...and in our spare time.

Grainau, Germany Just a 10 min drive from where we lived in Garmisch.

I started this puzzle the first week of January. This is the largest puzzle we have ever attempted in our home and since there is a significant lack of sun this time of year in combination with my "dark" home...(not to mention our travels and all the kids activities!)... it has been quite a challenge... but today... we finished it... a soooo feel good accomplishment!! YEH! Victory!!! It was not an easy puzzle... (and perhaps for those struggling with snow and ice may I suggest a good puzzle!!! There is no better therapy.)
And for the other big news... John lost his 5th tooth! It has been loose since early Dec. I really expected he would sing "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." But that thing would not come out! It took a pop in the mouth from a classmate today for it to finally be lost. He said it didn't hurt a bit!

And for the real news... it was announced today that Joey has been selected to be the Air Attache to Moscow, Russia. We will be moving back to the states this summer for Attache and Language training and then to Russia, August 2010. It is with very mixed emotions that we share this news. We are thrilled for what is ahead... no doubt in our mind this is what God has had planned for some time as we watched the pieces of the puzzle come together. But I think Mittelbrunn, Germany will be the first place in Joey's career that we are NOT ready to leave. We so love our small town, the kindergarten, the Backerei! We have such wonderful neighbors! We are really sad to leave! This place and the people we have come to know and grown to love will always hold a very special place in our hearts!!!

London Addendum

I have to make a note here ... which I meant to do on yesterdays blog but I forgot. But I have to give my dear husband credit for our London trip. We kinda sprung the Switzerland and the coming Prague trip on him but London was all his doing!!! Thanks dear!!

London, Wicked

Trafalger Square, London

So we were off to London for the day!!! We drove 30 mins to Zwiebruken Airport, flew (about an 1hr) to Stansted Airport, took the train into London (about an 1 hr), made our way to our hotel (Comfort Inn, just across the street from Victoria Station and Apollo Theatre), then headed over to spend the afternoon at The National Gallery!

We could have spent several days in here but had tickets for dinner and a show so had to get our fill in just the afternoon... so we got the headphones to help us tour and we saw sooo much... van Eyck, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michangelo, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Valazquez, Monet, Serat, Cezanne, Van Gogh!!! Then off to Chez Gerard (back at Victoria Station) for a delicious dinner including dessert - Cremee Brulee!!! We were stuffed! We then had just enough time to cross the street to the Apollo Theater to see Wicked!!!

We had wonderful seats (Stalls, just off center), and in fact didn't have anyone sitting in front of us for two rows! Well the second half someone that had been sitting off to the side decided to find themselves a better seat... boy did they have big heads... and wouldn't sit still... so we watched the second half with a little bit of frustration...but the second half is so captivating as it ties up so many lose ends we enjoyed it immensely!! And now have funny memories about the big heads!! Mary and Joey were so excited for us (after their birthday trip in Jan) they listened to the sound track at the precise hour we were watching the show!!

The next morning we had a lovely breakfast at our hotel and then made our way home in reserse order without a hitch! What a wonderful trip. I love London! Everyone is so nice! It is so clean and friendly. The Tube although bussling with people is so easy to follow and even fun to navigate!! Until next time my London friends!!

Bern Switzerland

Although it started early, we had a really nice day. There was snow predicted but we didn't see anything more then a few flurries. We first visited a cheese factory in Emmental. We saw the old way where they stirred the milk by hand and then the new way where it was all done with machines (although still overseen by someone). Then we got to taste some! YUM!

From here we headed to Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Our tour guide shared alot of interesting facts and history. We did a walking tour of the old city seeing the bear pit, the cathedral, the prison tower, a famous Zyttlglocken clock tower, and the House of Parliment. Bern had such a wonderful feeling to it... such a medieval city. There are alot of fountains with symbolism which were interesting to see as well. We then had some time to do a little shopping, saw some interesting things and bought some Swiss chocolate and a soft drink made with milk to bring home for the kids to try. It is called Rivella and taste a little like Ginger Ale. We also had a nice lunch - cheese fondue and a typical swiss dish called "rosti"... which is hashbrowns with toppings. We had eggs, bacon and cheese on ours.

Recoup and Regroup

I have spent the week recouping from DC and jetlag... and regrouping for all the coming events. Jenny and I leave for a day trip to Bern, Switzerland early Saturday. We leave at 4:30 in the morning and return at 11:00 at night...going with a USO tour so we don't have to do any driving, parking, planning etc. Should be fun... a nice break for her and I. The timing works out well for Bethany and her friends to go on a tour of the Bavarian castles as they leave right before us and return right after so they have transportion to the pickup/dropoff point. So off I go to prepare for a day in Switzerland. Joey should be fine for the day... he plans to take the kids to see Madgascar 2!

European Forces Swim League Divisionals

Aunt Jenny had her share of crisis while we were gone...had to go pick up M from school sick (the one school I really believed she would not have to go to, so didn't give her directions too), had to go rescue a drum and an apple pie left at the at a bus stop, had a small snow storm, she & M & S ran out of minutes on all three cell phones, and John started a bad cold with fever and had to stay home from school Thursday and Friday! But such is life with five children when dad goes TDY!! But they all did great...and I think Jenny is still game for my trip in Feb to Venice! Our stay in DC went well and was very nice! We returned Friday afternoon just in time to escape the incoming cold weather and Inauguration traffic... and in time to get the kids to their last swim practise before divisionals. Then with a little bit of jet lag got up at 6:30 on Sat to make it to swim team divisionals... this was a fun day!!! Clara won a third place medal for Girls 8yrs and Under for the 50 Meter Breaststroke. Reuben won 3rd place for Boys 11-12 yrs, both 50 Meter Backstroke and 200 M Freestyle, and then a 5th place for 100 M Freestyle (he lost his goggles on entry). He was also in the Medley Relay and Freestyle Relay and his team won 3rd in both. I guess it was a day for third place! It was fun. Reuben has gotten a qualifying time for freestyle and so will swim in the European Championships... hence we are all going to get some touring in!!!!

Wow where does the time go??

I am writing this while in DC... I didn't bring a camera so no pictures.
It was a busy week but I got it all done and ready... groceries, laundry, Christmas stuff away... well all but the floors...and I threatened that whoever was late for church would be left behind and expected to mop the floor. Guess what... we made it to church on time. Anyway, here we are in DC for an interview for Joey's next assignment. A huge thanks to my sister Jenny who came to Germany and agreed to stay with the kids... and not changing her mind whenshe say the schedule demands along with orienting herself to the area in just two days!!! I've been up for 20 hours now so am not thinking exactly clearly... so will end here.

Back Blogs!!

Sorry for all the back blogs! As you can see we have done alot of celebrating these days!!! It was a busy holiday... and then I got the flu... and then I couldn't get caught up. Now I have a touch of the post holiday blues! But God is good as he gave me snow today. He knew I needed it. I hate that the kids are going back to school (M, S today. R, C on Thurs. J has short days this week). But I guess the good part is I can now try to get caught up on the housecleaning, the blogging etc etc...!!
We have alot ahead of us. Joey has two TDY's (one next week, one in Feb) that I, as a spouse, have the opportunity to go with him on (this is a first in a 20 yr career! so there is no way we are passing up these opportunities!) It just so happens that my niece is coming to student teach at a local school for the semester, as well as her mother (my sister) is coming for 6+weeks... because she can!!!! empty nest and all!!! So she will stay with the kids. Another gift from God. He is so gracious to take care of our every need no matter what! So as a thanks to her for being such a HUGE help to us Joey has given me permission to go on a little sister weekend to Prague with her! So we'll get to go do that! And somewhere in all that we'll take a long weekend to Berlin with the swim team for R to compete in the European Swim Championships. If we can work anything else in while Auntie is here we will!! But the regular schedules of swim, theatre, drums, piano, not to mention school etc etc will be full swing starting next week so we'll see!!
So that is it for now... things may get sporatic on the blog with all the fun ahead... so be patient... as you know I always get around to it at some point. Now onto getting the Christmas decorations away!

Happy 44th!!

Joey always gets the leftover party decorations... pink cups and a "Mater" Cars hat! He doesn't mind. He spent the afternoon working out trying to counteract the affects of age. Then he came home and had chocolate cake! We spent the evening with our dear friends the Dagenharts - laughing, watching R's magic show and playing Wii Rock Band!

Happy New Year!!

We had a great fireworks display New Years Eve! and as you can see a captivated audience! Many neighborhood children along with our own! We had an early show for the little ones... C and J still like to go to bed early... then brought in the New Year at midnight with more! We love this German tradition of shooting fireworks on New Years Eve! The boys, however, were not to keen on the clean up the next day and said next year they were not sure they wanted to shoot as many!! But as we all know they'll forget that part and the draw for pyromaniacs cannot be overcome!!