CrEaTe

I received a gift yesterday. It touched my heart so much. It is so special to me and came at the perfect time.

I find myself being a people pleaser. It truly makes me happy to make others happy and I don't find it a burden to do special things for special people. However, sometimes it can get exhausting when you feel like the things you do aren't appreciated or are easily forgotten. When I start to feel like that it really hurts. I do think I have a big heart and I am an emotional person so it not only hurts but like really hurts to the core when I feel like I am not appreciated. I start to question why I do things for others and while I don't really know the answer to this I would think it comes down to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Who wouldn't like to have someone do something really special and thoughtful for them? When I go out of my way to do something special for someone it's usually because I know they are having a hard time with something or they have just been so kind to our family and I want them to know they are being thought of and/or they are appreciated. Sometimes it would be nice to have that feeling myself. I don't want to say that I expect something in return when I do these things -- because I'm doing things for them out of love and appreciation. But it is just nice to know the things you do are meaningful to them and sometimes when I am visibly feeling down or having a hard time it would be nice to know I have someone out there who cares about me and my feelings. My family will do sweet and thoughtful things for me and I'll have friends take kids for me, which is awesome!, but doing something like this is something I've never had done for me before. I've expressed some of my feelings on Facebook recently when I found a quote about people pleasing. I'm not sure if this was in response to that or another conversation I had with this person or just because she genuinely cares (or a combination).......but this meant so much to me. So very grateful for this person. I may not be cool enough to be a good friend, but ever so grateful that our lives crossed paths and for the good she has done in our lives.

January Happenings

The most exciting thing in January was hands down Prague, but there are a few other picture worthy moments worth sharing.

One of my assignments in Primary this year was to decorate a bulletin board. We didn't have one, requested one -- were told no --- and then ended up with a gigantic WHITE board towards the end of the year last year. The room has always looked kinda blah so I was up for the challenge. Little did I know how hard it was to find paper to cover this gigantic board. I am a perfectionist, unfortunately, so I am not thrilled with it but also not completely disappointed.....I will call it ghetto fabulous!

 

No picture, but Derek was promoted!! He didn't want any sort of ceremony or party so he just showed up to work and everyone was confused! haha. Blake and I did have lunch with him to celebrate, but other than that no real celebration. It is an exciting and well deserved accomplishment though!!!!

 

Allie wasn't too thrilled about it because she liked the Captain "H's". H for Huber. So one night when we were at Derek's office she wrote this on the white board:

Derek forgot to erase it......and we went to Prague. It was still up when he got back and everyone thought it was the greatest thing ever! Love our witty girl!

WINTER WONDERLAND

We went to the base winter wonderland again this year. We went the first year we were here as well. This year was SO crowded. We stood in line for this for about an hour and that's all we did!!

 

I actually got sick that night and didn't go to church the next day. The kids were so worried about me. They were so cute and thoughtful. They would come see if I needed anything, check my forehead, give me hugs. So sweet! When they came home from church they all came running straight upstairs to check on me. Later, I woke up to the walls covered in notes!

Blake was so concerned that morning because I wasn't getting up to pick out his clothes. He ended up picking them out himself and he did such a good job! I have never seen a boy who loves clothes like he does.....and he has such great style too!!

 

 

Czech Us Out in {Romantic} Prague

Derek and I just got back from a 'just the two of us' getaway. It was perfect in so many ways!! I love to travel, it is truly my escape. I didn't realize how much I NEEDED this little getaway though until we were actually on our way. I love my kids. They are my world. But they are needy and can be whiney and so it was nice to have a break from "work." Of course we missed them. Very much! But I was able to free my mind, relax, enjoy time with my husband --- which isn't something we do often.......and it was all SO REFRESHING!!!

I chose Prague mainly because it seemed like a city that our kids probably wouldn't enjoy so much. There aren't a whole lot of sites, just a lot of walking and taking in the beauty and charm of the city. I had heard so many mixed reviews. People that were not impressed at all and people who just absolutely LOVED it there. I'm not much of a city girl, so I was worried that we may have made a bad choice. But it was amazing!! So pretty! And it was the perfect place to have no real plans and just aimlessly wander the romantic streets.

Karluv most {Charles Bridge}

 

 

 

Views from Prague Castle

 

 

Prazsky hrad {Prague Castle}

 

 

Changing of the Guard

 

 

St. Vitus Cathedral

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Palace

 

Czech/Bohemian Crown Jewels

 

Golden Lane

 

Lennon Wall

 

St. Nikolas Cathedral

 

 

 

Weird sculptures in Kampa Park

 

Old Town Square

 

Astronomical Clock

 

Charles Bridge at night

 

Near our apartment, which was in the heart of Old Town. Not something we usually get to do when we have the kids with us.

 

Views from Letna Park

 

 

Views from Petrin Hill

 

Mirror Maze at the top of Petrin Hill

 

Town Square at night

 

I was slightly obsessed with the doors. All so beautiful and unique!

 

The food!!!! It was so amazing!!! We had the trdelnik every day!

 

Hot chocolate was not what we expected. It was like drinking straight up melted chocolate. This shot of chocolate costs more than a pint of beer!

 

We had this for lunch twice. It was so tasty!!!

 

Traditional Czech goulash and potato soup in bread bowls

 

You don't see many pictures of us together because we are still inexperienced selfie takers! haha!
We would have to set up the tripod or ask someone to take our picture!!

 

We brought back the kids some traditional Czech souvenirs. Wooden toys are typically what kids play with there.....marionettes specifically. The girls love them! We got Blake a British soccer club set of nesting dolls, which he loves as well!!

 

Such a great getaway! Of course we thought of the kids, but we didn't have to worry about them because we knew they were in great hands. So grateful to have someone we trust enough to be able to do this. It's definitely hard to get any date, let alone a trip out of the country when family is not around. I didn't think the kids would miss us at all since they would be staying with their besties. Allie cried when we dropped her off and Avery and Blake were both very quiet. Avery gave me her big hugs! When I picked Blake up he was still quiet but came running right up to me and just hugged me for the longest time. The girls stay after school on Wednesdays so I picked them up after school hours. Allie saw me and came sprinting to me and immediately started crying. She is her mother's daughter!! Avery came down the stairs with her teacher and was, again, quiet but gave me her awesome hug. Her teacher said she had been waiting for that moment all day! :)

 

Melissa said the kids were good. Though I'm sure she was ready to get them off her hands. I know that is a lot to take on! She admitted that the kids had their moments....fights and arguments and such. Especially Blake and Wyatt who were together all day long and "fought like they were brothers." I think Blake did some bossing around too. It's probably kinda cool for him to be older than someone for a change. The first night Blake and Wyatt dumped every single toy bin in Wyatt's room, then started getting things from the girls' room, including Allie and Avery's suitcases and emptying all of their contents into their masterful mess. Allie wasn't too happy about that. Melissa also said at 6:30 every morning they would be woken up to, "donnnne poooooping!!!" It was Blake. They aren't used to being up that early! ;) Allie said Blake pooped about 5 times a day. hahaha! Derek was pretty proud of that.