SPEYER...(sh-pie-er)!!

So my Bryce and I decided for this week to be vacation week. Bryce has technically been out of school since Feburary but he has been busy working on papers still. He finally finished his last paper and I was able to convince him to put his pencils and papers away (really his laptop), and wisk his family away to some wonderful place like hmmmm... Heidelberg? We have been joking all week about it, Bryce will say to me, "Hey guess what?" really excitely, than I reply really inquisitively, "What?" Then he says really excitedly, "Surprise! I got us a cute cottage up in the mountains in Heidelberg Germany, it's going to be so fun." It has been a great vacation week, we went hiking up in the mountains, which is only two bus stops away from our house, then today we went to Speyer! A very cute little town outside of Heidelberg. We ate at a Cafe and Bryce got gelato! Germany is such a beautiful place, I am grateful that he is furthering his education out here. There are some essentials that I have learned since living out here. And I will list a few.

1. How to make my own chicken broth

2. How to use public transportation.

3. How to say "thank you".

4. How to love and be loved. ( not just by my husband)

1. Chicken broth is very important to me, do not under estimate the importance of numer 1. I use it a lot in my cooking and learning how to make it myself is just so liberating.

2. I really enjoy using public transportation and here is why. You don't have to strap your kids into seats with seatbelts, you can hold them the whole way, and just roll them in and out of the bus or bahn with out having to find a parking spot, take out your stroller, take them out of their seats and do it all over and over and over again. It is quite nice.

3.We have been given so much and been served so amazingly since we have arrived here. The church TRULY works miricles temporaly and spiritually. I could just tell these people, "no it's okay, we don't need you to do that." Instead I have to swallow my pride and just simply say, "thankyou." It is harder than you think. Especially when you feel spoiled by all these amazing friends and family who have helped us SO SO SO much. Heavenly Father truley does carry us in our toughest times. I used to jear at the poem "footprints", but I can't anymore, it is true, we have felt him carry us so many times, and it is during these times we need to reckognize and it and say thank you. Especially to our Heavenly Father.

4. How to love and be loved. I have felt so honered being these two darling boys' mother. Really? I passed the job interview for this? I am qualified for this position? How did that happen? But it did. They have changed me forever. Especially Smith. There are no words I have to describe the feeling I have when I hold him and look into his shining eyes and he smiles SO BIG from ear to ear. I don't wonder what he smiling about as much as I used to, now I think, " I must be doing something right." I still do A LOT of things wrong, but when you have a child with disabilities, especially one that cannot speak, you wonder if you are raising him right. It is in those moments when he is smiling in your arms that you get the answer. He is so much deeper than words can explain.

My rock, my passion, my best friend, the one who does it all. My Bryce. He rescues me. My wish is his command. I love him. I feel like we are millionaires every day waking up next to him.

I have so many things to live for.

And I thank Heavenly Father for allowing me a beautiful day like today to spend with my best friends. Bryce, Smith and Baron.

Segnungs, Pustablume, and Exzema.

Segnung=Blessing in German.

Bear got his baby blessing and I loved it. Short and sweet. In the blessing my Bryce gave, he said that he will be loved by those who know him. And that is already true. I have loved having a little bundle of joy around the house. There are times when I am so deleriously tired that I will just be holding Bear and looking into outerspace and be totally blank...wait, I did that anyway before, so never mind.

Yesterday Bryce and I went to the school for special needs children called Pustablume. I was in shock of how amazing it was. We walked in and there was a teacher riding on the back of this special toy with a girl who couldn't walk. I just thought it was great that she wasn't pulling it or pushing it, she was actually riding on it with her. We had our interview with the head mistress and she took us on a tour. If I could design a school just for Smith, this is the school I would have in mind! It has an indoor pool, physical therapy room with a big trampoline, a big cafeteria, speech therapy, and 3 teachers per 6 students a class. I loved the tour. Smith and I even got to attend one of the classes for an hour. The teacher was the nicest person in the world. she was teaching the kids about what goes on in a bauernhof (farm) and making all the animal sounds for the kids. I think I love the idea of a swimming pool for SMith. He loves the water, so if he got to go to the pool during school, I think that would make him so happy! The school goes from 7:30-3:30 M-Th and on fridays till 11:30. I thought about that time frame and I was surprised how long he will be there for. I mean, going from all day everyday to afternoon and nights will be hard for me I think. I love my Smithy. Now that we have him on a schedual it is more predictable and we have a lot of time to play (which means physical therapy) but he doesn't know that, He just laughs the whole time. I get teary eyed just thinking about it. I know it will be the beast thing for SMith though. I remember on my mission in the Canary Islands, In my first area our service was to feed children with special needs and I was terrible at it, but my companion was amazing with these children. She talked with them, laughed with them and made them feel special. I hope there are people like that working witth Smith at this school, and I am sure there will be. As for my little Bear.

He has Exzema! I hate it! Smith had it too. It has been so stressful and hard to deal with, mostly because he wants to itch his face all the time. Nobody wants there baby to be in pain, it's just hard, and I know it will go away. I am nursing him so I have been on a restrictive diet no citrus (that one is a hard one for me, no chocolate, no cow dairy, no peanuts, no eggs. NOw, since these are doctors orders, I thought I would be suffering. But I have discovered sheep's cheese and I am in love. I am just fine, I still get to put cheese on things and eat cheese, so I am okay. I do have an unhealthy relationship to cheese, not a love/hate relationship, a pure addictive love relationship....that is what makes it unhealthy. Thank goodness for those goats and sheep out there. And I think I actually prefer the sheep cheese to cow cheese, right now anyway. These are little updates for now, I will be more creative the next time I write. Love yall.

The Abbey

I love it here!

Bryce and I came here on Christmas Eve and I was meaning to post this a while ago and when I saw pictures I had to post.

There is an Abbey a little down the hill from where we live and it is great. My sister Laura found wanted to eat here for her birthday, so we all came here and the food was great. All the food is raised on the farm at the abbey and all the food is prepared by chefs in a beautiful rustic lodge.

Bryce and I decided to come here for Christmas Eve, we were going to go earlier but didn't have the chance because of our little Bear. It is beyond beautiful inside, so we nestled in the cute little lodge and I had a hot chocolate. It was the best hot chocolate yet.

Okay, so for an update, the weather has been nice. It is seemingly harder to get the belly down after pregnancy numero dos. I melt every time Bear looks at me. Smith is still angelic as ever and loves to touch Bear. I have a painting I am going to post soon, almost finished with it.

Why do people knock down Lemons. Like they call a bad car a lemon and when life hands you lemons make lemonade? I love lemons, you can slice them and put them in your water, make the most delicious desserts with them. Use the zest and juice for delicious chicken and seafood, you can put it soups and whatever. Lemons are great, just had to put my two cents in about lemons. So I guess I would call a bad car a papaya, (yucky papaya, don't like) and I guess when life hands you a papaya, give it away! (That's what I did on my mission)

The Bear and SMith movie.

Here are some videos from this past month.

Let it Snow....

(outside our window)

I never thought I would say this, but I love the snow.

Here, in Heidelberg.

I don't know why, but I think it's the fact that I have never been in Europe in places that it actually snows. It feels magical.

Life with Bear and Smith is great. It is so funny because I am constantly looking for signs of any sort of diffrence with Bear. I will tell Bryce, "He hasn't looked at me today...do you think he is alright?" and Bryce always reassures me everything is fine. Bear has been different than Smith. But since Smith has had newborn qualities his whole life, I think Bear and Smith are similar. Only time will tell. But so far, Bear can lift his head, he is not hypotonic, he opens his eyes, looks at me and around, and he can track things with his eyes. All I know, is that when I look at Smith, Bear and my Bryce, it is proof that God loves me. They are my gifts from Heavenly father. Life is a lot harder with two kids that can't walk, can't talk, need diaper changes, need baths everyday, need to be fed by me, and carried by me, but life is a lot fuller and happier too. Life always gets easier and always gets harder. I think I will focus on the easier things today.

Oh and by the way, yep, by many requests, The Kitchen Chronicles are back! I am cooking and blogging again yay!!!

This was so cool, Sarah Muller, a former investigator who got baptized from Bryce's mission, came to visit us. Her daughter was so cute and they were fun to have over. Do you like how blurry I am?

Happy 5th my Bryce!

Happy Anniversary to me and my Bryce!!

The week of my due date, (which was November 16) I had a dream that I gave birth to our little Bear on our anniversary (which is November 18).

When I awoke from the dream, I was mad. I didn't want to share that date with anyone but Bryce. Even my unborn child, (at the time). I am a little obsessed with my husband and I look forward to our anniversary more than any other holiday in the year, because we have always stayed the night somewhere no matter what.

1st Anniversary- The Homestead Restort, Midway Utah, I LOVE MIDWAY!!

2nd Anniversary- The Marriot, Salt Lake City Utah, apparently the cleanest city in the world

3rd Anniversary- A private cabin above Heber, thanks to one of Bryce's students families

4th Anniversary- The Johnson Mill Bed & Breakfast, Midway Utah!!

5th Anniversary- Salem Hospital, Heidelberg Germany

What I thought would be bittersweet, turned out to be nothing but sweet. I loved giving birth on our anniversary. Two very special days of my life occurred on that blessed day. How lucky we are to share it with Bear, and Bear with us.

So, that being said, we finally actually celebrated our anniversary! Yeah.

We went out to eat at a thai restaurant on the main street that runs through old town. Then,

Bryce writes me a song every year and then puts on what he calls, "his favorite concert of the year," where he sings all of them for me. I cried and felt oh so special, then we watched a movie. Notting Hill. I love that movie. It was a night dipped in chocolate with a cherry on top. I love when all you are thinking about is that person you are with and how much they have changed your life for the better. And of course, always eating delicious food is a must on your anniversary.

Yeah for Awesome Husbands!!!

Me waiting with my buddies for the bus to come whisk us away to thai food...

Love him.

Now I understand people taking pictures at restaurants. It is a HUGE deal to get out with kids!!!!

the camera made this look so gross!!!!! but it was DELICIOUS! Pork satay

And if any of you want a delicious and easy holiday treat that will go over oh-so-well with any holiday feast. Try my freezer pumpkin cheesecake recipe. You can add a cup of chopped chocolate and make it freezer pumpkin chocolate chip cheesecake, you can add whipped cream and caramel topping and make it caramel pumpkin cheesecake, anyway you eat it it is a crowd pleaser. The best thing about this recipe is you don't bake it! Yes, so easy.

this recipe was adapted and created for my sister Lauras birthday. She wanted a cake with no eggs and little to no gluten. But the crust has a bit of gluten, that's okay, it's still a rich and delicious thing.

FREEZER PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE have mercy!

• FOR THE CRUST

  • 1-1/2 cups finely ground gram crackers
    1-1/2 cups toasted pecans, finely ground
    1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
    1/4 cup butter, melted
    

FOR THE FILLING

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 4 ounces mascarpone cheese (1/2 cup), room temperature
• 4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 cup), room temperature
• 2 ounces soft fresh goat cheese (1/4 cup), room temperature
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Make the crust: Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray; line bottom with a round of parchment. Stir together cookies, butter, sugar, and nuts, press evenly into bottom of pan. Refrigerate while making filling.
2. Make the filling: Beat pumpkin puree, 1/3 cup sugar, the cheeses, and pumpkin pie spice with a mixer on medium speed until very smooth, about 4 minutes. Whisk heavy cream and remaining 1/3 cup sugar until medium peaks form; fold into filling mixture, and spread evenly onto crust. Smooth top, and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. Refrigerate for 45 minutes before serving. Place a cinnamon stick on top to garnish if desired.
3. Run a knife around edge of cake; release sides to remove from pan, and transfer cake to a serving platter.

Christmas Market

Boy do they know how to celebrate Christmas in Heidelberg!!

The Christmas market in old town Heidelberg is BOOMING with Christmas goodies. They even flooded part of the street and made it into an ice skating rink.

After our first pediatrician appointment we decided to stop by the Christmas market, and I was dazzled. It was so cute to see Bryce pushing our babies. I love having two. Having multiple children is so fulfilling. I thought it would be stressful, (it is), but it is not the over riding emotion attached to multiples, there is a stronger sense of family, and a stronger desire for me to better. I don't know why, but I guess with these 3 amazing men in my life I have a lot to live up to. We had to come home from the Christmas market a little early... I am still recovering, and by the way, putting lavender essential oil in your bath water does wonders after birth, just so you know. Well, again, merry Christmas as I take you on a highlighted journey of the CHristmas market in old town Heidelberg.

I started out buying these delicious beauties, They were hot and singing to me.

Ready for the pediatrician? Europe is always fun for the trips we take using public transportation, never a dull moment.

They have delicious stands that sell brats, steak brochen, french fries....and so much more!

Fruit skewered and dipped in chocolate yumm, yes please.

Beautiful paper.

Germans know their Candy and Chocolate.

A Christmas MErry Go Round? Are you serious? This is so cool.

Loved these trinkets.

Hey Buddy! I'm sorry you got tired, your missing out!

boy number two, down.

I could just gobble these three boys up...yum yum yum. I love them so so much!!

This ceramic is made in Poland I think, anyway, my grandma is a huge fan of this particular ceramic and I think it is pretty awesome too. They had a huge stand of this beautiful ceramic and it made me miss my Grandma Smith!

Can I get that baking dish on the shelf please?

walking back to our bus stop....