Five for Friday

I've heard that you'll be more appreciative of the things you have (rather than the things you don't) if you stop and really think about them. Certainly not the only things from my week, but five that focus on the good in the everyday! 

• This has been a beautiful week for us weather wise. I know parts of the States are still experiencing Day After Tomorrow-type conditions, but we have been blissfully unaware here in Deutschland. With temperatures in the mid to upper 60's, I've been itching to get into our yard and do some work. Monday I had the opportunity to work out there all day, and it was pretty darn nice. Josh issued me a challenge to get the yard cleaned up before I got new decorative items for the patio. (I think it was less of a challenge and more of a statement of fact. My brain heard challenge, though.) So, I spent most of Monday crawling around my patio picking weeds out of bricks. I also swept out all the fall leaves that were lingering around and hand-tilled a raised bed to plant some veggies. It's very exciting since this is our first full season having an actual yard. I'll let you know if I still feel the same way in September! 

• I've been thinking that we need to get out shopping on the economy more. I've come to really rely on Amazon Prime and the limited supplies and options of the Exchange. This week, we've really branched out. There was a store here that was highly recommended, so I decided to check it out. It. Was. Fabulous. It was kind of  like a German Target. It was great--I even bought a pair of clearance boots to wear on trips. I've also discovered the one euro store, which was great. Before Josh left, we walked to the little grocery store in our little town. We picked up some quick German food: schnitzel, currywurst, kartofflepuffer (potato pancakes), and some brötchen (bread). Our bellies were very happy. Plus, I got to see that a  imbiss opened for the warmer weather just a short walk away. All in all, I think we are getting more comfortable shopping off post, which is exactly what I wanted. 

• I know this is going to speak to my nerdiness, but I'm sure some of you will understand. I got my faux filofax all set up and ready to go, and I am geeking out. I love organizational tools. Like, I get excited AFTER Christmas when stores put out their New Year totes and stuff. I could spend all day in an office store! Luckily for Josh The Container Store is nowhere near us in Virginia, because he'd have to file a missing persons report!  I don't always necessarily use planners to their full potential, but I do have a smudge of OCD. I was complaining to my mom the other day that I couldn't see the tabs nicely on the planner and they "just look icky". (Thanks for callin me out on my crazy there, mom!) I've got my new calendar inserts going now, and I feel so much better. Plus I've gorged myself on planner videos on YouTube. I'm a very visual person, so having all my to-do's listed and color coded and pretty makes me way more productive a person. See...nerdy, right?

• Cheer is over for the basketball season. Now we are focusing on an exhibition that the team is participating. I got to help come up with parts of the dance, so I'm pretty excited/nervous for them to perform. Plus, the head coach had a family emergency and will be out of town for a week. Which means I'm kind of in charge of the practices until she gets back. I have to keep these girls focused and working hard because we "compete" on the 28th against some older groups. Oh and did I mention the dance is not yet completely choreographed?! Yikes! 

• I kind of feel like I owned this week. With Josh being gone and not able to help me tag team the kids, it usually gets a little hectic. We are not accustomed to his TDY's-it wasn't something we had to do in the States. Now he is gone usually two weeks at a time every few months. We (the kids and I) are kind of becoming pros at it-not that we don't miss him a ton. This go around, we have cheer practice two nights a week, which I help coach, and their big TerraNova testing (comparable to SOL's in Va). Luckily for me, during these tests there is no homework! Whooohoo. My errands are pretty much done for the week, including things that were on next week's list. No one is stressed...I've haven't cracked one bottle of wine yet! We've even watched some movies and hung out after dinner during the week which doesn't usually happen. I got to see Despicable Me 2--how flipping cute! Plus, I get to spend time with three of my favorite little boys tomorrow, and we have a pizza/craft party on our schedule for tomorrow evening. Be jealous. 

"our" fields, a garden diagram I found on Pinterest, and 2/3 of the kids-Jill never poses for pictures! 

Happy Friday! What are your "five" from this week?