Where we live in Germany - part IV -- on the inside

This is the view from our bedroom window ... The first roof is the roof of our garage, then the neighbors house ... then the way out of the village ...

This is the view from Spencer's window, looking down the street the other direction. (That yellow house you can see? That is the son of the neighbor that you can see from our bedroom window ... Very family-related village ...)

This is another view from Spencer's window. More directly out, looking at our other neighbor's house. That house is where our Landlord's mother lives with his sister (Ula) and her american husband (Carlos). Ula owns a flower shop downtown. She grows some things in her greenhouse, and some of those shrubbery for her shop. If you could blow up the picture really big, you could see the date 1847 on the side of the house, up by the roof. That wall of the house was built in 1847 ... The rest of the house had to be rebuilt after WWII. When Bitburg was bombed on Christmas Eve, part of Liessem was hit as well ... This is our living room ... complete with hunky guy to sit on couch ... (the piano is a rental) ... The balcony goes past this window to a door just to the right of the window ...

This would be the view from the other side of the living room. (cat not for sale) That brown thingy with ovals on it? Is our "warmy". From the hallway, you build the fire. Then the fire heat the hall, the kitchen, this room (notice the vents on it), and 2 bedrooms upstairs ... We love it!

Where we live in Germany - part III -- on the inside

We'll start with the kitchen ... (sorry I didn't clean up first, I really wanted to get this done today ...) Very large for German standards... I put textured contact paper on all the cupboards and then painted them red - my neighbors (our landlord's family) were very impressed! I love my long counter with the attached low counter for the kids to sit on stools at ... From this view, you see what appears to be a large oven, or a double oven ... Not so!! Some sort of built-in microwave on top (that I don't trust, so it stores owner's manuals for all the stuff in the house), and a small German oven on the bottom. That large looking cupboard door between the oven and the display case? That is really a refridgerator!! That is the size fridge that German's use!! Crazy!! ... That brown door leads to, what I affectionately call "the pantry". In there is our American refridgerator and our 3 German garbage cans (clean paper, aluminum & plastic, and household trash), plus the glass recycle box and shelves with all the cleaning stuff, etc. This is one small corner of Devin's room... He has a queen bed that he loves to give up when company comes (hint, hint!!) ... This room is large! You can't tell from this picture. He has 2 full wardrobes (shranks, as the Germans say) and still lots of room on one wall, then the whole other side of the room is open space with a small table for homework ... This is Spencer's room, complete with Spencer... His room is the smallest, but still plenty big! He has 4 wardrobs in his room, two dressers, and his bed & still room for the roll out bed for when his brother shares his room when company comes... Shelby's room, with Shelby in it ... Her room is by far the largest ... She has hugmongous wardrobs down one wall. She has tons of open space and likes to spread out all over it ...

Where we live in Germany - part II

This is the view from my kitchen window ... Lucky for me, Agnes & Anna keep a beautiful garden between their houses. I have a beautiful view ... looking out my window, Anna lives on the right in the farm house they grew up in. Then walk through the path through the gardens, and on the left is Agnes (and her hubby the "Bergermiester" - mayor, for those of you non-german speakers) ... They are both VERY sweet and friendly! Agnes's house ... Anna's house ... See that hay in the shed? Agnes stands in the back of the tractor, and pitches it up to the window above the door!! I'm not planning on getting on her bad side ... (not sure what the grave marker in the garden is for, but my other neighbors assure me it is Not a grave ...) Another view of the balcony that goes from the patio to the back door of the living room ...

Where we live in Germany

This post is for Kimberly (and Rebecca, and anyone else who has pestered me for photos of where we live - sorry I'm so slow at getting to it!!) As you are coming down our street, the double garage is first, then our hedge, then the house ... This is the side of the house that is behind the hedge ... We have a great outdoor patio, and above (with the flowers that Darren so lovely cared fore) is a small balcony off of our bedroom & attaching to Devin's as well ... This is the front door. The house is built on a little hill, so that you actually walk out of the basement door. (see below for a side view-- it gives a better understanding) This is the other side of the house ..Top windows are Spencer's & Shelby's room. Next row is the main floor - Darren's office, bathroom, my office. Bottom row is the basement - GUEST ROOM (complete with beds and dresser - hint! hint!), guest bathroom, and the game room.. Behind our house is a fun little river (it's behind those trees) .. This is the view from the balcony that goes around the back of the house from the back patio (above) to the living room door... LOVE this balcony ..

ABC's of Me!!

I saw this on another friend's blog & liked it! (so, I stole it ...) enjoy!

ABC'S of me

A- Attached or single: happily attached

B- Best Friend: Darren, my kids, each new friend I make (can't choose a best! they are all great in their own way!!

C-Cake or Pie: hmmm... probably PIE ... PECAN!! or banana, or strawberry, or lime, or (I'm not picky)

D- Day of Choice: I like Sundays after church ... I like my nap, and game time with the family. I also like when we invite other people over for dessert on Sundays. Plus, I have fond memories of Sundays spent with popcorn, the new disney movie, and canned peaches or pears (I preferred the pears!) ...

E- Essential Item: hmm ... tough one, I don't usually think of things as essential (sounds far too serious) ... well, I have to have my military ID if I want to get on base... I would say ... INTERNET, high speed of course ... I like to check my email and I love finding out info and news.

F- Favorite Color: in decorating ... probably blue (although I have loved my RED cupboards in both Texas, and now here) ... but for clothes, I love white.

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: gummi bears...then I don't feel like I'm eating as many ;) ... plus, I like the texture better ...

H- Hometown: Livonia, Michigan

I- Indulgence(s): internet, reading, sweets ... finding the perfect gift for someone ...

J- January or July: JULY ... gotta have my SUNSHINE ... and I love summer break!

K-Kids: 3- Devin (a 9th grader!?!), Shelby (7th grade), and Spencer (3rd grade) -- don't know how they got to be that old when I just barely finished college and got married ... (I'm my mind, I'm still skinny and athletic too ..)

L-Life is incomplete without: Family! and the gospel ...

M- Marriage Date: December 29, 1992

N- Number of Siblings: 5! Reed (the BMOC), Kimberly (super creative), Anne (totally uplifting), Ryan (well... Ryan), & Nathan (the baby, and mom's favorite;)

O- Oranges or Apples: definitely apples -- Honey crunch are my new favorite, but still love a good Granny Smith with CARMEL

P- Phobias or Fears: speaking in front of people, being in charge, offending, criticisim, loss of family ...

Q- Quote(s): "If you look like your passport photo, you probably need the trip", & "There will be a time when you think that everything is finished, that will be the beginning."

R- Reason To Smile: my husband -- and my funny kids!

S- Season: Fall or Summer: SUMMER, always has been, always will be!

T- Tag Three: Valerie, Shadoe, & Samantha

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I'm pretty insecure ... (about a LOT of things..)

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: Oppressor of animals, but I don't feel the need to hunt them myself (unlike the men folk I live with) ... but, everyone knows that bacon makes everything taste better!!

W- Worst Habit: getting easily distracted ... If you give a mouse a cookie ...

X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: either - my hubby is a Radiologist! =)

Y- Your Favorite Food: type of food? PIZZA!! (and just about any kind of baked item!!)

Z: Zodiac: Aquarius (even if i can't spell it ...)

German Ecke

There is a HUGE monument to Kasier Wilhelm here and a great view from inside it. This is where the Rhine river and Mosel river come together. We spent the day here, on July 16th, and then headed down through Saint Goar to take a cruise on the river ...

very fun and relaxing day ... There were castles along the way, and a beautiful veiw...

Spaghetti Eise!!

As we made our way back from Burg Eltz, we stopped in Cochem. This town has a very cute castle up on a hill, surrounded by grape vinyards ... but, best of all... it has great Spaghetti Eise!! Spaghetti Eise is a squirt of whip cream, covered by ice cream that has been through an extruder to look like spaghetti noodles, then strawberry sauce and sprinkled with grated white chocolate ... YUMMY!!

Trier, Germany -- July 14 ? 15?

This trip to Trier was also the first time we had visited the Roman baths (above) and the Roman amplitheatre (below). Unfortunately, these two feauters are quite a distance from the main walk platz ... poor Shelby had LONG day on crutches ... This trip was the first time we (the kids and I) actually went up into the Porta Negra. This city view is from the top of the Porta Negra. It is a beautiful view ...

We have been to Trier several times. (in fact, this is the town that Shelby had her surgery in) It is, I think, the oldest Roman city in Germany. The Porta Negra is the "black arch" that leads into the walk platz where all the cute shops are. Also were some of the old churches are.

Bastogne, Belgium-- July 12th ?

We also made a trip to Belgium to Bastonge (I can't spell ... but either that spelling is right, or the one in the title).

This is where the Battle of the Bulge took place in WWII. Guess I didn't know as much as I thought about it ... It is a beautiful monument to the Americans who helped save this area from the Germans. The monument is star shaped with all the states listed at the top and the walls tell the story of the battle. The museum is very impressive as well ... very worth the drive to see.

We were a typical American spetical with the double stoller (thanks to a good friend for the loan -- HUGE help!!), grandparents, & 3 more kids ...

Burg Eltz -- July 11th?

Darren's family (Mom & Dad, Bry & Ann-Marie and Tori, J & Jan and Fisher) all came for a visit for two weeks (well ... Mom & Dad for an extra two weeks) ... We had lots of fun traveling and seeing some of our favorite places, and some new ones too! This was our trip to Burg Eltz. One of the prettiest Castle in Germany - still belongs to a family and still has original furnishings ... Shelby was a good sport walking all over in her cast and crutches! Castles have spiral (and usually Narrow!) staircases ... she did great ... now, we just need to work on the behavior of the older boys. ;)