All about Germany

Guten Tag!

We are in Germany!  I know I am late getting this out, and I apologize for that!!

We headed out from East Wenatchee airport on the morning of the 9th.  From the get-go, we had issues.  This one was for Petey- and it took awhile, and a few hundred dollars, but finally got that straightened out.  With everything else that had happened with our move, I am pretty sure this just set us over the edge. 

The good-bye that morning and the evening before were so, so hard.  You know the feeling you sometimes get when you think your heart can't possibly hurt anymore?  Times that by a million.  Yeah, it was pretty hard.  Living for the past year in my hometown was probably the biggest blessing out of the entire year.  I grew closer to a lot of family, and I am so incredibly thankful for that.  As much as I disliked the time Bryant and I had to spend apart, I don't believe I would change that year.  I gained a closer relationship with a lot of people that under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have been able to do. 

ANYWAY!.............  We made it to Baltimore that evening around 11pm, and checked into our hotel.  Which, we promptly ordered pizza =)  We were starving!  Didn't end up in bed until 2am- and Bryant and Austin didn't wake until 11:30, and Sydney and I until noon!  WOWZA!  (although, that is 9am Washington time!)

We had time to all get cleaned up for the day, took the shuttle to lunch, back to the hotel to pack, and off to the airport we went.  We had about a 3 1/2 hour wait, but then we finally boarded the plane to Germany. 

And let me tell you- the plane was so freaking huge!!!! I freaked- and Bryant laughed at me.  I have never seen something that big in my life- and honestly- have no idea how it flies.  But it does- and I was shocked at how smooth of a ride it was.  It was the smoothest plane ride I've ever been on.  Whew!

So we made it into Ramstein Air Base, and then had to wait for two hours to get our luggage with someones stinky dogs.  Like- so stinky that we were gagging- NO LIE.

Bryant's sponsors (people from his shop) met us there, as well as our friends Brian and Melissa Hammond.  They brought us a bag of food items, as well as beer and wine to tide us over for a couple days until we could grocery shop.  Let me tell ya, it saved our butts!

The time change was huge.  9 hours isn't something to shrug about!  It took us about 4 days to switch around- and it was rough =)  The kids were up the first morning at 3am (as well as being up through the night ever 45 minutes or so) and the next morning at 5am.  Each morning continued to get better, and we were finally on schedule- although for the first full week and a half we crashed pretty hard around 8 or 9pm. 

Since we have been here- we have been to the BX (actually a HUGE mall in all honesty with tons of shops, and the Exchange itself is ridiculously huge) a handful of times, the commissary a few times, to a couple different towns (Obernheim-Kirchenarnbach which the Hammonds live in, as well as Weilerbach which the Swetmons live in to name a couple) ate a German meal finally last night, and we found a house off base in the town of Brucken Pflaz!  That is VERY exciting for us- as we found out the hard way that we did NOT want to live in the stairwell apartments (which is what we are in right now in TLF) and that the townhomes on base are a mere 1100 square feet.  We have too much furniture for that- but could have made it work if we had to.  Anyhow, we found a house, the town is about 22 minutes away from base, and is amazing!  It's 3 stories, with a garage (which is not common around here) and over 1900 square feet.  With 4 bedrooms, 1.75 bathrooms, and the top floor is a HUGE open studio room.  It's really an awesome house, and by others we have seen, it's fairly rare to find something like this so quick.  So we are incredibly lucky- and possibly one of the only things that has went right for us for this entire move!  Anyhow- our landlords seem to be great people, and also know some English which is a plus.  We move in on the 31st, and it cannot come soon enough!

The weather here has been pretty cruddy lately.  When we first got here- it was just fine- 30's and 40's and we even got to take a few walks around base.  But for the past 4 or 5 days it's rained.  Every day.  All day.  Even as we speak, it's raining so hard that it sounds like the tub is going full blast in the bathroom down the hall!!

Pictures will come tomorrow (I know, I'm sorry!!!) because for some reason it will not let me upload more than 1 at a time- and I'm sorry, I do NOT have enough patience for that! hehe!

xoxo
k. 

192 hours

That's all that's left of our time here in the States.  It all is coming down to these 192 hours.  And yes, that would be PLENTY of time for us if our bodies didn't require sleep, but they do.  They do, so we must.

It already feels like we don't have enough time in our days to see who we need to see.  To try to make those we love and care about happy.  Some don't understand that we are trying. But it is hard to get everything done, and see everyone.  Not only see everyone, but spend quality time with each and every person.  We are truly truly sorry if we didn't get to see you, or spend the time with you that we wished we could have.  There's just so much on our plates right now- moving to another country that we know nothing about, with two small children, away from our families- it's a lot to handle and a lot to take in.  It's very very scary. 

Enough of that! 

It's the NEW YEAR!!!  January 1st.... almost January 2nd!  The past year flew by in retrospect.  My husband was gone for the entire thing- and we made it.  And it feels so so wonderful to say that.  We made it!  Other people sometimes aren't as lucky, but we were.  I thank God for that every day.  It wasn't easy, it was hard.  It was very hard, but we stuck with it, and stuck by each other and here we are.  192 hours away from starting a new adventure together.  Awesome right??

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that we're still here, I'm still kickin.... the blog will be back in action with being away from family again, so make sure to check back often. 

I cannot wait to share all our adventures with everyone- there will be so much to do and so much to see in Germany! 

Until next time friends.....

xoxo.

k.

September, October & November

September was a great month.  I am so thankful I take pictures, because as I sat here trying to remember what went on in September, I couldn't think of a dang thing.  I went through my pictures, and everything came back in an instant. 

Austin started Karate in September.  He LOVED it- had a great time.  One of his friends was in his class as well, and they were glued at the hip.

 One of our great friends came to town with his wife and kids, Chad and Margo.  We went up to Leavenworth for the day, and Austin had a blast at the hat shop.  Sydney was more interested in the toy store next door.

 This is Sydney... she's not real thrilled that I am bothering her during her toy exploring.

One of the BEST parts of September for me was going to a concert with my momma, Melinda, and Chelsea.  We got to go to ZAC BROWN BAND!!!!  I guess I'd better change my songs on here so you all can here them.... one of my FAVORITE bands- so I was pretty excited to go!  Also was my FIRST trip to the Gorge.... even though I lived here for 18 years, I had never been!  

 Part of the band.  Zac is the one with the guitar.  Not much to look at, but a GREAT artist!

At the end of September, one of my very best friends, Melinda, got married to Brian.  It was a beautiful ceremony in Ohme gardens. 

In October, we were on our way to Oregon to visit Dad, Nancy, Nannie and Pa.  Also Connie and Paul at the end of the trip. 

So, Austin had his last day of Karate..... here with his "girlfriend" Carley. (Who happens to be the daughter of my childhood best friend, Amy.)

 Austin also had his last day of School here in the States for THREE YEARS!  Here he is with his wonderful teacher Noel. 

Nannie and Pa are now living with Dad and Nancy after Pa's diagnosis of cancer.  Here are Austin and Sydney camping out with Nannie and Pa watching t.v.

This is one of Austin's favorite parks.  It just so happens to be quite close to Gramps' house!  

We also went to the river.  Didn't stay long because it was FREEZING!!!

It's crazy how beautiful Fall can be!!

Nancy aka Grammie also had her 35th birthday while we were there ;o)  She chose to celebrate at the new Red Lobster in town. YUM!

And of course.... Gramps got pampered!

Arts and crafts for the kiddos!  We left Gramps and Grammie with some artwork to decorate their house for fall.

The kids were so cute one morning.  For some reason they wouldn't come out of the bedroom until their pancakes were done.  So Sydney crawled out of the pack n play and into bed with Austin.  They laid there and talked and giggled for a good 45 minutes.  It was pretty cute to see.

Then, off to Bend, OR to see Auntie Connie and Uncle Paul!

Here's Austin at the Smith Rock corn maze.  It was a Star Wars Theme, so Austin was beyond excited.

End of the day grouchiness happiness!

Zoo Train Ride.  Austin was super excited to ride on the Giraffe.  Sydney on the other hand just wanted to get out to go play in the dirt.  All.  Day.  Long.

 

Back home to Washington just in time for Halloween.  Both kids were/are sick, so it was a very low key, mellow Halloween this year.  Austin didn't even want to carve pumpkins!  Even so, they were pretty cute!  Austin was Optimus Prime, and Sydney was a Hello Kitty Witch.

We took the kids to a Halloween kiddie carnival one night for about an hour before Austin's fever returned.  Then on Halloween, I ended up having to take Sydney to the doctor and found out she came down with a double ear infection (again) along with some pretty swollen tonsils.  So she and I stayed home while Nana and Papa took Austin trick or treating.

Austin got to see his cousins on Halloween.  Tanner, Bryce, Hailey and Maddi.  Austin adores him. 

So that brings us right to November!  Time is starting to fly now.  And it's only going to go faster in the next few weeks.  43 days until Bryant returns- and we couldn't be more excited!

The movers will be here shortly to pack our stuff to ship to Germany, and I will be having to make a trip to Seattle to ship our vehicle as well.

In the middle of this month we are going to make a short trip back to Mountain Home to see some friends before we leave for Germany, so we are all excited about that.

Another biggie of this month is Sydney is going back in for surgery.  She will be getting tubes in both ears again as well as adenoid removal.  Hopefully this will be the end of our bad luck this year! ;o)

Well that's all for now!! Stay tuned. =)

xoxo

k.

August (Picture Heavy!!)

August started off with a bang & Austin got to see one of his best friends from Idaho, Sammy.  And I got to see his mommy Tifiney! =) 

Austin, Brin, Sydney & Sammy

By the end of the day I was in tons of pain, yet again. Bryant was due in 3 days and I was more than a little ticked.  My back decided not to like me and went out.  So needless to say I was in a lot of pain during Bryant's visit, but we made the best of it and had fun anyways!

I drove over to Seattle and met Bryant's plane.  He was very tired, but so, so happy to be home.  We stayed the night in Seattle and drove home the next morning.  The kids had NO idea that their Daddy was coming home, and they were absolutely stunned.  Austin just stood and stared at Bryant, not sure what to think, nor what to say.  Then jumped in his arms and hugged him for a long, long while.  Sydney was a little more reserved, standing back for a few minutes, and then once she hugged him everything else was moot.

After the homecoming we hung out together for awhile, and family started showing up for Austin's 5th birthday party.  We had an outside party for him, with lots of water, and all the kids had a blast. We enjoyed being with the family and our friends, and LOVED having us 4 together again. 

 This is my nephew Joey.  (Bryant's brother Jeremy & his wife Jenn's son)

 Jeremy, Bryant, and their dad Mike

Caught Grandpa Sleepin'. 

On Austin's real birthday, he wanted to make Pizza's for his dinner.  So we got all the making's and came home and made homemade pizzas for dinner.  It was a lot of fun- and he really loved it.  Then he got his own little mini cake to blow out a candle on, and then changed his mind and wanted a banana pudding filled cupcake (made by his Nana) instead!

 Makin pizza with my favorite boy!

 Eating his birthday pizza!

 Loved the candles!

 Blowing out his candles!

After desert Austin, Daddy, Unc and Sydney got into a Nerf gun war, and it was probably the funniest thing I've watched in a long time!!

We also got a family picture on Austin's birthday right before we took him out to McDonalds!

The next day we headed over to Seattle.  Sydney had her testing over there, so we made a little family vacation out of it.  We walked around the U district the first evening and had dinner and got Starbucks.  The next day we went to the Aquarium, which the kids LOVED.  Later that afternoon, Sydney had her testing and did wonderfully.  After that we went and found a new hotel because our first one was HORRIBLE.  So horrible in fact, that we checked out a day early, and got a full refund.  So we found a new hotel, and then we headed out for dinner.  After dinner we all went swimming in the hotel pool and the kids had a blast.  The next day we trekked to the Woodland Park Zoo.  We had so much fun there- the kids absolutely loved it!  We went and found a mall and had dinner there, and then headed back to the hotel.  We'd decided to stay an extra night because we thought we were going to do the Duck Tour the next day.  Once we got there, they were completely booked until around 6 that evening.  So we decided to just head home.  With coffee in hand, of course!

It was a great weekend, and a fantastic family vacation.  The first one we've ever had in fact!

 In Seattle at the U District

Dinner at Johnny Rockets 

 Dinner at Johnny Rockets

 Getting ready for the Aquarium

 Sydney during her testing.

 At the nice hotel.  Having a blast because mommy and daddy

let them eat dessert in the bed =)

 Zoo family picture

 Kids in Downtown Seattle

We had a great time while Bry/Daddy was home, and miss him tremendously now.  We are so, so thankful for him, and the sacrifices he makes for our family, and also this country.  He is an amazing man!

We're also thankful that we only have FOUR MONTHS LEFT!!!!!  It feels so, so good to say that!  It seems like forever since we sent him away in December, and now, four months seems do-able. 

That's all for now!

xoxo

k.