The move
After a weeek or so of pure chaos, all our household goods were packed, loaded, as well as the hold baggage, and our storage stuff stored. Some things that weren't supposed to get packed ended up in storage, and some things were shipped although we wanted to keep them on hand, but all in all it went O.K. Michael was a real trooper, he enjoyed the new opportunities to play hide and seek.
But then we were finally packed and on our way out the door!
Christmas in Germany
After a 18-hour drive all afternoon and night we arrived in Dover, DE. It was a nerve-racking wait to hear our names called, but then we got onto a Space A flight to Ramstein, Germany. What an experience!! Flying in a C17 is the way to go, it seems. Both our kids slept almost the entire time, we had room for our legs, and there was so much to eat in our lunch boxes that we couldn't finish them.
Finally we settled in at my parents' house in Biberach, Germany, where everybody and everything was just waiting for us. So good to rest and get spoiled after those stressful last weeks!
We didn't really have a white Christmas, but it was very peaceful and happy. The guys got to pick out and cut down our Christmas tree themselves! 
Michael ended up with way too many gifts, he couldn't even open them all on Christmas Eve. In fact, there are still some unopened today. Next year we need to limit the amount of presents, I guess.Joe
After some very stressful weeks in the IE course and outprocessing in a hurry, Joe was looking forward to some rest and some fun in the snow in Garmisch. The latter lasted about half a day before he fell (trying to avoid another person) and broke his arm on Saturday, 12/27. After a trip to the hospital in Garmisch he knew he had to have surgery. He came back to the Black Forest the next day and we got him treated in Freiburg at the university hospital. Although they were booked up for a week or so, he got surgery the next day (12/30) after some very painful attempts to reset his bones failed. He stayed in the hospital for one night and is doing O.K. now. He got a plate and some screws inserted to stabilize the bone, and everything is healing very well. Not fast enough of course for Joe who wants to be able to fly again as soon as possible.
Joe also turned one year older. He thought he could get away without celebrating, but he did have to endure a chorus of "Happy Birthday", a Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte, and a grill-out at temperatures below freezing with all those yummi German sausages. Poor guy! ;-)
By now Joe has left Germany and is on his way to Hawaii with a short stop in Indianapolis to visit family. He is very disappointed that he didn't get to see the Colts play in a play-off game... and our little Colts fan is too!
Michael
Michael seems to get cuter every day.
He had a hard time getting over the jetlag, but now he is all settled in and loving all the new opportunities to explore. No button stays untouched, no drawer closed, and no chair in place. And - drumroll - he seems to be starting to talk! Finally he says Mama, Dada, Aia (Annika), Baba (Opa) and Mama (Oma). Yep, there are two Mamas in there, but he manages to make clear which one he is referring to. Christian is too difficult for him, so when he wants to address him, he just says "Hi!!".Unfortunately there hasn't been enough snow yet to go sled riding, but Michael didn't mind. Just walking around in the snow and pulling the sled is enough.
But he is prepared for snow-shoveling duty already!!
Annika
Annika is getting big so quickly!! She can roll from her tummy onto her back and vice versa, she is almost ready to sit up, and she started grabbing things. Although overall she seems to be calming down, she can still scream bloody murder when the mood strikes her.
But now she makes up for it in her good hours with her killer smile. No one can resist it, you just have to smile back!
Well, that's basically it. Not much to report about me. I didn't get injured, I haven't learned anything new, and I only got bigger around the waist because of all the good food during the holidays. I did get a new haircut though. I liked it on the day I got it. Now I just wish I could style
it the same way again!
Happy New Year to all of you!
No comments:
Post a Comment