FIRST RIDE OF THE SEASON AND T-BALL

The weather has been amazing here lately. We decided it was time to take Ethan's bike out of storage. Ethan is always super excited when that time of year comes around. He sure loves riding his bike.



Of course I think Ethan looks so hot on his bike. I catch as many pictures as I can.





We decided to let Madison have a taste of the bike this year. Ethan doesn't drive her anywhere. He let her sit on the bike. She loved it until he turned it on. It is so noisy it really scared her.


Chase loves Ethan and wants to be just like him, so naturally he loves motorcycles. He actually enjoyed riding on it this year. He was a motorcycle rider for Halloween a couple years back. A couple weeks ago, I started to wonder why I was hiding the kids Halloween costumes up in the attic. Why don't I let them play dress up with them? Chase has worn his motorcycle costume almost every day. He absolutely loves is and is pretty angry that I won't let him wear it to school. He was wearing his vest in this picture. I think it was just perfect because he was actually riding the bike.



Ethan bought some water guns the other day. Chase is completely in love with them. This summer is going to be so interesting.


Chase started t-ball. He was so excited. He is a lot more excited than he was when he played soccer. He even was entertained for the entire practice. I actually hate baseball, so I am not as excited as I was when he started soccer, but I do think it is stinking cute. He was putting the helmet on for the first time. I think he was pretty lost.



First time up to bat. He loved it. I think he has some pretty awesome coaches. He actually picked it up pretty fast.



First time on base. I know they don't actually play competitively, but it is fun to watch him run the bases.



Learning to catch, or watch the ball roll into his glove. He is learning that his glove and his hand make a hungry alligator that chomps the ball.



Chase's team is the New York Mets. I love the uniform. He was so excited that he got a hat.



Leaving the practice. So cute. I love pictures like this.

RANDOM STUFF

Ethan knows my favorite color is pink. We were really bored on Sunday afternoon, so he made this for me. He is so sweet.



Happy Saint Patrick's day. Madison loved the hat that Chase brought home. She also loves this vest. She will fight me if I try to get her to take it off. Oh the joy of having a child who has a desire to pic out her own clothes.



This is one of the few times I could get Chase and Madison to sit together and pose for a photo. They sure love each other.


Chase has a new best friend. His name is Dustin. We go to church with the family, and Chase loves to hang out with them. They get along really well because they have almost the same personality. Chase likes to play rough, and this little boy will play rough right along with him. They have so much fun together.






Dustin's mom has a brother that lives with them. He is such a sweet teenager, and Madison loves when he comes over because he will push her on the car or swings or pretty much whatever she wants to do.


So Madison loves hats. She also loves her tutu skirt. She refused to go outside without her hat. It is starting to get warm out, so she didn't need it, but she started to scream when I tried to take it off. It wasn't hurting anyone her having it on, so she wore it.

FASCHING

A few weeks ago, Germany had it's annual Fasching parade. Fasching is almost like a German version of Mardi Grass. They don't do the beads for (how can I put this nicely) lifting your shirt. The kids get the day off of school because they close down most of the surrounding town to have the parade.

I was very excited for it this year. It was the both Chase and Madison's first parade, so they were excited, but at the same time, they didn't really know what to expect. They loved it. It did take them a while to learn to dive for the candy.

We went with our neighbors, and had a blast. The parade was forever long (2 and a half hours), but we had a lot of fun.






Chase got a little bored waiting for the parade to start.




There was a huge amount of people there. This picture was a little before the parade started.



Madison loves the little boy that lives next door. He is 12, and such a sweet kid. Madison always loves to talk to him. Madison would put her nose on Luke's face, and he would bark or jump. She loved it. She doesn't do a real laugh very often, so it is fun when she really goes crazy like she was.

THE FASCHING PARADE

The start of the 60th annual Fasching parade





The US military contributing to the parade.





Star Wars! Chase was completely mesmerized.







My favorite costumes in the parade.




My favorite float.



Another really cool costume.



This guy could really play the drums.



Yeah, this wasn't the only guy dressed in drag, but he was by far my favorite.



The stash of candy the kids got from diving for it. If you can believe it, this isn't very much compared to some of the other kids.

KINDA HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE WAY BUGET CUTS IN THE GOVERNMENT ARE GOING

Ethan sent this to me the other day. Kinda funny, but it wouldn't surprise me if they decided to do a few of these.

TDY Travel

In keeping with the latest round of military budget cuts, changes will be made to the Joint Military Travel Regulations (JMTR). Effective Monday the following revised procedures apply:

Lodging:

All military personnel performing temporary duty (TDY) are encouraged to stay with relatives and friends while on government business travel. If weather permits, public areas such as parks should be used as temporary lodging sites. Bus terminals, train stations, and office lobbies may provide shelter in periods of inclement weather.

Transportation:

Hitchhiking is the preferred mode of travel in lieu of commercial transport. Luminescent safety vests will be issued to all military personnel prior to their departure on TDY. Bus transportation will be used only when work schedules require such travel. Airline tickets will be authorized in extreme circumstances and the lowest fares will be used. For example, if a meeting is scheduled in Washington D.C., but a lower fare can be obtained by traveling to Omaha, NE, then travel to Omaha will be substituted for travel to Washington D.C.

Meals:

Expenditures for meals will be limited to an absolute minimum. It should be noted that certain grocery and specialty chains, such as Costco, Hickory Farms, General Nutrition centres, and occasionally Safeway often provide free samples of promotional items. Entire meals can be obtained in this manner. We realize many of you survive your weekends this way.
Travelers should also be familiar with indigenous roots, berries, and other protein sources available at their destinations. If restaurants must be utilized, travelers should use "all you can eat" salad bars. This is especially effective for employees traveling together as one plate can be used to feed the entire group.
Military Personnel are also encouraged to bring their own food on business travel. Cans of tuna fish, Spam, and Beefaroni can be consumed at your leisure without the necessary bother of heating or costly preparation. Cost of these items will not be reimbursed.

Miscellaneous

All military personnel are encouraged to devise innovative techniques in effort to save tax dollars. One enterprising individual has already suggested that money could be raised during airport layover periods, which could be used to defray travel expenses. In support of this idea, red caps will be issued to all personnel prior to their departure so that they may earn tips by helping others with their luggage. Small plastic roses and ballpoint pens will also be available to personnel so that sales may be made as time permits. Proceeds must be turned into the military finance section at the conclusion of the TDY.


We welcome any suggestions for further fiscal innovations. Remember, “We invite you to be a Waste Buster”

BIG EMMA'S

Lately we have been hearing a lot about a restaurant around here called Big Emma's. It's claim to fame is the size of their food portions. Last Monday night, we decided to have FHE with our neighbors and go check it out. They really were not kidding about the portion sizes.



This is Ethan's burger. This thing is GINORMOUS. Would you believe that this is the half size burger? I was a little shocked at the size. Would you also believe that Ethan ate 3/4's of it? I love how my man can eat.


Madison wanted to help Ethan finish it off. I love how the size of half the bun is bigger than her head.




Would you also believe that this is the half size portion? I put the ipod down so you could get a real idea of the size of it. They also had quarter portions, but if I paid two euro more, Maddi's meal was free, and Ethan had lunch for the next day. I am all about the bargain.




Chase with his friend Lucy. I am sure you guys see a lot of this little girl in our pictures. Chase adores her. On our way to the restaurant Chase informed her that they were married so now they had to kiss. Should I be worried that my son is proposing to a 6 year old when he is only 4? At least he knows that he should be married before he kisses a girl. :)


Luke is the little boy that lives next door. This kid is 13. He is so tiny because he was born when his mom was only 25 weeks pregnant. I think it is awesome that he attempted to eat the entire burger. I think he only ate 1/4 of it.

MORE OF OUR DAILY LIVES

I have been terrible with my blog lately. I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. I will probably be posting a lot on here in the near future.



Maddi and Chase love their Popsicles. I love how messy Maddi gets while eating one. It is amazing how the little things are so exciting.





I love this picture of me and Madison. She is so sweet, but she hates to have her picture taken. I hope she can grow out of it because I am a picture fanatic.

I know I might be a little cheesy, but I love playing dress up with Madison. She is just now getting into it. She won't play for very long, but when she does play, we have a lot of fun.




Madison has really been into building things with blocks lately. She can get her tower pretty high. I am so proud of her because according to the "books," she is only supposed to be able to stack 7 blocks on top of each other before they fall. She can already put 9 on top of each other before it collapses. She is going to be my smart one ;)



Chase is so into TV. If I would let him, I am sure he would sit in front of it all day. He will watch anything. We have to be careful he accidentally doesn't turn on a show that we don't approve of because he will watch it no doubt. I love how Ethan and Chase are so into whatever was on TV when I took this picture.


For Valentines day Ethan took me to Brugge Belgium (pics of that to come later). Belgium has some amazing chocolate. It is amazing just how many chocolate shops they have there. They make so many different designs with chocolate. While we were there, we decided to get the kids some teddy bear shaped ones for V-day. They loved it, and had so much fun enjoying the pure chocolate treats.