Thankgiving at the Mess Hall

One of the things I love most about being in the military is the fact that I have NEVER cooked a turkey! We go to the mess hall every year. I love it. The officers always serve, which is funny because Steven has to get dressed in his blues and work, and I just get to hang out with my friends and the kids! They have good food, and the have lots of desserts!
This year was really good. They decorated, had goody bags for the kids, and all kinds of food. My friend, K., took pictures (she is a scrapbook addict, and is always ALWAYS looking for more things to make a page!) She took this picture of S. serving!

Last days in Germany

Tomorrow they pack up the computer. Sunday we fly. An amazing amount of our lives has been spent here. So much has happened in 4 1/2 years. I am sad to leave, but ready too. We will miss our Thursday nights at the Hammer,

and we, especially the kids, will miss "Oma Hammer." I wish we could take them with us!

We spent our last weekend in Germany at the resort in Garmisch. It was beautiful, and we went on a tour of the Partnach Gorge. The waterfalls were frozen, and it was an amazing sight! I will miss things like that about Europe, but I am ready to remember what it is like to be an American. . .

J's Firsts

J. had two firsts today. . .both were lots of fun!

First steps

First oreos

All Good Things Must End

Yesterday was our final day in command. We expected to be here another 6 months, so it has kind of caught us off guard. Especially after the MAJOR STRESS of the last couple of months--we really couldn't focus on enjoying the company, since everything else was SO HARD. Anyway, last night was the brigade's Christmas ball. It was a hard thing for me. I am so ready to go, but at the same time, so much of our life is here. God willing, we will NEVER go through again what we have with these people. However, it did create a very special bond between us all. I am glad for that.

So, as S. did his final act as the commander--pouring brandy into the grog bowl--it hit me that it is over. Like I said, I'm ready to go. . .but I will miss this place and these people. Everyone told us that company command is the most special time of your career. I thought we had been lucky because we loved every job up to this point. But, this was different.

S. felt like these soldiers were his children, and at the same time, his brothers. I felt the same about their wives. And the single guys. . .a special place will always be reserved in my heart for them. Some of them are SO young. Some aren't--but I love them all. Even the crazy trouble makers that made the MPs have to call my house at 3am more times than I want to remember. . .I will always love them all. I hate that we are all going to seperate places now. It won't be long before we don't know where everyone is. They are off to other units. Units that are deploying. . .I hope that I don't hear their names on the news--or read them in the papers. That almost always means something bad has happened. I would rather just wonder...and know that as long as I haven't seen it in print--they are still out there. . .fighting for freedom (and fighting with each other and getting some other commander a call at 3am!!)

Snow Day. . .

I don't really like snow. . .but the kids do! They had a great time today. Snowball fights with the ENTIRE neighborhood and sledding. They tried to build a fort, but either it fell down or the "other team" knocked it down. . .I'm not sure we ever determined which one!

N. in the snowball fight!

J's sled--everyone wanted to pull him around!

This worked even better than driving around in the car to get J. to sleep!

R. was getting a little too cold!

The neighborhood!