This week Inga (her cousin, my niece) and Christel-Ann are attending an Equestrian Camp. My sister and mother dropped off the Girls on Saturday and are picking them back up next week-end.My sister is taking her horse and is arriving a day early to take advantage of the beautiful area and ride herself.
Their day is spent with by riding lessons and excursions, taking care of their assigned horse and making friends with one of the other girls. 11 girls between the ages of 7 and 13 are spening this week together without their parents!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday (I know it's Saturday)
Thursday. Day 443 of the deployment. Paul's reunion ceremony was scheduled for 4:15pm. In the morning I called Flight Ops at HAAF, a good friend of ours is the Chief of Operations, and I ask him for a flight update on Paul, he said that the flight stopped in Shannon/Ireland again and was scheduled for a stop in Norfolk and would arrive in Savannah at 3:15, an hour of in-processing and then the reunion would be at 4:15. All good. I go about my day, go to lunch and when I return I get a call...familiar number...It's Bill! "Hey, just thought you'd want to know, Paul's flight is arriving at 1:36" This was at 1:06. I think I said "ok, thanks, bye" but I do know that I hung up, and left work in a hurry! I called my boss from the road to clue him in. At home I changed real fast, got Emma-Louise's sign, then picked her up and got to the Airfield in "record speed". Once there I was informed that the rear detachment did not notify families and the ceremony would still take place at 4:15. That was not what i wanted to hear, but I found another wife who was stationed with us in Germany, we let the kids run around in the reunion hangar and I took pictures as her husband returned home. His ceremony was an hour before ours. Emma-Louise must have been the most photographed child, holding her sign for Daddy. 
And eventually the hangar doors were closed, drummroll, drama and then the hangar doors opened again and we were faced with a formation of around 200 soldiers in full "battle rattle" that marched into the hangar, being welcomed by a Staff member of the 3rd ID. The national anthem was played and though I have never been able to spot my soldier in a formation (really, never!) I was scanning the rows. And my eyes rested on this guy who really looked a lot like Paul. I sent one of his soldiers who was standing next to me (he had come home a week before Paul) to check if that was Paul.
There was a brief speech (Not sure what was said, I didn't pay attention), the Marne Song and the Army SOng were played and then we were "told" to welcome our soldier home. 4th row. It was him!!
We found his baggage before the ceremony
and had already loaded it into the car.
It was time for us to go home!
And eventually the hangar doors were closed, drummroll, drama and then the hangar doors opened again and we were faced with a formation of around 200 soldiers in full "battle rattle" that marched into the hangar, being welcomed by a Staff member of the 3rd ID. The national anthem was played and though I have never been able to spot my soldier in a formation (really, never!) I was scanning the rows. And my eyes rested on this guy who really looked a lot like Paul. I sent one of his soldiers who was standing next to me (he had come home a week before Paul) to check if that was Paul.
There was a brief speech (Not sure what was said, I didn't pay attention), the Marne Song and the Army SOng were played and then we were "told" to welcome our soldier home. 4th row. It was him!!
We found his baggage before the ceremony
and had already loaded it into the car.
It was time for us to go home!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Wrapping up the deployment!
2 weeks. Maybe less.
I am out of deployment-mood, right now it seems like he's on a training exercise, not on a deployment. The Coffeemaker is back in the kitchen, his beer is stocked in the fridge, I picked up his favorite "hygiene items" and it was just a little strange to be in the "male aisle". Now what's left to do before he comes home? Well...he reads this blog..should I admit that I pretty much took over the entire closet? Patti asked if I have a "To-Do" List for that I am still working on before he returns home. I don't. I need to clean the fish tank. I neglected that since Christel-Ann left. That's between her and Paul.
Friday night I went out with a couple of girl-friends, that was a lot of fun, but was not a "have-to" before Paul returned. It just worked out that way. The only thing I can think of is going to the movies next Friday with the Girls to see "Mamma Mia!" he wouldn't go. The other husbands have made it clear that "us girls" should go have fun, they have stuff to do. We will go out to eat, watch the movie, catch a few drinks together and maybe we will declare that as my "end of the deployment"-party. Paul's "Welcome Home" party is in the works...to all of you reading this and interested in coming to Savannah to seeing the man again(or just for a good time), it will be the week-end AFTER Labor Day.
I am out of deployment-mood, right now it seems like he's on a training exercise, not on a deployment. The Coffeemaker is back in the kitchen, his beer is stocked in the fridge, I picked up his favorite "hygiene items" and it was just a little strange to be in the "male aisle". Now what's left to do before he comes home? Well...he reads this blog..should I admit that I pretty much took over the entire closet? Patti asked if I have a "To-Do" List for that I am still working on before he returns home. I don't. I need to clean the fish tank. I neglected that since Christel-Ann left. That's between her and Paul.
Friday night I went out with a couple of girl-friends, that was a lot of fun, but was not a "have-to" before Paul returned. It just worked out that way. The only thing I can think of is going to the movies next Friday with the Girls to see "Mamma Mia!" he wouldn't go. The other husbands have made it clear that "us girls" should go have fun, they have stuff to do. We will go out to eat, watch the movie, catch a few drinks together and maybe we will declare that as my "end of the deployment"-party. Paul's "Welcome Home" party is in the works...to all of you reading this and interested in coming to Savannah to seeing the man again(or just for a good time), it will be the week-end AFTER Labor Day.
(Half-) Birthday Week-end!
Partytime in Germany!
My sister celebrated her birthday yesterday and Christel-Ann is celebrating her half-birthday today. My family does not get to celebrate Christel-Ann's birthday with her and since it is very close to Christmas, she often has a difficult time asking for presents. Celebrating her half-birthday gives her the chance to celebrate with her Grandparents, cousins and aunt and uncle (whenever I think of my sister as "aunt" or the German term "Tante" a not-so-well liked aunt of ours comes to my mind, so both my sis and I stay away from referring to the other as "Tante K.")
This year Christel-Ann has quite a celebration for her half-birthday, Diane and Elisabeth from Giebelstadt have come to Hamburg to celebrate with her. The two of them just visited with us in June:
Happy (Half-) Birthday to Katja and Christel-Ann!!
My sister celebrated her birthday yesterday and Christel-Ann is celebrating her half-birthday today. My family does not get to celebrate Christel-Ann's birthday with her and since it is very close to Christmas, she often has a difficult time asking for presents. Celebrating her half-birthday gives her the chance to celebrate with her Grandparents, cousins and aunt and uncle (whenever I think of my sister as "aunt" or the German term "Tante" a not-so-well liked aunt of ours comes to my mind, so both my sis and I stay away from referring to the other as "Tante K.")
This year Christel-Ann has quite a celebration for her half-birthday, Diane and Elisabeth from Giebelstadt have come to Hamburg to celebrate with her. The two of them just visited with us in June:
Happy (Half-) Birthday to Katja and Christel-Ann!!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Blush
4 parts Gin
2 parts Orange juice
2 parts Rasberry Lemonade
1 part Strawberry Daquiri
Mix in Blender, add some crushed ice.
Yum
Don't over-indulge. Trust me on that!
2 parts Orange juice
2 parts Rasberry Lemonade
1 part Strawberry Daquiri
Mix in Blender, add some crushed ice.
Yum
Don't over-indulge. Trust me on that!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
More Buddies!
The "Gator Hole" at the Savannah Wildlife Reserve. 13 gators were visible at that location. Many more along the way, we stopped counting after 30.
Peek-a-boo?
This is very much zoomed and I was inside of my car! These Guys and Gals were friendlier than expected!
See you later....
Saturday, July 5, 2008
I have a new Buddy!
A green treefrog!
He hangs out with me when I hang up the laundry! I like him much better than the alligator snapping turtle that paid a visit last year.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Red, White & Blue to you too!
To me it is about friendship and BBQ :-)
Last year at least I made a red, white and blue cake. This year the cake is green.
We had breakfast with our neighbors and grilled out with them in the evening. Ribs, Cucumber salad, bread, tzatziki, baked potatoes were on the menu. German Beer. Emma-Louise could not be convinced to put on patriotic colors. The flag would be pink, green and glitter if it was up to her. I want to bet that this was out least patriotic 4th of July since celebrating it!
Last year at least I made a red, white and blue cake. This year the cake is green.
We had breakfast with our neighbors and grilled out with them in the evening. Ribs, Cucumber salad, bread, tzatziki, baked potatoes were on the menu. German Beer. Emma-Louise could not be convinced to put on patriotic colors. The flag would be pink, green and glitter if it was up to her. I want to bet that this was out least patriotic 4th of July since celebrating it!
Paul @ work
On the 4th of July a picture from Paul.
And the countdown ticker on the right hand side is incorrect! Paul should be home in less than 4 weeks!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Off again!
This is where I wanted to insert a picture that my sister sent to me after she picked up Christel-Ann with our mother. Blogger seems to have a problem right now and it will not let me upload any pictures. Sorry!
So yes, last post was about Christel-Ann being off to California and now I am writing about her being in Germany!? Yes! She spent 10 wonderful days in California with Uncle Rich and Auntie Jennie. She went to San Diego, checked out the Zoo, went to Sea World, she enjoyed lunch at the beach with Auntie Jennie and Grandma Marilyn, a trip to the bead store, shopping, Disneyland part 1 to include her cousins and part 2 including her favorite uncle Rich and all the good rides! She's my girl! She sacrificed herself and went on my favorite rides for me! Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones Adventure Ride. She got to take everyone out for ice cream, spend time drawing with Marilyn and went to the park with Clay and Grandpa Dale. More shopping and some fun later she returned to Savannah Sunday evening! And Tuesday she was off to Germany...not without drama! I took her out for breakfast and as we were checking on our time she told me that her ear hurt! She does not tend to have ear infections, but that was not good news! We hurried to her Pediatrician's office. They kindly offered a 3pm appointment. Never mind that, since they could not squeeze us in, we headed for the Urgent care. There they guesstimated a 2 hour wait. What part of "have to be at airport in 45 minutes" did they not understand? Kind people in the waiting area insisted on her going ahead of them! No ear infection! Good news, but we left with decongestant, a prescription for antibiotics "just in case" and some ibuprofen! Once at the airport, I actually had to shift some things from the a to the b bag. I don't understand, if the 2 pieces of luggage are below the weight limit for the 2 pieces why does it matter if one is over 2 pounds and the other below 10? Christel-Ann is such a pro, made her way through security again, and waited for her flight. Delta boards UM's last, Continental takes them first. It was time to say Good-bye again! It does NOT get easier. She called from Newark, the children's lounge is not as posh as the one in Atlanta. Now she is in Germany, spending the first few days at my parents house, getting acclimated and sleeping in. A lot of excitement for her the last few days! She played Golf with her Omi today and went swimming at the lake. Meanwhile her little sister is missing her!
So yes, last post was about Christel-Ann being off to California and now I am writing about her being in Germany!? Yes! She spent 10 wonderful days in California with Uncle Rich and Auntie Jennie. She went to San Diego, checked out the Zoo, went to Sea World, she enjoyed lunch at the beach with Auntie Jennie and Grandma Marilyn, a trip to the bead store, shopping, Disneyland part 1 to include her cousins and part 2 including her favorite uncle Rich and all the good rides! She's my girl! She sacrificed herself and went on my favorite rides for me! Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones Adventure Ride. She got to take everyone out for ice cream, spend time drawing with Marilyn and went to the park with Clay and Grandpa Dale. More shopping and some fun later she returned to Savannah Sunday evening! And Tuesday she was off to Germany...not without drama! I took her out for breakfast and as we were checking on our time she told me that her ear hurt! She does not tend to have ear infections, but that was not good news! We hurried to her Pediatrician's office. They kindly offered a 3pm appointment. Never mind that, since they could not squeeze us in, we headed for the Urgent care. There they guesstimated a 2 hour wait. What part of "have to be at airport in 45 minutes" did they not understand? Kind people in the waiting area insisted on her going ahead of them! No ear infection! Good news, but we left with decongestant, a prescription for antibiotics "just in case" and some ibuprofen! Once at the airport, I actually had to shift some things from the a to the b bag. I don't understand, if the 2 pieces of luggage are below the weight limit for the 2 pieces why does it matter if one is over 2 pounds and the other below 10? Christel-Ann is such a pro, made her way through security again, and waited for her flight. Delta boards UM's last, Continental takes them first. It was time to say Good-bye again! It does NOT get easier. She called from Newark, the children's lounge is not as posh as the one in Atlanta. Now she is in Germany, spending the first few days at my parents house, getting acclimated and sleeping in. A lot of excitement for her the last few days! She played Golf with her Omi today and went swimming at the lake. Meanwhile her little sister is missing her!
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