Midevil Christmas Market

Down the Autoban just a short distance there are many beautiful Castle ruins. This particular day we drove about 30 minutes to a Castle and a mid evil Christmas market. It was cloudy and wet, but that doesn't stop anyone here from venturing out and having a good time.

We were welcomed into the Castle with singing, and people dressed in clothing for the time period. Booths lined the pathway and ranged from wooden bowls and toys to candles and food of every kind.

This little duo to the left had a stash of musical instruments and played through out the day. The gesture also told little riddles and jokes. He must have been funny because the crowd was laughing.

It is a little difficult to order food when you can't read the menu, but we fallowed our noses and were not disappointed. One of the first places that we tried was a bread that was toasted over coals and then butter and Cinnamon coated it. I think the best way to describe it would be a hallow Cinnamon roll. Yummm

Thanksgiving Time

7:30 Finish Popcorn balls for Silus's class. Burn 1/2 the batch and start again.

8:00 Get Naomi and Eyan out the door for school with 2 Pumpkin Pies and a huge plate of Pumpkin Muffins. Not before dropping a pie on the floor.

10:30 Turkey in the oven. Will the Turkey turn out?

10:45 Martin and Toben peal potato's. So nice to have the extra hands in the kitchen.

11:45 Walk to school get Eyan and Silus. It's about 50 degrees, but a bit windy. So we have to bundle up before leaving the house. Coats, hats, gloves, and winter boots.

1:45 Sit down to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey turned out great, mashed potato's, gravy, green beans, biscuits, stuffing and 6 hungry people to eat!

3:30 Go to Kaiserslautern Christmas Market. A small Christmas Market mostly little Boothe's with food and hot cider. Parking the Suburban a little bit of a challenge, but Martin did a great job maneuvering the beast.

6:30 Home and get ready for bed! Well we made it through another day, and the kids have school in the morning.

7:30 Call family in the US it's only 11am on that side of the world.

Look Who's Two

Toben James.

Enjoys sitting in stroller and being pushed all over town. Every afternoon finds time to take a nap.

Quote of the day: Daddy watch this!

Favorite toy: anything small that he can carry

Favorite food: milk

Favorite Animal: horse

Word of the day: nein (German for no)

Musical Beds

Martin and I sleep in our bed.

The kids they like to play musical beds.


Toben has gotten to where he likes to sleep with Eyan or Silus.



If Toben sleeps with Eyan Silus will fall asleep in our bed or with Naomi. Or Silus might sleep in his bed, and Naomi will sleep with Eyan.



Most nights all the kids go to sleep in their very own beds, but by morning they will not be where they started out.

• The boys getting ready for bed with nightcaps on. It's pretty chili here and I told them they would stay warm IF they wear socks and keep hats on. They decided to wear hats.
• Eyan and Toben sleeping in Silus's bed

Left or Right!?!

I don't know what it is, but I have never been very good at right and left. Yes, I know it's strange but, really it's true. I still have to look at my hand to see what finger has the ring on and what hand I write with. This has caused a few embarrassing moments when giving people directions and I say right, no wait I mean left. Oh sorry I meant right.

Honestly, I never thought much of it, until now. Why you ask? Because the beautiful roads in Germany are very funny. There are many unmarked intersections in these little villages. And that might not mean much, until you need to know right from left. BECAUSE when you are driving down an unmarked road and there is a street on your RIGHT the traffic coming from that road has the right of way. It sounds crazy I know. It is. Where are the stop signs and traffic lights? There are far from here and it's all about knowing your left from your right.

On Thursday the 12th of November I became a USERA license holder. Which means that I can legally drive here! I am learning quickly and hoping that I don't have a slip up on what is left or right.

My wonderful neighbor made me a cake to celebrate passing my test. That little piece of paper let me take the roads and never look back. That's because I'm looking down to see what hand my ring is on, oh wait that's my left.

N E S T

Naomi has surpassed any and all of my expectations in the learning department. Knows more German words than I can count and has very good pronunciation. For school here the kids eat breakfast at school at about 9. So, I did what any mother would do and we pack a snack. According to Naomi " all the other kids are eating breakfast and there I am eating GOLDFISH! It just feels so weird". Ok ok fine, she'll eat two breakfasts.

Eyan is enjoying his own room now. He keeps his room very orderly and loves setting up his Playmobile. It works out nice because Toben is still in the smash everything up stage so this gives Eyan a safe place to keep his stuff. He is also drawing a lot and writing with his special pen. It is close to a calligraphy pen, but that's what the kids use to write with in school.

Silus is enjoying school. He goes has a small group (class) and really likes his teacher. The 4th of November, we all went to his school and had our very first Lantern festival. Free pretzel's and some singing, but best of all was the little lantern that each child carries. Silus has also been drawing a lot at the table and loves the color black.

Toben! Man this kid has a set of lungs on him! He can reach a pitch that is literally ear piercing! The other night we went to the PX and Toben wanted to get out of the cart, which I was not about to let happen. He screamed so loud and his face turned so red that I thought he was going to pass out. He didn't, but it sure was embarrassing.

Lovely Home in Mehlingen

5 Weistrasse, Mehlingen. Here is a lovely 4 bed room home with two bonus attic rooms, 1.5 bath which includes an extra large bath tub with separate shower, over 2000 Sq feet, large dining area, little to no yard work, friendly neighborhood lots of extra parking.

Mehlingen sits on the outer parts of Kaiserslautern Germany. This charming village has several restaurants,1 small grocery store, 2 churches and 3 Backeri's just to name a few amenities you will enjoy. Beautiful walking trails and 2 parks for children are in close walking distance from this property. There is one main street running through the town which is currently undergoing construction.

This home is constructed out of red sand stone and was updated in the early 90's. As you enter the home you will find a mud room, take off you coat and shoes and please have a look around. To your right there is a guest bathroom which includes a urinal, an outstanding feature for younger boys who want that "public restroom" feel right in your own home.

On your right there is a lovely play room that any child would enjoy. Complete with a reading area, craft table and more toys than any child would know what to do with.

Walk on through, please watch for toys. Enter into a spacious living area. Here you will find a comfortable place to rest and put up your feet. There is also a TV, and a door straight ahead that will lead you to the porch. Don't head out there yet, there's much more to see.

Here is the dining room, feel free to make yourself at home. There is plenty of room for everyone, the table seats 6 comfortably, but we always have room for more. In the kitchen you will find a very bright canary yellow that will surely brighten even the darkest day. Enjoy the opened shelving and the easy access to whatever you are looking for.

Beyond the kitchen is a large pantry, loaded with both American and German snacks. Ok, well now lets make our way upstairs! There are 4 bedrooms. To the left is a craft/office area, and to the right a master bed room. Please watch your step, it's small, but I'd hate for you to trip! Straight ahead is the bathroom, the surprise feature here is this wonderful boudey. Now on to the bedrooms here, to the left and right are identical rooms. One for a girl on the left and the boys to the right. Each room has a bonus attic room, perfect to store even more toys, or children.

So sorry that you don't have time to see more, I hope you can come again and stay longer!