tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21355293437415592722024-02-06T22:16:24.598-05:00All About Amelia, Simon & HannahStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.comBlogger319125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-90423813427051428232014-01-02T16:38:00.000-05:002014-01-02T16:38:08.563-05:00CourageThis one's got it. She has her Dad's fearlessness about new situations...the jump right in, give it my best shot, life's a game attitude about things. She proved it to us during two 'performances' this Christmas season.<br />
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First off, she came home on a Friday and told me that she was going to be the angel in her class' performance of the story of Christ's birth. She needed a costume. Probably for Monday. Lots of things get lost in translation around here, but I didn't want to be on the losing end of this gamble, so we scrounged up some white fabric and cotton balls and went to work. Fast. Oh, and she needed to memorize four lines of scripture...in German. When all was said and done, we finally nailed down some details and made plans for the family to attend the special performance. I was simply blown away. The simplicity of the storytelling, the sweetness of the kids, the whole community of parents together acknowledging the sacredness of the season. And then this:<br />
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She was so brave and confident. Later, her teacher told me that she had originally planned for Millie to recite her lines in English. But Millie told her that she wanted to memorize it in German like everyone else. Man I love her.</div>
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She was also asked to participate in our church's Christmas Eve service. She worked hard and memorized a good chunk of Luke 2 and recited it in front of the whole congregation. Although it was in English, I give her lots of credit...she was the youngest child up there and held it together enough to go last and not miss a beat.</div>
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<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-58396004960988778622013-11-12T15:00:00.003-05:002013-11-12T15:31:49.067-05:00Building Something That Lasts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You know something that's exhausting about moving around so much? Finding and really digging into a new church. It took us a couple of months, but we've found a good one (Stuttgart Military Community Church). We have joined a small group and are building relationships and making friends.</div>
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Also happening around here: our little village has banded together to design, fund and now build a new playground for the kindergarten. Beginning last year the parents dreamt it, the kids helped design it, the entire village raised more than 70,000 Euro for it, and now they are spending nights and weekends constructing it. I am amazed and the very real example of what it means to live in community with each other.</div>
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These two forces in our lives collided last weekend. Our small group wanted to find a service project to work on together...our kindergarten needed laborers. Voila. It was a fun, exhausting morning joining with our German neighbors and working alongside our new American friends. </div>
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The next day (as I was hobbling along on my sore back and creaky knees) I realized that we have a place now in this country. We have a place that we can come back to and look at and say "I helped build that." Another real example of leaving a piece of ourselves behind when we continue this journey.</div>
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-27537076042817462912013-10-21T11:22:00.000-04:002013-10-21T11:22:00.523-04:00ItaliaSo our first big trip...out of our home country, pack the passports, crazy adventure kind of trip...was to Lake Como, Italy at the end of August. It was a bit unsettling and suspenseful -- we planned the whole thing just two days before our departure (we didn't know whether or not Christopher would have duty and need to stick close to home). There's no better way to set expectations reasonably low -- just fly by the seat of your pants!<br />
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It was perfection. Such a magical place for us. I can't help it, I love Italy. I also love lake houses. And mountains. This had it all. We stayed at a FANTASTIC apartment hotel in the tiniest little village on the north side of the lake. The family who runs the place took us in like family, made me a cappuccino upon arrival and plied the kids with lollipops for three straight days. They sent us to their favorite restaurants, gave us tips for our first soccer match, and just took such great care of us. As Simon told us a few weeks ago, "I like going to hotels. People are so nice to us at hotels."<br />
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So here's the trip in photos:<br />
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A gorgeous six hour drive through five countries (Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy) and some close encounters with a few cows as we climbed up and down the alps.</div>
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The lake, just a short walk from the apartment, was crystal clear and surrounded by mountains. </div>
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In a trip filled with memory-making moments, this was a highlight. We rented a boat, packed a lunch, and took off on a two hour cruise. I'll admit it was one of our riskier parenting moves. Christopher, despite his naval career, is not a boating man. We were in a foreign country with three small children in unfamiliar water. Those life jackets were strapped on TIGHT!</div>
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The kids loved every bump and wave. I had to pinch myself to believe it was real.</div>
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Here's our little village, Domaso.</div>
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Each morning we hopped on bikes and rode through the cobblestone alleys to get coffee and pastries at a bakery by the lake. Heaven.</div>
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Another slightly insane outing...side trip to an AC Milan soccer match at the famous, century-old San Siro stadium in Milan. It was a Sunday evening match, so we figured it might be tamer than others. Milan is about an hour away from Lake Como. As a side note, if you're planning to hit a European soccer match, bring your passports. We were not allowed to buy tickets until we showed ours (which involved a 2K sprint to the car and back to fetch them...I'm so thankful they weren't left behind at the apartment! I would have been more thankful had I worn sensible shoes.).</div>
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We were all captivated by the spectacle.</div>
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On our final day, we headed home via Switzerland and yet another beautiful lake town. We love a good funicular, and the view at the top of this one was just stunning. </div>
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I felt like I was on top of the world.</div>
<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-81820977903891221712013-10-21T11:20:00.000-04:002013-10-21T11:20:00.662-04:00Growing PainsOur life is so different here that I can almost hear the creaking and groaning of the new reality trying to take shape. It's really not so easily summed up by the fact we are living around the world from all that's familiar. It's more in the pace of our days, how they stretch into a quietly lived week, how I fight against myself to try to accept and thrive in it. <br />
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Most dramatic is the kids' school schedules. We all manage to get ourselves up and out for the walk to school by 8:20. No sweat. Normal. But then it's all over and kids are home at 12:30! WHOA. Si goes back to school on Monday afternoons from 2:00 - 4:00. I think I should be signing Millie up for after school activities, but honestly, I am currently too overwhelmed to figure this out just yet. And baby Hannah's even in the mix. She started at the kindergarten this week, and once we've made it through the weeks-long adaptation process (which involves me staying with her at school for increasing lengths of time until she's ready to stay on her own), she'll probably spend three mornings a week there too. <br />
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So all of this leaves me with approximately one hour a day to get out of the house with any less than three kids to run errands. Gone are the days of traipsing the mall with a stroller and cup of starbucks. If I manage to get out of here, it's a panic filled dash through the market to get some groceries (or maybe boots, coats, school supplies, shovels, or whatever crazy other thing is being sold smack in the middle of these Euro grocery stores). Today it was the completion of the shockingly complicated process of printing out some pictures for a required photo album for Hannah's school (imagine asking where to find a photo-printing kiosk in another language. Then actually figuring out how to use it.)<br />
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My days and weeks are becoming what they should have been all along, I suppose. Home-focused. We stay here all week. The kids play, I unpack and make lists and hang pictures. In the good times, I bake or cook. In the best times, I plan and work with the kids on reading, math, and history lessons (lots of supplemental schooling needs to happen here so they can keep up for our eventual return to the States). I have great dreams of reading more, figuring out how to exercise outside in the snow, cooking meals with the kids, hosting my German neighbors for coffee. Wow. A real German haus-frau, I am. I figure I'm really not far off from knitting and canning things. I am unrecognizable. <br />
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In any case, if you know me well, you know how different this is and how difficult a transition it has been. Task oriented, on the move, out to see the world. There's no good way to check things off a list when you go days without leaving the house. But I hope this is what the kids need: more of their mom, more comfort at home, a slower pace. Time will tell. Perhaps this will be the real gift of our years here in this foreign land.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-37816470962137331512013-10-21T11:18:00.001-04:002013-10-21T11:18:20.847-04:00FriendsAnother move, more pieces of my heart left behind. <br />
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Here's what memories will flood my mind when I look at these photos:<br />
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A spontaneous girls' night with women who were strangers to me two years ago. Now I don't know how I'd live without them. All of us military wives and moms, four of us moving this summer, two of us leaving the country! My dear Sara taking the photo -- as always, in service to us in some way.<br />
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Beautiful, waterside runs with Kim and Yasin -- time for us to sort through lives and relationships and get recharged for the work ahead. Warm, easy friendships that came quickly (whole lifetimes shared in two years). These were sweet years.<br />
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<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-57758294473219431482013-10-21T11:09:00.000-04:002013-10-21T11:09:30.221-04:00Casey<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
This is simply heartbreaking. We had to leave our girl behind. She's thirteen now, slowing down and just too good of a dog to ask her to make this uncomfortable journey with us. She is with my mom and dad, living the extra sweet life in Colorado, already hiking and swimming in the mountain streams. What a gift they have given us -- to care for our girl in her final years. You can imagine the sadness, can't you? Casey was simply meant to be ours, to teach us and our kids about love and gentleness and loyalty. Goodbye sweet girl.</div>
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A sweet goodbye.</div>
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Final Family Photo. </div>
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A boy and his dog. Their last walk.</div>
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-71933821881726851102013-10-21T11:01:00.000-04:002013-10-21T11:12:11.175-04:00Greer Farewell <div class="mobile-photo">
Just before we left Norfolk we had a final, wonderful visit with Grumpa, Gamma, Gampa and Uncle Joshua. We hit the Portsmouth waterfront and appropriately, a German biergarten. A fun farewell!</div>
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-74011570787549346302013-09-16T09:57:00.002-04:002013-09-16T09:59:19.087-04:00School!We did it. THEY did it. First days of school are conquered. There may yet be rocky days ahead, but to have these first uncertain steps behind us is just a huge accomplishment. I can tell you now that they are much braver than I am. Walking into a room filled not only with people you don't know, but also filled with words in a language you don't understand. I can't even imagine the anxiety these two have overcome. <br />
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But here we are, at the end of Millie's first day in German schule. I'll try to capture these amazing memories:<br />
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Ahh. The Schultute (shool-too-ta). A German tradition especially for children entering first grade. It's a cone filled with treats. Millie's had chocolate, pencils, hair gear, cookies. We made the tute together.</div>
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Millie with her teacher (Frau Schroeder is on the right in the black sweater. She is WUNDERBAR!) and her classmates. They all gathered together in preparation for the special worship service in the village kirche. Parents dropped them here and headed across the street to the church. Frau Schroeder herded them into their classroom to drop their gear before joining us in the church.</div>
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We should take note here of the schulranzens. These are some SERIOUS backpacks. I had no idea what we were in for here. Thankfully we were forewarned that ALL the kids would have them so we should make the investment for Millie as well (an investment it is...these things run from 100-200 Euro! WHAT?). Take a good look. This thing is lasting her for years.</div>
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The worship service was breathtaking. The church is over five hundred years old with a lovely recent renovation. We were up in the balcony with both kids on laps. The kindest German gentleman took it upon himself to translate all the songs in the bulletin for me. Soon we had the two rows in front of us joining in to aid in the translation! What an awesome memory. </div>
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In Germany, it's a very big deal for kids to enter first grade. Here it is the transition from playschool (which is what Kindergarten is here) to real work. The community really invests in making this transition special for the kids. Our sweet landlady even dropped by with a gift and some homemade cookies for Millie for her big day!</div>
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Outside of the church.</div>
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Hands down my favorite photo of the day. Look at the light in her eyes! This was the first time we saw her after leaving her on the street with her classmates. She had just spent two hours on her own with her new friends. My heart leaps at this. She is not broken and afraid. She is happy, confident, hopeful. What a brave child.</div>
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This is today, Monday morning, on our way to school. </div>
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Daddy stayed home from work for the big event.</div>
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First we drop Si at the Kindergarten.</div>
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And then we walk next door to Millie's school. Which is also the firehouse. And also the town hall. Did I mention that we live in a very small village?</div>
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Her classroom. Kids up front, moms in the back for a little pep talk. There are 11 kids in Millie's class! YAHOO! Other items of note: we have figured out that she will have lessons in religion, math, english, german, art, music and gym. Once a week they will meet at the school at 7:15am and take the bus to the indoor pool for swimming. She keeps a special pair of "hausschue" (house shoes) at school and changes into them each morning once she gets inside. For these first two weeks, her school day runs from 8:45 - 11:45. After that it will be slightly longer, but will still end around lunchtime. She will always eat lunch at home. We haven't figured out yet if there is an afternoon component to this whole thing. Details, details. </div>
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Here we go!</div>
<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-24008296621005686372013-09-16T08:18:00.000-04:002013-09-16T10:20:21.298-04:00Si Does SchoolSimon started Kindergarten two weeks ago. The actual starting date was all a little touch and go, due to some questionable translation on my part. But once we got there, he just took off like it was home away from home. Again, I am amazed at this. I understand that the language of play is universal, but I am so proud of the way he has jumped in to this. Everyday he comes home with a new story of a game that he learned, a song they sung (in German of course), a friend he has made. My favorite comment, made ever-so-casually: "Mom, sometimes when I'm trying to think of a word, I forget my English and only think of German." Wow. While we are not quite this close to having a grasp of the language, it gives me hope that it will come, in time. <br />
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Some pics of his first day.<br />
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The daily walk/scooter/wagon/stroller ride. It's a five minute walk through the village. </div>
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On his way into Sunshine Kindergarten!</div>
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Seems pretty excited about it. Everyone does, actually. As usual, school proves to be such a wonderful place for me to meet friends as well. So many moms and dad have gone out of their way to welcome us (in English!) and show us the ropes. It's a soft, warm landing place for all of us.</div>
<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-17177104087660800002013-07-01T09:30:00.000-04:002013-07-01T08:18:58.520-04:00Soccer season...<br />
OK. Bear with me on a few of these posts. I need to make some entries in the family archive...keep some photos and thoughts as a way of 'scrapbooking' our day-to-day. I really wanted to make note of the kids' soccer seasons. Dad was away for all of the fall season, but he came back big time in the spring as Millie's team's coach. What a fun year!<br />
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<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-49437702544749407192013-07-01T09:25:00.000-04:002013-07-01T08:18:12.058-04:00Graduates<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
In those last frenzied days before we moved, both kids had cute graduation ceremonies at their schools.</div>
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Si is officially a Kindergartener. He finished a truly great year of Pre-K, with our beloved Mrs. McCreedy. There is a chance Hannah will be illiterate -- what will I do without Mrs. McCreedy teaching my children how to read? I need to step up my game. </div>
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Hannah joins in prayers during Simon's ceremony. Note that she keeps a tight grip on her raisin box!</div>
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Family photo after Millie's final school program. Swimsuit and cover-up were part of the costume!</div>
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Hugs with Papa after her kindergarten graduation ceremony. Hanging with Yams at Millie's Field Day. <br />
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-83946484070559655142013-07-01T09:20:00.000-04:002013-07-01T08:19:34.633-04:00The Last American Tri<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
One more race on American soil...one more family road trip in the name of triathlon. We headed down to small-town North Carolina for a weekend so Christopher could check "North Carolina" off his triathlon to-do list. Christopher had a great race (considering he'd been doing much of his training on an aircraft carrier!) and the kids and I made some fun of our own.</div>
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First triathlon as a family of 5!</div>
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-7962111627709303982013-06-29T09:30:00.000-04:002013-06-29T09:30:01.307-04:00An End<div class="mobile-photo">
When you're in the middle of it, deep into the details of living your life and getting through each day, it's tough to realize just how happy -- content -- you are. I slide this way too easily...focusing on the hard stuff and forgetting all that's great around me. </div>
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Fortunately, in the military, we are confronted with the chance to really reflect on the life that we are making and the life we are leaving behind. Every couple of years we stop and look back, feel the emptiness in our hearts as the goodbyes pile up and the unknown looms ahead. And for some reason, the hole in my heart feels just so big this summer. We are leaving so much behind. A life fully lived with people who deeply touched us. Friends who jumped in beside us and carried us through some tough times. Just really loved us well. </div>
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Our friend and neighbor hosted a little farewell gathering for us on our very last night in Norfolk. There has maybe never been a more perfect summer evening. Kids of all ages running in packs to secret hiding spots, making fire-pit smores, climbing tree forts, living it up. And all my friends, reflecting on how lucky we are to have found each other, begging each of them to plan a visit to us soon. </div>
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It was a perfect send off. A great measurment of just how fully we dug into life these past two years. A feeling of love and hope for our next adventure.<br />
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These babies are all less than a month apart, and have know each other for nearly all their lives. There are hardly words for what these friends, Sara and Kim, and their families mean to me.</div>
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Addy made the decorations for the party. I was touched.<br />
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My Kim, hanging with my kids. She is their other mother, I think!<br />
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Thanks for the send off my friends!<br />
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-69687276340323049432013-06-25T11:20:00.000-04:002013-06-25T11:31:30.152-04:00Diving In<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: left;">
As you can imagine, this has been an overwhelming week for us. We have had highs (funny evenings at the biergarten, beautiful encounters with warm, friendly Germans). We have had lows (more than our share of illness given our circumstances, an emotional and exhausting hunt for housing). Overall, though, we have hope. Hope that on the other side of these intense weeks (the military calls it 'indoctrination'...how perfect), we'll find a new normal for ourselves. A spectacularly interesting and challenging life is ahead. </div>
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So let's start with the good stuff first. On Saturday (six days after our arrival) we hit the backroads for our first German castle. Our real life Disney World. This was a promise we made to the kids weeks ago and they were psyched to make it happen. We visited Schloss Hohenzollern, about an hour south of us. We arrived at noon to learn that the castle would be closed to tourists until 2:00 because the royal family was having a baby christening in the castle. Thankfully we had picnic supplies with us, so we went down the hill a bit and found the perfect spot in the shadow of the castle.</div>
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We finally made it to the castle for our tour (a colassal rookie mistake -- Hannah is simply not made for civilized group tours of fancy places. Never again.) We all put on giant slippers and made our way around. By the end, Hannah was in full melt down -- face down on her nigh nigh beneath the armor and swords of the kingdom. Whatever. I kind of wanted to cry, too.</div>
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-35454792308045074062013-05-26T09:26:00.003-04:002013-05-26T09:26:48.872-04:00Great Wolf Lodge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh yes, we did it. Family trip to Great Wolf Lodge. The Sanzi's (our friends of 'annual summer visit to Rhode Island' fame) planned the perfect getaway/meet-up for our families. We met at the halfway point between us -- the Poconos -- for some intense vacation time together. We were so outnumbered that the whole thing was just ridiculously fun. The Sanzi boys were fearless; Millie rode every waterslide in the place (including the scary one, she'll tell you) and Si even got it together enough to ride some impressive slides. Hannah was her rascally, exhausting self. Here you go:</div>
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Here's a cute little "then and now" action. Photo above is JJ and Millie in the summer of 2007. Mils is 10 months old. Photo below is 2013. These two were awesome together. First borns unite! </div>
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<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-49208292220140022622013-05-11T19:08:00.000-04:002013-05-11T19:08:20.838-04:00Nationals with the Strimbu's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Look at these kids, all wrapped up in love from friends who've known them almost since the day they were born. We met up with Greg and Sybil for a picnic in the park and a Nationals baseball game. I was totally psyched to 1) See my friends; 2) Watch Steven Strasburg pitch; and 3) Eat an Italian Store sub. And oh yeah...enjoy a baseball game with the kiddos. They hung in for a solid 7 innings and we loved our every minute with the Strimbu's. Goodbye wasn't even that bad..."See you soon in Germany!"</div>
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-20726444634461165222013-05-08T08:34:00.001-04:002013-05-08T08:34:42.107-04:00Some Springtime HappinessJust us living life here in Norfolk:<br />
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Easter</div>
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A beautiful walk in the neighborhood</div>
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Learning to read.</div>
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Simon and his friend watching the big sisters' soccer game.</div>
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Hannah and her "bock-pock"</div>
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Oh heavens. This guy showed up just outside our back door. Five foot rat snake with his recent lunch bulging in his belly. I am so freaked out.</div>
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Simon and Daddy named him Ratatouille</div>
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-19675090699381856332013-05-07T11:34:00.000-04:002013-05-07T11:34:09.680-04:00Reunion Getaway<i>Can't believe I never posted this. It's old news now (November 2012), but very very fond memories for us.</i> <br />
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Maybe one of the best decisions we've made. As soon as Christopher got home from deployment we hopped in the car for a four day getaway to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We found the most perfect little set up at the Marriott resort: a little apartment with two bedrooms, kitchen, balcony, etc. plus TONS of daily activities for the family. Obstacle course for the kids, evening smores, movie night...<br />
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Breakfast in our 'room'.</div>
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Christopher was the master of 'scavenger hunts'. He'd give the kids lists of things to find and they'd take off all over the resort to take photos of the found objects. They loved it!</div>
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Bowling Night!</div>
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Yes, he's bowling with Hannah in his arms!</div>
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The view from my run one morning. Gorgeous.</div>
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-16640305270456115832013-04-30T13:01:00.000-04:002013-04-30T13:01:42.951-04:00Where We're AtThese days I find myself a jumble of emotions. The easiest one to label is "freaked out". Overwhelmed. At capacity. We've got a lot happening around here and I wonder if I'll get it all done. But I also feel conflicted...I've got my head firmly planted in Germany: working logistics, planning the move, panicking about housing and drivers' licenses and passports. But my heart is right here with this beautiful life we've made with these wonderful friends. Two years is nothing...it's the blink of an eye. But once again, I am getting choked up thinking about saying goodbye. I could live life with these people forever. I could let them continue to help me raise these kids. I wonder how I did it before them. <br />
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So...logistically...here's where we're at. Six weeks until pack and load out. Seven weeks until we're on the plane. School's winding down and triathlon and field trip season are in full swing. We thought we had found and nailed down an awesome house for us in a great little village in Germany, but it is not meant to be. We got an email last week telling us that the current tenants are not leaving this summer (I mean, I can hardly blame them...it's awesome...but still!), so we're back to square one. Deep breaths, deep deep prayer. When we land in Germany we'll live in a hotel for many weeks, as long as it takes to find a place to live. Our household goods will arrive sometime in August (we hope!) In a few weeks we'll put our van on a boat to Europe, to be seen again in 6-8 weeks (we hope!). In the midst of it all we are also going to say goodbye to Casey. Oh God. She's going to live with my parents in Colorado...her version of heaven on earth. She's 13 years old now and slowing down a bit. We fear the ride over plus the upheaval of it all would be too much to ask of such an angel of a dog. I can't bear it. I don't know how I will. <br />
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So there's a little stream-of-consciousness update for you. Would love your prayers for God's will for our family. We certainly have ideas about how we would like it to go, but it only really works if it's His plan. Let it be so.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-74690184354683291352013-04-30T13:00:00.003-04:002013-04-30T13:00:49.076-04:00Spring Break, Charlottesville Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These scenes look familiar, huh? We took the opportunity for one last quick visit to Charlottesville during the kids' spring break. It did not disappoint. Well, I'm sure the weather could have been better, but we had a blast anyway. Some shots from our always-awesome hike on the Rivanna River trail. <br />
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<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-20055494247688607242013-03-01T10:21:00.000-05:002013-03-01T10:21:00.074-05:00Virginia BeachSometimes it's good for us to remember that we live at the beach...well, just 20 miles away. Here are a few shots from a chilly winter morning spent at the ocean. I will remember how the beach brings out the puppy in Casey. She loved every minute on the sand. Such an amazing dog.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5846639767596271506"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZma1nomEWJ5CmTKWBqRJtdv1ctIBKfXReWJTKAgqH0tbzR-aJWJtSQtxvmukEJWs99zLiUqLsvBCXpJMnP-JHG04IJvHACRE1lYSkNfCQDj7d44F6C5oTPAnc_KHv7yOg_32-2JBUPuAE/s288/1.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
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<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-62073317626796518552013-02-27T10:16:00.000-05:002013-02-27T10:16:00.146-05:00Italy pics<br />
It was all it was meant to be. Met every expectation. Our little getaway to southern Italy was the perfect reunion after a long separation. And it was just so, so beautiful<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5805963732529847474"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMRPvgzb7GA86KgnjJ9BBeUsJZtvI3kjBiPnvdEad6FQGCWjit915Bg64IRlxmAzuDu0tGN_wFiObhCNY0YKV5-MSE8QJikb5idbzT1fnzhXp8H4twbkokaWOxuN2yjhr76zoSWsW3iuI/s288/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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We met up in Naples after a long chaotic day of waiting and waiting for the carrier to anchor and the crew to be shuttled to shore. What we thought would be a noon reunion turned into a midnight spectacle of high seas and happy reunions.</center>
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There's the Enterprise, anchored about two miles off shore.</center>
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Ohhh Sorrento! This is our balcony and the view from our room. I could not have asked for a more perfect setting. We were about 1 1/2 miles from downtown Sorrento, which made for a couple of nice runs right along the beautiful Amalfi coast. We couldn't help thinking how much it reminded us of La Jolla.</center>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5805963864497049874"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiLDC9IzNSP5VWRqw7NdlYJcoopdCOlXWsQD5dsIm5nxPTXdBe-Qg4k4AEzvcdBtMx55z97-KncYe3RtszVSSKSFdEXQROMwxXVppBL0hjKvPamsmYKNTZYW1aZc9AeBbh2RJypvfrVSH/s288/3.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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On a day trip to Capri, we were 'adopted' by an awesome local lady named Nunzia. We met on the ferry and she proceeded to take us all over her own little island. The picture above is of Via Krupp, a winding walkway leading down to a little local beach. </center>
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Here's Nunzia. She spoke very, very little English. We had no Italian unless you count frantic hand gestures and the back page vocabulary listing in our guide book. This was a day we'll never forget.</center>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5805963978029838626"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5RRgtUfI4Akk3lVlWf6OQgNpPas-VU4QnGFine_Vtlr_bD06r0TQiFnrgzDF6e_61wbe9mskuXWInTaUNYF0XWgAiJHwskH7uoEKY1ZjZXQe2E84uZ8iZWZZQbGQIFOFj9gz6doF-mmN/s288/6.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
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View of Capri from the very top of Mount Solare (reached via single chair lift).</center>
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We woke up the next morning with two cruise ships and a vintage sailing ship docked outside of our hotel balcony.</center>
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Positano!</center>
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Shopping the streets of Naples. I really fell in love with this dirty, complicated little city.</center>
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"Best cannoli ever."</center>
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The entire city gathered in the piazzas that night to watch the Napoli v. Juventis soccer match. Restaurants put up big screens in the squares and glasses of beer flowed. Totally awesome.</center>
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What a trip!</center>
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-12248161051682196502013-02-25T10:14:00.000-05:002013-02-25T10:14:00.052-05:00True LoveI can't enough of these two together. Casey is Hannah's best friend. She calls her "Dog Dog" and lights up when Casey walks into the room. They share nearly every snack and meal seem to do more than just mutually tolerate each other. I'm sure there's some real, true love there.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5811571576104464018"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p-yuTNPD9p5gseLodljARN90NnmgNDhwym1_7vDN9Z2X1TX18s3XLE3YApKxq2dWSQkNS7R-zAduErHbHluace6DUMM-pQgFHMlpy8_tbQk4e5a8OQXeAbWmkTtRc4vk_S506S8By1Am/s288/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center>
<br />Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-80443966508894886522013-02-23T10:23:00.002-05:002013-02-23T10:33:04.149-05:00Snow Day!<br />
First, and so far only, snow of the year. We quickly bundled up and played in it. Hannah loved it for thirty seconds. Refusing mittens has it's price.<br />
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Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135529343741559272.post-63732867866286264642013-02-23T10:13:00.001-05:002013-02-23T10:13:33.129-05:00The HomesteadWe were so fortunate to be able to return to our favorite family resort, The Homestead, for some pre-Christmas family time just a few weeks before Christmas. It was as magical as ever...fully decorated, loads of activities for the kids, and just a great time to be together and watch the kids run and play and make memories.<br />
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Chess lessons in the garden room.</div>
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Afternoon tea in the lobby.</div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5822657874023211170"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRGxfmOIYXEAh6Ga-lUtlWR2PZQcgE42qOVIQsNweWPm9ZAj1F9xYOZxhtS3k8eZHGWJo1DR8Wo21FMn9G8bnzL0Vj3AAXg85b6BSEEQ-vzTkRxGtVjJG4_J7CYaHeDFKroYq2r2KnGcY/s288/6.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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Back when the walking wasn't so steady.</div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5822657911670743938"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaZqVApMtLpJ5pSpnmjoKYGR4W4DMSIUnyahw9RmB7LH2qt5RTZMH2tYnRFuuFxI-OQPV0AezBWzPJ5a-WqJPyyOrw_Ug8J58s0ueg3Kqk84Z_vGyJtaYeHewoParYCXCtU3IRF5GZGCt/s288/7.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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Bit of nightime ice skating.</div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5822658024530809634"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4NGJbbTXJOQm8Hudl1PAXmMRLEgplOraWQLqtc1HthqgoxJOhFkyoQB9OEMYYWZWTiM39e9wycAl2G01p8lLlXkuK8_76aUVe85URwpB6jc0KQr52d98_clzEg767HHma0p66nbTckq1/s288/10.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5822658108788203570"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqcPXGOS899rwoAmH7U_0ZarHQBwpInQ31lSkD8XYRMPTSnauFaKGOi6ukU6H-dybH-Jvzzd7s1ivXIY7eOCWbTrMXfUYFfkX6BbxsYGrrNqP0vw0Rh488u_OUaoG-ExmCEAWKPz7b9iA/s288/12.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5822658150759181698"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M73Wdo90ODojBUb75NW85GM54jvEty00IhB1fSz1QMG1G70VRHAxq67-TmI_7txjkEQC3zJTWqC6PQ8ysfdg9w60LkbNbEkY1iwHYXkm5hb25fJt9Bpq-RNXrH67k0yhbCXDxZqwUS4C/s288/13.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5822658236421120578"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlEIkoZ5zAs0cAPYoJHK3VhjXwqj3O1LoAHv9LXAns4c7eYqMaop_YdmprIoGbqjIQ5o0VsKzsCSkkOGj6OD-MCXc2UaiI7a4vStV9oIDowr6g7qdQalcIo5TnrDQC2wrgo-o0_S542we/s288/15.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staceysgreer/AllAboutAmeliaSimonHannah02?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-im-a8u8rd3gE#5822658323942825698"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9Wh83N83h9y5xDm9FrEIeRb_yEdBZ907HX_Jw6jjbWDDilPK7Me-75-DWA6_nyV3yqJ3HtSJFj8SrP-rBFCv4lqy-_mgIMQicoQdrfCwsO1EOeUBx1z20gjW1W5TBxFEchnHY5LUQhOB/s288/18.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417779986284465684noreply@blogger.com1