Wordless Wednesday - Didn't Happen

Sorry there was no Wordless Wednesday this week. David bought a brand new super fancy camera. In fact it is so fancy that it is a snob and refuses to talk to my beat up ancient MacBook. Hopefully at some point Apple technology will work with new Nikon technology and I will have lots and lots of pictures to post. David says he is sure he can find a work around for the problem, then he will have to teach me how to do it. In the mean time we are super busy enjoying our time at home with family and friends.

Quick Update

I will get back in the swing of blogging soon. Right now we are on vacation, very busy and enjoying every minute of it. In the mean time at least Wordless Wednesday will make it up each week.

The Cyberbones clan finally all made it to the states for R&R. So far the boys and I vacationed at Aunt Teri's house in Kentucky for two lovely weeks, while Dave remained behind in Malawi hard at work. The kids had lots of cousins to play with and fun was had by all.

Last weekend we all arrived in Texas with me driving in from Kentucky to Texas, special thanks to my nephew who reminded me which side of the road to drive on, and ran interference when the kids stared fighting. Alonzo drove in a day later with his cousin Jennifer and her son. Meanwhile David flew in from Malawi, and Dakota flew in from South Carolina. It was wonderful to have all my babies together again, even if my oldest baby is taller than me these days. This week has been crazy busy reuniting with friends and catching up with family.

Today Dakota had to return to South Carolina, apparently the Navy wants him back, go figure. Tomorrow the 3 younger boys will start zoo camp. They are really excited. I'm excited too, shopping without kids! Yay! Lunch at a restaurant, without kids. Heaven!

I sort of feel sorry for the camp counselors. Picture this:

"Kids this is a kudu"

"We saw those in Zambia and ate kudu steaks in Botswana. Mmmmm.....Kudu...yummy!"

"Ummmmm.....Yeah.....Moving on. This is a baboon spider from Africa"

"My mom hates those, she screams when I let them loose in the kitchen."

"Okaaaaay. Let's move on to Southeast Asia. This is a gibbon."

"My brother saw those when he went white water rafting in Sumatra."

So how long before I get a call about my kids making up stories? I'm betting sometime in the first day. And Lord help the counselor that tries to talk birds with Colin. I quit trying to look birds up in the book several months back. I just ask Colin, it's a lot quicker, he has them all memorized.

Well I gotta go do some laundry, this is the first time all week we made it home before dark, and if I don't get it done the kids may be going to camp naked.

Tired Feet and Happy Tummy

Right now I feel a lot better about all the food I have been shoveling in this summer. Today we walked from our hotel (which is three blocks directly behind the National Musuem of the American Indian) to the Jefferson Memorial, then to the FDR memorial, and the Korean War Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial with all those steps, then the Vietnam Memorial. Grayson wanted to see "Obama's house" so we walked over and peered through the fence at the White House. We were headed back to the hotel when a guy gave us a flier with a coupon to Harry's Restaurant so we walked a few more blocks and stopped to eat. I am glad we did. I had the open face roast turkey sandwich, it was like Thanksgiving on a plate. Perfect. Then we walked down Pennsylvania until we got to 4th street then we crossed over the mall and finally made it home to our hotel suite. My feet are tired. My feet feel like it was a 100 miles, Alonzo is swearing it was at least 30. Google maps puts it at roughly 6 and half miles. With 4 kids. That is worth at least a hundred miles. There will be pictures later. For now I am going to eat my baklava and drink a cup of hot tea completely guilt free.

On Our Way

We are on our way! OK so we are not on our way to Malawi just yet. We are on our way to Kentucky where we will get a chance to catch our breath for a few days before we head to DC and then on to post.

San Antonio is where the bulk of our families are located as well as our closest friends. It is the place I miss most in the world. The place I want to be when I have a bad day at post. To our families, the ladies of Mainland Square, and everyone who makes this place home even though we don't live there anymore, thank you for putting up with us for the last few weeks and letting us totally wreck your schedules. I can't wait to see y'all again! Have a great rest of the summer. As for myself the sum total of my plans for the next few weeks involve sitting on the porch swing, sipping sweet tea, and doing as little as possible.

Wordless Wednesday--Flip-Flops, Ready for Summer!

Scratch scratch scratch...

Last night I noticed the household lice magnet was again scratching his head. UUUUGGGGHHH! School let out last week and I thought we were safe from the creepy crawly plague. Apparently he kept a few souvenirs of his time in second grade. Ever wondered what they look like?  Here is a close up of one I pulled out of his hair this morning. I just spent the last two hours scrubbing his head with RID, and imitating a monkey as I combed through his hair searching for the nits left behind.  Next is washing his sheets and blankets and vacuuming his bedroom in hopes that I will find all of the mini-beasts and banish them from our house, hopefully forever! This was not what I had planned for today.  I gotta go my head is itching now!  Bet you were scratching your head too, weren't you?

First Day of Work

Cody has his first summer job this year.  He had one week off between the end of school and the beginning of his summer job.  Here is a picture taken early this morning just before he headed off to his first day of work.  I hope he woke up a bit while riding the bus.  He was looking pretty sleepy.  Still I think he was glad to get out of the house and away from his little brothers for a while, plus the money is always a good thing!

Last Day of School - Part 1

Yesterday was Grayson's last day of his first year of school. He attend a part day preschool and I am really pleased with how much he learned! It is hard to believe that school is over already even though his friends back in the states have been out for weeks. Maybe it is the cool temperatures but it just doesn't feel like summer. He had great day. He got to ride bikes on the way to school with his friend Charlie.


They rode to school together most days this spring. Both boys have the little wooden bikes with no pedals that are so common here. Our house is a little closer to the school so Grayson would pause next to our house, watch for Charlie, then race back to join him. They would ride on together. That's Grayson in the picture above waring the blue helmet and back pack racing back to join his friend. After school we would ride to Charlie's house drop him off then ride back to ours. They really are too cute together!

Once at school it was right to work. There are 4 small tables in the class room. Each morning when the kids would enter there was always activities set out on the tables waiting for the kids. Grayson started the last day with some drawing. I took a few pictures then slipped away quietly.


After school let out at noon there was a BBQ and party to celebrate. Interestingly most of the kids ate very little choosing instead to run around and play. There was lots of fun to be had and it was a lovely way to end the school year.


This morning Grayson is celebrating his first full day of summer by having a special treat. Breakfast in front of the TV. Scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausage all while watching Little Einstein's. SHHHH! Don't tell Dad!


Everyone deserves to be spoiled once in a while!

Sizzling Summer Vacation Spectacular '08

First lets get business out of the way. Kristen at We Are THAT Family is hosting the Sizzling Summer Vacation Spectacular today, complete with door prizes. Make sure to stop by and see what all the fuss is about! You really don't want to miss all the fun!

So how do I fit a summer vacation that encompasses three continents, two states and the District of Columbia into one blog post? I don't know either, lets find out together.

My summer started and ended with boxes. Lots and lots of boxes.  I loath boxes! I loath packing! I loath unpacking!  All you FS, military, NGO and other global nomads, I know you feel my pain! But in between all the boxes was a glorious, sunny, fun-filled summer!

We started the summer in Asia.  Jakarta Indonesia to be specific.  We celebrated the end of our two years there with one last trip to our favorite place, anywhere.  The Sailing Club at Tanjung Lesung.  As always we had an absolute blast.  Thanks to Dave and Sophie for making our last weekend in Indonesia so wonderful.  I hope to make it back again someday.  There is no place else quite like it.

I love this place!  

A week later we were on the other side of the world hanging with freinds and family in San Antonio, Texas.  We had so much fun seeing everyone, going to the river at Guadalupe River State Park, watching the parade and fireworks on the 4th and of course girls night out at the Melting Pot!  We even made it to the circus and got to watch Grandma Sheila show one of her Japanese Chins.

David step away from the camera and no one gets hurt!

Everyone loves a parade!

Look, No Kids!

Wonder what they are looking at?

GO GRANDMA! 

Our time in San Antonio was too short and by mid-July we were in Kentucky letting our red-neck side hang out and enjoying a week-long crazy-family get together hosted by fellow blogger and sister-in-law Terio.  We ate ice cream, had fun in the sun, went four wheeling, and the boys learned a little archery from Uncle Kevin.  The best part was just watching all the cousins spending time together! 

Cousins everywhere!

Keeping cool in the heat!

Volleyball family fun

Uncle Kevin arms the kids, nowhere is safe now

Obviously Paul was at the wrong place at the wrong time!

From Kentucky we headed off to DC where we did much sight seeing, enjoyed a visit from a good friend, and David even managed to accomplish a bit of work. 

Yeah, that's original! Not!

Doug and Dave smile for the camera.

Our last stop and final destination this summer was our new home Frankfurt Germany.  We arrived August 1st.  It is the first time any of us have been to Europe. Well to be fair David visited Norway when he was in the navy but he has never been to Germany before! We are still settling in but I am sure we will have lots of new adventures to share with you.  We are looking forward to exploring castles, Roman ruins, and German culture. 

Woo Hoo Frankfurt at last!  No, that's not our house!

Our first Roman ruins.  Notice the jackets.  It's still summer and we are freezin' y'all!