Last Night

We planned on clearing out our house on our last Wednesday and then spending our last evening in Germany with our friends, the Domingues Family.  Then I came home from shopping on Tuesday afternoon and Jared told me he had had enough and we were finishing the house that afternoon and staying an extra night with the Dominguezes.  I was fine more than fine with this and started packing our bags.

So I stressed and stressed about getting everything in our bags. In the end Jared just threw stuff in and we rearranged them the next afternoon.  Then is packed the kids in the house and went to Sara's house while they turned the house over to the landlord.  It was a rather anti-climatic end to our life in that house. So many wonderful memories through the years. Jared had lived for 20 years. That just blows my mind.

Anyway, Jared had a final night out with friends and I got the kids bathed at Sara's then took Hyrum and Katie over to the Dominguez with me. Anne and Alicia spent that night at Sara's house.  I got the kids tucked in (Katie had a hard time settling in and kept getting up) then I read until I fell asleep.  Jared came in later that night.

The next day we did out last minute things, while the Dominguez prepared a bbq for us.  They were so good to us. Daniel's mom had taken that week off work to be with us and they prepared all this while we were working on other things.  I just couldn't believe it.  We have such wonderful friends.

The little pool they set up was a wonderful relief from the heat.

I had some laundry hanging out desperately trying to get it dried in time to be packed.

the

It was wonderful to spend our final night with the Dominguez and the Schulzes. They have been such good friends to us.

Jared and Ray checked our luggage in at the airport that night, so the following morning would be that much easier.  Anne and Alicia decided to stay with us that night. I think it was all too much for them and they needed the security of being with Mommy and Daddy.
Finally the big day came, I thought it never would come.  I still have a hard time believing it happened.

This is how we transported Hyrum through most of the airports.

At our gate airberlin had this little airplane playset for the kids.  Great to get that extra energy out.

We had quite the farewell group at the airport.  The Dominguez, Schulz, the Schwarz family and Mattias Lange all came. 

I have only had 2 breakdowns with this move. Once in a church meeting and then here saying good-bye to my Sara.  She and I relied heavily on each other, being so far from our families.  She is the best friend in the world.

Our layover was in Düsseldorf.  We had a struggle getting through customs. They gave us a hard time that the kids had US passports, but no stamp from the US.  Well, it is hard to have one when they haven't been in the US yet.  Hyrum was screaming and it was stressful. Finally we got through and had some food before going to our gate to wait.
Airberlin is converting their planes so that each seat has its own tv. I literally was praying that we would get one that had already been changed, but it was not to be.

The kids got the most sleep the last 2 hours of the 11 hour flight.  Sidenote: Dramamine doesn't work on Katie.

The kids were really good considering everything, but I was stressed out and am not prepared to fly with my kids again for several years.
We landed in Vegas and quickly made it through customs, no trouble there.  Then we had to wait for our baggage for 10 minutes while the baggage claim belt wouldn't move.  Torture!  My parents drove down to Vegas in a rented 15 passenger van to get us.

These ladies (ingnore the one with the very confused look) were there to great all the arrivals as we exited the airport.  That's when you are sure you are in Vegas. Anne was fascinated by them. I am not sure she noticed the immodesty, she jsut like the sparkles adn feathers.

We immediately noticed the lack of humidity and it was heaven.  We traveled up to Syracuse, stopping on the way in St. George to see Gma Dautel,  and got there at about midnight.  I stayed up with kids, because we had slept in the car.  Finally they went to bed and we stared life in Utah.  It wasn't hard to get over jet-lag.

Wrap Up

These are just some little tidbits of our last days in Germany.  Remember that hale and rain storm that Jared and I got caught in. These are the people we had lunch with.  I had never met them, but loved them immediately.

IBA Marketing Team

We visited Gpa Spitzer's grave one last time.  Ray is always the joker.

Hyrum loved the chickens until the geese opened their mouths, then he was scared of their honking.

The pediatrian's office. I miss them all. They loved us and we loved them. They knew how to say each child's name and loved speaking German and broken English with me.

Beate's brothers and family were in town, so we went to lunch with them.  I hate good-byes.  Alicia will hate this picture as she grows up.

So much of our final days in Germany were spent with Sara and her kids. They were so good to entertain us so we could get out of the chaos of the move.  Thank you. We miss you all so much.

One final look at our village.  Sigh!!!

Nürnberg Volksfest 2012

Now that we are finally in Utah, maybe I will have time do this backlog of posts.  Here is one from when Richy was with us in April

We spent the day at the Nürnberg Volkfest...like a carnival.

The girls loved riding the horses.  Robby and Richy took the kids on the Ferris Wheel.  The rest of the adults were too chicken.

Day on the Farm

Our wonderful friends, Alex and Hannes Keil, let us come over for a special day at their house.  It was great to get the kids out of the chaos of the house and move for a day.  They had a wonderful house that they custom built themselves. 

Hyrum loved the bird.  The girls were so excited that it sat on their fingers.

th

They had a huge back yard for bbqs and there was a swing set and animals.

Love that face!!!!

No, Hyrum isn't wearing a pink shirt. The camera was doing funny things.

Alex laid out mattresses for all of us to relax on. Such a good idea.

Hyrum had a fever, so he was miserable much of the day.  He and I napped on the couch while everyone else was outside.

The kids got the ride the horses. Of course, Katie had no fear.  She just can't get enough of animals.

That evening we had a bbq and it was delicious. It was hard to say good-bye to so many good friends.

BBQ and Soccer

One of our final evenings in Germany was spent with the Baasch Family.  We love them and miss them.  He was Jared's counselor in the branch presidency and she was just the sweetest friend.  They have 2 adorable twin girls.

As you can see, Robby and Freddy were the life of the party.

Jared and David

The kids loved all the toys. They played for hours.

Freddy was a hit with kids as usual.  The Schwab family also came over to share in the feast.  Those kids are so patient with mine and my kids love them in return.  David's parents were also there and it was wonderful to get to know them better.  The following Sunday David was called as the new branch president since we were leaving.

That evening Ray and Beate took the kids home and I got some adult time. Ramona and I talked and laughed while the menfolk watch the German soccer game. It was funny to see how each man reacted to them losing.  It is amazing the quirks sports bring out in people.

German Father's Day

Father's Day in Germany is the Thursday following Mother's Day.  Jared rented a trike for he and Ray. 

Katie just looks so cute on it and she loved pretending to drive.

• Jared gave each of the kids rides.

Jared had a lunch appointment and I went with him.  Sadly, the 2 days we had the trike the weather couldn't decide whether to be nice or rainy.  I went with Jared to the lunch appointment on the back of the trike.  It was cold and we got caught in the rain and hale on the way.  But the ride home was sunny and nice.  Jared and Ray had a great time and I am glad they had a chance to do it.