The Schmidts

How wonderful it is to gather with family friends for the holidays! Thank you Malan's for hosting. I kept inviting more people to join our Thanksgiving feast and the Malan's kept saying yes. It was a feast!! Poor Justin came down with something the day of and so missed out. I did take him a plate of food home, but it didn't taste as good being sick and all. Family Friends: Chris and Erin Tracy Erik and Andrea Stevens Ryan and Melissa Malan I failed on taking pictures.  I did contribute with a few fun activities! Thanks Chris for the great laughs! What a wonderful Thanksgiving it was.  

The Malan's moved in to the village next to us and we became fast friends. Where were they two years ago?! Conner and Nora riding! We swap watching each other's kids all the time. It's a life saver and so fun for the kids too.    Fall fun! Yes, we enjoy subway sandwiches any day we have to run errands into lunch time. Sam requested this photo of the Cheetos. HE's getting really good at requesting photos to be taken of him or something.  Justin and I went to an 86th OS Christmas get together which was held in a small village near us. They had a Christmas market going on and we also mingled at his commander's home. It was fun to be social in a casual setting. I hadn't met many in the 86th OS. It's nice to get to know those who Justin works with. Justin recently switched over. We still do a lot with the 37th but technically we're part of a different squadron now. This village also has fresh milk from a cow available via vending machine...

Sam is old enough to remember year to year and since being in Germany we don't have family to gather with. This has helped me realize and act on the thought to start traditions. Our first one is Friday night movie night and no dish night. We eat dinner without dishes on a table cloth that can be thrown away and then watch a movie together. Sam loves it. I did warn Justin, "I'm going to try a lot of new traditions, some may stick and some may not. But don't freak out."   Nora has come to love it too -- mostly the popcorn.   We'll see what Justin and Melissa Schmidt traditions come about!

Several women from our ward organized a Polish Pottery trip to Poland for ladies! I hopped on. I didn't know much about Polish Pottery but was so ready for a girls trip. We hired a babysitter and Justin had the kiddos to himself for a weekend. We both realized this was his first time being left alone with the kiddos overnight. He did a fantastic job. So much so, I wasn't sure the kiddos missed me.  This is the castle we stayed in. It's owned by a Christian church. They were very accommodating and kind. We took donations to them.    We stopped at the German village where the biggest selection of Christmas décor is. Justin was so glad he wasn't going. The trip involved talking the whole 7 hours there and back and shopping the rest of the time.    One of our Polish feasts! I'm a fan.  My carpool companions: Deniene Green, Heidi Holmes, Bethany Bronson               ...

Sam and his friend Erik. Don't mind the tongue stuck out -- silly kid.  Cutie pie ready to go to church!    Play place with friends.   Kiddos excitedly waiting for dad to get home. We kind of like him!!

We had Superman and a bumble bee join us for Halloween! Sam was super excited for Halloween, fully aware and ready to get as much candy as he could. Nora on the other hand was confused why she had to wear a silly costume. It didn't take her long to realize candy came with it and so she has learned to like it.       Lenora didn't wait for us to open her candy, she dived right in.

Since this was our last fall in Germany I wanted to make sure we hit at least one pumpkin festival. We went to our favorite one. It's about 45 minutes away from us and is run by a family farm -- similar to the Schmidt farm. We got to talk to the farmer last year and found out he had traveled to SLC and with our broken languages we understood he had heard of the Schmidt farm. He was very nice and a real live farmer. Another draw to this Pumpkin Festival is the Pumpkin soup. I couldn't wait. But sad to say I was highly disappointed. I don't know if it didn't have time to simmer or what but the flavor was off -- or I dreamt too much about how good it was last year. Justin was on a trip so we joined with the Tracy's.  We each got our own pumpkins. Sam was ready to carve it that day. I talked him into waiting until FHE.   And that is exactly what we did for our Family Home Evening activity. A family in the ward's husband/dad was deployed so we invited t...