Army Culture Shock

So, when we planned to come to Germany with the army, I think I prepared myself for the German culture shock I would experience. Little did I know that I would also have culture shock from the army experience we were about to embark on. This is a pix of Garr in his army uniform that he has to wear every day. We call it his "costume" and his beret we call his "bonnet". It drives him insane to put it on all time and always worry about being saluted or saluting, which takes extra time wherever you go. The catch phrase around here is "Hurry up and wait" and that's exactly what we do in the army. Garrett still hasn't gotten a pay check yet but is hopeful of one in August. Everyone said it must be someone elses mistake in the system--not really helpful. I had to promise Garr I wouldn't make him pose for any more pictures for our blog, so enjoy this one, while you have the chance. It's like they say about doctors being the worst patients--he's a photographer and he puts up the biggest stink about having his picture taken. I just can't imagine being stuck in that gear and trying to get anything done and the wool hats are so hot and tight, I've been told by multiple sources. His army green socks go up to his knees and the boots lace up nearly to his calves. He has lots of utility pockets on his costume and we imagine all the other soldiers hiding out in foxholes trying to be as noiseless as possible and then they open one of their velcro pockets to reach for a grenade and the element of surprise is completely ruined. Those pockets are the loudest velcro around. So, I decided that I need to come to grips with my culture shock and stop being in denial that this is really my life so I'll add it to my blog because if it's blogged then it's got to be official, right?

Missing you guys!

We're missing you so much we're making friends with the cows. Thanks for being such great family.

Revisiting Öschinensee, the Artistic (versus Autisic) Way

So, these pix are the ones that Garrett did of our little jaunt to Öshinensee. I was so proud of my little "paint-by-numbers" photos, but these shots are much more enticing to all our upcoming guests (hint, hint).
I will have to further prove our nerd-dom by saying that Garr's second pix, with the sunlight beams streaming down on that little Swiss town remind me of Gandolf riding down the mountain with those horsemen to kill those nasty orkses.

These are some of the shots that Garrett took at Rheinfalls, Switzerland. For all you non-hikers out there, this is where we would take you--it's a pleasant walk along a lake, up to a castle and down to a waterfall. Sehr hübsch! and sehr easy!

Öschinensee--Home of the 4 Billy Goats Gruff

Last Saturday, the 21st of July we took another trip to Switzerland (it's as if Garrett likes it or something!) and visited this Hidden Lake. Garrett, Sam, Jacob and Mason said it was a really hard climb uphill. Joe and I wouldn't really know because we road a ski-lift type thing there and met them at the top! That's the only way to go. There must have been music in the air because Joe and I sang the Darth Vader song all the way to the top on the lift and when Garr and the other boys got there, much to Garrett's displeasure, I graced them with a performance of "The Sound of Music", "Climb Every Mountain" and "Edelweiss"--complete with the Julie Andrews twirling technique as seen in the Sound of Music, one of my faves. I must admit I'm a closet fan, but have decided to show my true colors. If you had been there you might have sung too in the breathtaking Alps with Swiss cow bells chiming near sunset. We have started a tradition to eat kleine gummi bärchen (gummy bears) and doppel keks (really big vanilla cookies with chocolate cream filling, kind of like the opposite of oreos) when we get to the top of a mountain. Those of you who know me well, know that it's no sacrifice to give up my gummy bears to Garr and the kids, but Joe likes me to bite off the heads and switch them with other bears' heads so they have a different colored head than body, which truly is motherly love if you understand my aversion to all things gummy, except. of course, gum. We did get the chance to all hike down the hill which was nearly suicidal, it was so steep. Any ice at all and you'd be a goner, hiking down those mountains. Lucky for me, I had me billy goats gruff to keep me on the trail. I think Garr needs a new set of knees.

The Cliffs of Insanity

While in Switzerland, we decided to abuse our children on a hike that was meant for "Expert Hikers with Appropriate Gear Only"--they didn't post that sign until the end of the hike or we never would have done it. We started on a small cow path and ended up 3000 feet up on top of the mountain. We thought we were near the top and that it would be easier to take the Tram down from the top than to try to help the kids down the mountain. If you notice the pix, we are at a spot above all those other mountains. I seriously was worried we weren't going to make it down the mountain, which I had previously thought when Garr and I took Sam and Jacob on the Angel's Landing Hike in Zions--this was a much worse hike than that. Chains were connected to big bolts that were nailed into the sides of the mountain and we had to hold on to them to keep from falling off the side of the mountain. While we were up there a Swiss Rescue helicopter circled and landed at a spot we had been about an hour down the mountain. We were worried that someone in the tram had seen us with a bunch of little kids and called search and rescue, but it turned out that someone--an adult-- had fallen into a crevice in the rock and had to be rescued. What were we doing up there with kids? The boys did an incredible job--they didn't complain or whine once the whole way and they are awesome little hikers. We got to the top and almost were stranded there for the night because we didn't realize the last tram would leave at 7:30 (it was already 7:30 and the Swiss hate to be late, luckily some other hikers tied up the ticket booth and the "tram man" had seen them, so it didn't close on time) and then when Garrett went to get the tickets, luckily Joe was free and they decided not to charge us for Mason or we wouldn't have had enough money. It was truly a day full of drama, so we decided it was time to call it quits and take a breather at home.

Happy 4th of July

For the 4th of July weekend we went down to Switzerland and it was gorgeous. Even more fairy-tale picture book towns than in Germany. We stayed off the autobahn (we didn't have a pass for the Swiss autobahn and it costs extra to drive on Austria and Switzerland's highways) and just drove through the small towns on backroads and I"m telling you that's the way to go. If you notice that some of my pictures have just randomly increased in their artistic composition, I have to tell you that I've stolen the ones that actually look nice from my better half and the other kindergarten-looking ones are mine. I remember getting my film developed last time and going through the pictures thinking "Did I let the kids use my camera?" Imagine my surprise when I realized all the pictures with people's heads cut off were my fault! I can't remember the names of the places--I'll ask Garr and amend this blog later. The pix with Garrett and the boys is on a ferry boat across a lake. It was really beautiful. We got to see some of the apartments he lived in when he was a missionary and walk down quaint little streets with flower boxes in all the windows. Some tips for all you soon to be European travelers--don't forget to bring water with you because it costs a fortune to buy--more than the alcohol and don't drink too much water or you'll have to use the bathroom which costs money. You have to put coins in a slot before the door will open. If you're standing in line, stand uncomfortably close to the person in front of you or they don't think you're in line and people will cut in front of you. I don't care what kind of whacky diet you're doing, eat the chocolate.

Here at Hollenzollern Castle

so, here we are at Hollenzollern Castle, we may still look shell-shocked or perhaps just jet-lagged. We got to Germany on Tuesday and fought falling asleep. We're all working on adjusting to Germany--it feels like we're in a foreign country, if you can believe it! We visited the castle with our new friends, the McLeans, on the Saturday after we arrived here. Garrett will be working with Steve McLean at the dental clinic. The bottom picture shows our little Kings, Sam, Jacob, Mason, Joe and McLean boys--Cole and Kade. The McLeans really have been great to help us transition--thank you, thank you, thank you! Despite the excitement of our adventure and and beautiful places we get to see we still miss our friends and family so much--it feels like we're a half a world away. Oh wait, we are!