Getting ready for Santa

Santa came to our house on a firetruck....only in Pensacola! The girls had so much fun getting candy and beanie babies. They even got the little girl to come outside and take part of the fun.
We have been jumping for JOY around here----

And also celebrated my 31st Birthday! What a great day. Thanks Eric, Madison and Katelyn for reminding me how to be happy....and old.

December 2009

The girls also started dance again. I found a place where that lets little ones dance too. Katelyn was so excited to have her own class. She goes in before Madison for 30 minutes. They do ballet and tumbling. Then Madison's age is 1 hour of ballet, tap and tumbling. The studio is very nice and everyone seems to love the kids.

Tim (our Elf on a Shelf) is really helping the girls become over-the-top excited about Christmas this year. Each morning, they race around trying to see who can find Tim first (each night he returns to Santa to report on the kids behavior and comes back in the morning, in a new place).

So far Tim has been on the mantel, the curtain rod, the plant, the magnetic cup holder on the fridge, the gingerbread house and the tree. The above photo is the crown molding on top of the kitchen upper cabinets. Tim gets creative!!!!

We had photos with Santa at Be True Photography in San Antonio. I just love how they turned out! Kate's expression is perfect for her and Madison was so excited to be near Santa. Our Christmas cards are ordered so they will go in the mail over the weekend----YAY!

Disney

Soccer Videos

It was drizzling rain the whole game but Madison had fun. They issued uniforms and she was excited to get #5 (that was Eric's number as a kid). She played so well and it seemed like everyone had fun..even in all the chaos!

Madison was tasked with 1st kickoff---she kicked the ball to her teammates instead!! She was a little confused.

Here she was to throw the ball in from the sideline....instead she kicked the ball in...she finally got it right.

She liked to be right in the middle of that "pile"

Their team name is the Dragons and at the end of practice and games, the huddle and do their team chant!

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL

Madison scored a goal at soccer practice yesterday! YAY MADDY!

She was so excited that she jumped up and down. We were stunned because another little boy Devlon, seems to be the star soccer player. So he was asked to play goalie and she kicked it down the field and between his feet to make the goal. WOW.

Soccer Practice

Florida

We made it to the Sunshine State, almost unpacked, already enjoyed the beach and the boat! So far it has been awesome!

Cookie is home...

from a week long vacation...actually a stay-vacation because we found him in our neighborhood hanging out under a shade tree. Either way, he is home and seems to be behaving better. I think the real world kicked his a$$ and he is home now, more appreciative. I realized how much I missed him once he was home lounging around again.

A tribute....

He was always looking for a way out...and last night he found it....Here comes goodbye!

random photos

Madison and Cookie napping!

While the cats are away...

The mice like to play!

Fast drivers

Germany Mc Donalds

It does exist!!!!....a royale with cheese!!!

Funny videos of Eric trying to talk German

Dashau Prison Camp

I was marveled by the size of the concentration camp. It was huge and most of the grounds were closed because we got there late in the day (spending most of the day at the BMW factory). We only saw the entrance to the camp, gates, main hall, barracks and churches. And just that took several hours. The guided tour is 5 hours long!!!!! HOLY MOLY!

We saw the area directly above the date (nothing to the upper left)

This is a photo of the front gate that says "work makes (you) free".

The entrance, bath house, kitchen and maintenance facility. It is now a Museum.

Prisoners turned over their belongings and then sent to the bath house.

This place was very interesting to tour, but at the same time brought to life the very harsh reality of being a prisoner here. The camp was huge and intimidating, and made you feel how alone and helpless the prisoners really were. This was a sobering view into a very sad time in history, but was a must see and comes highly recommeded if you are ever in Munich.

BMW Welt factory tour

When I called the morning prior to the tour I had to look up what Welt meant...translation...World...makes sense...BMW World.

I think I would look good on this one -Eric

think we can fit this in the extra bag we brought?

This tour was AWESOME...well awesome and hot (literally...physically warm...one of the poor ladies in our group was dripping sweat). By far an eye opening experience at the attention to detail involved in making these cars. We saw the whole process from stamping out the parts from the sheets of metal...all the way through the construction, painting and detailing...to watching these things drive out the door (customers can order and pickup these babies here) It was cool to watch the car get on the elevator and go up to the show room where the new owner would get to look it over before turning the key. The coolest part...THE ROBOTS...I mean automation to it's finest...like what you see on tv...all moving in coordination...amazing!

Hofbrauhaus

Our hotel

The view down the street

Our car...the black Audi A4.