Everyday life at the Chugg house…..

We don’t always get a chance to post about our every day life with trying to keep up on our travels, but here is what our spring looked like: 

We watched Luke and Matt for a few days while the family went to Hungary for Ryan’s Eagle Project.  Cole was in heaven!  I told Luke and Cole to act cool…this is what I got on the right below!  Cole loves these guys they are always his best friends if you ask him. 

       

German houses have no closets due to being charged taxes on how many rooms (if it has a closet) they have.  They all purchase wardrobes instead to cut down costs.  The military gave us one per family member plus two extras when we arrived thank goodness!  So Cole and Josh’s closet looks like this:  Cole loves playing Star Wars in his bedroom with his peeps! 

 

Cole has gone to gymnastics all year on Wednesday mornings.  The mom’s all sit outside the room and have social hour.  We both look forward to this mid week activity.  Hannah and Chase Bodkin, June Tintile, Hallie Van Komen and Cole.  India and Gianna Barney are usually there too, but left before I got a picture! 

One of my besties here in Germany is pregnant and convinced us that she did not need a shower for her fourth girl.  We rolled our eyes and winked at each other because we were secretly planning the biggest surprise shower ever!!  You tell us you don’t want a shower and you get double the party apparently!  Come on, we need a night out here and there Rebecca, besides, every baby is worth a celebration and if they aren’t then every mom deserves a party after being pregnant for 9 months for sure! 

The guests:  Kate, Bobbi Jo, Annie, Laura, Christy, Jessica, Katherine, Stephanie, Natasha, Sara, Natalie, and Tonia,

to the right: Kari, Esther, Toni, Candice, April, Corinne, Ashley, and Allison. 

 

Annie found this cake on pinterest and had Kirsten Donnelly make it:

    

She was soooo surprised.  She hid her face and didn’t even know what to say! 

   

We had awesome food:  homemade chimichangas, rolls, been dip salads, 7 layer jello, choc. covered strawberries, veggies, soda, cookies, brownies….yum!  Natasha makes the best chicken chimichangas. 

 

Annie sewed these birds and made this cutest mobile. 

The next day was Pinewood derby for Mr. Jake!  Boy did he rock it this year.  He was so excited as his car took several wins in its first heats(sp?).  There were lots of fans for the boys…..

      

Jake sat by Harrison the whole time and every time he won a race they high fived each other.  What a good friend Harrison is! 

 

In the end our little dude won…..the entire thing.  I think all of his 9 year old deeply rooted heart wishes came true that night.  What a lucky night and a lucky kid to have a Dad who goes the extra mile to try and help his kids win at least once during cub scouts! 

 

I will let you guess who went to bed with a giant smile on his face that night……yep! 

And finally…..EASTER!  I have such fond memories of coloring eggs.  My mom always bought like 6 dozen or something so that even with a few “cracked” ones I swear we got a whole dozen to ourselves.  She rocked Easter and I can’t help but love it when my kiddos enjoy it so much too. 

   

Our Easter Bunny growing up always spelled out happy Easter in jelly beans and M&Ms.  Now our kids enjoy the same tradition!  He also brought playmobil sets for Josh and Cole, a boomerang and mad libs for Jake, a necklace and do it yourself postcards for Hanna, and batting gloves for Carter.  Carter had a long weekend so he was still sleeping when the rest of the kids found their baskets! 

   

When in America, I splurged on Easter clothes for the kids.  We haven’t done Easter clothes for years!  Hanna dress was especially cute this year if you ask me! 

 

Photography

I know I’ve mentioned it to a few of you…. but I’ve been dabbling in a small Photography business while here in Germany.  It’s a lot of fun and I'm learning a lot.  If you are ever interested, stop by my photography blog!  But remember, I’m still learning:) genevarebeccaphotography.blogspot.com (it's also on the side bar)

Jet Lag.

I am awake.  No I am asleep.  It is day.  No night.  Okay day.  Eyes burn open but they scream.  So very red.  They have been pricked with pins, imaginary pins.  Adrenalin rushes through my veins.  It wraps around my heart.  Oh the pain.  I stand up but I am distant.  The world is here, no it is there.  My familiar pillow beckons me back.  A little longer.  It has been an hour.  No three.  Okay five.  I can still hear their voices.  They are close.  My mother’s arms, my father’s face.  She is tiny.  She is a wee babe.  She is perfect.  My arms hold her.  No I am asleep.  No I am awake.  My arms are empty.  They are here.  No they are there.  The world is distant.  This familiar world feels far away.  I am here.  No I am there.  Okay here.  It is distant. I am numb.  Body beckons back to sleep.  They are close in my sleep.  I am distant, no this world is distant.  No it is distance…….. such a very far distance.  I am awake.  No asleep.  Yes, awake. 

Last family snapshots in the States

The last few days were spent with Grandma and Grandpa and our cousins:  Jake, Hanna, Vivian, Sabrina, Cole, Andrew, Josh, Carter, Oliver and Aaron.  Grandma and Grandpa’s house is such a great hang out house. 
   
We played “Cheesy sibling portrait poses from the 80’s for awhile” one night (Kim, Anthony and I)  I think it turned out real nice on the left. 
 
On Wednesday we headed up to Karyl and Boyd’s house to spend the last few days.  We hit all our favorite restaurants and spent time with Dave and Sara’s family.  It was great!!  On Saturday we headed back to the international terminal to fly home.  We said our last goodbyes and headed off.  I prefered it when we flew in and everyone joyfully met us at the airport.  Saying goodbye is the pits.