Wordless Wednesday: July 4th, Ramstein Air Base

Ain't No Such Thing as Too Much Red, White, and Blue!

We had a great time last night at Chase's celebrating an early July 4th at his new house.  Delicious food, good friends, and fantastic outfits!  

Then we came home and had some sparkler fun with the girls.  I saved some from New Year's for this very occasion. It wasn't dark yet, but I didn't want to keep them up past ten so we just used two and called it good.  They definitely enjoyed themselves!

After the somewhat depressing experience of last year's July 4th all alone in a foreign country, I decided to join Randy and Shawna tonight on base for the carnival.  Jesse will be working the funnel cake tent (he's in charge of that this year so you can just call me The Funnel Cake Widow hehe)  I'm really looking forward to a crazy-fun-busy-crowded-night celebrating our country's special day with a crap ton of other Americans.  You shouldn't be alone on Independence Day!!!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!  I hope you guys all have a great July 4th!  And wish me luck trying to keep the Monkeys happy until fireworks at 11pm!  (I predict a good bit of sugar in our future...)

Also if any family wants a trip down memory lane... here are the girls two years ago!

A Delicious Happy Birthday to America

Happy 4th and I Miss the States

Today feels so weird to me.  Mostly because Jesse is at work.  Also because I'm not doing anything "July 4th-y".

I opted out of the craziness that would be me and two girls alone at the "Rockin' 4th" celebration on base tonight.  Jesse is volunteering at the squadron's funnel cake stand.  So I just tried to imagine what it would be like to navigate through a base full of oh I don't know 50,000 people or something.  No thanks.  There wouldn't be any chance of the girls staying up till firework time anyways, and that's my favorite part!

Maybe that's why I'm feeling kind of blah today.  I want to go to a bbq and see fireworks and eat a hot dog.  But then... I also want to be with my family.  Not just the two kids I'm chillin' with all day today... but my husband.  And my Mom and Dad.  And my sisters and brother.  And our Aunts and Uncles.  I feel like July 4th celebrations were always really special but now I'm living in Germany and have two toddlers.  Those toddlers, man!  They sure do complicate things.  

(Like when they poop on my carpet.  But that's another story.  And also probably ANOTHER reason I'm feeling kind of blah today ha!)

I mean, I'm not even wearing red, white, or blue!  Or stars!  Or clean clothes!  (Still haven't quite gotten around to that post-workout shower...)

But.  As I fed, changed, and played with my kids this morning, I was thinking about the good old USA.  And being very thankful.  I went for a long walk, hung laundry, and cleaned poop out of the carpet.  And even though I'm not going to see fireworks today, I am still so thankful for a) my country and b) my season of life.  

Dear America,

Happy Birthday.  Tell my family back home that I say hi and I love them.  Thank you for the good employment that supports our little family.  And thank you for the freedoms I enjoy.  

Love, Jess

A stay at home mom who's stuck at home but still thinking happy July 4th thoughts :o) 

Happy Independence Day everyone!  Eat an extra hot dog for me!

Happy Birthday America!

Here's my only other form of party decoration :o)  A flag "graham cracker cake" that I saw in a magazine once.  Also, my new friend came (I'm starting to accumulate a lovely collection of new friends ;o) ) with strawberries dipped in white chocolate and blue sprinkles and a real flag cake.  Definitely stealing those ideas for the next July 4th bbq I host/attend!  Leave it to my airman to point out that I did the cake wrong ;o)  I didn't follow the picture exactly so I ended up with a red stripe touching the blue, which he claims is "illegal".  But I pointed out that this isn't a regulation flag.  So shut up ;o) 

July 4th has a lot more meaning to me now than it did a few years ago.

For one, Jesse is serving our country... and in a behind the scenes way, so is our whole family.  July 4th is the weekend Jesse graduated from BMT and became an Airman in the US Air Force.  On our way over here to Germany, we shared a flight with over a hundred men and women who were deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.  It was sobering to see.

Another way I'm more thoughtful this 4th is because I'm not in my country.  It's a strange feeling to be so far from everything I've ever known.  I've only been in Germany for just about 2 and a half months, and already it's given me a unique perspective... I miss the States more than I thought I would, and I'm very grateful to be a citizen of the USA.

I miss silly things... the nearest Starbucks is on Ramstein (I think... still haven't gone) so it's about 25 minutes away from me.  Also, no Target.  No chain restaurants (well, there's some stuff on base and there are McDonald's around on the economy.  We just haven't gone yet).  And don't get me wrong... I don't *need* Starbucks or Target or McDonald's.  Besides, they have the equivalents of all of those things, it just takes more courage to go there... because of the language barrier and the cultural differences.  I'll just have to get over it.  But I do miss the "ease" of US shopping.  (Ha, perhaps it's better for our bank account for me to be distanced from such ease!)

I miss serious things... family.  Oh how I miss my family. 

I don't really need to get into that in detail, obviously.  But I will take this opportunity to officially announce that I'm COMING HOME THIS SUMMER! :o)  The girls and I are going to take our first Space-A adventure... Space-A is flying "space available" or "hops" on a military flight that's going back to the States.  For free (or basically free).  In our case, we'll be getting on one of the many flights that go back and forth to Baltimore from Ramstein every day.  And thankfully we have family and friends all along the east coast to come get us from there! :o)  We'll be spending about two weeks with NY fam and two weeks with MA fam.  I'm really looking forward to the vacation!  (Jesse can't come... some nonsense about having to work for our living or something ;o) )

So Happy Birthday to the USA and I'll be seeing your familiar faces soon!

July 4th Photo Shoot

I didn't do any decorating for our July 4th Party Saturday night, but we all sported our red, white, and blues... also, please note that the wall and carpet are perfect for the occasion! ;o)

Sam: My, my sis... what a nice ear you have!

New favorite shot ;o) 

Oh, wait... maybe this is my new fav!

Lily: This is getting kinda boring...

Lily: How you doin' Sissy?

Sam: I'm feeling a little nervous about you holding me...

Lily: As well you should, cause I'm about to push you off my lap.

Sam: That's okay I guess, Momma will catch me.  It's been fun posing with ya ;o)

I also decided twinkle toes fit the occasion nicely :o)