We've arrived

We made it to Germany. I upgraded us on the flight from DC to Germany. Just to “economy plus”, sort of like business class. It gave us more leg room and nicer seats. Not first class but it was well worth the extra $200. Made the flight SO much nicer. No screaming kids was also an advantage. The flights went well, no problems, no lost luggage. Thank you United Airline.

I enjoyed visiting in Florida and spending time with the kids and grandkids and I miss them already. Two weeks in the camper was one week to long. I told Tom that we need to stay over here for three years in order to give me time to forget how much trouble it was to live in the camper. Not something I intend to do again anytime soon.

Tom reports to work tomorrow. His sponsor, Kevin, has been great. He picked us up in Frankford, took us to the Base Exchange to pick up some item yesterday. We had dinner at his house last night and he took us back to the exchange today. Kevin will pick up Tom tomorrow morning to start his check in process, and he’s taking me to the personnel office later so I can check in on the job situation.

Our temporary housing apartment is about the size of our first house (1,000 sq ft). It’s over a Germany café. The café owner is our landlord. It has a big eat in kitchen, a large living room (complete with British/German cable TV), a large master bed room, a small hall bed room and a bathroom with shower and washer and dryer. The washer and dryer are very small! Not what I’m used to, but it will do. I haven’t taken many photos because of the weather. Here’s some from the back window of the apartment.

We have temporary internet access. The landlord of our temporary housing is providing internet access. So we're back on line until we find a house and move again.
It's very cold here, especially compared to Texas and Florida. We had snow this morning, but it warmed up a little and the snow melted away by mid day. It is still cold. This weather is going to take some getting used to. Whose idea was it to move to Germany in February?
Our house in Texas is still on the market, so far no buyers, but with warmer weather in Texas should bring out more prospective buyers. I sure hope so

Sitting in the JAX airport

We're getting ready to get on the plane to DC. Our flight to Germany leaves at 9pm tonight from Dulles.

Going, going, gone!
kd

JAX zoo trip

Missy and I took kids to Jacksonville Zoo today. Great weather and a really great zoo.
Photos added to flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitone/sets/72157613675796444/

Tom's beginning to enjoy his vacation.

More photos added: http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitone/?saved=1

We're in Florida and it's freezing!

More Photos are on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitone/?saved=1

Feb 6 2009 Thursday
Missy and I spent the day together. First we went to the “SPA”. A very classy joint! We had tea and fruit, then a Swedish massage, hot tub time then a sauna. By the time we left there, I was ready for a nap but no…. Missy and I did some shopping.
I was looking for boots (warm, water resistant ones), but I found “Coldwater Creek”. YEAH, I spent most of my time trying on clothes. I now know what they feel like on What Not To Wear. I tried on and tried on clothes. Missy and the associate kept bringing me more and more to try on. I ended up with 2 pair of pants, 3 tops, a jacket and a necklace.
Tom almost had a heart attack when he saw what I’d spent. Too bad! It’s probably the last time I’ll get to go to Coldwater Creek for years; although they do have a catalog.
It’s freezing cold here. I hate staying in the camper in the cold. We’ve been running the heater and we need to fill the propane tanks again. It’s supposed to get warmer starting tomorrow. For Florida, this has been a really cold time.
7 Feb 2008 Friday
Camping with the kids (sort of). After picking up the kids from school, Missy and the Kids (and Brad of course), came over to the RV park. She rented a camp site just down from us and set up their dome tent. It was just too cold to consider staying overnight there. Tom started a fire in the “pit” and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. The kids had a ball, riding bikes, running up the trails and just running free.
Of course, kids and the fire made me a nervous wreck. But contrary to my worries, although the kids did get too close for me, no one was injured. Unless you count Tommy, but his didn’t happen with the fire, he was getting the kids sticks to use for the marshmallows and he got “stuck”. Just a small cut, didn’t even bleed much.
We sat around the fire to late. Brad took the kids home and Missy and Tommy stayed for a while longer. I wish I had taken some videos. They were playing 80’s music and the next think I knew Missy and Tom were disco dancing in the camper. Tommy and I were laughing so hard that the whole camper was shaking. I did get some photos.
Tommy drove Missy home and stayed at her house. He had promised to install two small ceiling fans in the kids’ rooms.
8 Feb 2008 Saturday
Camping with the kids continues
I had forgotten how much work kids are. They spent the day here at the park, doing what kids do. Tom fixed hamburgers with all the fixings. Danielle (12 going on 21), is a real handful. She’s at that age. When I see the faces she makes, it reminds me of Missy’s “attitude years”. It’s hard to get a photo of her without that teenage look. So I don’t have many photos of her yet.
Aurora (6) is so full of energy. It’s hard to get her to say still long enough to get photos. But you know me, I keep trying.
And Jack, well how do I explain a kid that never stays still. He has a mind of his own, and he doesn’t hesitate telling you what he thinks.
After feeding the kids and playing ball, we were all tired. Missy and Brad took the kids home, and Tommy went back to his apartment. He loves the kids, but sometimes they are just too much.

Check out the photos on my flickr.

kd