My Children's Video Message to Santa Claus

Christmas means way more to me than buying or receiving presents. It's mostly about being thankful and spending time with my family. This Christmas is one I am the most excited about because we didn't do Thanksgiving, though I do not regret that one bit! I was anxious for Christmas, I wanted to decorate with the kids, bake with them, and do loads of Christmas crafts. However, I was in the final weeks of my first semester for most of December, so my holiday spirit kind of got soured.

But once school was finished, we got into some holiday cheer. We started our holiday traditions a little later than usual this year, but we got them done and had a fantastic time doing them. 

Last year I made a wonderful Christmas video. It was like a culmination of our Christmas and it got lost after my hard drive failed. However it did not deter me from trying again this year. We didn't get much footage this year, but we did make video messages for Santa Claus. People may say, Christmas is too commercial, it's not all about the presents, and some Fat Man Santa is getting all the credit blah blah blah! BUT the kids talking to Santa, all the extra crafts, getting presents is all going towards wonderful memories the kids will have. Also traveling, going to various of Christmas themed markets,  etc will stay with the kids. My children  have seen a lot this season, and they are so thankful and remember everything! My goal in Christmas is to make it as memorable as possible, so that when we are older the kids come over with their family they can see the many pictures and videos and appreciate the effort mom and dad put into making their Christmas magical and do the same with their little ones(if they have some)! 

I hope you all enjoy these videos

JJ's Loves Mario!

Mawa She has a HUGE crush on Eric from the Little Mermaid. She wants him under the tree

DD's He loves trains and respectful people 

Our Midterm Trip to the United Kingdom Part 2: London with the Little Ones

After our great stay in Edinburgh we prepared for our trip to lovely London. We had been there a few days prior en-route to Edinburgh, in that little bit of time, I knew that I would love London. However, on the the plane ride there, my youngest was complaining of a stomachache. We had the....excuse me....barf bags on stand  by. But luckily we made it there with no illness. However, as we purchased our daily tube tickets, he got sick everywhere. We were hoping it was airplane sickness, and got a glimmer of hoe as he was running around like a crazy happy kid, however on our long tube ride to our hotel room (Premier Inn we also stayed at the one in Edinburgh) he go sick in the tube. Luckily there were a lot of nice people around offering to help....cautiously, but all help was immensely appreciated. and from then on, he was a leaking little person from all exits of his little body. But you know how kids are, they vomit and feel like a milliojn bucks right up until it's time to vomit again. It was stressful, but we needed a little break. So we chilled out first day in London. I got to explore a bit on my own. London felt like home, I could navigate myself pretty well even though I kept getting lost in all the amazing things around me.

So we traveled the next day as he was feeling a lot better. As it was a rainy day, we use the tour bus which was great so he could get a little rest. The ticket allowed us to get on and off as we pleased over a 48 hour time. It was recommended to me by my Speech Professor! It came in handy as we faced some nasty weather! We then visited Buckingham Palace. My daughter was ecstatic about this, because she wanted to show the queen her curly hair and new dress. When she found out she couldn't meet Queen Elizabeth and Kate she was so sad! We gave her chocolate and she was happy. We then went to a very nice Italian restaurant called Bella Italia, I think it as a chain because there were a few around but it was still good!!! I had the best dessert there. But I can't have fond memories, because shortly after my daughter got sick shortly followed by me! The next day, my daughter and I still feeling icky we endured more travel. We went to the British Museum, more tour bus, and we went to the Tour of London and the Tower Bridge and my daughter and I feeling nauseous and ill the entire time! We called a day earlier than we wanted and hurried back to the hotel to meet my brother who lives in England. I got to meet my little nephew for the very first time. He was a sweetie!!!! They spent the night with us in our room. It was nice to be with my brother again, only a year prior we were together for our younger brother's funeral. It was bittersweet last year, this year, it was a lot sweeter, even with all the illnesses. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I really hope we get the opportunity to see England again soon. I really enjoyed myself and I learned a lot!!!!


Some photos:
First Breakfast at Heathrow Airport


In the hotel our first night in London


Tower of London


The British Museum, we took more pictures, but my Memory Card was acting up ugh. I learned from this trip and our last trip to ALWAYS BUY A QUALITY MEMORY CARD. So many of our photos are now lost because of a cheap memory card.


Yummy Food


Big Ben


London Eye


Still mad about not meeting the Queen


At Buckingham Palace. He had many shirts on. His poor coat was covered in vomit.


No queeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen???


Feeling a bit better


Highly recommended


Getting Spiffy


My fave


Excited to eat some Pasties!


My daughter and Nephew


I have others on Flickr and Instagram. The UK is def a great place to kids. A lot of FREE things to do. A lot of family restaurants and kind people. Again, I hope to have the opportunity to at least visit Ireland before our time is up here. If not, it's OK. Feeling blessed to have visited London and Scotland! I def recommend these place to any and everyone. So much diversity and my favorite- choices!  Thanksgiving is made for traveling a lot less stressful than cooking IMO!

Thanks for reading!

Our Midterm Trip to the United Kingdom Part 1 Scotland with the Little Ones

Schoooooooooool's out for winter! So I will blogging a little until I know how strenuous my classes are next semester. I am taking, Statistics, Humanities, and Libs in spring's 1st session; so you all tell me! :-)

We went to Switzerland this past weekend and currently we're in the midst of planning another trip before December's end! This is our last year in Germany and I really hope to see as much of Europe as I can on a budget.

We planned a trip to the UK a year ago, for this November. At the time I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be in school. My brother lives in England and knowing that 2012 was our last full year in in Europe (that we know of) I had to make sure we had enough money saved up for airfare and just staying there. 

Not only did we go to England but we also went to Scotland. When planning the trip, my husband asked if we should go somewhere else. I thought it'd be too much money, but we got a really good deal using my husband's ticket home money to travel instead of going home since we will be home this May anyway. He gave me a choice of Ireland, Wales, or Scotland. So I chose Scotland (a toughie between Scotland and Ireland!).

I really loved Scotland even more so than I thought I would. So many friendly people (besides one) and it's so beautiful. Even though it rained most of our visit, there was SOOOOOO much to do there! 

Edinburgh

We utilized many cabs! I loved them. Even better than the Mercedes Cabs here in Germany 

At the Museum of Scotland. A cute Interactive Center for kids

Daddy playing dress up

We got Kilts for the little ones. Maybe will use these for Christmas pictures!

At the doll museum. I liked this one better than the one in Prague! We're going to another one soon, so I'll give details about that one, too!

On the Royal Mile

My Doctor Who fan was excited to see this!

At the Edinburgh Castle!

View from the Castle

At Camera Obscura Museum! This is a MUST visit if you're ever in Edinburgh!

View from Camera Obscura

Before eating Thanksgiving Dinner at TGIFridays! My natural hair endured a lot of rain over there! I had to do a lot of fluffing. One thing I learned from this trip is to do more protective styles or bring a pick!!! Check out my Switzerland trip post in the next coming weeks for my new go to winter protective style!

Watch out for part 2 tomorrow which I will share my trip to London!

A Year Recap

I know people do these posts with their blog's anniversary or the end of the year. But I feel this important for me to do now. 

Now let me rewind back to that horrific night. I am on Facebook late this Thursday evening because it's Veteran's Day weekend and my son has no school for the next 4 days. I am laughing and shaking my head at the Facebook foolery when I receive a message from an old neighbor of mine. Her mother still lives in the house across the street from the house I spent my awkward high school years in and she reports that's there were some Marines at our door step. I wasn't sure why. All I remember is that my father only a couple weeks before tell me that my brother's been AWOL for the last 6 months. And just thought they were looking for him. I immediately send my little brother a message telling him to be careful and that there were people looking for him. By then my heart is racing I'm extremely worried and stay up a bit later waiting for a response. Then I receive a message from a cousin that said, "JERRON GOT KILLED". I immediately tell her to "fuck off" you don't play with me like that. Then I look on his wall and then the messages come flying in. I scream my husband comes running downstairs, I tell him and we just sit there and cry together. My husband never met my little brother, but seeing him hurt like he's known him all his life made love him even more. The rest of the night was filled with tears heart aching more and more talking to family. 

I spent my time home honestly fighting with my parents over past times. I had an attitude with anyone and everyone. I was literally wishing for someone to cross me. I was in fight mode. Thankfully before I left my parents and I calmed down a lot and talked like normal people and I've never felt closer to my parents since then. I had a lot of hurt in my heart and anger towards both of them for many many years. But I realized finally life is too short. The evidence was before my eyes, my little brother, a hero, MY HERO is dead. Barely 27 years old. My brothers, whom I grew up with, were reunited after 7 years in funeral home and that hurt me even more. My little sister was there too. It made me angry that it took this for that to happen. 

So after returning back home to Germany, I was a depressed mess. Luckily Christmas time was around, so I did distract myself with cooking and baking. But there were a lot of tears. Finally I realized I had to stay strong for my mother and my father. I felt they were so strong to even want to LIVE after losing a son. I know I wouldn't want to.

In wanting to stay strong for my parents and family, I got a little bold, for me. I decided that I was going back to school and I will travel. Those were two things that frightened me being a mother. The big factor was the cost of each. But I did and am proud I did.

Since January, we've been to Czech, Belgium, France (we've been there before but we explored different cities), we also traveled to Cologne in Germany but as a weekend trip with the kids, we've seen a lot more of Germany going to Stuttgart every weekend, when I was school the first session, we went to a couple of amusement parks with 4 children (my husband’s son was visiting from America). We have seen a lot of things. We have two more vacations planned before the year’s end. It makes me proud to be able to see so many things. To take advantage of my time in Europe makes me very happy and blessed to have had the honor to live in such a wonderful place. I am also a full time student with three children under 7, which terrified me only a year ago. But I am strong. I have an amazing husband who’s not afraid to take on more responsibilities while himself completing his degree. I am so proud of him.  My classes this session are more strenuous. So I am on the computer constantly and stressing over everything. He is always there for me. He cooks dinner, washes the kids, cleans up the house. I am very blessed. We complement one another so well I think. I am looking forward to December 15^th, and then I will have a month off from school. I've already planned my Christmas Dinner Menu and baking. We have even more Christmas decor in our basement ready to fill our home with cheer. Christmas time this year and last has been the biggest blessing to help keep me going.  Life is too short to hold grudges. Thank you if you read all of this!  

Some pictures:

Chris and son in Texas

The courage to coninue my natural hair journey. I was close to getting a relaxer in February. This is me in September

My babies in Cologne

Me and my babies in Prague

Me and the husband's weekend alone in Brussels Belgium

Me and my son before he left to spend time with his paternal family

Christmas. My house will look a lot different this year. Look out for it. 

Braving Santa's knee this year (Amara!)

Wissembourg France

Thank you for reading! Enjoy your day!!!!!! Honor a Veteran today hey I am one ;-)