I thought I would never do this!!!

Culligan Bowling

2008-01-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

Six Empty Culligan bottles, 5 children, Mom on the phone, and a BIG IMAGINATION!!!!!

The kids sunday night adventures while Mom was on the phone. We like to call it Culligan bowling. I heard noises and came out to see what was going on and I see the kids stacking the empty culligan bottles in the hall, and rolling a basketball down the hall at them. It put me in mind of stacking enclyopedias all over the living room and rolling marbles down them. The things kids think of. Imagination is a wonderful thing. A direct result of Daddy taking the gamecube back to Iraq, and Mom blowing up the TV by plugging it into a german plug without a transformer. (Not recommended)LOL.

FAMILY PICTURES

2008-01-04T05:06:00.000-08:00

As a final send off for 2007, we gathered together for some family photos. We usually have our pictures done earlier in the year, but with Daddy gone, I wanted to wait until he could be part of our picture. I also did some of the kids. This will count as their school pictures that I didn't buy this year. T is 13, L is 12, D is10, C is 8, and our baby R is 4.

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AT LAST

2007-12-21T11:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. The lights, and decorations, the music. Setting up the tree and spending time together as a family. It is a wonderful time of the year.

2007-12-06T08:23:00.000-08:00

Candles and bright smiling faces.

A brand new gravy boat.
Family
A wonderful visitor.
A beautifully set table.
So many things to be thankful for. We are truly blessed.

"Camping" part 2

2007-08-11T01:58:00.000-07:00

..............After the rain out in the tents, we decided to get a room at the Edelweiss Resort. They have a pool ,a game room, and a couple of restaurants. After all the rain and muck with the camping it was refreshing to be able to get clean and stay that way.

We told the kids we found another camping area that was covered. Then we secretly took all of our bags to our room. They thought we were getting directions to the "campsite". Then we took them to the room and told them that we were just going to see the room so we would know what it was like when we went back. When they got into the room and saw all the bags, they finally realized that we were staying there, and the bed jumping began. They always have to test the bed.

Then we went to the pool, went to dinner, and then enjoyed the view from our balcony.

All much better than getting rained on in a tent.

Camping in the Bavarian Alps

2007-07-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

WOW, I never thought I would be able to say that I went camping in the Alps. It is beautiful there. We did have quite the adventure.

After getting to our camp site, and setting up I started dinner. I was just finished assembling our hobo dinners and had put them on the grill when it began to rain. I threw a tarp over the table and ran for the tent. I was sure that the pouring rain would put out the charcoal that was supposed to be cooking our dinner. About 10 minutes later the rain stopped, and I went to check on the food. The tinfoil packages of our hobo dinners had protected the charcoal, and our food was still cooking.

We ate our dinner, and sat around the charcoal grill(no open fires allowed) and roasted marshmallows and ate smores. After cleaning up and covering everything with a tarp we went to bed. It rained most of the night, and there was lightening and thunder. About 2AM my youngest climbed into bed with me. she didn't like the thunder.

The next morning we realized that the tent had leaked and our girls bedding was soaked. We didn't have the air mattresses with us so there was nothing protecting the bags from getting wet.

My wonderful husband stood in the rain over the grill cooking us breakfast. The rain continued. We ate our wonderful breakfast, and then began to empty our tent and takes things into the pavilion that was nearby. By this time we were all soaked. The kids did have fun adventuring in the rain. So, bedding was soaked, and some of the extra clothes from the leaky tent. This was supposed to be a 2 night camping trip............................but, at the last minute we changed our plans. We took our tent and other wet belongings into the pavilion in a feeble attempt to dry them out a little before packing them up. We still had one more day of our vacation, and didn't really want to go home just yet. So we made alternate plans for the second day...............................to be continued.

Midsummer Nights Dream

2007-07-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' in a castle courtyard in Europe. I am still amazed that I am here to have these wonderful experiences. This play was put on by an English speaking theater company that tours Europe and does plays in castle courtyards all over Europe. There were 6 players, that played all the parts. they did a wonderful job, and the transitions went very smoothly. It was a wonderful opportunity, and I am glad that we didn't let it pass us by.

Saturday day trip

2007-06-04T05:23:00.000-07:00

The footstone that is facing a different direction than the others.

Saturday we went on a small tour of Worms, Germany. Our 11 yr old son went there for a field trip and wanted to take us. He showed us the Dom (Church). And he took us on a walking tour of the oldest cemetary in Europe. It was a jewish Cemetary and all of the "footstones" were facing the direction of the church. Except for one which was facing towards the mans homeland. The "footstones" (The feet were placed closer to the marker instead of the head) in the front of the cemetary were written in Hebrew, and towards the back the writing began to change to German.

We went to a Backerei for lunch and also bought some Brot und Brotchen(bread and rolls) to take home. After lunch we went in search of an Eis cafe(ice cream shop). We just followed all the other people with cones and eventuallly found one. We each got two scoops and ate it on the way back to the car. I love the ice cream here. It is delicious.

We had a great time and enjoyed the time we could spend together.

Luisen Park

2007-05-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

We spent the day at Luisen park on Saturday. It is in Mannheim and only about 10 min by Strassenbahn. We took the Strassenbahn with all the kids. They kept asking why we couldn't just take the car. I said because this is part of the experience. Luisen park is a great place to spend the day. There is so much to do. We also only had to pay for 2 of our 5 children, so the price was great.

We played chess on the lifesize chess games.

We played in the fountain. The kids were just glad it didn't rain on Saturday. They have been wanting to go swimming, but we haven't made it to the pool yet.

We had a picnic lunch on the grass where a stork and a goose tried to get our lunch.

We went on a boat ride and saw fish with big mouths, that were begging for food. There were geese, ducks, turtles and flamingos.

On the way out we stopped and got an ice cream, or Eis, as is is called here in Germany. We had an enjoyable day, and I am sure we will be going back, because we missed so much. We missed the butterfly house, and the bumper cars, and the little water park for the kids.

I am not sure when we will go back, because the forcast says we are to have cloudy, rainy weather for the next 10 days. But, we will go back.

Heidelburg

2007-05-07T02:54:00.000-07:00

This is Heidelburg, Germany. This is one of the first places we went when we got here. The castle was amazing, and the gardens surrounding it were amazing. We took the Strassenbahn(Street car) and most of us slept all the way there, and most of the way back when we were done. We were still suffering from jetlag. Despite the fact that we were so tired, we all had a great time. On the walk up to the castle we stopped at a vendor and got some pomme frits (fries) and mayonnaise and brautwurst for lunch. It was an interesting challenge. We don't know German, and the vendor didn't know english. but, somehow we all got lunch. After they ate the kids went to look for the bathroom, and came back and said they didn't have one. All that was back there was a room with WC on it. My husband and I just laughed and told them that WC stands for Water Closet, which means the bathroom.

2007-05-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

This is the Wasserturm in Mannheim, Germany.
This is one of the first places we visited when we got here last November. We took the Strassenbahn (street car) into town with all 5 children(what were we thinking). The Fountain was empty, but the kids watched some of the local children riding their bikes around in it.I am just grateful that we didn't lose any of them on the Strassenbahn.

2007-04-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

I guess I have taken enough time off. I have been spending time with my family, and traveling. I live in Germany, and went on a wonderful trip with my husband for our 14th anniversary. We went to Rothenburg, Dinkelsbuhl, and Wurzburg. The Castle you see behind me is in Wurzburg. We also saw a place called the Rezidence. The inside was amazing. We were not allowed to take pictures, but I wish I could have. The ceilings and walls, the marble work and chandeliers were just awesome. We were also able to stand in a room that Napoleon had stayed in.

This is such an amazing thing for me that I am in Europe and traveling and seeing some of the things I never imagined I would see. What better place to learn to take great pictures than in Europe?

A renewed hobby

2007-02-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

For many years I have loved working on scrapbooks. As a military wife, I live away from my familly and I miss them. When I work on my scrapbooks, I see the pictures of them and of my children and husband when things were simpler. I have many finished books that I love to look at. When I look at the books and the pictures I only remember the fun times and the good memories. I never see the stress when I see my pictures.
So, with the craziness of the past few years and all the moving we have done(We moved 3 times last year alone), I have not had much time for working on my books. On friday, I was able to spend 4 hours at the USO working on my scrapbooks with some friends that I met when we got here. It has been hard for me to get out and meet new people. So, when I was invited to go and work on my albums, I took the chance. I packed up my bag, and packed a bag for my daughter who is not is school yet. We went and spent 4 hours having a good time working on our books and getting to know a few more people.
I am so glad for the chance to get reacquainted with a hobby that I love so much. I worked on our familly vacation to Florida and was able to remember the good time we had there. I feel so at peace when I work on my books, and I am sure that is something everyone can use more of in this crazy and hectic world that we love in.
In addition to scrapbooking, I have found a new hobby and interest that goes along with it. It is photography. I have a new digital camera and I have really enjoyed taking pictures that I can send to family and friends. A am even thinking of taking a photography class. I am not sure I can find one here in Germany, but I am sure I might be able to find something online. So on my road to rediscovery, I am branching out and trying new things as well as renewing old hobbies. It feels great.

Something for me.

2007-02-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am at the end of another day. Filled with much of the same stuff as every other day. but, today was a little different. I took some time out for me. My husband, who was out of town on Valentines day, got me a gift package for a massage and a pedicure. Well, today I used them. We all drove to the salon, and then he took the kids while I went in to be pampered. This is something that doesn't happen too often. I always feel obligated to attend to everyone elses needs and not look out for my own.
I think this may prove to be a challenging road ahead. Learning how to take care of myself after years of neglect. I have noone to blame but myself. I also know that only I can help myself. I want to be able to serve my family, but not at the expense of time for myself.
So, this is my road to discovery. To spend time writing and trying to figure out what I need and what my family needs so that we can have more peace in our home with all needs being met. I love my family and I want to be able to give them my best.
Maybe I should begin with all the wonderful things they do for me. My husband is so very patient with me and respects me for who I am, and who I could be. He loves me no matter what. I am grateful for that. In fact, he has incouraged me for years to take time for me.
Now maybe in these quiet moments I can begin to figure out who I am and where my life is going.

Always room for something new

2007-02-18T12:05:00.000-08:00

I have come to the conclusion that there is always room for something new in a persons life. My life is so full of things right now that I thought I didn't have time to start something new. But, I have discovered that if it fills a need in your life you will find time for it. I have a need in my life right now for an outlet. I am a stay at home mom, and I love my family and the work I do for them. I would also love to have some time for me.
We spent most of the past year moving around for my husbands job, and now we will be settled for at least 3 years. Not long, I know, but in my husbands work 3 years is a long time. We are living in Germany and trying to learn a new language. In fact, when I tried to sign up for this blog it came up in German and I couldn't read it.
But, I digress. I have been spending my time trying to make things easier for my husband, my children and everyone around me, but I have been forgetting myself. So, I started this as a way to take time for myself and help me contemplate my life. So, if you read this and are interested great, if not that is great too, because this is mostly for me.

mrsjake