Germany for Starbucks anyone???

Mmmmmm Starbucks, Venti Americano with cream.......try and find a Starbucks in Europe! They arent on every corner here like they are in America. So Dean and I went on an adventure to find a few. The first one was right outside of Amsterdam.....not good, we drove in circles, couldnt see the green sign we all love and as usual, no parking.

So, we went to Germany...why not!!!! We were headed to check out some castles in Belgium so we made a pit stop in Germany. 

Heaven................................

Starbucks has never tasted so good.....

We took off and went to see a fortress in Belgium. Enjoying a Chimay with Dean at the top of the fortress, they spoke only German or French.....language barrier!

Fortress from the bottom

Castle at the base of the cliff

The day before Dean and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon in Amsterdam with my cousin Lee his wife Amanda and children Anna and Liam. Awesome to spend time with them.

Anna

Liam

Today we are exploring Eindhoven, there are some amazing churches and a huge outdoor market.

Peace....love....cheers...more soon! 

Dutch, Jet Lag & Size Matters

I made it...it was an adventure....... one I would recommend anytime. The flight wasnt my favorite but it could have been much worse. Getting from the airport to the hotel was the hardest,  jet lag coupled with the fact I dont speak or read dutch it was a challenge that took two hours. I reeked foreigner!!!!

First night Dean took me to Amsterdam for dinner, it was pouring rain and cold...cold...cold! But we had a fabulous time. Red light district...down town Amsterdam, canals, house on top of house on top of a store side by side, squished into a small area! Its all about size. Lucky Dean knows where he is going most of the time but a scary driver. All Europeans are scary drivers, get out of the way......or you will get hit by a car, train, bus, horse, bike or scooter....its dog eat dog...your on your own. 

SIZE MATTERS!!!!!!!

From the cars......

To the apartment buildings

To the Streets

To the bikes (notice the child seat in the back)

To the Hot Dog stand! (I think my UTV is about this big)

Size totally matters! Everything is small, squished to the point people are touching you....its normal. Little freaky for me! but normal. Squish yourself into a public restroom (thats hard to find) and it makes you want to find an instant liposuction clinics. 

Here is the view from the balcony of our room. You can hear the Euro Techno music from the clubs and the the bells every hour from the church across the street. 

Church across the street with what Dean calls the jumping Jesus. 

Canal in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

North Sea Adventure.......freezing! 

Having a incredible time. We hit Amsterdam again today, headed down the Coast and back to Eindhoven. Tomorrow...who knows....Belgium, Germany....could be anywhere. 

 I miss you kids!!!!!!! 

Peace....Love.....Cheers

Off to Europe!!!!

I am off...gone..relaxing in the silence....drooling in the corner of a room somewhere in Europe. Could be Amsterdam, Italy, Paris, Switzerland.....cant care. Is time to unwind and spend some time with someone super fabulous!!!  I am going to miss you kids but I will be home with lots of stories to tell and hopefully not so mean...


So from all of us here at Lake Mountain we wish you all a fantastic Easter!!!! 
I plan on posting through the European journey so you can keep tabs on Dean and I.

Lake Mountain Crew

Noodle (Caleb), who pulled A's and two B's!!

Pumpkin (Kayleann) after she got her nails done at the spa. She chose 10 different colors!  

Dean, Friday afternoon Ranger ride in the hills with his Lady

Our Ranger Danger...We love you!! (Mommy loves you most)

Morgonzo (Morgan)...So So handsome!!!

 Me and my oldest man child after running with Noodle who tried to kill me!!!

My Mama! Have fun in Arizona!!!!

Ahhh..Monster (Ryker) chillin with his Daddy, his favorite time. 

Peace....Love.....Cheers! Watch for pictures from Europe!!!!! 

Clearing the Cobwebs

Okay so its been awhile. My creative juices haven't been flowing and ive have felt a little empty headed. Must be the winter, yeah I can totally blame it on the winter. LOTS has changed, there is so much going on. 

So with out further delay, Im mucking out the barn and get some updates out to the family.


First off.......Change my web address in your favorites to www.lakemountain.us I didnt think it sounded to well to add another name to the blog title! Yes here is the second off.....Three new people in the house to talk about, well not new, but new. So you could say I am not only mucking out the barn, I am coming out of the closet (not like that Mom). Dean and I have been dating since last...May ish. I dont remember the date the first time I saw him but I do remember thinking I was in trouble when I laid eyes on him. He got out of his truck and he was tall, and handsome with the most amazing smile and contagious laugh. The combination was to much to resist. He came with two sweet, darling, fabulous children, Kayleann who is five and Ryker who will be three on Saturday this week and Ranger Dog. We are having a blast. I looked down at my purse sitting on my lap this weekend as we were headed to Starbucks (Dean and Brenda get away) and Costco (another Dean and Brenda get away) I had a hammer, fruit leather, dirty tissue, Trash, Trash and more Trash to the point zipping it was not an option. What happened to my organized life!!! So my designer handbag is now a trash bin/source of a good laugh and my designer shoes have been turned in for comfort. Now anyone that knows me, knows that is a big change! 

I think there is some fancy lip gloss at the bottom....the kind I used to not be able to live without...... Tsk tsk tsk.... Goldfish are a definite must anytime you leave the house. So you can say I have also become the snack bag, even though we dont leave the house without the actual snack bag. 

Dean and the kids, taken by my sweet sister Tori torielwellphotography.blogspot.com

They are a hand full but oh so much fun to have in the house.You see, I get to spoil them and Dean gets to be the bad guy. UH HUH....best of both worlds for me. Saturday morning cartoons, blueberry crackers (poptarts) while watching Chuck and Friends on Thursday and sometimes Friday mornings. I live for it!!! 

Ryker with his new Frog chair and a strawberry cracker watching Chuck and Friends waiting for his Daddy to get home. My bed isnt usually made, this is a rare occasion now.

Ryker in his Ninja Turtle Stage

He has to have a big fork.....no really "I WANT A BIG FORK" So what do we do...give the kid a big fork! Lets roll

I swear I am not into child labor...he loves doing dishes just like Kaylee. He and Daddy have matching Thomas the Train aprons (Thanks Mom)

Have to throw this one in there. Kayleann is a Daddy's girl. She is an old soul, and so much fun to cook at clean with. I heart her! 

Kaylee loves to help me with the dishes and cook. We have matching ballerina aprons (Thanks mom!)

Kaylee's bandaid phase..or maybe not....

Goofing off with her Daddy!

Tickle Time!! Every night we have them. Tickle time is a must and often trumps bath time.

Moving on........Caleb oh my sweet Caleb. He needs to stay away from the girls, no really Caleb...stay away from the girls. They are poison...mean.....snails and puppy dog tails..or whatever they say. Oh and I hear they are mouth breathers (he cant stand mouth breathers). He is so into fitness I have been encouraging him to incorporate a profession of Nutritionist or Sports medicine into his career as a Musician. Yes we have come a long way from never shaving his face and going to medical school. I knew that one would blow over. He just turned 14 and acts like he is 20. Um...yeah dude you do....chill with the hair dryer yo. He learned how to play the guitar and he is getting so good it gives me goose pimples. We tore it up on the slopes together recently...okay now I am making up a story. Caleb tore it up on the slopes, I watched from a far distance on my skis. But hey, at least he didnt have to pick me up off the run like he did the season before. Such a stud.

Fourteen....not a license to drive! 

Me and Caleb (Noodle) on the slopes

FYI.....do not, and I repeat....do not go shopping with Caleb and Jordan. You will get kicked out of the department store for unruly behavior!

Morgan update....WOW I had this moment the other day and I was on cloud nine..ten, eleven and twelve. He doesnt know this part but I left his school after meeting with his counselors planning for Senior year and I cried. Yeah, I cried. Got home and I couldnt get the words out to tell Dean. Blah Blah...Morgan...I am...um um um...So proud to be....um his Mom.....He is so cool. He fills my heart and my soul!!! I get to be his mom. I am so blessed. I dont know if I could say anymore about you man. Your just cool! 

Morgan learning pottery on Deans new wheel

Teaching Kaylee how to make Pizza

Starving from a morning on the slopes

Going crazy with is Poi...He is incredible

Mom is doing well, she works her fanny off at the school and is the best lunch lady in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD. Caleb loves having her there and I love that all the lunch ladies are watching after Caleb. She is always a busy bee, seems like we dont see much of each other even though we are in the same house! She and Kayl (who is a super star by the way!) are on their way home from Colorado. I have missed my mama and she has only been gone for three days. 

Nanny making pickles with Kaylee, she loves to go down and couchette with Nanny!

So there it is in a nut shell. All is well here, we are happy...... full and crazy as we could ever be. It never ends here and there is plenty of variety of life to choose from. Dean and I are headed to Europe in April and looking forward to getting away. 

Peace......Love.....Cheers

Bren