Look who showed up at our house!!

Little R was supposed to be Captain America for Halloween.  I bought the costume months ago, and we've been talking about it since.  Then R's foot surgery was scheduled for Halloween, and that cancelled all plans for us.  I put Little R's costume in his closet, and pretty much forgot about it.  Yesterday, while cleaning out the closet, I came across the costume.  I gave it to Little R, and he had Daddy put it on him immediately.  He LOVED it!!  He wore it the rest of the day...took it off for dinner...and then put it back on again!!

Needless to say, there was LOTS of superhero action at our house yesterday!!  Lots of muscle-flexing, sound-effect making action!!  No bad guys near our house, not a chance!

Thankful

We had a very low-key Thanksgiving this year...just the 5 of us.  We prepared a HUGE meal, and we are still working on the leftovers!

We are still struggling here in Germany, but even with all the struggles, we have MUCH to be thankful for!  We are together, we are healthy, and everyday we receive blessings that we truly don't deserve.  But we sure can't wait for a Thanksgiving day with family and friends!!

Turkeys made by OUR little turkeys!

Little R's turkey.

A's turkey.

T's Turkey.

Little R made the turkey centerpiece at school.

So.much.food!!!  We took a large plate over to our German neighbors, and we still have so many leftovers we'll never be able to conquer them all!!

Anji's new bed??

After R's surgery on his foot, I knew he would have to sleep on his back with his foot propped up for a while.  I also knew that this would mean some very loud snoring coming from his side of the bed, and I couldn't rudely wake him up and ask him to roll over.  I didn't want to sleep in one of the extra bedrooms, because they are too far away, and I wouldn't be able to hear him if he needed me during the night.  So...my solution was to bring a mattress from the guest room and put it in the floor of the dining room (which is very near our bedroom).  Problem solved:  I was close enough to hear him if he needed me, but not so close that the snoring was unbearable! : )

I lugged the mattress upstairs from the basement, and as soon as I plopped it down on the floor and put the sheets and blanket on it, Anji jumped right up and snuggled in.  I truly believe she thought I brought it up just for her, and she appreciated it!  Of course, she was a bit upset when I made it clear to her that she would be sharing that space...with me!

Our First Snow!

We had our first snow early this year...in October!  Hoping it's not a sign of a long, snowy winter!

It was a wet, heavy snow and did a lot of damage to the trees in our area,  but it was perfect for making snowballs!  And it lasted just long enough for the kids to play in it a few times!  A and Little R spent a lot of time out there.  Little R saw his first snow last year, and he played in it, but for a very short time.  This year he is a huge fan!! 

A & Little R bundled up and ready to play!  R's snowsuit from last year is WAY too small, and A needs snow pants AND snow boots...but they made the best of it!  And Mommy has some shopping to do! : )

A snow covered trampoline is even more fun!!

This was the field BEFORE A & Little R destroyed the beauty of it! : )
 

Run 4 Life

Last Friday was the Run 4 Life here at Stuttgart.  A's dance team was performing, so I went ahead and signed us up to walk in it, too.  At the time, we thought MiMi & PaPa would still be here, so I planned for them to stay at home with Little R, and R, the girls, and I could participate in the Run 4 Life.

But since MiMi & PaPa left a week early, we had to do the event WITH Little R.  After a rough start with some major whining, Little R came around and we all ended up having a really good time!

A takes a Team Dance class, and this was their first ever performance.  They needed a little (or a lot) more work as a team, but this gave them a chance to get up in front of people, and now they know what they need to work on!  A hasn't performed in front of people since we left Cheer 4 Christ in Oklahoma...and she has missed it!  But I definitely think she has lost some of that confidence that she used to have...hoping she can get that back!

After her performance, the kids played out in the fields.  Little R was definitely feeling the music, and had quite the little dance party...showing some moves we had never seen before!  The girls had friends there too, and had their own little dance party...even T was dancing!! : )

Then we headed out to walk our laps, but Little R had other things in mind...he took off sprinting!  And that little dude is FAST!  I think he ended up running 3 laps...with some short walk breaks here and there...so that's a mile...pretty impressive for a 5-year old...AND after his bedtime! : )

All in all it was a good night.  We got to support A and her performance, we got to honor Grandma & Grandpa Coffey, and we got to spend a few hours together as a family doing it.  Not bad for a Friday night!!

Little R with the luminary that T decorated

A and her Dance Team, about to perform

Little R getting his groove on...he was using his hat as part of his dance moves...passing it behind his back, throwing it in the air.  He had strangers stopping to watch!



Exhausted!!

The girls getting their groove on!!  That's A in the dark pink, and T is in the back with the red? hat on