Out & About Discovery Group

 This is kind of a random post, but I thought I'd share a little of what's going on in my life.  Last weekend, we took care of four other children while their parents went to London.  We had them from friday til monday night.  Two of those kids are my kids best friends.  This little boy is Evan.  He's four months younger than Gabe.  His older sister Sierra, is Eva's best buddy. 

 I've started teaching piano lessons to two new girls.  They are identical twins.  We are actually doing a trade.  I will teach them for free in exchanges for them to help me out around the house or with the kids.  They are 11 years old.  This is Xoe.  Gabe LOVES her!  Both my kids love these girls like crazy.  Eva follows them around like a lost puppy.  Xoe even got Gabe to take a nap on her while watching TV.  He doesn't even do that for me.

 My friend Christy (Xoe and Xanthe's mom) and I started a new group for relief society.  It's called the Out and About Discovery Group.  The purpose is for women in our ward to learn about the different treasures of Germany.  Over the last few months we've done quite a few things.  We went to an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor swimming pool, a thermalbad, a german restaurant, we toured the cities of Wiesbaden, Mainz, and Eltville.  This month, we started it out with a tour of the castle "Burg Eltz".  I've been there one other time with Bill and Diane Knox when they came to visit me.  Last time I was there, there wasn't any scaffolding, but it's still amazing huh?  We had a good turnout.  It was a beautiful day for touring the grounds too.

 This is the group that came out.  We're actually missing a few people in this picture.  I'm really glad Christy and I started this group.  It keeps us busy and it gives us a wonderful opportunity to get to know sisters that we normally wouldn't.  I think it's really making the women in the ward feel fellowshipped.  It helps to eliminate the feeling of clicks or hard feelings toward one another.  I have really come to love every one of these women in the ward.  They each contribute something special or unique to the group.  It's interesting to see the different dynamics that each different activity has.  We get different ladies coming each time.  It gives all of them an opportunity to get to know one another.  Thank you ladies of the Wiesbaden Military Ward!  You all are wonderful women and are great examples to me!

Let's get this party started!

This little guy is gettin' potty trained (whether he likes it or not!).  I had to take a picture of Gabe in these little boy briefs.  He looks so dang cute!  He went pee in the big pottie this morning.  This isn't the first time he's done it.  There was a week back a couple months ago that he went pee quite a few times and poop once in the toilet.  However, since then, he hasn't shown any interest.  Well, I've decided it's time to do it.  Let's just bite the bullet and get it over with.  I have very selfish reasons for doing this however.  Not that I want to save money on diapers, not that I hate changing them (which I do of course), not that it would just be so much easier, but because....

We are going on a DISNEY CRUISE!  We have decided to celebrate Hans' accomplishment of finishing his MBA by taking a cruise.  Believe it or not, one of the best deals we got was a disney cruise (which is usually the most expensive cruiseline to take).  The reason we feel so strongly that we need to potty train Gabe is because the kids club on ship is for ages 3 and up.  The only way they will take Gabe in the kids club being under three is if he's potty trained, if they have enough available slots, and if they see that he can be a little independant (which he is, let me tell you!!).  The kids club is free of charge and they do amazing activities with the little ones.  It will also give Hans and I time away from them so we can actually have a vacation too. :) (that's the real reason we want them in there) The last cruise we took, Eva loved the club so much that she cried every time we came to pick her up.  Let me tell you, I sure didn't feel the love comin' from her.  It was the first thing she wanted to do when she woke up.  That was with Norwiegen cruiseline.  NCL takes 2 and up, which is the only cruiseline that excepts kids that young.  Disney is supposed to be the best of the best for kids.  I'm so excited to share this experience with my kids.  They are really getting into all the disney movies lately. 

Here's the itinerary of where we're going:
http://www.vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=11911&disp=103

We've already been to Barcelona, Rome, and Malta, but we loved them so much, we have no problem going back.  Besides, Rome really required a whole week just to see everything.  We only spend a day there last time.  Who wants to come with us?  We'd love to have another family come play on the cruise with us.

Nature induced mayhem/human induced mayhem

Well, we had quite the storm last night. It made me feel like we were back in Indiana watching a tornado. I even went outside and just enjoyed the rain (which is a first in like a month here) in the middle of lightning and thunder. I loved it! However, it did some damage. Lightning struck our building and burnt a fuse. It also broke one of our windows. This tree is just ouside out appartment. Notice how close it was to this car.

Can you see how the window is only attached by the hindge?

On another note: I, Lindsey Clark Lokodi sewed for the first time since eighth grade. The only other time I've been on a sewing machine was in school. I had to sew an apron. My friend came over the other day and brought everything I needed to make this curtain for my kitchen. She even provided the fabric. She showed me what to do and I DID IT! I can't believe it. My kitchen colors are blue and yellow, so it worked out really well. I was pretty proud of myself. It took forever, but I survived. I'm nowhere near being as domestic as my sisters (and I'm not trying to be because that's just not my thing) but at least I did something productive. :)

Floh Markt in Deutschland!

Here are some of my flea market finds. I've discovered a love of flea markets. You can talk your way down to a cheaper price and I love that! You also find one of a kind things and treasures you just won't find in the states. They have flea markets every saturday and different locations throughout the community. I paid 2 euro for the big one and 1 euro for the other two.

All the vases found in this hutch were found at different flea markets. They were all made in West Germany. I love the uniqueness to them. After adding all these up, I ended up only paying 3 euro for seven vases. Great deal huh?

This is a really cute umbrella holder. Now I just have to find some cute antique umbrellas to go in it. :) I got this for 6 euro.

I love this picture. This is not a copy/print. It's an original. The frame is great. I actually took the painting and hung it without the frame, just straight canvas on the wall. I'm going to use the wood frame for a different picture I have laying around. I paid 10 Euro for this painting, and I thought it was a great deal!

I decided to decorate the guest bedroom in a nautical theme because I loved this boat and I got it for only 5 euro. It's a lot bigger than the picture shows.

This is a ceramic clock that matches perfect in my kitchen. This was 50 cent euro.

Eva got lucky! This is now her bike. I just went and bought training wheels for it. I hope they work. I love the retro look to it. The bell works and everything! I paid 10 euro for it.

Eva's German Kindergarten

Last weekend, while I was off to Poland shopping for pottery, I left Hans with the kids. This is the first time I've ever left the kids and hubby and had a trip with just girls. I left friday night and came back late saturday. Eva had a special event at her german kindergarten (ages 3-5 is considered kindergarten) on that saturday that Hans took the kids to. This is Eva's teacher Alex painting her face.

Gabe had a good time playing soccer with some kids.

These are some of the kids in Eva's class. She is the only American and english speaking child in there. Her teacher doesn't speak English either so it makes for an iteresting experience for me sometimes. I understand most things though. Eva is doing well in school and learning German quickly. Her teacher says she will respond back in German now. She used to hate going, but she never gives me a hard time about it anymore. She's made friends and seems to enjoy herself.

A little of this, a little of that.

Eva finished her first season of T-Ball over the weekend. She was the youngest player and the only girl. I was really proud of her. Most of the time she enjoyed it. She didn't like outfielding that much because there was one boy in particular that would run and get the ball no matter where it was hit. He got to it before anyone else ever had the chance to get the ball. So, Eva threw some pretty big fits when that happened. She hits the ball really well and has a great arm on her though. They had a party at the end of the season with trophies and pizza. We loved our coach too! He was so great with the kids and it was a volunteer position.

Coach Reeves presenting Eva with her trophie.

In other news...Gabe is a wierdo! A couple mornings ago Hans and I looked in the kids room and this is what we found. For some crazy reason, Gabe had somehow gotten under the fitted sheet that night and fallen asleep. This is how we found him, and still sleeping. Eva and Gabe LOVE to sleep together. Gabe does have his own bed, but he always ends up in Eva's bed before falling asleep. I think it's actually really cute. He brings his pillow over and he sleeps at the foot of the bed, while Eva's at the head. There are times when I wonder if they even love each other and then there are these moments when I know they do. They love bedtime. I hear them talking to one another every night. I love those moments.

Do you see the lump? Eva's legs are the pick blob and Gabe is under the fitted sheet.

Part 2

This castle was in a little town off the main road. We just started driving off the beaten path and this is what we found. What a pleasant surprise huh?
Eva posing on the castle grounds.

My handsom boys.

This is one of the views from the castle.

Our day out in the Taunus mountains Part 1

We took a nice walk along a random trail today. We drove about 45 minutes outside Wiesbaden and just stopped at different places that looked interesting. It was a beautiful day.

This picture speaks volumes of both the kids personalities.

This was taken the other day during Eva's T-ball practice. Gabe always throws a huge fit if he doesn't get a turn to batt too. He's actually really good for such a little guy. Have any of you seen space balls? Does Big Helmet ring a bell when you see him with that hat?

Eva sportin' some serious attitude.

Just a random picture of the kids. I think they're pretty dang cute, but I'm a little partial. :)

Finally! The Ireland pictures

Ok, the long awaited pictures are here. I have been wanting to post my Ireland trip pictures on the web but haven't been able to. We (and by we, I mean Hans) left the camera in the rental car in Ireland. We called around everywhere trying to figure out where the camera was. I called Hertz and they told me it wasn't there. A few days later, I was still tough out of luck and very discouraged. I was so desperate at that point that I got on my knees and just begged Heavenly Father to help me locate my camera. It was quite a pathetic prayer actually. I was pretty much grovaling to him and insisting that he help me locate it. Well, he definately answered my prayer. No longer than an hour later, I got an email from Hertz saying they were sorry for the confusion, but they did have it. The man that cleaned the car out was off work the day I called and he forgot to mention to them that he had found the camera and put it in the safe-keep locker. They told me they would go ahead and UPS it to me! I was so shocked and grateful. My camera arrived safe and sound on Tuesday. :)) Hip Hip Hooray for Hertz rental car!!!

This is just one of the many blessings we recieved while in Ireland. Most of you know, but the landlady that owned the cottage we were staying in didn't charge us for the entire extra week we were there. She said she didn't want to take advantage of stranded travelers. I couldn't believe the kindness of this woman. There were many instances where other travelers were stranded, or ripped off for extending their rental cars, hotel rooms, flights, etc. The hertz car rental took off the outrageous drop off fee that was over $300 because we had to drop it off at a different location to catch a ferry. Not everyone was treated so kindly. We ended up only having to pay a total of around $230 for the entire two weeks we rented the car. There are other things like this that happened too.

This just really makes me realize that God is definately aware of our needs and difficulties. He took care of us and we were blessed beyond belief. I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to travel and see the world. It has become a great passion in my life. Through these experiences, I get to see how lucky and blessed I truely am. I am so grateful to be an American and enjoy the freedoms I have. I'm especially grateful to have the gospel in my life. It fills that ever present void that seems to be in many lives around me. I'm so overjoyed to have something to shout about and something to stand up for. I'm grateful to be around so many different kinds of people who give a different perspective on life and make my testimony that much greater.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. It wasn't very green yet in Ireland. They were having lots of fires so the mountains were quite brown. With that being said, it is still the most beautiful place in the world. The pictures don't do it justice at all. I am kind of disappointed in how some of them turned out. I have to get better at the whole picture taking thing. I sure enjoy it though. Here's the link. Let me know if it works:

http://picasaweb.google.com/roberrabbit/0124

Lindsey

Happy Mother's Day Lindsey Surprise!

In honor of mother's day, here are some slightly crass Irish-inspired words.

There once was a mother named Lindsey
Whose quest it was to be fit-ly
Her husband thought she’s a hot mother
And frequently wanted to love her
That’s why all their beds became flimsy

There once was a lover from Philly
Who eloped for the name of Lokodi
She bore him six kids
A dear mother she is
But the kids she often smacks silly

There once was a daughter of a farmer
Blond hair and big chest a real charmer
She caught a man’s heart
Who would frequently fart
So after her mother she called him bumclapper

There once was woman of charm
Who handsome men liked to have on their arm
So when she eloped
With a dumb german bloke
Her parents suffered quite an alarm

There once was dark haired gypsy
Who had a penchant for getting tipsy
but he soon sobered up
and turned round his luck
with a wife so righteously sexy

;)

the weary travelers have returned

Well, after 46 straight hours of traveling, we finally made it back on German soil. We left our Irish cottage at 7am on Friday morning and arrived at home this morning at 5am. However, we did have to go back to France today and return the rental car so if I add that time in, it was 51 hours of travel.

The earliest we could get a flight out of Ireland was this coming Monday so we didn't want to chance it. The volcano was still irrupting and the wind could have changed directions again. That would be gambling and we had already been doing that for a week with the airlines. The earliest ferry we could get was Friday. We drove from Killorglin (on the ring of Kerry, which is on the southwest coastline) to Wexford (which is on the southeast coastline) to drop off our rental car. Then, we caught a taxi from there to Rosslare to catch the ferry headed to Cherbourg France. The ferry left at 9:30pm on Friday and arrived in Cherbourg at 4:30pm on Saturday. We then took a bus to the rental car place in Cherbourg. We got in our rental car at 5:30 and headed to Caen for some dinner and free WiFi. After full bellies, we headed on right thru the heart of Paris at night. I love the eifel tower at night! It was a bumber we couldn't stop and take advantage of being in Paris. We had a schedule to keep. We crossed over the boarder into German and headed to the Hahn airport to get our cars out of long term parking. We then had another hour just to get home. We were able to sleep from 5:30am this morning to 9am.

We went and picked up the kids this morning at my friend Brandee's house. It was a great reunion. I sure missed them. Eva told me we have to move back to South Carolina so the volcano doesn't get us. I thought that was pretty cute. Gabe was a little shy at first, but quickly got over that. It has been a great day with them even though we had to drive 2 1/2 hours each way to Strasbourg, France to drop off the rental car. If we didn't drop it off back in France, they were going to charge us a $600 drop off fee. Talk about taking advantage of stranded passangers! So, we picked the closest Hertz rental car just over the french/german boarder.

I've got more to come later. I will post about our great time in Ireland, but that will have to do for now. Glad to be back.

Lindsey

Happening in Germany

Here are the happenings with us lately: We bought this car on thursday. We don't get it until sometime next week because we're waiting on the title, but I'm excited. We got a great deal on it. It's got seven seats and is fully loaded. It will be nice to be able to finally have enough room to give people rides. All the seats fold down too so we can haul stuff if needed. The only problem is, it's a monster of a car. German roads and parking lots aren't made for large cars. This should be interesting. I'm a pretty confident driver, but this is going to be a challenge.

Eva has her own sense of style. She puts on the funkiest outfits. She is really a lot of fun. She's got a definate attitude problem, but we're working on that. :) She's speaking German more and more these days. I'm very proud of her. She likes her little german kindergarten. She's making friends there. She and Gabe are also starting to play together more. That has been fun watching them interact more. They love playing with their velcro ball and paddles. Do you all remember those? Where you have to pull the ball off the velcro paddle? The love them! Gabe has quite the arm. He's going to be my money ticket in the future. :) Gabe got tubes in his on thursday and is doing great. We're really hoping his attitude changes with it. :)

Hans and I are getting ready for our week long trip to Ireland without the kids. This is a much needed break for Hans. He's been working so hard lately. He will be done with his MBA in September. His brigade is also moving up to Wiesbaden this summer. Well, until later...

birthday celebration/major windstorm

This picture speaks volumes of Gabe's personality....

"What? I'm not doing anything." He kept sneeking the little candy letters off the cake. I didn't think anyone would actually like those nasty things, but apparently he did.

He was totally fasinated with the candles. After a couple of trys, he even blew them out on his own.

"What? You want a piece of me?"

I made his favorite meal, enchiladas.

During the birthday celebration, we had a huge windstorm. I took some pictures of what it did just outside our appartment. We didn't even get hit the hardest. Our friends had lots of things break and blow away including trampolines, sheds, doors broken off, etc. It was pretty awesome. However, word of advice...don't wear flowing skirts to church on days of a windstorm. Very embarassing!

I bought a new bedset at the linen store here on base. I got the entire bed set, pillows included for $69. I was very proud of myself. It's really wrinkled, but that can be fixed. I was just too lazy to iron it at the time.