Baby...it's COLD outside! (An informative post)

So I've been putting off posting because I'm having issues loading my pics.  As soon as I figure it out, I'll be flooding this thing with a backlog of posts! In the meantime...it. is. freezing.  This past week introduced me to German winters!  HIGHS in the low 20's and when I get in the car to take the kids to school in the morning it has been 12 degrees! Um, all I can say is we are not in Augusta anymore!  There have been over 200 people that have died because of this cold front that has hit Europe.  The wind is the worst part of it.  And yet, one of my kids STILL tries to sneak out without a coat and gloves and complains when I make him come get them!

One day he will be thanking me that he still has 10 fingers and toes.

We had a family from Augusta come over for dinner last night.  Their son went to school with Micah and they just moved over.  They are still in a hotel-I can feel their pain!  

We finally started hanging some pics this weekend.  The top  3 floors are officially BOX FREE!  The downstairs is another story, but it is finally starting to feel like home.  I'll post some pics soon.

On another note, Dudi got a church calling.  He is in the YM presidency.  He always is good with the youth, the funny part is he is also the scoutmaster! HA!  If you know Dudi, you know he is NOT a scouter.  It will definitely be a learning time for him, he'll do good...if he can keep a positive attitude! I on the other hand am currently calling-less...  I will try not complain:)  Jude is a full-time job at church.

So there you have all the info that doesn't require a photo (in case you were wondering there is info that DOES require photos).   We also have an exciting trip coming up at the end of this month that I will fill you in on later!

Whirlwind

 The last two weeks have been a whirlwind.  Not only did we celebrate Christmas and New Year's, but we made our big move to Germany!  This post will play catch up on the last few weeks so it is a long one!!!! Lots and lots of pictures.  This top pic is the view from our hotel on the Rhine river.  It is beautiful and has cruise ships and cargo ships going down in constantly.  There were quite a few cargo ship with coal going down the river before Christmas, I told the kids that they were headed to the North Pole for those last minute "naughty" kids! 

 Room Service.  This is how we have been dining a LOT.  It's too  much trouble to take the kids to resturaunts.  We are like a freak show.  People are constantlly looking at us like we are crazy.  People here either don't have this many kids, or don't take them out ever!  As of late we have been sick of the room service and have ventured out more.  There is only so much schnitzel, steak, stroganoff, and burgers we can take!  We've never eaten this much beef!

 We were excited to be able to come before Christmas so we could make it to the Christmas markets.  They were a lot of fun.  It is so festive!

 Dudi has been loving the Brats!

 The ward has been great.  We've met a lof of great families and went to one of the markets with them.  It's nice to have the church wherever you go!  We do miss our awesome ward in Georgia though!

 Yes, we are the Americans eating ice cream in the German winter!

 Downtown Mainz.

 Great toy store in Mainz.

 Christmas eve visit to Heidleberg castle.

 Such a pretty view.  The kids were loving it!

 We bleed Fanta.  They don't really do water much, so we have Fanta for almost every meal!

 We spent Christmas Eve with some friends from Georgia.  They have been living in Heidleberg, so it was fun to get to visit with them!

 Sorry, these pictures are out of order.  This is how Jude spent most of the first week.  He had the hardest time adjust to the time difference.  He was a great little guy on the plane and slept almost the whole time, much to everyone's delight.  As we waited in line to board the plane to Frankfurt he started going crazy and was inconsolable.  I know everyone was sweating it hoping they weren't next to us.  Turns out he was just tired and fell asleep on the plane.  I even had someone compliment me on how well the kids were on the flight-whew!


Christmas morning pics.

 Micah and Liv found these awesome colored pencils made out of sticks at the Christmas market.  Perfect for our little artist.

 The boys found this cute little yodeling bear for Liv.

 The one and only green Barcelona jersey.  Santa worked overtime to find this impossible jersey!!!!

 our little guy is getting SOO big! 

Micah and his "Ronaldo" cleats.

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but we are getting use to everything slowly.  Dudi and I both passed our horrific International driver's test, I drove on the autoban (once), and I even ordered room service when Dudi was at work ( we were missing a few things and had a few extra things I didn't order, but hey, I made an attempt).  The boys start school tomorrow, so it will be nice for them to start a routine.  We are all VERY anxious to get into our house.  We are a little stir crazy from being in an apartment for a month and then a hotel the last two weeks.  We will move into our house as soon as our house hold goods arrive.  Our van did arrive the day after we got here, it's so nice to have it and looks so cute with its German plates!
We hope you all had a fabulous holiday.  We love you all!

technology

Ok, I'm not sure why but it published my latest post "The final countdown" before a previous post.  So now it's all out of order.  Sorry if you are totally confused.  It's probably an easy fix, but i'll just make it worse if I mess with it!

And so it begins

This weekend we moved into an apartment.  It's a really nice apartment, but it is a 2 bedroom.

4 kids, 2nd floor apartment = loads of fun 

Let's just say that within the first 30 minutes of moving into the apartment, management was at our door...  and no, it wasn't a welcoming committee.  There had already been a complaint against us.  

It is going to be an adjustment having people live below us.  

Why, do you  ask, did we move from our lovely home into an apartment?  Well since I have been so diligent in blogging it's no wonder most of you don't know we are moving.  In less than a month we will be moving to Germany.  Yes, as in Europe.  And yes, I am crazy.

Dudi was offered a job that seemed to good to pass up and we both felt good about, so after praying, a brand new van and promises of bi-monthly trips around Europe, I agreed.

We are actually really excited, but after seeing my van and all my worldly possessions boxed and shipped last week, it is starting to really sink in.

Is it too late to back out :) !!

The final countdown...

I don't know how, but we survived a month in the apartment...with only 2 complaints! 

This time next week we will be getting ready to board a plane to Germany. That seems so surreal. I'm not sure what lays in store for us, but I know we are suppose to go and that it will be a time that we will never forget. Everyone keeps asking me if I am nervous. My answer is surprisingly "no." I am actually really excited. We really felt like we are suppose to go. The Lord has paved the way from getting the job, to finding renters for our house, and finding a house there, etc. Another reason I'm not nervous, but extremely excited, is because I am done with apartment living!! I'm sure Liv will be excited to have a bed again too! She's been a trooper.
We did get to go out with one of our favorite couples this weekend and had a great time as always. That's one of the hard parts about moving. Although we will make friends there, we will miss our friends here so much!! Since we are coming back I prefer to think of this move as an extended vacation-it makes "goodbyes" a little easier!

So there are no pics- Dudi is asleep and it keeps giving me this weird message when I try to upload some.

The best utube videos around

I have seen some pretty hilarious u tube videos out there (and please, feel free to send me links to your favorites-really).  But, nothing out there beats the Mormon messages at lds.org.  Last night I showed 2 of them for FHE lesson-"Sanctify yourselves" and "Good things to come."  They are 2 of my favorites so far.  The kids really liked them, and the messages are so powerful.  In fact, Olivia asked if she could watch more of them today.  If you haven't seen them, go watch them- I dare you to get through them without crying.  As a mom of mostly boys, "Sanctify yourselves" was especially powerful (make sure to pull out the kleenex, Lauren :)).  They are both told by Elder Holland and his spirit is overwhelming.  I love that man.

Watch it and thank me later.

2011 edition...(and I've got proof!)

There was laughing, there was crying, there was drama and foul play. 

All the ingredients for a great novel (and this post is probably long enough to qualify as a novel) but NO, it was...

the FUN RUN!!!!!

We met up once again with our old nemesis.  

Asher had his game face on that day.

 The boy was bookin' it.  He was so adorable.  He ran the individual mile for the 1st grade and I was so proud of him (and his teammate-dad).  You can imagine my excitement, actually, no, you probably can't imagine how excited I was when I saw him come around the corner near the front of the pack-He was going to place.  (Side note:  The top 4 that finish in each grade level get a ribbon and Micah has come in 5th EVERY year.  Last year was Asher's 1st year running and he didn't realize he was racing for a ribbon (these ribbons are a big deal).  This year he wanted a ribbon!)  Back to the story...He was going to place.  Only one other 1st grader had crossed the line!  I knew he would be ecstatic. DUNT, DUNT, DUUUU.... Enter foul play.  I ran over to find him not jumping for joy, but in tears.  Dudi had faded off to let him run the last stretch by himself across the finish line, so apparently when Asher ran across the line, he ran on the 2nd grade side of the road and therefore they wouldn't give him a ribbon.  Dudi said he immediately went over and told them (and come on, they have these kids in class, they know what grade they are in) and they said he crossed on the wrong side and they can't make an exception.  COME ON!  Seriously.  He's a first grader at a school FUN run,  it isn't Olympic tryouts. Plus, they don't even practice that part when they practice at school!    He was crushed. I felt so bad for him, but still so proud.  I mean, he actually came in second out of 1st grade and 5th if he had been running with the 2nd graders. 
He did awesome. 
Of course I went and ordered him a ribbon and tried to make up for it by having a family party that night.  I couldn't be prouder of him.  Then today as I was going uploading pictures I found this...

This is proof.  Do you see that boy pointing?  He is a 5th grader in charge of showing them where to go and he showed him the wrong side!!!!!   I want his name and homeroom teacher and...

Asher was actually going where he was suppose to go and the boy steered him to the other side.

OOOH!!!

Don't worry, I'll get over it one day.

On a happier and less sensitive note...

 MICAH PLACED 2ND!

WHOOO HOOOOOOO!

 He ran a mile relay with 2 of his good friends and they placed 2nd out of the 4th grade boys!

Again, I was a proud, proud mom.  I know it was a goal of his and he did it! He was the final leg of the team and it was so fun to see him come over that line.  All the kids do such a great job and it makes me a little teary.  This year the school "raced for a cure."  They could run in memory of family/friends and the boys ran in memory of a grandpa, grandma, aunt, and uncle.  I was so proud of them.

If you are one of the few who made it to this point in the post... thank you. You have saved me a few hundred dollars in therapy.