A Daily Dose of the Fields...

From My Kitchen to Yours...

2012-02-07T13:21:00.000-06:00

So seems how I have all the time in the world right now...I have been a crazy, busy, woman cooking dinner. I know most of you are shocked, but come on anyone can cook. I can honestly say that I have blown my husband away also. He tells me he may have to work double on the gym time. Okay so here we go!

I am posting the links instead of writing everything down, so feel free to enjoy them yourselves.

1.) Lemon Orzo Salad with Asparagus & Tomatoes.
http://www.abigmouthful.com/lemon-orzo-salad-with-asparagus-and-tomatoes/

This is what mine looked like.........This dish can be eaten hot, room temp, or cold. We ate it hot.

2.) Cream Cheese & Chicken stuffed Red Bell Peppers.

I don't have a visual of my own but the were also mouth watering. Garrett enjoyed them the next day for lunch also.
http://bunsinmyoven.com/2011/07/25/chicken-cream-cheese-stuffed-peppers/

3.) I must have gotten too into my food to take pictures of these. This one I served with a fresh French Baguette. To die for! Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp & Feta Cheese. The only thing that i did different was I used grape tomatoes because I had a plethora of them in my fridge that needed to be used up.
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/roasted-tomatoes-shrimp-feta-10000000780294/index.html

4.) http://www.everythingfab.com/2011/05/food-mozzarella-tomato-and-avocado.html

This is another great recipe to eat with a fresh baguette. I ate it without and it was still deliciously filling. It called for fresh seasoning but I decided to use up my dry seasonings first so I can replenish them.

5.) Shrimp Scampi....there is a first time for everything. Well these are all firsts...but I think I rocked this recipe. I will definitely be adding this to our "Family Favorite" box.

http://cullyskitchen.com/shrimp-scampi-recipe/\

I will admit that I enjoyed it so much I couldn't tell that I wrapped one of the lemon slices in on my fork and took a huge bite.

6.) http://www.southernplate.com/2008/07/how-to-make-southern-chicken-and.html

Comfort food for a finally, white dusting of snow on the ground. This made me miss home from the times that my mother made this. I will admit she didn't pass down her recipe but I think I will forward this one to her.

7.)The last recipe for this posting was also declared a add to the "Family Favorite" box.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/spaghetti-with-tomatoes-black-olives-garlic-and-feta-cheese

This one also doesn't have a picture of my creation. I promise to get better with it in time.

I have taken a high interest at night and during nap times to go through the Pintrest, and Foodgawker, sites. This is where I have found most of these recipes. I do grocery shopping on paydays so the 1st and the 15th of every month. It gives me time to get coupons and arrange my list by aisles in the grocery store. Then I wait till daddy comes home from work and do my grocery shopping solo! Instead of carting around the man toddler. Then of course when I get home they are both there to help me carry in all the goods. I hope you all enjoy!

Our 2011 in Review...

2011-12-31T20:19:00.000-06:00

January 2011- Year started off in NY with some of my best friends and family! Nana Kiki and Papa Stub babysat for Greyson. Garrett was in the sandbox in Iraq. We started off with family!! Then I had Mama time and had a huge hangover the following morning. (Not a pretty one either)..... I spent the rest of January with my family and watching cheesy reality TV at night with my friend Traci.

Sondermann's House

February 2011- We decided after spending money on getting the radiator fixed to head back to Tennessee with sad faces. (did I mention we spent from Dec 17th-February) We went about our daily lives when we got back there. Play dates and shopping extravaganzas. Friends house party for the super bowl where the Packers won. Daddy still in the sandbox in Iraq.

Me and My Baby!

March 2011- We welcomed home our friends Brian and Michelle Elwood from Afghanistan. It was Greyson's first welcome home ceremony. Daddy was still in the sandbox in Iraq. We played outside and Greyson got to experience bubbles for the first time!! LOVED Them!

Beaching It!

Shirt from Papa!

Swimming...just keep swimming.

April 2011- Ah yes!! The mommy and son vacation to Myrtle with my Parents!! We spent 10 days in beautiful South Carolina. My HP laptop crashed, with a majority of my pictures on it. Thank god I was smart and did/ do back them up. We spent lots of time with cousin Elle! They had swim dates every night to tire them out. Grey had his first Easter Egg Hunt inside due to rain! He found them all by himself. Daddy was still in the sandbox in Iraq.

May 2011- Where the Tennessee heat does not mess around. HOT, HOT, HOT!! I bought a pass for unlimited days at the Nashville Zoo! Which is where we basically spent most of our days, They have a huge wooden park that has a splash area inside. Oh lets face it on the days that weren't too nasty hot we were outside every chance trying to keep our tans from Myrtle. The days that were nasty hot we found air conditioner's in library's, Chuck E Cheese, The mall you get my point. We started the countdown for the arrival of the Daddy.

Water Park on Post.

Swinging him in the water

Swings!! I love this picture!

Picnic Lunch with the daddy-o

CMA Fest in Nashville with Matthew and Heather

Pointing at a BOAT

First Battle Scar!

He's HOME!

He will ALWAYS love his Mama!

Lil Soldier...

JUNE 2011- The 13 month long awaited arrival of the Daddy-o. Lunch dates his first week of inprocessing and of course the Park. A year and a day before the homecoming of his daddy Grey decided to give me heart failure with a blow to the head when falling down a friends stairs. A trip to the ER and 2 stitches later, We were both fine. Even better the next day when we got to pick up daddy.

Of course after a soldier spends a year away from his/her family the get 30 days of leave.

WE SPENT 30 DAYS ON GRINDSTONE ISLAND.

JUNE 2011-

Playing at Potters

Watching Fireworks from Papa's boat

Helping Papa mow.

Tubing

riding in the boat

summer loving...

loving Elle

Yankee pride @ Old McDonald's Farm

Learning from Uncle Josh

he has a whole river and he loved the puddle

After an amazing 30 days and finding out our next PCS was to Germany, saying goodbye was the hardest thing to do. We surrendered Yukon to a family friend, who has 2 beautiful daughters and I hear he keeps them busy. We, when I say spent 30 days on Grindstone...It's the truth we only went off on Tuesdays for groceries and golf. Then we would head right back. Where Grey kept everyone busy and on their toes.

August 2011- Baby G...moves on up to Lil man toddler g. That's right folks he turned "2". (and I am still waiting for the terrible twos) We had so much fun in August and got to finally after 3 years venture to Memphis to partake in the Elvis Presley week and got to visit Graceland. Of course we also hit up the Memphis zoo and on our way home we came upon a Safari park in which Nana Kiki got to partake in with us thanks to the Bluetooth. Grey was hilariously scared of the animals when they came to the car windows.

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We also got to check out the history of Casey Jones! and Grey got to play on his trains.

September 2011- We started the count down for Nana Kiki's final visit to Tennessee. Started prepping our first home for rent. I got recognized by LTC Hamilton for being an FRG leader and dealing with the stupid wives shit. We went to a VMI soccer game in Nashville. We made a trip to the science center which was pretty much a romper room for Grey, but we had fun. We did our first Jeep run in memory of SFC Charles Adkins, whom was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in April. He was one of our neighbors. Garrett was in a soccer league so it pretty much took p our traveling time on the weekends, but you were able to find Lil g and I I playing on a near by park or cheering on at the field.

October 2011- Was filled with many potential renters, which meant trying to keep the house somewhat organized with a two year old. We took Grey to Disney on Ice....where he never made a move or a peep. We got to pick Kiki up at the airport, Grey waited patiently for her with a diet coke in hand. She took us to the Nashville Circus and we took her to the Louisville Zoo. Two wonderful fun filled week with the Nana Kiki.

November 2011- bring us to Germany. Where we will be stationed for up to 3 years. November consisted of getting to know the area and finding our rental house. Oh did I mention learning to live with limited things. I turned "31" the boys took me to dinner. We had our first Thanksgiving in our Lil abode and I cooked a turkey with the prep work help from Garrett.

Brings us to the last month of 2011....December. We ventured much of Germany...Dusseldorf, Heidelberg, Homburg, Trier, & Blieskastel. I took and passed my drivers test with a 95. The Subaru arrived as well as the rest of our home goods. Greyson got to experience his first choo choo train ride. I found love at the H&M stores. Had a very spoiling 4 year Anniversary. Garrett turned "37", and we had a wonderful snow less Christmas!

That's our 2011 year on review.

Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr!

2011-12-29T15:03:00.000-06:00

( A blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!)

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and are all looking forward to the New Year!

I won't lie our day missed our families but, then again we had all of Greyson's toys to play with and of course we played with his Train table all day. I am so glad that I don't have a girl! Not that I don't want one but it's the memories of playing with all of my brothers toys that I get to re-live. Our day started out by Grey letting us sleep in till about noon. Of course this is what we cherish now as I know it will most likely be the last year of it! Late dinner due to sleeping in but it helped the day go by.

I apologize now to everyone for not getting a family Christmas picture or just an updated picture of Grey out this year. It's been crazy gray here and I figure might as well wait till Spring where we can be in a beautiful setting other than dark and dreary.

We went on our first marriage retreat to Garmisch where it was all paid for by the Military. Child care included so it gave us somewhat of a break from Grey. (Not that we needed it. Haha)
There was snow there and of course mountains...Garrett and I got to eat lunch on the mountain, we took a cable car up and the view was completely amazing. I must add that this is the first time on a cable car so I believe Garrett compared me to a child in a candy store. His intentions (which were hidden in the trunk of the car) were to take snowboarding lessons. But as it was their opening weekend and not much snow and lack of time we were not able to go. The items in the trunk of the car were also some items for him under the tree which so conveniently placed in the back of the car also. My surprise was a skiing/ snowboarding helmet and goggles which were the items that Mom and I got him for Christmas. Apparently he snooped.

We had two days of classes which started on Friday and of course ended Saturday. So Sunday we got up and ventured to Innsbruck, Austria. Which if you ask both of us so far is our favorite place to visit. Absolutely breath taking and Grey slept the whole time we ventured to the little town. So it was quite enjoyable. We will be going back to Garmish in February for Snowboarding lessons. And get this Grey will get to spend everyday for 4-5 days making friends at the Military's CDC, which he enjoyed the last time anyways.

Some of the Alps view...

A castle along the way to Innsbruck...

The morning we left.

Grey wishes a Happy Holiday's to everyone!!!

As soon as I can figure out how to locate and move our videos from Christmas they will be posted here.

I promise there will be more pictures as soon as I get my Canon Rebel T2i back fro getting fixed. I feel very lost without it. But it had a slight accident and hopefully will be returned to me soon enough! And so it is...

Unsere Abenteuer in Deutschland...

2011-12-15T13:10:00.000-06:00

Ahhh where to begin as I know that I have had many a requests to update our blog. Sorry, we just got our Internet! Which led to boring yet reliving my childhood days while occupying a 2 year old toddler. Oh don't worry I am still as sane as ever. Nothing that a little Mickey Mouse, Handy Manny and of course the all time favorite of "Go Diego Go" which has been watched numerous times in this household couldn't fix.

We found a house and have been living in it since about the first week after we got here. We are located in a cute little town (who am I kidding right all of these little towns are cute) called Kindsbach. Which is only a few miles from Garrett's work. We don't have hardly any neighbors, except the man next door who owns a company and lives upstairs of it. Which I wouldn't have known about until one morning when I was drinking my morning coffee and staring out the window watching the train go by. He stepped out on his deck in his tighty whiteys and surprised the crap out of me. Glad my windows were shut so he didn't hear me laughing in my high pitched squeal. So as for the entertainment I can not complain one bit about this nice, little country.

We have been to Trier, by car (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trier) and Heidelberg, by train (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg) for their Weihnachtsmarktes.(Christmas Markets) The smells are amazing, the food delicious, and I took interest in the whittled wooden toys made by the Germans. Oh, and of course there German Gluhwein. (that's wine, mom! a spiced wine) Grey took more interest in the carousels which he now rides all by himself. In most of the pictures you see us tagging along with him.

We are to get the rest of our shipped good next Tuesday and my car will also be here the 20th...so that means Mother & Son adventures while the daddy is at work . Oh, he just reminded me he has half days due to the holidays. (family days)

We made it to our 4th anniversary and I left Greyson with a babysitter to go out to dinner with the amazing man I married. I didn't even call the sitter once. They were both alive and well when we got back. We ate at (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Nix-Maria-Twenty-Grand/147515822018705) We had been there once before, and their hospitality and service was amazing they made me feel right at home and they just loved Grey. (of course who doesn't)

We head for our anniversary trip/ marriage retreat this weekend in Garmisch. It's a free, with childcare and food included. Plus who wouldn't want to venture to Garmisch!! I will post as soon as we get back.

Enjoy these pictures for now!

Heidelberg Castle

Grey's first train ride

Lounging

Trier

Riding through Trier in a stroller

His innocent I didnt touch the tree look....

Our First Christmas tree

Driving in a metal car

when he spots a carousel, he gets on.

Blown glass right at the Christmas Market

A view on our way there...

Daddy's turn

Saluting like the German Security at the military gates.

He sure is growing up fast and has that innocent look....
I wonder what trouble he is going to bring me in the future...

Many Miles Away...

2011-11-04T20:21:00.000-05:00

Well we made it and we are all in one piece. Grey is still struggling with the time change, which makes for a cranky Mama with bags and circles under my eyes. But all in all, I love it here!
For the Lil Manny...we have made him a traveler and for that I am thankful. I think he was more excited about flying than Garrett and I. He pulled an all nighter but snoozed during take off's and landings.

It has been a busy few days with G improcessing and us looking for a rentable home. In one day I beleiev we looked at about 9 different houses. The last one we saw was the keeper. We should be in that by next week, and I will post pictures as soon as possible.

For now we are staying at the Ramstein Air Force Base in a pet friendly Inn. It's huge! 3 bedrooms, 1 queen bed and two twins. But they are seperated and Grey knows how to open the doors so We are all in the queen. Unless the boy's including Sampson snore me out.

The boys took me out to dinner for my big "31st" birthday. We ate at the Macaroni Grill where I had a real glass of German wine. Can't remeber the kind but it was delicious.

We haven't got to venture out much other than house scouting so I am short on pictures. Although when we first got off the plane it was a nice ride on the Autoban where I saw fields and field of grape plants. It's beautiful fall foliage reminded of home, fall is such a beautiful season.

This was Sampson's first time flying also and he did somewhat well. We all know that he is gun shy so think of what it sounds like at the bottom of a plane. Then getting straight off a plane and put on the bottom of a bus. Yeah well, he wanted nothing to do with me for at least 5 hours after we got settled, but now he is back the good 'ol Sampson.

We flew out of St. Louis, MO and we ended up going up a few days early so we could sleep in a bed instead of an empty house. We took Grey to the the St. Louis zoo. This is by far one of the best zoo's that I have been to. The set up was amazing.

Grey loves monkeys of any kind so most of our time was spent watching them play and swing.

The Arch...I made Garrett take me to see it and it just so happend that it was the day of the Cardinals parade. We managed to get around of the traffic, but for miles it was just shirts of red.

Grey likes to eat M&M's.....he will even help himself if he knows that I have them stashed. But seriously who could yell at a face like this. Talk about a sugar high though!

Daddy and Grey on the bus from Frankfurt, Germany to Ramstein

This I believe is when we first took off from St. Louis to Washington.

I let Grey take pictures with my old camera and here is his shot of me on the bus to Ramstein!

Two weeks with Nana Kiki...

2011-10-25T00:42:00.001-05:00

Let me just say that I should be in bed considering that the packers come early, We can not wait to start our European adventure.
Tis the reason that Nana Kiki came to visit for two weeks. She had to get her Greyson fix in. We had a great time with her, as always.

We took Grey to his first circus in Nashville.

Which I will admit may have just been a second time thing for me. But this was the most amazing one ever! Before the show they had a kids friendly zone set up with bounce houses, pony rides, elephant rides, and face painting. Grey refused to go on the pony ride. No worries he has plenty of time for that.

The first week was relaxing to say the least considering Garrett hadn't cleared from Fort Campbell yet. So we kind of had the house to ourselves with no car till he got home. We played and cleaned to show to possible future tenants.

Of course we ate dinner at our favorite restaurant's and shopped at the mall.

Another fun thing that we did was drove 3 hours to the Louisville Zoo.

Kiki paid for Grey to go on the Merry-go-Round. No fear when it's not a live animal.

The baby Giraffe that was inside a cage with it's mama.

Kiki & Grey sitting in the Castles chair...throwing out the peace sign!

Monkeys, gorillas....yeah they are always my favorite! This one was taking his afternoon nap.

Practicing to try out for the next Wilie Wonka movie! Everyone wants to be an Oompa Loompa.

Oh my yes!! My super hero who had to get into the fun too!! We will never be too old

One tired out Lil Manny from a long day at the zoo.....PRICELESS.

Thanks goes out to Kiki for her amazing visit with us as we will not be seeing her for a bit! But alas we have awesome technology these days and we can skype and seems how she hooked herself up with an ipod touch while she was here....plenty of Facetime!

Did I mention that this two year old knows how to catch his Nana hook, line & sinker??? Yeah well just wait at the airport for her to land with a huge Diet Coke in hand...and she was hooked!