"that look"

It's no secret that I may go a little crazy when it comes to my camera's 10 second timer.

But, I'm far from the professional. In fact, a lot of times I think it's on the timer and indeed it's not and I end up taking the following pics below.

What is a secret is Brad's attitude right before the camera flashes. He can't stand it when I go camera crazy and these photo's prove it. It's amazing how his face transforms from the expressions he has below to a happy smile right before the flash.

Take a gander!

This one is not so bad. It's actually Miles that has "that look."

I love fall!

The time of year, the colors, the smells.... it all just puts me in such a great mood!

M & M video time

Killing some time til bedtime! Getting used to Brad's new schedule. We sure miss him tonight!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Last night. He's so fun!

A break in the weather

Don't you love when Winter has come, you're freezing and already missing the warmer days and then Fall manages to stop by one last time to say bye? That's today! And hopefully the next couple days!

It has been SO cold. Infact I hear conversations everywhere how we had no Fall. It went from 65 degrees to 20-30 degree weather overnight and hasn't looked back. The other day I went to check my mail and it snowed on me!

But the weather forecast says 50 degrees the next couple days and you can bet we are all over that like white on rice!

My friend and I spent the entire morning at Killesberg Park this morning. Of course the weather hadn't warmed up yet that early but gosh it was nice to not have that bitter bitter cold nipping at every body part.

Miles way too into the ducks to pose for a photo. Those ducks were not scared of humans. In fact I think they were following us around the park at one point.

These ducks were SO ugly they were cute.

There is a funny story behind this picture. I put the camera on a self-timer on the see-saw (see above pic) when I pushed the start button I didn't realize I hit it so hard and the whole see-saw was going all the way up-all the way down. We figured it was either going to get a pic of the trees or our feet. So funny it landed right on us.

Today was one of those days...

where I felt like I was watching Miles through an old home video. I could picture myself in 20 years remembering this moment when he was 2 and we were living in Europe.

I find myself always looking forward to something whether it's 2 weeks away or 2 years away. I realized today that I need to take some time to enjoy something about each day, enjoy Miles being the exact age that he is, enjoy living in the middle of Europe, enjoy our youth and energy that fades away every day.

I wish I didn't tend to put life on fast-forward. Something I need to work on! Each day is unique!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So excited!

Not only is my mom coming out for Thanksgiving but we FINALLY booked a trip to Edelweiss!

If you've never heard of Edelweiss before it's where they filmed The Sound of Music. It's right on the border of Austria. It's an American military resort tucked into the Alps and there is so much to see and do there (including skiing!) I think we are the only family out here that hasn't been yet.

I was so excited after booking it this morning that I just had to share! I can't wait!

Almost forgot...

Pics form Miles b-day weekend! Can't believe he is 2.

This was right after his nap. He woke up and walked into the living room and the biggest smile lit up on his face.

We were trying to teach him to blow out his candle. He was mimicking us by whispering "chooo chooo"

Can't you picture him saying "chooo" here?



He also got a kitchen thank to his Mommy! Tights and kitchens... wow. At least he still sleeps with a football.

Tis the season for....tights

Yes, they are for Miles! But before you think I'm crazy you must know it's a common thing for Germans to put their boys in tights.

I found this out last weekend when I went to the mall with a girlfriend. She has her little boy in a German kindergarten and was telling me how all the little boys will strip down and run around in their tights if it gets too warm inside.

So at the mall we went to a children's store and sure enough they had a whole wall of tights for boys. They had ones with dinosaurs, cars, monsters, dogs, or just boyish colors. So I picked up a couple pairs to give it a try. Last winter Miles lived in his pajama pants. I put them under his clothes everywhere we went and still worried about him being warm enough. Not with these tights!

By the way- Yes Brad freaked out. But after having a freezing day like today and seeing Miles in his new tights he said, "Well I guess they are practical...and maybe a little cute."

I guess the real question is...can I bring them back to the States with me? I don't think so...

See, you'd never know.... Mom can rest assured knowing he's warm underneath!

Happy Birthday Mizzy Moos!

Happy Birthday Miles! Wanted to share this photobook from the last year. Got this idea from my sister-n-law. Love it!

You might want to make it larger to view.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Sesame street comes to Stuttgart

USO and Sesame Street got together and did a tour of Europe to serve military families stationed overseas. Miles had such a blast. He danced to the music the entire time (even if he couldn't see the characters.) Unfortunately my camera died 2 minutes into it and I got a total of 2 pictures! So I scraped some pics together via a friend and the SS website.

The place was PACKED! Below is a picture from the morning show we went to. We look like sardines in a can. I wish we would have went to the later show because I heard it was much more comfortable. Can you see us in this pic? Haha.

Here is Miles trying to see. 3 minutes into the show everyone stood up. Poor guy didn't stand a chance to the tall 3rd graders.
1 of my 2 pics of the event. It was fun though!

Cannstatter Volksfest is so much fun!

We went this evening to the fest and had so much fun! Volksfest is equivalent to Munich's Oktoberfest. People come from all around the world to see the festivities. We are heading back this weekend for more and can't wait to enjoy the adult rides with friends. It was hard to experience everything when it was just Brad and I because neither of us wanted to go on the rides by ourselves. Can't wait!

Here are the "tents." Everyone kept talking about these temporary tents made just for the fest. I didn't realize they were THIS big. I had a teepee in my mind!
Here is what the insides look like. Strangers come to socialize and leave as friends!
Rides!
So many Germans were walking around in their lederhosen, the traditional German clothing made for hard work!
So proud of Brad. He shot 7 out of 7! I didn't realize how good with guns he was, but I guess that's just part of being a Marine!
Giant slide! Miles loved it!