Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Real Food Cooking During PCS

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When we PCS, everything gets packed up.

Sometimes, weeks, or even more than a month in advance of our actual move.

Our options are to stay in our current housing situation with air mattresses or borrowed furnishings or move into temporary housing which is like an extended-stay hotel.

It’s never convenient, and we don’t want to eat out or buy junk food.

Real Food Cooking During PCS

So, how do we still cook real food during PCS season?

We get creative.

We simplify.

We make it fun.

Usually, we clear out the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry as much as we can the weeks before a PCS. Then, we pack up the remains of the pantry, fridge, and freezer to eat in our TLF before our final out.

Another handy tip is to bake breads, muffins, cakes, and cookies ahead of time to have on hand before all that cookware is packed. Store the items in the freezer or even a freezer at church or a friend’s until TLF is ready.

We try not to cut too many corners, but obviously, our cookware is packed up and on a boat and we’re ready to travel, so making smoothies or homemade bread aren’t usually an option. The facilities in temporary lodging aren’t ideal – with few amenities for cooking well.

Sometimes, we can borrow essential kitchen items from friends or the Airmen’s Closet until our household goods show up.

Thankfully, most TLF apartments have decent coffee makers, toasters, mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, a colander, utensils, and pots and pans.

We usually miss good tongs, clean baking pans with silpats, good knives, and some other items we deem “necessities.” I miss my sourdough and kombucha and options for healthy cooking fats.

I pack my favorite cooking utensil, one or two good knives, tongs, and several spices (like garlic, salt, pepper, Italian herbs) inside a plastic zip bag in my checked luggage. We’ve even packed up melamine plates and bowls before to make life easier.

I don’t even play. I need these things handy with a hungry family.

While staying at TLF or hotels, we often purchase simple and easy to prepare foods at local grocery stores that can be grilled at a nearby park grill hut or a disposable hibachi grill. It’s not much different than what we do when we’re camping. We even eat outside if the weather’s agreeable.

When we have kitchen facilities, we make simple side dishes like rice, pasta, couscous, quinoa, potatoes, steamed veggies, or boil frozen beans. If ovens are available, casseroles are easy for any meal. We just buy disposable aluminum pans. We don’t ordinarily use aluminum for cooking, but it’s ok for occasional use. We simplify and cut corners where it’s not a big deal.

We don’t eat much differently in TLF than at home during summer: grilled meats, veggies either steamed or sauteed, a grain side like cous cous, potatoes, quinoa, rice.

We try to use up everything so there’s no waste.

We’ve even baked chocolate chip cookie bars and quick breads in TLF in disposable aluminum pans.

Picnics are easy and frugal for road trips or easy for lunches at any point during the PCS.

We packed up sandwiches, chips, and juice for our road trip from Utah to Georgia and stopped at rest stops to eat and play.

Picnic Pit Stop

My Top 12 Easy Dinners for PCS or Travel:

  1. Pizza. We love to make our own pizza.
  2. Hamburgers. These are always a favorite!
  3. Casseroles. Turkey Divan and Tuna Casserole are favorites.
  4. Grilled or Roasted Meat and easy sides. We love couscous or quinoa with a marinated meat and a veggie.
  5. Tacos. See our homemade taco seasoning.
  6. Stews. Beef stew and chili are easy stovetop or slow cooker meals.
  7. Roasts. I like to roast a beef chuck or pork loin or whole chicken and have leftovers the next day! I often throw some root veggies alongside.
  8. Slow cooker meals. We love Asian pork ribs and salsa chicken.
  9. Breakfast for dinner. My husband usually is in charge of this.
  10. Sandwiches. This is fun for picnics.
  11. Salads. We like to use leftovers for creative salads. See our fave salads.
  12. Soups. Here are a few of our favorite soups!

We have to make sure we use up leftovers creatively.

It’s stressful not having our kitchenware and having to eat on the run with little planning.

We stay flexible and look forward to learning our way around a new kitchen and organizing it the way we like it.

Do you have any PCS tips?

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CORT Furniture Rental for Military

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cort Military

Tired of the yard sale or bachelor pad look?

Tired of living in barracks or dorms?

CORT Furniture Rental is the answer to stylish furniture off-base for military members.

CORT is a great option for military members, especially during short term assignments, unaccompanied tours, or education opportunities.

CORT even offers housewares packages containing essential items for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, as well as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and microwaves.

Each package consists of a living room, dining room, and bedroom set of showroom-condition pieces. CORT offers three different package options to suit your individual space and lifestyle needs.

When my husband attended school in Alabama for a year before we met, it would have been so much more comfortable for him to rent a studio apartment and use CORT Furniture Rental than living in a hotel for that time!

I would even consider CORT Furniture Rental for a short 2-year command tour. It would be much less stressful than moving a household. Stricter weight requirements during PCS make this a more feasible and frugal option.

Sometimes, moving back stateside from overseas, there’s a big gap between moving in and receiving household goods. CORT Furniture Rental is a great option for temporary furnishings while waiting for the shipment.

CORT Furniture Rental Benefits for Military Members

Benefits to using CORT Furniture Rental for Military

Military Out Clause

If you deploy, receive change-of-station orders 75+ miles away, or discharge from the military, you are released from your furniture rental contract. Sometimes orders come suddenly for deployment or PCS, so this is great.

Flexibility

Keep the furniture as long as you need it. More than 100 showroom locations across the country, so when you move, CORT can furnish your new place too.

Easy

So much less stressful than shopping for new and selling the old each and every time you move or the days and days of clipboards, packing out, and moving. One phone call and you’re done. Then quick delivery or pickup. Super easy!

Frugal

If you take into account long term storage costs and frequent moving expenses, using CORT for furniture rental works out to be cheaper! For short tours, this makes sense!

Quality

CORT’s quality control process helps ensure that every piece of furniture they deliver to you is in showroom condition, or they won’t rent it! Everything looks nice together, which is great if you don’t know how to decorate. So much nicer than risking the destruction of furniture during a PCS.

How does it work?

You choose from three military packages, select any additional items you want, and checkout online!

  1. Select your lease length
  2. Choose your package
  3. Pick your style or leave it up to CORT
  4. Checkout online
  5. Confirm delivery
  6. Schedule pickup at the end of your lease

Find a location near you!

See this great testimonial:

CORT Furniture Rental offers so many benefits for military members to rent furniture.

Follow CORT on social media:

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PCS to Germany

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PCSing to Germany? Congratulations! Overwhelmed?

You can’t really do much until you get official orders, which can take a looooong time after that initial excitement of knowing where you’re heading.

We actually had orders to New Jersey, but then they changed us to Germany. We were beyond thrilled!

Europe was something I had long dreamed about and I really thought it might never happen.

Guide to PCSing to Germany from getting orders to settling into your new house.

What to Do First

Look for social media groups.

Facebook is a great way to connect with families who already live in the area you’re moving.

There are local groups for online yard sales, pet tips, jobs, hobbies, homeschooling, parenting, travel, shopping, meetups, hiking, and more!

Have a PCS fund.

It’s always wise to have some savings for PCS time. Pet costs, travel, meals, illness, surprises, and refreshments for the movers can soon deplete funds. We usually use our tax return that year.

Organize paperwork.

Organize all medical, school, and personal paperwork in a binder.

We have a big zipper binder with lots of pockets for passports, birth certificates, social security cards, pet vet reports, kids school reports, PCS forms.

Close accounts and cancel services.

Contact companies like utilities, cable or satellite TV, and cellular phone service to cancel. Most accounts require at least 30 days’ notice with PCS orders.

Request DLA.

Discuss with finance if you will be responsible to pay back any moving costs. Usually, the government credit card is used for airfare and hotel – and that will be covered with filing a travel voucher, but make sure it’s paid before you spend your DLA on new curtains or something! Anything above and beyond your daily allowances (per diem allotment), you will be held responsible.

Update insurance.

Contact and update auto and home insurance to make sure you have enough coverage or the right plan for the area you’re moving to. Some countries require extra policies.

Update financial info.

Update banking information with a travel alert and update the new address when you get it. When PCSing overseas, you have to open a local account to pay local bills.

Packing Out

We have huge yard sales and purge, purge, purge every time we PCS.

To avoid confusion and make it easier: schedule unaccompanied baggage, household goods, and temporary storage packing and pick-ups on different days.

Typically, the moving company will contact you for a schedule.

First, someone comes with a clipboard and goes room to room, calculating what will need to be packed on each shipment.

Then, packers come to wrap and box your items on the scheduled days. It’s good to already have pictures off the walls, storage items placed in a room or off to one side, unaccompanied baggage placed together. Get organized and be helpful. I even go through drawers and use those humongous zipper plastic bags to keep my bathroom and kitchen items together.

Be available for questions.

We always provide water and sports drinks and lunch for every day of packing and moving.

Traveling with a baby or toddler?

We’ve PCSed with very little ones twice and it is stressful.

We’ve shipped many baby items in unaccompanied baggage so it arrives early. We pack in our suitcases things that we need while traveling or staying in TLF. We can check must-need items like car seats, pack and play, strollers and they don’t count against luggage. Most TLF locations have pack and plays in apartments though.

It’s important to make sure to pack enough diapers and wipes for trips. We did cloth diapering at home, but disposables during travel.

I always breastfed so there weren’t any issues traveling with infants, and most airport security checks allowed us special accommodations and unopened baby food containers and bottled water is allowed when traveling with infants or toddlers.

What to put in storage:

The electricity overseas is a different voltage and it can put a lot of wear and tear on our American-voltage items. We sold everything except our new flat-screen TV. And we put that in storage. Anything with a timer, we put in storage because they won’t work properly – clock radios, coffee pot, slow cooker, rice cooker. We put our deep freezer in storage. We chose to put our china cabinet and fancy dishes in storage because we were worried about weight allowances and space. I chose to store some books and items we didn’t think we’d need on this tour.

Unaccompanied baggage:

Unaccompanied baggage is shipped airfreight to Germany. It should arrive in a couple weeks, so if you find a house and get keys, you’re all set if transportation can bring the goods.

This is typically the shipment of goods you’re going to want as soon as you can move into your new house. We’ve had the luck of the draw a few times that our HHG and unaccompanied baggage arrive at the same time, but they’re packed out differently and the weight allowance is there.

Recommended Items to Pack in Unaccompanied Baggage:

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Linens, blankets, and towels (sleeping bags and air mattresses are great!)
  • Kitchen items (I always pack some special plates and cups along with some much-used cooking items)
  • Books and toys for children
  • Next season’s clothes (German seasons and weather can change unexpectedly)
  • Pro Gear – Military items and professional items (not uniforms or paperwork that’s needed right away!)
  • Tools – screwdrivers, allen keys, hammer, picture hanging kits
  • TV & VCR/DVD Player
  • Lamps
  • Alarm or wall clock (battery-operated)
  • Baby furniture – crib, playpen, walker, etc. (highchairs and car seats are available from ACS for 30 day loan.)
  • Bikes and safety gear
  • School supplies, to include backpacks
  • Laundry basket
  • Camping chairs
  • Desktop computer (we take our laptop with us)

HHG:

This is all the main furniture and anything you’re packing that wasn’t in unaccompanied baggage. This is typically shipped on a boat and takes about 6 weeks to arrive.

Organization tips:

Take photos or video each room and the condition of furniture before packing.

Secure pets. They’re gonna be stressed and want to escape from packers and movers. Put up a sign so the door remains shut or put them in a kennel for their safety.

Put things in ziploc bags. This ensures nothing falls out of drawers or containers or gets wet or dirty. One military wife I know even places her underwear in bags! Genius.

Color code boxes with tape or stickers and then in your new location, put the same colored tape on the door frames to match the boxes. This is especially helpful when the movers don’t speak much or any English.

What to pack in suitcases:

We put the things we’re carrying with us in a bathroom or laundry room or even in the car so it doesn’t accidentally get packed!

We packed the clothes we’d need – for layering in spring and summer. I packed some homeschool materials. I bring my laptop and iPads. I pack my favorite cooking utensil. We didn’t know what to expect and we almost always bring more than we’ll need, but better than wanting something we don’t have, right? We also pack vitamins and items that we use daily. It’s easier than doing carry-on luggage only because we seal up full-size toiletry items and pad them well so there’s no mess.

Vehicles

Driver’s License

Active duty and dependents with a valid American DL must pass the USAREUR drivers license test. Here’s the USAREUR practice test. Teens age 17+ with a US DL can also take the USAREUR test. Apparently, they also offer it online ahead of time now.

You also need an international DL if you plan to drive over the border to any other countries. The process for an international DL is super easy. You can go to any AAA in the States and get a DL valid for 3 years. Once you arrive, you take a passport photo (MOM’s on Ramstein is an easy location to get this), your USAREUR DL and a form they provide, and go to the office downtown to get the license.

Transporting

One vehicle is alloted for shipment overseas. We chose to ship our minivan. If you desire to ship a second vehicle, it typically costs $1500-2000. You have to contact a private shipping company for the best rates and policy. Get more info about shipping a POV.

We had to get the van detailed and inspected. We drove it to the nearest shipping location and it was eventually placed on a boat. We were able to pick it up right on base here in Germany.

When return-shipping a vehicle to the States, the inspection process can be very stressful. I suggest just paying for a PCS detail for a better chance of first-time approval.

Registering

We had to get an inspection and then tag registration. Registration is $30/year. Inspections are for two years, so if you get a 3-year tour, you have to get re-inspected. The inspectors can be really picky about the condition of vehicles. We recently failed our inspection and had to pay €25 to get our undercarriage steam-cleaned to make sure there was no oil leakage, then we passed and got the registration for another 2 years just in case we get extended.

Pets

Here’s a pretty good summary about pets in Germany. It’s always easier to go to a military vet because they know the paperwork requirements best.

It’s expensive to PCS with pets OCONUS (and sometimes even CONUS). But they’re our family members.

Overall, it cost us about $1500 to prepare and ship our 2 cats. It’s a moving expense and a tax write-off!

Certain breeds of dogs are not allowed entry into Germany.

Necessary for international travel or PCS with pets:

  • Microchip
  • Vaccinations
  • USDA Health Certificate
  • Arrangements or tickets for cargo or in-cabin travel

We were able to ship our cats unaccompanied from Utah to my parents in Atlanta, and then from Atlanta to Baltimore with us on our flight, then on the Patriot Express rotator with us from BWI to Ramstein. Pet food is not allowed to be shipped into Germany, so they threw that out during our inspection. Luckily, they have fine quality pet food at local shops.

Many factors can make flying with pets difficult: extreme temperatures, available space, time of year, etc. I know some who pay to have pets fly unaccompanied to the main airport in Frankfurt. There are services that take care of all of a pet’s needs before, during, and after flights.

TLA

Acquire an APO mail address ASAP. Get your sponsor to do this, if possible. You can ship items to this address before you arrive.

Finding a House:

Typically, families get 30 days in temporary lodging so they can get adjusted, vehicles and HHG can arrive, and permanent housing can be procured.

You must attend a housing briefing and can only rent approved houses off-base. The wait for on-base housing can be many months. The housing office can get a little pushy if you take a while to find a house.

Go to the finance office and ask for the housing deposit loan. Most German houses require 2-3 month’s rent upfront. You can request that loan and pay it back at the end of your tour.

When you find your house, you take paperwork for the landlord to fill out and you return that to the housing office for approval.

Things to consider when renting off-base:

Utilities. Most houses are heated by oil. This is usually paid yearly and can be a big expense. Water and electricity is estimated and during the annual reconciliation, it can be a big surprise to pay a lot of Euro or get a refund (beer money!). Adjust as needed, based on your family’s needs and usage.

Distance to work. Research the route the servicemember will take to work to make sure that’s doable and ok. We opted for a village farther away from everything for quiet and safety, but my husband has a 30-40 minute commute to work, depending on traffic and construction.

Priorities. We chose our house for the big kitchen with two ovens, one of which is huge and fits our American pans. We gave up a big yard, but there’s a lovely park and playground that I can see from our window. We have one Dorfladen-Bäckerei and no restaurants in our tiny village. Make a list of what you want and don’t want and refer to that when you’re house-hunting. Don’t settle because you’re pressured to find a house.

Other

Electricity

Our lamps work fine with German light bulbs and little adaptors. We use only one transformer in the kitchen for our toaster and mixer. We bought several small German appliances to make our lives easier.

Cell, Internet, TV

It took us six months to get Internet and cellular phones. Things just work differently here. We don’t have a TV, but I know the service requires receivers and whatnot. Our landlady helped us get on the list for excellent Internet and home phone service.

You can view Netflix and Amazon streaming in Germany .de or you can purchase a VPN to view the American (and British or elsewhere) services.

The CommShop in Ramstein is the best place to work out contracts for cellular phones and many other services.

Shopping

Carry Euro with you. Lots of places don’t take cards, only Euro cash. Get a card with a PIN and chip for travel.

Thrift stores and yard sales often have lots of items for sale throughout the year. There are many local Facebook groups for resale.

Bookoo is a great resource for buying and selling.

Check The Find-It Guide for American-friendly shopping and services like auto repair and beauty salons.

Almost everything is closed on Sundays. There are periodic Sunday shopping days.

Travel

Most likely, your family members will receive free SOFA passports during out-processing.

You must, must, must purchase tourist passports if you ever want to travel on vacation outside Germany. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Don’t risk it.

There are spouse welcome workshops that I highly recommend making time to attend. They will explain lots of information like putting salt in the dishwasher, to air out your house daily, how to shop frugally on the economy, all the little quirks you need to know while living in a foreign country. Check out which potatoes to buy (they’re different here!).

Do you have any tips for PCSing to Germany?

Resources:

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Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

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National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 victims who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

On August 23, 1994, United States Congress, designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

It is a tradition on this day to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset in honor of dead patriots.

My parents visited us when we lived in Hawaii and Pearl Harbor was their main interest so of course we scheduled a special tour for them.

We requested the COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour, a special service for military and dependents.

Pearl Harbor Memorial Visitor Center

Children over 8 are allowed on the tour.

With Grandma at Pearl Harbor

My dad proudly wore his USS Shangri-La hat. He served a tour in the US Navy in the 1960s and later retired from the US Army Reserve and DoD in the 1990s.

He was all choked up at the museum and memorials.

Almost every family vacation we ever had included military history!

My Dad at the Pearl Harbor Memorial

Liz and my mom enjoyed the boat tour.

Remembrance Boat Ride

This lovely plaque meets visitors at the USS Arizona Memorial.

USS Arizona Memorial Plaque

Several memorials have been built to remember the day and its events.

The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is a marble memorial over the sunken battleship USS Arizona, which was dedicated in 1962. The memorial remembers all military personnel who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attack.

USS Arizona Survivors Interred with Their Shipmates
USS Arizona Memorial Wall

Another memorial is that of the USS Utah, a battleship that was sunk in the attack. A memorial to honor the crew of the USS Utah was dedicated on the northwest shore of Ford Island, near the ship’s wreck, in 1972. The ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

Read Pearl Harbor Survivor Stories!

Pearl Harbor Memorials

Pearl Harbor & Arizona Memorial Hours:

Daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Things to Know Before You Visit:

Tickets
Depending on the time of year, tickets can sell out months in advance. To avoid tickets selling out, you can book one of the Authorized Pearl Harbor Tours. They are permitted by the National Park Service to provide transportation and tours to the site.

Admission/Tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial are free. However, tickets reserved in advance are not free. When you purchase a tour, tickets are reserved in advance.

If you plan to visit Pearl Harbor on your own, you may purchase advance tickets online before they sell out. You may attempt to get walk-in tickets at the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center.  Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. All members of your party must be present to receive a walk-in ticket. All of the walk-in tickets are often secured by visitors who arrive before 7:00 AM. The wait for walk-in tickets can be up to 7 hours.

Tickets for the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Aviation Museum, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park are available on Pearl Harbor Tours.

Tour Duration
Tours are self-guided, and last 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes). The movie is 25 minutes and the remaining 50 minutes is the round trip boat ride and time on the Arizona Memorial.

Tours provide additional free time to visit the Museums/Exhibits.

Food & Beverages
There are concession stands at the Visitor Center which sell snacks and beverages. There are also concession stands and gift stores at the nearby Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park.

While on the Arizona Memorial program (movie, boat, memorial), only bottled water is permitted. Food and drinks are permitted in the visitor center, but please remember to adhere to the no bags rule of the Pearl Harbor FAQs.

What to Wear
Hawaii is a warm and sunny place. We recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat to protect from the sun when you visit Pearl Harbor. It occasionally rains and visitors should pack rain jackets when visiting Hawaii. Check the weather before you visit Pearl Harbor to determine if it is necessary.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking a great deal during your visit. Sandals are permitted. The Arizona Memorial is a place of honor. The men of the Arizona lay inside their ship. We encourage visitors to dress respectably.  Bathing suits and other similarly revealing clothing, as well as profane T-shirts, are discouraged. Rangers have the authority to prohibit entry for inappropriate clothing.

Accessibility
All areas of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center as well as the Navy shuttle boats, and the Arizona Memorial are wheelchair accessible.

Information about the COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour:

  • The COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour is conducted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  The tour begins at 0845 (Tues, Weds, and Thurs) and 1300 (Weds and Thurs only).  Guests must have prior reservation to take the tour.   Proper ID is required. Complete the written request form.
  • This two-hour tour is fully narrated and includes a visit to the boathouse museum and viewing of a 23-minute movie on the attack of Pearl Harbor.  The boat tour follows with a tour around Ford Island and a stop at the Arizona Memorial.
  • Reservations are accepted no more than 30 days in advance on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Authorized personnel are active duty, reserve & retired military and DOD personnel.  A waiting list is not maintained.
  • Authorized personnel may sponsor up to four guests and must accompany his/her party. Exceptions are approved by the Protocol Officer for up to six guests.  All other requests shall be submitted in writing using the REMEMBRANCE Request Form.
  • Priority is given to Flag & General Officers and Medal of Honor recipients, which may sometimes result in bumping.  Bumping privileges are suspended 48 hours prior to the start of the cruise.
  • Spouses of Flag and General Officers (O7-O10) may escort their guests with valid ID card. Spouses of deceased military personnel may sponsor their guests.
  • Attire for all active duty military personnel not in a leave status are at a minimum: *There are no exceptions.
    • Navy: Summer White
    • Marine Corps: Service “C”
    • Army: Army Green
    • Coast Guard: Tropical Blue
    • Air Force: Service Uniform/Class “B”

Don’t miss viewing the Pearl Harbor Memorials if you visit Hawaii!

Learn more about Pearl Harbor History:


Hawaii Coffee Company



Linking up: Random Musings, Welcome Heart, Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Mostly Blogging, Create with Joy,

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PCS While Homeschooling

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I see this question a lot:

What is the bare minimum amount of homeschool material to take when we PCS in the middle of a school year?

PCSing While Homeschooling - What do we bring?

We usually PCS at the end of summer.

We have been left in the lurch a couple times when we didn’t receive our HHG until after all the homeschool group activities and co-op classes began. I never know if things are going to begin in July, August, or September in a new location!

Here is what we did when we PCSed in April, road tripped from Utah to Georgia, then flew to Germany – over a two-month period.

My kids were 4, 7, 8, and 13.

We don’t use a lot of electronics.

We focus on history and literature.

We hadn’t completed our studies yet for the year so we packed much of it up to take with us, especially since we had some long stretches of time in TLF in Utah on the leaving end and in Germany on the coming end.

We want to limit weight and bulk while bringing as much as we can carry!

We certainly wanted to keep up the basics – The Three R’s:

Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic!

All About Reading in TLF
Notebooking in TLF
notebooking at Grandma's house

The kids each had a large backpack with their school things and personal items likes toys and coloring pages.

I loaded up eBooks on the kids’ (and my) iPad minis with the Kindle app. Our first priority was to get library cards at our new location!

My girls had journals to write down and draw about their experiences as we traveled. I also printed fun pages about the places we saw on our trip. They also packed their Logic of English workbooks.

I packed up the kids’ Singapore math workbooks, which fortunately are very lightweight.

Liz was doing Videotext Algebra, so we did work whenever she could get online to view a lesson. I printed some of the worksheets she needed and then emailed more to my husband to print.

I packed Alex’s All About Reading materials with a tiny dry erase board. It was probably the bulkiest item we brought on the trip, but it was worth it to keep him on schedule.

That little dry erase board came in handy for lessons with all the kids!

We did art projects on the fly!

See our Star Wars Angry Birds.

PaintingAngryBirdsStarWars_thumb.jpg

The girls also packed their science and notebooking journals.

I also brought along worldview study (we’re reviewing it!). That came in handy for read-aloud time to a captive audience in the car!

Another option if you have an address for the location you’re PCSing to, is to have some homeschool items mailed there early so it’s waiting upon your arrival.

What do you do when you PCS or move during the homeschool year?

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Challenges for Military Families Overseas

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While I am very thankful to be so fortunate to live overseas, it’s not always magical and fun.

We are a military family.

These are some challenges to our daily lives.

Were a Military Family-Challenges to Our Daily Lives

Personal freedom

While I was raised in a military family, it’s quite eye-opening to be a military family in a foreign country.

For personal safety, we are advised to remove stickers and emblems from our personal vehicles that could identify us as American.

My husband cannot wear his uniform off base. My daughter cannot wear her Civil Air Patrol uniform off base.

We don’t wear American sports or brand-ID clothing off base either.

We do our best to blend in.

So many Americans live in a bubble of ignorance and arrogance and protection in the big ole US of A, but getting unbiased news reports opens our eyes a bit here.

Postal service

We receive an APO mailbox that is located in my husband’s building. I can mail items through that office at US postal prices to US mailing addresses.

For receiving items, I have two choices:

When I place an online order, I can ship to my APO which is like a US postal address, but there are often long wait times. Items can be expedited for additional shipping charges. Sometimes, a company won’t ship an item to an APO. I have had to cut down my blog reviews for many items won’t ship here in a timely fashion or at all. Some stores often ship the cheapest way, which means on a boat and I could see the item in a couple months, maybe.

I can order locally and have items shipped to my home address. There are not so many items available to order here as in the USA and free shipping is not as common.

Internet and TV

This was the biggest shock to me.

We put our TV in storage rather than ship it with our household goods since it wasn’t something we wanted to pay for here. There are taxes and signal boxes that must be purchases and we don’t watch that mutch TV anyway.

It took 6 months to get Internet connected to our house. While we have the fastest connection of anyone we know, it is DSL and the bandwidth is shared among the neighbors in our village. So, in the evenings, it is rather slow and glitchy.

We use a VPN to connect to Amazon streaming and Netflix so we can watch movies and shows on our computers.

Paying for Stuff

We have US bank accounts that service military families. The clerks we contact with questions or problems don’t seem to understand that the rest of the world utilizes pin and chip cards for payment. Our non-chip check cards are seldom accepted at local stores and hardly ever when we travel, so we have to use ATMs for Euro cash before we leave. We’ve been having trouble using our check cards at the couple of local places that do take them as payment. Our bank tells us the company that issues the check cards have fraud alerts for any credit purchases over $50. We have called and spoken to the bank several times and argued to have the fraud alerts lifted. We have explained we need pin and chip cards. We have explained that we live in Germany and the stores only have machines that run check cards like credit cards. It’s so embarrassing to be at Globus or Real and ring up €130 in groceries to have our card denied. Shopping here can be challenging.

And then there’s the exchange rate that’s 24% higher on-base than off-base. The government justifies this as a convenience charge.

There are a few options for paying local utility bills since we live off-base. We have two banks on-base: Community Bank, run by Bank of America (and a completely different banking entity), and Service Credit Union. There are offices in the KMCC mall and several other convenient locations around the KMC military installations. Many ATMs are easily found on bases too. These banks communicate with local vendors and offer payments in Euro and USD. We opened a Community Bank account to pay rent, utilities, Internet, and cell phones. There is a $1 surcharge+exchange rate fees for online bill pay transactions. Many choose to get a completely local German bank to avoid all the extra fees. This is handy for those fluent in German or married to a local national. I wish we had researched and figured this out before banking with Community Bank.

Electricity

American electrical outlets are 110V. Most European electric outlets are 220V.

While we use transformers for some of our must-have kitchen appliances and adaptors for things like lamps, we have to be very careful with electricity here. It’s more expensive than what we’re used to paying. The electric company charges an average fee each month and then reconciles each year. We owed a lot last year, so we asked for our average to be raised accordingly so we’re not surprised again. We use our dishwasher and washer and dryer every day, often multiple times per day. We hang our clothing to dry, but I do put towels and underwear in the condenser dryer.

We put all of our 110V appliances with timers in storage. We also put our big freezer in storage. I have purchased a few items new or used to make our time here more enjoyable. I figure the amount of use we will get out of a slow cooker and hair dryer for 3-4 years is worth it!

Gasoline

We receive a gasoline or petrol ration each month.

There are several gas stations on the bases near us. They list the price per gallon that is comparable to prices in the US, but it issues gas in liters. We sign for our ration and then we pay in American dollars.

When our van arrived, one of the first things we had to do was register it in the system for our petrol ration. When my husband bought a car, we had to transfer the registration and ration card.

When we travel, we can load the Esso card and use it at Esso stations throughout Germany, as long as it is within our monthly ration.

Kids

Our children mostly adjust well to the military life.

Our teen has the hardest time being flexible. I know it’s hard sometimes. She has less freedom as an ex-pat here in Europe than she would in the States.

While many of her friends in the USA are getting learner’s permits at 15, Liz knows she can’t drive a car in Europe until the age of 18. Since we live (pretty far) off-base, she has to rely on her parents (us) to drive her to activities.

She isn’t able to get a part-time job off-base and almost all the base jobs require applicants to be 18+. She is vying for entry-level experience with military spouses who need the money or are bored or want to work (they can’t get any off-base jobs either).

Most of the volunteer opportunities in the local community are even closed to her since she is a minor. The USO doesn’t accept minors anymore here in our area because of some bad occurrences that happened years ago.

Liz got her Red Cross certification at age 15 so she earns credit for her hospital volunteering.

Too many families want babysitters who are adults and have their own car. And they don’t want to pay. We used to pay $10-15/hour for our 3 girls, but most of the babysitting jobs Liz has done this past year were for $5/hour for 2-4 kids, and some with special needs! Liz is a certified babysitter with the Red Cross – CPR and more, and has lots of experience with special needs kids – autism, deafness, FAS.

Our other kids haven’t had too many problems with military life other than leaving friends when we or they PCS.

We’re here…

I love seeing family and friends post momentous occasions on social media. I laugh and cry with you. I am proud to witness your kids’ growth and family events. But it also makes me a little sad. We miss the church campouts and friendly BBQs. My husband misses fishing with his friends. My kids miss playing in the yard.

Holidays are hard.

It’s hard feeling isolated and alone sometimes.

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American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg

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The American Military Cemetery Luxembourg is the resting place of 5,076 American service members.

American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg

We enjoyed studying these relief maps of Military Ops in Western Europe and the Ardennes Rhineland Campaign

Relief Maps of Western Europe and Ardennes

The Remembrance Chapel

Remembrance Chapel

The Altar and Stained Glass Window inside the Chapel

Chapel Altar

The Chapel Ceiling Mosaic

Chapel Ceiling Mosaic

There are 118 servicemen buried here of the Jewish faith, whose headstones are in the shape of a Star of David.

Jewish Grave
American Military Cemetery Luxembourg-Hamm

Four fountains represent the apostles and dolphins and turtles symbolize resurrection and everlasting life.

Fountains

General Patton was buried here on Christmas Eve, 1945, three days after he died in Heidelberg, Germany.

General Patton Grave

Kate wanted to find the grave of the Army nurse, the only female in the cemetery.

Army Nurse

Visiting Hours

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed December 25 and January 1.

Information

About 1.5 hours from Ramstein and 45 minutes from Spangdahlem

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A Weekend in Bavaria

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We took a weekend trip to Bavaria in May.

The weather was still quite cool. We brought waterproof windbreakers and that was plenty warm enough.

We stayed at the Edelweiss Lodge & Resort in Garmisch.

Edelweiss Military Resort

Our Edelweiss Lodge Review

Accommodations

I chose to stay here for a break from German and it was convenient and we were eligible. It was refreshing to be able to speak English and relax a little.

Edelweiss has a wellness club with massage, fitness center, and a great pool with the most amazing hot tub area I’ve ever seen in my life.

The kids loved the outdoor playground and I could see them from our balcony.

We stayed in a Junior Suite on the 3rd floor corner that was quite comfortable for all 6 of us.

We loved the bathrooms! There was a small powder room on one side with a toilet and sink and a full bath on the other side with a tub/shower combo, shower stall, two sinks, and a toilet.

The balcony was a great addition to relax. There were a couple chairs and a little table.

And FREE Wi-Fi is always great for planning our days and finding somewhere to eat.

The resort itself is a bit rundown looking. The carpet is worn and the furnishings could use replacing. You can tell this is not really a priority. They have no competition.

Room Rates by Rank and Room Type:

 E1-E6
(As of 1 Oct 2015,
$89 for a standard room)		E7-E9 / CW01-CW03
O1-O3 / Widows
100% Disabled / MoH		CW4-CW5
O4-O10
ALL CIVILIANS
SES / NATO
Standard Room$86$139$149
Junior Suite$169$169$169
Deluxe Junior Suite$189$189$189
Loft Suite$229$229$229
Deluxe Loft Suite$269$269$269

Rooms are equipped with European 220v plugs only. A simple adapter will work fine as long as your appliance is dual voltage (accepts 120v and 220v). Adapters are available for purchase at Alpine Adventures (a gift shop). Pets are not allowed. Children under 17 stay for free on available bed space.

Apparently, there are also cabins and a campground available.

You can book activities and tours through Alpine Adventures. We just ventured out on our own.

Dining

Zuggy’s Base Camp is a fun family-friendly sports bar. They had amazing chicken wings and pizza. 22 pizza toppings, 4 sauces, and 3 different cheeses! Chicken wings in 9 different flavors. Delectable potato wedges and onion rings. Happy hour drink specials with great local beer!

Bar Open: Daily / 1700 – 2400 Food Service: Thu – Sat / 1700 – 2300 and Sun – Wed / 1700 – 2100

Market Station had a big breakfast buffet. I thought it was rather expensive, but it was super convenient. There are plenty of choices on the hot bar that made us happy – cheesy grits, cottage potatoes, French toast, ham. We didn’t care for the cheap, greasy bacon or cold, hard biscuits. There’s also an omelet and pancake station to please almost everyone.

Breakfast: Mon – Fri 0630 – 1000 hrs / Sat & Sun 0630 – 1030 hrs | Adults $9 / Children $3 (ages 5 – 11) / 4 and under FREE

The coffee wasn’t great, but they serve Starbuck’s at the Point Snack Bar near the Wellness Center that opens early!

I do not recommend Market Station for dinner. The one time we ate there for dinner, the food was not fresh nor appealing. It had the quality of cheap TV dinners. Luckily, they had a pizza station and a grill for burgers or marinated boneless chicken breast.

Nightly Dinner Buffet from 1630 –  2000 hrs | Adults $16 / Children $5 (ages 5 – 11) / 4 and under FREE

We never saw Pullman Place dining open.

The view of the mountains was breathtaking.

Tirol Austria Mountains

Visiting Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

It’s about 5 hours from Ramstein and 6 hours from Spangdahlem.

USAG Bavaria around the corner from Edelweiss has a small commissary, Shoppette with gas station, and a small eXchange. We got gas for local travels and before we headed home. We bought some beer and souvenirs at the eXchange. They had a great selection.

We ate lunch upon recommendation at Bistro Mukkefuck. We said the name lots because it’s funny. Yes, my humor is that of a 12-year-old.

Mukkefuck

Liz ordered the shrimp scampi.

Alex’s kids portion of Schnitzel with corn and Spätzle was huge!

Tori and Kate loved their potato and tomato soups.

Phenomenal turkey schnitzel, white Spargel (asparagus) soup, and pork cutlets. The au gratin potatoes were delicious (bottom of collage)!

And I just love Bavarian beer.

Lunch at Mukkefuck

We got gelato at one of the many options and window shopped.

Michael-Ende-Kurpark

We enjoyed strolling through the lovely Michael-Ende-Kurpark (spa-gardens) in Garmisch.

Lots of pretty gardens, koi pond, sculptures, a barefoot pad with this fun sluice and water wheel. It was a bit too cold though.

Around the Area Things to Do:

We hiked through Partnach Gorge. We loved it!

We drove about an hour away to the Storybook Castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

We did not tour Zugspitze. I know it’s popular. We didn’t bring warm enough clothes. And it’s pretty expensive for all 6 of us to go up a mountain for a pretty view. We don’t ski. And heights.

We didn’t go see the longest pedestrian bridge in Austria either. Because heights.

Eagle’s Nest isn’t too far away, but we just didn’t have time in our schedule to drive there.

We visited Dachau Concentration Camp on our way back home.

Booking.com for European accommodations

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Shopping in Germany

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Shopping in Germany is a delight if you know how to do it right on a budget. We get paid twice a month and need to make that money stretch – and have enough left over for fun trips!

We usually make a big trip to the commissary and a German grocery twice a month, then weekly trips to the market and stores for what we need to round out our meals.

How to save money shopping in Germany:

There are two deal cards – The Germany Card and The Payback Card

Bottle returns: you get cash back when you return recyclable bottles to stores. We typically do a big bottle return and turn in VAT forms the last week of every week. We do pay a deposit on the bottles, so it’s not like we’re making much.

Bottle Return

Tax rebates: many German stores refund VAT with the form. Each store has its own policy. We stamp our receipts at Globus and return them all with one VAT form at the end of every month. Real doesn’t have a deadline, so we do it every couple of months after we collect enough receipts to make it worthwhile.

  • VAT forms cost $50 for a 10-pack.
  • Valid for 2 years from issue.
  • Only may be used by authorized family members.
  • You must return your used VAT forms before you will be able to purchase more. Learn more here.

What Shopping in Germany Looks Like for Our Family

What Shopping in Germany Looks Like for Our Family

We have a weekly village market with farm fresh eggs. We typically shop weekly at German grocery stores and the commissary to keep a well-stocked pantry.

We have a small German refrigerator and an American side-by-side fridge/freezer combo with an ice/water dispenser (yay!). We have learned to purchase fresh meats and vegetables frequently and we only use the freezer for homemade stock, fruit bags for smoothies, extra bacon and sausage, and a few emergency supplies.

We have to bring our own shopping bags to German stores. We have a great collection of market baskets, fabric totes, insulated sacks, and little cloth bags. Because we still forget to bring the bags back out to the car after shopping.

Saturday morning market – right outside our front door

  • 30 farm fresh brown eggs and a red bell pepper every week
  • Potatoes (seriously, we can’t find potatoes like this anywhere)
  • Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts are typically available and lovely
  • Strawberries, asparagus, tomatoes, green beans, fresh peas in season

This week, I bought 30 eggs, a red bell pepper, a grapefruit, and a small bunch of tomatoes for €16.10. They were out of potatoes, wah! The prices are a tad higher than I would pay at a grocery or the commissary, but the quality is better and we love supporting local shops.

Market Basket

Drink shop – right in our building

  • Beer (we buy a case of this one favorite every month or so)
  • Wine (usually when I realize I need some for cooking – it’s only €4/bottle)
  • Soda (rarely since we have a Soda Stream and kombucha)
  • Treats – the kids love to grab an ice cream or candy and play at the park each week

Bakery/Dorfladen (Convenience Shop)

  • Deli – gorgeous salami
  • Breads, cakes, pastries – fresh, warm, and to die for

When I stupidly run out of milk or butter, they have it – at an exorbitant convenience price.

The German stores have better quality, cleaner items with fewer additives.

Globus

This was the first German store I shopped at and I still feel most comfortable here. Many compare it to a Super Walmart. It’s easy and they have a great food court.

  • German Bacon
  • Meats – they have a vast selection of absolutely lovely meat
  • Canned breads

This week, we stocked up on dairy, breads, pizza flour, coffee, German bacon and sausages, chips, and salad. The total was €133.65. I can save €10.36 VAT.

The local exchange rate: €1 = $1.09. The exchange rate on base:  €1=$1.1247. We try to use ATMs off base when we require Euros. We have US banks and we are charged exchange rates and transaction fees when we use check cards and credit cards.

Either Globus or Real:

  • Dairy – milk, cream, pudding, yogurt, sour cream, ice cream
  • Cereal – no additives! We usually buy Toppas (like mini-wheats), Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and several types of kashi.
  • Cheese – Europeans know how to do cheese.
  • Coffee
  • Bagged salad. The fun lettuce blends are just amazing here. With parsley.
  • Potato chips (plain and paprika – I am so gonna miss this!)
  • Spices (they come in big bags and we refill our jars)
  • Olive oil
  • Vinegar
  • Soda – these don’t have the additives American sodas have, so we treat more often (and we have a Sodastream so we sometimes buy the natural syrups)
  • Capri Suns for trips – they have sugar, but no dyes or chemicals

Real

This store is more organized and decorated than Globus. They don’t have the stock on hand but I prefer some items here and the staff are super friendly. The shopping complex has several other stores that are convenient.

  • Lunch items – mini frozen pizzas that put those Bagel Bites to shame
  • Bread (their fresh breads are the best!)
  • Deli meats – salami, bologna, sausages
  • Beer (I like the big bottles of Radler they have)
  • Wine (They have the best selection and prices all color coded for convenience!)

Commissary

Most of the food available at the commissary is European, much from Denmark and local areas. There are strict laws about importing American food, and we are surprised by what is available and what is not. We miss some of the variety. We have been assuming that the commissary gets much of the wholesale leftovers after the German groceries since the brands are often the same, but the quality is less. The meats are prepacked and difficult to examine, so we often purchase off-base.

Items we typically purchase at the commissary once or twice each month:

  • Juice – bottled lemon and cranberry
  • Spinach because the local stuff smells funny
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Avocadoes
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Button mushrooms because they’re so much smaller than the local ones
  • Peanut butter
  • Steel-cut oatmeal
  • Grits
  • Baking items like baking powder, baking soda, yeast (the German items are just different and American recipes don’t quite turn out)
  • Peanuts and Mixed nuts
  • Breakfast sausage
  • American nitrate-free bacon
  • Corn on the cob as a treat – the price is good at $1.89 for a 2-pack!
  • Peanut oil for frying because I can get big vats cheaply
  • Shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • Soft tortillas
  • Tortilla chips
  • Annie’s mac and cheese
  • Hebrew National hot dogs (because Alex doesn’t really care for German sausage!)
  • Toilet paper because I’m picky
  • Cat litter because the kitties are picky
  • Women’s items because they’re familiar.

This week, we stocked up on bacon, ham, sausage, hot dogs, nuts, chips, frozen peas, sour cream, Mexican cheese, avocadoes, and an eye of round beef roast (because we have no idea what it’s called in German! They don’t really do beef roasts like we do). The total was $150.13.

Commissary Shopping

I scored these babies Memorial Day weekend for $1.89/2-pack! Back in the states, we used to get 4/$1.00!

corn on the cob

There are some items we know we are spoiled with here. They have much fewer chemicals in the food here and we feel comfortable serving it to our kids, but we will not be able to when we return to the States.

We are loving the convenience of Capri Suns, soda, canned rolls, deli meats, frozen pizzas, bottled sauces, and boxed prepared foods.

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When a Parent Travels

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How we make our time special when Dad is away from home.

Lately, we’ve experienced more travel time with Dad away from home.

We survived one deployment. I learned to cope by making some days extra special.

When I’m on my own with four kids to feed, homeschool, and taxi to various extracurricular activities most evenings, I sometimes have to be creative and just let some things go.

When a Parent Travels

How We Play When Dad’s Away

We don’t really play and we don’t disrespect Dad by doing anything he wouldn’t approve of.

I try to spend as little money as possible. We maintain our healthy lifestyle as much as we can while still having some fun and being just a little bit lax.

Meal Time

I like to make meals fun and interesting.

We’ll have a picnic in the living room with music and poetry or breakfast for dinner.

We’ll do a movie night with snacks and mocktails.

I’m more lax on juice intake. We have more cookies and snacks in the house during these times. The kids also are learning to be more independent and cook or prepare things for themselves.

I like to make dishes my husband doesn’t like. So, basically lots of dishes with bell peppers.

Occasionally, we’ll eat out for a real treat. It’s getting harder and harder to dine out with four kids and still be healthy and frugal.

I have to relax at meal times since I have no second adult to help with four kids. I’m quick to accept dinner invitations when I’m the sole parent. It’s nice to share a meal with friends.

Play Time

It’s no fun being home all day, every day.

We go to parks, movies, playgrounds, swimming – anything that Dad wouldn’t especially miss while he’s out of town. It’s getting easier now that the kids are a little older and I don’t have to constantly help or watch every single second.

If there’s a particular festival, I try to take the kids but that’s an awful lot of effort for me to take four kids by myself to a crowded fair. I usually end up feeling like a pack mule.

I make sure the kids have lots of attention and snuggle time. My teen gets to stay up later than the littles since I can give her more mama time.

Chore Time

We still have to keep the house running smoothly, but I don’t stress if the dishes or laundry doesn’t get completed every day.

Sometimes, the table won’t even get cleared after a meal until the next meal! And I just roll with it.

The kids step it up to help and they go above and beyond to do their share to make sure things run smoothly.

Honestly, it’s easier to complete chores when Dad is away. There is no change in schedule on the weekends. There is much less laundry and fewer dishes. Things run more smoothly. My way.

We do have mad cleaning sessions before Dad is due to arrive back home.

School Time

Thankfully, we don’t stress too much over lesson time since we school year-round and almost all day, every day. We have a lifestyle of learning.

I’ve become much more an unschooler and I love watching my kids become fascinated with a subject and do their own unbidden research.

We often start late, school in the evening before bed, take field trips, do lessons on weekends.

We’re more relaxed because I don’t have to plan for that couple hours in the evening for Daddy time. The dynamics are different.

We like to learn about where in the world Dad is traveling and what it’s like there – the time difference, the climate, culture, history, people, foods, etc.

How I Manage Stress

Sure, the kids are sometimes stressed when Dad is away. We read lots of books and go to the library to keep well-stocked. We make sure to visit the park and playground to let off steam. I assure them that Dad will home soon, most likely with souvenirs.

We often are able to keep in touch by chat online, sometimes with Facetime or Skype. We can view maps online or on our school room wall. I take lots of pictures so he doesn’t feel left out of events.

During deployments, we have a special clock on the wall for “Daddy time” so we knew what time it was where he was deployed.

Sometimes, I would like to be “off duty” but that’s even less possible when my husband is out of town.

I stay up late to get some alone time. I work online or watch Netflix or read. Sometimes, all of that at once, lol!

I send the kids to the playground a block away. I have a few friends in the neighborhood now where my kids can go play. It’s healthy and good to be apart sometimes.

During deployments or long TDYs, I get run down by the late nights and having no downtime.

  • I drink lots of water.
  • I take supplements and essential oils.
  • I detox after poor eating with juice and smoothies.
  • I make myself exercise and get fresh air outside.
  • On the days when we have no out of the house activities, I rest as much as possible.

It’s still difficult when Dad is away, especially on the younger kids. My son often gets confused about where Dad is or when he’s coming home. I do everything I can to make it easier on our family.

We make homecoming special with favorite meals and rest time.

What are your homecoming traditions?

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