Burg Nanstein, Landstuhl

MIMI, MawMaw Matt and Bosco

Click to see the Sterner Elves!!

Master George and Cole with his new yellow belt

Cole's Karate Belt Testing

This Thanksgiving I think a lot of Brad Clemmons as we spent many Thanksgivings together over the past 10 years. Here is a picture of his family. Left to Right: Isabelle, Zach, Becca, Nick and Baby Gabrielle

I really did it

There are no antlers to prove it but I did bring a camera. It was one of the hardest activities I have ever tried. It was cold and uphill!

Idaho

Tim on Vacation

Tim's Deer from Western Wyoming near Alpine.
Stats: 4x4 and 21.5" wide shot at 348 yds with his Kimber Montana .260 Remington AI.

More of Rome

Better Late Than Never

Yes we went to Rome in August. Yes it is Novemeber! What have I been doing. Well, we are trying to get ready to move from Germany to Hawaii, not miss hunting season, finish shopping here in Europe. Let's just say we have had Christmas for the past few months. We will soon be without the guts of our house. The movers come next week and we will live here until after Christmas.

So my computer will be gone next week and my project is to get my pics organized so that I can get lots of Grandmas and family to take me off the hit list.

Christmas will be small. I am looking forward to that.

Rome from a child's eye

Phonics in the Sterner home

How can you teach the /OU/ sound as in "hound"? When the child mispronounces it, just give them a little pinch on the back of the arm. Repeat as necessary but will only take 1-3 times before it sticks. They are very fast to learn. Once they shout ou! They don't forget what the sound makes.

Cole earns a spot on the blog

My Family and I in the Black Forest
by Cole Sterner

My family went to visit the Black Forest in Germany. During our visit, we went on hikes, visited a glass factory and saw the biggest kuku clock in the world.
Alpirsbach is a village that we hiked in. Our first hike we went to see a river. The second hike there was a meadow with a fireplace. What I liked best about hiking is picking up sticks and running in the forest.
Outside of Alpirsbach we toured a glass blowing factory. It was cool. Sydney and I got to blow the glass. The glass is made with liquid called liquid sand. They get a metal pole and dip it in the liquid. They shape the liquid and blow.
Finally we went to Triberg and hiked to a waterfall, the longest in Germany. Outside of the town of Triberg, we saw the largest kukou clock in the world. The clock had a chimney sweep, two deer, two beer drinkers and six dancers with a kukuo bird on the top.
We had a great time in the Black Forest. If you want to go to the Black Forest, just contact Mrs. Ottensman and you will get some information.

Moving

It is the middle of summer and I ran in polar fleece this am. I am trying not to be too crabby about that as I am going to a place that is always summer....never winter. Cleaning out the house for this move is different than any others. All the hand me down winter clothes need to go. Even if another baby came into our midst we would have no need for the big parka that we used at our previous western and European bases.
I have always said I was due for a warm weather base but I never thought it would happen. Hawaii!! After Minot ND, Germany, Washington State, Germany.....now HI! Can this be real. I am waiting at any moment for the AF to rip our orders. But only after we sell all the winter clothes and boots. Then it would only make sense.
The good thing is I am decluttering. I just did this 3 years ago. I thought I did a good job that time. Boy was I in a dream world. We have way too much stuff. Going to a world without basements have opened my eyes to my world of clutter. "Do you want that to sit in your living room since you have no basement?" "It is a winter baby dress Anna, do you really need that in HI?" or how about...."You haven't used that thing in 10 years Anna do you really think you are going to start now?" These are the questions I have to tell myself on a daily basis.
The poor kids are getting older. They like to ask questions and have opinions.
"Do we have to get rid of the Spider man without an arm, I really like him."
"Do you play with him?"
"No"
"Then yes we have to get rid of him"

LEGOLAND

Trip to the Black Forest

Glass Blowing Factory, hiking and beautiful quaint towns. We had a nice relaxing trip in Alpirsbach Germany.

Our new violin made by Rinehardt who learned the trade in Mittenwald Germany. More details to come. http://www.fewo-mittenwald.de/Infos___Links/Info_in_English/Culture/Violins/violins.html

Mack and Cole get the buzz!

Tim is Home

Switzerland

Presenting the Wagner Sisters.... for those of you who have been wondering who I have had in my home this past month. 3 left and Beth is still with us but only for a few more days. The kids and myself will miss her!!

From left to right: Kate, Beth, Christie and Missy. I am not sure but I think Cole is our photographer.

Cole hiking in Switzerland

Mack and Me

Help

Hi all,
My hard drive crashed and I lost lots of email addresses. Please send an email to me so that I can put you in my address book. Any other info would be great!!!

timandanna@thesterners.com

Homeschool Science

Here is a butterfly that was donated to Science! The children caught the butterfly with their net, Mack was their hunting guide and spotted from afar first. The poor thing didn't make it but another hour after these pictures. They insisted they keep him for a while to watch him. Now he lives between suran wrap and they can view him whenever they want!

Put one more on top I can handle it!!

Soccer

Did you know Cole could play soccer. Beth and I actually enjoyed the game. It was exciting. If you are not a parent yet you will not find the joy in the fact that I can now go to a game and really tell its a game. Cole played most of the time and love it! His team won. He broke my heart when he told me he didn't want to play baseball this year. (like to see him get away with that with his Dad if he ever said he didn't want to go hunting) I have gotten over the blow and love to see him have a good time. Did I mention he was 9 but playing on a 10-12 year old team. (Do Mom's Brag on their kids?) Playing with the German kids across the street at the park must have paid off!

Easter

Easter week was great. Monday night we made Easter cookies which told the story of Christ death and resurrection. The children have been studying life in Ancient Israel so it was only appropriate to have a Passover Feast on Thursday. Beth our hero put that together. I forgot the camera so we have no pics of the event. Each child had a part and they are still talking about what a nice time it was. Saturday we spent our morning at Soccer, our afternoon at the squadron egg hunt and our evening getting ready for the next day. Sunday church with another year at the wonderful Trinity Reformed Church. The children sang but that clip will go on another time. I have handed over camera duty to Beth for the remainder of her stay. Maybe we can capture more memories that way. Where is Beth?? Behind the camera silly. We'll get her next time!!

Catechism and Potty training.

The Westminster Catechism for children goes like this:
(Mack has learned the first 3 questions)

Who Made you?......"God"

What else did God make?......"God made all things"

Why did God make you and all things?......."For his own Glory"


The past few weeks we have been really working hard on our potty skills.....Mack going and Mom remembering. Mack hasn't gotten it all figured out and....well, thank goodness for pull ups. One day Mack was walking around and he was smelly. Tired and agitated at the thought of changing an almost 3 year old's pants I asked, "Mack, why did you poop in your pants?"

Mack replies, "FOR HIS OWN GLORY"

Sweeping and Talking

More firsts for me....Today we call Tim from the shop phone so the kids can talk to him and on we don't have to pay!!! Here is our conversation:

Anna "Hey what's up"
Tim "Well at the moment I am sweeping for bombs out in the jungle."
Anna "Oh well could you just talk to the kids for a second. Mack really wants to talk."
Tim "UuuH ok."

Mack finally speaks to his father with a huge smile on his face
Sydney tells every small detail of her 6 year old world
Cole says hi but gets cut off short, hands the phone to me......"Mom, Dad needs to talk to you again"

Tim "Hey Honey, I am really glad you called but I probably need to get going. Love you"

Sacrificial or just plain crazy??? You tell me.

The Confession

Mack has been plotting against me. All along I thought I was going crazy. Every time I looked for a wooden spoon or other tool of discipline, I could not find one.....thus prolonging or forgetting the spanking altogether. Today Mack came clean. He had been hiding them and at a good place at that. "Under your bed," he confesses as his head is turned so he doesn't have to make eye contact.

What a cutie!!! Mack has his own agenda.


Pics of Mack and his buddy Alissa (the youngest of nine children).

Valentine's Day

So my husband has his friend/co-worker deliver flowers to me for Valentine's Day. Well this is not that weird because he has been deployed before and co-workers have delivered flowers to me on various occasions throughout our marriage from Tim. Today was a little different something new that has never been done before.....James who works for Tim not only buys flowers for me but goes one step further to buy a mushy card and sign Tim's name. Talk about the EOD close nit family. Those guys have no fear!! I just wonder if it is Tim's idea to send a card or did James just think it would be a nice added touch to the flowers.

Thank you James....you did a very brave deed! Tim owes you big time.

Down in Africa

A letter from Tim and how his day is going:

Just had a mini emergency. As I was sitting here typing the power shut off and apparently there was a surge immediately following the power loss. A cord and power converter (like for our laptop) burst into flames and shot blue electrical arcs all over the place. The power unit was near the edge of my couch so the fire started the couch to burning. I was able to kill power and get the power source away from the couch before anything major happened. I do expect that the hotel will want us to pay to replace the yellow couch that now has a large black scorch mark decorating the side. The fun never ends.

Sunday night question to the Pastor

Kids say the most impressive things.

Tucked away behind chairs and books at the upper room of the McQuade home is where Sydney makes camp during Sunday night Bible Study. I wonder at times should I make her sit with me, stop coloring or flipping through books so that she will learn to pay attention to what is being taught.

At the end of the lesson Pastor asks "Are there any questions?" We have just finished a series on the book of Jonah. Sydney pops up from behind the chairs and says to me, "I have a question!!!!" "If God knew Jonah was going to get mad and not go, why did God bother to send him anyway?" I reply, "That is a very good question Sydney.....Go ask the Pastor!"

I think I have got my answer to my first thought.....Sydney is just fine where she is!

Lady Sydney and Lord Caleb Host a Feast!!

St George's Medieval Feast

The huntsman plays the fiddle.





The Lords and Ladies enjoy the feast.