Constant Beginnings

One annual adventure is our trip to the strawberry patch. This tradition began in Massachusetts, was missed during our time in Korea, but resumed when we arrived in Germany in 2012. We love it. We returned to our favorite patch in Landstuhl yesterday. It was bloody hot, somewhere in the 80s. Gavin was not a fan, so Chris and I took turns tending to him while the other picked with the girls. We did well--4 quarts are frozen for shakes and 1 container is in the fridge waiting for some cake. Claire flat out asked when I was making the angel food cake, so I guess I best get that done!

Chris and I often talk about our life and how many amazing things we have experienced as a result of our careers. Being a military family has its share of challenges, but the rewards are also plenty. Traveling around the world has definitely been the biggest reward for our family. Our children have traveled and experienced far more than most people ever dream of doing in an entire lifetime. They are only 6 and 4 years old. Pretty incredible. To think they have gone elephant trekking, climbed the Great Wall of China, seen the leaning Tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, Empire State Building, taken in a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, skiied the Swiss Alps, seen the fields of tulips in Holland, basked in the sun of Tuscany, traveled 4000 meters above the Earth in a hot air balloon, ridden camels in Morocco, and traveled to nearly fifteen countries on four different continents. Traveling with children is much more costly, but these experiences are far richer because we partak...

Yesterday was a day from HELL, I tell you. HELL! All started out fine. I did the work thing, went to the lab during my lunch hour to take a PG test to confirm I am not, I repeat, NOT pregnant as necessary for my HSG test later in the day. I returned to work for a few hours, picked up Chris and mosied to Landstuhl for the test. Total awesomeness! The test was horrible. It hurt almost as bad as the pain of contractions. Fitting, I suppose as that is the objective. Anyway, survived. (I updated the post "ANSWERS" for those of you wanting to know specifics on that end.) Returned to work, watched Claire run her laps for marathon club-23 to be exact. Wore me out just watching. Headed off base to pick up Mya at school. On my way, heard a phone ringing. Couldn't find the phone. Finally did. Called the person back. Discovered the caller was the GM dealership who was fixing our car--headlight and checkup. The car needs work, apparently, "extensive work." Of course, t...

There is a lovely bakery called Heavenly Bread. There are actually numerous bakeries here  for us to admire.  Claire trying to find just ONE thing to buy! CEIA--oh how we love you, our favorite brazillian steakhouse! You fill us with such goodness and the love from the waitresses is second to none. Ceia will be one very sad goodbye. yeah, Mya. She is a personality like no other. Lovin on some Orange Fanta. Another favorite since arriving in Korea. Beautiful flowers providing a border to the rice fields.  The raised grassy mounds in the background are actually burial plots. They are all over Korea--roadside, on hills, hidden in a secluded area. They are raised to replicate the womb in which they entered this world.  Bindgo ditches or as Claire still refers to them , "dindgo bitches." We find it too cute that we can't bring ourselves to correct her. This is the Korean drainage system to protect from flooding during mo...