Christmas concert and play.....

We've had a crazy, busy schedule these last few weeks....Saige had her first band concert last week and this week she played the toy clown for her school play "The Christmas Doll". She was also the back end of the Chinese dragon!! The day before her concert at her first basketball practice of the season, she jammed her finger something fierce! We thought she had broken it...but, being the trooper she is took the bandages off and played her little heart out! She is doing so well in band...she loves playing the flute and is looking forward to starting piano lessons again in January. Basketball will keep us busy until February and then life may slow down just a bit!


She loved getting attention for this wound!!
Playing her flute....she's so cute!

Fuzzy picture of Saige on stage....that rhymed!

She had the cutest legs!!

Posing for a good picture!

What a face!!!

Thanksgiving....

We had an awesome turkey day with good friends!!! Joel outdid himself with the turkey...it was sooooo moist and delicious! I bought a turkey roaster this year, and I'm tellin ya...it's totally worth it! I had a lot of fun preparing for the dinner....I love to set the table and use our good china and all the rest of the fun stuff that comes with entertaining. It was a wonderful day filled with fun, good conversation and friends....perfect!


The adult table....I found amber colored chargers at a store here...I love how they look against the china.
Close up look.

This was the "tween table" They got real dishes too!

The "little kids" table....they got paper goods....but at least it was all Thanksgiving paper goods!

I made the little chocolate pilgram hats....aren't they cute? I think the kids liked them!

The hat looks a little lost on the big plate!!

My cute Joel with his turkey....this was the best turkey ever...and I'm not just saying that!

Soooooooooooo yummy!

The dessert buffet....I had little cards for each of the desserts that each family brought...this was taken before most of the desserts got here.....probably about 10,000 calories on this buffet!

Chocolate Pecan Spice Pie....from the Gleasons.

My first attempt at a pumpkin pecan pie...it turned out pretty well...even though these German ovens are whack!!

Fudge...curtesy of the Raybons....Every time Joel got up....he grabbed one!

The "tweeners".....they are soooo cute!

Being silly.

B-man and Ashlee....very cute.

Toree and Zoie....enjoying their turkey....or maybe the pilgram hats???

Our smallest guest....we just love this little kid!!

And finally the day was capped off with rock band....I wish I would have taken some pics of the men playing...it was too funny!

They made some good music!

What a fun day....We are thankful for having such good friends here....it makes it easier to be so far away from home and loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving.

New dough table......

The fall bazaar hit Spangdahlem this weekend and I found this little beauty! I'm so excited! This just might be my favorite find of all time....it's a German dough table that was used in a bakery in the 1930's. I can't wait until I start decorating for Christmas....I already have so many ideas about how to use it. Joel was a good sport about moving it to several different spots until I settled on it's current home. I think I'll actually leave the top open all the time.

Close up look....the seller assured me that there weren't any more worms!! See the worm holes!!

A look with the top down.

A little leather suitcase I picked up too! I love it.

Ah shopping...so good for my soul!! Especially when I find the good deals!

Ward Halloween Party....

We had our ward party on Friday and had a really good time. Saige fell in love with the I love Lucy series after Joel gave me the entire series for my birthday last year and she wanted to go as Lucy this year. I think she looks adorable! Here are a few pics before we left for the party. I also put some pics of some of our friends at the party...a lot of fun people dress up! Joel and I think we will dress up next year, we were inspired by all of the fun costumes.


Classic Joel...this picture makes me laugh so hard!
He was nice for this one!

Cutie Saige...she thinks this is a "Lucy" pose!

Being silly.

Isn't the wig too cute? It totally made the costume.

Here is a picture of Saige and I for Nancy!! I do exist...really!

Our friend Valerie in her best 80's gear!

I loved the Alice in Wonderland theme...they look so cute.

One of my favorites of the night....do you notice the fake chest hair??? I love it.

Our bishop....he's nice.....really he is!

Argh....the pirates....too fun.

Saige doing her best Lucy face!

Another favorite of the night...

Isn't this a great idea? They are missing one of their little dancers, but don't they look so cute?

Our Bishop and his wife giving out candy at the trunk or treat.

What a great night.....Saige is hoarding her candy like nobody's business!! Joel is on the hunt!

Brugge Belgium.......

Yesterday we visited Brugge, Belgium with some good friends from church...we had such a good time and the city is GORGEOUS! The architecture is simply stunning and it is breathtaking to see it in person!

This is a picture of one of the buildings near the center of town. It had several parts and each part was built with a different architectual theme.
One of the many canals that run through the city. This park was so pretty.

We went on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city...that was the highlight of the trip!

Saige had a front seat ride for the trip! She loved it.

I love this picture...the day was so bright and sunny!

Another gorgeous building.

Cutie Joel posing for the camera!

I just love seeing all of the amazing buildings...can you believe that they've been there for hundreds and hundreds of years? Too cool.

And now for Joel's favorite part of the trip....Belgium chocolate!! To use his favorite phrase..."there were more chocolate stores than you can shake a stick at" (or something like that, ha ha) I love his little southern sayings. I didn't try the wasabi chocolate...I was too chicken! But, he said they were AWESOME!

How about some chocolate teeth? Don't they look appetizing?

Halloween chocolate.

Beautiful!

The center of town...we had the best time. I'm so glad we went and experienced this great city.