CHRISTMAS TIME.

THE GIRLS AND OUR OMA. ALMOST TIME TO EAT.

ELEONORES AUNT THINKS SHE LIKES FIRE A BIT TOO MUCH.

CRAZY DOC.

MELLO DOC.

My Future Psychiatrist

Ashley started her Psychology class thru Kentucky University today! We are very proud of her and know she will do fabulous. Not to mention she is much cuter then old Sigmund Freud...

Christmas Party!!

Eleonores class at our Christmas party. The kids were so surprised to see the room! All the little ones gathered in the media room and waited for Santa to get done with PT so the party could start. It was worth the hours it took to put up the night before! It was amazing it only took 20 minutes to take it all back down. As soon as the kids went to lunch [the few parents that didn't disappear as soon as the fun was oer] took everything down.

Christmas Party!!

We worked for 4 hrs to get the room into shape the night befor the party. The teacher left at 4 so it was all up to us!! Only three other mom's showed to help with the room. I was a little disappointed about the show of help but was really glad Ash came to help out. She did SO SO much!! We wrapped eeything in sight to give the room color, she had great ideas.

Lots of parents came to the kids party! It was so cute watching them in the buffet line! See my new hair cut??

Bart was perched on his cane gaurding the food...

The kids each brought in a gift, the girls and boys each formed a circle and the kids played "hot potato" to see whos gift they each got. What a neat idea!!

Eleonore seeing who got the gift she gave.

Her favorite toy was her plactic slinky.

We have lots of sweet pics if you would like to see more let me know!!

114 days...

I can't believe we will be in Germany in less then 114 days! We still have so much to do, most of it we can't do until our official passports are processed. Luckily our tourist passport are back and ready to go. We found so much we want to see in Europe, I hope 3yrs. is enough. If not I guess we could always extend our orders, it will give my family a reason to visit Germany.

THANKSGIVING AT HOME.

LOOK AT THE PIE MY LITTLE CHEF MADE!

IT MUST BE GENETIC! A MASTER CHEF LIKE HER GREAT GRANDPA!!

WOW! PERFECT CRUST!!!

<<---I LOVE YOU HONEY BUT THIS PICTURE MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A STONED CHIPMUNK. SEE THE HUGE TUB OF SALT?? I THINK OUR LITTLE CHEF WAS GIVING ME A HINT. :>]

ASHLEY PICKING AT HER FOOD...

PUSHING IT AROUND ON HER PLATE...

ELEONORE TELLING DADDY TO EAT HIS BROCCOLI.

DADDY LAUGHING WITH THE GIRLS.

CAN WE EAT YET??



HOW ABOUT NOW??

CAN WE HAVE OUR FOOD NOW?

ELEONORE WAS WAITING SO NICELY FOR ASH TO GET DONE TAKING THE PICTURES OF OUR THANKSGIVING DINNER. SHE IS SUCH A GOOD GIRL!!

THANKS TO OUR FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER WE HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF THANKSGIVING DINNER.

STRESS. STRESS. STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.

STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.STRESS.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO STRESS ABOUT YOU ASK?? YOU ARE JUST MOVING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF EARTH WITH YOUR HUSBAND & DAUGHTERS.

HERE IS A SHORT LIST.[ PLEASE EXCUSE ABBREVIATIONS AND ARMY LINGO THERE IS NO TRANSLATION FOR SOME OF THE FUN THE ARMY INVENTS FOR OUR ENJOYMENT.}

1. PCSING TWO MONTHS BEFORE SCHOOL LETS OUT. JUST ENOUGH TIME TO ENROLL THE KIDS, LET THEM PLAY NEW KID FOR THREE WEEKS, THEN PREPARE FOR SUMMER.

2. THE EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM. GOD FORBID YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, OR YOUR CHILD HAS ASTHMA.

3. PASSPORTS. TWO FOR EVERYONE. TOURIST PASSPORTS CAN BE A PAIN GETTING FOR CHILDREN, BUT OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT PASSPORTS ARE LIKE SELLING YOUR SOLE TO UNCLE SAM

4. HOUSING WAIT LISTS. YOU DON'T THINK IT'S AS EASY AS THE ARMY SAYING YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS. YOU CAN BE PRETTY DARN SURE THEY WILL NOT HAVE A HAVE A HOUSE WAITING WHEN YOU GET THERE, IT CAN BE A YEAR BEFORE YOU GET GOVERNMENT HOUSING. [HENCE WAIT LIST]

5. GUEST HOUSE. OF CORSE THEY HAVE A GUEST HOUSE, WERE ELSE WOULD THEY STICK THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THEY SEND TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES?

6. PETS. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS PACKING FIDO IN A DOGGIE CARRIER. ONCE YOU GET TO YOUR NEW COUNTRY YOU SEE THE WAIT LIST IS 9 MONTHS. YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE GUEST HOUSE. OPPS! THEY DON'T ALL TAKE PETS. OH NO! THE KENNEL IS FULL BECAUSE THE GUEST HOUSE WON'T TAKE PETS. WELL WE CAN RENT OFF BASE.

7. RENTING OFF BASE. AFTER YOU FIGURE OUT MOST LANDLORDS DON'T TAKE PETS YOU REALIZE AFTER THE FIRST 10 FEET OF SNOW THE HEATING BILLS ARE PRETTY HIGH. THE EURO ISN'T DOING TO WELL, AND YOU HAVE TO GET A GERMAN BANK ACCOUNT! YOU FIGURED THAT OUT ONCE YOU GOT THE TRANSLATOR.

8. DRIVING TO THE BANK.[OR STORE,SCHOOL,KENNEL..... OH NO!! YOU NEED TO PASS THE GERMAN DRIVERS EXAM. MAKE SURE YOUR LICENSE DIDN'T EXPIRE 4 DAYS AFTER YOU MOVED TO GERMANY OR YOU WILL HAVE A LONG WAIT.

9. TLA,DLA,OHA,COLA,PER DIEM,... CROSS YOUR FINGERS MAIN FINANCE WON'T SCREW UP YOUR PAPERWORK.

10. TRAVEL OFFICE. YOU CAN ONLY MOVE SO MUCH WEIGHT. DON'T FORGET YOU MAYBE IN A ''STAIRWELL'' APARTMENT. AKA HELL. SO DONT BRING THE SWING SET,SAND BOX,PATIO FURNITURE,... WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULD, YOU MAY GET A 3 STORY TOWNHOUSE WITH AN ATTACHED 2 CAR GARAGE.

11.TAKING THE CAR TO THE PORT. WE ARE LUCKY, WE ONLY HAVE TO DRIVE 400 MILES OUT OF THE WAY 40 DAYS BEFORE WE PCS. WE HAVE TO SELL THE 2ND CAR BUT KEEP IT LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION. NOT TO MENTION DH HAS TO BE AT WORK THE SAME TIME MY OLDEST HAS TO BE DROPPED OFF AT SCHOOL.
I COULD KEEP GOING FOR EVER BUT MY HUSBAND SAID ''YOUR REALLY BLOGGING TONIGHT'' SO I WILL STOP WHINING FOR NOW.

JUST A NOTE. YES WE LOVE THE ARMY AND WILL REUP AGAIN IN 2010, IT MAY BE STRESSFUL BUT I THINK IT WILL BE WORTH IT.