Letter: 8 September 2008

Our summer break was filled with fun. Camping trips, swimming, being with cousins, riding bikes, seeing movies, it was a great summer. Now we are in our new place, school has started, and life is back to somewhat normal.

We are still without internet access or phone here at our house. It can be a very frustrating thing but we survived without it years ago, so we can now, although, the boys will differ with me on that point.

Creed moved into our new house on the 7th of August and the shipment came the same day. The kids and I arrived here in Germany on the 11th of August and Creed had the beds all made and the kitchen put together enough so we could at least eat. The kids and I worked all day, everyday, trying to get things put together and sorted out and after a week, we just about had the house put together and the pictures put up. I was so happy to not see boxes anymore. I don’t like living in that kind of a mess very much. Even after sorting through everything in Jakarta and selling and giving a lot away before the move, we found out after we arrived here that we have too much stuff. We got rid of a lot more things and stored a lot in the attic. Our furniture barely fits with some rooms being a bit too crowded for my taste, but oh well, at least we didn’t have to sell more, which was what I thought we were going to have to do. All the same, it’s very comfy and we love the house and the area.

The boys have really enjoyed exploring all around us. Our yard is large and they spend a good part of the day playing out there, riding their bikes through the forests around or going on the trails. They have also had fun going to the strawberry fields behind our house and picking fresh strawberries whenever they feel like it. It’s very quiet here and we love that!

The weather has also been surprisingly cool. We thought we still had a few weeks of shorts and t-shirt weather, but no. I don’t know that it’s reached above 80 degrees more than a couple of days since we’ve been here. That’s okay with me. It’s nice to wear cold-weather clothes after the heat we lived in for three years in Jakarta. We’re all enjoying the change.

The boys’ school is good -- small, but good. Everyone seems friendly enough. The boys really miss their friends in Jakarta and it’s been a rough start for them having to start all over making friends and understanding how things work at the new school, but they will fit in soon. It’s hard for them, I’m sure, but they seem to be making the best of it.

We really are very happy here, and we’re all quite content. I told Creed that I could live here a very long time. Creed’s German is as good as it ever was. He will argue with me on that but really, he speaks well. I understand nearly everything, but I get so nervous when I speak that I feel like a dork and say ridiculous things which crack me up after I’ve said them. I’m sure in time; I will feel more comfortable with it. The boys are learning it quite quickly at school. I’m glad the school takes it so seriously. I think they will be speaking German pretty well by the end of the school year. Mallory walks around the house acting like she’s speaking it and asks all the time ‘How do you say…in German?’

We hope you all had a great summer and are ready for the fall. We are thrilled to be able to enjoy fall colors and take that all in again. We’d love visitors anytime!

Photos: August 2008 - Strawberry Picking

There are huge stawberry fields directly behind our house, and the strawberries were ripe just as we were moving in. Our landlord (who owns the fields) told us to go ahead and pick as many as we'd like. If you ever have the chance to rent a house directly behind a strawberry field, I highly recommend it.

Photos: August 2008 - New House in Germany

Traditional first day of school photo.

Backyard BBQ only slightly interrupted by the rain - luckily we have a small covered area.

The boys love riding their bikes in and exploring the woods near our house. There are these stands all over the place. We still haven't figured out what they are for.

The boys call this "the ravine," and they like to practice their rope skills there.

The movers do a great job of taking the boxes into your house and dumping out the contents.

Heidi got everything put away and the house put together in record time.

The family arrived in Germany in August, just in time to move in to the new house.

Photos: July / August 2008 - Heidi's new camera

Heidi got a new camera, and she had fun experimenting with it over the summer.

She found out it is not very easy to get 100 grandkids to hold still for a picture. Most of the photos turned out to be "action shots."

Photos: June / July / August - in the US

Nash and Ian, after returning from Scout Camp.

Grant loved playing in the mud almost as much as floating down the river.
While Nash was at Scout Camp, I took Grant and Luke on a hike up Grandeur Peak.

Mallory and Lucy at Thanksgiving Point.

Grant and Miles making bubbles.

Luke and Emily.

Lucy and Mallory in their ballerina dresses.

Alpine coaster in Park City.
Making s'mores with the Holladay's in Draper.

Does this need any explanation?

Mallory is still convinced we need to have a spare bed in our house for Lucy.
At the Thomas Family Camping Trip in Idaho.

Photos: July 2008 - Creed Keeping Busy

I kept busy in Germany while the family was in the US. I biked across Luxembourg (parked the car in Belgium, rode my bike to France).
I also had to go to London for work for some meetings, so I stayed the weekend and saw the some of the city. I liked seeing the Rosetta stone (above).


I also went to see "Wicked" my last night in London.

Photos: July 2008 - Miller Family Reunion in Nauvoo

Grant (and others) practicing the old fashioned game of rolling a piece of metal on the ground with a stick.
Grant and Adam pulling a handcart. Luckily they didn't have to carry any provisions with them...
Especially since they wanted to lay down in the handcart to take a rest in the shade.
Best frozen custard in Nauvoo.

The cousins making a rope.
Mallory could have stayed all day in the little cabin playing little pioneer children.

Photos: July 2008: 4th of July

Heidi and the kids spent the 4th of July in the US with family and friends -- celebrating our nation's independence with a BBQ, fireworks, etc.

I spent the 4th of July in our temporary apartment in Germany, celebrating our nation's independence by getting a hamburger from McDonald's and lighting a match.