The Cruz Family

4th of July

Friday, July 16th, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Since I am averaging a post every 3 weeks, (I know I am so lame) actually more busy than lame, but it results in the same outcome of not posting on my blog.  Alright so 4th of July weekend, we had a 4 day weekend free of leave and it was sooo stinking hot.  We went to the local lake, grilled some meat and let the kids run free.  It was the most relaxation I have had since Tony has been gone.  We had other mothers with children around Cyra’s age, and it was great to see the kids entertain themselves.

Sunday we went to the base and watched fireworks (of course my camera died before I could get some good shots of the display) but we had a blast.

Monday Cyra and I decided to take a trip to France for the day, so we drove about an hour and a half and had lunch in France.  Then we stopped off at an Ikea store and I picked up my other shelving unit for the living room.  Tuesday I spent putting it together and below are some pix of what the living room looks like now.  All in all, it was the best independence day we could have asked for - and the time with friends was well spent!

Bedtime lullabies

Thursday, July 1st, 2010 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

I love putting Cyra to bed, we have a standing routine of shower, clothes and then putting her in bed.  Once she is in bed, we go through all the list of people who love her, and then I sing her two lullabies.  I usually sing my girl and change the 2nd my girl verse to my Cyra and then I sing her another song, usually the Doxology -I know it’s not the typical bed time lullaby but she loves hearing and usually wants me to sing it 2 or 3 times.  I love the bonding that it allows for Cyra and I, and even thought she fights me while I put her lotion and clothes on -I absolutely love that she enjoys me singing to her.

The Mind of Man

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

I have always been an addict of reading “fluff Magazines” I subscribed to many in the past, and still feel the urge to purchase them at any checkout stand.   Friday I was getting my oil changed and new tires placed on the car - since the inital appointment was for mounting of Tires, I expected to only pick up the car, so I didn’t bring any reading material with me.   Once I got to the Aafes Car Care Center I then found myself being talked into an oil change on the spot (which I desperately needed) but I had no ride to take me back to work, so I went next door to the shopette and picked up the latest Glamour Magazine and sat and read through the magazine while I waited for my car.

Normally I love reading the magazines, they always have the best articles on upcoming styles and trends and quick how to’s for hair and makeup.  Trivial yes- but it is my secret single behavior from when I was in College. :)  I came across this article that was Entitled ” The Guilty little Secret He Hides in Bed, chances are he is thinking about someone else during Sex, says Jake.  But here’s why you shouldn’t worry”  bored and  intrigued, I decided to read on, this article is from a straight single man who is apart of the Glamour writing squad.  His article was about what,or rather whom, men think about during sex.

Apparently, based on this man’s, along with his “happily” married Friends personal experience, they have a highlight reel of past women they have slept with that roams through their minds while having intercourse with their wife/girlfriend.  Jake then goes on to state a conversation between him and his friend…

“I hate that I do it, but it’s really hard to stop, this wasn’t an occasional indulgence; it was virtually every time.  And like mine, his fantasies generally feature past flames and one-night stands in hotels and taxicabs, not hot celebs or XXX stars or Bud Light girls.  Having a reel doesn’t mean that I’m not totally in love with and turned on by my wife.  And it doesn’t say anything about your relationship with your girlfriend.  In other words, even though I may have found The ONE, It’s ok that I still think about The Many”

First, though my exes might flash into my head when my lids are shut, when my eyes are Open, I clearly know that they were major mistakes…What’s more, a third of the time any guy seems distracted during sex, his brain is filled with go-to thoughts to keep him from finishing too soon.

At the end, he leaves you with one final idiotic thought,  “who’s to say that when you’re with your girlfriend, that she’s not picturing Lacrosse hotties part 3″.

I tried not to think about this article the rest of the day, but it just ate away at me.  Part of me wanted to inquire with every man I came across to see if this man was right, or if he was trying to validate his own behavior.  Was he being the jerk who speaks truth that most other men coward behind an excuse or a lie? Or was he completely wrong -I mean really, why would anyone hold an ounce of truth given from a man who clearly lacks self control, and morals.  Intercourse in a taxi -cab, I mean really!

I guess I am asking people to weigh in with their thoughts about this article…I don’t know what I am more upset with - the fact that he is trying to convince me and thousands of other readers that it is ok -if their husband/boyfriend think about other women during the most intimate act - or the fact that he has the audacity to say that women are doing the same exact thing.  Genuine thoughts people? Let’s hear em!

Mother’s Day

Monday, May 10th, 2010 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

This weekend, our dear friends Jason and Anne took Cyra and I on a trip to Baden Baden Germany to visit the Roman Baths.  There was suppose to be a child room for Cyra to be in while we rotated through the Spa, when I entered the room - I noticed that the care taker was dressed in White Leather Pants, Kitten heals, and a cardigan with gold lacing on it.  My first reaction, was that she was a mother, dropping her child off- not the actual care taker.  I mean really who wears such an outfit to take care of babies and toddlers????  I checked Cyra in, and started to move toward the door, Cyra started to whimper and cry as she most always does for the first few moments of being left…and the lady immediately starts shaking her finger at me and saying in her best broken English ” she cry, I call you, you come pick up” HELLOOO She is 2 years old -of course she is going to cry.  In the end, she gave me my money back and we went to a move child friendly spa/thermal baths about 20 minutes from Baden Baden.  Cyra had a great time once she got comfortable in the water.  She was kicking and swimming all over the place, but it definitely made me want to get her involved with swim lessons.

After the spa, Anne showed us her little town that she use to live in when her dad was stationed here back in the mid 90’s.  It was so great to see where she use to live, and have her re-tell all her old childhood memories.  We even stopped off at this little German Gasthaus and had amazing schnitzel!  just like I had remembered 15 years ago.  Sunday Anne, Cyra and myself had a great girls day, and went out to lunch.  It was nothing special, but the girl time was great.  Once we got home, Jason had been cooking Prime Rib and Garlic Mashed Potatoes!  It was truly amazing.  I feel so blessed knowing that I have great friends who take the effort to make us feel at home, even when Tony is away.

Our weekend definitely had it up’s and down’s and we ended on a sour note with a flat tire on the way home, but overall we had an amazing weekend!

What is it like to be a military spouse?

Friday, May 7th, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Sometimes I get asked by my non-military friends, what it is like to be a military wife.  How do I handle the deployments, do I ever get lonely, is it hard, what is it like moving every couple of years?  For the most part, I relate well to being a military spouse.  From the age of 11 on I have moved around every 3 years on average.  I think the longest place I stayed since the age of 11 was attending college at CBU and then when I moved back to the central coast area of California where I met my husband.  I like moving, and experiencing different cultures.  Europe is my second home, I feel comfortable here, YES I do miss the conveniences of America (Target, Walmart, malls) but there is something so comforting about being abroad.  Europe has a slower feel to it, and I love that, they sit and have coffee and cake around 3-4p, dinner is not rushed at a restaurant - you can stay as long as you like…  they spend quality family time outside (not just in front of the TV).

Deployments suck, there is no better way to put it - it is a necessary evil.  Usually our spouses are not excited about going, and I know that it is never fun being away from a loved one for longer than necessary…but in the end it is their job, thus it is our job to go through them as well. Sometimes you don’t realize how important it is to communicate with your spouse until you have to do it via email, or once a week.  I see deployments as a test of your relationship.  Sometimes being with them everyday, you can take them for granted - but when you don’t know if you will hear from them today, or tomorrow, it tests your foundation of your relationship and your connection - how tight you are.

I try to fill my time with anything that will keep me busy.  I love to travel, so I usually look for places or people to see on weekends.  I work during the week, and my daughter keeps me entertained when I get home.  It is the quiet moments that seem the hardest (usually after my daughter goes to bed, and what would normally be “our time” together is when I feel it the most).  Tony’s first deployment I learned how to knit, I became a knitting fool!  During his year in Korea, I finished my Master’s Degree, and planned a wedding ceremony.  This time around, Cyra and I are traveling, I have also picked up the Rosetta Stone to speak French!  Call me crazy, but I just need something constructive to do to fill the quiet moments!

Having faith builds it’s own security blanket for me.  I have two outlets for my faith, one is here in Germany -I attend a church on Sundays, and get active in their monthly events as an outlet for fellowship.  Most churches you find overseas are small and very simple.  I call them “bread and water churches”  you can sustain your faith through them, but they don’t do much for growing…

Usually the music we listen to is hymnal based or 15-20 year old praise songs.  Since I don’t always feel fulfilled from these messages, I also log online to my sisters church in Kansas, called New Spring.  It is an amazing church, on my third visit to Kansas, my sister took me to her church and I felt at home straight away.  It is a larger church with contemporary music and the messages are so much more deeper than what I have been receiving here.  If anyone is interested, check them out at www.newspring.org  they have a video archive that you can view past messages.

Overall, I feel content in my life.  It may not be overly glitzy and fabulous -but I am gathering experiences that may not have ever happened in another life time.  I feel fortunate that two times in my life, I have been able to live in Europe.  I hope that my daughter will become more appreciative after having the experience of living abroad.  Soo although we may move every couple of years, and I may not always know where we will be going next, or know how long my husband will be home before he leaves again, I can always rest easy knowing that I can find an outlet for my growing need of exploration, and my faith, and that I should relish every moment I have with my hubby - good and bad.

Where in the blogging world have I been?

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Where does the time go?  I can not believe how long I have waited since last updating my blog!!! A lot has changed since my last post, allow me to summarize for you! 

March 30th was my last day at my job, it is a really long story, but the short of it is, I was overworked and with changes in my family situation, I decided to take that leap of faith and quit. God was there for us, I had three job offers upon my resignation. I finally decided to take the Base Training Manager position.  Basically I am in charge of all Training on Spangdahlem AB.  I report to the Wing Commander and go on inspections to each units to ensure they are following within AF guidelines.  It should be an interesting position,  and I am definitely up for a new adventure!

Since I don’t start until 15th of May, I decided to take some time off with Cyra.  We went to visit family in Kansas…and It was awesome.  The volcano eruption in Iceland, delayed our return but I don’t think it bothered Cyra or I one bit! lol . While we were home, we took Cyra to see “Walking with the Dinosaurs” show, we took her to a Circus, an Amusement Park, and had Professional pictures taken.  It was an awesome trip!!!  Here are just some of the pix from our adventure…

Some pix of our House

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Here are some pictures of the Entry hallway and the first room when you enter the house, the living room.

What does one do when their is no salt for the Roads???

Sunday, January 31st, 2010 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Apparently Germany is having the hardest winter in about 15 years, and with the snow -comes the necessity for Scrapping and salting the roads.  Well apparenlty Germany is running out of salt to salt the road-so they have limited it only to the major roads and autobahn.  We live about 2 small towns from the autobahn -so getting places has been an adventure within itself.  Cyra and I have taken this time to enjoy our time with eachother and getting caught up on much needed laundry duty.  Here are a few pictures of what our back side and front side of the house looks like.

[

and her are a few videos of what Cyra and I kept ourselves busy with during the snow storm

(click on the links below)

Cyra the Gymnist

cyra playing again

Christmas with Family

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

We were blessed to have our family come to visit over Christmas and New Years.  It was so awesome to see Cyra reconnect with her family in such a loving and familiar way -it was it we hadn’t been apart for the past year!!!  Cyra and I were recovering from Pneumonia while they were here- but in good family fashion -we shared the time and the germs. :)  We were busy almost every day, we made a trip to Luxembourg, Trier, Aachen, Paris for a couple of days and we hit Saarbrucken on the way back from Paris to eat a great place called Die Alte Brauerei - check out their link  www.diealtebrauerei.com

Here are a few pictures of our time with Family! It was awesome having the house bustle with people and not feel cramped for space.  I do miss them dearly and look forward to our next set of company arriving in September!

Memories

Sunday, December 20th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

When I was younger my favorite memory is spending the night at my grandparents house and having breakfast with them the next morning.  In classic fashion my sister and I disagreed on everything and in classic fashion we could not agree on what we wanted for breakfast.  I was always a pancake girl and my sister always wanted waffles - though I enjoyed both breakfast items, what I loved about the pancakes that he made, was that they were made in different shapes…we had clowns, cactus, smiley faces, and even mickey mouse silhouettes.  Now mind you these were all done free hand and I absolutely loved them!!!

Since having Cyra we have pancake breakfast on Saturdays.  A few weeks ago my mom sent me a mickey mouse pancake mold that she has had since we went to Disneyland at the age of 2 and 3yrs and decided that Cyra should receive the benefits of it now.  I absolutely love it!  And Cyra loves it too!  I am so glad that we can share this tradition with our daughter, even if the specialty pancakes are made by mold not by hand! lol