12 years.....

Today is Derek and my 12th anniversary! Crazy how time flies... Marriage, moving to Cali, Baby 1,happy, happy... newlywed bliss, moving to Iowa ..Baby 2 , poor poor.. to far for anyone to visit, to poor to do anything, except go to Oprah, (that's when I thought Oprah was cool, now I think she is a little psycho) move to Utah, HOORAY, baby 3 &4, and 5 (still can't believe we have 5!), happy happy times.. sad, sad, move to Idaho, happy happy... life is good.
It's been a wild ride... adventures, laughter and tears.... but I LOVE our life. It's turned out better than I could've planned (knock on wood), and I am so grateful for my best friend to travel this journey with. I love you Derek, eventhough you are CRAZY (I mean thanks for loving me... even though I am CRAZY!!)Year 12 was fantastic... the move was a bit painful... but Europe made up for it!!!
So what did we learn on year 12.... 5. that there is life out of Utah, 4. that Europe is still as beautiful as I remember, 3. that even though moving was the pits... we took the most important things with us, our 5 great kids, 2. That trials bring us closer to Heavenly Father and to each other, and 1. You have to remeber to stop and ENJOY the journey!! (Okay I didn't exactly "learn" this,,, just I was reminded to do this)
Happy 12... here's to 13.. I know that 13 is usually a suspicious number... but I am going to think positive and hope that it is a LUCKY year for our family......

JOurneY of the B's

June has been so busy... summer started with a "BANG!" We celebrated Whitneys 8th Birthday ..(May 31st) ... and her Baptism, and then our Baby = Little Miss Kiley turned ONE!! How did that happen? I think she was just born... sad, sad, sad.. the year was so busy that it just Blew By... She is now trying to Balance and walk... watch out!

For the Baptism we were happily BOMBARDED by Family... we Broke the firecode and had 27 people at our Bed and Breakfast (home!!) It was a Beautiful day, and we appreciate everyone who came to share this special day with Whitney, and our family!! We were so sad when the crowds left... Please come BACK soon!

I haven't been very good at blogging. I will try to atleast post monthly. .. I am a teacher for Relief Sociey and last month gave a talk about Enjoy the Journey. I had been thinking about what you need for a journey... a bag to bring all your stuff. I was driving down the road and saw it! I found an old RED round suitcase! It is so cute! I now keep it in my room, to remind me to enjoy the journey. I had a big "a ha" moment... I learned that you have to find your own "joy" in the Journey... because it is there... it is always there... see look JOurneY! Life is not to be lived it is to be CELEBRATED!!

Happy Mothers Day!

As we've often heard, being a mom is one of the hardest "jobs" out there! I'd like to add to this... and that is, being a mom is also one of the most wonderful "jobs" out there. So, lately, I've been analyzing my profession...Here are 10 of my discoveries:

1. I can't just waste the day away.. I have 5 little people who "encourage" me to WAKE UP - as soon as the sun shines!
2. If I miss a morning run/exercise... It's okay, because I spend most of the day on my feet - chasing, cleaning, shoping, and playing (with my "clients" -aka kids) It's a wonder that we even can put on any weight... except when you find my stash of chocolate covered gummy bears - YUM!! Don't knock it til you try... YUM!
3. If I am feeling less than stimulated.. I just sit down with my 3 year old who will teach me all kinds of important things, that a "dancer girl" does, or hang out with my 5 year old, who "schools" me at all things relating to video games.
4. If I am in a hurry and forget to eat ... I can just shake out my purse to find all kinds of edible items.. fruit snacks, crackers, gummy bears... a constant 72 hour kit!
5. If we miss a nightly bath... baby wipes are a wonder for all ages!
6. Three day old hair is pushing it, but pony tails will always work... (for kids, and mom's)
7. My kids don't care if I forget to do my makeup.. morning distractions - oops!
8. If the day is long, and full of "to do's" then a special treat helps everyone (esp. mom) feel better!
9. It's okay if my "to do" list doesn't get done, when I have spent a day with the kids, helping them with their "to do" list... from helping with homework to playing at the park.
10. AND the sweetest words are "MOM" and even sometimes "Vicki"(when my 3 yr old is shopping with me, and calles herself "dancer girl" and me "vicki"), OR "teacher" when my kids have been at school all day, and are in "school mode" - Kids are so funny!

So my analysis is that I LOVE being a mom. Yes even as I wipe boogers, change diapers, help with hard homework assignments, and wake up at ridiculous hours at night, feeding babies, cleaning up sick messes, or just listening to a troubled little person. I do Cherish these moments.



I hope that my kids will always know how much I love them, and LOVE being their mom. I was trained by a great mom...aka Lovely Loraine. I LOVE my mom. She is a dear friend, and a great Mom. Thanks MOM!! And Derek's Mom is wonderful too!! How lucky I am to have such outstanding examples of how to be a Mom.

Here's me and my cute mom, in Prague! We had such a lovely time on our European Adventure!

So to all my sweet friends! You are such MARVELOUS moms... Thanks for your examples and for your support.. It is nice that we can work in field together! Isn't it a great job? If you ever get discouraged, just read my list of 10 and give yourself more credit! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!! Loves to all of you!

My Sweet Journey

So we've been back from Europe for almost 2 weeks... it seems like it was a dream! We had such a lovely time. I have to admit, Austria was so heavenly for me. It was so nice to reconnect to my "homeland." I said that I didn't even care what we did in Austria, I'd be happy just to drive through the cities I served in... but I have to say, visiting with my "friends" was how I really was able to reconnect to Austria.


We had such wonderful visits with my dear friends: Erika, Natasha, The Back Family, (including Roland), Monika, and Rebecca! I am so happy that they all wanted to see me after 14 years!!! What's so amazing.. is that when I was there, with them, walking down streets, eating schnitzel and Almdudler... it just seemed like yesterday, AND Derek was proud that, yes, I could still speak German... and they could understand me! What was interesting was that during the time I was there I prayed in German, and even dreamed in German. What fun!



The whole trip was just delightful... and I was able to share it with Derek! It was his first time to Europe, and we gave him the crash course, as we went to 4 countries (Austria, Czech Rep., Germany, Netherlands) in just 9 days! We ended the trip in Amsterdam... the "homeland" to the Vreekens. My grandpa was born in Amsterdam. It was such a beautiful city. I LOVED the canals, and the architecture! But finding my grandpa's home was the cherry on top. Walking the streets that my ancestors walked, worked, and joined the church! It was quite moving for all of us! I am so grateful that my mom found the address!



How grateful I am for this trip. I LOVED my mission, and to go back was truly so wonderful! And then going to Amsterdam, was so humbling. I am so thankful for the missionaries that knocked on my "great granparents" door, and taught them the gospel! I am so thankful for their sacrifices that they made to move to America!




So, now I can only hope to someday return again... but until then, I will hold onto these sweet moments, and new memories to sustain me... and hope I won't have to wait another 14 years ... but if I do, what sweet journey it will be! (again)

Prague and Grundau (D)

We had a wonderful time in Vienna. I think we walked grandma and grandpa's legs off.!! Complete with lunch at "Herbs" the schnitzel place in Vienna that ALL the missionaries go!! It is still yummy (and HUGE). We had a special surprise as we went by the Lipizzaner Stalls, and we saw the horses, Derek even pet them! Yesterday we spent the day in Prague! It was beautiful... but a bit windy, and cold. Then we drove on over to my friend Monika's home in Germany (Grundau) about 1 hour South of Frankfurt. We spent the night, in their beautiful home.. and got to see another friend, Rebecca, and we will leave to see the Frankfurt temple and make our way up to Dusseldorf. Here are the pictures for today!! ENJOY!!