Doug, Missy, Wesley, Jaxon, Mckinzie, Liam & Aynsley


November 2013

November 2013

Friday, 28 December 2007

Jaxon skiing



Here is Jack skiing. Sorry it is sideways. I've learned not to use my camera sideways for videos:)

Garmisch Germany



The first week in December we were able to spend in the Edelweiss resort in Garmisch Germany. It is an American Military resort located in the Bavarian Alps. This is great for many reasons: they speak English, it is all in dollars, which is much more afforable than the alternatives. Most of all it does vacations like Americans, with hot tubs that are hot, clean rooms and very family friendly. The things we have missed on vacations here in Europe.

Our view of the Alps from our room was incredible. The picture of us on our balcony was taken when the clouds were over the mountain, but it was beautiful to wake up to each morning.

The first day we enjoyed visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is the castle Disney got it's inspiration from. In the same valley was the Hohenschwangau castle. We decided to walk the 30 minute walk up to the castle, but by the time Liam my mom and I got to the top he was frozen and screaming, as you can see in the picture. We ran back down as the snow began to fall. We met up with the boys and headed home. Maybe we will try it again when it is not so cold.

If you asked the kids what thier favorite part was, they would tell you the swimming. We spent at least a couple hours a day in the pool and hot tub. Liam has no fear of the water and would jump in and start kicking around until Doug would grab him. He would come out smiling and do it again.

My mom and I with Kinz and Liam went to the Christmas market in town. I have figured out that when we decorate in the US for Christmas we are just trying to look like what Germany looks like all the time. It is the ideal Christmas scene. I just wish I could speak the language. We meet Father Christmas in the village, his helpers gave little chocolate ornaments to the kids. It was some of the best cheap chocolate I've ever had. I was wishing it wasn't just for the kids.

While we shopped the boys went out on a hike to the Partnach Gorge. They loved getting out and moving. Most of all they were happy to not have to shop. Doug and I also took Wesley and Jaxon skiing for the first time while we were there. They loved it. Once Jaxon warmed up to the idea and how to keep up right, he was doing jumps off a pile of snow at the bottom of the hill. While Wesley kept a smile the entire time despite all the falls and having to wait his turn for us to push him back to the rope tow. Doug tried out snowboarding as well and is ready for something bigger than the "bunny hill". Two days later Wes and Jack begged Doug to take them back, but when they got there the snow had melted away and they had not been able to make more. Of course as we left the resort to head home, it began to snow and showed no sign of letting up. Too bad it didn't do that a day earlier.

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Sunday, 23 December 2007

Tagged

I've been tagged and I have to say this was is a bit hard for me to do. First of all because I don't like to actually write on my blog. (I leave it up to Doug and I post all the pictures) and second of all because it was hard to come up with six things people don't know about me. I am an open book when you get me talking. So here it goes.

Let's start with the rules:

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I am a picker. I love to pick those I love (and sometimes people I don't). I think it is my monkey genes coming out in me. It doesn't really matter what it is or how gross it is-- well almost I don't do nose boogers on anyone but my own kids. I think this picking started when I was young. I remember picking my brother Rich's nail cuticals in church growing up. Now as an adult when I sit by him he gives me his hands and I get to work. My kids put up with this and Jaxon even loves it. He will go and get my ear wax removing tool and ask me to clean his ears.

2. I love to have my foot held. Yes, for those of you who are not Richard McDermott's children, this is an inherited need. Besides me- my dad, my sister Chrissy, and my niece all have this need. I am not sure if anyone else. It truly makes me feel better. If I am sad or need to feel loved I pass my foot to my kind husband or other family member and I get what ever it is that makes me feel better. It works better if you are standing up and I can give you my foot to hold and if my shoes are off.

3. I love a well made bed. Not to look at, to sleep in. My dream bed would be a king size bed with a feather mattress topper, with a down blanket, and at least 3 pillows just for me, preferably 1-2 a feather pillows- with soft feathers(not the pokey ones) and one fat cotton. Then the sheet depend on the season- For summer- a really high thread count 100% cotton fabric, to make them smooth and cold. For winter cotten jersey or flanel. Last, but definately not least, my hubby just on the other side of my pillow wall, so I can reach over the and find him for habit #4.

4. I have a terrible habit of crawling into bed and putting my freezing feet on Doug. I always start out the night with cold feet, but by morning they are so hot I hang my feet out of the bed. When I was young my sister Chrissy would get my cold feet, she loved it because she is always hot. I don't think Doug is so keen on my habit, but he puts up with it. Thanks Hubby:)

5. Here is a habit that I have no idea where it came from and can actually bug me sometimes. I play with the numbers on the clock in my head. Example: if it is 10:25, I think to my self "2x5=10 and 2+5=7 add three more and it will equal 10 and 10-2=8-5=3 and on and on until the clock changes and then I start over. Until I make my self stop. You would think this would make me really good at math, but I not.

6. Another very strange habit of mine is I rub my nail together a lot. I usually do it though different materials until the nails touch, sometimes causing holes in the fabric, like plastic or paper. Strange I know.

Oh,the funny things I do that know one knows about me. I am sure there are more, but that is all for now. I hope this gives you a view into my sad little quirks.

Now I tag: Cassie, Tara, Jenny, Geneva, Sarah and Allison. I hope this is fun not a burden:)

Wednesday, 15 August 2007

Greek Cruise

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Missy and I took advantage of an opportunity to take a week of permissive TDY and "study Radiology" while on a cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean.

We left home at 4:00 in the morning and flew from London to Venice. Getting out of London proved to be much more difficult than we thought it would be. We had to pay $320 just to get our luggage there. No wonder those tickets were so cheap. We learned a few things and compared to the chaos of flying with four children, this was nothing.

We planned on walking through Venice a little before boarding the ship, but were so tired, we decided to get on board, stuff ourselves at the buffet, and take a nap.

It was the first uninterrupted nap Missy had taken in a long time.


We were cruising with anchors aweigh at 5:00PM. Venice is more peaceful from the ship than it is on foot.

Doug was in lecture for most of the first day, but Missy was content to make R&R the order of the day.

Our first port of call was Mykonos, Greece ( in the Cyclades islands).

We rented a scooter and drove to our own private cove near Super Paradise beach. It was very rocky, but the snorkeling was fantastic! Visibility was 100 feet plus.

We had a bit of a scare when one of the naked sunbathers from Super Paradise Beach strayed into our little cove. Fortunately he turned around when he saw that it was already taken.

We drove our scooter around the island and briefly stopped at the Ano Mera monastery and then spent the evening in the city shopping, enjoying the beauty of the island and eating wonderful Greek food.

The next morning we were in Athens. We walked to the Metro station and went directly to the Acropolis. It is truly amazing how old the Acropolis is and what amazing things were accomplished there, but it's really hard to appreciate it when it's packed with people, it's 110 degrees and you're sweating like a pig. Unfortunately, it felt a lot like we were checking a box.
The Agora was not much different.

The bright spot of Athens was our time in the Plaka where we were able to relax in the shade, shop and eat good Greek food. The Acropolis is so much more romantic from afar.

The next morning we arrived at Katakalon, Greece near the site of the original Olympic Games. Not that we don't respect that, but we decided to rent a four wheeler and take it through the mountains. We followed some dirt roads through the olive groves and found another secluded cove that we had all to ourselves. Doug snorkeled while Missy lay out in the sun reading her book. The snorkeling wasn't quite as good in Katakalon despite having tried three separate beaches.

The next morning we arrived at the island of Corfu. We were really anticipating a good day of scuba diving, but due to unusually turbulent weather over the last few days, the visibility wasn't very good, and the company we dove with dealt mostly with beginners and tourists.

We rented a car, and drove through the mountains of Korfu. It was quite a pretty little jaunt and we ate lunch at a very quaint little restaurant on the top of the mountain overlooking the east side of the island.












Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Warwick Castle July 2007

Mom amd Liam


























Wesley, Kinz, Jack and Ash












Ash, Chrissy, Liam, Wes, Jack and Kinz

Snowbird July 2007

Grandpa and Aunt Debbie














Dad, Liam, Jaxon and Wesley













Mom and Mckinzie