Germany

We are having a great time here in Germany and I thought I would post some pictures of where we have gone and how pretty it is here. I have been slacking on the picture taking and so I will hopefully have another post soon of some actual pictures we have taken.
The week before Christmas we went to Trier. They have a beautiful Christmas Market there and the most AMAZING food.

Christmas time is here!

I love everything about this season! I love the warmth and love that you feel while celebrating Christmas! I was so excited to put up my decorations this year. I have alot more to do but thought I would share some of it....just to get all you Ba-humbugs in mood too! Tis the Season! Now off I go to finish the rest..wish me luck!

HaPpY ThAnKsgIvInG!

I cannot believe it's here and almost gone.. This year I am so grateful for life in general. I love my kids.... all three of them. I wish that Colby was here with us. This day has been great for us and we really have enjoyed the family time but in between the laughter me and Jer have shed some tears for our Colby man. We love and miss that lil guys so much!

When I think about my surrounds and my wonderful family I know that I am truly happy and very thankful for that. Being so far away from all our loved ones in Utah I thought that today would be a disaster....but it wasn't. It was nice! When I looked at my family today I thought of the families who didn't have a family member with them today b/c they are in the military and are fighting for our freedom. I am so THANKFUL for all the troops and what they continue to do!

Jer cooked an amazing dinner and we have food that will last us well over a week...tons! We are all stuffed and can't eat another thing(for at least and hour or two!) The night ends with us ready to watch Polar Express as a family with a nice fire.
Happy Thanksgiving!

"We never know the love of our parents until we become parents"

Well I am still writing what I am thankful for and today I want to take a minute and say thank you to my parents. What amazing people they are to me. I love them both very much and wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for them. I thought when moving over to England I wouldn't talk to them as much but I cannot go a few days without talking to them. Even with us being in a totally different country they still have a huge impact on me and my family.

I love my Dad so much for the person that he is. He is such a genuine person and has always been there for me. There has been many times in my life when I haven't been happy with my decisions and my dad is always the first one to let me know it's okay to make mistakes. He's always there to brush me off and pick me back up. I love his sense of humor and I love how much he loves his family.

I love my mom so much too! When I think of my mom all I can say is she is a giver. My mom would do anything for her children and has. I remember growing up with all us kids and we all ate like COWS but my mom used to always wait for us to finish eating and then she would eat what was left...if any! My parents will drop anything for their kids. I really have a great appreciate for them and all they did to raise all us hula-gens. I really miss my parents and feel truly blessed to have them.

We had such a great time with them when they came and visited. Riley talks about how Grandpa and him fed the horses and how Grandma read books to him every night. Whenever McKinley sees someone that looks like them she yells...grandpa and mama! I cannot say thank you enough for how supportive they have been to Jeremy and how much we appreciate that.
Thanks Dad and Mom...we love you guys!

ThAnKfUl

I know that Thanksgiving is upon us and so I wanted to take the time each day this week and write what I am thankful. I missed Monday's and so today I will have 2 things.

I am very thankful for my husband. He knows me better than I know myself. He's my best friend. I love that I can be myself with him and he loves me for me no matter what. He's such a goof and I love that he makes me laugh and when he can tell that I have had a bad day he tries even harder to make me laugh. I love that he is mine forever! I am forever grateful to that fact that Jer worked so hard for us to get through the temple so that we can be a family forever. I know that I will always get to be with my family....which brings me to my second grateful. I am grateful for the Temple and all the blessings it has brought to me and my family.

McKinley

Ooh... how I love this Lil one! Lately McKinley has really been testing me with her terrible two's and sometimes I let those terrible moments cloud my day. I took Kinley to get her hair cut today and made the day all about her. I have to say that I LOVE my Lil girl. She has such spunk and attitude. Today I really realized how big my baby is getting and how independent she is. I am really loving the one on one time I have with her while Riley is at school and am thankful that I can stay home to be with her. She may make me crazy at times but I love everything about her and wouldn't change her for the world.

Cute kids that I have

I want to remember all the cute and sweet things that my kiddos say and so I think I will just starting posting them on here since I use this as a journal :)

Riley was in bed and we had already finished the bedtime routine when we called me into his room and said "I have something to say"
ME: What buddy?
Ry: For your birthday since I love you I will buy a princess watch okay sweetie
Me: Thank you buddy that's so nice....good night!
Ry: Good night! I love you but you only get the watch if your good...okay?
Me: OK bud...night!

McKinley's newest thing is that I am no longer called Mom to her. She only calls me Honey now and when I say I am MOM. She replies, "NO your my Honey!"

I love my kids

CrAsh,ScReeeeeecH,BOOOm and Bang

Yesterday when I was going to pick up Ry from school I was in an accident with a Lorry (British word for Semi-truck). The roads are so small and when big trucks like that go down the road it's so hard to get out of the way. I got completely off the road just not in enough time because he kept driving. The back window is completely blown out and I am so thankful that nothing happened to McKinley (who was sitting in the back). Luckily he stopped to give me all of his info and he was suprised to see all the damage...duh! Now we just wait to see when the truck companies insurance will cover the cost to fix my poor car......Keep your fingers crossed :)
Yesterday was long .I think I will just stay home today and clean...too much action for me.
Hoping to have a better day today!

Halloween

We had a great time for Halloween this year....we met up with some friends and went Trick or Treating on base and the kids definitely got some good candy. Good times!

AuTuMn

"I love the leaves I do not know why. Is it their colors or how they fly?
They crunch and crinkle under my feet; I pile them up And take a leap!"

HaLlOwEeN fUn and LOTS of bOrEdOm

Riley and his friend Summer have this week off of school for half term and so needless to say we are dying of boredom and entertaining ourselves the best way we can...(I know scary huh?)
We painted some polka dots on some pumpkins.....put up some webs to scare off all those crazy English Trick or Treaters and then we checked the mail and to Riley's excitement we got a package from our wonderful friends who will be in Germany in a less than a week and we can't wait to see them. Here are some pics of our boredom and Riley's face when he saw what the Love's sent....Thank you! We love you guys and can't wait to see you.

My little helper in the yard and Entertainment Idea #2

While Ry and Summer were at school today McKinley and I decided to finally attack all the leaves in our yard...I didn't realize how much Kinley likes to help!Thanks Little!


Isn't she so cute!!!!



I have been trying to keep these monkey's busy and so today we made Spider Oreo cookies (before anyone tells me I know that spider's have 8 legs but I ran out of licorice due to my son liking to eat it!) Easy and very entertaining!

McKinley's Bday Party

McKinley's party was alot of fun. We did a Ladybug theme...or like they call it here a "LadyBird". Not as many guest showed up due to sickness and other things but we had fun with who came and the kids really enjoyed the Ladybug Piñata(thanks Dyann)
EnJoY!

Blowin out her candle with her Daddy!

Rippin through those presents and LoViN what's underneath all the wrapping!




Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Cook for the pony....She loves it!






Enjoying all the Grub!



Sorry this is really blurry because of all the action but its the only one that I have for the piñata

Love ya Kinley BuG...hope you had a good day!

Whooo Whooo is excited for Halloween?

I am always looking for fun things to do in the day and also entertaining. I saw this on a blog and thought it looked so easy and yet fun for Riley and Summer to do while McKinley was sleeping. Mission accomplished. They were very entertained and stayed quiet for Kinley's nap.