John's Band Online

Please feel free to view the following link to USAFE Touch 'n Go: www.myspace.com/usafetouchngo. You will be able to hear selections from their new CD "Right Place, Right Time", view photos and video, and leave feedback!

Our little begger...

He can have a full belly but if mommy or daddy have food......."mmmmm, can I have some? and could anyone say no to those blue eyes? Daddy even gave up some of his homemade potatoe-cake (one of my favorite foods on earth) Evan really needed some since he only had just filled his belly with fruit and one and a half potatoe-cakes himself! Not to mention his appetizer of cheerios that morning....

my first home cappuccino

well thanks to Keisha, who left a simple cappuccino/espresso machine downstairs, I decided to give it a whirl. I had one in the states that did not get alot of use....(producing milk foam is an art) I had given up but I decided to give it a try as I have started enjoying my coffee beverages again, and this would save some cash money....so I'm proud to say that this was my first one, made yesterday..... and I really enjoyed it!

On another note, an Evan walking update: so he's been doing this 5-6 step thing and then that's just about it and he also is learning to walk beside us just using one of our hands but tonight......John set him a standing near the couch-then kept backing up and he walked the entire carpet! we happened to be counting, 26 steps!!!

Christmas Market time in Germany!!!

One of few things I like about the winters in Germany is the Christmas markets that are set up all over. Some are small, in little towns and some are bigger....this was one of the bigger ones, in Worms (sounds like Verms). We went early enough in the day to see the Dom, the catherdral. And managed to get there for the sunset, it was beautiful and I must add that it was only 3:00 in the afternoon at sunset....

A mosaic on the agacent wall from the church

front of the cathedral with sunset

The stain glass was beautiful inside (but I am still learning all the settings on this new camera), so they didn't turn out the way I'd liked but here is a shot of the reflection on the inside wall of the room they do baptisms in.

This pic just doesn't do the interior justice....it was so ornate and they were working on the other side as you can see the scafelding....so much gold

ok, let's talk about the food at the Christmas markets, available: brats, xl brats, waffles, crepes, roasted nuts of all kinds, fried potatoe patties with either garlic sauce-as shown or with apple sauce, beer-ofcoarse, gluvine (a warm to hot special wine served in mugs-which we partook in) and much more....yummmmm

this was cool for me to see an outside ice-skating rink, we never had this where I am from in MD that I knew of and I just have never really seen one in real life, anyway thought it was really cool

Also an added bonus, never thought I'd see a live performance of this....it was really cool

TouchNGo reunited....Keisha's back!!!!

Well Keisha was back in Germany for a week so, of course....an impromptu gig was put on the books....They played in the only restuarant in our town and they rocked

this town out!!!

so this is what an audience looks like when Touch N Go is playing.....can you find Evan--yes he was there too, he parties pretty well

I'm in green dancing with Leslie and the girls we had a lot of fun at the Mona Lisa last friday night.

The Band





I think this gig is what they all needed....

The musician always gets the girl in the end.....

so cute what else is there to say.....

oh to catch some zzzzzzz's

Well Evan has settled down a bit from his sunday drama....but a new baby issue has arisen....oh the joy of sleep.....Evan's to bottom teeth are out and his first top one has just popped through....Is this the reason for refusing naps and waking up at night, oh how I used to take sleep for granted when I was not a parent.....but now I look at sleep and time as this goal, this special privledge, a once and a while gift....well and this to shall pass.....but all the lost sleep and no time is all erased in the morning when he gets up and is standing in his crib and greets me with this huge grin. Thanks for all the support, I needed it this week, it's nice to know if times get rough, I can make a phone call and the band gals will be there...you guys are awesome and if I didn't have the advice from my mom, Christy and Kelly....I'd have learned everything the hard way so thanks so much
signing off for now as I listen to the baby monitor of my cutie screaming, John is there but it just plain sucks to hear a little one cry....we missed a 10:00 goal of a baby sleeping now I'm wishing for 10:30........we shall see

a Link update

well alittle update....and drama.....Evan and John took a pretty big spill down our marble stairs on Sunday night. Both are doing just fine. Luckily Evan was wearing lots of layers, a winter coat and a thick furry russian hat with ear flaps. When I got to him his face was a little dirty and he was bleading from the mouth, we cleaned him up and later at the emergency room realized that the bleeding was from a minor cut from a tooth. and just one bump to the head, he's doing just fine now and I haven't really took him out of my eyesite unless he's with John. We just got lucky I guess, John is banged up but no injuries are reported....

On monday, I had a little "trial run dance performance" for all of my wed classes at a Fine Arts Expo on base for the youth, It went ok.... the stage was not exactly what they said it would be and the music was quite the drama but all performed and all went well....Thanks to Leslie and Mark for all your help with watching Evan and with the music problems.....

Thanksgiving also went well......over at Leslie and Mark's house, a lot of Turkey was eaten....and the food was just plain good yummmmmmm

John and I are hosting a little after Thanksgiving meal for the Bies Family on friday....so they can enjoy some american turkey tradition, and I am looking forward to it......yum for deep fried turkey and sweet potatoes.....and of course....mashed potatoes.......yummmmm againl

Hopefully I will have time to post some pictures in the next few days....I've been running the roads alot and am looking forward to a quiet weekend.

Evan takes his first step!!!!!!!

About 2 and half hours ago Evan took his very first steps!! Right to me, and John was right there watching, it was so great to be able to share this First....together. I just stood him there figuring he would fall onto his butt or against the couch and I stepped back to scoop him up quick and throw him into the air and before I could touch him he just walked to me, about 3 steps...it was so awesome!
Then I grabbed the camara and took these pics

We talked about how he is such a big boy and then he did this, his latest trick....

"Evan, how big are you?....soooooooooo big" and the hands go up unbelievably cute.

On November 14th Evan participated in his first children's german holiday...St. Martin's.

It happens at night time, a parade lead by a horse starts with songs accompanied by an accordian player. All the kids have these special laterns and Alex found a Winnie the Pooh lantern for Evan, thanks Alex that was sweet of you!

More on Rome, Italy.....

The whole reason I got a chance to go, was because of John's gig, on election night....

"Pieta" a mother and her dead son, this is known for the emotion it portrays by her face, Michaelangelo was only 23 when he sculpted it.

"School of Athens" a very famous Raphael painting

We took a few pics in the Sistine Chapel before a guard told us no photos....oops but wow we still got a shot of one of the most famous paintings...."Creation of Man"

One of my favorite things about Italy....the cappuccino....yum every single one was so good

Happy Birthday Evan :)

Evan turned ONE on Oct 25th and we had a little birthday party for him when my parents arrived....My mom made a cake with what I basically had in the house and he opened presents from Nana and Pop pop. Happy Birthday little guy......

Rome, Italy....unbelievable

My personal favorite....The Trevi Fountain, the pics just don't do it justice...

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

The Roman Forum

Posed for a quick pic while waiting for the subway

John got this hat for Evan while shopping in the Piazza Navona, we just had to try it on before heading down to the hotel pool (which was freezing)

Piazza Navona home of the three Bellini fountains

On the Spanish Steps...Piazza Spagna

Looking out from the Colloseum, at the Arch of Constantine

John's pic in front of the Colloseum

Fall Fest

Sembach AirBase, "Fall Fest" last saturday...John had to play at the fest, and had to dress up so he ended up in a Hawaii theme, Evan the little green dragon and I ended up as Boogie Woogie Bugle girl (with trumpet).

Hi everybody I'm back up and running, not sure why our internet went down (the explanation was in German) anyway....mom and dad are here and having a great time. Will post some pics later tonight of Evan in his adorable dragon costume...(be prepared for extreme cuteness) :)

Hanging out this morning

A little Evan this morning....

Evan this morning

Hi mom-just a quick video for ya to enjoy, I just took it 10 min ago. Evan loves graham crackers--we call them baby crack ha ha. I took the clip with our new camara so I also wanted to see what it could do.... Evan says yum yum

The last warm, fall sunday

We decided to skip church...and take advantage of the last semi-warm fall day of the year with a walk. We took Evan and Bruno on the trails behind our house....this is what we saw on the way and what came up at the end....

A beautiful lake....

Some horses along the way...of course I made a B line for the woods about 25 ft in with Bruno so he wouldn't scare them with his loud bark

And at the end...a cool German "food stand" with brats and cakes and such...alot of people were there and dogs...but Bruno did very well so we grabbed a cake and mineral water and sat out on the lake....so cool

and while we enjoyed our cake...this buggie drove up...so german...I guess they were out for there sunday ride.