We Are Moved In ~ Well, Kinda

Good Morning All. Today is Friday and TGIF!!  I really mean that this week. It has been an eventful few days here.

Monday was Memorial Day and we all went to Legoland which is less than an hour drive from our house. It was a lot of fun although the weather was rainy and cold, but we are getting used to that ~ because that is pretty much every day here. The park has a lot of great things to do, and Luke especially was in Heaven. We liked it so much that we decided to buy annual passes so we will be frequenting Legoland over the next year ~ with more coats, hats and gloves I imagine.

Tuesday, we were to receive our express shipment (which was a lot of stuff by no furniture). We were also getting some borrowed items from the Army which was a lot of wardrobes, a few cabinets and one bed (in case our household goods did not come when promised). Our lease for our new home started June 1 so we moved out of The Marriott and into our new place. The express shipment was delivered as promised and so was the borrowed items from the Army. The German cable guy even came and hooked up our internet and phone (it is a package through the military base where you get internet and unlimited calling to the states). We spent Tuesday night in the house, Mark and I slept in the only bed we had, Logan on the floor on a pad consisting of every blanket we could find, and Luke in his sleeping bag. These arrangements cannot be compared to the cushy accommodations at the Marriott, BUT we were in our own home!

We expected the movers at 8 AM Wednesday morning. I took Luke to school early so he would not be underfoot. It is too much to expect little people to understand that kind of chaos. We adults can barely manage it!!  Well, we waited and waited. Lots of phone calls and FIVE hours later, 3 guys showed up with only half of our crates! Mark asked what their master plan was to unpack 10 crates when they were starting at 1 PM and only had half of them on the truck! They pretended to speak little English and started unpacking. We knew by the pace they were moving, that this was going to take multiple days! They worked past 7 PM at which point we were sick of them and sent THEM packing. We got KFC (yes, they have that here and right down the street)!  Today's chaos was our first real SNAFU since arriving in Germany ~ we went to bed in our own beds, hopeful that tomorrow will be a better day.

Thursday morning, the crew who was supposed to be here at 8, showed up at 9. WOW - compared to yesterday's standard, they are already ahead of the game!! These guys had a little more bounce in their step. We were taking charge today (someone had to) so Mark put cards on the bedrooms with 1, 2, 3, and 4. As they brought in items, Mark called out the sticker numbers to me and I checked them off the list and recorded any noticeable damages. He then told them which number room the items would go. Inside each room, Mark had placed a card with an arrow and a picture of a box to show them where we wanted to the boxes stacked. We did this all day, me recording and Mark directing traffic. We added up a nice list of damages but nothing that brought tears. And the Harley made it here with just a few scuffs on the gas tank. So it was a good day. Bottom line, we are moved in. I unpacked the kitchen last night and actually made dinner - the first dinner I have cooked in about 7 weeks. It felt great to be back in the kitchen ~ I just wish I could remember where I put everything! We slept in our own beds last night and have our own stuff now (most of it is still in boxes but we will put a dent in those today)! Glad I bought a pair of those "firming workout shoes" because I should be in amazing shape by tomorrow!!

Lots of people have been emailing me asking for advice for their upcoming move over here. Let me think about that today while I unpack boxes and I will get back with you!   All I can really say is "Take a deep breath and realize that everything will work out just fine." That is what I am telling myself too!!!

We have a Home in Germany!

It's official. We found our new home! We signed the rental contract today. I won't go into details about what all that involved! Let me just say "Thank God for Khan at Housing." He called the German Landlord multiple times and worked things out with him in German. A few times, the  conversation seemed to get heated at which point I turned to Mark and said "They sound angry. But then again, all Germans sound angry ~ so I think we are OK." All is well that ends well!

For all of our friends who are coming soon:  

We were told today by Housing that starting June 1, all Officers will be required to live off-post. Enlisted will live on-post and there is not enough housing for Officers too so they will be directed to find housing off-post. PCS season is here so there will be housing off-post coming available but it goes quickly.

 

We are feeling very fortunate to find a home so quickly! This area is known for being tough to find housing. We arrived on a Wednesday and went to dinner with our sponsors Friday night. Monica came up and introduced herself and went on to tell me they were leaving for the US May 14 and that her home was for rent. I asked when we could see it. We saw it immediately, met with the Landlords, and signed the lease. Good Karma!!

 

The home is off -post in a good-sized town called Sindelfingen in Boblingen in the Stuttgart area. We decided to live off-post for a number of reasons.  We felt it would give us more of a cultural experience here and allow us (especially Mark) to get away from his work environment and have a place that was just for our family. Plus, it will force us to explore our area and get to know the foods, language and all of the other wonderful things Germany has to offer.

 

Sindelfingen has a great Marketplace with tons of restaurants and shops. There are sidewalks and squares and lots to see and do, just minutes from the posts where Mark works (Panzer Kaserne) and the one where the kids attend school (Patch) . The bus stop is on the corner and the train station is within walking distance. There is a German Waldorf school/kindergarten one block away that has a nice playground for Luke. 

 

Sindelfingen is known for its automotive industry (the Mercedes plant is here) and it is close to the Stutgart Airport for all of our friends who are coming to visit us! It has about 60,000 people and is around 1,500 feet above sea level (a big change from the Carolinas).We hear there are a few American families living nearby but mostly German families.  We picked out the paint colors today ~ they are painting the entire inside for us. The yard has beautiful gardens too which I will thoroughly enjoy. Will post pics soon!

 

 

My First Mother's Day German Style

Happy Mothers Day to my Mother, Mother in Law, Sister and all my wonderful friends who inspire me everyday!

We had a wonderful day! We had brunch together as a family. Then we decided to partake in our first German festival, Fruhlingsfest (Spring Festival). It has been going on for a week but yesterday was the last day. We walked to the train station and went to Stuttgart where the huge carnival was set up. We rode rides, shopped, ate, drank beer, and people-watched like it was cool. At one point, a cloud came up and it started to rain. Then out of nowhere, it started hailing. Everyone crowded under the tents and drank beer. Then it stopped and everyone wandered out again.

Mark and I rode the Transformer. You are strapped to chairs in a circle, then the floor drops out and the thing starts to spin and flip. It went on forever. I tried to scream but no sound came out! For the rest of the day, our heads felt funny (or as Mark called it, "my eggs are scrambled"). We had headaches when we got off the train, so we took a taxi home.

I am such a lucky lady to be blessed to be the mom of two amazing boys and two stepchildren. Oh, and an awesome husband too!! Being a mom is the hardest job ~ and the most rewarding job. Definitely the most impressive thing I have ever done.

To my kids: I love you with all my heart and want the very best life has to offer you!! Every day with you is my gift!!

Housing in Germany

We got a lead on a home for rent which is in Sindelfingen, a couple blocks from The Marriott where we are staying. We went to look at the home which has been rented by an active duty Marine from Mark's shop. They are leaving May 14 and the home will be available on or before June 1. The great thing is that it is about 10 minutes to both bases, Patch and Panzer. The home is 4 bedrooms with a lot of space ~ 3 floors. We had to interview with the Landlord and they approved us (our kids were on their best behavior, lucky us). The lease has to be approved by housing and then we can make plans to move in. It has a beautiful garden (with a small patch of grass, but mostly plants and amazing flowers). There is a balcony all around the main floor and a terrace for our table and grill. We can entertain there and the kids will have lots of room. There are schools with playgrounds down the street and the Marketplace is within 15 minutes walk. 

The Marriott is nice but gets old quickly. Housing is difficult to find here. When you go to the Housing Office, they say "we have no houses available." When you ask when one will be available, they say "We don't know." NICE! We were very lucky and found a nice gentleman in housing to help us (is he the only nice person there?). Never underestimate good karma!

The decision to live on or off post is a personal one, one we have discussed over and over. There are clearly advantages to each. Mark and I decided we would live off base if we could find a 4 bedroom that was nice and clean, in a good neighborhood close to town, large enough for us, and near work and schools. Once you find that, I think you have to jump on it. So we are... Will post photos as soon as it is finalized!! Very exciting!!

Getting Settled in Germany

It has been a very busy week since we arrived. Recovering from jetlag and getting all our admin stuff done has been challenging. All this and no vehicle. Suzie and Brian have been our taxi drivers and we are soooo appreciative.

We got our IDs approved for entry into the gate. It is 100% ID check for all adults, everyday, all day. No exceptions. They even look inside your car to make sure you aren't smuggling someone or some illegal contraband into the base!

We got our Tricare switched to overseas. This had to be done before we could make the medical appts for shots for the boys ~ which had to be done before they could be enrolled in school. Logan is now registered at Patch American High School and Luke is registered at the CDC. We get 16 hours of free care for Luke which I know we will be using!

Our sponsor got a call from a friend of hers yesterday saying that a gold Ford Explorer with SC tags arrived in the vehicle lot. Hmmm, is that what living on base is like?? Sounds a lot like Lejeune! I am not sure how I feel about that...

I really miss my phone! I was holding my Droid in my hands at the airport when we arrived. I said "My Precious" as I rubbed it with a sad look on my face. An American man who flew over with us said Is it a dog or a cat?" I said "Oh no, it's my Droid." LOL. Apparently Germans don't have the same "appreciation" (Read: addiction) to their phones that we Americans do. The contract plans are expensive! We got 3 pay-as-you-go phones but I know eventually I will cave and get another Droid or Iphone... That is one thing I will probably not be able to compromise on. I got to talk with my Mother, Mark's Mom and Rebecca today so that should hold me over for a while!

I better get cracking on this driver's license test! I hear it's a real whammy. I have to pass it or someone else on base will be driving around my Explorer with the SC tags!

We Up and Moved to Germany Yesterday

Yep, it's true! We gathered up our family, packed our bags, hopped on a plane, and now we're in Germany! Well, okay, it wasn't quite that simple but we HAVE officially arrived in Stuttgart. We took a leap over the pond and an even bigger leap off faith!

I must admit that, prior to now, I have not considered blogging ~ I didn't think I had anything to say that was worth reading by another person. I am rethinking this because (although it has only been one day) I am now without my beloved Droid. And this means I am without my rock solid, always reliable (and terribly attractive) comforting connection to my family and friends. We are working on the phone "Situation" but in the meantime, I have so many things to tell my family and friends and feel so far away and disconnected. I think blogging would be better than copying and pasting emails to all my peops! And I knew my Mom and friends would appreciate it more than me calling them collect!

So, thanks to all of my friends who have helped convince us to share our German Adventure via blog. And for all of our new friends who are following us over to Germany in the next few months, hopefully my experiences (good and bad) may be beneficial to you.

Our flight left Jacksonville, NC, airport at 2 PM Tuesday yesterday. We flew to our connection at Atlanta and took off at 6 PM for Stuttgart. We arrived at Germany at 9 AM. All of our flights were on time and we even got all of our luggage around 10 AM. We had a lot of luggage!!! 3 -50 pound duffle bags, 3 -50 pound suitcases, 3 carry-on bags and my purse, plus one of Mark's carry-ons got up 75 pounds which was his limit. We were fortunate enough to get all of the bags in Suzie's van. Suzie is our sponsor and she is amazing. We feel very fortunate!

When we first arrived yesterday, we got checked in at the Marriott and met the staff. We were taken to our rooms which are two adjoining rooms with a total of 4 beds about the size of a twin or slightly larger. We had bags and luggage everywhere. We decided to do go for a walk around the area and found a park and a BK with a person who knew some English and didn't completely destroy my Double Cheeseburger. Yum. It's the little things in life!

After exploring the area a little and getting some things knocked off our To Do list, we ate dinner at The Steakhouse at Marriott. Mark got a grilled steak and I got a signature German dish which was beef tip with a wine and onion brown gravy. They had pan friend potatoes. Also bread with oils ~ Meat and Potatoes ~ I think I am going to like this German way of eating!!!

My head feels very fuzzy, my eyes are bloodshot and I feel dehydrated. The time change is tough to get used to. We went for a swim and then went to bed. Getting to sleep was ok but everyone was restless with frequent wakenings. It's 2 AM on our clock but its really only 8 PM to my body. We stay in bed and try to tell our body that this IS the time we are supposed to be sleeping. Then I am lying there this morning at 10 AM not wanting to get up because my body thinks is 4 AM. It must take weeks to settle this problem!

I am hoping for a re-do tonight with a better outcome. Many things to do tomorrow. I will keep you posted! Goodnight all!