Not a little boy anymore

 

Today is his birthday and he is 18....holy crap...time has gone way too quickly. 

Eeew...that's nasty

 

I have no idea what this is, but I had to take a photo of it.  Yucky.

An Adventure

 

Last Saturday, wee one wanted to go on an adventure.  So after we did our normal schedule of running around we went on an adventure (a walk).  He wanted to take pictures of trees and mushrooms.  I took them...he just walked and grabbed branches and leaves.  :)

Fall in Weiden

 

I just had to get out of the house the other day and decided to take my camera with me. 

Happy Birthday to Me

That is what the wee one went around saying today.  I think he gets it...I think he finally understands.  :)  He chose strawberry cake with strawberry frosting.  He helped mix the cake mix this morning.  He left when I got egg on my hand.  :)  He chose the cake decorations from the Real (German grocery store) and picked out his candle (not pictured).  He fell in love with Turbo this summer and wanted a Turbo Birthday party.  The only thing I forgot to order was Turbo wrapping paper....I had to use Cars 2 leftover wrapping paper.  He got AAA guidebooks from his Grandparents, a car magazine, a Bob the Builder lunchbox, tiny signs (the kind you get with train sets and toy cars...enough to fill the lunchbox), and Monsters University on DVD.  He even got an E-card from his Daddy.  He had a good birthday.  And most importantly he got it.  :) 

Government Shutdown...who cares??

 



Because I still have flowers and I found the world's cutest toilet paper at Norma's today.  :)  Things have been a little crazy since mid-August.  Hubby left yet again.  :)  I've been doing the single parent thing.  I had to learn how to drive here in Germany.  The first time was a few days before he left...I'm getting better.  School started not long after he deployed as well.  My oldest is a senior and that is throwing me for a loop.  I've been sewing lately...making yo-yos for my Sister and a bunting for a Birthday party.  My sister applied for a craft fair and got accepted, so I've been trying to help from afar...not doing a very good job at it.  :)  My Dad has been sending me a regular stream of coupons...they are good for an extra six months overseas.  That takes time as well.  Just a lot of little things and trying to keep my head above water.  Hopefully, things will slow down and I can just relax.  I know it is good to stay busy, but there is over doing it as well.  Delicate balance....you would think I'd have it down after as many deployments that we've done.  Nope...each one is different.  :)  Now isn't that toilet paper so me?? 

Little Pink Box

 

 

 

 

Okay, so I've always been too chicken to sign up for one of those monthly kit things.

https://www.frenchgeneral.com/

http://whathappensnext.typepad.com/what_happens_next/2012/01/join-us-the-gilded-girls-stash-society.html

I wasn't sure if I could justify it in my mind.  Well, Little Pink Studio decided to do a monthly kit and I wasn't sure again and missed out on June's....which looked really cute. So I signed up for July-Sep...you can get one month at a time or in three month blocks.  I got my box today...very cute.  I'm so glad I signed up.  You get a project and all sorts of things to play with all LPS-style...which I like..all very girly and pink. :)  If you are interested, go here and take a peek.  http://www.littlepinkstudio.typepad.com/

And if you are ready to commit, you can order from her web store or her etsy shop.

http://thelittlepinkstudio.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/littlepinkstudio

Hail and Farewell

We had our unit Hail and Farewell last night here in Weiden.  It made it a lot easier for us to attend together.  It wasn't too bad.....but after two weeks of home cooked Vietnamese food with Mom...it just wasn't as good.  :)   They had a buffet and a Mongolian BBQ set up.  Hubby has Kangaroo, Beef and Squid.  I just ate off the buffet.  Most of the team was there, so it was fun finally meeting most of them.  We had a nice time.   

http://www.liu-weiden.de/

Today's Flea Market Treasures

We went around twice.  I bought the folio and right hand stack of goodies in that round.  It was kind of crowded and I was going to give up, but decided to go around one more time.  Good thing I did....I found this wooden box of trim for 25 euro.  It was so worth it....it doesn't all fit in the box.   I got the left hand stack of photos before we left.  Not as many vendors as last time....a little bummed about that, but still a good haul.  I don't even have a picture of the Playmobil toys my Hubby got me.  :)  I almost forgot about those.  :)

Floh Markt Treasures

Okay...long time, no blog.  It's been a busy few weeks.  I got these about a month ago and never posted the picture.  I spent about 11,70 Euro on all those goodies.  That box is full of trim.  We went again two weeks ago...when my parents arrived.  I only got a few things that day.  My Dad got a crap load of stamps for 30 euro, so it was a good day (for him).  The flea market is back in town this weekend and I'm hoping to go.  :)

We're Having a Heat Wave...

oy...it's a wee bit warm.  :)  I have pictures of things, but it is way too hot to do anything.  We've had the funkiest weather since arriving four months ago.  It ended up being one of the longest Winters on record, a few weeks ago- record rain (and a lot of flooding), and now it is really hot.  There was a week and half of really nice weather and we enjoyed our backyard.  The weather is supposed to cool down soon.  :)  I am alive, but Hubby was on "use it or lose it" leave, so I spent time with him.  We hit as many German grocery stores that we could while the kids were still in school.  We are simple people.  We are just enjoying living in Germany.  I promise I'll have pictures next time....we hit the flea market and I spent a whooping 11,70 euro this time. :) 

Up for another round?

https://www.facebook.com/hopeforok

I was going to add a picture of what I put up, but I can't figure out how to make it right side up.....grrr.  I'll add it when I figure it out.  The second round starts on Monday and ends on Friday the 14th.....the Army's Birthday (or Flag Day to civilians).  I made a journal from a vintage book (it is up on the site) it is about 1" thick from the over 50 pages of papers.  There will be a bag of treasures to go with it.  Hell, here it is in all it's loppy-jawed glory.   :)

A Handful of Happy

There was a flea market in Weiden on Saturday. Hubby took me for my birthday.  I spent 19 euro and all those treasures fit in my hand.  I'm not sure what I'm more excited about the 2 rosaries or the Paris souvenir bracelet.  :)

Next year....

just two candles...those big number candles.  It got so hot...that it melted the frosting on the top of the cake.  :)

I Got Sunshine

For my Birthday...it has been beautiful today.  All things considered...any sunshine is good.  I made my many cakes for my birthday.  Here are the links for the recipes:

http://relish.com/recipes/coca-cola-cake/  That is the hedgehog looking one in the back.

http://addapinch.com/cooking/2012/09/05/salted-caramel-buttercream-frosting-recipe/  This is to the left.

http://www.bakerella.com/key-lime-cream-cake/  This is to the right. 


I'll let you know how they taste later.  I have to wait for my kids.....cake for dinner.  :)  Not really...maybe...we will see.