Nuremberg Zoo Field Trip

Last week I got to go with Kason's kindergarten class to the Nuremberg Zoo. Well, really, I drove myself and met the class there, took Kason and one other kid (Kyle) from his class around the zoo, and then drove Kason & myself home. The Nuremberg Zoo is amazing! We had a really fun time and even got to watch a dolphin show while we were there! Germany does things right. 

These pictures make it seem like we went to an animal statue zoo ... not sure why the boys wanted more pictures with the statues than with the living, breathing animals but, there really were animals there - promise!

Trying to figure out the map: 

I think Kason was trying to mimic the face of the otter in this picture ...? 

Yee-haw!

This little prairie dog was so cute ... just before this he was sitting up on a rock like an old grandpa with his legs spread out and his arms holding him up in the middle. It was stinking cute - but he saw my camera and got camera shy -- or something like that. 

Growing up, the flamingoes were always some of my favorite animals to see. That and the zebras. 

They also had this amazing park at the zoo that the kids all got to play at. German's have the mentality of "play at your own risk" so, usually things around here are "go big or go home" style. Hence, this crazy big slide. The kids had a blast on it!

And all the kids got to feed the goats. These goats were CRAZY. They saw you coming with food and pretty much attacked you. Kason was a natural though. Maybe he has a future as a goat farmer someday. 

After that we grabbed some ice cream and then headed home! We were all exhausted by the end of the day but, it was a lot of fun. I'm glad I get to go on all these adventures with Kason in Germany!

Mother's Day: 2013

Mother's Day this year was really low-key. Just the way I like it. We went to church, Kason sang with the Primary kids in Sacrament (while I led the kiddos ... gotta love that calling!), I got a candy bar and after church we just relaxed. It was a drizzly, cold day here so, there wasn't much else to do other than hangout inside! Brad grilled up some steaks for dinner and we had roasted potatoes and corn on the cob with them. Yummmy! 

When Kason was first born, I don't think I truly understood, or appreciate, the calling that I had been given to me. It hasn't been until the last year or so that I have really begun to understand how blessed I am to be able to be a mother. That little Spirit inside of Kason has been entrusted to me to raise up and to teach and to help and most of the time, I am terrified that I'm going to completely screw it up! But, occasionally, I am just blown away at the trust that our Heavenly Father had in ME to raise Kason. I know that there are other little ones that will join our family someday and the responsibility that I will have as a mother is one of the greatest I could imagine being given. So, I am grateful beyond measure to be this little boys mom. I am grateful for the joy and happiness he brings to our family. I am grateful for the things he teaches me. I am grateful that he is so patient with me as I figure out what I am doing. He is an amazing young boy and I am so blessed that he is mine!! 

I am also grateful for my mother, for her example growing up, especially when it came to the "simple" things; attending church meetings, scripture study, prayer, FHE ... she never missed a beat. She taught me how to be independent and think for myself and she always supported me no matter what I chose to do. Love you, Mom!! 

I am thankful for my Mother's in Law. (Or is it Mother-in-Laws?) They both have raised up one heck of a man that I get to spend eternity with. Alesia and Jackie - I love you guys! Thank you for being so supportive and wonderful and for raising the man of my dreams. 

Mother's Day is one awesome holiday. It forces me to realize how blessed we all are to have so many wonderful women in our lives! Friends, for their examples. Aunts and Grandma's for stepping in when I was away from my mom. Cousins, Acquaintances, etc, etc ... I could go on and on about all the "mothers" in my life but for now, we'll call it good. 

Happy Mother's Day! (A week or so late ...)  

Pre-Deployment Military Ball

On May 10th we had our Pre-Deployment Military Ball. It's no secret that Brad will be deploying later this year but, that's about all I can tell you about that. I was grateful his squadron put together one last "Army Mandated-Date" for us before the guys leave. Honestly, I am not a huge fun of Army functions but, I'm getting better. And this ball was actually kinda fun. (shhhh ... don't tell anyone!) 

There are fields of dandelions over here and normally you would think that would not be a beautiful sight but, for some bizarre reason, when you put 1000 dandelions together, it makes for a beautiful scene! This hillside didn't have very many dandelions at all but, it was still a decent backdrop. I'm sure you don't care about that ... but there you go anyways. 

I sure love seeing him all dressed up in his dress blues. It had always been a dream of mine to marry a man in uniform! 

Our friends, Charee & Tanner Brown, are in the same squadron as us so, they were there. Charee probably doesn't know what she's about to get herself into as my battle buddy but, I am grateful to have her here for our upcoming deployment. I am also grateful to know that Brad will have Tanner with him downrange. It always gives a wife peace of mind to know there will be at least one other Priesthood holder with her husband! Love these two!!

Stephen and Crystal Daniel: 

We tried to get the guys to pose for a picture but, they refused. Men! 

These are all the guys (that were at the ball) who are in Brad's platoon. Right now Brad is the Scout Platoon Leader so, he is "in charge" of these guys. I am proud of him and how well he leads and directs these guys and the example he is to them. 

(SPC Dollar, PFC Birkner, LT Jensen, SPC Felix, SGT Matthews, SGT Donnelly, SPC Burkholder) 

I wish I knew the wives of the Platoon better but, I honestly only know one of the girls' names. Whoops! Goal for deployment I suppose ... 

So, I guess that SPC Dollar really wants a Ranger Tab (which Brad has) and Brad really wants an EIB Tab (which Dollar has) so, they're always joking with each other about it. I'm pretty sure that's all the dirt behind this picture. (Correct me if I'm wrong, Brad?) 

After dinner we danced a few dances (including the Harlem Shake, what the HECK is that all about!?! I don't even get it!!!) and headed home to get our little man. It was nice to be out with Brad and enjoy a night with just him. I love my military man. I couldn't have asked for a better man to provide for us and although his job is hard and he works l-o-n-g hours he always (always!) puts our family first and makes sure our needs are met. He's one amazing man!! 

The big 2-8

On May 4th it was my birthday! (Happy Birthday, self!) I love birthdays and think they're pretty fun so, I was excited to celebrate with my big man and little man!

They woke me up and gave me some presents (a quote from the Friend, copied by Kason; a necklace Kason picked out; and Brad got me a camera a couple months ago that counted as my birthday gift) then Brad made us pancakes for breakfast. That afternoon we headed off to Pottenstein, Germany. 

Cutest little town ever! 

First, we explored the caves there. They are called the "devil caves". Unfortunately, everything was in German. I guess you can get the tours in English but we missed out on that memo until afterwards. It was pretty fun, despite not knowing anything that was going on! 

(See Brad & Kason paying for parking...?) 

This is the entrance to the caves:

So many stalactites & stalagmites!!

As we walked out of the cave we were greeted with this - so beautiful!!

Cutest little spelunker ever!!

Then Kason fed some fish ... 

Next up, we headed over to rodelbahn (aka: alpine slides)

This was easily Kason's favorite part of the whole day. It was pretty stinkin' fun!

Riding up with Mom:

Up ... & up ... & up ...

Brad & Kason went down a third time ... 

I just loved this picture so much, they are both having a blast!! 

They also had little paddle boats you could rent. 6 euro for 30 minutes? You better bet we took advantage!

Kason was really, REALLY excited!

I took over Kason's spot ... the view was much better up front ;) 

(Major cheesball-age right there!) 

Okay, but seriously? So pretty! They have hiking trails that you can wander through the woods on.

Kason got to navigate around while we peddled. 

Ignore that this looks like a JAMI picture and that it's not in focus but hey, it's the best we got of all three of us. 

As we were heading back to the docks, we decided to chase the ducks. Is that inhuman of us? Because it was kind of fun and Kason really got a kick out of it. The ducks ... not so much. 

After we docked our boat, Kason kept complaining about how hot he was (even though it was probably in the 60's) and he asked if he could just go jump in the river to cool off. I told him, "Sure! Go for it!" I didn't actually think he WOULD! But, with Brad's help, he jumped right in a pool of water to cool off. Afterwards he told me, "That probably wasn't a very smart idea ..." Ha! 

Planning the attack ... 

On his was down to the river he slipped and got his arm in some stinging nettle (kinda like ... poison ivy) and it actually hurts and stings for a good long while. I didn't have any trusty doTERRA oils with me (lavender would have been nice to have right about then!) so, Brad said they could put some mud on it. I guess as Brad was scooping up the mud to put on his arm he was pretty squeamish and was saying, "ew, ew, EW!" Kason hates having his hands dirty, so mud on his arm was a pretty big move for him!

He was also embarrassed that he had accidentally fallen in Stinging Nettle. 

Right as we left, it started raining ... so glad it waited! Then we got home, picked up some pizza and watched a movie. We watched 'A Monster in Paris' as a family (not worth the money ...) and then Brad and I watched 'The Impossible' and oh man - I loved it. It was a pretty intense, powerful movie. But, it reminded me that there is still so much good in the world and that we need to cherish every single moment with those we love! I definitely recommend it. 

And, that was my 28th birthday. It was a perfect day!