Baby Bird Tattoos

A few nights ago, the kids had just gotten out of the bath, and put their pajamas on. We were watching a movie, and looked over to see Tess drawing all over her leg with a purple (not washable) marker. I asked her what she was doing and she told me "drawing on my leg to make it beautiful." I was irritated but curious, so I asked "what could you possibly be putting on your leg to make it more beautiful than it already is?" She explained "a beautiful bird." We do call her "Lady Bird" and "Our Baby Bird" sometimes Grandma Lynn calls her "T Bird" or we shorten it to just "Bird."

None of us have tattoos, it is not something we encourage. So we think we'll just balme Erik's brother Vance.

Munnich

Our first big adventure came just a few weeks after our Jeep arrived. Family travel in our car was a big step for us. We decided to go to Bavaria and check out Munnich and the Neuschwansten Castle. We planned for a few days to make sure out big American Jeep would be able to park and drive in a city. So we went out with some excitment and trepedation.

Then... less than 30 minutes out of Heidelberg there was a stau (traffic jam) on the autobahn and we were rear-ended. After, feeling really awkward trying to learn the how to drive here, the autobahn, teeny tiny parking spaces, low parking garages and zippy little European cars, It made me finally feel good about keeping our big, American car. Tess was way back in the third row, and didn't even know that we were hit! She was safe and we are thankful. Unfortunately for the other driver it smashed in the front of his car. We had been warned that Germans can be pretty irate and crazy when in a car accident. Lucky for us he was pretty mellow. He didn't speak any English and we have a very limited Deutsch vocabulary. With minimal damage to our car we got the gentleman's information and continued on the trip.

When we finally arrived in Munnich, all of our worries about our car being too big were put to rest, when our parking was outside! We were actually staying in a Holiday Inn (because we could book on-line and pay in dollars rather than euro) at the edge of town, but within a quick walk to the train to go into the city and see the sites. The first thing we went to see was Marienplatz, where the town hall stands and we could see this great clock tower! At a certain time each day (which we were there for on one of the days) the chimes toll and then music begins and these figures in the clock move. It was made to celebrate the end of a plague. Below are a few pics of the clock tower and town hall, the one to the far right is Graham at the top!

Just by coincidence, as we were on our way to find the Hofbrau Haus, our kids were distracted by these giant metal lions and started climbing on them. After a minute or two Erik looked over to see two of the people that he worked with at Ft. Gordon, watching their son climb on the same lions! There was a great beer hall, an oompah band, pretzels, gingerbread, food and don't forget the bier!

We did the touristy thing and took a tour on the top of one of the on/off double decker tour buses without a roof. We had an English guide and were able to learn a little about the city, saw Olympic Park, Surfers on the river, and visited the palace. Here is a picture of Erik looking all Rick Steves with his guide book and another one of the children getting along!

The next day we drove through the beautiful Bavarian countryside, saw the Alps in the distance and reached Hoanschwagen and Neuschwanstein Castles.

When Tess saw her walking around on the grounds of Hoanschwagen,

and was sure she was a princess. She wanted to have her picture taken with the princess. As we approached her, it turns out it was the Bavarian Milch Queen. She gave Tess a square of cheese which Tess promptly popped into her mouth and posed for the picture.

King Ludwig, mysteriously died as Neuschwanstein neared completion and the castle became a tourist attraction shortly after. It was not built as a fortress like most castles. The Cinderella Castle is modelled after this one. The King had a very close relationship with Wagner, and many of the rooms follow the storylines of Wagners Operas. Hoanschwagen (the yellow castle) is where Lidwig actually lived most of his life and where he watched Neuschwanstein being built from.

Graham snapped this picture as we were leaving to head back to Heidelberg, we all agreed it was a really good shot!

Household Goods Are Coming Today!!

Our household goods were all packed up in the middle of June. We were promised to see them again by August 13. Lucky for us they are not too far past due. They are scheduled to be delivered (hopefully intact) today. We received a message from transportation on our answering machine last Thursday, and got back to them first thing Friday morning to confirm delivery for Monday. Unfortunately, for some strange reason the housing office was not open (or not responding to emails and phone calls) on Friday. So now we are scrambling to get a hold of them to schedule the earliest possible pick-up of our temporary furniture. It will be a very tight fit to squeeze our regular belongings into our teensy-weensy apartment with this stuff. I will add more as I get time as to the progress of our day.

Hairdryer?

This happened awhile ago, but I am just now getting around to adding the picture:

I did not move my hairdryer or curling iron because I didn't know if they would work in the outlets here. Besides my hairdryer (which was a really nice one that I have loved for several years) was beginning to die and would only work on low. I knew I would get a new one when we got here so I just trudged on with it the last few months. During our stay in Indiana I wore my hair in a ponytail most of the time, or borrowed my Mother's dryer.

Now we are in Army lodging and there is this beige machine on the wall, with a long tube. Erik told me it is a hairdryer. So this morning when he left I decided to give it a try.

Verdict: Yes, it is a hairdryer. It works fine if you are in a pinch (like I was) but not something I would purchase. The long hose piece gets very hot and I would have to stop drying every few minutes so I could cool it down.

The Big Move!

July 6th, around midnight, the decision was made to leave Fifi with Grandma and Grandpa Brack, until we had a better travel itinerary. Since we left, Fifi has joined Facebook. We keep in touch with her there, if you are on FB befriend her (Fifi Hendrickson) and you too can randomly follow the day to day life and ramblings of a cat.



Our travel began at 3:30 a.ma. on July 7th. We drove to Baltimore, MD where we relaxed and swam while Erik dropped off the Jeep to be shipped. We flew out of BWI, landed in Chicago, switched flights and traveled through time to Germany. Landed in Frankfurt, were picked up and brought to Heidelberg. Jet lag of 6 hours.

We stayed at Army Lodging which is in the Patrick Henry Village. PHV is out of town and away from public transportation, but has our Commissary, library and most of the kid activities, including the Middle School and the larger of the two Elementary schools. There is also a movie theater, bowling alley, put-putt, Burger King and stuff like that. There is a gigantic playground just across from lodging. The kids loved this!

Waited for housing assignment, for a week. They had a 3 bedroom for us at Patrick Henry but we really wanted to be on Mark Twain, so we gave up a bedroom. It will actually work out okay because we gained 100 sq. ft from the apartment at Patrick Henry. As we were waiting for deliveries a 3 bedroom opened up in our stairwell, but housing would not let us move. Though we were disappointed, we really like our stairwell and will make our 2 bedroom work.

Erik and I both got our drivers licenses the first 2 weeks we were here, then we were lucky enough to have someone loan us their car for a few weeks. Ours has since arrived and we are grateful!

Graham has been atteneding SAS Camps, which are camps through the Army, Child and Youth Services. They are excellent! The first week he visited Gutenberg Castle where they had animal displays and a bird show. He claims an angry German in the front row got their money back because one of the birds pooped on their his head. They went to Lochnuhle amusement park near Frankfurt where the kids can power some of the rides. He also went on a river cruise on the Neckar River, where he saw 3 more castles! The next week they went to the Frankfurt Zoo, and to the arts and crafts center where he painted a ceramic ornament.

Since it has been several weeks since I started this post, I will add updated pictures of the apartment soon!

Indiana Visit

Mid June the movers came and loaded up our house for the trip to Germany, and we took about two weeks to go home to Liberty and Boonville, Indiana.
In Liberty, there was a lot of work to do on our house, which consumed much of our visit. we tore down the long retaining wall next to the driveway and rebuilt it, and had new garage doors put on. The whole project took about 8 full days, and of course we picked the hottest week of the year to outside. Besides Erik's sunburn we are happy with the new wall and garage doors.

When not working on the wall, we had a great time relaxing and visit with family. We started off in Liberty and were able to see all the Rosenbergers and Bracks. We played on the farm, swam in the pool, and went canoing. Again, it was hot and the pool was great.

When not in the pool the kids were able to spend time with their grand and great grandparents. While we were working on the house, they fell right back into playing with the neighbors, Luke and Lydia.

A big highlight were two trips to the Hornung Family's pond.

After a week in Liberty we sped off to Boonville to see the Hendrickson group. The highlight of the trip was an evening at Aunt Nacy's house. The Hendricksons and Carithers came together for a day of fishing, food and fireworks. It was a great time.

We took a trip to Holiday World. Vance, Mason, and Alice all brought their better halves and joined in. Graham and I started off riding a few big costers. Tess and Angie played on the small rides and big play ground in Holly Dog Land. In the afternoon, we all played in the water park. The slides were very cool. Vance Graham and Erik rode a group tube slide together. That was a lot of pail men on one float.

Since Tess was turning 4, she had her ears pierced with beautifulbutterfly earrings in Evansville.

Back in Liberty to round out the trip, Tess celebrated her 4th birthday. We had a co-birthday party for Bill and Tess in the Rosenberger Barn, and party at the Brack's. It was a lot of fun!

For the Fourth of July, we Young/Bracks came together for a rendition of a low country srimp boil. That evening we dodged raindrops and watched the fireworks from the front yard.

Thanks to all the family that came out to see us and send us off. It is great to know that you all care so much, or that you will fein caring to get good food. Anyway we miss you.

Brookville Canoefest 2009

Some of you may not know of this hoosier spectacle, but the Canoefest is truly a big event for the state, or it may become one if others learn where Brookville, Indiana is located.






(Angie's note on this picture: This is one of my former students with her father, passing us. They actually started with the group behind us. Her younger sister and mother passed us too! They ended up winning the mixed youth/adult group. What a great family activity!)

For those of you that don't know. The Fest is a weekend event held on the Whitewater River about 45 min. northwest of Cincinnati. Not only are there canoe races, recreational canoe trips and other canoe related events, there are also concerts and the states largest fried chicken cook-off. It is a small town good time for all.


This year Angie and I were able to take part in the weekend as we took some time off from our move to Germany. The first plan was for Angie and I to enter into one of the fun races, but this plan was quickly changed. As Angie put it,"Erik was stolen for the bank team." This is not quite true. I was given to the bank team by her and I had no part in the plan. But, it worked out great! her good friend, Randi Hollen and she made an awesome (not humble) team.

The girls did not tell one another that each of them had never canoed until the morning of the race, but their inexperiance was quickly overcome as they ran the two mile coures in a good time and did not flip the boat over. I was able to see them a two points in the course and they ran right down the middle of the river with no problem.

When it was time for them to stop they had some issues. The finish line was on the bank of the river just before a area of fast water. They over shot the bank and would have sill been going down the river without the help of a few wet race workers.

I had equal luck in my race with the Bath State Bank Team and our leader Gorge. We finish the race first and second, and beat the hard charging FCN Bank time be several minutes. For our effort Gorge and I took the first place trophy. Though I have always canoed, this was the first time that I had raced in a canoe, and it was fun. Outside of the fact I was in a boat, it was alot like being on a bike. The cool part was the groups of my fans on the bridges as we pasted by. Sports quote: "Without the fans, Erik could not do what Erik do."

This was a very fun event and a great way to spend a day on the river.