BF part 2

Here are the waterfall pics and hotel pics from Baden Baden.

If you know Judah, you'll understand why he spent the majority of the time on Ben's shoulders...

 Play area for the kiddos

annnnd this is where Judah lost his shoe 

We saw so many little German kiddos with these packs on. We wanted to get the wilds each one but at 49 euros we said NAH....

Ben's black forrest cake

Fuzzy water (gas water)

They were smoked.

Hotel room on the 3rd floor. It was pretty warm in Germany the first 2 wks we were there. Germans don't do air conditioning either- waste of energy.

Vineyards

Quick trip to the Black Forrest Part 1

The next time we're back in Germany, Ben and I both want to spend more time in the Black Forrest. It was so beautiful and we didn't get to do too much exploring. We checkout out the tallest waterfall in Germany and some shopping then went to Baden Baden for a night. I broke this up into 2 parts because I have so many pics to share :)

Here's our hotel room...

Little entry way. I love how the Germans have door everywhere. You can shut off part of a room, not have to heat the whole area, and the main reason I like it so much is you can cut back on the noise so your kiddos can sleep better!

The kids had their own "room" that we could keep the doors open or shut. They were pretty tired after playing outside and still getting used to the 6hr time change so they were in bed early and Ben and I had dessert and coffee on the balcony then watched a movie all while the kiddos snoozed away.

Another reason I LOVE Germany- they are so family/kiddo friendly. While we waited for our food and after we were finished- the kids played on the playground. We got to sit and have time to talk while they had a ball all within arms reach of our table. This isn't an uncommon thing. Almost all the restaurants we ate at had something for the kiddos to play on or with.

The wilds played with more rocks on this trip than anything :) No playground for them, just piles of different sized rocks.

The food is simply incredible.

I'd get an apple strudel everywhere we went, the baby needed them.

Ben's black forrest sundae

Long overdue....

So much has happened in the past six months, it's mind blowing. I'll start with our pictures from Germany. I just finished uploading them to the desktop and haven't had a chance to fine tune them yet so you're just going to get the first edition.

The first week in Germany...

On the plane hours after our housing inspection.

Refueling in Canada, the kids ran like loons all over this empty airport. Praise God they slept from Canada to Germany and through the landing. When we got them out of the carseats to pack them up, we sat them in the jump seats and they were still out cold- it was so funny.

Judah's first schnitzel

We met up with our dear friend from WA while she just so happened to be in Germany same time we were. We suggested heading to the dinosaur park and them some dinner. The wilds adore dinosaurs and the restaurant is a favorite of ours. She had never meet the kiddos and it had been 5 years since we saw her last. It was like no time had past. It was so wonderful! The wilds loved her instantly.

How Cubba watched the World Cup at our German friends home.

 Next adventure was a day in Herrstein. We had been there before when Audrey was 18months old. We'd go back just for the food but the hike is awesome :)

The potato sausage was a bit too much for me, Ben ate that :) The stuffed porkbelly was amazing. The restaurant is known for it's stuffed potato dumplings that would keep you full for 3 days but we had that the first time and wanted to try something new.

We got to go to a German Graduation, it was for our friends son. We didn't know it'd take 2.5 hours but it was pretty neat. Judah wasn't feeling it so him and Ben played outside the last hour. They both love Alex and Maraike so very much!

Some Updates

Well here we are, on our way to becoming Southerners. It's going to be journey- we stick out a bit :) Our trip to Germany was amazing (when I get my pictures off my camera I'll post a pile of them), we had a great time being home with family, and it's been a week that we have lived in TN.

While in Germany we entered into a contract with a home. As of the beginning of this week- we are house hunting again. We both were upset but knew it could happen. We're going to check out a few homes tomorrow after church and are very excited. After three months, we are very ready to get our things in order and be in one spot.

When we moved back stateside our household goods came two weeks before Judahcub was born. I'm praying that it does not happen that way again. Mainly because I will be starting a full time night shift job in a NICU here until baby is born. Ben was offered numerous jobs however, they just didn't pay. There was a state job that is still on the table if he can't get into school in the winter. We're hoping that he will be able to start school and I will go part time/per diem. It wasn't our first choice but sometimes you do what you have to do. It's a great job and I'm excited to get back into it. It's the night shift while 6+ months preggo that is unraveling me a bit. On one hand it's great- I will be away while they sleep so if something comes up during the day, I'm there only sleeping :) They are going to do so great with Ben, I'm going to be the one having a hard time. I'm so thankful for the job and that they are hiring me knowing I will be leaving to have a baby. It's a great hospital with great benefits and I've heard nothing but wonderful thing about them. The nurse manager is wonderful and I'm looking forward to working for her.

God has so richly blessed us during our time in transition. We are staying with Ben's Aunt and Uncle so we don't have to rent. They are so sweet and have been the best. The kids love them and are having a great time in their huge yard, feeding chickens, helping in the garden, and getting to know more of their extended family.

Our first weekend here we went with them to Georgia for their annual camping trip. The day we left it was nasty weather so we got a cabin instead of the campsite. It was stunning, really beautiful cabin. I shouldn't say cabin- amazing home by the river perhaps? They were kayaking, playing in the dirt and woods, and having such a great time.

If you will, pray for our home search and job situation? We are so blessed and are extremely thankful and are committed to His will and not our own.

Back in Germany!

(from about 10 days ago)
With the enormous help from our Mommas and our sweet neighbor, we got the house packed up, cleaned,and passed inspection! We are not exaggerating when we say we couldn't have done it with out them. They cleaned, chased kiddos, bathed them, put them down to bed- everything!!

Our inspection was over at 1030 and at 1500 we were waiting to go through security to get on our plane to go to Germany.it worked out beautifully, we're so blessed and thankful! At first I wasn't so sure about having a two hour layover in Canada for refueling but it was the best. We checked the kids car seats so they were just sitting in seats and it just was not working. Judah was so mad that there was cargo right in front of him and he was not allowed on it. He spent the majority of  2.5 hrs angry. We got off in Canada and the terminal was empty, so the wilds cut loose and had a ball running and playing. It's a good thing we had lots of high protein snacks- there was not food there and it was getting late. Before we got off the plane we asked the crew if we could get their car seats and praise God they were right on top of the pile!!!

We got back in the plane and got their seats squared away and thing were 100%  better. We reclined them the whole way and they slept the entire flight, even through the rough landing. Aud half woke a few times and cried a little bit but quickly fell back asleep. I guess it helped they were already sleep deprived thanks to the worst move of our military career and them not finishing packing us up till 2300 the night before. I can't talk about it yet, too fresh.

We got into Germany with the local time around 0930. We woke the kids and they did amazing. Ben went and got our rental car while the wilds and I hung out in the hotel lobby. A few other families were there so the kids sat and played like angels till Ben got back. We had something to eat and just relaxed.

 We got our cat, checked into our room and took a 2.5 hr nap.  When we woke up I needed a hot shower. Much, much, much to my disappointment- we had no hot water. I called the front desk and they said someone will be there shortly. After waiting 30mins the wilds needed some room to run so we ventured out to a playground, had a great German meal, went to the commissary, and then to a German grocery store for Cubbas goats milk. We came back a little before 8 and the kids were smoked. Got them ready for the tub, turned it on, and no COLD water. Then to make things even better, because the cold water wouldn't work- neither did the potty. I called the front desk and was told sorry, we don't have 24hr maintenance- to which I replied "how in the world does a hotel this size that's spread over 3 bases not have someone on call for an emergency?" He said he wasn't sure but he was also the only one at the desk. He was extremely irritated that I was demanding something be done about not having plumbing. At one point he said, it's only for a night mam. After hours of waiting for nothing to be done, a man from CE came at 2300 just to tell me he had no access to the building plans and didn't know where the valves where. I had put hot water in the tub a few hours earlier so I could at least scrub the grime off the wilds but it was about 2330 when they got to bed God love 'em. The kids thought it was the best peeing outside and praise God that's all they had to do.  The next morning maintenance showed up at 1030 and fixed it right away. We got ready and went to the front desk to talk to a manager who was fantastic and was very efficient. We didn't have to pay for the night before and we're assured that the matter will be felt with and more training for the desk staff about matters such as plumbing emergencies.

We made a huge error next, Cubba was sleepy but since he had just woke up 2hrs prior we thought he'd nap in the car for just enough of a nap to get him through so we could get back to a decent bedtime. He didn't sleep in the car. We should have taken them back to the hotel for a long nap. We found out about that time a dear friend from WA, who we haven't seen in over 5yrs was in the same area as us. She was free for the rest of the day and was leaving in the morning. We were beyond excited!!!! We meet up with her, she'd some tears, played at the gardenshau and had a wonderful dinner. It was such a blessing being able to watch her love on my babies, and watch them hold her hands, so sweet! To think 5 years ago were chit chatting about cooking and now - itwas about our babies :)  We were heading back to base around 1800 and Cubba fell asleep instantly in the car, before we were out of the parking lot :) Got them home and he woke up, wanted a bath, then was in bed sleeping by 1900-both of them. We'll, 3 hrs later they both were up, rip roaring and ready to go!! Ooh jet lag, you're so much better with kiddos. So we snuggled into the pull out couch and watched a movie and a half of another. 0130 and all of us were sleeping till our German friend woke us up at 1115.

I was hoping to attach some pictures to this post but they aren't all syncing :) Anyways- we're on week 2 of or vacation and still can't believe we're here and have another 2 weeks :)