Sunday, September 30, 2012

Paris, Day 1

Our first big trip with MiMi & PaPa was a 4-day trip to Paris.  We thought it was a safe bet, because we had been there before, and somewhat knew our way around.

We took the train again, which I highly recommend!!  It is definitely my preferred way to get around!  It was MiMi & PaPa's first time being on a real train trip!  The train trip went well, and we arrived in Paris around 5:30 in the evening.

MiMi & Little R getting settled...

PaPa & T getting settled.  We were so excited that we got the seats with the tables in between this time.  Got settled in, and then realized we were in the wrong wagon!!  Our actual seats didn't have the cool table! : (

Mommy & Daddy getting settled...in the wrong seats!! : )

A is ready to get there!  She LOVES Paris!
We left the train station and headed to our apartment.  It was a short walk, and PaPa thought he could handle it, so off we went!  After some major stress when the property manager didn't show up to meet us, and the office wouldn't answer our calls...we finally got checked in and settled into our apartment.  A quick trip to the supermarket for groceries, and our first day was complete!

Our apartment building...we were on the 6th floor, with an amazing view from our balcony!  PaPa and Little R had an elevator, but the rest of us got some good stair-climbing exercise during our 4-day stay!


Ludwigsburg Castle

One of our first excursions when we got to Germany last year was Ludwigsburg Castle.  We have seen many others since, but this one is still one of our favorites!

So we decided it should be MiMi & PaPa's first day trip, too!  We gave them a few days to adjust to the time change, then we ventured out on Sunday afternoon and spent the entire afternoon there.  We went on the castle tour, but ran out of time to explore the grounds.  We will have to go back another day for that one!!

For some reason, I didn't get many pictures of our day...probably because we spent most of our time on the tour, and you can't take photos inside the castle.  Anyway, MiMi & PaPa enjoyed the outing, and they are already wanting to go back!  I have a feeling we aren't going to fit ALL of our "to-do's" into this 6 weeks!!  They may just have to extend their visit! : )

Ludwigsburg Castle...it's beautiful, inside and out!

PaPa and Little R hanging out before the tour.

PaPa having currywurst for the first time.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

MiMi & PaPa...in Germany!!

FINALLY...the long awaited day arrived!  MiMi & PaPa arrived in Germany on September 17th.  We have been anxiously awaiting this day for SO long!!

When we received orders to Germany, it was hard for several reasons.  But one of the main reasons was leaving MiMi & PaPa behind.  PaPa does NOT fly...for any reason!  He has not flown in my entire lifetime, and always said he never would!!  So our orders meant we would not see MiMi & PaPa unless we traveled back to the States...and we knew we wouldn't be able to do that very often.

We weren't in Germany more than a few months before PaPa started considering a trip over.  We started discussing dates, and plans were made.  I still wasn't going to believe he would make the flight until he was actually on the plane!!

We booked the flight and the excitement began!  We started counting down the days!  Then in August PaPa started having some health issues...diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis...and LOTS of pain!  Long story short, we weren't sure he would be able to make the trip after all.  He got worse, and we quit counting down the days until they arrived...almost certain he wasn't going to be able to come.  Just a few days before they were scheduled to fly, he finally got in to see a rheumatologist.  He worked his magic, and PaPa was determined to make the trip!!  So the excitement was back again!!

As scheduled, they arrived on the 17th, and with some minor adjustments for PaPa, we are traveling as planned.  A little less walking and a little more riding...but we are SO enjoying having them here!

Family is important.  I have known this all along, but R's career has made it so much more obvious.  When you don't have your family around, you appreciate the time you have with them.  I took for granted having extended family around for holidays, visiting grandparents on Sundays, growing up with cousins.  It's a lifestyle my kids have never really known on a regular basis.

We are definitely not taking this time with MiMi & PaPa for granted!!  We are enjoying the travels, enjoying the time at home with them...just enjoying them and all their quirks! : )

Waiting...

Waiting is hard!  Trying to pass the time looking at the model trains...

Waiting...

REALLY tired of waiting!! But Little R says, "MiMi & PaPa are old.  They walk really slow."
And yes, my son is laying on the dirty floor at the airport!!  I know, I know...I didn't receive any Mother of the Year awards on this day!  But I had held him as long as I possibly could (he IS 5 years old and 41 pounds, ya know)...and he felt this was the only alternative!

Coming through these doors...any second!

They're HERE!!!

And PaPa survived the flight!!

First hugs...and look how happy Little R is!

Even R is happy!!  And MiMi is happy to be out of the air, and on the ground!

PaPa is very happy to be out of the air, and on the ground!

Took them on post very first thing to get their Visitor's Passes.

First excursion?  Our favorite doner shop!  R had to introduce PaPa to the wonderful world of doner!  If you don't know what it is, Google it!  I don't touch the stuff...but R and T LOVE it! 

PaPa agrees...it is DEE.LISH.OUS!!  He's been wanting to go back ever since!!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Remembering 9/11

Like most Americans, I'll never forget that day.  I remember exactly what I was doing, and how I felt when I heard the news.  That day changed our lives drastically, although much less drastically than it changed many, many others' lives.

R joined the Army in January of 1998.  We were newly married, with a brand new baby girl.  We were having trouble making ends meet, and R decided the Army was the way to provide his new little family with a decent income and good health care.  So off we went on our journey!  After a few years in the Army, R decided he would make a career out of the Army, and if he was going to do that, he wanted the increased pay of being an officer.  He got out of the Army, and went through ROTC to finish his degree.  He would then enter the Army again as an officer upon graduation.  Deployment wasn't even a tiny speck of a concern.  The Army to us meant good money, good benefits, a good, honorable career for R.  War never even crossed our minds.

On September 11, 2001, we were living in Arkansas while R finished his degree.  I was 6 months into a "suprise" pregnancy.  Until this day, we were anxious to return to active duty military life, with the benefits of a commissary and military healthcare.  I was working full time, while R was going to college full time.  I left R and T home that morning, and I left for work.  He would take T to the babysitter later, and then go to class.  On the way to work, I heard on the radio that a plane had hit one of the twin towers.  I immediately called R and he turned on the TV to see if he could see anything about it.  I heard on the radio when the 2nd plane hit, but R was at home watching it with our 4-yr old, T.  She saw one of the most horrific acts of terrorism our country has ever seen...LIVE...at 4-years old!!

The rest of the morning was spent at work, watching the news and listening to all the details.  The only thing I really felt when watching it was "numb".  Then as more details came along, fear replaced the numbness.

I had a doctor's appointment that afternoon.  Our scheduled ultrasound to see if we were having a boy or a girl.  Suddenly this suprise pregnancy was very scary!  But not because it was unplanned and we were unprepared...simply because we were scared of what kind of world we were bringing this baby into. I remember it being dark and gloomy at the doctor's office.  It's like people were afraid to talk about it, but also afraid NOT to talk about it!!  We went in for the ultrasound and found out we were bringing a baby GIRL into this new, scary world.  We were so excited, but so scared at the same time!!  We have ultrasound pictures dated 9/11/2001...a little picture of hope in a scary world!

In the months following 9/11, R graduated college and entered the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant.  We moved to MD, and then to TX.  Then the real fear started...deployment became a word that we all feared, but didn't talk about.  We saw people deploying, saw people coming home, and saw reports of those who didn't. Deployment became a reality for us and for so many of our friends.

Because of 9/11 we have endured 2 deployments.  Our girls have endured over 2 years of their lives with their Daddy in a war zone.  Our baby boy spent 15 months without a Daddy, beginning at 3 months old.  I have spent countless hours praying and worrying about my husband's safety.  We are so grateful that R returned safely home from both deployments...but we are all changed by it.  No one goes there and comes back unchanged...no one!  Whether its physically or mentally, everyone is changed by deployment...I know our family is.

But one thing that hasn't changed is our pride in our country!  R is honored to serve this great country!!  I was honored by the response of our people to 9/11.  The sacrifices made, the effort put forth, the stories were endless!!

So no, we will never forget 9/11.  I think it is important to remember 9/11 with our kids.  It is a very important part of our country's history, and our family's history!  And even though our kids go to military schools...it wasn't even mentioned today at A's school...no mention of what this day means.  That is heartbreaking to me!!  That is an absolute disgrace to all the people who lost their lives on that day, and in the battles since!  A disgrace to the family members mourning people lost!  So, even if the schools (military, no less!) don't think it is worth remembering...WE DO!!



Sunday, September 9, 2012

Celebrating 5 Years!!

Sept 8, 2007 was a GREAT day!  In some ways, it seems like it was yesterday.  In other ways, it seems like a lifetime ago!  But in all ways, it was a GREAT day!!

Little R turned 5 years old on September 8th.  Once again it was a VERY low-key celebration, since we are in Germany with no family and very few friends.  We had a "virtual birthday party" on Skype with MiMi & PaPa.  They got to sing Happy Birthday with us, and see him open his present from them.  It's not quite as good as having them here in person, but thank goodness for the technology of Skype!!  Not sure how any of us would have made it through the last year without it!

It's been a pretty busy year for Little R!  He has moved into a different house since his last birthday, and has settled in quite nicely.  He has gone to 2 German kindergartens, and loved both of them!  He has learned to ride a bike!!  He has learned a small vocabulary of German words...mostly numbers, colors, etc.  He has been on numerous trips to Italy, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, and many more here in Germany!  He has discovered Legos and Playmobil, and LOVES them both!

And just this last week he has started pre-k and his first season of soccer!  He is doing GREAT at both!!  MiMi asked him yesterday how his new school was, and he said "PERFECT"! 

Overall, this has been another year of blessings and challenges for our family.  But everyday we are grateful to have this little guy be a part of it. We can't imagine our family without him...he adds so much laughter and drama and energy to our mix!

We love you Little Man!  We are enjoying watching and guiding you in your journey!!  We can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you!!

First day of Prek-K!!

Our Little Soldier...

R's pre-k building...not the nicest looking place, huh? : )  But it's some historical building, so they can't make changes to it...

They have to sign in each morning...too cute!

Immediately making friends!  He had this guy laughing with his Mr. Potato Head creations!

First soccer practice!  He was feeling like a "tough guy" because I told him his "Superhero Socks" would keep him protected!

First soccer game...on his birthday!  He scored his first-ever goal...it was just in the wrong goal!!  But it was a great kick nonetheless, and we are still very proud of him!

He had to make sure we were watching him at.all.times!

Skypin' with MiMi & PaPa!

Seeing his first gift, from MiMi & PaPa...very excited little boy!

Both gifts...Playmobil, of course!

Monkey cupcakes for our "little monkey"

Can't believe he's FIVE!!

Making a wish and blowing out his candle, while MiMi & PaPa watch!

His new dragon castle, all set up!  He played with it lots yesterday evening, and has already played for HOURS this morning!  He keeps saying "this is a great castle"!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Pre-Birthday Celebration

Little R turns 5 on September 8th, so we took advantage of the long Labor Day weekend to take a short overnight trip to Playmobil Fun Park.  Little R LOVES all things Playmobil, so we knew this was a place we HAD to visit!!

It was a good trip overall.  We stayed at a small family-run German hotel, so that was a new experience for us.  The lady who ran the hotel was SUPER friendly, and spoke good English...so that was a bonus!! : )  They had a great breakfast the next morning, which is always a plus!

He's a happy boy!!

Happy girls, too!

"Is there a weight limit on these things?"

T smiling??  Yes, it had to be captured!!

A & R absolutely love these swings!!  They are becoming very common pictures on our blog!

And these are the kinds of pictures my darling hubby takes of me...which is why I never post them on the blog!

At the entrance the first day...T wasn't too excited about Playmobil Fun Park.  It is definitely geared toward a much younger group of kids...but we wanted to celebrate little R's birthday together...and she actually enjoyed it in the end!!

Daddy and Little R...ready for some fun!

Little R could have stayed right here all.day.long!!

All 3 of the kids enjoyed playing with the different Playmobil sets.

A quick pose...

Daddy the Princess!

Monkeys in a barrel???

A climbed all the way up to the crows nest on the pirate ship...you could see the whole park from up there!

And of course A found a throne!!

When food is present...the Willis kids are happy!

Breakfast at the hotel...

My breakfast...MMMMM!
It was a great weekend away for us, celebrating the birthday of our (not so) baby boy!!  And, other than a MAJOR meltdown from an overtired, overstimulated little boy on the way home, it was a great trip!!