Prague, Czech Republic

On Monday, Christine and I headed to Prague for a day trip. It was sooo COOOOOOLD, but sunny, so that helped.

The world as she knows it. By Isabella Sharp

While Brian and I were in Michigan visiting, we noticed our niece, Isabella really loves the camera. When you take a photo of her she immediately wants to see it then comments on how cute of a photo it is. (It's ADORABLE!) Then I taught her how to use our Canon P&S. So these next photos are ones she took all by herself. You'll notice a few pointing down, she had a few problems pushing the button, but got the hang of it. I think they're pretty good for someone who is 2 years and 3 months old! The good news from all of this is I know EXACTLY what to get her for her 3rd birthday!!

NEW COMPUTER!!!

Well my wonderful husband gave me a new computer for Christmas...boy did that come in at the perfect time. So we're back up and running and now online! Woohoo! DId I mention I gave him two pairs of boxers and two shirts, man I'm a great wife.

Some fun new photos from our new macbook: (it has a camera built in)






As some people know one of my best friends from the states is visiting! YAY Christine! So today Brian, Christine, the dogs and I went to Regensberg. It was the FIRST day since she got her last week that it wasn't cloudy and rainy, but with no clouds to keep the warm weather down it was COLD. FREEZING COLD! but sunny. We had a good time and got some good shots.

Germany's very own Parthenon, Walhalla.







My kids...always looking at the camera!










A cute chapel close by:




Then we headed to downtown Regensburg. Maybe I'll post some photos from that when I get them from Christine. My hands were too cold to take out of my pocket - thus no photos ;) Regensburg is nice, but everything was closed - second day of Christmas for the Germans.

More to come! I got lots of photos loaded to the new computer. Maybe this weekend I'll get some posts up.

Home Sweet Home.

We made it home Thursday afternoon. YAY! We had a good flight from Andrews AFB in Washington to Ramstein, Germany. We arrived around 1pm local time. It was a 7 hour flight and I got LOTS of blogging done during the trip. I was soooo excited! I had all of our Dublin trip done and a few posts about our travels in the states. Then it hit. The blue screen of death *cue dramatic music*. So our laptop has crapped out on us...thank goodness we have all of our photos on an external hard drive, but my 3 hours of blogging on the plane seems to be lost. Right now we're using Brian's Playstation 3 as a computer...it works...but it's not the most effective way to do anything. So for now...no photos :(

Today my friend Christine (who is visiting from the states! YAY!) are going to the Christmas Market in Nurnberg. It's by far the best one in Germany and one of the most popular.

Just checking in.

No photos, sorry! I left the camera cable in Germany and now Brian has taken off with our laptop. Just a little update to let everyone know we made it to the states. Whew! First try on the first flight out Monday morning to Pope AFB in North Carolina. It doesn't get much closer than that. Our flight was looooong and cold, but I can't complain about the price. All and all it went well.

I'm currently in Virginia and Brian is on his way to Alabama with our friend Steve to do a bit of 4-wheeling. He will be in Michigan on Sunday and I'll be flying up there next wednesday (the 10th).

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well the snow is almost gone now, but I'm just getting the photos loaded to the camera and up on the net. It started last friday...or was it Thursday? Anywho and the snow came. A little bit each night and then it would melt a little during the day. The farmers here say it's going to be a bad winter...I guess it's time to buy a sled and try out some of the AWESOME hills around our house.

This will be my last blog for a bit. Brian, Josh and I leave tomorrow to head to Derrek's house in Mannheim then on Thursday AM we leave for Dublin till Sunday. Monday we leave for the states. I'd love to tell you were we are flying into, but we're going Space A (military flights) so we have no idea. I was spoiled on my adventure home in the summer. Even with the waiting, it's worth having more space and better food not to mention the price is right (the flight is free, we pay $3.80 for our meal). Isn't it sad when the military box lunch is better than airline food?

Some photos of snow. These were all taken on day 1 of 4 days of snow fall.


Tree in front of our house

When Hedgehogs attack!

For the past few weeks every night when I take the girls out for 'one last pee' before bed we've been seeing at least 1 hedgehog in our yard. Kyla and Ginger run up to them, sniff them and RUN away. Throughout the 5-10 minutes we're outside they run back to the hedgehog to see if it's still there then run away again. There is a small area just off our front porch that isn't lit by our porch light and isn't lit by the street light either. No big deal, it's only 5 of so feet. Well last night Mr. Hedgehog thought it would be funny to sit on the sidewalk and when I stepped down off the last step I kicked him, but all I felt was his little 'hairs' STAB me in the leg. I actually think there were two hedgehogs, cause I swear I heard one run away. But then I was afraid to walk back to the porch for fear I might step on him again. I went for it and ran back inside to grab a flash light and the camera.

our friend...all balled up




Never again will I go out without a flashlight.

Happy Veterans Day!

Last Thursday Brian left for medevac duty in Hohenfels (Ho-Ho as we call it). We thought he was all done pulling duty cycles for awhile, but he volunteered to pull duty for a friend who was set to go out. He's been getting some flight time - which is never a bad thing. The dogs and I, along with another spouse, Casey Barbin (whos husband is the medic on duty) rode out to visit the boys on Sunday and Monday. We had a nice visit, the dogs got to run around lots and of course get LOTS of attention and treats. I came in second in poker and almost came home with the huge $12 pot. Not bad for my 3rd time playing. It's always pretty lonely when Brian is out on duty, but it gives me a chance to catch up on all the shows that he doesn't like to watch. ;)

Anywho I thought I'd share some photos of my favorite veteran.
Brian


Brian and his crew


Out on duty at Grafenwoehr


Our other pilot in the family...



Last week I started a post never finished it....so I thought I'd copy and paste a bit of what's going on:

Monday morning I had an appointment with my Diabetologist, Dr. Ardendt,(a referral from my WONDERFUL OB-GYN Dr. Swartz). Dr. Ardendt informed me that she couldn't do blood work because I had some coffee for breakfast and told me to come back on Tuesday. This worked out great, because then I could make Brian go with me to hold my hand. I don't do well with blood or needles in fact the last time Dr. Swartz had to take blood I fainted (2 weeks ago). Tuesday I arrived at my appointment, checked in and waited. They called me back and I told them I was a fainter and they took me in another room so I could lay down when she took blood. Well after a couple tries in my left arm and one try in my right they got the amount they needed, and I didn't even pass out although now I look like a drug user with all the needle marks in my arms! Then I got my finger pricked, I thought "didn't you just take enough? You need more? Drank a glass of what tasted like super sweet cranberry juice, waited an hour, more blood work, waited an hour, more blood work and I was free to leave. I was told my blood sugar was ok, but Dr. Ardendt would call me in a week to let me know the results of the rest of my blood tests. I guess then she'll let me know if I have to start metformin.

Little People. Little Dietenhofen.

The girls and I have a little loop we do each day (well I try to each day) and every now and then I change it up a little, but it's all about the same. I've always noticed the little fire hydrant people, but didn't realize how many we saw each day on our walks till I started taking photos. I've even named them.

Ed


Sam


Barack


Jim


Tom and Kyla


Adolf


Erwin


Boris


little Liselotte (a popular German name)


Alfred


Brian and Ginger...making the rounds.


Ginger has been 'grounded' most of the week due to the fact that she likes chasing rabbits and finds it quite funny to push my buttons. So she's been back on the leash more than usual and hating every minute of it. In a sense they are two year olds that will never grow up and I keep telling myself they are preparing me for children. Maybe just being an aunt isn't such a bad thing.