The challenge begins and so does spring (maybe?)

So we are off and running with the challenge.

Day one was the funky colored floral skirt. I knew this one was going to be tricky. And sure enough it was. But, I gave it a good go with my one purple pullover sweater. I truly love the sleeves on this sweater but I absolutely HATE the tight turtle neck and by 16:30 I couldn't take it any more. It is now in the wash and after that it will be headed for the charity shop. So...where does that leave the skirt? Well, I don't know. Guess we will see if I can make it

work with any of the next three choices.

Day two was the striped skirt. And again it brought into play purple. Seems that I have a tendency to purchase a lot of purple things. Unfortunately, I have a hard time making them work together. But, this time I did it. And I really liked how this one came together. And the best part was that it was warm and comfortable. Two ideal things for a cold, wet, rainy day spent running around trying to accomplish lots of little things all over town.

The other good news in our part of the world is that it looks like a change of weather is heading our way. Snow has already given way to rain today. And this morning there was no delay of anything because of poor road conditions! The children all left at the proper time!!! Oh happy mommy! And if the weather man is to be believed it could be reaching as high as 15c on Friday when I head to Munich for my lovely day out. And that would truly make for a LOVELY day out!

The Outfit Challenge

And so it has begun. An effort has started to clear out the wardrobe cupboard before we move. This is not an easy task. In fact, it is probably the single most daunting task I face. I have a ton of clothes. And frankly, I am pretty attached to most of them.

But, there are those things, back in the back, wedged in between, and at the bottom of the stack that I havent exactly worn as of late. Or, sadly, ever. Yes, I admit it. I have things that still have the tags on them. Bad. I know. But please don't judge me to harshly because I know that I am not alone here. I read enough blogs to know that many, many, many people have this same thing going on in their wardrobe cupboards!

So, when La Fille D'or offered up the idea of her wardrobe challenge I happily jumped on board. The idea pick 3 items you never wear and over the course of the next two weeks (March 10 through 24) create 4 outfits with each item. The goal is to have a total of 12 outfits. Easy enough in theory but let me tell you, tricky right out of the gate.

So...

Here are my pieces.

Either this will be eye opening and I will enter spring (if it ever does arrive in Germany, doubtful at this point) with three new wardrobe staples, or I will be listing three lovely items on Wardrobe Swap Shop.

Either way, I am feeling just a little accomplished and that is a good thing.

GONE!

UNBELIEVABLE!

After not seeing the ground for over two months, the most amazing thing has happened. The snow is GONE! Melted.

Well, at least off the grass. And surprisingly our grass is still green.

It makes me feel like there is hope that spring is just around the corner. Like floaty dresses and little sandals and painted toenails are just days away. That is, until I look at the extended forecast.

Snow. Predicted for this weekend.

Or walk outside. The sun might be peeking through the clouds and the grass may be showing in the yard, but it is only a balmy 34 degrees out there.

And that doesnt really feel very spring like.

But, maybe if we hope and cross our fingers....

Lots of Changes

Well, my efforts to change and get better at posting have yet to show themselves.

And sadly, I dont see them showing up anytime in the near future. Life is running at full speed and doesn't show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. There are so many dramatic changes ahead of this family in the next few months that it is staggering.

The mere thought of it all makes you just sort of want to crawl in the bed, pull the covers up over your head and not come back out until it is all over and done with.

The most major of them all is that in a mere 5 months this little family will be transported to the smack dab middle of the United States. TO LIVE! A transatlantic move. And an unwelcome one at that. There are a million preparations that go into this all and I am finding myself very unmotivated to do any of them.

But alas, the movers are going to come whether or not I am ready and if I dont want all this mismash of things packed nilly willy then I am going to have to seriously get it together.

So, that is at least a brief peek at what is happening here.

Brrrrrrrrr........

It's COLD!!! And Snowing!!! So, I guess that means it really must be getting close to Christmas! lol

So much has been going on around here that it has been difficult to find time to do the simple thing, much less post a blog.

There was a Christmas play at church featuring all three boys. And Brennan had the lead! It was GREAT! And being so busy I have yet to download the pictures off the camera. Bad mommy. That was quickly followed up by the holiday band concert at the middle/high school last night. It was Colton's debut concert and he did TERRIFIC! He plays trumpet in the beginning band and Brennan plays Oboe in the intermediate band. They both did really well and again, pictures are still on the camera. BUT! Daddy did make it just in time for the concert AND we did capture some of it on video!! So, YEAH on both counts.

The boys get out of school for Christmas break on Friday and then the best part happens. ALEX ARRIVES ON THE 21st!!!!!!!!!! Everyone is so excited. It has been two long years since he has been able to be home. We cant wait.

So, between now and then, the guest room has to get cleaned up, Christmas goodies have to get made, presents have to get wrapped and find their way under the tree and I have to complete a HUGE photo shoot! WHEW!

Oh yeah, and let's not forget that along the way there are a couple of Christmas parties that have to be attended and a house that needs some attention and some hungry boys that are going to insist on being fed.

CRAZINESS!

dober postranski ter vesel zahvaljevanje!

Or as we say in English, Goodbye and Happy Thanksgiving! Have no idea what language that is in up there? Well, most reading this blog probably wouldn't. It's Slovenian. Now, big question is, do you even know where that is on the map? lol

We are headed there for the Thanksgiving weekend. To the capital. Ljubljana. And we are very excited about it. We have actually driven through there several times on our way to and from Croatia but never had the opportunity to stop and see it and let me tell you it looks AMAZINGLY beautiful, so we decided it was finally time to do it. To make the trip and take the time to go and check it out. Can't wait.

The whole country is not even as big as the principality of Wales! So, I am pretty sure we should get to see most of it while we are there over the long weekend.

So, življati a velik konec tedna (have a great weekend)

Funny thing about wool tights

I love wool tights. They are the PERFECT thing to wear on cold days in Germany. They are fashionable. They are WARM (most important). And of course, they are readily available all over the place here. I love them. Except for the one small fact that they grow. Yes, GROW! As the day progresses wool tights get longer and longer. So, by the end of the day I have a pair of tights that I can reach from my toes to my head. Seriously. What is up with this? How do I prevent this? And most importantly, can I count constantly pulling up my tights as my daily work out routine??????

The insane week

This is the start of an INSANE week. Just thinking about what lays ahead makes me want to crawl back under the covers and stay there until another Tuesday rolls around.

Tomorrow morning bright and early all of the vendors for this year's bazaar will starting pulling into town. We have more vendors from more places than last year. Selling everything under the sun. And I along with my co-chair are responsible for the well being and "happiness" of each one of them. And hopefully a lot of success for each of them as well. We need a good bazaar. We deserve a good bazaar after all the time and work to prep for this thing.

So, tomorrow morning bright and early the madness will ensue and not ease up until the last one packs up and pulls back out of town on Saturday evening. Then, after that, I get to sleep once again.

Bring on the green tea!

Been a LONG time!

It's been quite a while since I bothered to blog. So much going on, so much to take up my time and sadly, not many creative thoughts. But, I foresee the future being a bit more tame. Fingers crossed.

This week was a big one. The boys started school. I now have TWO middle schoolers! And our youngest will begin getting REAL grades this year. They are growing up way to fast. It scares me. lol

They also all got new glasses this week. Colton for the very first time. He hates them. Of course. Who gets new glasses and truly loves them? No one. At least no one that would ever in a million years admit it. But, I think they all look handsome. And maybe just a tad bit smarter. :)

So that is us. In a nutshell.

Hopefully another post wont take 11 months. LOL

Superhero

This is the result of a goofy moment when Brennan put on a WAY to small "Dash" from the Incredibles (I think Devin wore this 2 years ago!) and actually let me zip him into it.

I actually had the camera right there and ready to go.

Brennan RELUCTANTLY posed for two pictures before the costume gave him the wedgie of a lifetime.

And lastly, I took the picture and played around with it on Photoshop because I am teaching a class on Photoshop to a bunch of ladies this coming Monday.  And being as though I didnt have a ton of experience this seemed like a fun picture to play with.  Turns out, I was quite right!

WHEW!  What a culmination of events.  But I have to say,  the pictures make for some pretty cute superhero comic book looking photos.  Ok, maybe reluctant superhero, but cute, none the less.  And ones I KNOW I will never ever ever get again because THAT costume is NEVER going back on any of these boys! :)  In fact, it has sadly been added to our basket of Halloween memories that are going to the thrift store.

So, it is now safe to say that Brennan will NOT being going as Dash to the school Halloween dance (there has been no talk of a date yet, THANK GOODNESS!) and I feel confident enough to teach my class.  Yes, I have a bunch of other amusingly adjusted photos to prove it.

of them all, this was the greatest

I took over 170 pictures of children this weekend.  And I have to admit, most of them came out rather well considering the subject matter.  :)

But of them all, this is by far, my absolute favorite photo.

Now I know many will say that it is simply my favorite because it is my own child but I don't think that is entirely it.

I think it is because it was not staged, it was not posed.  It was caught in the "moment".  The middle of the game.  He is engrossed in thought of the next play.  I caught him off guard as he turned to run off.  He is sweaty and dirty and all boy.  Rough and tough and "cool".  It is probably a moment I will never be able to capture again.  And for that I am so grateful to have had my camera.

I love this photo.  It is all Devin.  It sums up this football season for him. Intensity, grit, fun and determination.

my afternoon date

It is a BEAUTIFUL, sunny, mildly cool, slightly breezy, fall day here in the heart of Bavaria and I have an afternoon date!

With about 30 wild and crazy elementary school age soccer players!  lol

Yes, I have been hired to do sports photos for two soccer teams this afternoon.  And amazingly we have been blessed with perfect weather.

I am thinking that this could be a true test of my photographic talents and stamina.  That is going to be a LOT of kid energy.  

Oh well, at least it is another job and a creative one at that.  A step in the right direction.  One foot in front of the other as they say.

A basket full of memories

My boys LOVE Halloween.  LOVE IT!  I would even go so far as to say it ranks as one of their favorite holidays.

Why? Because they get to dress up in a costume.

They start planning the costume about July.  That is how much thought goes into this process.

It is hilarious.

And every year is the same.  They tell me that I MUST order them the MOST expensive costume imaginable off of the internet so that THEY will be the coolest kid alive. If I don't they just won't survive.  I say no and life is traumatic for a few days with begging and pleading and bargain making.  But none of that works so they go about trying to figure out what to do instead.

OHHHHHH CREATIVITY!!!  Who would have guessed?  lol

Sometimes we find old costume parts at the thrift shop.  Fun!  Sometimes we find things to make costumes with.  FUN!  And sometimes we might even splurge and buy a costume piece if it is on SALE and very unique.  Those Germans are really getting into the Halloween idea these days.  And they have much better stuff than we ever think of having .

So, back to my blog title.  Here I sit with a basket full of costumes.  All that the boys have outgrown.  The other day we pulled down the costume bag to see what was inside and let the boys browse through it and we discovered quite a few things that were never going to fit anyone in this house again.  So now, they are waiting to be taken to the thrift shop.

But it is sad.  I look at them and see my baby boy faces smiling with happy delight as they wore those get ups on Halloween and ran around like crazy freaks jacked up on sugar giggling with pure innocent joy.  I know that those times are quickly running out.  And it makes me sad.  I want them to ALWAYS be so easily amused and entertained.  So eager to throw on stupid looking clothes and go have fun.  

The world already has one of mine, cant it just wait a while till it takes the rest?

Homecoming 2008

It has happened.  Another one of our babies has grown up.  I don't know how or when it exactly happened and in case anyone is wondering, yes, I am still slightly in denial.

Brennan attended his FIRST homecoming dance this evening WITH a date.  A DATE!  And the crazy part of it is, she asked him to go with her.  Thank you, thank you, I will take complete credit for giving birth to a handsome, smart and totally popular girl magnet.  lol

But, really.  A DATE!?  A HOMECOMING DANCE?!  All in just the 7th grade?  Could we not get a bigger break between Alex finishing torturing me with all the nutso girlfriend stuff and Brennan apparently ready to start it?  Don't I deserve it?  Just a little bit????  PRETTY PLEASE?  With sugar on top?

He looked so handsome and was so happy to go.  And he had been on the ballot for 7th grade homecoming prince.  The title went to the 7th grade super jock but hey, apparently my kid ain't no slouch.  He is the 7th grade Student Council President and helped plan this whole event.  So, yes, he does deserve to go.  I will concede to that.  

BUT THE DATE PART?

Lord give me strength! 

Yeah Mail! Boo Mail!

Normally getting mail is a big deal around here.  And getting packages an even bigger deal.

But yesterday I FINALLY received a package that I have been waiting SIX weeks for.  SIX WEEKS!  Which I believe is an insane amount of time when you consider that I PAID FOR THE POSTAGE for that package to come to me.

I didn't pay for by slow boat from Timbuktu or carrier pigeon.  I paid for REAL postage.  And still it took SIX weeks.  That is a month and a half.  Which makes you wonder where that stuff has really been.  I mean seriously.  If you stop and think about it, where can stuff go in a month and a half? And after a month and a half of "whatever" do you really want to handle that  package? 

But onto the other part about a package taking that long.  It was a clothing order.  For me.  And because it took so long to get here.  IT DIDN'T FIT!!  Nope,  In those six weeks I had managed to drop a whole other size and so everything in there was too big.

So, I guess you could say that was a bad thing.  BUT......if it had gotten here on time, I would have kept it AND then now it would all be too big and I would be stuck with clothes that didn't fit and couldn't return.  This way I can return them with NO PROBLEMS! ha!

So, good news, bad news.  Those two things always seem to go hand in hand don't they?  lol

Hohenfels Lil' Saints

imikimi - Customize Your World

Snug as a Faux Bunny!

 Well today it happened!  

It was warm enough to wear my new faux fur sweater.  YEAH!

Now, I would never sport real fur, but bring on the faux!  And this one is UBER cute.  I have been yearning to wear it for weeks and today was a rainy, gray, windy and just downright PERFECT day for it.  

So, nevermind the weather, I have been sunshinny happy in my cuddly sweater vest and stylish to boot!  And I got a "you look sexy" from my husband as a super bonus! YEAH!!!

I'm in LOVE!

I found my fall love.  Or at least my lust of the moment.

How could I not fall for these beauties?  I mean seriously, they have the two attributes I love most in life.  They are PURPLE and they are BOOTS!  Ahhhh!  Soooo beautiful and sadly, so not available in my size.  I wanted to cry.  

That is the problem with wearing the most popular shoe size in the world.  Yours is the first to run out.

So, what to do.  Pity party?  Continue to search for purple boots now that I have decided I MUST have them for fall because my wardrobe is screaming for them? Or move on without them.  Decisions.  Life is just full of them these days.

But man!  Are those PRETTY!