March 2022

I failed to get a picture of April coming to help me paint the entire interior of the house.  

She was a godsend and a work horse.  I could not keep up with her.

After April left, mom and dad stopped by and dad helped me put a whole in the bathroom to access the space under the stairs.  We also punched a whole in between the boys' closets. 

We got a visit from Marty and Janet and got season tickets

to Sea World.

McKay and family came during their spring break and on the coldest days.  They were here to celebrate my birthday.  

Tessa was chosen to have her art displayed at an Art Festival.

Mom and dad came back through and were at the award ceremony for Luke's UIL.  

He got 5th place for number sense.

We got to see Sam in his first orchestra performance.

Ryan went on a special date with Luke to build a bear.

He wanted to capitalize on stuffies being one of Luke's favorite things before he gets too old.

Ryan got to go on a trip to DC for work

and visit Brady, Elizabeth and kids

And then Ryan turned 44. 

February 2022

Finally - getting our things and starting to paint

pictures for Valentine's day

Mom and dad crossed out and a broken heart; want a valentine from you

Our message from Tessa telling us that we disappointed her by not giving her a valentine.

Isaiah and parents came to Abilene to visit Erin's mom.  We are lucky that Eric's mom lives down the street from us.  We were able to meet up one evening and the kids giggled the whole time. 

A little trip to the River Walk and Alamo

Our sweet Lukey

January 2022

Mom and dad took us to the airport in Tally on Jan 2.

Our flight was delayed and we got in much later than we thought and they lost our luggage.  Thank heavens, I had clothes for the kids in our carryon.  We rented a car and went to the hotel.  I was worried that the kids might need paper, folders and pencils for their first day of school so I did a late night run to Walmart.  For breakfast, we took the kids to Shipleys and then on the Bulverde Creek Elemetary and Tex Hill Middle.  The kids were brave.  Ryan and I said goodbye and then went straight to Emily's (our realtor) house to get our keys.

We got to introduce the kids to our new house.  We spent several days without our luggage and a couple of weeks for our unaccompanied baggage and then many many weeks for our furniture.  

We learned that on January 4th, our dear Rusty died.  I was overcome with grief and beyond grateful for the precious time that I was able to spend with him in Germany.  Charlotte turned 18 on January 7th.  She received presents that arrived from Amazon after his death.

Getting used to being in Texas.  Ryan and I drove up to Dallas to get our van.  I got to spend the night with Kari and come back the next day.  

We visited the Maynes and now they have another Bernese Mountain dog and a baby girl. 

This is my bragging rights to UGA's Coach Kriby Smart.

Happy 10th birthday Lukey

It was a little crazy as we just moved into the house and don't know anyone yet.

Luke was a joy and happy to celebrate his day.

We went to Main Event for a lot of laser tag and obstacle coarse.

For MLK day, we went with Becky and kids to the San Antonio zoo.  I reminisced about when we had season passes and I would come here with the boys all the time.  

I flew out to be with Jenny when I heard that her sister died.

These are the benefits of being in the States.

I got to go with them to Atlanta to see Charlee compete in her gymnastics meet. 

And Laura met up with us and then took me to the airport.  

Tessa celebrating 100 days of school.

We are so lucky to have the Venet-Salgados across the street.  

And Ryan is proud of his new office set up. 

DECEMBER 2021

More goodbyes

Top left: Rosmarie H

Top Right: the Powells

Bottom left: Tiffany

Bottom right: Heike at the Landstuhl library

The first night, we moved into a hotel room next to Tiffany's restaurant as it would be easier to get kids from school.  Then we took most of our luggage to the Harshbargers.  And then we went to a cute upstairs apartment in Rodenbach.  We have had a rental car for the last month because our little toyota corolla died.  It couldn't last just a few more days.  So we have been in a little rental car but all of us and our luggage dont fit at the same time.  We have to plan out every step we make and it gets pretty complicated.  We are lucky to have great friends that are willing to help.  

We left the kids with a babysitter and went with the Harshbargers to two Christmas markets, Metz and Nancy.  I got my last authentic mille feuille, in honor of dad.  We stopped at a fun thrift store in Nancy that had amazing treasures.  We ate loaded bake potatoes and got Christmas mugs.

Saying goodbye to Isaiah and Melissa, Zoe and Eve. 

Goodbye to Mila

While I ran around saying goodbye to Melissa and Mila with Tessa, Ryan took the boys to the Nanstein castle for one last visit.  We have such fond memories of visiting this castle for the first time.  We were in the hotel on Landstuhl base and wanted to walk and venture down into the city.  We heard about there being a castle and we hiked up the hill until we found it.  There was a medievil festival at the castle.  It was like the world revolved around us.  This castle has been a wonderful constant for these last 4 1/2 years.  

The goodbye to the Harshbargers was the hardest.

It was an ugly cry.  We have been so lucky to live near them and have them as our chosen family. 

There was no way to get our luggage to the airport and us at the same time.  We went over our allotted kilometers with the rental car and we just mentioned it to Kate Powell.  Her husband was flying into Frankfurt and she was going to have to pack up her 4 kids and go pick him up.  She offered for us to use their 2nd car so we could pack up all of our luggage and get it to Frankfurt and not have to pay out the nose for the rental car. Also, it worked because Ryan could go pick up Myles at the same time. 

The kids and I went to church and I balled my eyes out.  Ryan picked us up.  I didn't want to go.  By the time we got to the center of Landstuhl (where we used to play in the splash pad), we waited in line for a Covid test.  We were literally the next in line and they closed!  They turned everyone away.  

We returned the car, at the rental place near Ramstein, and got on the train to Frankfurt airport. We were able to get our Covid tests!

Ryan had stashed our luggage at the hotel in the airport.  We got into our room and Ryan and I left them to go to one more Christmas market for some hot chocolate and a mug.  It was really nice!  It was the perfect last night (besides me getting mad at Ryan for no good reason). 

It was a little crazy getting 27 (cant remember the exact number) pieces of luggage from the hotel on a few trams and onto buggies and off of buggies and finding new buggies.  We finally made it to check in only to find out that they anyone traveling with the military do not need to have a COVID test.  (Why didn't they let us know earlier? And how is that keep people safe on the plane?)

Recreating the photo that the kids took at the SLC airport on the way to Germany

And just like that we were back in the US of A.

 We flew into Tallahassee. Dad picked us up in the Sequoia and everything and everyone fit. 

We were able to enjoy all the magic of the Christmas season in warm Georgia.

Below:

 Branch Christmas pagent

 Bearcats basketball

 Christmas parade

Crazy southern people

Parade

Lights

Ryan enjoyed walking to the nearby cemetary

Warm enough for kayaking and a little jump in the water.

Girls night to watch the Nutcracker.  

This used to be a something mom would do every year with Aunt Becky.  

A visit to Tifton.  We got to meet Bay's cow.

We went to ancient Native American mounds.

Buc-ees in Macon

Sights in Bville

A visit with the Belisles

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS DAY

We went to visit the Giddens at Jamie's house.  They were all getting together for the holidays.  We missed John and fam but got to see everyone else.  Jamie made room for all of us to stay the night.  We stayed up so late playing games and talking about the good ol' days.  The next day we went to Stone Mountain.  Some hiked to the top while the others played at the playground.  Jamie was 8 months pregnant with a baby boy.  

Helping Pop Pop.  Dad had chores all ready for the kids.  

We had a tea party for the girls' and their dolls and then walked into town to window shop and get some ice cream.  

More fun in Bville

Getting ready for Tessa's baptism

We went kayaking again behind Jenny's old house (now the Orton's).  We let the boys do it all by themselves.  Sam got cocky and stood up while paddling.  The kayak got shaky and Sam went plunged into the water.  

Baptism day with the Dot, Kathy, the Belisles, Valters and Brother, Bran, Claire and girls, and the Harpers came in from Tifton.  We had the whole thing on Zoom for family that live far away.

December 31

Pop Pop: gave the baptism talk; Mimzy gave the holy ghost talk

Luke and Sam were the witnesses

The kids sang "I will Walk with Jesus"

Then we had an upside down backwards birthday party. 

So fun that Jenny came to my 8th backwards party and now her family is coming to my child's.

Then we rang in the new year together.  We had a huge bonfire and played telephone pictionary.  

Happy 2022!!!!