Uruguay.

We re having a wonderful time here in Uruguay. Look forward to the longest post ever because I have over 1000 pics and lots to tell you all about. Happy New year!!!!!!

Merry Christmas...... Santa agreed to come early.

Our super cute FAKE Christmas tree. The kids were not very pleased with me. Thank you so much Lisa. This was much easier.

Sarriah. santa brought her yet another Bratz doll.

Parker and his little stocking from Grandpa.

New P.J.'s. Super girl for Sarriah, Penguins for P man.

Cookies for Santa, Carrots for the reindeer.

Castle in a town we dont know. We drove forever to find it.

This is the view from the unknown castle. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

Weinheim Rathaus. Really cool.

We had our Christmas today due to the fact we will be on vacation for the rest of the month. BEACH HERE WE COME!!!!!!!

We got the kids up @ 6:30 am. They were more then excited! They had a blast opening their presents and showing them off to grandma on the web cam. They say they got everything they asked for and even say they heard santa setting everything up last night. We have eaten munchies all day. All Trav's fav's. Clam dip, lil smokies, chicken bacon wraps, veggies and dip, cookies ect..... Later in the evening we drove around to find new castles, just to get out of the house for a bit. Now we are hangin out watchin movies just enjoying our day.

Since we wont be around for the real Christmas.....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We love you all!!!!!!!

My dad's visit

The Christmas Markt

Bad Durkheim Castle

At the Speyer cathedral

So the first night we went to Heidelburg, but dont think for a second we stopped the fun there. Monday I ran him ragged. We went to Speyer in the morning saw the large cathedral, walked the town where we found the coolest landscaped yard, dad loved it. Then we went to a smaller gothic cathedral. Very beautiful. Next we drove through Mannheim since there isnt a whole lot to see, but it is a really fun city and we feel lucky to live here. Next stop was Trav's office where we got to go out on the flight line and look at the helicopters up close and personal. Then off to get DONERS!!!!! Yummy. Dad got to meet the kids Teachers when we picked the kiddos up from school. We drove to Bad durkheim where we were yelled at by a grouchy German lady before we got to the castle that happened to be closed. Next we drove to Worms to see an even bigger cathedral and it was closed as well. Ya know though..... even with all of the closed attraction's I had soooooooo much fun just being with my dad. I really needed the one on one time! That night we went to the Christmas Markt in Mannheim where we had winzersteak, chocolate covered fruit, and Dumfenudle to bad the rolls were cold. I was picked to be in a AFN commercial, to be seen on TV next week. I'm famous, J/K!!!!!



I really really enjoyed having you dad. It was hard to see you go. I cant wait for June. This was such a special weekend. Thank you dad! I love you!

Thank you Kar for letting dad cross the big water to come visit me!

Super busy, amazing, weekend......

So for starters..... Friday...... Crystals hubby came home from down range, so I went to the welcome home ceremony. Then I rushed home to bake a cake for Sarriahs birthday party. Then the girls showed up, we made pizza's, had flour fight's, painted tiara's, Danced on Sarriah's new dancing game, Ate popcorn while watching the princess diaries. We were late to bed but the girls had a blast.

Saturday...... primp and curl, dress up and twirl. We had our battalion ball at the Swetzingen schloss. It was beautiful, and we had alot of fun.

We clean up like a shiny new penny. LOL!

Sunday..... the biggest day of weekend. Sarriah was baptized @1:00pm. But lets start from the beginning. 6:30 am we were up and getting ready. Then I was off to the airport to pick up my dad who flew in just for this special day. He got in @ 10am. We drove to the church after getting gas, We got there with time to spare. The program was beautiful, we had so many people who pulled together to make today perfect. I am so greatful for everyone in our ward. Trav was able to baptize Sarriah. I am really proud of him. My dad confirmed her. Then we had a few sweets. It was so wonderful to see my little angel be baptized.
Since my dad is only here for 2 days, we got started showing him around today. We took him to heidelburg and to a true German dinner. It is so wonderful having him here. I have missed him so much. I have a busy day lined up for him tomorrow, I hope the jet lag doesnt knock him out to bad.

The Sarriah table.

All of us together

Sarriah and Grandpa.

Dad and the kids @ the Heidelburg schloss.

My heart is so full right now. I am in heaven!

Sleepy head.

Sarriah fell asleep doing her homework tonight. I walked over to see if she needed any help and this is what I found. It was just to cute, I had to capture it.

Happy number 8 baby girl.

She had a plan for her birthday this year, it was as follows.

1st go shop for new boots.
2nd play at her favorite park with the spinney thingy
3rd BOWLING
4th Dinner at Chilis( we talked her out of Wingers)
5th See a castle we havent seen before.

So we got her new boots at Deichmans, Played at her fav park for about an hour. It was to cold to stay any longer. We bowled one game, she scored a 92. We ate at Chilis where she got to open her gift's eat whatever she wanted and order a big ol dessert. Then on our way back home we saw a really cool castle. Then we came home and she got to talk to all the family on the phone, then she played her new dancing game. It's a really cool game. Then we watched her new movie....BRATZ. It was a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving.

The turkey was perfect, we had more then enough food, and we were surrounded by our good friends. I cooked for 2 days straight and it all turned out better then I ever could have hoped. One request I had was home made southern style mac n cheese, it might have had 5 different kinds of cheese but it was good. We ate and ate and ate some more. I was able to have a guilt free turkey day only because my personal trainer had me go to a kick boxing class the morning of, kick boxing turned into kicked my hind end. We played American Idol on the PS, Sarriah had a huge hand in this activity. We spoke with all our family, and enjoyed being together.

A few things I am grateful for......

1. My health and the health of my family.

2. My family!!!!! All of you out there.

3. The military..... We wouldnt live as well as we do without the US Army... HOOAH!

4. My great friend Lisa who has been whipping me into shape the past 4 months, and I am greatful my body has been able to keep up with it.

5. My partner in crime, the leader of the pack.....my darling hubby Trav.

6. Everyone one over here in the land of Deutch who has helped make our last year so amazing, yes I'm talking to all those wonderful people I am so proud to call friends.

7. The telephone. Without this fabulous little devise I wouldnt be able to call home.

8.My beautiful children who make my life interesting, keep me young, and fill my life with more love then one heart can hold.

there is a million things I am grateful for but not enough time to type it all out but there is no way no how life would work without our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Without him we would be nothing.

I hope you all had alot to be grateful for. If you are reading this, know I am gratful for you!

Happy Thankgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sarriah is putting on her second white dress.

My little girl is not so little any more. In a few short days my little princess is going to be 8. 8 is a big one. We have also picked a date....... Dec 7th is the special day when Sarriah will be baptized!!!!!! She is so excited, as are we. We are planning the program together. I wish you all could be here for it but because there is a very large body of water in between us we are inviting her stand in family which consists of our closest friends here in Germany. No it's not the same but you know sarriah she has to have an audience and this is where she wants to be baptized. Many of our friends are not LDS, but she wants them all to know about being baptised so Sarriah is starting her missionary work early. She is such an amazing little person. We are so proud of her and the way she carries herself. She is so kind and wants everyone to be happy. She is always hugging eveyone she see's. She is even nice to her brother! It's hard not to fall head over heals for her.

2K Turkey Trott

Ready set go!!!!!!

Laura, and her 2 kiddos, Me and Sarriah

The finish line

Sarriah and I proudly wearing our medals.

My Stairwell neighbor's, sarriah and I.


Sarriah and I ran in a 2K run this morning. It was really cool. We were slow but after we crossed the finish line I felt great just knowing I did it and didn't die doing it. Sarriah was more excited about getting her gold medal. It was great getting out there with Sarriah, she is always so concerned about being healthy, and getting enough exercise. Poor dad and Parker had to sit this one out due to the fact that they are hacking up lungs. The next one is Dec 13Th. I'm hoping to do it as a family. It's a 5K so it may have to be more of a walk/jog for me but hey at least I'm getting out there and doing it. My entire stairwell was out there running also, so we were able to cheer each other on.

We also got our first snow this morning, not alot but enough to cover the grass. Maybe we can have a snowball fight soon!!!!!!

Twins!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a big job!

So the past week and a half I have been babysitting 6week old twin boys. They are so cute and sweet, but I must say.......... ITS EASIER DOING IT ONE AT A TIME! You never get a break. Once you get one to sleep the other is up and oh boy when they both cry at the same time...... its hectic. The kids have been trying to help out by feeding them and throwing away diapers, but yesterday little Kaleb threw up on Parker and now he wont come anywhere near them, and he gags at the diapers. It scares Sarriah when they cry, she doesnt know what to do but she cant get enough of them. I have them till Dec 6th, so wish me luck!

Family time!

This is what happens when you get a strike........

A very excited child who is jumping up and down.

My other very excited child........

I'm not really sure why he was so excited.

Score! Oh yeah!

2 very excited children......

Daddy got ANOTHER strike.

On Tues daddy and the kids had a day off, so we decided to just be together and have fun doing it. We drove to Speyer in the morning. I love Speyer. Its just a cute little town with a huge cathedral over looking it. The main street is bright and cheery and lined with little shops to wander through. We wandered through all the shoe stores. (Hello my name is Steffaney and I am a shoe-aholic, glad I got that off my chest!) We found some really cute boots for Sarriah but shhhh she doesnt know it yet! I found a few pairs of boots I liked but non I loved enough. So after I tortured Trav by having him walk through yet another cathedral and several shoe stores, we went bowling. Bowling is the coolest thing you can do with your kids. You dont have to be good at it to have a blast. We played two games, both games the kids scored higher then I did. We ate pizza and chili fries(not great for the diet but what the heck) I hope you enjoy the pics. I laugh everytime I see them.

Parker learned to tie his shoes all by himself. He is so proud, he has retired his velcro shoes for good.

Way to go Parker!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

It's that time again....... when the ghosts and goblins come out to play. Well in my case its a little witch and Jengo Fett. We ordered them online, very cute. Except Parkers costume came in a size 12 when it should have been an 8. UHHHGGGG. Still they looked adorable.

We had a great time Trick or Treating with our friends. It wasnt to cold and it didnt start raining till we were done. Our pictures speak a 1000 words. ENJOY!!!!!!