Okay, you may have all seen this on Nick Jr. (well, those of you with small children at home, anyway), but I had never seen it before. I found it on a blog that I follow, and when Liam saw it, he was mesmerized. I, too, couldn't look away, but it was because I was thinking, "this is the wierdest thing I have ever seen. I kind of like it."

I posted a couple of months ago about how squirmy Liam is when I change his diaper. It has only gotten worse, and it has extended to every time I try to buckle him into his carseat. It has gotten to the point where I cut back on my errands, just so I won't have to get him in and out of the car seat an extra time. I might be out at the BX, and think, "I need to go to the commissary for some milk . . . Nah, we don't need milk." It is really that difficult to put him into his seat! I once saw the Crocodile Hunter teach someone how to wrestle a croc so they could get straps around its mouth and body and move it to a different part of the park. There were arms everywhere as the two rangers wrestled the wild animal, but they finally succeeded. I often feel like that when wrestling with Liam, but I only have two arms!

So why do I tell you this? Well, there are some songs that tend to quiet Liam down during diaper changes and car seat buckling. For the longest time, various songs from "Nacho Libre" would calm him down. He would giggle as I frantically sang "Encarnacion" while trying to fasten the clean diaper to his body. Well, "Party in my Tummy" has reached that calming status. This morning, while rushing to dress him so we could get the big kids to the bus stop in time, I sang this song at the top of my lungs, and he let me change his diaper! He layed there and just looked at me and giggled as I sang, "Cheese! Yummy, yummy!" He loves it, so I love it too! Even if it is very strange.

Froliche Weihnachten!

Christmas in Germany is magical! Each village hosts their own Christmas Market (or Weihnachts Markt), some for several weeks, some for only a few days. We went to the Saarbrucken Weihnachts Markt on Saturday evening, and it was so much fun!

When we got there, the feeling of the Christmas Spirit was so strong -- the music, the smells (hot wine, sausages, cold air), the excitement on people's faces -- it was wonderful.

Shortly after we arrived, everyone seemed to be congregating in a central area, preparing their cameras, and directing their focus to a wire in the air, strung across the square. We couldn't understand the announcements, but we decided to wait and prepare our own camera. We weren't disappointed -- St. Nicholas visited us, on a sleigh attached to that wire! Lydia and Braden watched from atop Morgan's shoulders.

Each Weihnachts Markt has a nativity scene. This was the beautiful scene in Saarbrucken.

For dinner, we had (what else?) bratwurst! I just had to get a picture of the stand where we bought them from -- look at all those sausages! We also had hot "kinder puncsh" (children's punch), and bought a boot-shaped mug with 2007 Saarbrucken Weihnachts Markt written on it. Each market has their own mug, so we will collect them this season.

Our plan is to visit at least one market each week during the Christmas season. This will be a Christmas to remember!

Soccer Pictures

I just had to post these cute pictures. They loved their soccer seasons, and had a great time playing. I am enjoying more time at home with them now that the season is over. I just had a scary thought today -- what am I going to do when I have FOUR children playing soccer at the same time!?!

Look-alike Meter

I don't know about these results . . . Everyone knows (and if they don't, Braden will tell them) that Braden is Morgan's little clone.



Lydia does look an awful lot like me when I was little, but there are definitely some strong Hanners traits.



Lately, everyone has been telling me how much like me Liam looks. So Morgan, this is for you! He looks equally like both of us!

Lego Mania!

We finally had Braden's birthday party this past weekend. Morgan had been away for work on Braden's actual birthday, so we decided to wait until he was home to do the party. Every Saturday after that was filled with soccer activities, scout activities, other birthday parties we had been invited to, or family trips out of town. But finally, a month and a half later, we had the big party.

We decided this year to have a Lego party. Braden LOVES Legos! Lately, when he isn't at school, he occupies himself with either Legos or reading. When he receives a new Lego set, we know we won't see him emerge from his room until it is put together. When he is finished, he comes out and proudly displays his new creation for all to see. So it was only natural that his party this year would center around his favorite toy!

When the guests arrived, I had them sort Legos by color at the Building Station -- a long table we had set up. I had bought a big box of about 800 pieces on Amazon. After they all arrived, we had Lego pizzas and veggies and dip for lunch. I had bought some pre-made pizza crusts, and cut them into rectangles. Then I placed the pepperoni on the cheese to look like the "dots" on a lego.

After lunch, we played a lego relay race. The object of the race was to build the tallest tower. They liked this game, but were very excited to start building, so we moved on to that next. I let them create whatever they wanted from the Legos at the building station. They were all so creative. Their creations were part of their goody bags at the end.

After building, they went on a treasure hunt for their treat bags. I had gotten some Lego bags at LegoLand on our family trip last month, and filled them with candy, Star Wars colored pencils and pens, and some neat Lego magnets that I also found at LegoLand. They had so much fun following the clues through the house, into the backyard, and finally to their treats in the playhouse.We then had cake and ice cream. I made the cake as usual. I always make their cakes, and despite the fact that one of my Mom's best friends when I was growing up was a professinal cake decorator, and she taught me how to make really great cakes, I just don't seem to have the knack for cake decorating. But I can't bring myself to buy their cakes. I just have too much fun getting into the whole theme. I also don't want to pay half of the party budget on a cake, when I can use that money on fun favors and hats. But most of all, it is a labor of love. They love my cakes, and that makes me happy. This cake was just a simple rectangle with eight cupcakes on top to look like a Lego brick. I piped "Lego" on each cupcake, and it turned out pretty well.The kids all seemed to have a good time, and I was so happy after the party when Braden told me how much fun he had. I love planning parties for my kids. I don't know what it is, but the whole process makes me so happy. I love brainstorming with them when their birthday is still a few months away, and then spending those months looking for everything to do with their chosen theme. But most of all, I love to see the look of joy on their faces as we celebrate their lives.