Chateau Thierry - Belleau Wood -- Day 1

Yesterday we got in the car around 6am and we were off! The car ride was decent...only 5 1/2 hours and Hayden only got sick once and Bristol twice...but hey, that was moderate compared to our trip to Lubeck, so ILL TAKE IT! :))

 

We had our first toll both experience and boy were they expensive ((luckily since Thomas is "working" on this trip they as well as the hotel will be paid for! :)) yay)) but on the way the GPS lost the autobahn we were on because it was newly finished...lol so for a bit we had no idea where we were or where we were supposed to be! It was kinda fun until Thomas got frustrated! lol

 

When we arrived we were pleasently surprised at the hotel...it's really pretty and has a great view of Chateau Thirrey! We headed out to get something to eat since we weren't giving the kids anything through the ride so they wouldn't get sick again! We had to get something fast! McDonald's it was! lol :)) After that we went to a department like store to get swim diapers and laundry detg for the stuff that got abused through the ride! lol

 

Got back to the hotel and we were off to our first Belleau Wood experience with all the other Marines! Went to the cemetary and got to walk through the actual battelfield then headed to the infamous "Devil Dog Fountain" ...Thomas got to drink out of it! The whole experience was really awesome! -- You could tell Thomas felt so proud to be a Marine which is something I haven't seen in a long time from him! It was deff something memoriable! We then got to walk around the Belleau Wood museum which was really interesting!

 

Headed back to the hotel, checked in with Thomas' boss and we went out to eat at 'Buffalo Grill' -- we both thought it was really good ((Thomas ate ostritch...bad man...lol)) ...it was funny to watch the other Marines try to order and talk to the waitress, not a single one spoke French and she didn't speak a single word of English! There was alot of pointing and gestures involved!!

 

Then we headed back to the hotel for some SWIMMING!! :)) At first Bristol wasn't so sure about it, infact it took her about an hour to warm up to it but Hayden jumped right in...littereally! He LOVED it! We played till it closed, came back to the room, and it was bed time!

 

So that was our first day! :)) It was a lot of fun! Can't wait to tell you about today once something actually happens! lol We've got some down//hotel time while all the Marines head to the cemetary to put stuff together for the ceremony tomorrow! I think the kids and I will prolly go swimming or hit up the little play ground that they have! :)) Hayden is having a slight melt down that Daddy left but some French cartoons seem to be doing the job...sorat! lol :))

 

 

Day 11 - Post a recipe.

I decided that since the last question was a bust...lol because I'm not gurly enough...that I would go ahead and do another! :))

Though I've found a ton of recipes lately that really works around our house...

THIS IS MY FAVORTE...

&&its YUMMOYYY and couldn't be easier!

{{ Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken BBQ }}

((for 6 servings))

Ingredients

• 6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the barbecue sauce, Italian salad dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
2. Cover, and cook 3 to 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.

...again, it's YUMMO!!

-Kimberly ann

Day 10 - What are some of your favorite makeup products, and what foundation/powder do you wear?

Hmm...lol

I only use mascara and eye liner...

I'm not picky either...as long as they are both black...I'm happy! :))

Wow..today was easy!! haha!!

Maybe I should look into different makeup...or atleast something more then the basics...

haha!

naahhh...

-Kimberly Ann

Day 9 - What virtues do you value in yourself?

FINALLY, a thought provoking one! :) Haha! In fact, I googled "virtues" to specifically see a list of things to pick from! No, I'm not an idiot, but I wanted to be sure I was on the same track I'm supposed to be...so I wanted a comprehensive list...only to realize...I was...in fact on the right track! :)

First, I'm going to change the question a little bit ((because this is my bloggy blog blog &&I do what I want)) :)) lol and I'm going to change it to...

"What virtue ((one single virtue)) do you value in yourself?"

I have several that I think make up my personality and who I truly am on the inside...BUT one specifically comes to mind:

{{Nurturing}}

This virtue is the one, single word that sums up who I am//try to be in my EVERYDAY life! Whether it be within my own household and family or with every person I come in contact with!

- I try to do what I can for those around me because I like to think that those people would put my feelings first as well! I want people to know that I'm thoughtful, and I care about their feelings! I want people to know that I love you ((until you give me a reason not to)) and I would give the shirt off my back if it makes your life easier!

I get to know others so that I know how I can make things better for them! I like knowing what makes people smile, what makes their world go around! It gives me a sense of happiness//fullness!

My family is the front runner in this race! I do everything and anything I know or can do to make things better! I baby my baby's when they fall down or I hug my husband a few extra times when I know he has had a bad day...I feel that through the warmth of someone is the direct path to the heart and that's where I want to be!

Well. Not really sure if that explains what I want to say...because I've got 3 kids who are all screaming about one thing or another so my brain isn't working as well as I wish it was...either way, there is the virtue! :)

-Kimberly Ann

Day 8 - Do you believe in the "cry until he sleeps" method?

Ahh...another easy one! :)

YEP!

As long as the child is in a safe and controlled environment and you are aware of the situation ((i.e. checking on the baby, can hear the baby, have a monitor on the baby)) then I think very much that this method is affective!

When Hayden was born, it was hard at first because...well he was my first! It's hard to just let your child cry and cry and just listen...it breaks your heart! But I knew he was just fine, and I knew what was going on so after just a few times...he had no issue sleeping in his own bed, and honestly made things prolly easier on me and him!

When Bristol came along it was hard for me at first because she spent her first week in the NICU so I almost felt robbed :(( but same with her...after only a few times it was done and over with and she was comfortable to sleep by herself!

I know that this method isn't for everyone...but for me having 2 so close...it was necessary for my children to have a little more independence...I don't see why it's not okay to allow your child to be comfortable in their own space...and so that mom can get some rest as well?!

Like I said...as long as there is supervision, and the child is in a safe and controlled environment...I don't see anything wrong with it! Yes...it's hard to listen to your child cry and scream...but think of how much more relaxing it will be for the BOTH of you once they get past it!?!?! :))

-Kimberly Ann

Day 7 - Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!

Hmm...I really don't think that I have any hair or makeup tips...

i have a lot of hair...but i hardly do anything with it simply because of that...I HAVE A LOT OF IT!!

&&i only wear eyeliner and mascara because the rest just seems like a waste of money and time to me

((no, I'm not putting people down who do it...it seems like a waste of time and money for MYSELF because i dont really enjoy shopping for it or putting it on...lol))

So this one was a bust today..lol

but atleast i remembered to do it...thats gotta count for something! :))

-Kimberly ann

Happy Mother's Day Mama Dodd :)) [[My 4th]]

So I thought I would recap how my Mother's Day went since it was just too amazing &&I want to remember it FOREVER!! :))

It started Saturday night when my amazing hubby got the PERFECT flowers ((pink daisies, and purple carnations...MY TOTAL FAVOTIES)) and he got them early because he was scared they would sell out...

{{HOW THOUGHTFUL!!}}

They were soo beautiful and made me feel like a million bucks!

Sunday morning, hubby let me sleep in until 10 when I got ambushed by the 2 most BEAUTIFUL babys in the world! They came in, climbed on the side of the bed and told me how much they loved me and Hayden handed me a card! When I was opening the card Hayden said: "Look mommy, butterflys...beautiful like you!"...

TALK ABOUT THE BEST WAKE UP EVER!! :))

I got lots and lots of kisses from my babys and got outta bed! Thomas already had coffee going and was packing for our picnic! He did everything! :))

We got the babys dressed and headed out to the park on RB where they kids would have tons of stuff to play on and there were picnic tables to host our picnic! The weather could NOT have been anymore beautiful! We sat under a HUGE tree which made it even more enjoyable! We played with the babys on the playground and took tons of pictures ((DUHH!!)) Then headed home because I had to pee and there wasn't a bathroom...lol

On the way home, Thomas asked if I wanted to go get some new jeans since I've dropped 2 pants sizes!! DUHH!! I want new clothes...IM A GIRL! :)) lol So we headed to the PX and I was able to fit my butt into EVERYTHING I tried on which was the first time that's happened in YEARS! :) I also bought 2 pairs of pants in the size I was BEFORE I got pregnant with Hayden!

TALK ABOUT A TOTAL CONFIDENCE BOOSTER!! :))

Headed home and Thomas cooked me the most AMAZING [[Steak, Baked Potato, and Broccoli with Cheese]] dinner, I've ever eaten...YUMMY!! :))

We snuggled the kids in bed and I posted my pictures! :))

A nice quiet evening was just the cherry on the cake!!

Thomas really made my Mother's Day the best it could have been! Time together with my fam{ily} was EXACTLY what I wanted and it made for the most amazing day!

I love my Thomas, Hayden and Bristol so much!! I'm more then proud to be a mommy!! <3

-Kimberly Ann