve preached Sunday night. Steve got home & finish helping me clean out some bunkbeds.

We went down to the basement to finish the cleaning which we weren't making hardly any noise all doors were shut & the neighbor comes down & starts going off on Steve that were always loud & they can always hear us, blah blah blah blah blah. Steve apologized & the JERK still kept on mumbling stuff. He was saying that his 1yr old could not sleep, b/c were so loud! WHAT!! what kind on nonsense is that. Continued saying that we should know b/c we have kids. What an IDIOT!!! They think b/c they'r down stairs that they are sound proof or something, NOT, b/c they are loud too. IT"S A FLAT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!! of course there's going to be noise. His kids cries not because of us, but b/c he is a 1yr old.

Hellooooo, it's not my fault that they built a flat & not a house, & their layout, IDIOTS!!! Their baby's room is in between both of my kids. And the floors, well there tile & wood floors. So is theirs, which means there is nothing to sound proof, the walking, dragging of furniture that his wife moves all day long, their arguing with each other etc. They make alot of noise too but we don't complain b/c IT'S A STUPID FLAT!!!! CAN SOMEBODY GET THAT INTO THEIR HEADS PLEASE!!! I am so sick'n tired of living here & we can't move out until the end of January b/c we have to give a 3 mo notice. We were planning on moving out in the spring b/c it's cold. But I want to get out now!!!! You know his kid was crying before we even went to the basement & after my kids were asleep. What a DORK!!! What gets me mad is the fact that he can't be tactful or nice abt it, no, he has to be so rude. His brother, the owner is totally the opposite. He is super dooper nice. I mean you just want to hug the guy for being so nice. No wonder he moved out.

This neighbors, live like hermets, I swear, They never ever leave their house. The whole yr we have lived here they have never been gone more than 2 hrs. Not even on vacation do they go anywhere. So wierd. So we are looking for a house. We have defenately ruled out living in a flat. NEVER!!!! Unless is a duplex. So there you have it. When we come home is like panick, hope we don't see them, knott in our stomachs, please leave, please don;t be here & when they'r not, we jump up & down in the garage. riculous, I know, We have sort of made up a song too. haha! So this is my ife in a nutshell or kookoos nest.

Did I mention how mischievious my daughter is. Just as I'm typing this, it has also happened in the past. She took 2 of his cars that he is playing with & then she runs laughing laughing & laughing. Of course he is chasing her wanting his cars back. So she gives one back & keeps the other one, still laughing. Andre's asking for his other car, so finally I takenit away from her & guess what she's still laughing. WHAT!!! She's not 2 yet but she sure is learning fast. Ok until my next blog.

Fall is here...

It's official, Fall is here or it has been here for abt the last 3wks. It's getting dark sooner. The trees are turning colors & loosing their leafs. It's been in between the 50's & 60's for some time now. Cold at night & the darn mosquitos are trying to come in or should I say, they come in either way as we don't have screens in our windows, but 1. September is like mosquito season. I remember last year there were so many mosquitos in Sep. It doesn't fail, there's always one stupid mosquito buzzing at night right over our heads. So here we re at the crack of dawn swatting them evil things.

Back to my fall story. Since I have been inspired & motivated by logzie to a better healthy eating, I started walking with my kids in the morning. It's beautiful in the morning around our neighborhood. It's cool & hardly any cars. Well that's because we live in between Farm houses & corn fields & all kinds of different crops. It's not a big neighborhood but you can go for miles if go thru the street fields. I also ahem..um.. yip, started riding my bike..well Steve's bike, I need to get me one. I went not very far, but it was at least a 1/2hr ride. I actually saw more of the neighborhood & more of the fields & houses that are hidden in between the fields. I really enjoyed it. I could of gone further but I din't really know where I was going. SO next time I'll push myself to go further. Now my butt is sore although Steve did change the seat. haha! Do you know how long it's been since I'ved ridden a bike? years. I did buy one abt 2yrs ago & only rode it 2x's. Before that, it had been since I was a kid. Looooooong time ago. That's sad, isn't it.

So now I am determine to change my eating habits & exersice more. I'm cutting out the carbs, not totally but eating less than what I eat, or watching my portions. I love to eat bread. It's no problem for me to eat less of something as long as I am not totally deprived from it. The key is balance & moderation. We have been eating dinner earlier. well between 5 & 6pm. No later than that. I was proud of myself yesterday, since I did not have a snack after my dinner. I have increased my water intake, since I need it & it makes me less hungry.

I can't really do a calorie count since I don't really understand grams & ml etc. I am eating more salads, with my homemade olive oil & balsamic vinegar dressing, salt & pepper & little tiny bit of sugar. It's yummy. I don't really care for tomatoes but I do eat them. I cut up tomatoes, press 2 cloves of garlic & add add the dressing, shake it & it makes a really good healthy tomato garlic salad.

I know I haven't blogged as frequently as I would like too, well I to am lazy sometimes b/c I think that I don't have anything to blog about although I know I do. Just having children should make you blog right?

Ok here are some more updates. My son Andre might need surgery, beginning of Nov. Andre has one testicle that has not come down since he was born. Boy that's a funny word to blog about. "Testicle". We were told that he needed to get it ckd out by a specialist if it din't come down by the time he was a yr old. Well we never really did anything about it but did keep an eye on it, since insurance in America pretty much sucks the life out of you or our ins did. That means it will cost you or us alot of $$$ & we weren't in that position to have thousands of $$$'s in medical bills, since we were still paying of Andre's hospital bill. Well at one point it seemed like it had sort of come down, but it never really did.

2 weeks ago we took him to a the hospital to see a specialist recomended by his peditrician here in AT. They did an ultra sound & could not find the testicle. Which means that is probably somewhere in his stomach & they have to get it out since it can be cancerous if it stays there. Ok, so they couldn't find it in the ultra sound, but they did recommend this medicine that may or not work b/c his 3yrs old now, but it has worked in the past. It's a nasal spray that he has to take 3x's a day. This might help that testicle to come down although is not active.

However, although that testicle is not active his other testicle is enlarged to make up for the other one. What a nice problem to have right. Whohoo look at me I have a big testicle. Just kidding. Well so if it does come down then he gets the surgery & gets to go home that same day, but if it's in his stomach floating around like a planet in outer space the he'll be in the hospital for 3 days. So were praying & believeing God that it will come down & he can go home that same day.

The other thing...well how about I just make a new post about the other thing....I bet u can't wait to find out ha!

A search team!!!!

I am coming back...the return of Amazing it's on it's way...Behold it looks like it's going to be a book. hehe

Yikes!!

So here you have it. The week at Hannes Hoff was great. I will post pictures since that will speak for it self. It's a beautifull valley right smack in the middle of the mountains. The town is called Flachau. Theres a lot of beautiful houses & bed & breakfast as this place is popular for skiing in the winter. Aparently they are busy all year long b/c it is very pretty & there's lots of outdoor stuff to do. Lakes, mountains, bycicle trails are all very close. etc.

Ok, let me back up. OK since my thrifty thrifty post we have been to Salzburg & actually visited a castle. The name of the castle is called "Hohensalzburg" The walk up there & in there was sort of brutal b/c it was steep, but it was an adventure. So here are some pictures of that. As we walked up to the castle we walked through houses that are built right around the bottom of the castle. Really nice ones too. The view of the city as you are walking up is beautiful.

Then there was the Grill Fest, That was a blast! Then there was something else going on that following weekend. Then Summer Bible week, My B-day, Flachau, a stay at Hannes Hoff. This was a nice trip. We went to 2 different mountains. The 1st mountain that we went to was called: The Drinker's Pasture. Funny name, that's because it has an "ALM" which stands for pasture. We drove up there & climed up. At the ALM'S there's a restaurant where you can eat after youve'd cimbed the mountain. Very nice.

Although, I have to say it is very cold up there. The second mountain that we visited was called: Grossglockner which is abt 3980 meters, now that was freezing cold. There are glaciers up there & you can actually go down there. It takes abt 45min to go down. All the people look like tiny little spots down there. You can actually climb on the glacier if wearing appropriate gear. There's a restaurant up there, really nice, the view from there is unbelieveable, beatiful, the pictures don't do justice.

The next day, we heard on the news that 5 people had fell in one of the cracks as they were climbimg the glacier & 2 of them died, due to not wearing the appropriate gear. How sad. After we ate dinner, we played games til midnight. That was fun.

More has happened after we got back..hmm let me think, Oh yeah, we just got back from a youth weekend camp. So we are catching up fron that.

Oh, I have to tell this story. I was givng the kids a bath tonight playing with them & washing them & Audrey pulled a "Gabriella" Logziella's daughter. This is how it happend. Kids playing...I wash them, they play some more I play with them & then I hear a big bubbly sound coming from the water. Andre & I looked at each other & said...Audrey tooted, well it wasn't just a toot, stress, get them out as fast as I can, turn on the shower wash them.

I didn't see it coming, it happened so fast. All of a sudden I see something that is not a toy nor does it look like one floating in the water. OMG, that was the 1st time this had happened to me. As fast as I could I pull both kids out of the water & put them in the shower. This was probably the most discusting thing I have had to deal with...well it seemed like at the moment. Now the tub is cleaned, filled with water & bleach, toys are soaking in water & bleach as well & washed the shower, just in case. So there you have it.



















MY B-DAY
Andre was helping Steve get bikes ready for the Flachau trip. The rest of the pictures were of my grill B-Day party. we had a good time.








SUMMER BIBLE WEEK:







Grill Fest:
The Grill Fest turned out great. We had a pie eating contest, sticky bun eating contest, knocking off the cans w/ water guns, water ballon fight oh & yeah eatinf lots of yummy food. mmmm.







CASTLE VISIT: