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Showing posts with label Bella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bella. Show all posts
Pumpkin Patch
Remember last year's pumpkin patch photo? I stuck the girls inside the wooden box of pumpkins at the commissary? Well, this year I actually found a REAL pumpkin patch....
Bella at her first pumpkin patch...can you see it? If you squint and look really hard you'll see a strip of field with orange-ish forms on it. THAT is a pumplin patch.
I know...I know...its not your typical hay ride, apple cider, corn maze pumpkin patch...but it also isn't the box of pumpkins at the commissary!
Not only was it Bella's first pumpkin patch, but it was our friend Christina's first pumpkin patch too! How you get to be mid-20's and not have ever gone to a pumpkin patch is beyond me. She says its because there are none in SE Texas...
I BEG to differ...
Texas: Houston, south east Texas and surrounding counties Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hay Rides and More
I'll be forwarding her this link for sure. :)
Anywho...back to the 2 year old's first pumpkin patch experience...first we went for a big walk and found a really heavy pumpkin.
Then it was a really dirty pumpkin...(see hamsey daddy back there looking on?)
Then we had to take just a short rest on a pumpkin from all that walking and running around...
Then Daddy found HIS pumpkin!
Which finally prompted Bella to find her pumpkin...isn't it so cute?
And if the photos weren't enough here is a short video clip of her finding the baby pumpkins...Oh, aren't they so cute?!
Read More...
Dogcatcherz...
Bella is playing soccer this fall. We wanted to get her into a sport that would help her socialize and build skills like teamwork and running and kicking. Not that I have designs on Bella kicking and then running away...its the coordination aspects that we were hoping she would improve on...So, when I checked the schedule I saw 3 to 5 year old soccer was on and put her on the waitlist.
Yes, I know she's still not three...but the age cutoff was November 15th...so she slides in exactly TWO days under the cutoff date for being able to play.
And then...because the waitlist was 60 players long...guess who volunteered to be a Bambino Soccer coach...just so his daughter could play???
Wave hello to Coach John! His t-shirt reads, "Teamwork...a lot of people doing what I say" but I think the significance of that just gets lost somehow on these little Bambino players. This is only a partial showing of our team...we've got 8 little kids total.
Our team name is officially the Stingerz because they played a game where they got "stung" by the ball, but we changed it to Dogcatcherz because the drill that literally makes our little team run is them pretending to be dogcatcherz going to catch the dog (ball). Yeah...we've won every game. We rock.
And yes...that is dogcatcherz with a Z because we're cool like that.
So, just in case you've never actually been to a Bambino soccer game let me tell you what its like.
First, there is a lot of running...kind of like this...
Then you take a break.
Yes...the game is still going on....but when you need to rest...you just gotta rest.
Then...more running occurs...
And then you take another break...
Then just a little more running...
And if you don't make the goal you get to pout a little like this...
And your coach makes fun of you...but just a little bit. :)
And there you have it. Bambino Soccer at its finest!
You know you want to come to our next game. :) Read More...
Yes, I know she's still not three...but the age cutoff was November 15th...so she slides in exactly TWO days under the cutoff date for being able to play.
And then...because the waitlist was 60 players long...guess who volunteered to be a Bambino Soccer coach...just so his daughter could play???
Wave hello to Coach John! His t-shirt reads, "Teamwork...a lot of people doing what I say" but I think the significance of that just gets lost somehow on these little Bambino players. This is only a partial showing of our team...we've got 8 little kids total.
Our team name is officially the Stingerz because they played a game where they got "stung" by the ball, but we changed it to Dogcatcherz because the drill that literally makes our little team run is them pretending to be dogcatcherz going to catch the dog (ball). Yeah...we've won every game. We rock.
And yes...that is dogcatcherz with a Z because we're cool like that.
So, just in case you've never actually been to a Bambino soccer game let me tell you what its like.
First, there is a lot of running...kind of like this...
Then you take a break.
Yes...the game is still going on....but when you need to rest...you just gotta rest.
Then...more running occurs...
And then you take another break...
Then just a little more running...
And if you don't make the goal you get to pout a little like this...
And your coach makes fun of you...but just a little bit. :)
And there you have it. Bambino Soccer at its finest!
You know you want to come to our next game. :) Read More...
Now that its August...
Yes...now that its August I thought I'd better write about the 4th of July this year. I figure we can always use a reminder of America's Independence Day. Right?
So, our family...we spent the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of July in Garmisch, Germany at the Edelweiss Resort and Lodge. Its a beautiful hotel set next to the Army base and they had a bunch of great special events planned for that weekend. They all kinds of kid-friendly activities that Eric and Bella could hardly wait to see...
The day started with the Eric and Bella having the chance to try the bungee trampolines...
Then we went to the shooting range...where I actually scored 3 out of 4 shots. (the SAME as my expert shooter husband! Woot!)
Eric had a blast on this giant bouncy slide...it reminded me of our family reunion...only no water or swimsuits...or broken bones. :)
Meanwhile, John and I looked on and just enjoyed watching the kids play play play....
And then the evening rolled around and we went to the "Traditional Bavarian show" that was playing in the conference center. It was really cool.
Just a sampling of videos of traditional Bavarian activities...I'm glad I don't consider these blase' yet!
We started it off with the traditional German Long Horns. They are so beautiful sounding. I was surprised at the tone of these horns...I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this!
Then they had two couples that did a traditional Bavarian dance. I love the guy's part in this. The girls just pony and twirl...boring. And yes, the boys are wearing half sock things...apparently that is traditional wear.
Then, of course, its not traditional Bavarian without the cow bell music. (sorry if the sarcasm was too much.) I found this lady quite talented, but she was extremely obsessed with the placement of her bells. I cut out the footage where she moves them 1/2 centimeter to the right and left over and over again...but I guess if you have to play the cow bells you gotta do what you gotta do to make it work for you...
Last, but not least...and my FAVORITE part of the show was the yodeling guy. I loved this. Love. Love. Love. I want to learn to yodel.
When the show was over it was time for the fireworks. You may not know this about me, but I LOVE fireworks. Its my favorite part of any 4th of July. I nearly divorced my husband over missing the fireworks one year not so long ago... In fact, let me just share you this side story...I think you can appreciate it like I do now. July 4, 2008 and we were in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. I was pregnant with Bella and we were living in the guest housing and sleeping on the most uncomfortable beds ever made on the 3rd floor (with no elevator) of basically what would be considered barracks housing.
I wanted to see the fireworks. John did not. He promised me we'd be able to see them from the common room window. So we cooked some dinner and then started to play Phase 10. It was the worst game of Phase 10 ever. John repeatedly killed me...and soon he was on Phase 8 and I was on Phase 2 when I caught him trying to LET ME WIN a hand. John can say he had a near death experience that night.
Anywho...I'm about to call it quits and stomp out of the room headed straigh for legal and divorce paperwork when the fireworks start...and it was the WORST fireworks show I ever had. Watched from miles away...I could see tiny bursts of red and white in the sky and that was about it.
Lets just say that every day of our marriage since has been better than that day...and yes, I can laugh about it now...a little.
So, back to our magnificent fireworks...here they are in all their glory!
And dear little Bella...she tried so hard to watch the show...how one manages to sleep during fireworks is beyond me...I love this little clip.
So, another 4th of July here and gone. This one was spent with family that I love. I truly am thankful for the beautiful country I call "home." Read More...
So, our family...we spent the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of July in Garmisch, Germany at the Edelweiss Resort and Lodge. Its a beautiful hotel set next to the Army base and they had a bunch of great special events planned for that weekend. They all kinds of kid-friendly activities that Eric and Bella could hardly wait to see...
The day started with the Eric and Bella having the chance to try the bungee trampolines...
Then we went to the shooting range...where I actually scored 3 out of 4 shots. (the SAME as my expert shooter husband! Woot!)
And then the evening rolled around and we went to the "Traditional Bavarian show" that was playing in the conference center. It was really cool.
Just a sampling of videos of traditional Bavarian activities...I'm glad I don't consider these blase' yet!
We started it off with the traditional German Long Horns. They are so beautiful sounding. I was surprised at the tone of these horns...I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this!
Then they had two couples that did a traditional Bavarian dance. I love the guy's part in this. The girls just pony and twirl...boring. And yes, the boys are wearing half sock things...apparently that is traditional wear.
Then, of course, its not traditional Bavarian without the cow bell music. (sorry if the sarcasm was too much.) I found this lady quite talented, but she was extremely obsessed with the placement of her bells. I cut out the footage where she moves them 1/2 centimeter to the right and left over and over again...but I guess if you have to play the cow bells you gotta do what you gotta do to make it work for you...
Last, but not least...and my FAVORITE part of the show was the yodeling guy. I loved this. Love. Love. Love. I want to learn to yodel.
When the show was over it was time for the fireworks. You may not know this about me, but I LOVE fireworks. Its my favorite part of any 4th of July. I nearly divorced my husband over missing the fireworks one year not so long ago... In fact, let me just share you this side story...I think you can appreciate it like I do now. July 4, 2008 and we were in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. I was pregnant with Bella and we were living in the guest housing and sleeping on the most uncomfortable beds ever made on the 3rd floor (with no elevator) of basically what would be considered barracks housing.
I wanted to see the fireworks. John did not. He promised me we'd be able to see them from the common room window. So we cooked some dinner and then started to play Phase 10. It was the worst game of Phase 10 ever. John repeatedly killed me...and soon he was on Phase 8 and I was on Phase 2 when I caught him trying to LET ME WIN a hand. John can say he had a near death experience that night.
Anywho...I'm about to call it quits and stomp out of the room headed straigh for legal and divorce paperwork when the fireworks start...and it was the WORST fireworks show I ever had. Watched from miles away...I could see tiny bursts of red and white in the sky and that was about it.
Lets just say that every day of our marriage since has been better than that day...and yes, I can laugh about it now...a little.
So, back to our magnificent fireworks...here they are in all their glory!
And dear little Bella...she tried so hard to watch the show...how one manages to sleep during fireworks is beyond me...I love this little clip.
So, another 4th of July here and gone. This one was spent with family that I love. I truly am thankful for the beautiful country I call "home." Read More...
I like dad's pecs.
Having a two year old means being graphic. Yup...graphic in what we call body parts...graphic in how we describe things...graphic in how we talk about body functions...
So...big news here...
Bella is potty trained. WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO! Did I yell that loud enough for you all to hear? Yes, she has an occassional accident, but they are few and far between. She's motivated by her sticker chart and an extra treat of M&Ms when it comes to doing #2...
That being said,
**sorry...we had to take a short break for me to cheer on some "poops." Which, just to prove my point are being called by the two year old after a long inspection "little wormy poops." Way to much information, right? Yeah...welcome to my life right now.*
ANYWHO...I didn't get on here to talk about potty stuff. I mostly wanted to relate the funniest convesation from this morning.
I got out of the shower and was getting dressed. John was in the room getting ready to head into work. Bella walks in and says, "Hey mom, those are your boobs. Daddy likes those boobs."
Trying REALLY hard not to laugh out loud while John muffled his giggles in the background...I merely replied with an, "Oh yeah?"
She continued, "Yeah...you have boobs and dad has pecs. You like dad's pecs. Right mom?"
At this point John and I couldn't contain the laughter. "Yep, Bella. I like dad's pecs."
I can't wait to hear what comes next... Read More...
So...big news here...
Bella is potty trained. WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO! Did I yell that loud enough for you all to hear? Yes, she has an occassional accident, but they are few and far between. She's motivated by her sticker chart and an extra treat of M&Ms when it comes to doing #2...
That being said,
**sorry...we had to take a short break for me to cheer on some "poops." Which, just to prove my point are being called by the two year old after a long inspection "little wormy poops." Way to much information, right? Yeah...welcome to my life right now.*
ANYWHO...I didn't get on here to talk about potty stuff. I mostly wanted to relate the funniest convesation from this morning.
I got out of the shower and was getting dressed. John was in the room getting ready to head into work. Bella walks in and says, "Hey mom, those are your boobs. Daddy likes those boobs."
Trying REALLY hard not to laugh out loud while John muffled his giggles in the background...I merely replied with an, "Oh yeah?"
She continued, "Yeah...you have boobs and dad has pecs. You like dad's pecs. Right mom?"
At this point John and I couldn't contain the laughter. "Yep, Bella. I like dad's pecs."
I can't wait to hear what comes next... Read More...
My little rock climber...
She couldn't get enough of climbing up the sides of mountains...John and I have decided its time for us to get our rock climbing/belay certification...
I did not help her get up there...I monitored from below...but this kid was fearless with climbing...
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Read More...
I did not help her get up there...I monitored from below...but this kid was fearless with climbing...
Cuckoo....cuckoo...
There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells from the steeple too.
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say cuckoo...
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Cuckoo!
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Cuckoo!
Triberg, Germany....in the middle of the Black Forest... We arrived there with three things in mind to experience...
1. Eat a piece of Black Forest Cake.
2. Buy a cuckoo clock.
3. Walk up the Triberg Falls...the highest waterfall in all of Germany.
We left with...
this...
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this...
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and a day full of festivities from the 900th anniversary of Triberg the town. Yes, thats right NINE HUNDRED YEARS old. Sheesh...We Americans are such infants in the birthday department...
We did walk up to the top of Triberg Falls...they were absolutely beautiful. It was a rocky start with the munchkin throwing a giant crying fit over wearing her flipflops. John actually walked back down the hill to get her tennis shoes and the backpack. Some might say it was a failing on our part to plan that out as parents, but hey...why have kids if you can't blame them some of the time. *wink wink*
Eric and Bella were both avid rock climbers during our Eurotrip...any chance they got they were climbing all over them. The Falls had gorgeous rock formations covered in moss with little creeks running through them. Eric was quite the explorer...
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Triberg Falls is the tallest waterfall in Germany. It cascades over 7 major waterfall "steps" to drop a total of 163 meters (535 feet). Of course I had to take some photos of it...it was so beautiful, but not very peaceful. Its a major tourist attraction and there were lots of people at the bottom. Luckily the higher we climbed the thinner the crowds got. It was a good steep climb (think Multnomah Falls for you Pacific Northwesterners) but I was not about to get wimpy when I saw an old German woman in a skirt and PUMPS hiking it up the hill with no problem at all.
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I stayed below and took this photo from one of the switchbacks on the trail. As you can tell it was a beautiful day...sunshine and forest and water...three of my favorite things...oh yeah...and the other three things in the photo are up there in the "favorite" scale too. :)
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Eric begged to get down near the water. Originally we said no because there were clearly marked paths and signs that I'm sure read "stay on the path..." but then I thought, "Hey...whats the point of being able to claim "tourist that can't read German" if you don't break the rules occasionally..." So down he went...
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Bella strayed just off the path for this photo of the top step of the waterfall. Beautiful....both of them. Even if one of them is turning into a camera ham!
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As we headed the long way back down the mountain to get away from the touristy hordes of people we found this enormous rock that both kids wanted to pose in front of...they each came up with their very own pose. I love it... the salute and the stork....
![]()
We reached the bottom at the hill at a fun little park that we ate our lunch of "treccia di burro", salami and formaggio...
Yep...braid bread, salami and cheese. The kids played in the park, tossed rocks in the lake and generally had a nice little break in our day.
The best part...Bella's slide....watch this video...FUNNY.
We then headed back down into town...
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We ended our day at the Triberg festival featuring bunnies, icecream, and people in medieval garb.
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It was a lot of fun. We had only intended to stay for a few hours...but our trip to Triberg ended up being an entire day.
The NEXT TIME we go, however....Triberg will be older than 900 years...John will get one of these too...
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...and I'll eat my black forest cake and buy a cuckoo clock...
Regretfully they tell us, but firmly they compel us
To say goodbye....
to you....
cuckoo!
cuckoo! Read More...
And the bells from the steeple too.
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say cuckoo...
Triberg, Germany....in the middle of the Black Forest... We arrived there with three things in mind to experience...
1. Eat a piece of Black Forest Cake.
2. Buy a cuckoo clock.
3. Walk up the Triberg Falls...the highest waterfall in all of Germany.
We left with...
this...
and a day full of festivities from the 900th anniversary of Triberg the town. Yes, thats right NINE HUNDRED YEARS old. Sheesh...We Americans are such infants in the birthday department...
We did walk up to the top of Triberg Falls...they were absolutely beautiful. It was a rocky start with the munchkin throwing a giant crying fit over wearing her flipflops. John actually walked back down the hill to get her tennis shoes and the backpack. Some might say it was a failing on our part to plan that out as parents, but hey...why have kids if you can't blame them some of the time. *wink wink*
Eric and Bella were both avid rock climbers during our Eurotrip...any chance they got they were climbing all over them. The Falls had gorgeous rock formations covered in moss with little creeks running through them. Eric was quite the explorer...
Triberg Falls is the tallest waterfall in Germany. It cascades over 7 major waterfall "steps" to drop a total of 163 meters (535 feet). Of course I had to take some photos of it...it was so beautiful, but not very peaceful. Its a major tourist attraction and there were lots of people at the bottom. Luckily the higher we climbed the thinner the crowds got. It was a good steep climb (think Multnomah Falls for you Pacific Northwesterners) but I was not about to get wimpy when I saw an old German woman in a skirt and PUMPS hiking it up the hill with no problem at all.
I stayed below and took this photo from one of the switchbacks on the trail. As you can tell it was a beautiful day...sunshine and forest and water...three of my favorite things...oh yeah...and the other three things in the photo are up there in the "favorite" scale too. :)
Eric begged to get down near the water. Originally we said no because there were clearly marked paths and signs that I'm sure read "stay on the path..." but then I thought, "Hey...whats the point of being able to claim "tourist that can't read German" if you don't break the rules occasionally..." So down he went...
Bella strayed just off the path for this photo of the top step of the waterfall. Beautiful....both of them. Even if one of them is turning into a camera ham!
As we headed the long way back down the mountain to get away from the touristy hordes of people we found this enormous rock that both kids wanted to pose in front of...they each came up with their very own pose. I love it... the salute and the stork....
We reached the bottom at the hill at a fun little park that we ate our lunch of "treccia di burro", salami and formaggio...
Yep...braid bread, salami and cheese. The kids played in the park, tossed rocks in the lake and generally had a nice little break in our day.
The best part...Bella's slide....watch this video...FUNNY.
We then headed back down into town...
It was a lot of fun. We had only intended to stay for a few hours...but our trip to Triberg ended up being an entire day.
The NEXT TIME we go, however....Triberg will be older than 900 years...John will get one of these too...
...and I'll eat my black forest cake and buy a cuckoo clock...
Regretfully they tell us, but firmly they compel us
To say goodbye....
to you....
cuckoo!
cuckoo! Read More...
Zähne
Teeth! Zähne!
Our first German dental experience was perfect. It was Bella's first time to the Dentist at all so we had Maddie go first...
Ewwwww....look at all that purple plaque!
She escaped the dentist's chair with one cavity...we go back for a filling in August.
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Next up was Bella...
She was a little nervous at first, but thought it was cool that she was allowed to climb up on the table all by herself.
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Open WIDE! And she did!
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John thought he was funny playing with the dental props...until he said, "hey...take a photo of me," and I responded, "Sure...SMILE!"
ha ha ha...about as corny as it gets.
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I can check the dentist off my list of things to do now...our Zähne are magnifique! Read More...
Our first German dental experience was perfect. It was Bella's first time to the Dentist at all so we had Maddie go first...
Ewwwww....look at all that purple plaque!
She escaped the dentist's chair with one cavity...we go back for a filling in August.
Next up was Bella...
She was a little nervous at first, but thought it was cool that she was allowed to climb up on the table all by herself.
Open WIDE! And she did!
ha ha ha...about as corny as it gets.
I can check the dentist off my list of things to do now...our Zähne are magnifique! Read More...
Just keep swimming...
Bella and I decided we were going SWIMMING! So, we asked our neighbor and her daughter to join us and headed out to the Weiden Schwimmbad to spend a few hours in the pool.
Here is what I LOVE about German swimming pools.
1. Kids don't pay until they are 6 years old.
2. There are always multiple pools (lap pool, kids pool, non-swimmer pool, wave pool, lazy river pool, pools with waterfalls, hottubs, etc.)
3. They have fun slides...like the enclosed tube slides as well as regular slides.
4. They are just the right temperature.
5. They have chairs deckside that you can lounge in and even tan under sunlights if you want.
6. They are always connected to a spa.
Its like a bigAmerican waterpark only its not crowded beyond belief because just about every good sized town has one. I love it so much that I think the USA should adopt the German schwimmbad plan.
Anywho...we took a few photos from our fun few hours at the pool that I can't resist posting...The other two in the photos are our neighbor, Kim and her daughter Alyssa.
Alyssa just turned 4 and her and Bella have become good friends...In fact they regularly call each other "best friends" (which I love because these two girls are so cute together!)
Awww...Bella's first "best friend."
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