School and Anniversaries!

My mother in law has been encouraging a new post and I told her I didn't know what to blog about! We're kind of boring right now. We're not traveling. Our big excitement is going to the BX and commissary, soccer practice and figuring out what to cook for dinner.

We did have a great first week of school! Landen and Hayden both seem to like their teachers and they seem to be adjusting nicely. It was a BIG jump for Landen because 5th grade begins middle school here. So, to my disappointment Landen and Hayden were only in the same school for one year. Anyway, the middle school involves lockers with combination locks, various teachers, 8 classes, school dances, beginning band, an a la carte line at lunch and more. It's quite an adjustment from elementary school. So far, so good. Here's a picture of them on their first day. The parents go with the 5th graders through out the whole first day to help them get organized and adjusted.

On another note, I found something involving some German culture to share with you. In Germany, they have a neat tradition for their "big" wedding anniversary years. We've watched across the street and through the window at the celebration of one. Only, at the time we weren't sure what it was all about. Now, our landlords are having their celebration next weekend and we were invited.

First, two "Christmas Trees" appear outside their doors with a cute little sign and with the appropriate garnishments (silver for 25.) These stay there for a few weeks until they hold their own party. Our landlords have invited Matt and I, though we can't take kids and I'm not sure I'll have a babysitter to go. However, I bought them a little present to take over and wish Matt was here to go see what it was all about. Anyway, back to the celebration. On the night of the party (the one I was invited to is a garden party and I'm still trying to figure out the rest of the invitation!), everyone will gather outside their house and bring their noise makers. They will shake and rattle them until the couple will come out the door and everyone takes pictures and congratulates them. Then, they will head to dinner or come into the house for the party.

Isn't it cute??

I'm not sure what else takes place, but I may add some more knowledge to this after next weekend. I've got word out and have got to find us a new teenage babysitter, but have had no luck so far. I'll keep you posted if I get to go. Don't hold your breath!

One last note... I need to mow, but it's too wet. The summer has left and the cold dreary rain is setting in. We're enjoying the last few rays of sunshine we will see for a long while and are noticing a few leaves are already starting to change. I think I'm actually ready for the fall this year.

We're Back and Ready To Roll!

I'm really not even sure where to begin. I really don't think I'm going to harp on the summer, other than to say we had a fabulous one! We went to Florida, to the lake, had lots of fun with cousins, visited grandparents and aunts and uncles, swam, had a baptism, made a few short overnight trips with friends and family, went to movies and baseball games, celebrated my parents 40th anniversary, dreaded the flight back home and we did all of that with only a few ear infections and losing a toe nail! I have absolutely no regrets about spending the entire summer with my family. It made the time fly right by and as an added bonus, I got my Walmart/Target/Mexican food fix plus some free babysitting! It was seriously overwhelming to me, which I didn't expect. It's really just hard to explain unless you've ever lived overseas yourself.

So, I come back to Germany with a good attitude. I can do this. I can finish out our stay and enjoy the rest of the sight seeing we have to do. It's gonna be great even though I went to the shoppette today to get gas, mind you this was my only stop. I pump my gas after showing 55 forms of identification,go in and grab milk and get in the line as the 10th person with one aisle open and the fire alarm goes off. Seriously? Seriously. We have to leave the building so there I am waiting with 3 kids and a screaming 2 year old because we left her chocolate milk inside. We wait for the firetrucks and they let us back in to pay for our already pumped gas. Boy do I love this place and oh how I've missed it. Ok.... good attitude. Right.

See the counter on the side? Yep! We're down to 60+ days until Matt comes home. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. The hardest part is over and we are on the down hill slope if we can get through these next two months. School starts next week. :-)

I've really got to get caught up on all my blog reading from the summer. I feel so behind in this area. Guess I have plenty of time now. Only 10 more months... not that I'm counting.

Best Day Yet!!!

I was going to wait until I got back home to start blogging again, but I thought today deserved a special post. Landen was baptized! He was really saved a while back and wanted to be baptized, but at the time we were moving to Germany and Matt had already left. So, I urged him to wait until daddy could be there. So, we wait.

Fast forward: Germany = Swimming Pool so we once again decided to wait. Not that there is anything wrong with being baptized in a swimming pool, it just wasn't what we had imagined.

Fast forward: Summer. Arkansas. Matt's in Afghanistan.

Do we see a pattern? Our lifestyle isn't "normal" so to speak. So Landen and I discussed it once again and talked to Daddy about it. Daddy wanted us to go ahead with it and quit the waiting game. At the rate we were going he was going to be 20 before we could all be together for this! Even though we really missed Matt, we knew he was happy and at peace about it. Landen was baptized in the same baptistry that Matt and I were so that made it extra special. He also got to have ALL of his grandparents, several cousins and some other special people in his life that were able to attend.

Thank you to two special people who helped me out. Leigh Ann was sweet enough to take pictures for me and they turned out fantastic. Thank you so much! We wanted to make sure we didn't miss a thing, so I videoed from upstairs and also had another friend video from the balcony. Thank you so much to the Atchleys for that! It truly made it more enjoyable for me to know that we had it all documented so that Matt could be a part.

What an indescribable feeling to see your child give his life to God.

I'm Still Alive and Kicking!

I guess by now, you have figured out that this blogging thing isn't happening this summer! We have been to Florida, been to the lake, seen lots of friends and family, and have lots more to come. I have so many pictures that I don't know where to begin. So, I won't. I'm officially signing off this thing for a few more weeks until I return to Germany. There are just too many malls, swimming pools, movies, and other fun things to do and I just can't keep up.

Keep Matt in your prayers. He's doing well and is in good spirits. We're just both wishing the time would fly. We're not even half way yet, but are getting close!

Check back toward the end of the summer and I will return!

Good Ole' USA!

We are all still alive and kicking! I've been so busy catching up with family that I haven't been on the computer much other than checking my email. The trip over here was long and exhausting, but as good as it could have been considering the circumstances. I have a few pictures, but I just realized that I haven't loaded them on the computer yet. My regular camera broke, so I had to make due until I bought me a new one. A cheap one! We'll see how it holds up. I guess me dropping it might have had something to do with it.

We've had a fun week meeting new cousins, swimming, basking in the sun, going to baseball camp and visiting with missed family. I'll try to do better at keeping this updated. I'm headed to Florida in a few days!

Matt is doing well, for those who have asked. I'm still hearing from him rather frequently. We really miss him. The kiddo's are really missing him being here with us. Jordyn has cried for him this week and I overheard Landen saying he wishes dad was here. We miss you!

The Time Has Finally Arrived!

We have looked forward to this for a long time and the time has finally come for us to pack. We are headed to Razorback Land soon!!

We are all a little emotional with the end of school activities, saying goodbye to friends who are moving, and the fact that Matt has been gone for 5 weeks. The boys are not out of school until the end of next week, but I am taking them out a few days early. Hayden's class put on their end of year program, just for me today. I got a lot of it on video, but really don't have time to upload it right now. It was sweet though, and thank goodness I had Jordyn to distract me because I almost lost it a few times. They sang a lot of patriotic songs which got me. I can't believe he is finished with his kindergarten year. It went by so quickly.

My camera broke, so I am camera-less. I do have a little video camera that I can sneak a few with, but the quality isn't all that great.   The picture above is the only one I was able to get today.  

He came in the door crying today because he doesn't want to tell his friends goodbye. Landen cried himself to sleep last night. Jordyn is downstairs still crying and it's almost 9:00. She didn't even have a nap today, so I'm not sure why. This will all be forgotten once we get to AR and stay busy with lots of fun things to do.

I hope to see many of you this summer. My calendar is really filling up quickly. Yes, I like to be organized and know what my plan is going to be, though I do roll with the punches a little better than I used to. Matt will vouch for that!

I don't know how much I'll be blogging, but I will try to some for Matt's sake. Stay tuned!  

Landen Batting

I know some of you are probably getting bored with my blog because it's been more about my kids than our travels. It will be this way for a while, as I'm trying to keep Matt entertained while he is away. We'll begin more European traveling in the fall when he returns... Berlin and Italy are on the list and hopefully a few other quick trips!

I caught the end of Landen at batting practice last night. Did I mention that the practice ended early due to a big thunderstorm coming through? Yep, pouring rain... and I can't find my keys. After getting drenched and a friend finding them after about 15 minutes of searching, they were in the middle of the field of grass on the ground. Jordyn evidently decided to play with them for a while without my knowing.

Here it is!




I'm also considering making my blog private. I'll let you know more about that soon...