New Year - New... Everything

This is the last Mabes Love Update of the year 2010.

The blog will become just about Aurora, as a means to keep her distant family (and even the geographically close family) up to date on the day to day happenings.

Updates about John and myself will not be included any more, as John has decided that he no longer wants to be included in this family unit.

~M

Christmas with Aurora

Bear with me on the photos... I am having image storage issues online!!
Images that go along with today's entry - for now - can be found here: on PhotoBucket

Christmas was great! Aurora opened one gift before bed, and then her letter from Santa! We left reindeer food outside before going to bed.

Christmas Morning, Aurora wakes me with "Momma, do you think the reindeer ate their food?" and we went downstairs to see MORE SNOW!!! hooray for a white Christmas!

Aurora was so pleased to see that Santa had left her a musical jewelry box, and some Waskly Wabbit DVDs!

We opened presents before breakfast (John cooked some great eggs and bacon and biscuits!!) and Aurora was so pleased to get trains and legos, and a vet kit, and a magna doodle board!! John got a new restaurant grade cappuccino machine, a super duper high tech wrist-top computer watch, and a 1TB(that is a LOT of storage!) hard drive. I got the DELUXE, leather bound, limited edition, super ornate only one of like 100 copies printed... Tales of Beedle the Bard (from Harry Potter!!!) I also got a beautiful Camio made in Naples of a mother, father and child!! I picked it out because I thought that it was a perfect moment in time and it reminded me of Our MabesLove Family!

It has been a very emotional Christmas around here, with such big changes happening so soon (Deployment and yet another Move) But Christmas was very special for Aurora.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Changes Fast Approaching!!

John has gotten orders for Deployment in the New Year, that makes for big changes in every one's lives. We have decided that it will be best for Aurora and me to move back to Alabama during this time. Keep up with us and our adventures here as we get big changes underway!!!

love you all

and don't worry I will put pictures up soon.

-M

Merry Christmas

This has been a very busy season for us, I haven't been able to sit down and add photos or make a meaningful update online, But I did want to wish you all a very merry Christmas from us.

My prayer for this Christmas,:

Dear heavenly Father;
thank you for the Air I breathe and the breaths I take.
Thank you for my family near and far, keep them safe as they travel.
I pray that in each of our hearts a seed of love, hope, and faith has been planted and is being nourished.
I pray for Patience, a virtue which many in the world do not embrace.
I pray for our soldiers both home and away, that they are safe, and that they are well taken care of.
amen.

The Big Event of Our Trip

We originally planned this trip with the main attraction being the Retirement Ceremony for John's dad. All the rest of our activities have been a grand bonus to the plans!

On November 29th, John Mabes Jr. retired from the U.S. Air Force after 39.999999 years of service. Of this his son, John Mabes III remarked,

"I’m awestruck and speechless with the service my father has
rendered to this nation. Today he retired after 40yrs active duty service in the United States Air Force. That’s pretty significant seeing how the AF has only been a separate active military component for right over 60yrs. Most people cannot commit to a job for 5 years, and he serves through 4 decades & takes part in every major Air Campaign since the Vietnam War. I will always hold myself to the example he set and will consider myself fortunate to have half the career he had."

 I think that about says it all, don't you? The rest I will say in photos.....

See You ... and there's a J

I asked how to spell the name of the city where we went to visit the largest flea market ever in existence.(maybe not EVER, but it sure is the biggest I have ever been to.) and Bev said you spell it.... C, U.... and there's a J.

I'll ask Granddad when he comes in.

But we spent the day looking at all the junk and John spent the day buying junk ;) Here are a few photos of what I saw and found interesting....

This was really neat, I saw this plate full of coins from all over... so I snapped this photo.(above) and for good measure I snapped another pic.... and looked at it - to see... a nickle. I had to laugh. because the lady was selling each coin for 0,15Euro (around 25 U.S. cents.)

 It was pretty chilly, even inside the building, so we bundled Aurora up and let her get warm and take her nap.

John bought this airplane for Aurora just before we left, she loves it! (of course!)

Koln Christmas Market

 What a Beautiful city Cologne (Koln) is! The cathedral is a phenomenal creation and a wonder to behold. We ventured out to Cologne to visit the Christmas Market there.

 Everything looks so festive when you add twinkle lights to it - even grumpy ol' Me. Then add a touch of Gluhwein - and you can feel the warmth just flowing through you!

 It was quite cold out during the night at the Market, so we grabbed some Bratwursts on Brochen and warmed our souls... and if that wasn't enough to warm your soul, a good argument of "I love your guts" will do the trick

INCOMING! a.k.a Heeeeereeeeee's Johnny!!

 It was an early wake up to go get John, so Aurora was happy to help him sleep off his jetlag too!

 

Our family in stone, the most beautiful piece of Jewelery I have ever seen

Take a Hike Kid!

 

On our first full day in Germany, after sleeping off a good deal of jet lag, we ventured out for a walk to the park.

 

First stop, Jackets and such. It was pretty chilly out.

Next stop, We had to pet the Rommel Horse, of course!!!

Along the way I snapped some good photos, I just love the cobbled walk ways, and the neat archways, and such that we saw along our walk.

Next stop - the playground. It was nice to get out into the air and let Aurora play and spend some energy.

 She has always loved the climb on, bounce around, get crazy kinds of toys. And who can blame her?!

Until next time!

International Travel Part B

After our layover in Dulles, We were on the big plane to Frankfurt. We were lucky to have 3 empty seats in our row! And our in-flight movies were The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Despicable Me, and The Incredibles.

Dinner was pasta or chicken. I got one of each - the chicken was better. Aurora ate her salad and dessert and about 5 bites of the pasta.

Honestly the 2nd flight was uneventful. The stewardesses were VERY nice. There was lots of space to spread out.

The only incident on the plane was that Aurora nipped her finger on the seat belt... one band-aide later (thanks Kristin for suggesting I take some along) and she was good to go! All we needed on the flight this time were the crayons and paper, teddy bear and bed-time-book.  I didn't get out the super secret back up toys (Iron man and Buzz Lightyear) or the Magnadoodle/ auqadoodle.

Aurora slept from about 9 our time till 7 Germany time (that's about 3 hours.) I didn't sleep... I never can sleep on a flight. So after this is done, I'm going to get us both gathered up, close the shutters, and take a nap!

We got through the airport with out any issues, all the way to the gate where we were going to be meeting the Mabes's (Mabes'? Mabeses? How DO I pluralize or make my last name possessive?!)

This is where the trip got ugly (for a few minutes)....

Picture me, with Aurora wearing her back pack, Me pushing the stroller, my super sized backpack in the stroller - gathering my luggage (2 LARGE suitcases and one small one).
I'm at the Baggage claim, I get a trolley, and then get all the bags on it - just to realize that I cannot maneuver the trolley and stroller at the same time....


So in my moment of genius... I fold the stroller and put it on the trolley. I let Aurora get on the end of the trolley and hold tight... and we are off.... all is well - we walk through this door and that door and then ... just as I think "man this trip has been awesome!"


CRASH

I hit a bump. And down falls the stroller.... taking Aurora with it. She lands face-first on the pavement, with the stroller on top of her. ugh. But not to worry, she's not injured (just her pride was)

We met up with Grammie and Granddad - and have arrived safely at home :)



Now about that Nap.... There are a couple of us who need one desperately!

-M

International Travel Part A

So far, so Good.

We were up around 6:00am today. Then we were out of the house by 7am and on our way to Nashville. Traffic was good on our way down (thank goodness!) and we made it to the airport by 7:50.

Once we got there, we couldn't find a place remotely close to park, so that John could walk in with us. We drove around the airport loop probably 5 times... until we finally decided we would chance parking at the 'unloading' bay. BUT you can't leave your car unattended... so John still couldn't walk in with us.... and there was the small issue of unloading and getting myself, Aurora and our luggage into the airport all at the same time. This proved impossible. Luckily John had the brilliant idea to let me go check in, and check our bags - while he and Aurora guarded the car.

BRILLIANT MAN!

Yet when I got to the desk, I find out we aren't allowed 2 bags each (ludicrous! if you ask me - its an international flight! you should get 2 bags per ticked seat.) oh well. I paid the fee to take that bag along.

So after that we get on the plane, and Aurora does great! She was thrilled to be flying, and to be OVER the clouds! She did get a little bored on the hour long flight, there was no movie on that one, but we colored and read a book...

We only lost one crayon on that flight. That makes it was a huge success in my opinion! The poor purple crayon will be forever missed...

The decent was rough, for Aurora, she kept sticking her fingers in her ear.... and then I thought "Ah HA" and gave her a sucker - then all was well again.

Our Layover in Dulles is around 4 or 5 hours, so I haven't been rushed at all to get anyplace. I'm really glad I scheduled this break. Aurora and I had lunch, and coffee, then I bought some internet access and we played movies on Sesame Street. She napped, I relaxed (and played scrabble online with my mom), its been good. We will board our next flight in about an hour.

Aurora did wake up singing "I have to Poop, I have to Poop" She is so funny! (No, Really, I do think that is funny. This is the reason I am sharing that tidbit with you.)

There have been some interesting people walking through the airport today too - people watching is good sport here. There have been at least 15 preachers/pastors/white collar men of faith come through (i think there is a convention or maybe a huge mission?) there are 3 men in socks and sandals under long black robes, with thick black belts, long beards, and black hats. I tried 'googling' that description of a person and found nothing - and I'm too chicken as of yet to walk up and ask them what affiliation they have/are. There have been 4 very very hurried frazzled people that were late for their flight to Tokyo (but they made it!phew!)

So far so good, and we are checking into our next flight momentarily...

look for an update once we arrive!
-M

More of the 2010 Scrap Book....

 March 2010

I'm not sure yet how to turn these photos the other direction. but I am working on figuring that out. 

June 2010