Another Week (or two) October 16-30

I totally forgot that I didn't review my week  for the last 2 weeks.  It must be that nothing was happening and I was just happy to see it pass.  Darin got home last Saturday from his "work" trip to New Orleans.  Actually he did work, but eating beignet's and wearing shorts sounds like a vacation to me.  He was home for a week and worked too much before he jumped on another plane to England, which is where he is now.  Another "work" trip.  Fortunately this one is only for a couple of days and he doesn't have to cross the Atlantic.

The kids and I have been spending our time drinking cocoa, baking, and watching the beautiful leaves changing colors.  Autumn is amazing around here!

Davis went on another camping trip.  This time I was SO glad that I wasn't a scout. The temps were only in the upper 20s and that doesn't sound like my idea of fun camping.  He said it was fun, but would have preferred sleeping in another castle.  The boy is getting spoiled already.

With a doctor visit for Anya's ear infection and our church primary program practices this week, the Halloween holiday snuck up on us.  I'm not in the overseas mode yet.  The one that means I need to look months in advance and have things shipped to me.  It was a year of recycled costumes.  My moms hard work from years past is being put to good use again.  We found our costume box and I let the boys figure out their own costumes.  Jag went for a jedi again.  Noah was a devil...so fitting.  Anya was going to wear one of the costumes that my mom had made for Bailee.  A darling little 50s poodle skirt and sweater, but it turns out Jay's girls were missing the big belly accessory that little Anya sports.  So she wore my FAVORITE costume of all.  Although it was authorized for Saturday, our ward had a trunk-o-treat on Friday (rebels!).  Saturday, we skipped the authorized chaos on base and stayed home and counted our treats from the night before.  With today being Halloween, I am so happy that it is over already.

Jedi, Nerd (no costume needed), a dead baseball fan, my little devil, and our lion.  That lion costume is awesome!  It has lasted for 9 Halloweens now and Anya is my 5th child to wear it.  My kids are going to be fighting (probably with their spouse) to put their kid in the lion one day.  I'm sure that my mom regrets the day she bought that costume for me :)  Thanks mom!

I complained about the schools and their lack of holiday celebrations in Texas, but DoDS is much worse.  They didn't celebrate Halloween in the schools at all.  Noah's kindergarten had a Halloween day on Friday.  The kids ate water pudding (JellO) with bats in it.  They made spiders out of crackers and salt sticks (pretzels).  Then they crafted cute bats from paper tubes.  Noah and I made monster cookies to take and share with his kindergarten class.

On a sad note, the Famous Flying M has left our house. Anya is now walking full time and although it is making laundry MUCH easier, I am sad to see my baby growing up.

Carving the pumpkins:
Look at Jag's disgusted face.  He couldn't stand to touch the goo on the pumpkin insides.  He was grateful that Christian was a champ at quickly clearing out the seeds. 

 Noah couldn't stand it either and convinced his dad to do it for him. 

 Davis didn't get his homework finished, so he missed out on the carving time.

I didn't need to carve a pumpkin (besides I hate the seed goop on the insides as well) because I am now living with my own Jag-o-lantern.  Check out that smile!

 Jag spent 2 days drawing pictures for Halloween.  He has become quite an artist. I love the witch best.  He has great detail in every picture.



Festive

Halloween has been authorized to take place on October 29th from 5-7 PM.  Gotta love military life!

Use Pumpkin To Thicken Blood

I keep hearing that my blood is thin. Seven years of HOT has made it so. But I'll tell you, this blood thickening is a painful process! I know that at one time I had thick blood; Life in Logan and Moscow, ID made it so, but not any more. I wonder if this is scientific-thick blood vs. thin blood? Either way, I know what it feels like. Painful, shivering, numb toes and nose...and that is inside the house.

German houses are cold houses. Not a lot of carpeting and lots of windows. Those crazy Germans open their windows daily to let the fresh air in. They say that you should, to avoid any mold growth (yuck), but the temps have got to get above 40 for me to do so. I was thinking that even the Germans have to be cold and wouldn't really open their windows daily, but NO they really do. That is thick blood and lots of bratwurst talking there.

When I am cold, I want to do dishes (really) and bake. I don't know how many people make cookies, brownies, or bread at 730 AM, but this is the way that I warm up my house. This past week has been filled with pumpkin everything. Speaking of the big orange vegetable, why do I have 13 large cans in my food storage you ask? Well that is because I am dependant on the Commissary to supply all my needs and the commissary is funny that way. They only carry pumpkin from mid October to Thanksgiving. Fine, but I love to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies year around. I stock up now so that I can make at least one batch a month until the next time they carry the item. Oh and they charge a crazy $2.50 per can, how I miss store competition and sales. But the rule of the BX and commissary and living overseas is this… If you see it and you want it, you BUY it right then because they may NEVER get it again. I remember in Turkey they had Easter eggs in February, but at Easter none was to be found. The eggs then showed up again in May, and had to be sold at discount. Smart folks stock up and save for next Easter when they only have Valentines in stock. Overseas commissaries only carry small quantities...5 lbs of flour or quart of milk anyone? except in the strange items like gallons of coffee creamer and jumbo cans of pumpkin.

With 1 jumbo can of pumpkin I can make a batch of pumpkin cookies and 3 loaves of pumpkin chocolate chip bread. I am currently using pumpkin to thicken my blood because it has less of a lasting effect than brats do, if you know what I mean.

Here is the recipe that I am using to make my house warmer (because it is never warm enough) and my blood thicker.

Pumpkin Bread (adapted from an old recipe that I found)
2-2/3 c. sugar (yeah lots, but pumpkin plain is yucky)

3 eggs

2 c. pumpkin (Actually, take 1 cup out of a large can to use for cookies later then use the rest of the can for the bread. I don’t know how much, but it is definitely pumpkin enough)

1 c. oil (That is too much for me. So I use about ½ c. oil then about ½ c. light sour cream or plain yogurt. I say about because I just scoop and don’t get another thing dirty…my mom would be proud.)

3- ½ c. flour

2 t. baking soda

½ t. baking powder

1 t. cinnamon

4 t. pumpkin pie spice (I usually don’t have this so I just come up with a combination of 2 t. cinnamon (in addition), 1 t. ginger, ½ t. cloves, and ½ t. nutmeg, but my mom hates nutmeg, so you can leave it out.)

½ t. salt

2c. walnuts & 1-1/2 c. raisins (Totally leave these out and replace with a cup-ish of mini chocolate chips so that it tastes awesome.)

Beat eggs until fluffy, gradually adding the sugar as you beat. Then add the pumpkin, sour cream, and oil. Add dry and then chocolate chips. Pour into 3 greased loaf pans ( I have a pan that is a little smaller, a medium, and a larger. Nothing is exact.)

Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of loaf.

(I bake for about 30 minutes on the setting that means top heat and bottom heat, then turn it to the one that only means top heat, then if necessary finish it off with the fan setting and some foil. I’m starting to figure out these crazy German ovens.)
Freezes great if it lasts that long.

Jag can eat most of a loaf by himself (at least I tell him that he did).

My early morning baking partner.

Try This Thing Again

My name is Anya and I am a Serious Food Lover. 

She Likes Food

At just under 17 months, Anya is fantastic with a spoon and she insists on feeding herself. 

Another Week-October 10-16

Another week has passed but it wasn't fun or exciting.  I am going to be a snot and complain everytime that we don't do something fabulous with our week/weekend...just an FYI.  I live in Europe and by golly, I should be having a super travelling party every day!  Actually that may wear me out, but I wouldn't mind it a bit more frequently.

Hurray for Columbus and for the military that celebrates that fine man.  Darin was off and the boys were home, so we cleaned and mowed and organized and built.  It was productive and we really needed to get a few things off our To-Do list.   Christian was invited by a friend to go to Legoland for the day.  He thought it was good, but the 3 hour drive each way wasn't fun.  I think that if we ever do it, it will be en route because I just can't see driving for 6 hours for 6 hours of legoriffic fun.

Darin left this week for New Orleans.  He will be gone until the 22nd (another no adventure weekend ahead).  He is working at some conference for the big wigs.  Fortunately his boss isn't a prima donna and can draw his own bath.  Seriously!  While he is away the boys and I are hoping that the van doesn't break, nothing floods, and I can live a normal life.  The only thing that we are dealing with right now is the weather.  It is FREEZING, as in I had to scrape my van window with a credit card to get the ice off.  Gotta invest in one of those horrible snow scrapers before I see real white stuff.  It has been down below 30 in the mornings and our house is cold.   The house is big and filled with cold floors, not carpeted ones, so it is a cold house anyway.  I ran to the BX and bought coats for the boys, I'm not going to be the bad mom that sends her kids to school in a hoodie when there are freezing temps.  These are the first coats that I have bought since Christian was 3.  What has happened to my warm life?  Darin had to rub it in by telling me all about wearing shorts and walking outside...I am wearing 2 sweatshirts and still shaking.  Meanie.

Here are some random pictures.

Large marshmallows according to Jag and Noah.
Actually they are covered rolls of hay. 

 Our walk 2 weeks ago when it was a bit warmer.  We LOVE the autumn leaves around here.

 The Frankfurt Temple picture taken by Davis (I need to teach him to turn the camera the other way so he can get it all in.)  He was able to do baptisms for the first time on Saturday. 

Good-bye Princess

...Hello (drama) Queen! 

She now has a few favorite words...Ouch and No.
If anyone thinks of touching her stuff or walking near her she yells "Ouch."
If it isn't ouch it is NO.  If there is an owie, then she will hunt me down and make me kiss her.  Sometimes she pretends that there is an owie.  Drama.
I am sure that people in the commissary think that I am beating my kid as she loudly yells, "Ouch" when I am not even touching her.  I think that we may be in for trouble in the next few years.

Boy's Eye View-Jag

Jag:  I love everything about Germany.
Me:  I'm glad.
Jag:  Well except one thing.
Me:   Really? What is that?
Jag:  Germany would be so much better if they would just speak English.
Me:  You should learn German, it is their country.
Jag:  Nah, I think that they should speak English.  English is so much easier.   Gemany would be so much better then.

US Military Cemetery-Luxembourg

 A Church.

 The Unknown Soldiers

 Over 5000 Americans are buried here most lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge (which isn't far from here either).

Muck from Band of Brothers.  5 from the Band of Brothers are buried here.

Luxembourg's Bock Casemates-Pictures

Another Week-October3-9

This was another regular week with the addition of a promotion, a small flood, and travel to another country. Nothing much.


Darin promoted to Major on Monday. We all attended the ceremony and then as Davis said, “Poor dad, spent his first day as a Major working late.”

Our landlord finally (My poor cracked hands have been waiting for 2 months) had his plumber friend come and hook up my dishwasher. I know that there are people who don’t mind doing dishes by hand, but I am not one of them. I like my sinks cleared, a dishwasher makes that quick and easy. I only like to do dishes when my hands are cold. Must be my mom telling me as a child, “If you’re cold, do the dishes.” It heats them up quickly and it clears the sinks. Thanks, Mom. We also got a new tank on one of our toilets. Turns out that it leaks worse than before, so I’m still waiting for the plumber friend to fit us in again. During the fixings, Holger (landlord) was turning the water on and off, later that evening, I found a flood in my food storage room. I was so mad. Darin was sure that it had something to do with my dishwasher working. We had to turn off the water and mop up the mess, and call our landlord to come and fix it. The next day it was fixed, but I think that it was his fault in the first place. I think that he didn’t fully turn it off (it is really hard to turn), and kind of messed up…my mess to clean up. But on a happy note, my dishwasher works and wasn’t the cause (although Darin is still unsure about me using it) and I don’t have water in my food storage room. But I am still waiting for a toilet, such a pain in the booty…ha.

Hurray, with Monday being a holiday (Three cheers for Columbus!) we were able to go travelling on Saturday and still have Monday to try and get the house unpacked more. I know it seems like I’ve been doing this forever, but really I don’t do much other than rearrange things while Darin is away because of Anya and homeschooling Jag. So it may in fact take me FOREVER! We went to Luxembourg. It is under 2 hours away, isn’t that awesome? I live in a fabulous location for travelling.

We learned a few things on our trip to Luxembourg:

1. They don’t speak German or English or even French…Luxembourgese? But it is closer to French than German. Awesome because I’d hate to use my mad German skills!

2. Our GPS is loaded with many European maps, but not one for Luxembourg. Lost isn’t quite a strong enough word.

3. Luxembourg is beautiful!

4. One shouldn’t head to a new country without map, dictionary, or clue.

5. As soon as you cross the border from Germany you are met with Luxembourg’s version of fine dining…Pizza Hut and Burger King. Who would have guessed?

6. Luxembourg’s airport is probably as close as the Frankfurt airport for those who may come and visit.

7. This season called autumn is amazing. We haven’t seen anything like it is 7 years. I think it might be my favorite, but I’d like it more if it were warmer.

8. The autobahn is always under construction.

9. Luxembourg city has main streets with names like, John F. Kennedy Ave., F.D. Roosevelt Blvd., and Patton Ave.



Once we found our way, we wondered through the quaint city and enjoyed the cool looking buildings. We happened upon an outdoor market area where we were able to grab some lunch from the bakery stand. We checked out the Bock Casemates, which are these underground tunnels and pathways built into this mountain in 1644. They were multilevel and at times reminded us of the underground city in Cappadocia, Turkey. At least the smell did. They were used as a fortress and were initially 23-km long. The boys ran and explored, it was great fun. The views, out the tunnels were breathtaking.

Luxembourg is also home to the US Military Cemetery in which Gen. Patton is buried. Darin was telling the boys all about it when he forgot Patton’s name and started referring to him as David Patton, I laughed. A lot. David?! Darin couldn’t believe his mistake. Ha, ha. The military cemetery is the first one that I’ve been to since having sent my husband to war- twice. It hit me so hard and my emotions were a mess the entire time. The sacrifice of so many people. All of the families that were affected. It was so real to me. I have felt the sadness and fear that comes with sending a loved one off to a warzone. The military cemeteries have changed for me. They are no longer just a bunch of white crosses, they are people and families. I am grateful for the sacrifice made by so many. It was a neat place to visit.

The Language Master

Noah has been in the German kindergarten program for 2 months now and he hasn't been kicked out!  That is success in my book.  I was really worried going into it, but it has turned out to be a wonderful experience.  He has friends and it is funny to hear the kids loudly announce "NOAH" whenever he arrives. 

He has a sweet teacher who looks like she must have been a rock star 20 years ago.  (Then again all German women, reguardless of age, look like they are rock stars.  It is awesome.  My fashion sense is totally going to be messed up when we leave here. I am going to be expecting every middle aged woman to have a multicolored streak going through their hair.)  She doesn't speak English but the two of them seem to do just fine together. 

Noah's grasp of the language has been hysterical.  First, he will come home and tell me that he has learned a new word.  ie:  Otter Foose.  He says this whenever I put on  his shoes.  I am pretty sure he is meaning other foot, so I look up the words in my handy German dictionary...Otter Foose is no where to be found.  After this  happens  a few times I realize the problem.  Noah is thinking that his little German teacher's English is German.  His teacher is saying Other Foot, but Noah is sure it is foreign and that he is understanding German.  Second, Noah now speaks English, to Germans, with a German accent.  I know confusing, but hysterical.  I show up at school to pick him up and he says, "Look it's my mom" in this ridiculous accent. Hysterial!  I can hardly listen to him without doubling over in tears.  I don't know that the teachers are able to tell what he is doing, the language barrier is good this time.

The kindergarten experience is wonderful.  He has never complained about going and is always happy to be there and for a boy who hasn't left my side in 4 years, that means it is working.  I don't think that they do much more than play and activities with an occasional game and song, but I don't care.  He plays every day with little German kids in a little German school, this is an experience of a lifetime.

MAJOR

It is official, Darin is now a Major pain...ha.

October 3rd after waiting a year to pin on, Darin changed rank and pinned on as a Major.

His ceremony was small and low key.  He'd have preferred to just show up with his new rank on, but his boss wouldn't have it.  So we did it bright and early and provided a breakfast for those who came. 

Col. Rockwell, Darin's boss, giving him praises and a hard time.

 The actual "pinning on" was done by me and Col. Ramey.  Col. Ramey was Darin's boss in Turkey.  He is now the boss of the base legal office here.  It is his Major's rank, that he gave to Darin in Turkey, that Darin used for part of the ceremony.

 Darin had each boy change one of his ranks.  Jag and Noah did his shirt. No pins were involved there.

 Christian and Davis each did a hat.  He was searching around for enough articles so that each boy could be involved.  Lots of jokes about the next time he promotes and what will have to be brought in for all the kids to participate.

 Taking of the oath given by Col. Rockwell.

Darin had to give a quick speech at the end.  He is a great man and a super example to me and the boys.  He stood before this room of people and thanked God for all that he'd been given, all the places that he'd been led, and the people he'd met.  He acknowledged God's hand in all things.  It was a great speech and testimony.  I was proud of him because he is who he is reguardless of who he is around.

Breakfast consisted of breakfast tacos, cinnamon rolls, and lots of breads (zucchini, chocolate zucchini, banana coconut, banana ch.chip, and almond poppy seed).  However, the tacos were the biggest hit.  I think that people were afraid of my baking...oh well, it freezes well and we love it.



We were completely finished by 830, awesome.