Change

The Truck arrived

The BEFORE picture

DURING

AFTER

A finale good-bye to Meg's room

Driving Away

It has been an emotional week.  I cried leaving our old apartment.  We celebrated Owen's 7th birthday, Meg's 4th birthday, Christmas of 2010 and 2011, my parents coming to visit and so many other great memories.  This apartment was such a gift and I loved everything about it.  I didn't know it would be so hard saying good-bye to this place that we called home here in Germany.  I know God has new adventures for us ahead.  I am so thankful for our time spent there. 

Dino Digging with Dad

Pascal took the kids to a Dinosaur Museum over the weekend. 

Their favorite part was to actually get to look for fossils.  What kids doesn't love a hammer and a huge pile of rocks. 

Even Meg was very much into finding a fossil treasure.

The article we read about this museum suggested wearing pants so that when the kids worked in the rocks they wouldn't get cut.  Meg has a cherry skirt that matches this shirt from  sweet Abigail and when I told her she needed to wear jeans the tears came.  "Mom, cherries just don't mach with jeans." 

The kids really enjoyed this outing.  They came home with a big bag of "treasures"... just what ever mom wants!

Big moving trucks are arriving as we speak.... more exciting info to come. 

Geocaching Adventure

I saw an advertisement for an activity called Geocaching.  It sounded so cool, you check a website and get coordinates to put into your GPS.  You follow your GPS to the location and then search for a treasure box.  Once you find the box you:

1. Take something

2.  Leave something

3.  Write an entry in the log book

4. Replace the box as you found it

I love a good treasure hunt and so we met up with Marvin and his family and set off.

We searched for 3 1/2 hours and COULD not find that box.  We looked in trees, in the bushes, moved rocks and looked in every place we could think of.  We finally gave up with some disappointed treasure seekers.  After we came home we had some snacks, checked the website and noticed someone left a clue.  The clue said, Look inside the building.  We went back, picked up Marvin once again and found it within 5 min.  The kids really enjoyed finding the box and each one picked out a little treasure.  We left behind:  a marble

A miniature American Flag

 and a mini skateboard

Here we are looking through the box

The website left 2 more pairs of coordinates.  I think if Pascal is up to it we might try again tomorrow. 

Summer days

Today, we went to our weekly library program where the kids got to make a chef's hat and decorate a cupcake.  This could not have been more perfect for Meg!  She thought it was the best.

Yesterday, we had a play date with Marvin.  After his mom picked up Bella from school we walked to the bakery down the street for a little lunch.  The girls sat in these chairs and thought it was such fun! 

The boys were NOT into the whole decorate a cupcake and make a hat.  They wouldn't even wear the hats for a picture.  They couldn't wait to get outside so they could sword fight.  Meg and Bella however, were sad when we told them they had to finish up making their cupcakes and hats. 

This free slideshow design created with Smilebox

Marching Orders

I think this week will be the Calm before the Storm.  We received our paper work to move and so the process begins!

• On July 26th and 27th the movers are coming to pack us up
• On July 28th and 29th we have to clean our current apartment and get it ready to hand back over to our landlord
• On July 30 inspection of new apartment, signing for keys; the movers will also be delivering our furniture to our new place
• July 31 Inspection of old apartment returning keys to our current landlord

"Change is a comin!"  I've had a few weeks to process all of this and I've sulked a bit, cried in my key lime pie and pouted.  But it is time to move on.  I will CHOOSE to be excited and embrace the newness that is before us. I made an appointment to cut my hair this week. I thought it would be good way to start the process.  No more digging in my heels and resisting, it's time to put on my runnin shoes.  I realized over the last few weeks I had made God very little and my problems very big.  Time to lean into my BIG GOD and realize my problems are very little.

Off to measure rooms and windows of our new place.  More pics to come:)  

In the Kitchen

Meg loves to cook so we tried this new recipe, we really liked it.

Chicken, Spinach And Cannellini Bean Quesadillas

1 1/2 -2 cups seasoned, cooked and diced chicken breast meat
1 TBSP olive oil
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 banana pepper, diced
a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (heaping) TBSP all purpose flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
4 cups fresh baby spinach, stems removed, coarsely chopped
1 (15.5 ounce) can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

Cooking spray
Flour tortillas
Shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, cheddar or a combination of the two works well here)
Avocados, diced
Fat free sour cream

In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, red bell pepper and banana peppers. Season with the crushed red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Saute until veggies have soften, 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another minute or two. Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and stir to combine. Cook while stirring for several minutes so that the flour loses it's raw taste. Whisk in the chicken broth and stir until bubbly and smooth. Add the baby spinach and continue cooking for another minute or two or until spinach has wilted. Stir in the cooked chicken and cannellini beans and remove from heat.

Spray a large skillet or griddle with cooking spray. Heat over medium to medium-high heat. Place one tortilla on griddle and spread cheese over tortilla. Spread chicken, bean and spinach mixture over one half of the tortilla. Check underside of tortilla and when browned a bit, flip the half with just cheese over the half with the chicken. Remove from heat and cut into slices. Top with diced avocado and sour cream, if desired.

Cooking with Meg

Best Friends

 Today, we headed to the library for the weekly kids program.  Owen's best friend Marvin is back from his summer vacation and Owen was thrilled.  The theme for today was ice-cream.  The kids got to see how to make ice-cream, then got to eat ice-cream while they made aprons.  Then we headed outside and the kids played in the sand on the volleyball court.  They played for 2 hours and would have played longer but we got hit with a big rain storm.

Here in Germany you will often pass a sign like this.  They are fields filled with flowers, and anyone can pick them. So we headed to this one just down the road today.

After you are done you just drop a little money in the can.

   

Scottish Games

The Heidelberg Pipes and Drums were competing this weekend so we went to cheer them on. 

We always have a good time at the games, there is always so much so see, taste and enjoy!