Camping

Well we just got back from out ward family campout. I can not really remember the last time I have gone camping so I was reluctant to go. Not only did Bryce get back from the States after being TDY for a week, but we had a week from hell here. So packing up and going out into the woods did not appeal to me at all. But Bryce really wanted to go and it was the first year it did not rain so we did it. Bryce did most of the work though. I had a Lia Sophia show that night and since the camp site was really close I just went after the show. By the time I got there Bryce had everything under control. We sat around the camp fire singing camp songs and roast hotdogs and making smore's. The kids had a blast, since our ward is a young ward there are tons of kids. I think they all had a good time. I did remember why I don't like camping, out air matress went flat in the middle of the night and I do not like sleeping on the ground at all!!

We had a great breakfast with the Priesthood making pancakes and saugages, with a little guidence from the Sisters:) And after that we had a great time playing family fear factor. Our group came in second to last but we still had a great time and the kids loved eating things without their hands and throwing things at Mom. So next time I am bringing a really nice airmattress and we will give this another shot!

All By My Self

Remington and Ethan started school this last Monday. Remington is in second grade and Ethan is in first. They seem to be enjoying it so far. Ethan was really up set at first because his "girlfriend" Emma was not in his class this year. He did not even want to go at first. But they get to eat lunch together and also get to play at recess together. So I guess it is all right now. Remington has a great teacher this year and I think it is going to be a great year for him. Laine is all signed up and ready to start school on Monday. There will be a few of other Americans in her class two are a set of twins that live up the street from us. She is good friends with them so they will help get her adjusted.
I do not know what I will be able to do all day now. I still am taking piano lessons and I have enough scrapbooking to keep me busy for a year or two!!! But I am looking forward to starting collage classes and going to the gym. But I know that I will miss not having Laine with me. We want them to grow up and when they do we miss the days of them being younger.

What a great weekend it was, especially since it was a three day weekend. I decided to catch up on some of the games that Chris let me borrow and one that he gave me as a present. I am also spent some time this week catching up with some of the responsibilities with my calling as an Elders Quorum Secretary. Our ward is so transient that my job entails keeping track of a lot of things like: who just left the ward, who just moved in, who just left to deploy/TDY (tour of duty usually a small stay of anywhere from three weeks to 2 months), who just got back from deployment/TDY: updating a list of people with membership records and those without; the list goes on. Megs Lia Sofia venture has been a great opportunity. She gets all the jewelry that she ever wanted and she even makes showing off her cool stuff. It’s good for me because now I don’t have to worry so much about what kind of jewelry I will get her. Anyway, she didn’t seem to like that sentiment at all. I am in the course of finishing up my package (my resume for OTS or officer training school) so I can submit it this December. I will find out for sure if I am selected by no later than April or May. Anyway, I wanted to thank those who have contributed to our blog. I need to log onto Renee’s blog and see all the stuff she has posted on hers now. The kids start school next week (YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!) and Megan is very excited to have her space during the week day again. Laine will be going to school here soon enough. 40 dollars a month and she goes all day, what a deal!! Well, that’s all for now but I will have more later on as the week progresses. I think we are trying to do this at least each Sunday so expect more to come hopefully on a weekly basis. I have included a picture of the time we went to Vulcanburg Holland last year during Christmas. Its a big Christmas market in an underground cave and most importantly where I got my wallet (or my man-purse as Meg would say since its so huge).

Bryce

Cousins

This summer the kids where able to meet and spend time with there cousins. The last time we saw them was in February 2003. The boys really enjoyed playing with Paxton, he is only a couple of weeks younger than Ethan. They have love to do the same things and get into the same trouble that little boys get into.

My Mom took all the kids to Silverwood and that was a day of extreme fun for them. We spent most of the day at the water park and then took in some rides. Paxton and the boys stayed together almost the whole day.

While we were in the States we were also able to get our pictures done. One picture that was great to do was one of all the grand kids. My sister Jessica has two, Sierra, 7 and Sean, 4. Amanda has just one Paxton, 6. And the baby of our family AJ has a four month old. It was nice to see all of their kids since I had only met Sierra and Paxton before. It was been great for the kids to meet and connect with their cousins.

Getting Ready For School

So fall is approaching and once again school will start. We are all getting ready for that big day. For me it will be the first time that all the kids will be going to school or pre-school, so maybe I will have time to finish those scrapbooks! The boys are excited they have there new backpacks and shoes. I have all there school supplies together and ready to be put in the backpack. Next week we find out who there teachers are and who will be in there class. Being on a military base the turnover rate is so great that there are more new kids than old at the schools. Remington is going to be in 2nd grade and Ethan in 1st. It is hard to believe that Remi is going to be 8 this coming year. And even Laine gets to go to school. She will be going to the German Kinder School down the street as soon as we get this whole potty training thing done. I think we are almost there. We are having more successes than accidents right now. Laine can go to school every day until 2 but I think we will start off a little slower with 3 days a week and going until noon. We can always go longer as she gets used to it. I think we are all excited for school Mom's vacation will start soon!

Busy Life

So when we got married I though "once we get married life will calm down." Well it didn't instead we got pregnant and I thought that once Remi came that we would get into a routine and "life will calm down." Well then we joined the Air Force and we also got pregnant again. Well then everything was up in the air. After settling in San Antonio and having Ethan I thought we would finally get into that routine thing and then "life would calm down." Well after a busy year and a half in San Antonio is was off to Germany for us and now after 5 years of living the life overseas I have finally come to accept that life will only calm down when I die. Just when we pass all of the big events and we think we have nothing ahead new ones pop up. So every time I think that things will calm down and I can finally get the scrapbooks up to date I find I have not time at all. So please if you know a way to make life a little less hectic let me know because I think that I need a break!!!

No more time off

Well, we were used to having such hot weather that when we arrived in Germany to the cold (60') in our shorts and tee's, we knew we were back. It has been really hot here the past couple of weeks though. Perhaps it is part of the three week summer we get every year. I loved our time in the states, it was nice to see everyone. I got to all my family and friends. Chris and I had our game time and a great bar-B-Q that included some friends that we hadn't seen since we left Spokane in 2001. By the time we left I think that kids had met/inherited over 20 uncles and aunts, 20 grandmas and grandpas and even some Japanese people that just wanted their picture with Laine for some reason. Thanks to everyone that made our trip such a wonderful success. I hope we can convince some of our friends to come and visit us now.
Bryce

Back Home

Well we are all finally getting back into the swing of things back here in Germany. After 21 days in the States it was nice to sit and do nothing for a day or two. We had a great time visiting this year. After being there for so long I kind of long to go home. Though we kind of don't know where home is in the States now. We have lived more of our married lives overseas than in the States. The kids keep asking if we can move to Park City, UT. Of everything we did this I guess this was their favorite. Grandma and Grandpa Goodman did good while we waited in line for an hour for the zip-line. Ethan keeps talking about climbing the wall and Remi keeps saying how cool it all was. I personally had a great time at the Outlet Mall!!!!

The trip to Spokane and Coeur D Alene was great also. We met up with a lot of our friends and I know that Bryce really enjoyed spending time with Chris. We were also able to get together with some really close friends from Germany who PCS back to the States about a year ago. We had a great time at Silverwood with my family, the Mercers and Katie and Eric.

Going back really made Bryce and I look at how far we have come as a married couple from the time we left 7 years ago. I think we love each other more now than we did the day we got married.

Once again though life has picked up. Bryce is back to work and the kids want to be entertained. Laine starts German Kinder School on Monday. The Family History Center is demanding all of my extra time and Lia Sophia has kept my weekend busy. But that is the way we like it. Hope all of you are doing well and we will try and write at least once a week.

Megan

Hello

Hello to all, after much persuasion from friends and family we are starting a family blog on the Shafer's! After 5 years in Europe I guess it is time to keep those of you in the states up to date with our daily lives. Bryce and I will take turns jotting down our thoughts. Hope you all enjoy our ramblings!

Meg