Snowboarding...also known as Falling with or without Grace!! :~}

Here we are...Shelby's first time on a snowboard...Don't they look happy and excited??? Nick was the ever helpful brother...
teaching her lots of important things...like

how to do a proper faceplant...isn't she a GOOD student?!!!

Dad to the rescue!

But at least she is still smiling!!!

now Nick shows off his MAD skills....

Okay...maybe not MAD!!!

And just becasue they couldn't get to the slopes without us...here we are!

Making up for lost time!

Contrary to popular belief...I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth. I DID --apparently --lose my mind (for a short time) and found myself tossing out things that I truly enjoyed doing but seemed less important than all that HAD to be dones! Rest assured I have "found my mind..yeah right...not to mention being beaten up by several friends who are tired of seeing Graduation in Feb!!!!

OK...now that I have gotten that off my chest....here is a quick pictorial synopsis of the last 6+ months here at the Ahlers house:

June was all about Robert! We called it vacationing in Florida and San Diego but really Florida was about getting him licensed to drive and San Diego was to drop him off at the Boy Scouts resident camp facility--Camp Fiesta Island--for his summer job...by the way....he had a blast. We enjoyed hanging out with everyone in Florida and San Diego.

Hanging out with Granny!

What did Nick say...Granny seems surprised!

Off to work for the summer as the Oceanography instructor!

Here at the San Diego Zoo you can get REALLY close to the MONKEYS!!!

See the happy children.......

Water rides are fun.....

Lots of fun!!!!


sometimes!

Boys and girls...this is what happens when you ride too many water rides...the water is definitely not good for the skin....

If I had been remotely operating on all cylinders I would have posted pictures of John's beautiful garden. We ate more salad and zucchini and tomatoes this summer....did I mention zucchini???

August:

Nick turned the big 13, Dad turned 40, Mom, 41 and Robert turned 18...all grown up!

John and I spent a long weekend in Garmisch at the Ride through the Alps....the local Armed Forces Rec centers answer to a HOG rally...only smaller, not sponsored by Harley

September brought us to 19 years of wedded bliss.....October was Shelby's 15th birthday....

On the 27th of November, we hosted the 2nd annual Thanksgiving Potluck (for 41)!!

December brought us a new kitten-Zoe, Christmas markets all over Germany...where we had loads of hot gluhwein, meter long brats and lebkueken!

So hopefully I am on my way out of the dog house and on my way to redemption!

I promise to try better in the future:-}

Graduation!!!!!

I just love this shot!!!!

Well to paraphrase Nick’s sentiments this week “Does everything this week have to be about Robert!?”

Apparently, YES!!!!

We started off with the Spring Sports Banquet where Robert recieved his Varsity Letter in Socccer,

then off to Prom on Saturday,

moving right into a beautiful Baccalaureate service on Tuesday

the Senior awards ceremony on Wednesday

Where Robert received several accolades including 2 scholarships totaling $4500, Recognition for his work as Photoshop guru on the Yearbook,and maintaining a a 3.57 GPA!

and ended with Graduation on Friday!!

Whew, I have never been so happy to see a week end…well maybe not ecstatic since it means my first-born is ready to venture out on his own. I think John summed up our feelings bestwhen he sat at Graduation and said “I can’t believe this is the same kid I looked down at in the delivery room 17 years ago!”



It was a super-busy week and we were convinced it would never end...but it did and now we wonder where the last 18 years have gone...

Blessings from The entire Ahlers Clan

Adoption Announcement!!

Finally....

After years of saving and planning and dreaming and saving and hoping and justifying the expense, did I mention saving, we have a brand new baby in our house!!!

Welcome to the world the newest member of the family:
Harley Davidson Fireman's edition Road King (poor kid what a name to lug around)
Born: 14 February 2008
Weight: 780 pounds (wow talk about a big boy!)
Proud Papa: John



Isn't he beautiful? He sleeps through the night and barely makes a peek...unless the alarm goes off or you start him!!



Look at those specialty tank emblems and Firefighter paint job!! What a beautiful baby! Ok..that was definitely too much.



We don't want to be accused of showing favoritism so here are the latest pictures of our 1st born: Heritage Softail she went out for a makeover and cam back all dolled up. It is just like going to Glamour shots...only not!!

A beautiful Sunday in Rothenburg

Our favorite place to blow an afternoon has got to be Rothenburg! It is a beautifully preserved medieval city that just happens to have the best Christmas shopping year ’round.
This weekend they had a huge festival, parade, military camp display and gorgeous weather…so we loaded up the dogs and 2 of the kids and headed out to see the….

Schäfertanz
Historical Shepherds Dance

here's a little background for ya

Even in the Middle Ages, sheep farming and the wool trade played an important part in the life of the town. In 1517 the Shepherds Guild was granted the privilege of celebrating Shepherds Dance with music and dancing. In remembrance of this custom, every year, visitors have several opportunities to see the dance of the colorful couples in the market square.

All dressed and SOMEWHERE to go!

John doesn't own a complete suit (i.e.-jacket and pants match and were purchased that way) he does have a custom-made sports coat from Korea but that is the extent of his formal clothing choices. Since he is usually working in the garage or riding the dressed in Motorcycle leathers he just doesn't have alot of need for "dress-up" clothes. Plus, the Army is kind enough to take care of any "What will I wear today" concerns so the only time John has to consider his clothing is for church or the occasional rugrat awards ceremony!

I LOVE to go to Military Balls! I LOVE the chance to shop for a beautiful gown, the perfect heels and jewelry. It is so far from my stay-at-home mom persona that is actually FUN! John does not really see it that way...but he is sweet enough to give in.
Before we left Korea last year, John had a Mess jacket and a party shirt made. He wasn’t happy about having to spend money on it but I did promise to have him buried in it so he shouldn’t consider it a waste. I think of it as “planning ahead” he thinks of it as a warning to pay attention to the odd flavors in his food.

I think he almost looked as handsome as on our Wedding day! The food wasn’t going to win any awards, the wine on the table is never exactly the good stuff but if I had to rate this from 1-10 it would definitely be a 10! It was so much fun to spend the evening dressed to the 9s hanging out with friends!