Lessons from the underground.

(I, Tanner, have highjacked this blog for the present moment).

Since we have been in Germany, It has been our pleasure to have at least one four day weekend per month.  Not only do we get the U.S. holidays off, but we also get to have the Germany holidays off as well.  During these long weekends, I get to be a part of the daily on-goings that I usually miss out due to work.  When I'm laying in bed on Monday night, before I have to go back to work on Tuesday, I'm thinking to myself "I get to go back to an easier job tomorrow while Charee has to keep on doing the hardest job in the world."

TRU--
This kid is a walking cyclone,tornado,hurricane, earthquake,flood, etc...I can always trace his steps throughout the house.  All I have to do is follow the pretzel bits, graham crackers crumbs, water trails, etc...I can also figure out where in the house he is currently located by just listening to the destruction that is going on.  He will be throwing baseball bats down the stairs, yelling at dinosaur toys or cleaning the toilets on his own.  There is always a 5 foot radius around his high chair where there is always food on the floor, no matter how many times it is cleaned up.  He is always a creator of noise.
Some other things...I have never seen a bond between a son and his mom.  Tru melts in Charee's arms.  He becomes calm, relaxed and just loves being on his mama's lap.  He cries when she leaves the room or the house.  You can tell that she is his anchor in his little reality.

CHLOE--
This girl is a constant being of energy.  I can't describe it any other way.  She already has a fashion sense, she dances and twirls, counts to ten in German, "Ein, Zwei, Tres, Quatro, Funf, Ocho, Diaz...", talks about hypothesis', minerals, spiders eating birds, seeing through her 'third eye', why can't I fly...She is fearless, loves meeting new kids and is now part of a German kindergarten.
Whenever I tuck Chloe into bed at night, she always says something that surprises me.  Its always something wise, witty or of a good nature.  Come to find out, the things that she tells me are things that Charee teaches her throughout the day.  She pays attention when Charee talks to her and treasures up all the things that she gets handed to her.

ME--
Lets just say that Army life is a second marriage.  Late nights, field time, prospect of going to war, etc...I wouldn't want to live through it with any other person.  She is resilient.  I never worry about her or the kiddos when I leave for an extended amount of time.  She makes life for me smooth and joyous.

The grace that Charee handles life is like watching a tight rope walker.  No hesitation and a keen focus.  She has made mother hood the essence of her existence and I love her for that.  She doesn't get sidetracked by the sideshows but just keeps handling the tugs and pulls of the world like a master.  HAPPY MOTHERS DAY from T+C+T. XOXOXO

some of Tru's room and the kiddems

he loves just looking at this as he falls asleep
A reproduction type-set letter blocks


the slugger museum was so cute and fun!

they put their names on the bats

so cute

he was 5 1/2 months old EVERYTHING goes into the mouth

Tru's not a thumb sucker but he does suck on his index, and middle finger.

i love this one!!!

now checking out sis as she climbs his crib and is bouncing off the wall

Bustems......he got that nickname when i was 6 months pregnant. i was walking the Bridalveil falls trail with my mom and coco and it felt like he was going to kick out the lower side of my baby bump. he had the strongest kicks, they would sometimes stop me in my tracks and that's the day/kick i said "OOUCH BUSTEMS!!" and to this day he's a strong little sir.

now he's just watching Chloe as she does her acrobats on his crib

when he talks he has the lowest growl it's one of my favorite sounds ever!!

so sleepy, he was such a good sport

so sweet

little baby chubbers it was just a matter of time for her to go get into my "lips stick" and pop into the picture:) Words can't even describe the tight bond these two have, They just adore each other. Tru's constantly laughing at her and she's so loving and attentive to him. As a mother i feel so blessed and am so grateful!

i love how he's looking at her hair like he needs to put it in his mouth. i love her cute smile.

craking each other up!

such a sweet big sis

Thank you so much Nana for keeping Tru on the quilt and Coco out of some of the pics. so i could get some of just Truster:)

Apple Popsicals and Red Apple lipstick

Once again she's been in my make up

she loves making apple pops
and eating them.

here's Coco telling daddy to not color her hair purple (Tanner is constantly teasing her)

Mrs. Lieutenant Brown...

Where do I start? First off, she is in an elite group that represents less than .8% of all women/mothers in the country. Not every wife/mother has the opportunity to have two pairs of muddy boots on the front porch, everyday. Nor do they have the pleasure of srubbing mud off uniforms, sleeping bags, rucksacks, equipment, etc...
She has to wait, wait and wait some more. Wait for the orders, wait for housing, wait for the medical records, wait for the passports, wait for the movers, wait for me to come home for dinner any time between 3pm to 9pm (with only about a 10 min advance notice). And then she has to worry; worry about me when I'm out in the field training for days on end. Worrying about where I am at when the tornado sirens go off and the lightning is pouring down all over. (I'm usually in a HMMVW in the middle of the woods). Worrying about moving to flippin Europe in a month. New culture, new language, new food and about 8000 miles away from home. Living out of a suitcase for roughly 30-45 days after we get there.
...Did I mention that she does all of this with her head up. She does all of this with two little human beings bouncing off the walls, at the same time. She has managed to turn our Kentucky house into a home during all of this. She has created a haven for all of us. She has made our home into a sanctuary for me and others to just relax and feel at peace. And I know that she will eagerly do this all over again in Germany. Our children's greatest source of happiness and love begins with a CH and ends with a AREE. No matter where we are going, or what I'll be doing, Me, Chloe and Tru will feel at home. We will be happy. Thank you wife/mom
Cheers,
T & C & T (peace)

rain. rain. cozy days.

i couldn't be more proud of my sweet Chloe, she's an amazing big sister. She and Tru have the closest bond she wakes up saying mommy where's my baby Tru? crosses the hallway to his bedroom "BABY TRU GOOOOD MORNING!!! Awe you so CUTE, Yes you ARE!!!" While he laughs his gut wrenching laugh.
and he has got to be the happiest baby i've ever known, his laughfter is infectious.

Tru, laying on his sweet Nana quilt:)
Yep, Aunt Teen made this darling bib for him, WE LOVE and miss you TEEN!!!

As for daddy, he's out in the field for a week and home for a day or two, that's pretty much how it's been for the last two and half months. Im so glad we're at the end of his training and that we'll hopefully have a break from missing him!! We are so blessed that even with all this training it has only brought us that much closer as a family and that Chloe and Tru are so happy. I have never felt Heavenly Father's hand in my life more than i do now, it's a really neat feeling to feel his blessings and love. I am so incredibly blessed to have this oppurtunity to serve our beautiful country, it's an honor and to have the chance to learn and grow in ways i never expected. It's a wonderful blessing to have for this short time!!!

But we are ready for Spring and warmer days:) POOR Bustems:)

P.S. Happy 311 day honey!!