January leftovers

Video chatting with Erick/Dad:

Bailey loses a tooth and other daily shenanegans:

Ward scout dessert auction fundraiser. How I love my ward! And oh how David loves Miss Pam!

Bailey turns 8

On January 30th, Bailey turned eight. A few days before that, she invited some friends over to celebrate. She really wanted a sleepover, but since we don't do sleepovers, she had a PJ party instead. All the girls came in their PJ's. We had quite a crew! The girls played and giggled. We did manicures and pedicures. We watched a movie at ate popcorn. It was a fun night:

Girls being girls, they turned on some tunes and danced around the house. Look at that air:

The cake:

I hope your wishes come true Bailey:

We invited a few extra friends for the cake and ice cream:

This girl is growing up too fast:

Spa day!

On Saturday, my friend Sarah invited me and Pam and Deanna to join her at the Hotel Nové Lázně, a hotel and spa just over the Czech border.

When we left home there was almost no snow on the ground. An hour later, we were in the city of Marienbad in the middle of a snow storm. The town is so cute. All the buildings are yellow and cheery. This town is known for it's healing mineral water. There are several spas in town. There are also outdoor fountains from which we can drink. I didn't take pictures outside because of all the wet snow. But don't worry, I plan to go back. So I'll get pictures next time.

We started our day by eating at a fun restaurant across the street from the Hotel. We all tried something different and yummy. Then we discovered a little store that sells Oplatky, made from two paper-thin wafers with flavor smooshed in between. These yummy treats were first created in 1640 and served in spa towns such as this. My favorite was chocolate almond. Yum!

These are pictures that Sarah shared with me from her iPhone. Thanks Sarah!

Oplatky!

After lunch and our treat, we went to the spa. I felt a little strange pulling out my camera, but I did it when no one else was there. These are mineral baths. Each bath was a different temperature:

This part of the spa is designed to improve circulation in your feet. The front pool is filled with super hot water. The rear, coppery-looking pool is filled with icy cold water. You are invited to walk around the center hand rail four times, transferring from hot to cold pool with each half of the rotation. It was very interesting:

I didn't take many more pictures of the spa itself, but we enjoyed the sauna, the whirlpools, and the sun lamps. If we wanted to pay extra, we could have scheduled a massage or other health and beauty treatments. But we were content to just relax and spend some girl-time together: 

If you are looking for a nice, relaxing getaway, I strongly recommend this place. I felt so rejuvenated! If you need someone to show you how to get there, I may be persuaded to go again. Ha!

Thanks so much ladies for a fantastic, relaxing day. It was exactly what I needed.

A year in pictures 2012: Week 4

Friday 20 January

I can't help but laugh every time I see this picture. Erick is getting ready to blow out his candles. It's a little frightening, don't you think?

Saturday 21 January

Today I went with some wonderful friends to a spa just over the border in the Czech republic. It has pools, a sauna, hot tubs, sun lamps, and lots more. We arrived in the middle of a blizzard. Stay tuned. This day deserves it's own post.

Saturday 21 January

About a half hour after I returned home from the spa, I packed up the kids and headed to a scout dinner and fundraiser. Dinner was free. The desserts were up for auction. I won this little beauty made by my amazing neighbor Pam. After winning the bid, I had the auctioneer give me a handful of forks on the spot. I allowed anyone who wanted some to dig in. Many took me up on my offer. 

Obviously, I didn't take this picture, but I wanted to remember the night, so I'm including it. 

Here Amber and I are enjoying it a little too much. The cake was oh, so good! It kept me from taking it home, where I would possibly eat the entire thing alone. My kids loved it. I loved it.

Sunday 22 January

My mom used to make this for us when we were kids: German pancakes. It's really more of an egg cake. But it's not sweet. The kids eat it with jelly or syrup, and they love it. I made it for my kids today. Yum!

Monday 23 January

Today I got a hot stone massage. Here are the stones that were used. If you haven't had a hot stone massage, I highly recommend it.

Ohhhhh. It was so nice. I used a gift certificate that I received from my cousin Aisling (actually she's my second cousin once removed - but that's so much to say - Ha!). Thanks Aisling! I really needed that today.

Tuesday 24 January

This week I am officially stepping out of my position as FRG Leader for our company. Erick is changing companies. It is bittersweet. I am looking forward to having less responsibility for a while, but I will miss my friends and the activities and fun I always have with my FRG family.

I will always cherish my time as a Spartan.

Wednesday 25 January

You almost got a third picture of my kindle tonight. Instead I stuck my hand in the air and took a picture. It was a nice way to document the fact that I got a manicure this week (another gift from Aisling - she REALLY spoiled me this Christmas).

This picture also reminded me that I need to get my wedding ring cleaned. It's losing it's luster. I love my ring, and I love that (when it's clean) it sparkles. 

Really. 

It's almost blinding. :)

Thursday 26 January

I went to an assembly at the elementary school today. Bailey's class sang, and Bailey had a pre-recorded speaking part that went along with the music. She did such a great job. 

Thursday 26 January

The kids also learned the sign language for the song. 

Here is the whole group. Bailey is the cute blonde right in the middle.

Another Skype birthday

Today we had a birthday party for Erick. He was able to Skype (thank goodness!), and we watched him open the presents that he had received in the mail. We had cupcakes and candles and even balloons. David even decided to show Erick his new walking skills.

This is Erick's second birthday in three years that we have celebrated over the computer. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I am so grateful for modern technology.

Here we are getting ready to sing happy birthday, and let Erick blow out his candles. Luckily the kids helped too: 

A year in pictures 2012: Week 3

Friday 13 January

On the days that I don't run, I hop on my bike. I'm so glad I invested in a trainer, so I can ride inside on cold dark nights.

Saturday 14 January

Every time I start the vacuum, David rushes to get one of his toy cars. He likes to play chicken. If I "let" him push the vacuum backward with his car, he gets super excited and squeals.

Sunday 15 January

The fam.

Monday 16 January

This is already the second day in three weeks that I have photographed my kindle. I almost didn't get a picture today. I was nearly asleep when I realized that I still needed to take one. This was sitting on my bedside table. I got a photo with a few moments to spare.

Tuesday 17 January

Today my friend's husband took command of a company... in Afghanistan. Modern technology allowed us to watch the ceremony live. I love modern technology.

Tuesday 17 January

I pass this building almost every day. It has tracks going in. I wonder what this building was used for in it's prime. Any ideas?

Wednesday 18 January

I had German class today. I am so excited to be learning German... finally.

When I don't know a word in German, it comes out French. I was a missionary in France for just under 18 months before I married Erick. My teacher was shocked that my French could be so good after only 18 months, when my German is so poor after living in Germany for two and a half years.

She has a point. I need to work harder.

Thursday 19 January

Today Joey participated in a school-wide spelling bee. Here she is with other kids in her age-group.

Warning: Parent moment

I added a few more photos to remember this fun day. Joey was so brave to get up in front of the whole school to compete. She did pretty well, and I think the experience has motivated her to study harder for next year's spelling bee.

Way to go, Joey!

Joey's turn to talk about her dad - Happy Birthday!

Here is Joey answering questions about her Dad in celebration of his birthday tomorrow:

Happy Birthday Dad - an interview with Bailey

Today I'm posting my interview with Bailey. Only two more days 'til Erick's birthday...

Kids say the darndest things... about Dad

This Friday is Erick's birthday. In honor of that special day, I interviewed the kids and asked them questions about their dad. I hope you enjoy it. Here is TJ:

By the way, TJ gets cut off at the end because my camera battery died, but his last line was, "I love Dad three-thousand and fifty-one."

Happy Birthday Erick!

The cutting room floor... for Erick

There are actually days during the week that I take more than one picture. Sometimes I even take more than two. I choose my favorite/s, and the rest get cut. Usually, my favorite is not chosen for it's fantastic photographic quality. I usually choose based on what I want to remember. After all, this blog is sort of a journal for me. 

This blog is also a means of sharing family moments and memories with Erick.

With him in Afghanistan, it's a way to stay connected. Today he implied that he would love to see me blog more frequently. It's the least I can do. I love him after all, and this is one of the ways I show it.

So in an attempt to find something to blog, I reviewed my photos from the last two weeks and selected a few from the proverbial cutting room floor.

1 January

This is Bailey's I'm-so-angry-I'm-about-to-cry look.

Apparently, she thought Joey had cheated while they were playing the Wii. She didn't take it well. Plus she was exhausted from staying up all night. All three kids went to bed shortly after I took this photo.

3 January

I live next door to Pam. There are many perks to living next to this amazing woman. Some day I will have to dedicate a post to her and all of the wonderful traits, skills, and goodness that she carries. I love her.

One of the perks is that I get to taste her amazing cooking. Tonight she brought me a sample of her delicious coconut curry shrimp dish. 

A-MAZ-ING!

3 January

Bailey and David have a special bond. They love to be together. When they are together, they both emanate joy. They radiate light. I don't know how to explain it. But I hope they carry this bond into their adolescence and further into adulthood. 

4 January

As I received Christmas cards this year, I followed the example of my sister-in-law Tricia. I hung them on the door in the dining room, so I could see them every day. Thanks for the cards! It meant so much to know that friends and family were thinking about us during the Christmas season this year.

7 January

If you look closely, you will see that it's snowing. The snow this year has been noncommittal. It falls from the sky for a while, then it stops before it can accumulate on the ground. My kids want enough snow to really play in it. I, on the other hand, am quite content to let the snow have a pass this year.

7 January

Lydia and Katie giving their best Japanese tourist impression. 

They are spot on. Seriously. We see it all the time.

8 January

At first, David was hiding from the camera. Then it became a game of Peek-a-boo. Then he just started rubbing his hands all over his face. Crazy kid.

9 January

I have this gate up to keep David out of the kitchen. Believe me, he can do a lot of damage in there. 

I think he was trying to gnaw his way in...

14 January

It finally snowed enough for the kids to play. At least for a few hours. But now our back yard is a mud pit.

15 January

This has become David's go-to expression whenever I point the camera at him. I'm concerned about taking family pictures with him next month...