Happy Birthday Dylan....

I <3 this kid.  Paul at one point had to remind me that he wasn't my child, but I still love him like one of my own!

Isn't he just adorable?

I guess I could throw in one or two of my own kids, this is Sierra stuffing her face full o' cake.

Autumn loves balloons.

Of course, I had to remind Paul that he wasn't his son either...but we will always love that little boy!!

The time is coming near....

Its getting closer and closer to moving day.  We've been getting the house ready for final inspection, cleaning almost daily because of the cat and the dog are shedding everywhere, I think I may take the vacuum to the cat here soon.  We've been spending as much time with friends as we can, and preparing ourselves for what is to come.  This weekend was a great one.  Friday night we had a party at the house.  It was a lot of fun, we also ended up going to Shooters for some karaoke, which was a blast.  Had Dylans birthday party on Saturday, then a huge bbq at the Hiers house.  It was also a lot of fun, and I'm so glad we went.  I didn't know if we'd stay too long because Paul and I were both a little hungover from the night before, but of course, it ended up being a blast.  Lexi even had fun, running around, and checking out the people.  The girls were spoiled with banana splits and popsicles, and it was just all around a good time.  Germany can be gorgeous when the sun is shining, and Saturday was no different.
Sunday we started the arduous task of cleaning the house, preparing for unaccompanied baggage to come through, and getting the house ready for that final inspection.  First we cleaned the basement, and the attic, we also cleaned our storage rooms while were there.  So those are both one more less thing that we have to do.  I also took down all of our curtains and rods, going to wash the curtains today sometime.  Then I started washing the windows.  The living room and kitchen windows are starting to look really great.  Now onto the other windows.  Windows are pretty easy, because I won't have to do them again before the week is through.  Then we'll be cleaning light fixtures, and appliances.  It was another beautiful, but warm day yesterday.  I love Germany when its warm though, so I'm definitely not complaining at all.  It has been making for some sweaty nights though, I'll take the good with the bad.
Last night I also watched Things we Lost in the Fire.  I'm unsure of the point to that movie, but it was okay I guess.  I just didn't think it came to a good conculsion in the end.  Lame!
Today we are running around finishing up a few more things that need to be done, and finishing up more on the house.  Oh we also took all of the nails out of the walls, that part, was not that fun...especially when you have chalk walls.
I am realizing that there are some things I'm going to greatly miss from here though.  Its not all bad, I may complain, but sometimes it can be really nice, and really great here.  I still can't wait to get to the states, but I will certainly miss some things.
On a final note, I have a bajillion houses that I'm looking through right now.  Wish me luck that we find a nice one for cheap!!  ; )

Finally...

After three days of not having internet, it is finally back up and running.  THANK YOU internet fairies.

Basically they are doing some contruction near our building, and cut the wire completely.  Being as we have nothing in the house, and no tv, and the only entertainment provided was the internet, it really wore us all thin.  But I got really great at Zuma's Revenge, and we watched two netflix movies that we had.  We also played frisbee in the house, and the girls colored a lot, lol.  Paul got a lot of clearing done, and I got a few things done myself.  So I guess it wasn't all bad, just more annoying than anything.  Luckily, its all on again now, and hopefully I won't have to go too long without it ever again.

Boxes boxes everywhere!

Moving day Monday!

Day 1: Movers arrive at 1000 (we were starting to worry they wouldn't show), they packed, they loaded, they left at 1630.

Some of the many many boxes...

Day 2: Movers arrive at 0930, pack, load, forget, leave at 2000

Even the cat was exhausted!

Life has been...

boring to the extreme!
We don't have a tv, so the girls are bored on that end, although they are doing okay with just their little electronic gizmo's (DS, and leapster), and their books.  I think Sierra is more bored than anyone, this morning she came up to me and said, "Mommy, do you want to play house with me?"  It was sooo stinkin' cute, I couldn't say no, so she was the baby and I was the big sister, but I'm not sure where it went from there.  Kids, lol.
We also don't have much in the way of furniture, so thats been a little bothersome, but its doable.  We have the government furniture, the ugly chairs, and tables, I'll take pictures later.
We don't have carpets, and that so far, has been the worst one for me.  I can't stand walking around on wooden floors and getting stuff stuck to my feet.  It really doesn't matter how much I sweep, or vacuum or mop, stuff will still get stuck on my feet.  ICK!
Luckily, I still have my internet, so I've been facebookin' nonstop, and playing games, watching tv shows, and trying my hardest to not be so bored.  Its just inevitable though.  Don't ask me what I did differently, except workout before all of our things were gone.
I don't have the car most days because Paul is still going to work, so I can't really go anywhere.  Its been cloudy yucky mess, so that doesn't help matters at all.  I do look forward to the weekends though.  So thats fun.  This weekend however consisted of Paul having CQ on Friday, so I guess tonight we are going over to a friends house to hang out.  I'm not sure whats on the agenda for Sunday besides laundry, and Monday Paul is also off, so maybe we can find something to do.  Of course, the girls have school on Monday, so we can't really do a whole lot...I was thinking the bowling alley, but thats more for the girls than for Paul and I.  It would get us out of the house though.  Hmmm...
So there is my update.  I'm getting closer and closer to leaving Germany, and I find myself becoming a little sad, but also excited.  Its definately bittersweet.  I will miss my friends here more than anything.  I'll miss the autobahn, and I'll miss little things, but I'm excited to start the newest chapter of our lives.  I can't wait.

Movers are here!!!

Right NOW!  I don't know what to do with myself....I'm a little lost.  But there is one guy here right now, he's packing up all of our stuff at the moment.  This is sooo crazy and exciting.  The other guy left though, and I'm not sure where he went, but so far there is only one guy here...poor guy, if he's packing up the entire house by himself, its going to take him FOREVER!  Sigh...well I got pictures of our messy house, and I'll take more pictures of the movers and moving van and all that fun stuff as the day progresses.  Woohoo!

Inspections are done!

Yesterday we had a customs inspection.  It consisted of a lady coming by and checking our possible outdoor items.  Any items that may need cleaning.  I guess the germans have some sort of weird moth that grows in the soil here or something and they don't want it going to the states.  MEH!
It was pretty painless though, except for the part where I tried to open our downstairs storage.  I couldn't push open the door.  Paul has put so many things in there, and basically just kind of threw it where ever, the man has no sense of organization, but still, it was a painless inspection even with the cluttered storage.
Today was the housing inspection.  He really didn't even check our house, he checked to make sure we had everything that the government has loaned us, and to tell us how many keys we will be turning in.  It was also painless, except I did have to open the dreaded downstairs storage again, but they were more understanding that I am, lol.  Paul will have to get to that when he gets home....
Speaking of which, he should be back from the field soon, I can't tell you how happy that makes me, he's been gone a little over a month now, and with the move coming up, my knee going out on me, and all the other little things that "only happen when they leave," its been a stressful month.  I can't wait, the sooner he comes home, the sooner we get to get everything else ready for the move.  I found a place that will ship our car back to Texas, its going to cost us an arm and a leg, but its the price of having two vehicles over here.  We have so many expenses coming up, that stresses me out too, but we'll get through it.  We always do!
When Paul does get back, we have so many things to do its not even funny.  I've warned him countless times that we are going to be working up until the movers come.  And they coming soon!  But we will get it all done, I'm confident!
I also grabbed the girls' withdrawal forms today, one more less thing to go, and we are leaving sooo soon, its starting to get very exciting!

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

*Adapted from Taste of Home Healthy Cooking 2010 annual recipes*

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

1 cup water

1 cup vanilla soy milk

1 cup old fashioned cooking oats

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I made my own, because don't have the premade stuff, it was1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice)

2 tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Craisins (dried cranberries)

In a small saucepan, combine the water, soy milk, oats, pumpkin and pie spice.  Bring to boil; cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat; stir in the sugar and vanilla.  Sprinkle with cranberries.

This was very easy to make, and it was pretty good.  I like oatmeal, even plain with some bananas and walnuts, and this one was okay.  A little soupy for my tastes, I would have rather it been less liquidy.  The first bite of it without the cranberries, was only okay, edible, but only decent.  After I added the cranberries though, it lent a very nice sweet flavor to the subtle pumpkin.  So it was good.  I wouldn't call it fantastic, I wouldn't call it the best, but it was just good.  It is healthy for you though.  One cup only has 268 calories, 5 g of fat, 5 grams of fiber, and 10 g protein.  Oatmeal is usually pretty good for you.  I was just wanting to try something different.  Plus I've had some canned pumpkin in my cupboard that I needed to use.  This recipe only makes two servings.  I actually doubled it for the girls and I.

doesn't really look that appetizing in this one

Autumn loved it, thought it was great, Sierra didn't take to it as well, which is strange because she's the healthy eater.  Like I said, it was good, and if you are looking to try something different, go ahead and try it.  Next time I would add some more cinnamon and maybe a little cloves to it though to really give it that pumpkin pie flavor.

Thats better!

The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon was the only book I read in April.  I just finished last night, and let me start off by saying that it was a very LONG book.  Its a big one.  If you have an e-reader and want to read this book, I strongly suggest getting it on an ebook.  Literally my hands would cramp while reading it.  To top it off, the print is small.  Those are my ONLY complaints though.  This book written by Marion Zimmer Bradley was fantastic.  It takes the King Arthur court to a whole new fantasy level.  I would say the most main character of the book is a girl named Morgaine, in the beginning of the book, she's just a toddler at best, and the book takes you through her life, up until she's very old and almost everyone she knows has passed.  It has shocking parts, sad parts, funny parts, and magical parts.  You start to have love/hate relationships with some of the characters, and the storyline is amazing.  This is another book that I would highly recommend.  If you have the patience and the time.  Like I said, its a big book.  I believe it was 876 pages all together, and the writing is smaller than your average huge book.  Still, it was worth the read in my opinion.

I noticed that I never said anything about the other book I read, The River King by Alice Hoffman, this was also a very good book.  I finished it pretty quickly too.  It flows really well, it literally just has very good flow to it.  Its the story about a town, more so than the characters, but the characters add to it.  A young boy dies in a river, and it shares the way others look at his death, and how just one person can touch the lives of many.  After reading this book, I would love to check out more of her books.  So this one is another recommended read.

So far this year, I've read 12 books.  Now I get to start my new book today!  I'm going to read Are you There Vodka, its me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler.  A good friend of mine recommended it, so thats the next on my list!

Totally cool giveaway!

A $50 Visa gift card and a good book!  Go check out Julie The Army Wife's blog: http://juliethearmywife.blogspot.com/2010/04/ocean-between-us-50-visa-card-and-book.html and don't forget to enter for your chance to win!

Number 100!!

Wowwee!  I've made it to 100 posts!  Awesome!

I just had to make a seperate post for it, lol!

Shrimp Pasta with lemon butter wine sauce

Shrimp Pasta with lemon butter wine sauce

1 1/2 sticks butter

4-5 cloves of minced garlic

1 diced onion

Italian herbs to taste

salt to taste

white pepper to taste

1/2 cup white wine

2 lemons

asparagus

shrimp (I used frozen shrimp that I had thawed out)

cooked pasta

Melt butter in skillet, add garlic, onion and spices.  Once cooked through, add wine, and lemons and shrimp.  Boil until shrimp are fully cooked.  Add asparagus until slightly tender, add pasta until all warmed and mixed together.  Serve warm!

Are you hungry yet?