All I can say is...

All I can say is that I have neglected this blog for far too long. So much has happened since the last post 3+ years ago.

We have since moved back to the United States and currently reside in Florida (not far from all the exciting theme parks); Mark now works for a company that specializes in teaching Chinese children how to speak English; I am a First Sergeant and am working in two squadrons (equaling about 1100 Airmen); Eli is an Eagle Scout, taller than both Mark and me and plays water polo; and Zsa Zsa is almost my height, wears the same size shoes, plays water polo and the ukulele.

Eli also has his driving permit, although he is less than interested in driving and Zsa Zsa is also studying synchronized swimming and the Japanese language and culture.

Needless to say, we have remained busy and life is wonderful in sunny Florida!

Spring Showcase

Eli at rehearsal with 2 other male dancers

Zsa Zsa and Eli taking a break after

German class with their friends

Eli and Zsa Zsa are participating in the Spring Showcase at the Ballet Studio. The recital is in German, so they will also be reciting some German poems and narration. Eli landed 3 parts in the showcase and I believe Zsa Zsa has one or two. They are both very excited. Mark is up at the ballet studio just about every day for rehearsals. He said the kids are loving it! 

Eli was recently accepted to the Summer Intensive Program and that should be a lot of fun, albeit hard work, for him this summer. Additionally, Zsa Zsa will be attending Irish Dance Camp where she has recently progressed to hard shoes. She is very excited...my bank account was not!

I can't wait to see the hard work pay off for them. Love these kids...

Deployments are a funny thing...

After several deployments I've noticed that sometimes it's the small things in life that can either build morale of tear it into tiny little shreds. Take this story, for instance (although I will neither confirm, nor deny, that I know who the original instigator was)...

There are 3 different DFAC's (dining facilities...aka Chow Hall) on the base here. We eat at one particular one each morning due to its proximity to our work location. You can order your eggs in a variety of manner each and every morning. Additionally, you can order either French Toast or Pancakes, depending on the day. This one particular DFAC, was the only one out of the three that also served chocolate chip pancakes. Many people raved about how good they were from the first day of my arrival. I'll admit to never being a big fan of them in the past, but hey, why not try them again, right? So I did and they were rather tasty. 

A few weeks later, we found out that they were no longer serving chocolate chip pancakes. We asked why and received several different answers. One guy told us that they were out of chocolate chips and were being back-ordered. Someone else told us that it wasn't in the Air Force recipe manual, so they couldn't make them anymore. Someone else told us that there was a complaint that the other DFAC's didn't make them, so they were going to stop making them at ours. Regardless, all we knew was that they were not serving them anymore and several people had grown quite fond of them. 

If you know anything about the military system, you know that they have the ICE system. It's basically a comment card program. Well, I heard that several people decided to start a "Chocolate Chip Comment Card Campaign" in an effort to bring back the chocolate chip pancakes. Man, these people must have really wanted them bad!! So anyway, word was that they had entire tables (we're talking over 20 people per each table) fill out comment cards in order to bring back the chocolate chip pancakes! Apparently, this went on every day for over a week! 

Eventually, an e-mail was sent out by supervision stating that the chocolate chip pancakes were a thing of the past and everyone that was writing comment cards needed to stop. They were told that they could write comment cards on anything EXCEPT chocolate chip pancakes! We were then briefed the same thing that afternoon at commander's call. Everyone laughed at the absurdity of the First Sergeant having to give us a briefing about chocolate chip pancakes.

Imagine our surprise when the next day we arrived to find the above sign posted on the grill! Talk about some HAPPY PEOPLE! Not only were our chocolate chip pancakes brought back at our DFAC, but they were added to the other two locations as well AND we now can order them with additional add-ins! It was truly a pancake-fest! Morale was brought back up over the fact that we could once again have chocolate chip pancakes! So yes, deployments are a funny thing. It's the simple things in life that can cause people to go to extreme measures in tasting a little bit of home!

And as a side note...I heard that the person that originally started the "Chocolate Chip Comment Card Campaign" then asked everyone to fill out comment cards thanking the DFAC staff for bringing back the chocolate chip pancakes! And no, I haven't indulged in chocolate chip pancakes in quite a while...maybe I'll have one tomorrow!

Fun Wrestling Pictures!

Eli working on getting a win

Practicing with a team mate

Zsa Zsa working hard to get a pin

You're not going to get away that easy!

And she's on top for a pin!

This was our first year wrestling and the kids LOVED it. They can't wait for summer camp!

When We Surround Ourselves

I've had several weeks to sit and ponder on some things as of late and thought I would put it down in "ink" before it escapes me. Being in a deployed environment and being "alone" (aka - not having anyone to regularly talk to like a husband, kids and such) has given me numerous hours to think about things that I don't normally have time to think of. As strange as it sounds, I don't particularly mind the long weeks of solitude since it gives me the chance to kind of "get back to basics" and refocus on what is really important to me.

I've discovered that when we surround ourselves with things and people that are positive, we tend to be more positive. I know this isn't a new concept, by any means, but I've learned that when I am unable to find something positive, I must make the effort to be the one to create it. When I'm positive, others around me will be as well. The situation might still stink, but at least I am not letting that define my attitude.

I've also re-discovered that the people surrounding you are watching. I've told many folks about the time my boss came up to me several years ago while sitting in fuel cell and told me that he had been watching me and had known for some time that I was LDS. At that point, I did not know that he was, Actually, I had no clue that he was! We talked a lot and he eventually make choices in his life that led him to a point where he was able to stand in the circle for my daughter's baby blessing. What a happy moment for both of us! Similarly, I recently had another supervisor tell me that he knew there was something different about me that he just couldn't put his finger on. He then discovered that I was LDS and said that it all made sense. I know that when we represent the true meaning of Christ, His countenance shows in our image. I hope that I can continue doing that in order to stand for what I have been taught and know to be true.

When we surround ourselves with those that want to improve, we have a tendency to want to follow their lead and improve as well. Whether it's education, fitness, nutrition, relationships, or any number of things, we seek to find ways to increase our knowledge and ability to grow. Doing so will not only improve those areas that we set out to improve, but will also help us grow in other areas that we had not originally planned on.

Service continues to play a large part in my life and I'm glad that when I surround myself with other like-minded individuals, I find that we are able to make a bigger impact. Whether it's service aimed towards a large project, or a small and secret kind deed, I find that it always warms my heart when I think of the smile that it may put on the face of someone else.

This post is in no means a way to "toot my own horn", but just a few random thoughts that I find myself thinking about from time to time and a reminder to myself that it's important to surround myself with the best of things and people. Of course, I could also recount other thoughts I've had as of late, but you probably don't really care about how I try to think up of new ways to spruce up the chopped chicken I've been eating at 2 out of every 3 meals every day for the past 2 months or the fact that I have to get up at 0330 each morning in order to get ready for work...

More thoughts to come later, but for now, go out and surround yourself...

My Baby is How Old???

 Zsa Zsa at the ice rink

 Eli and Zsa Zsa with their "penguin" skating aides!

Zsa Zsa and her friend Samantha 

 Zsa Zsa, Samantha, and Jacob enjoying a special treat at Macaroni Grill

Zsa Zsa got a hold of the camera for some "self" images! 

I think she means business! 

Another year brings another birthday! Zsa Zsa decided to spend the day by hanging out at home in the morning and then going ice skating followed by dinner at Macaroni Grill. She invited one of her friends and we were thrilled that their entire family could join us! 

Ice Skating was not as big a hit as Zsa Zsa thought it would be. There were tears and angry little people, but all in all, I think she was glad that she tried it (although no one has asked to go back)! Diner was okay, but it's Macaroni Grill, so you can't really expect much. We had a good time socializing with our friends over dinner, which was probably every one's favorite part of the night!

Some things about my dear daughter:

1) She loves the colors pink and purple. If it's pink and has cats on it, well, there aren't many things in life that could beat that!

2) She loves Irish Dance! Zsa Zsa has been taking Irish Dance lessons for a little over a year now and loves it. I enjoy seeing her learn new things and she loves showing off her new steps to anyone that will watch!

3) Zsa Zsa just started wrestling and LOVES it. She goes into "beast mode" and loves to pin the little boys in her weight class! 

4) Drama, drama, drama...need I say anything else?

5) Zsa Zsa loves to climb in bed with her mom and dad and cuddle. An added bonus is if they fall asleep before she does, in which case, she ends up getting to sleep with them all night.

6) She is very concerned about the feelings of others. She doesn't like to get her feelings hurt and tries hard to befriend those that she sees that are sad too. She LOVES making new friends and often asks for play dates!

7) Adventurer! Zsa Zsa is no stranger to trying new things. Whether it's a new food or a new activity, Zsa Zsa will usually be the first one to try it. 

8) Queen Zsa Zsa...this little person can usually be found bossing her brother around and much to her parents chagrin, he usually obliges :(

9) The most unique and wonderful little girl that a parent could ask for. Never a dull moment with a Zsa Zsa around!

Holidays and all that jazz...

 Eli's new backpack

 Zsa Zsa's new backpack

 Food...

 more food...

 Local Apple Juice type of drink

 Seriously, it's just apple juice!

 Whip cream mustache

 Hot Chocolate

 more food...

 I think he got an apple at EVERY market!

 Lunch in France with some friends

 Eli in foxhole in Belgium

 Eli with his Scout Troop in Bastogne, Belgium

 Waffle in Kaiserslautern

 Burger King Prices in Switzerland

 Zsa Zsa in Bern, Switzerland

 Cheese bread in Switzerland

 Cheese factory tour in Switzerland

Eli next to some Battle of the Bulge reenactors

 Zsa Zsa helping gather the items for the orphanage

 Eli with the Scout Troop he was helping out with

Christmas market drink stop!

We were fortunate enough to get to spend a few days together during the holidays and were able to take a few trips.

Eli and Mark went on a camp-out/hike in Belgium. It was Eli's first Boy Scout Camping trip. His leader said he was the first boy to ever do a 10 miler as his first hike! Of course, Eli was thrilled that he holds the record for something so awesome! He and Mark hiked part of the Battle of the Bulge historic trail in Bastogne. They had a good time and Eli was very eager to tell the girls all about it!

That same weekend, Zsa Zsa and Mariah took a trip to Bern, Switzerland. They were able to visit a lot of sites in Bern and then take a tour of a famous cheese factory. Zsa Zsa was thrilled that her souvenir was a Swiss Army Knife (what better place to get a Swiss Army Knife than in Switzerland, right?), although it caused some "knife envy" between her and her brother! She was able to sample some Swiss Chocolate, cheese and visit a Christmas Market. 

The following weekend, everyone was able to travel together to visit 4 Christmas markets in one day! We went to Erbacher, Michelstadter, Ludwigsburg and Mittelbrunn. We got Christmas mugs from most and lots of food from all of them!!! Pretty sure we consumed more than our fair share of calories that day, but boy was it good!

We also had the chance to hit up the Christmas Markets in Landstuhl, Kaiserslautenr, Baden-Baden and Strasbourg (France). 

One of the fun things that we started doing last year, is to collect the different mugs from the Christmas markets. The popular drink that is served at every market is called glühwein, a hot mulled wine drink. Fortunately, all markets also have what's called Kinder punch, which is like a cherry drink without the alcohol. Some markets also have hot chocolate. When you order a drink, it is served in a mug. Some of the mugs have the location and year on it, while others are just plain. You pay for the drink as well as a deposit for the mug. When you return the mug, you get your deposit back. Needless to say, I have over 60 Euro worth of "deposits" sitting on the table right now! I only returned the mugs that were plain and we kept the rest! We were able to purchase some of the mugs just for the price of the deposit without having to buy the drink which was good because after 4 markets in 1 day, we were a little bit Kinder punched out!!

Every year we do some sort of Service Project on Christmas Day. This year, however, we participated in our service project on Christmas Eve. Eli helped out a young man in another Boy Scout Troop work on his Eagle Scout project. They were collecting coats, sheets, socks and blankets for an orphanage in the Ukraine. Eli was thrilled to be able to help out. Mark was asked to help out our local missionaries and Zsa Zsa and Mariah helped purchase some needed items for the Ukrainian Orphanage. 

The kids received their usual tool for Christmas. They each asked for a level, but I didn't order them in enough time, so that will have to be a future gift. Fortunately, the exchange had some Craftsman tools and I was able to get them each a precision screwdriver set. The kids also each received awesome hiking backpacks. Eli needs one for all his camping/hikes for Boy Scouts and Zsa Zsa has been telling me that since she is going to Normandy in April and eventually Girls Camp when she gets a little older, that she will need one as well. A few days after Christmas we took them to the store where we bought their backpacks and let them decide if they wanted to keep the ones we picked for them or exchange them for one of the others in the store (if I'm spending that much money on something, I want them to like it and be happy with it). Neither of them wanted to exchange their bag and everyone is perfectly happy with the choice we made for them!