It's A Girl!!

NC Beach Jan 08

Hanauma Bay

Snorkling at Hanauma Bay

Bellows Beach

Finally we made it out to the beaches. It was a great time for all. The sunset pics are from the North Shore near Sunset Beach and the others are from Bellows(an Air Force recreation beach). The kids got to really Boogie Board this time. I noticed I didn't get any pictures of Sydney up close. Guess she stayed too busy to stop and smile. Next time.

Beth Wagner made this bonnet for Sydney. She had her hula attire on at the time we opened the box so we have a mix of cultures. Thank you Beth. Sydney has been wearing it everywhere.

Mack and his trucks

Mack rides a Bike all by himself!!

Easter Dinner

Cole and Sydney decided to dress up for our fancy scrambled egg and english muffin dinner. They danced to Johnny Cash. Mack finished off our night by kicking Cole in the nose and blood all over. Had Cole been doing KP duty as earlier instructed he would have not been close to Mack's foot. Go figure!!

paint job

Ok I did not straighten up before I took the pics but you can see what it looks like much of the time. Not much room to take in the whole area but you can see the colors on the wall that my Dad put up for me.

Happy Easter from Hawaii

Hickam Beach HI

My little house.

Hawaii

The Post below was taken on Jan 16 just after we got off the plane. Our happy faces soon disappeared when they told us this is what we would have to live in. I admit downsizing so you have less work is appealing but I did not realized I would be in the middle of sixplex!!

Hawaii

working backwards

I am working backwards to catch up. Here are some photos from Germany-the beaches of NC.

Obama’s Spiritual Adviser Questioned U.S. Role in Spread of HIV, Sept. 11 Attacks

The Westminster Catechism

Q 81 Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?

A. Assuance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, true believers may wait long before they obtain it; and,the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions; yet are never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.

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!