ShenanINGRAMS

I let Caylea babysit Chloe and Josh for the first time 2 days ago.  I went on base and was gone about an hour and a half.  She only called once, to tell me we were out of cucumbers and ask if I could please get more.  I came home and all 3 were grinning from ear to ear.  I didn't ask why.  I never found any "surprises," so I assume it's just because they had the freedom to just be without mom.  She's taking a babysitters training class next week to learn CPR and the other details.  I don't know if I could do this in Alabama, what with the 21 sexual predators that were listed within a 2 mile radius.  I think I'd have to wait until she was 14 or 15 to be comfortable there.  Here, though, it's different.  People kept telling me that when we first got here, but I've seen it myself.  So, for those of you who truly know me and how I am with my children, congratulate me for actually making it on base, checking mail, and getting groceries without having an...

We saw Joe off safely to the airport.  He made it to Las Vegas just fine.  I'm just praying that he'll have something cool to do so he won't be frustrated and bored and chew his fingernails off.   The kids and I went to church Sunday morning and then came home for lunch.  Caylea really loves this group.  There is a great group of girls that are like-minded.  She is a very right/wrong child.  There is no gray area with her, so it's hard for her to be friends with kids her age because, let's face it, a lot of 12 year old girls are just nasty. These girls aren't, though, so I'm so grateful she'll have good friends while we're here. After lunch, we traveled 20 minutes up the road to a rock museum and expo.  They have a lot of natural quartz and agate in this area and it is truly beautiful.  The museum guide took us to the basement where he showed us how to saw a rock in half.  He didn't know what it would have on the inside.  It looked like a big, ug...

Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous day.  Contrary to what we've been told, it does NOT rain here constantly.  We've had 2 weeks of beautiful weather and we're enjoying every single minute of it!  We took our first long family bike ride through town.  It was so fun and the kids did great.  I won't mention who fell off TWICE, although I have mentioned that she is most like me in clumsiness.  Joe crossed the street pretty quickly and, rather than look for himself, Josh crossed right when a car turned onto the street.  He and the car screeched to a halt while I yelled in what I'm sure is known as the "panicked mother voice," JOSH!!!!  Needless to say, everyone was scared, everyone was spoken to quite sternly, and everyone was fine.  The people in the car were scared too, but I just waved them away.  I didn't know how to say, "He's fine, it's not your fault," in German.  It really wasn't.  They were driving really slowly, Josh just turn...

I figured out how to do an actual "blog" thanks to my friend Abby. Joshua lost his first tooth today. He is 7 years old, so he's almost 2 full years later than his sisters in losing a tooth. Should I give him more money for holding out longer? :)

We made it to Germany!!! We arrived at the airport after driving through downtown Atlanta, which was recently hit by a tornado. It looked awful, but the roads were all clear. I never ever ever ever want to live in a city that big! One of our bags was overweight, so I had to rearrange things, but we got them all on the plane without losing any bags, without running over anyone, and without losing our children. That's always an accomplishment in itself. We got on the plane after many tears with Joe's family. The kids were so excited! We were waiting to taxi away when my kids' "Please come visit me, Ms. Flight Attendant" bell and light came on. I told the kids to settle down and quit pushing buttons because they were thoroughly enjoying the wide variety of music channels on their newly found ear phones and sleep masks. The flight attendant came over, we apologized, and she went on. Well, the light went on...and the bell went on and on and on. So, I had the kids sit v...