Busy, Busy, Busy

Hello everyone, how are you? We are doing great! Dyllon is on 12 hour shifts now and is still doing some training exercises the real exercise will be soon and we will be able to do more then. He is almost done with all his training for his job too, he only has a test left to take and then he will be starting back in school too. I am still job hunting. I am in the process of restoring the guest bed, I will post pics of the house after that because that was essentially the only thing I was waiting on. I just started making baked goods and selling them and I think this will be good for the little extra money that we need in order to do a little traveling. I am still working at the Pampered Chef thing and I am hoping someone reading this will step up and be my next party so that I can stay "in the business" (you do know I will guilt each one of you into helping me at one point or another right?) I am getting ready to double up on my classes in September so I will be taking 20 credit hours for the next semester so I should stay pretty busy then. Chloe is getting big fast and she sure makes for interesting days. About coupons, if you see any baking coupons please make sure to send them to me, I have been running low on these and I buy about 6 bags of chocolate chips a week and about 3 bags of sugar, flour, brown sugar and confectioners sugar a month. So these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone, love you all! XOXOXOOXOXO

Sorry I am so bad at making posts!

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing great! I will give you the quick overview on the life of the Dekok's. I am still jobless, I posted a link today to try to find a nursing job. I am currently back in school to get my Bachelor's Degree, so I am keeping busy with that. I hope all were able to see the pictures of the puppy we just got, her name is Chloe, she is a hand full but I love her very much. I am glad that I have the time to give her the attention she needs right now, so that she will be trained. She currently knows sit, lay down, ring your bell (she rings her bell to go potty), stay and it is safe to say she is potty trained now. Spaz is doing okay with the dog, she is still not to fond of the idea. Dyllon is still working odd hours but he still manages to make time for his games and we are enjoying a over all stress free life. It is nice to know the bills will be paid every month. It will be great though if I can get a job so that we can sight see. I have given up on the volunteer nurse thing, they have jerked me around for four months, so I am trying another route and looking to get a job on the economy. Dyllon and I should be taking a little German as soon as his CDC's are done (this is his training at work). As we visit places I want to start making slide shows to make it a little more fun to view. We have a bed in Guest Room #1 now (aka Morgan's room), and we just got a King German bed for the other guest room, and we have a futon in the Office. I have to sand the German King Bed and stain it and I plan on doing that within the next week. Then I will post pictures of the place all decorated since each room will actually have something in it now. The German King bed was a dekok deal at $40.00, just needed a little TLC. Can't wait to post pictures. I am hoping to get a patio set before summer ends and a sideboard then I should be set! Well I love you all! If I have left anything out please let me know! XOXOXOX

Hello Again!

Well I have been pretty bad about blogging to you guys. I cannot say I will promise to be better, but I will try :) Dyllon is doing better about the whole Air Force thing I think, but he is still absolutely sure that nothing will convince him to resign. We went out with his friends from his shop this weekend and we had a good time. He is still addicted to the video games. Battlefield is his game of choosing at the moment. He wants to go get Rock Band Green Day this week. I am not sure where I stopped with what I was doing with my degree, so I will start from the beginning. I have not been able to find a job here yet, they want someone with experience as a RN, so I am trying to get into Landstuhl Hospital as a volunteer nurse which is proving to be a lot more work than what it sounds. It has taken me since April to get as far as I have and I still have 3 more meetings to attend I believe before I can start volunteering and those are next month. Then after I volunteer for so long I can start putting my application and hopefully get a job. I would have been through all this about a month earlier but the muffler strap on the car broke and it was more of a mess than it needed to be, but we didn't know someone welded the wrong muffler to the car till way later and the car wasn't is operation for the dates I had class and those classes aren't held again till the following month. But all is well, Wednesday we get the car fixed it will only rack us $150.00 total to get everything fixed which is quite a bit less than anticipated. We also get the dog, Dyllon pick out on Wednesday too. We are getting a Golden Retriever. I am not sure I am as ready as I thought I would be for all of this since I wanted to get a dog that was already trained and Dyllon wanted a puppy (even though I will be the one training it), we will see how this goes......I like my stuff unchewed, but Dyllon's smart ass said how can I be ready for a child if I don't even want to take care of a puppy. Well he has a point....maybe I don't want a kid or a puppy now, lol. I know I will love the dog though, I just hope my furniture stays intact, since you are not allowed to kennel your dogs here. I think we may get fencing or a electric fence in the future so that he can be outside while we are gone. Well that is the latest and greatest on Dyllon and I. Love you all-Kristen

I PASSED!

Hello all, I am happy to announce I PASSED my boards. It was a long journey but I am officially Kristen Ann Kay Dekok RN. I studied everyday for 8 hours a day for the past month and a half and many of you know I have been very grouchy about that being that I am in Europe and I was still tied down. But the hard work paid off. Literally! It was $75 to Ohio, $200 to get a Authorization to Test Letter, and another $200 to take the test $50 to make the phone call to schedule the test, $200 for the hotel to stay in before the test, $10 to park while I took the test, you get the picture, I was figuring I would have to hold my tax returns back just to take the test again. I got there early Saturday, Dyllon and I scoped out where the building was, which is a good thing because it was above a Japanese resturant and at first I was like what the heck!!! I swear this is the address, it was, it was just above the restaurant, then we scoped out all the possible parking spots near the facility, so I thought we had it covered, Sunday we spent all day exploring Frankfurt, I will have pictures to post soon on facebook, those of you who don't have facebook, hit up a family member to see the pictures. Sunday night, I was relaxing watching T.V. with Dyllon but I still couldn't stop thinking about the test, if anyone knows me they know I am a extremely anxious and nervous person, my heart was racing, I was holding back the puke (did good all day), running to the bathroom every 5 mins. and then I broke out in hives on my legs and stomach. But I stayed strong and refused to take my Xanax. Dyllon being the awesome husband he is rubbed my back and calmed me down. Then went to bed, couldn't sleep all night, not because I wasn't tired because I was, no we picked a hotel right in front of a freaking train track no joke, I swear a train went by every 5 mins. but it didn't bother someone else because they were snoring logs! So I got up at 6:30 am even though I didn't plan on getting up till 7:30, got ready, ate breakfast, and realized it was a hour before I needed to leave, so that just lead up for more time to be nervous, left at 10:00 am for my 11:30 appointment, got to the testing center at 10:25, mind you it is only 2 miles away, that is how backed up traffic was, went all around all blocks around the building NO PARKING! Seriously!?!? Fine, I decided it was 10 mins. till 11:00 and I needed to find something because you are suppose to check in 20 mins. early, so I went to the nearest parking garage, 3 blocks from the testing center, and now decided there was only one way to make it there in time, I had to run. Well my past anatomy and physiology teacher was right, if you want to get rid of nervous energy EXERCISE before the test, because when I walked in I felt ready to take on the world, BRING IT ON! I went up to the building and the door is locked, WHAT, what is going on? Oh I have to call up to Pearson Vue, they have to look at me with a camera then let me in, okay, next I go to the 4th floor, try to open the door again, no go, they have to verify me again, open the door, walk in to hand in my paperwork, now they need to scan my finger and palm to make sure I am who I say I am, CRAZY, but someone has mastered cheating or they wouldn't do this. Anyways, sit for my test and the first question that comes up is a rhythm strip, really!?!? I decided I was going to be okay, just make the best guess possible, question after question seemed impossible, I felt as though I had never even taken nursing school, I kept telling myself calm down 15 of these questions are Guinea Pig questions anyways for future tests, finally I get to question 75, oh please, I prayed, don't let the test end here, I know if it does I failed, just give me a chance I promise I know SOMETHING. I submit the answer, and it says processing test, WHAT!?!? are you kidding? I walked out, disoriented and upset, I thought the whole way home, I didn't even get a chance. I am so glad you find out so soon, because I tell you what, it has been driving me crazy and I have never hit a refresh button so much in my life. I am befuddled that I passed and I am pretty sure that the NCLEX is a form of hazing because that by far was worse than any of Eric Mason's tests (awesome instructor who gives VERY hard tests). I will tell you though Nursing School was the hardest thing I have ever went through, it was a love hate relationship the whole way through, the NCLEX was icing on the cake, but passing was the experience of eating the whole cake by myself. I don't even care if this sounds conceded I am so proud of myself, there were so many times I didn't think I could go on anymore, but I made it and now I am ready to pursue my dreams as a Air Force RN, so I am hear to announce the Air Force is now excepting RN's with a Associate's as a Officer, they are giving medical waivers and if I can make it in the H2 hearing block and I finish a few extra college courses I will be accepted. THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!
Love you ALL
XOXOXOXOX
Kristen Ann Kay Dekok RN!!!!

Study, Study, Study

Hello all, how are you? We are doing great, I have been studying everyday, Dyllon has been telling me everyday that I am overstudying, that he wants to have people over, and that we never go anywhere, I swear I have a little boy, just kidding, Dyllon is working on being a little more patient :) Speaking of Dyllon, he is almost 22 now!!!! I am so excited for his birthday, I cannot wait to get him his birthday gift, that is my favorite part! Hopefully by that time I will have job, because it just isn't quite the same buying a gift for Dyllon with Dyllon's money. Anyways, other than that not much going on, Dyllon is still waiting for his Guitar Hero Band Kit, he is not very happy it is taking so long, but on the up side Final Fantasy 13 should be here soon, so that should make him happy until the Guitar Hero gets here. Everything still sits waiting to be hung up, can not wait till I am done with studying, the downstairs is pretty much done (this is where everyone can see), just waiting on my awesome mom to send me the curtains I ordered, and for Dyllio to put up the curtain bar for me (I may have to be a little pro-active on this one). Anyways, as soon as I get the house together I will post pics. The main reason for this email was to remind everyone that Dyllon's birthday is just around the corner, if you need any ideas on what to get him shoot me a private message, either e-mail or via FB and I will give you ideas! Keep in mind depending on what you get it can take up to 6 weeks to get here. I can wrap the gifts if you want to buy them online and have them shipped here, I found it is cheaper in shipping cost this way, if they ship APO. Hoping to give him a really nice birthday since last year he was at basic and couldn't enjoy the 21st. Also, it is almost his 1 year mark! YEA!!! I am so proud of him, he is a very intellegent and sweet man, and although I pick at him sometimes I have no clue what I would do without him. I am a VERY lucky girl.
XOXOXO to everyone!
Kristen

Long time no chat!

This blog has been a long time coming, I know I haven't updated everyone in a while so here it goes. First and foremost, thanks to Grandma Parcell and Besty for the letters and coupons, I appreciate it. Next, we have been busy getting the house in order, everything is "unpacked" but that doesn't mean it has a home yet, waiting on a rubbermaid closet kit from the states because our closet pole fell down after I put it into the wall. I am almost positive it isn't the weight it is the installer! That is why Chris needs to make it here soon to hang everything up! I have everything in front of each of the walls where I want it hung but I am basically scared to hang it because I have had a 50% success rate so far. I know this is going to sound ridiculous but the things I miss the most from the states is WAL MART and KOHLS, they both ship here but still not the same, I have to wait over a month to get what I want. We have everything we need for the house for the most part, still trying to get little things here and there, the big things we have left to get are two beds, and nightstands, and potentially a futon (this item isn't dire). I figure that will allow for plenty of room when we have guests over. Germany is VERY strict on drinking and driving and pretty much everyone obeys that here, so a lot of people have at least 1 guest room for friends when they come over. Still studying my heart out for the NCLEX, slowing down though because I feel my brain cannot handle much more, some fellow nursing students say I am overstudying, so I am trying to make myself stop studying so much without feeling guilty, overstudying has always been bad for me in the past, the more information you know the more over anylazing that you do. Worked at the Landstuhl Fischer house again today, I wish Germans would figure out what a fitted sheet is. I know when you grow up using a flat sheet as a fitted sheet it probably isn't hard to pull them tight so there are not any wrinkles in it and do basically reverse hospital corners, but it seems impossible for Dyllon and I, it takes us a good 20 mins to do just that part on the bed making I swear. Other than that all went good today, missed Inga :( She was off. You really haven't missed much I am pretty sure I covered everything in this letter, but if you think of any questions let me know. Oh and note to everyone, just a reminder that sending it to our APO address is like sending it to NY, so it doesn't cost you a arm and a leg it costs the same as sending it to NY, so to save you money, don't send it to our house. It is ultimately your choice obviously, I just want everyone to be aware of the bascially 50% cost difference. Lastly, we are spending Easter with our neighbors, I can not say enough how truly blessed we are to have such great people living near us when we are so far from home. Somehow (I am sure my computer virus) someone got a hold of my credit card number and was doing fradualent charges and they let me use thier phone to take care of it, we still do not have a landline or internet because I gues Vodaphone is seeing if they can provide service out here and I guess that takes 3 months to do, you would think you either can or cannot but whatever, we find out Monday what is going on there. Once we get this we will be able to call back to the states :) I can not express to you though just how amazing our neighbors are, God has truly blessed us! I have never had neighbors like them before, but they truly are like family to me already. Well I love you all, have a great Easter we will miss all of you very much! XOXOXOXO Kristen

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Well, Dyllon and I tried to file our taxes but cannot because we do not have the 1099-G form, which apparently you cannot access online, but I found the number to call in Frankfurt for information over the phone, but by the time I found that they were closed. Better luck tomorrow I guess, although this is St. Patrick's Day and I was expecting to have a little more luck. Also, we still do not have our household goods, and apparently the lady said she would see if they could get to it by Friday, I asked Dyllon what that meant and he said he didn't know and no he didn't ask. BLAH! I get so frustrated with him sometimes. I was going to wait and have Dyllon call them Monday, but since it was estimated to be here March 5, 2010, I think I will call Friday since I need my previous tax information to complete this as well and it would be nice to have the rest of my school books to refer to, especially since I have been doing ATI (a program Rhodes offers) and it gives you a direct outline of what you need to review, which book to refer to and where. Lastly, it would just be nice to have the rest of my clothes and our furniture. Like Mona said by the time we get it, it will be Christmas in March, which is true since we have not seen our stuff in literally a year and I have no clue what we even have anymore besides a bed, dresser, coach and T.V. So I am excited about when it does eventually get delivered. Dyllon is enjoying the day off, we got a washing machine and wardrobes delivered today and I guess they give you the day off for deliveries. So he has been playing PS3 all day, he lives a hard life. I am basically just studying, being a Facebook addict/loser, and learning to cook a lot of new things because it passes the time. Well that is all for today. Love you all! XOXOXO

First Day at the Fischer House

Today was Dyllon and I's first day volunteering at the Fischer House. It was very enjoyable for me because it was a housekeeping position so I got to watch (and help of course) Dyllon learn how to properly clean a bathroom by the lovely Inga, I told her the enjoyment I got from this and she said if you know how to dirty it then you should know how to clean it. Haha, anyways this is the perfect position because when I do start working again, we will resume the previous split cleaning rule, and now I will not have to go behind him and redo it. :) I love him so much, but most men just do not pay attention to detail. Inga was a wonderful teacher and a sweet lady, she is German and she used to be a German Speaking teacher to foreign students, she said she is able to teach us some German!!!! Yay!!!! Anyways, Dyllon is back on swings (he was previously on first shift for two weeks for FTAC (First Term Airman's Center)). I know not all of you know what swings is but it is basically second shift, on M/T/TH he gets off at 1am and W/FR he gets off at 11pm. I believe that about sums up what has been going on with us. I will try to post something everyday whether it be long of short since I realize I have been neglecting to blog frequently. Well I love you all and MISS YOU!!!! XOXOXO- Kristen

Life

Well...nothing much to post on here. Still deciding on what to do this weekend, want to go somewhere close, I have plenty of studying to still do and I want to stick to it since I have been good this far. Dyllon hates that we don't do anything and that there is nothing to do in the house but.....he needs to hold out for just a little longer, trust me, I would rather be playing too!! Went to a Salsa Class with the neighbors....goodness I haven't laughed at myself that much in a LONG time. My hips I am positive will NEVER move like that....and I can't shimmy with my little tatas haha but thats okay. I am sore as heck and I feel GREAT! I needed to get out of the house and relieve some stress after a long day of studying. I slacked yesterday because i didn't feel well and today I made myself make up for it and I am sure I will never slack again because it took me forever to get through 270 questions and 3 hours of review BLAH! I swear if I do not pass the NCLEX the first time I will go CRAZY!!!!! Dyllon and I do our first day of volunteer work at the Fischer House Tuesday, we are housekeepers :) I will let you all know how that went later. Love ya all! XOXOXOX

Hello

Hello everyone. How are you? I MEAN IT HOW ARE YOU!?!? I only hear from a select few on how they are doing. Thank you select few :) As for the others, shame on you, wanting me to keep a blog updated and you can't update me. Anyways.....Not a whole lot going on here. Still no furniture, looks like to won't be for another week or two. I am done counting down, it just depresses me, it gets here when it gets here. On another note, FMO is delivering 3 wardrobes and a washer Wednesday!!!! This makes me soooo HAPPY! I am over going to the laundry mat and waiting on a dryer because everyone goes to the laundry mat. It takes me 3 hours to do 3 loads and thats if I don't wait on a dryer. Also I am tired of washing clothes to put them on the floor so I am pretty excited about the wardrobes coming too. Another good note, we are credit card debit FREE!!!! Very exciting week in the Dekok house, and today we went to Airman's Attic (my FAVORITE place) and got a free HP printer/scanner/copier, also got a free T.V. so we are able to watch T.V. now :) Still waiting on Vodoa (however you spell it) Phone to come out and hookup internet and telephone lines to call back to the states...looks like it will be another 5 weeks. The Buick is running great, she sure rides smooth on the Autobahn :) I hate the beamer, love that its Dyllon's even though he always takes the Buick. I have been studying hard for the NCLEX, up to 1,000 questions studied only 4,000 more to go. I am excited/scared for the NCLEX and WHEN I pass (the first time) I look forward to the party I am going to have at the house. I can't decide if people will think I am weird to have a costume party or not. :/ Adults like to dress up too right? I wish it was in March I would have a St. Patties Day party. Whatever the party it will be great because I will be a licensed RN. Any ideas? Well not much else to say. Dyllon has a three day weekend this weekend.....debating on where we will go visit. I will post updated pictures soon. I think I will keep this blog up for those who do not have FB. But I will continue the blog on FB again too so I can hear what you have to say. Well I am out....love ya all XOXOXO

Hello

Ok, I forgot to post this last time, a couple tips on mailing items to me in Germany. #1 I believe using the PSC address is cheaper, #2 The cheapest way to send anything to us is using a FLAT rate box, do not bring the item to the post office in your own box, use the FLAT rate box, there is also PRIORITY mail, it actually mails here faster and is cheaper. If you would ever send any type of Media send it as MEDIA mail, this too is cheaper. I am a avid internet shopper/seller, and now due to recent experiences with the cell phone a experienced overseas shippee too :) http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm here is a link to the post office prices. I am glad to know though that you all love me enough to spend the same in shipping that you spent on the product :) Cuz I would have told you................J/K I would have sent it too. Ok, now on the updates, #1 WE HAVE 2 CARS!!!! Never thought I would be more excited to see my Buick than that fateful day, oh, and Dyllon still rips on the old Buick but he gets mad when he has to drive the BMW cause I am taking the Buick, haha. He may think I am an old woman but I LOVE my Buick, it will be a sad day when I leave her here. The Air Force allows you to purchase a car from the states tax free if you are overseas, so we will probably buy a G8 and have it waiting on us when we get back, we could have it sent here but it doesn't make sense to when we can have a vehicle waiting on us when we get back. #2 Our stuff still isn't here, won't even be in Berlin until March 7th so I have no idea when it will make it here and neither does the TMO Inbound Office. At this point I really don't even care anymore. I have been studying hard for my Nursing Boards, I am glad I got advice from several others about what to do to prepare for it. It is still a long time from now though. Dad, I will have to send you the pic of the $50.00 trash can I got, it is a lot like the one you were looking at, at Sam's Club only not a ridiculous price. It has three organizers for your recyclables. Never thought I would be excited about a trash can either, but when I don't have even one and my trash is on the floor in 3 different bags......well you feel like a dirty butt. So it is suppose to be here today so lets see if I am not a dirty butt anymore :) Other than that again, thank you everyone for your presents and coupons. I love the letters Grandma Betsy keep them coming, nothing is better than getting a letter in the mail, I feel like the 6 year old who gets so excited when they get to open a letter addressed to them, haha. Well thats all for now, off to start a new day and then hit the books before Dyllon gets home (he is a HUGE distraction)! He talks out loud to the computer (especially since we just got Rosetta Stone) and he sings out loud! Love you all- XOXOXO- Kristen

Update

Thanks Mom for the birthday gift! It was extra special and sentimental I LOVE IT! Nancy it is perfect! I am so glad to be able to do my hair again. Grandma Sturgill your present still has not made its way here. Dad and Susan love the card it was hilarious! Grandma Parcell I got your card, thank you.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Ok, the car is here, just need to figure out how to get it, Dyllon is normally on second shift so it wouldn't be a problem but that changed last Friday and now he will be on 1st for 2 weeks, which makes it dang near impossible to pick up the car (he has to be with me) since they are only open till 3 and Dyllon gets off at 4 so.....he has a meeting today explaining how to get his Driver's License (which he already has) so he going to see if he can get out of that so that we can pick up the car. Also our stuff should make it here Friday! I am so excited! We went to a get together Friday and we had a lot of fun. I am still studying for my boards. Also, please do not send packages to the house, send them to the PSC address I gave, mail is ok to send here though. The reason I say this is because we have to pick it up at the post office in town, and if we do not get there in time they send it back to the sender and I do not want to take that chance. But again, letters are ok. Other than that we really haven't been doing anything really exciting. Just waiting to get the house the way we want it and be settled before we do anything. Well love you all.
Kristen
P.S. Coupons (I will warn you now I will probably post this with every blog) :)
XOXOXO

Thursday, Feb. 25 2010

My Birthday was a nice birthday, I wanted to go to Paris, but Dyllon said if I set our budget to only 40 Euros it was pointless so....I said another time, when we have money and I feel comfortable spending some, I felt bad even going out to eat for my birthday so it was probably for the best that we didn't go to Paris, but I think we might go this weekend or next to France (not Paris) and get fresh seafood, it is suppose to be cheaper there, It is close to $8.00, for two pieces of Salmon here and we are craving some good seafood. On Friday last week we went to the next door neighbors for drinks and cards, I really enjoyed it since at midnight it was technically my birthday and it was nice to spend it with other people than just Dyllon and I, they had people over from work and the other people from the Duplex over too. We stayed there till about 4am, slept almost all day Saturday and then went to Chili's for dinner. We have been blessed with the nicest people who live around us, all military too, couldn't ask for better people to live around :) Sunday we went grocery shopping, and this must be the day everyone else goes because it was ridiculously busy, truth was shown to the fact that certain days groceries mark things up and down, on Sundays a 3-pk of Lysol wipes is 4.00 and the next day when I get a coupon for them they are back to 10.00, go figure. Also, before I forget, thanks to Gloria and Grandma Betsy for the coupons, we both really appreciated it! Tuesday we got our International Driver's License (hence why we can go to Paris now), and we registered the car, still have electrical problems and the muffler strap is broke and so is the windshield wiper fluid hose, but in time we will get those fixed, we are just lucky to be living next door to a mechanic (see all is well :P) Wednesday, we spent time trying to figure car loan information, and bills, long story short the wrong number got typed in for direct deposit and was worried where the money would be going, we believe this is all taken care of now. We figured out the internet company we were going to go through was not able to come here and hook up so..... we have to wait another 6 weeks for the internet to be hooked up, but thanks to our neighbors they have allowed us to "borrow" their internet for the meantime so now I will be able to keep you updated. I am sorry I haven't been on in a while, Dyllon works till 1 am and I got tired of hanging out at the Library till 8pm, the Enlisted Club till 12am and then the Laundry Mat for an hour (when I have no laundry to do, and there is no internet, and it was really cold) But it should all be solved now, so I will be able to continue to keep you updated :) I have been studying a lot for my boards so if I do not answer your emails, or I am short, or I refer you to the blog please do not be offended I just need to pass this the first time, it is more expensive to take over here by like 150.00 dollars. We got invited to go the neighbors again tomorrow night, they are grilling out, (it feels like spring here), Dyllon will be at work but he will join us when he gets off, they are making steaks, I am bringing a covered dish, I think green bean casserole and pasta salad (Kim's recipe) but maybe I will make a baked dish too, I dunno we will see :) I am not sure what is in store for this weekend but I will keep you updated, also when I get time I will upload new pictures, again I have been just trying to focused on my boards. Still waiting to here from the Fischer House about their volunteer opportunities as soon as I do I hope to be busy with that too. I am not pursuing a job until my boards have been passed, one step at a time. Well I think I have caught you guys up with the latest and greatest in our world, make sure you return the favor! Also, thanks to everyone for the Birthday Cards and presents, for some reason going to the post office to check to see if I got one is more fun than getting them all at once. Mom no I didn't get yours yet, Nancy I did not gets yours yet and I just read your email, I am sure it will be GREAT! Well I love you all if you have any questions please be sure to comment on the blog or on my profile. XOXOXO Kristen

Dyllon & Kristen Dekok
Rosenstr. 5C
66901 Schonenberg-Kubelberg Germany

This is the Address, sorry still getting used to writing it myself.

Tuesday February 16, 2010

Hello all. I have received messages from several of you asking about which coupons we need, so I have compiled a list of what we found to be the cheapest at the time that we bought these items. Know though that we are not partial to any particular brand, it is whatever makes the item the cheapest. The only item I am partial to is Tide laundry detergent. Oh, and do not worry about expiration dates...they are good for up to 6 months after the expiration date here. So here begins the list:
1.) Any Betty Crooker Potato
2.) Any Campbell's Soups both Cream Based and Regular
3.) Libby's Canned Vegetables
4.) Allen's Popeye Spinach
5.) Frito Lay Chips
6.) Doritos
7.) Sun Chips
8.) Clorox Bleach/Wipes
9.) Lysol Disinfectant Wipes
10.) Kleenex Tissue
11.) Presto Sandwich Bags
12.) Reynold's Parchment Paper/Foil
13.) Dawn Dish Soap
14.) Plastic Wrap (any type)
15.) Cascade Dishwasher Detergent
16.) Somat Dishwasher-Rinse Product
17.) Purina Cat Litters (Tidy Cat)
18.) Country Crock Butter
19.) Kraft Parmesan Cheese
20.) Totino's Pizza Rolls
21.) Michelina's Freezer Meals
22.) Ball Park Hot Dogs
23.) TastyBird Chicken/ Butterball Chicken
24.) Progresso Bread Crumbs
25.) St. Ive's or Irish Spring Body Wash
26.) Mt. Dew and Pepsi Coupons
27.) International Delight Creamer/ Coffee Mate Creamer
28.) Austin Crackers
29.) Tresemme or Herbal Essences Shampoo/Conditioner
30.) Stridex/Neutrogena Face Wash
31.) AquaFresh Toothpaste
32.) Johnson's and Johnson's for any bathroom products ie: baby oil, cotton balls, Q-tips
33.) Axe Deodorant (sometimes body wash)
34.) Gillette Razors Coupons (sometimes body wash)
35.) Shick Quattro Razors for me
36.) Bounce Dryer Sheets/Downy
37.) Tide
38.) Sue Bee Honey
39.) Hidden Valley Ranch
40.) Kraft Cheese
41.) Minute Maid OJ
42.) Red Baron/Tony's Pizza
43.) Funyuns
44.) Folger's Coffee/Millstone Coffee
45.) Purina Cat Food
46.) Domino Sugar/Brown Sugar/Powdered Sugar
47.) Baking Poweder (any type)
48.) Morton Salt
49.) Pam Cooking Spray
50.) Vanilla Extract (any type)
51.) Gold Medal Flour
52.) Musselman's Applesauce
53.) Dole Canned Fruit
54.) General Mills Cereal Bars
55.) Jell-O, jello and pudding
56.) Kool-Aid Mix
57.) Lawry's Marinade's
58.) Seasoning's (any brand)
59.) Coffee Filters (any brand)
60.) Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls/Cresent Rolls
61.) Kraft String Cheese
62.) VIP frozen vegetables
63.) Sea-Pak Seafood
64.) Bird's Eye Frozen Vegetables
65.) Pillsbury Toaster Strudel
66.) Jimmy Dean Breakfast
67.) Frozen Canned Juice
68.) Oscar Myer Lunch Meat
69.) Healthy Ones Lunch Meat
70.) Yakisoba
71.) Nature Valley Granola Bars
72.) JIF Peanut Butter
73.) Smuckers Jelly
74.) Blue Plate Mayonnaise (would rather have Miracle Whip though)
75.) Wesson or Mazola Oil
76.) Sunshine Cheese IT's
77.) General Mills/ Kellog's/ Post Cereal
78.) Oatmeal (any kind)
79.) Fiber One Pancake Mix/ Hungry Jack
80.) Del Monte Ketchup
81.) Plochman's Yellow Mustard
82.) Mrs. Dash Spices (or any kind)
83.) Country Kitchen Syrup
84.) Doritos
85.) Classico Sauce
86.) Roman Noodles
87.) Meuller's Linguine/Spaghetti
88.) Uncle Ben's/ Minute- Rice
89.) Hunt's Spagetti Sauce
90.) Crisco Oil
91.) French's Onions
92.) Swiffer Coupons of any kind
93.) Johnsonville Meats
94.) Hillshire

Ok...well I think this covers it all for now, as I think of things I will add them. We need some more dressing coupons, all we have is Ranch dressing right now, and more Spices since I did not save them since I knew our stuff would be in storage for a year.

Here is the address to send them to:

Dyllon & Kristen Dekok
Rosenstr. 5C
66901 Schonenberg-Kubelberg

I know this appears to be written weird but I promise you this is how you write it.

Thursday Feb. 11 2010

Hello all,

At the car dealership waiting on the car to get fixed. Everything is being taken care of. Not at all like the states where it seems people are out to get you at a dealership. They back up everything here, they are replacing the whole balljoints and bar, the electrical dashboard system, and all the lights so that it can pass the inspection. The car has been running great for us since we got it. Plus we have a 1 year warranty on the car, so all is well. Plus I am getting ready to refinance the loan and combine both car loans into 1 with a 5% interest rate! Hopefully will have both vehicles paid off by the time we get ready to leave and then trade them both in for whatever Dyllon wants, because since we are overseas, once Dyllon has been here for 30 days he can pick out whatever car he wants and get the best rate, plus it is tax free, they will either have it waiting for us back in the states or they will ship it here, we would rather have it waiting in the states so we dont have the hassle of shipping a car back. Plus we are saving now, I told Dyllon I didn't care what we got I just thought we should have at least 25 percent to put down in addition to what we got for the trade in of two vehicles or selling them that would but at about 50 percent of the car being paid for. I have been reading a lot of financial magazines lately and have found numerous ways to make money with the military, you just have to make the effort, like if you buy a house the military will pay the house payment for you, then we could keep the money we make when we sell, if we couldn't sell you can rent it out to military, so either way more income, there are so many beneficial programs out there, you just have to know about them, I plan on volunteering throughout, at as many different places as I can, just a day here or a day there, to learn about all the perks. A lot of ideas, not enough hours, days or weeks, just anxious to get something going. I would like to head up different fund raisers for organizations if possible, so I would like to know your ideas on what I should do, Dyllon would be the head of it, so that he could rank up faster, but we all know who would be the brains, just kidding. I do love it here, everyone is so nice, calm, and friendly, I have already met plenty of people. Hopefully we will be going out with some new friends Monday to Mienes, Germany for a festival. I think we are going to reschedule the day Dyllons stuff comes if we can, if not we can always meet up with them. Dyllon is getting pretty good at driving stick now. He is making friends, and he is surprised how fast I have adapted to here and how many friends I have met, I told him you just have to forward, compliment someone and start a conversation, everyone has something in common. Plus I really like to talk, we all know that, if it were possible I would converse with myself, I just need to learn to listen, I am not very good at that, but in all honesty I should get a break I only have 1 functional ear, haha. trying to understand the german keyboard, looks a lot different than ours, so forgive me on punctuation. SOOOO excited for the weekend, hopefully this weather lets up or we may not make it out of the driveway. Well, I could probably write all day, but I will spare you the lengthly letters of ramble, BUT COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS, you didn't think I would let you forget did you

Well love you all!!!!

Wednesday, Feb. 10 2010

Hello,

We went on the tour today, it was freezing, plus we were very tired because we were up till 0245am, that is when Dyllon got off work and I pick him up since we have 1 car, and the tour started at 0845 today, sooo needless to say, very tired. But despite everything the trip was informational and we are excited to revisit the town on a warmer day. It is snowing here, and they say this is the worst winter they have had in 30 years, I am sure it is not as bad as what you have there, as I hear you have been getting quite a bit of snow. It is 18 degrees here today. I uploaded more pictures under the Germany Album. I am going to try to figure out which cellphone company we are going to go with today, and look into the internet/home phone today too, once we have a home phone we should be able to call back to the states unlimited.

Just to share a background on the many different fish pictures you will see here and in the future:

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Something fishy’s going on in downtown Kaiserslautern.

On street corners, in fountains and hanging as shingles outside businesses, nearly 200 brightly colored, giant fish are floating about the city. The display commemorates the 725th anniversary of Kaiserslautern, which has the carp as its official symbol.

The reason behind the symbol is a real fish tale, USO guide Rose Davis said during a downtown historical tour Friday.

Legend has it that back in 1497, the Elector Philipp had a 20-foot-long fish weighing 385 pounds served for his dinner in Heidelberg.

"Can you see a carp weighing 385 pounds?" Davis asked a group of servicemembers and their families on the tour. "I cannot. But this is the legend."

A fiberglass fish with shiny scales made of compact discs appears to be jumping out of a fountain in downtown Kaiserslautern.

The fish had been caught at the Emperor Barbarossa’s lake in Kaiserslautern. The city is named so because the Lautern River ran through it [the river now flows only underground] and it belonged to the Kaiser. Thus, Kaiserslautern.

Around its head, the fish had a ring with an inscription reading: "I am the first among all the other fish that has been put in the lake personally by the Emperor Frederick II, on Oct. 5, 1230."

After the 30 Years War, fought in Western Europe between 1618 and 1648, Kaiserlautern’s leaders replaced the two small fish on their city seal with one mighty carp.

That’s what the school of fishes in downtown Kaiserslautern represent in the whimsical display called Fishing For Fantasy.

The city sold a basic version of recycled glass-fiber fishes for 1,400 German marks — about $650 — to merchants, schools, sister-cities and even foreign nations such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each has decorated its catch with its own signature. There’s a fish with a pig on its back; one whose shiny scales are actually dozens of compact discs, and another, outside St. Martin’s church, has a Biblical theme.

Well thats all for now, love ya,
Kristen

Tuesday February 9 2010

Okay.....well, got a lot of misc. items for the house, towels, dishes, cookware and such from the Airman's Attic today, which is a place on base that gives items away that people donate. Dyllon broke my appetizer tray, which if anyone seen this they knew it was my pride and joy, didn't get to use it yet, and went to the trouble of packing it in four separate suitcases so it wouldn't break on the way here, but you should have seen his face I couldn't be mad, he looked like he felt so bad, and he apologized profusely, plus he was wiping the counters down with antiseptic wipes for me so I couldn't be too mad. I still have the tray and the iron stand, I just need the bowl, so I am just going to try to find a bowl similar in size to replace it. Dyllon is getting better at driving stick, I don't think he likes it yet though. Tomorrow we get to go on a tour of Kaiserslautern. I am excited about that. Thursday morning the car gets fixed. I am going to make myself start studying for my boards today, I have kinda been avoiding that. Oh by the way I will probably remind all of you about this every time you read here, but please send coupons, our broke butts need them :)

Well I will try to post pictures to Facebook tomorrow. Love you all- Kristen

P.S. Our Home Address should be written as follows:

Dyllon & Kristen Dekok
Rosenstr. 5C
66901 Schonenberg-Kubelberg

LOVE YA!

The latest and greatest

Okay....back by popular demand is the famous note blog about what is going on with us.

1. We got a car today, 1994 BMW 318
2. We got our house keys today our address: Rosen StraBe 5c Schonenberg-Kubelberg GE 66901, I believe this is how you write out the address, but until I am sure please only send items to PSC 1 Box 3567 APO AE 09009
3. FMO brings loaner furniture tomorrow to the house, our furniture is still on its way
4. We are keeping both vehicles, it is hard to get to and from bases without a vehicle and Dyllon and I will be working at different bases (eventually when I get a job)
5. Any questions please write them here that way everyone can see the answers
6. We have a German Driver's license but not a International so we will not be going to Paris for Valentine's Day as planned, the train to get there costs 200 Euro per person which is approximately 350.00 dollars per person.
7. We have not been anywhere, we have not had a car or the time to do anything yet, but things are slowing down and hopefully since we have a car we will do something this weekend, when we do I will post pics
8. I will post pics of the car this week
9. I will post pics of the house this week
10. I will possibly be able to get a job as a nurse but it will be a little while due to 1. haven't taken boards yet and 2. it is difficult to get a job here because there are more wives than there are jobs, and I don't speak German
11. I will not be letting anyone know when I am taking my boards or any further information regarding the issue until I pass, so please do not ask.

This should sum everything up in a nut shell on what is going on with us. Please feel free to treat these posts as emails and respond with what is going on with you as well. Thanks love you all.