The stomach virus, nothing exciting and ready to know...

This week didn't start out too well. I woke up with the stomach virus! UGH!!! It was not fun. I had to take off work of course, did I mention Aaron had it for 2 days last week? I'm hoping it's done! We didn't really do much this week other than work and school. We know that we are most likely moving back to the United States sometime between August and October. Not knowing where we are going stresses me out! I think of all the places "I hope we might go", but ultimately know we will go where we are needed.

On another note, we had a meeting with Ace's teacher. He had a really rough week last week. The meeting was great. She let us know that Ace's academic level is 2nd grade 4-5 months in. He's in 1st grade though. He's so smart! The biggest challenge has been maturity. He is one of the youngest in the class. But, I know that will come full circle in the next few years. For now I will be one proud Momma to have a smart boy! Aaron had a sleepover birthday party to go to. I know he had fun, but I really missed him. Yes, I'm that Mom that misses her boys when they go for sleepovers...I admit it! I will never be the Mom to say I can't wait till they are gone. I dream of having my family live within a few miles of me with their families. I love my family to pieces :)! I know this isn't the most exciting blog post, but I'm really trying to do at least one post a week! ;)

Has it really been over a year since I last blogged???

WOW! I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. So sad I tell ya! We are still in Germany and really love it here! The boys love their school. I love their school. I LOVE my work! I took a job as a Kindergarten Aid and truly love it! We really wanted to stay here and tried, but that wasn't in our plans, so now we are awaiting the Air Force to tell us where we go next. Hopefully we will know by April.

We have traveled around a lot. Europe is beautiful! We have booked a Villa in Italy for a week long stay over Spring Break! I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!! I have wanted to go to Italy my whole life! Really I can't wait to ride in a gondola!

Here's to a new year and me working on staying more up to date on our blog ;)!

My Daddy....

Well, once again it has been months since my last post. Our lives have changed tremendously. I can't say for the best, but it is all apart of God's big plan. And I find peace in knowing that. Since my last post, WAY back in August, actually about a week after that post, my Daddy died unexpectedly. As, I type those words, I can't stop the tears from flowing. It most ways it still seems so unreal to me.

Ace started his first day of Kindergarten (September 8), it didn't go well at all. He was so overwhelmed. I felt so bad for him. So I thought I would cheer him up with a treat of his choice from the store. After we did that we came home. We weren't home but maybe 2 minutes when my phone rang. The call was from my Mom's cell phone, or as my phone says Mimi's cell. When I answered it was my Aunt and when I heard her voice I knew something horrible happened. And it had. My Mom couldn't tell me, so my Aunt did...I'll never forget those words.."Lottie, your Daddy died this morning."

How could that be, I just had talked to him a day before that! Looking back I knew that would be the last time I would talk to him. I felt it in my soul and choose not to listen to the "little voice" that told me that. His last words to me were "Hug and kiss Ace and Aaron for me. Hug Mike. And I'm hugging you right now." When I hung up with him, I cried because I knew he sounded sick. I just never realized how sick he was. My plan was to go home to visit in Septemeber, but we had pushed it back to the Summer of 2011, because I didn't want to pull the kids out of school. That is something I will always regret. I know there's a reason I changed our plans, and even though I didn't get to say goodbye to my Daddy in person, I had the best conversation with him the day before he died. The last words that he said to me are ones that I will treasure forever.

Summer Ends, School Begins!

Well, we have had a relaxing summer! I truely love summer. I love not having to get up so early. I love being able to hangout in our PJ's all day if we want. I love going to the pool, even if is Germany that means I might see a little more than I want, I mean do I really have to see a lady in her ealr 20's without a top to her suit and her skin still in place where it should be... No sagging! HA!! And as an American we are not use to being so comfortable with our bodies so we stare in disbelief. The boys seemed to not notice too much.

We managed to see a few local sites. Germany is so beautiful!! Every time we get in the car, I look at the window and say "Wow, it's so pretty here!" It really is that beautiful and it really amazes me everytime. This summer was sooooo HOT!! Apparently, it was the hottest summer in a long time. We made it to almost 100 a few days and with no AC, it was almost unbearable. But as I sit here now it is maybe 60 outside and raining, so I'm pretty sure summer is over :(.

Aaron starts school tomorrow. I'm still unsure how he became a 4th grader. Where does time go???? Ace will start Kindergarten next Wednesday. That's a whole issue in itself. I've cried nearly daily the past week. It seems like yesterday he was just a baby. He's so excited to start school and I'm excited for him! We met his teacher and her helper and they seem really nice. He seemed to like them and I think that they are a good match for him.

So with the kids going back to school, it is my new mission, to try and keep up on my Blog!!

My New Roll.......

So, this post is not my normal, bragging about the kids, a good deal I found or a new car. It's just about little ole' me. Since we moved to Germany, 7 months now, my life has taken a different roll. Of course, I'm still a mom, wife, daughter and friend. But, I feel like I am just now finding who I am. I went from working and really feeling like I had a purpose to questioning my purpose. Yes, I have always stayed home, but before moving I worked from home and had a clear roll. Well, at least that is how I felt. I was so excited to make this move and get to "just stay home", see the world and be "The Commadant's Wife"! I am the first to admit that I have expectations of my life, don't we all??? I've always wanted to stay home and "raise my own kids". But, now that the time approaches that both will be in school full-time, I find myself wondering "what do I wanna do when I grow up??"

I thought that leaving DC wouldn't be that hard. Of course I knew I would be sad, I had made friends that I loved and adored. Their families had become apart of mine. The reality is that "keeping in touch" is hard. Moving to another country (really feels like another world) makes it that much harder. The time difference is something I have yet to get use to. Of course, I thought we would immediately start "seeing the world". But, during my day dreaming, I must have forgot the kids had school, Mike has work and we have a dog. So we have only managed a few day trips. My days are now consumed with my daily taxi job (school drop offs), laundry, paying the bills, cleaning house and walking the dog. Yes, these keep me busy, but not as busy as I like. Every 6 weeks, I get to "dress up" and go to the Airman Leadership Graduation. Mike is the Commadant (basically he runs a school that is required for all enlisted members to become a NCO). I suppose in my day dreams, I thought dinner parties and lots of socializing. We have had a few and once every 6 weeks or so, the school has a graduation I attend. I get to get dressed up and sit and the head table, because this event is hosted by Mike. As much as I like this event, I get so nervous everytime. We have to stand up and do a "parade wave" to the crowd, usually around 400 people or so. I watch Mike glide through this and I am so proud of his accomplishments. He amazes me!! :) Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world. But, I can't help but wonder what my purpose is, other than a mom, wife, daughter and friend? Yes those things are amazing! Really they are.

I want to work, but don't know what I want to do. I have my cosmetology license, but don't want to do that. I have consumed these past 9 years with the boys and now that they will both be in school, my roll is changing. As far as I don't have someone at home with me all day. It is forcing me to get out and make friends. As outgoing as I am, this move has challenged me the most, as far as making friends. Maybe because I was so blessed with the friends I left in DC. I have realized that being a military family, you make life long friends and you leave them with each move. They are always apart of your life, but with each move you add a new friend knowing that in a few years you will leave them behind. Sure you'll keep in touch with some, through cards, email, and Facebook. I didn't realize how much of a roll that my friends played in my daily life until this move.

I don't want to work, because I don't want to miss a field trip or any of the boys activities. Of course, I could still go on field trips and work and do activities, but having worked before I know that some field trips or activites will be sacraficed. I have done that before and it is OK, just not what I want right now in my life. This last week I went on a field trip with Aaron. I loved it and he did too. I overheard him tell his friend "This is the best field trip ever!" Later he told me that he had the most fun with me!! That was just what I needed. Those few words made me realize that I will embrace the new roll I have come upon and put my dreams aside a few more years! Before I know it my baby boys, will be big boys....

Who???

Who you ask in student of the month??? Yep my baby Aaron!!! He was awarded student of the month for showing kindness...Yep he makes my heart melt!! He has to be the most thoughtful little boy's I know. I'm not saying that because he is my child, but simply because it's the truth.

He always is thinking of others before himself. This isn't new to him, it is how he has always been. I remember when he was in 2nd grade, he came home and said he wanted to give his $10, to flood victims, (he had earned over a course of a month for doing chores), at offering during chapel time at school. Of course I was all for it, but thought it was necessary to explain that he didn't have to if he wanted to give $5 that was fine whatever he wanted. He looked at me with those big blue eyes and said "Mom, I know, but they need it more than me."...TEAR!!! :) So here's to one of my many blessings....I love you Aaron!!

Swimming 101

Although it is the middle of winter here in Germany, we are so blessed to be at a base that has an awesome Indoor Swimming Pool! Last month I signed the boys up for swimming lessons. They both love to swim and are really good swimmers, but to me swimming is such a life skill. So for the past 3-4 summers I have signed Aaron up. Really, I signed them up here so that they would have something to do on the weekend, I mean it did feel a little weird to signup for swim lessons right in the middle of a snow storm. Any whoooo....

Our first few lessons went great! Aaron was doing great and his instructor said he would be right on target within the next 2 lessons! Great!! Music to Mom's ears! Ace is a really good swimmer for his age. I attribute this to Keyona , dragging always inviting us to join her and Lael at the pool. With that said, the swim lessons were set up much different here. So I went with a level that I thought Ace would do just fine in. Not too hard, but not too easy. RIGHT!!! After this last lesson....in which I sorda pretended that he was not my child. Yes I did say that. He was a maniac!! Jumping all over the place, spashing water, I suppose normal "pool stuff", but he was suppose to be learning how to swim. As I sat there, I really thought I was going to pass out when he threw a diving ring and it nearly knocked a lady out. I smiled and almost turned my head, ya know like I was looking around for "that kids" Mom. But, I didn't I smiled and apologized. I have to say she didn't look too amused. After the class I approached the instructor and apologized for Ace's "wildness" and to my surprise she says "Oh, no Ace is a great swimmer! He needs to be moved up a few levels, I think he's just bored." Oh, music to Mom's ears, music to Mom's ears!

Addicted to dents....

Dents...I've grown to love dents. Rips, scratches a small tear, yes those too! A few weeks after we arrived in Germany I noticed the "Clearance Corner" at the commissary (grocery store for those that aren't military). It is my new obsession. I try and go a few days out of the week, after I drop Aaron off at school. Well, today was my big score! Everyday I go I see an older man there. He always makes it there before me Ahhhhh!!! So of course he gets the good stuff! Well, not today Mr. Old Man! Today, I bought 44, yep you heard it right 44 items for $25.03. That's a steal :)! The best part was I had a few coupons that I was able to use with the already reduced items. I know, I know what and exciting life I lead...HA!

Just for Aunt Spicy

Well, I've been soooo behind! So I gotta a little knudge, well, I would say more like a PUSH from Aunt Spicy! Thanks~~it was just what I needed. So here is a little update.

We are still adjusting to Germany. We start our travels in March. The winter has been rough. Our landlord says it's the worst in at least 10 years. It has been cold and snowed, snowed snowed!! Now, I should let all know I love snow, well, I thought I did, but now I have realized maybe I just "like it"!

Really, I do think it is so pretty, but here's the thing...we live in the next to the last village in our county. What that means for us is our roads are NEVER cleared! Our village is very small and is set down in the hills so we have to drive up hill to get out. But, with that said my new cars all wheel drive is AWESOME! The pictures above are ones I took on our way home. Nearly everytime I drive home I am in amazement of just how pretty Germany is. It is so different from the states. They don't have all the technology that we have, which means there is still so much land to look at. Not a ton of powerlines and cables. I love that! In March we have family coming and have decided that is when our travels will start. I am so excited! So here's to you Aunt Spicy! It was just the knudge (PUSH) I needed!

Not so cute, but so COZY!

I just got these shoes...

WARNING:....This is just my opinion! :P
Now, I know they aren't as HOT as "Little Lady", and I probably shouldn't even wear them while I drive the HOT car, BUT they are so dang comterfull(like my Aaron say's it~~a whole different Blog post).

I ordered these last week from PIPERLIME~~they were on sale with free shipping. So I thought I'll order these to wear around the house. Well, I opened the box today and thought "Hmmmm these are UGLY! But, the fur sure feels soft~~so I guess I'll try them on." UMMMMMM, CHELLO(said like me and a few select friends), these shoes are YUMMY! I know, I know, now your thinking they are UGLY and she is wasting a post on them! Well, they are and I am! HAHA! Even though they are UGLY, I felt that they deserved a little "Shout Out!" Maybe, I'll get them in a few other colors...

Welcome "Little Lady"

Santa thought I was good this year~~so he let me get a new car. I LOVE IT!! It is a 2010 Audi A4 Quattro. Once, we arrived in Germany I realized I wasn't a "Mini Van Mom" HA! Not too mention, the Hot Mama van would not fit on half the roads that are here! So of course I had no other opition but, to get a new car RIGHT??

We Made It!

Well, we made it to Germany~with tears shed and a few heavy hearts! Although, we had gotten so excited to go, I don't think it hit each of us until the minute we left for the airport. The flight was soooooo long or so it felt like it~~~~7 hours! It was good and only one round of turbulence. A few notes I took:

1. Mr. Pilot~~when you say we are getting a "Egg McMuffin" for breakfast, that's what I expect....Not something SORDA like that.
2. Ms. Flight Attendent, please do not wait until my WHOLE family is settled and then proceed to tell me that the carseat that my youngest is sitting in has to go in the middle not on the outside of the row!
3. To whoever did this~~when you tell me that I will get my stroller as soon as we exit the plane, but then decide that it is better that you send it with my 8 checked bags~~ummm....did you forget that I had a thousand carry on's and 2 kids??

Last, but not least....Why tell me I have to tote my dog around in his kennel, bring him to the gate, in which I am to board at, only to call my name over the speaker to instruct me that I have to go back to the main check in desk to drop him off, and then hurry up and get back through security so that I can catch my flight on time??????

Just a few things that stood out to me :).

We found a cute little house in a village called Linden. The inside is nice and has tons of storage~~rare here~~the back yard is so cute and the front has a balcony right of the kitchen, the view is a big forest! I love it! The front needs to be painted, but as we were instructed it had to wait till Spring. Over all it will be fine, smaller than we are use to but will be a fun experience to live in a village. We are on the housing waitlist, 4-6 months we were told, we'll see.

Sorry, but no pictures yet, I will have to upload them after we get our Household goods. Till then...TOODLES :0)

Can I say YUMMY Strawberry Jam!!

The posting is a little later than I had intended. But, since this was quiet possibly the best Strawberry Jam I have had, I felt it justified a couple month late posting! Oh, and I suppose I must mention that Ace and I made it HOMEMADE! Trying to work on those "Martha Stewart" like quality's (HEHE).

The boys and I took a short drive out to Butler's Orchard to pick some yummy strawberries. While we were there I saw a kit that was for making jam. I though why not! So we gathered all the goods and headed home to make it. We thought that we would all make it together, but ended up putting it off for a few days, Aaron was still in school so Ace and I had to whip it up.




The boy's had alot of fun picking them, however I do think that Ace had more fun eating the fresh strawberries!

I don't think that I am being overly confident when I say that this is quiet possibly the best jam I have ever had! It really is that YUMMY! But, maybe just maybe, that has something to do with the 7 cups of sugar it calls for!

We're Almost There!

Well, Mike is almost home! If all goes as planned he will be home in less that 2 weeks! We are so excited. The boys know that he will be home soon, but not an exact date~~the schedules change so much that I don't think I could bare to let them down! The time really seemed to pass fast. We have kept busy and I think that has really helped us.

I am so proud of Mike. He has played an instrumental part in protecting our freedom! That truly makes my heart smile. He has worked everyday since January, and will probably have to work until the day he leaves. He hasn't complained once and has managed to stay upbeat and counted down by what he calls "Lobster Friday's"! I guess with him being at war he deserves a little Lobster on Friday's~! He better enjoy it there, I doubt he will have "Lobster Friday's" at the Naquin Residence! HA! I really thank everyone for there prayers and all the help that has been given to make this an easier time for all of us.

Summertime....

Can I just say that Summertime is my favorite time of the year! I remember being little and staying outside playing till dark. It was great! Now my boys are doing that and I can see the fun written all over their faces and well, all over there bodies! They are down right filthy!!! I don't "play" outside till dark like back in the day, but I do work in my flowers or just sit out on my little (very), front porch and just watch all the kids play and the families walking. It is great!

The Little Tooth That Never Could!

When it comes to pulling teeth in our house, well let's just say it's like the phrase "pulling teeth"! Aaron has pretty much always had a deathly fear of pulling teeth. Me being the person that I am, I just say pull it and wait for the tooth fairy, I mean who couldn't use a few bucks under their pillow???? Well, his top front teeth have been loose for months now. That is not an exaggeration at all! I am pretty sure they have been loose since Mike left for Iraq, that was in January!! So everyday I threaten bribe Aaron with things. A special treat, a "I heard the Tooth Fairy leaves double on Wednesday's", I've tried everything! Yes, that is to include holding him down!! No luck! Let's just say I'm not too concerned that he will easily give into peer pressure! Well, Friday came and this was the site~~

Now, as you can see this tooth is holding on for dear life! I swear that tooth was 2x longer than the other one! What a MESS! Saturday the boys stayed with a friend for a while, when I came to pick them up this is what I saw~~

All I can say is~~~ Thank Goodness knees are sometimes made to knock a loose tooth out!

Last stop in DC, Next stop Germany...

WE ARE GERMANY BOUND!

Well, it's official, we found out last week that in October we will be going to Germany. We are so excited!! Mike will be an Airman Leadership School Commandant. We will be there for three years. The boys are so excited~~and I must say I am too! :) So now starts a busy few months for us. Of course like everyone else that lives here we will try and cram all the sites that we have wanted to see for the past 3 years, into a 2 week period. Hopefully once we get to Germany we will start traveling so that we can "see the world". We feel so blessed that we will have the chance to show the boys a little bit of another country. As excited as we are, we are so sad, we have made such wonderful friends here in DC, and will be so sad to leave!!!

A Peek At My Garden...

Just a few peeks at my garden....

Yes, I am from Louisiana!

Yes, I'm from Louisiana and so proud of it. I had a blast growing up there. I must say I can relate to almost everything on this list...With Mike in the military and us living places I never thought I would, it makes me appreciate the "Good Old Louisiana Life" that much more!

You know you're from South Louisiana if...

You can properly pronounce Lafayette, Bossier, Natchitoches, Opelousas, Shongaloo, Pontchartrain, Ouachita, and you know that New Orleans doesn't have a long "e" sound anywhere in it.
You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.
A tornado-warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.
You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to door but by the availability of shade.
You cringe every time you hear an actor with a Southern or Cajun accent in a "New Orleans-based" movie or TV show.
You measure distance in minutes.
You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.
Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.
You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and bait all in the same store.
A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol, a Chevy Silverado Extended Bed Crew Cab Truck is
You know everything goes better with Tony's or Tabasco.
You actually get these jokes.
You are 100% Louisianan if you have ever had this conversation:"You wanna coke?""Yeah.""What kind?""Dr Pepper."
You have ever had to switch from heat to AC in the same day.
You use "fix" as a verb. Example: "I am fixing to go to the store."
All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, insect, or mammal.
You know only four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco, and Tony's
The local newspaper covers national and international news on one page, but requires six pages for local gossip and sports.
You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.
You know whether another Louisianian is from New Orleans, North Louisiana, or South Louisiana as soon as they open their mouth.
You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good gumbo weather.
Fried catfish is the other white meat.
You reinforce your attic to store Mardi Gras beads.
Your sunglasses fog up when you step outside.
Your ancestors are buried above the ground.
You take a bite of five-alarm chili and reach for the Tabasco.
You sit down to eat boiled crawfish and your host says, "Don't eat the dead ones," and you know what he means.
You don't learn until high school that Mardi Gras is not a national holiday.
You push little old ladies out of the way to catch Mardi Gras beads.
Little old ladies push YOU out of the way to catch Mardi Gras beads.
You leave a parade with footprints on your hands.You believe that purple, green, and gold look good together.
Your last name isn't pronounced the way it's spelled.
You know what a nutria is but you still pick it to represent your baseball team.
No matter where else you go in the world, you are always disappointed in the food.
Your town is low on the education chart, high on the obesity chart and you don't care because you're No. 1 on the party chart.
You know that Tchoupitoulas is a street and not a disease.
Your grandparents are called "Maw-Maw" and "Paw-Paw."
Your Santa Claus rides an alligator and your favorite Saint is a football player.
You have to reset your clocks after every thunderstorm.
When it starts to rain, you cover your beer instead of your head.
You eat dinner out and spend the entire meal talking about all the other good places you've eaten.
You know what is meant by K&B purple.
You know what it means for food to come 'dressed'...you 'ax' for things...
When you ask people where they went to school, they answer with their high school.
You save newspapers, not for recycling but for tablecloths at crawfish boils
Drive-thru daquiris -- it's not drinking and driving until you put the straw in.
You stand on the neutral ground at parades and have no idea what a 'median' is.

I'm a Cowboy Baby!

Yes, quiet often I allow my child to run around outside in rain boots and his underwear~~~well anyone who knows me would know that is so far from the truth! But, when Mr. Nelle (my friend Janelle), as Ace calls her, stopped by to pick up a jacket I thought I could quickly run it out to her. Well, before we knew it Ace decided to come out too! He ran outside in his dinosaur underwear and dinosaur rain boots (at least they matched) and said "Don't you fink I look like a cowboy?" We laughed so hard! And of course our response to him was "Yes we do, yes we do Ace!"