Finally Moved into the House

29 July - Received our Temporary furniture from the Army fore use until our household goods arrive. Beds, table, sofa, lamps, dressers, etc. Decent hotel type furniture. We also have an American size frig/freezer and large washer and dryer from the Army for use while here. Not a bad deal.

30 July - Received our unaccompanied baggage - 200 lbs of stuff we sent early - basically sleeping bags, printer, a few folding chairs, towels, pillows, clothes, TV trays, cooler, games, and some stuff for my work. They limit you on what you can include.

We moved out of the temp housing we lived in for 28 days and nights. it was fun but ready for the BIGGER.

Backyard - very nice !!!

Jamie's Room with loan furniture

Kitchen we will use on the 2nd floor

Loaner furniture in the living room

Will be the living room with my new 42" HDTV!!

Ahyoung/Michael/Tina's Room

Formal Dining Room

Nuremberg Trip

25 July - Visited Nuremberg. We stayed at the Hotel Ibis in the Old city (Altstadt). We arrived on 25 July and walked around the city. It was a little warmer than it had been. We visited the St Lorenz Church (Kirche) and the market. Nuremberg has a VERY large christmas market in December time frame. The old city has a wall around it and a river running in the middle. We had dinner at a local resturant. It was a hot night and our room was on the 4th floor above the outdoor tables outside a bar on a Friday night. You can figure that we did not sleep well.


26 July - James got up early and did a very nice long run around the city at 0645. no one was out and it was very beautiful (schoenes) and still (stilles). We had our first German Breakfast (fruhstucke) of sliced meat, cheese, jams, cereals, fruit (obst), boiled eggs, juice, yogart, rolls (brotchen), and coffee. It was really good. After breakfast, we walked to the Kings Castle (Kaiserberg) that began construction in 1100. Very nice tour in German (we had a an English book so we kept up). The crucifix in the chapel was carved in 1500 - yes 8 years after COLUMBUS landed. This is where the German rulers and kings of the Holy roman Rnpire ruled for hundreds of years. We saw the deep well dug through limestone, climbed the watch tower for a great view of ALL of nuremberg, and there was a wedding going on. Jamie also visited the Youth Hostel - 21 euro for 3 nights and breakfast. She can stay at these when she visits in College and brings her friends back for a month to hike across Europe since she will be able to speak the lingo!!!


Then we toured the old jail under the City Hall (Rathaus). This is where they kept the prisoners and did the "interrogations". It is all underground, no light, no ventillation. The torture chamber is still there. After hearing how they tortured people, no one should complain about Guantanamo Bay Prison!! and this was the church doing it too.... We had lunch across the street and had traditional Nuremburg wurst, pretzels and soup.


After lunch, we toured the Albrecht Duerer House. He is the most famous Nuremberger. He was a famoud painter in the 1475-1519. He did paintings and copper and wood prints. It was a very interesting tour with the guide being his wife Agnes. Very informative. Durer brought the Renassainse to Germany from Italy where he studied. You have seen his famous sketch of Praying hands that is on alot of religious post cards, etc.


We then drove home using our new TomTom GPS for directions. It was a really good weekend.


Jamie also likes the Rest Stops (restplatz) on the Autobahn where they have clean bathrooms and resturants.



Jamie at the River in Nuremberg


Jamie and Kim in the Kaiser Berg.


Jamie making a print on a press like Durer used to make prints. Agnus Durer in the background. Jamie got to keep the print!!

Vilseck trip

23-25 July - James attended some training in Grafenwehr on 24-25 July so Kim and Jamie went with him. They visited the new PX (shopping center) and did some shopping for the new house while James was in class. Kim was happy because the hotel had free wireless internet in the room so she got alot done on email. had some good food and shopping.

Registered for School

Did all the paperwork to register Jamie for school. She needed one shot for Hep A. She did not like that but she lived :)) Jamie will take German Culture. It has some language but also trips to events and learn German life. She will also take Spanish. There are approx 25 students in each class. She will ride the school bus for the first time which I am sure she will enjoy. Orientation for new famlies is 19 Aug. School starts 25 Aug.

Visit to the city Market

19 July - Visited the Kaiserslautern Market. Jamie had a good time with her dictionary that Petra gave her as a gift. Jamie was walking around the market, looking at pictures in the dictionary and learning new words. Jamie tried some olives and bought some. We got a bratwurst (sausage) and some strawberries (erdberren).

The market is like a farmer's market in the states but with some extras. flowers (blumen), eggs (eir), meat (fleisch), fish (fiche), spices (gewuerze), cheese (kase), bread (brot), etc.

Europeans generally shop daily for what they need for the day or the next day unlike Americans who buy for the week or month. Europeans have very small refrigerators. It is a different lifestyle.

This is a Karfoffel Stand. Jamie is having a family reunion with her fellow Taters!!

2 drivers in the family

18 July - Kim passed her Driver's test on the first try. Very proud of her. It is NOT an easy test at all and normally 1/2 the class fails on the first try. Also, we picked up the van from transportation - 3 days early!! No problems - took 2 hrs to get it registered and inspected. Good to have our car. now the hunt is on for a second car for James

Signed Lease on House

17 July - Signed the lease on the house. Really different here in Germany. Rent is 1575 euros a month but you pay the landlord some utilities. The house has oil heat so I pay him 215 euros a month and once a year, I get a bill for how much oil we use. Same with trash and water. I have a seperate account with the electric company. It is the same in the US with a steady bill but one bill a year and you either owe more or get back a refund. Today a euro is .62 euros to the $ so the rent monthly is 2005 euros or approx $3250 a month. Military pays the rent and a certain amount a month for utilities. If you are under that amount, you keep it, if over, then it is out of your pocket.

Trip to Worms

16 July - Kim, Jamie and Tot took a class with the USO (http://www.uso.org/) to learn how to ride the German train system (Deutsche Bahn). As part of the class, they rode the train to Mannheim and then Worms (Vurms). they learned alot about how to ride train and how to buy your tickets to anywhere and types of trains.



In Worms, they visited a cathederal, Jewish Cemetery (Friedhof), Statue of Martin Luther of Protest fame.



It was a really interesting and educational trip for all. They enjoyed it and I'm sure we will be using the train more while touring.




Jewish Cemetary in Worms


Jamie outside Cathederal in Worms

Cooking Class

Jamie and Tot participated in a German Cooking Class to learn to make Marmalade. They made Mango & Apricot, Strawberry, Cherry with Vodka, and then made a likor.

They sorta enjoyed it but it was a demonstration and no cooking by the students.

Visit to Stoffel Family

12 July - All 7 of us visited the home of our favorite German Son, Michael Stoffel, in Leiwen (Liven) Germany. Leiwen is about 15 miles east of Trier on the Mosel River. Michael lived with us 5 months in 2007 as an exchange student. Michael's parents, Alfons and Petra, were excellent hosts. They greated us with sparkling wine then took us on a tour of the vineyards. Michael's family owns a vineyard (winegut) and guesthouse (gasthaus). http://www.weingut-stoffel.de/index.htm We ate a wonderful lunch of salad, schnitzel, French Fries (Pommes Frites) and dessert at a hotel overlooking the Mosel River valley. It was a great lunch with family.

After lunch, went to the Mosel River to see a recreation of a Roman Wine Barge. The region was settled by the Romans over 2000 years ago who introduced grapes to the area. Leiwen is the 2nd largest wine producer on the Mosel with over 3 billion grape vines.

We returned to Michael's home where Petra served two outstanding desserts. James asked Petra to marry him!! After the desssert, Alfons held a wine tasting (wineprobe) for all. We tried 11 wines from dry to sweet. The wine was fantastic. Jamie was helping Petra cook dinner. Jamie had a great time and I think Petra really enjoyed having a girl help out in the kitchen.

We ate grilled pork cutlet or grilled pork cutlet wrapped in bacon, salad, baked potato (kartoffel), tomato/mozaralla salad, bread (brot). IT WAS GREAT!!!!!!!! and of course Stoffel Wine!! and a cremefreche dessert with grapes.

We departed full of food, wine and memories of a great day. Kim drove :))) We look forward to many more happy memories with the Stoffel Family.

Michael, Alfons, Petra, Judy, Jim, Kim, Jamie, James, Tot

Roman wine Barge

Dinner prepared by Petra and Jamie - OUTSTANDING

Leiwen on the Mosel

Tasting the best German wine - Stoffel wine

Found a house & Birthday

10 July - After returning from the Black Forest and after seeing 13 houses, we FINALLY found a very nice house in Krickenbach about 6 miles south of Kaiserslautern. It was built in 1949. Right in the middle of a small town with a Backeri next door and the town Sportzplatz down the street. Very nice. School bus stop is next door. Very quiet little town. Protestant church in the back yard - bells ring at 1100 and 1900. 3 floors and a kellar (basement), 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, 2 utility rooms in the top floor, 2 storage rooms, 1 utility room in the kellar, 2 kitchens and a barn attached. 5 car carport and large backyard.










Front of the House



Back of the House

11 July - Celebrated Judy's next 29th Birthday at the Schloss (castle) Hotel in Landstuhl. Excellent food and wine. We did gifts back at the hotel with Judy drinking more wine :))

Black Forest

10 July - The Family (less working James) went to the SchwartzWald (Black Forest). Long drive but all enjoyed it. They went to Freiburg, lunch, did some shopping for clocks and other gifts in Titsee. This is the lake titsee with oma and Jamie by the dock.

Food at Reception

Korean Gimbop and American Finger Sandwiches and meatballs


Slovak Appetizer


German Bratwurst pastry

Change of Command Cake

Cutting the cake with MG Fontaine and COL Pinkston

Change of Command

9 July - James takes command of 1-405 AFSBn. Ceremony held at Panzer Kaserne in Kaiserslautern. About 75 people attended including MG Fontaine, Commander 21st TSC and BG Miller, DCG, 21st TSC. Also, Michael Stoffel and his parents attended. Michael lived with us for 6 months in 2007 in Fairfax. It was very nice to meet his Favorite German Parents!!! For the reception, we had appetizers from the countries of our favorite foreign kids. We had a Slovak Appetizer for Tina, Gimbop for AhYoung and a Bratwurst pastry for Michael as well as Meatballs for Jamie and the usual Obst and Gemuse (fruit and veggie for those that don't sprecken!!) trays and cake!! It was very nice. The caterer did an excellent job.

6-7 July family Arrives

Jim, Judy and Kay arrive on 6 July from their 10 day train tour of Switzerland and Austria. They are tired but happy. 7 July Tot arrives from the US.

Rhine A Flame

5 July - Looked at more houses on the local economy. Then went on a bus drive to our Rhine aflame cruise in Rudesheim Germany. We had a large crepe in Rudesheim and walked through the city. Jamie enjoyed it. One building was built in 1000. We got on the boat at 5:30pm and rode up the Rhine looking at castles and vineyards. Had dinner on the boat. Jamie took alot of pictures and videos. At 9pm, the villages lit up the castles in orange light with smoke pots and shot fireworks. The event remembers an attack on the Rhine castles in the 1100s. really neat. Boat docked about 11pm and we got back home at 2 in the morning. tired and ready to look at more houses the next day!!

Getting Settled

2 July - Moved into temporary billetting - Vogelweh Inn. Not bad for $48 a night without a/c. Kim wants you to know is has a bathroom with shower. Don't know how long we will be here.





Living Room and Jamie's sleep room







Kitchen and bedroom.



3 July - James passed his Driver's test for the US Army so we can drive a car. Our van not scheduled to arrive until 21 July.

4 July - Drove around looking at houses. Did not watch any fireworks because we have seen the ones on the DC Mall for 3 years - hard to top that.

From Dulles to Frankfurt

1 July - We arrived at Dulles Airport 3 hours like they asked for international flights. Life was good. We turned in the rental car - no problems. Checked in and THEN found out that our flight was delayed 3 hours!!!!! no pilot. Then we spent the next 5 hrs in the Dulles Gate 5 with 200 of our closest mad friends!!! the flight finally took off and we landed in Frankfurt at 1030 hrs. The flight was not bad except for the movie - James had to endure the movie 27 dresses. They should show that movie at Guantanamo Cuba. The terrorist will tell all but Amnesty International will be upset - THAT WAS TORTURE!!!

2 July - We arrived in Frankfurt we were so tired and wanted to go tho sleep but we couldnt. angry jamie.so it was such a bad day for all of us because 90 degrees no car no ac ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh i wont survive here for two years!!!