Farewell Germany Pt 2

This is a bit of series: the first. I intended it to be. I am a quiet person, but when I start talking, I don't stop. I'm quite self-conscious of that and prefer to  judge er observe quietly.

Anyway, I left off the last post about my first few years in Germany. Those were spent in the military. I met my now husband in the last few months of my military career.

He's 9 years older than me, and taught me a lot about myself. I was basically going down a downward spiral.  Yes, mom....I am airing some intimate details of my life sorry. But maybe someone can benefit (for blackmail or otherwise) from these tales. I am not going to be all cliche and annoying, but he was definitely an integral part in me creating a new version of myself. Finally learning how to cook, pursuing my dreams of being a June Cleaver wannabe. It was nice and almost overwhelming to have someone support almost everything I wanted to pursue.


I am not going to say that I became this perfect little wife after marrying my husband. I still had my moments that I am certainly not proud of. Like all humans, no marriage is perfect and ours most certainly isn't. But what makes a good or healthy marriage is not giving up on the person. There were times when I wanted to leave and he as well, but we always made the other sit down and listen to the other instead  of talking at one another. Last summer our marriage had an "aha" moment. We finally discussed key factors draining our marriage. And it was so overwhelmingly good. It felt like the slate was finally clean afterwards. Though during the discussion there was a lot of tears, but we learned exactly each others feelings, no longer attempting to predict what they really were.

OK I went off tangent a bit. But this has everything to do with my growth while in Germany. Learning to let go of guilt, mistrust, ego, and other psychology shit.

So like giving birth to my three beautiful children, my husband made a big impact on my life and my love for Germany. If it weren't for us living in the boonies, I wouldn't have known how amazing Germany is beyond the bars and clubs LOL for real. We went to fresh markets, bakeries, got to know our neighbors and was hungry for more culture. We got the wonderful opportunity to stay in Germany but we had to move. That's my next post.

25 Things About Me

Trying to blog more often and this is a pretty good way to keep at it. A random 15 things about me. Some of the questionnaires were a bit juvenile so I am just going to add random facts about myself. It's my blog so it's about me right??

1. I am still in denial about my dad's passing. This is so hard to get over. Perhaps because the death is so close to my brother's passing. It literally gives me the chills every single day.

2. I dream about my daddy every single night. It's so weird. Like he wants to pass something to me. Something just seems unfinished, not with our relationship but other aspects of his life. Or perhaps it's how I keep him with me all the time?

3. I listen to old school jams my daddy played all the time when me and my brothers were kids. It makes me sad and happy.

4. I am always wanting to get away. Everyday I go online and look at beautiful places I'd love to travel to. Living in Germany really made me appreciate what the world's got to offer.

5. I watch food-centric movies when I am cooking.

6. I think way too much into some things. I wish I didn't. 

7. Scrubs ALWAYS makes me cry as much as it makes me laugh.

8. I collect aprons from different cities. I just started this after we went to Paris.

9. My hair is in the awkward stage of length. I have a mullet. I am trying to get creative with the styles to hide it! It usually takes me a good six months. to reach a bit of normalcy all around. When it gets to a nice length I will trim all around.

10. Me and my mother argue. But always make-up. She said the sweetest thing, you are as sweet as you are beautiful. I never heard my mother call me beautiful, it was really nice. Not in a vain way, but that she doesn't see me as a lil kid, but a woman and I not just her irritatingly defiant daughter :-)

11. Marvin Gaye is my favorite male singer.

12. I am really tall. 6'2 to be exact. But when people look at me say, "you're really tall" irritates the HELL out of me. OF COURSE I KNOW THIS. 

13. I am a ridiculous worrier.

14. I am very impatient. But patient when it really matters.

15. I was supposed to do 25 facts about me but that's too much. I think you guys agree too, amirite?

So here are 10 pictures you may have never seen.....aka throwbacks

Baby girl in 2009

Me and my Friend Tessie in the Eiffel Tower's elevator in 2010 that's not us but I am taking the picture lol

At the zoo in our city! 

DDs first Halloween not to happy with the Hand-me-down

Now he's OK?

Chunky Baby Thighs! I MISS THESE

JJs surgery

DD drove us to Munich

Chris made Amara's cake for her 2nd birthday! Peppa Pig. He tried! Good daddy

My Handsome Man heading to his German Kindergarten

Man looking through these pics made me teary eyed. They grow so fast. Live for now and cherish every moment. Sometimes it seems like it's something so easy to forget.

Thanks for reading!!!!

Mama's So Thankful Ramblings

Today I intended on waking up and starting cookies so I'd have a recipe to blog. Well, I woke up and started other things, like lollygagging on Pinterest, playing with the kiddos, and checking FB of course then I started the cookies. So instead of making the cookies on my own, I decided to bake them with my beautiful Curly Sous Chef. She is always a hoot in the kitchen and knows her way quite well around our  little space.

But as we were baking and chatting I decided not to make a recipe post. But rather a post on why I am thankful for everyday. This will not be long because it doesn't take the a lot to be thankful. I am thankful that my daughter wants to be a good influence on kids her age to get into the kitchen. She said today while rolling the cookie dough into balls, 

"When the kids see dis dey gonna be like, 'oh ma gah she cook, i wanna cook too!' I wish y'all could hear her. She is a character. She's everything I wish I had the courage to be. She's outwardly thoughtful, silly, hilarious, and just a kind curious little 5 year-old with a memory of a 97 year-old. The girl can't remember her age to save her life, already taking on a trait some women seem to  inherit once they're on the brink a new decade of life from 30 on ;-) But as I am not lying 6 feet or burning to ashes, I can be that way now. Who cares if I am 29 years old ;-)

Today my daughter and I brought the cookies and tea upstairs to her bedroom and we played tea parties our way. LOTS of drama! Ken is brokenhearted because Barbie is in love with Eric. Eric is being chased by the mermaid triplets lol it's crazy and fun. Barbie Dreamhouse Jerry Springer style. The laughs and jokes we shared, nearly spraying tea from our noses will remain ingrained in our minds! LOL

She did a pretty good job recipe here: http://www.shemakesandbakes.com/1/post/2012/11/cinnamon-chip-snickerdoodles.html

These genuine smiles

I am one cheesy lady so it fills me with joy to see my babies smile and to see them, too, reflect. There is a lot to look forward to this year and some things we're not looking forward to. But whatever happens I hope we are in the greatest of spirits, enjoying every moment we can. If things don't always go well, then try to make a negative experience into a positive one. It's pretty simple, but a lot of people find it challenging. If you're on any kind of social network, you know what I mean. 

Hope you all are making the most of your day! SMILE :-) 

Laughing at the memories (my crazy faces)