First Day of School...

At 5:45am my alarm went off and after 2 months of lovely sleep and pj's it was time to get my butt out of bed for the first day of school. 45 minutes later the kids alarm clocks began to buzz. I was first greeted by a joyful, smiling 9 year old who was happily getting dressed in his nice shirt and new jeans. Next Abby, who as we all know is quite a lot like her mama...so into her room I went alarm clock still blaring and Abigail still sleeping! After a few minutes she arose with the excitement of the first day bursting in her. With the kids dressed and ready to go it was downstairs for breakfast,usually a joyful time but today it was all about efficiency bowl of cereal and toast. As the children ate Scott and I feverishly prepared lunches...yogurt, bread with butter, lyoner, and a apple (remember there is very little convenience food) and snacks raisins and crackers.
Now 7:00am time for a couple of photos and out the door. Now Scott and I decided that even though we had a car today it was important for them to learn the ubahn since that is what they will mainly take. The ubahn stop is 14 minutes walk from our house. We arrived with a few minutes to relax before we got on the train. Now the train ride is when the exhaustion of the summer caught up with the kids. Even though it was the first day and they were excited, sleep began to over power them. We have a 22 minute ride, so I passed them the iPhone to watch tv on. Finally we reached our stop at 7:51 am.
The walk to school is another 12 minutes! There were very focused on the walk, not a lot of chatter (even from Abby). The nerves had won over, they were officially scared! We arrived at the school at 8:01am. Luckily today the first hour of school had been reserved for new families. There was a meet and greet by the PTA and there was an assembly for the new students. So when we walked into the building we knew that everyone was in the same boat as us.
At 8:20 the assembly started. Wow the director of the school Tim Kelley was amazing. He made us feel so welcomed. He asked for people from another country to raise their hands and show who came from another country, over 3/4 of the hands went up. The kids felt more at ease. He explained that at a school every year is new and being part of a international school every thing every year is new. He even called the day " Happy New Year!" These simple words and phases made everyone a bit more comfortable. Than came the crazy and out of no where part...they introduce the teachers and start calling up the new students to leave...Ahhh we didn't say goodbye! And they are gone off to see the school with their teachers and student helpers.
9:00am....well I wasn't leaving without saying goodbye! Off to invade the school like every other parent and wave to my kids and let them know I love them. We found them easily and wished them well, they were already talking to other kids, and exploring the school! Little Abby already had on her house slippers. Ethan was showing off his sports glasses, and Scott and I were happy.
9:20am PTA coffee hour or as a new parent would call look bored and helpless till hopefully someone says hello. Nah not really I greeted another family who was obviously from the Midwest as they sent their daughter with a Meijer's bag! They are actually from Nothvillie.. to funny. Their daughter Rory is in with Abby.
9:55am for the first time in 3 months....no kids!
The low down really comes a pick up...
From Abby: the school work is way to easy, she like her teacher, she has a friend who she says reminds her of Davison ( I think because she speaks English). She likes gym but the rules our different than the states. Her favorite part is they have 2 recess a day!
From Ethan: The boy "Johnny" who he sits by is a bully. He hates that he has to redo his multiplication times test again! He likes lunch but would prefer sausages. And German class rocks.
From me: They didn't cry. They talked and played with others and they were still there at pick up....the day was a success.
We all survived day one now on to day two.

Moments when I ask... "is this my life?"

Well, on Thursday I will have lived in Germany for 2 months! I can't believe I have already been here 2 months! There are many times that I reflect on my new life here and think that wow I am really doing this. There are things I now do that were never possible for me in Michigan. There are things that just seem simply surreal.
The trips to the bakery, it never fails to make me reflect on my new life. As I stand in the small shops staring at rolls, and bread, tortes, and deserts I think " wow, I am really about to pick out the most delicious snack and lunch breads for my family." Abigail now eats fresh croissants every morning with berries and yogurt. Ethan loves the breads sliced for toast and lunches. I just can't stop trying new rolls (yes I can't wait till school starts cause I need to get running again). I have also been seen around town with a baguette sticking out of my back pack, something that just seems crazy to me.
The day trips, and planned extended vacations. I am always in shock as we load up the car to picnic in a beer garden on top of a castle, or as of yesterday walking the city streets in France. I can't get over the things that are now at our finger tips to do. We have already been able to explore little shops, castles, forest, parks, and the daily life. Yesterday, I just kept looking at Scott, saying how amazing this was. As Ethan sipped a coco at a quaint bistro I was in heaven. As we stumbled upon a handmade bag and hair accessories shop for little girls I was shocked that this was something I could experience.
Finally my new house. I continue to feel more blessed and more grateful for the life I live inside the walls of my house. I love watching my children play in the gardens, and laugh with them as they use watering cans to cool each other off( even Fern likes this game). I feel amazed that I even live in a house with 3 patios and two gardens. Outside space is such a blessing in Germany. I can't get enough of my new attic bedroom, every time I walk up there! It is just amazing.
Every place we have ever moved has brought us immense gifts. We have always felt blessed, and this move is no exception. We all keep saying "Wow." Yes, this is are new life, with crazy new experiences, with simple things that make us smile, and adventures that we will always remember.

My European destinations

Yesterday I had potluck lunch with 3 women who had all moved from aboard to Germany, one women from Haiti, another from Australia, and finally my neighbor from Malaysia. We were chatting about this amazing opportunity you have when you live here to travel to some of the most lovely locations. These women have lived here for over 10 years each but have amazing stories of vacations and travels. The women from Haiti was preparing to leave with her husband and children to a vacation in northern Italy Saturday morning. The women from Australia had just returned from 3 weeks in a tiny town in France over looking the Mediterranean sea. Hearing of there travels got me thinking, asking questions, and pondering how to see as much as possible in three years! Then with this thought still stuck in my head Scott comes home to tell me one of his employees parents rents a flat in Croatia. So hmmm, we have already booked Paris, and Austria but where else should we/ could we go. Everyone says make a list so here I have, but I would love input, where have you been, where have you dreamed of going?
My vacation dream list
1: Paris
2: Rome
3: Belgium
4: Carcassonne, France
5: Ireland
6: London
7: Denmark

Morning Coffee On A Warm Summer Morning!

Woke up about an hour ago. Rolled over in my bed to see the lovely sunlight pour in through the attic windows! However, on a warm summer morning in a house/country with no AC the first thought I had was I should shut those, not listen to the birds and watch the sun dance across the floor but shut them quick before the heat sneaks in. With the windows shut I was finally ready to emerge from my tomb! Ahh relief the house stayed cool over night! Now mission one coffee and a lot of it! Que second sigh of relief, Scott is waiting to make me my favorite latte! Coffee in hand, collapse on the couch with iPad!
No really it is already funny but we have become use to the mild weather, and mid week the heat of summer finally showed up in Germany! We came here and froze for the first month, I even bought sweatshirts and coats as the weather some days struggled out of the 50's! So now summer is here and all is good. We can enjoy the pools, and bbq's, and sprinkler fun! However, when you live in a house with no AC and in a country with no AC you have to learn to negotiate the heat! So the 90's will sneak in today and last till Thursday...we will battle out the heat with the close the house up routine! We are excited to lounge in the beer gardens in the mid-day heat and the children are excited to enjoy an ice cream! I am looking forward to the pool on Monday and a picnic with friends on Tuesday! Yes after a cup of coffee on this warm summer morning I can say yeah to summer!

A day at the pool

Today was one of few warm days that we have had since we moved here! Now that we are finally settled in we are able to enjoy the outdoors on these warm days! So today I took the kids to the Hohenfriebad ( the swimming pool ). Now coming from the land of lakes, I am not to familiar with community swimming pools, but this place is amazing. First of all it only cost 2€ a person for the entire day, and you can bring picnic! When you have paid and finally enter you walk up a small hill to lay eyes on the adult pool(mainly kids over 15) an Olympic size pool with 8 lap lanes, a swim area and a 18 foot diving board. Than there is a restaurant and tons of rolling grassy hills to lay on or picnic on. Once you have moved past this main area there are a couple of volleyball courts, and table tennis areas before you head down a large hill to the kinderplatz (kids play area). This is a huge area with a pool 3x the size of Davison Athletic Club, a zip line, a play ground, swings, and a massive sand area. It also has a splash pool!
Now this pool is unlike anything I have ever seen, it is organic in it's shape, not really any particular shape. It has a textured metal bottom, so as the afternoon sun comes up it will reflect and heat the pool in an energy efficient way! It's depth is never more than a 4 feet, so Abby was able to swim freely! The pool also has a slide and these amazing rafts that the kids walk on and jump off of!
When we got there in the morning it was warm but it wasn't quite hot! We found a spot in the shade and sun under a tree! It was very busy so this spot was an awesome find! We on packed our grandma cart(a pink polka-dotted grocery bag on wheels) laid out our picnic blankets and pool towels, and went to test the water! It was way to cold, I am thinking 20 degrees! The kids decided to temporally bail on the pool and head to the splash pond till the sun came in! We played! Than we ate! Then the kids took off to dig in the sand! They love the sand here because there are typically water pumps and damns to build moats, and water holes with! They played so well helping a group of German boys fill a pond for a baby to play in! The engineer in Ethan comes out during these times as he tries for efficiency and structure and support for the sand! Abigail still just likes to be messy! They played, and splashed, and we all went for a couple cool down swims! Four hours later we were tired, red, and ready for home!
However, there is still changing out of your swim clothes! This only applies to those wearing swim clothes! Yes there actually are those in the buff! They rest pretty far from the pool, but it still grabs your attention! Now I have been noticing that Germans hate to be wet, so when the kids are swimming every time they get out the strip! Yes this means there is a lot of naked babies running around the pools. Some childre even have multiple suits! Some parents even fall under this and change right there! Now for us Americans or the more modest German they have changing pods shaped like mushrooms! They are a hoot! Now my kids are embracing alittle German I noticed because today they changed under a towel outside because they didn't want to wait in line at the mushroom!
The pool is a great place for a social experiment, for culture submersion, and for a family day out!

Magical Birthday Memories, to Last A Life Time!

On Friday night Scott and I stayed up to make a sign for Ethan's bedroom door "Wake Up Ethan we have a birthday treat...we are going to Legoland NOW!" On Saturday we woke early to place the sign, get ready, and head to the bakerie to purchase Ethan's favorite sweet rolls for breakfast, we call them dinosaur eggs! Than Scott and I just waited...30 minutes passed and we started to hear the sounds of little feet...the excitement built only to reveal Abigail was awake! Minutes later we heard the call "what is the temperature going to be today.." Scott and I look at each other "why?" Ethan chimes back, because we are going to Legoland! We hurried around while our son smiled with great joy at his surprise and we hit the car! With 10 minutes to spare before the gates opened we pulled into a simply placed wonderland of Legos! As we parked there wash so much chatter with guesses of what would be inside! Tickets bought, fast passes in hand we were ready! Right when you walk in the first thing you see is an amazing display of famous cities in Germany! Huge displays with moving boats, trains and even a tv tower! However as we stood in marvel of these works Ethan stood making a mission for the day! With the map in hand we headed to our first roller coaster (the test track)! A small roller coaster but still made us giggle, and yell as we raced up and down! The next couple rides were one similar to the tea cups, and than a boat racers that zoomed and raced across the water as those who watched sprayed them, including me( I wasn't going to get wet)! Than quickly moved on to a kinder safari ride, and a ride just like splash mountain, and the play park! At this point it was time for a lunch break! Than back for pirate rides, a tower that you pull yourself up on, view tower, ice cream, a train, a boat ride and another roller coaster! Ethan had so much fun! At the very end of a long day we took him for a another surprise shopping trip! By the time we hit the car with the 2foot slushie in hand, the birthday boy was exhusted! He was so tired that he didn't even want to eat his birthday dinner out, he asked if we could just come home and cook! So our evening of magic birthday day one ended with sausages,  snickers ice cream bars, and star wars on the DVD player! As Ethan went off to slumber land mommy and daddy began plans for Day Two! We pulled out all the presents, hung the decorations, and gathered the cake supplies! Than Day Two arrived with a 6:45am wake-up call from Ethan, so excited to began his true birthday! Presents all opened and put together by 10:00am I had a happy camper! He was so excited to play, and build his Lego's! He loved his new books, and thought his griffindor scarf was pretty cool! As Ethan played I baked a chocolate cake, with chocolate chunks, and chocolate glaze on top! Most of the afternoon was spent just playing, laughing, and eating Ethan's favorite foods! Than finally at 5:00pm we had the neighbors and 3 of their 4 children over for cake and coffee! This was a great time to get to know some new people, and allow Ethan the chance to have friends enjoy cake with him! Now we are about an hour away from when he was born (Michigan Time) and I can't help but think about how magical it was 9 years ago to hold my first child and meet him for the first time! This weekend I was reminded of that Magic as I saw him smile with joy as we surprised him, laugh as he rode the water rides, and wink at me as we sang Happy Birthday! Magic really happens in everyday life...Happy 9th Birthday to my son!

Birthday boy

Ethan at legoland! Happy 9th birthday!

Operation Geburstag

Geburstag (birthday) Ethan's 9th birthday is right around the corner! I can't believe that Sunday we will celebrate 9 years with our little man! This year birthdays are slightly different lacking in family, friends, and a school to celebrate with! A typical birthday in Michigan was quite the event with parties and tons of love from everyone! So, the question Scott and I have been toying with is  "How Do We Match Past Years?" Thus has begun Operation Geburstag!
First what does he want for his birthday...Lego's (what's new) and than Harry Potter books 4 and 5 USA print! So with some quick work we were able to order the books and have them sent to the USA and have a co-worker bring them over to Germany! I learned how to navigate Amazon.de and purchased various other gifts!
Now what was left was the hardest part...the magic! What could we pull off to make him feel amazing! We have been to the zoo, to the castles, to the galleries, and to the pool! We have no one to watch the dog, so what can we do...Well, it was time to get thinking! Maybe I could ask one of Ethan's friends to walk the dog a couple times, and than maybe we could head out of town! After a phone call and really putting myself out there with the neighbors I was able to find a 10yr old to help with Fern! Now the Magic! So Saturday morning when he least expects it we are headed to Legoland for the day! We haven't told the kids anything! I am so excited I can't wait to see the look on his face! I can't wait to celebrate his birthday!
Operation Geburstag: Make 9 in Germany as awesome as 8 was in Michigan! While I know we all will miss family and friends, it is so important that the kids know we can make things right here! That we can make things fun here, and that we can do this as a family!

An Evening At The Movies...

I will post in blue in honnor of an evening at Corso Kino (The First word is the name of the theater, and Kino is German for Cinema)! With Scott off to the Czech Republic, and the rain settling in for the evening I thought it was a good time to try out a movie! I knew that Smurfs was showing at Corso the English theater here in town, so I made a reservation! Yes, that is right...you don't buy tickets online you make a reservation to attend the movie! At 4pm the kids and I packed up and headed to the Ubahn to catch the 2 lines needed to make it there! After an hour (walking and riding) and 22 stops we arrived at the cutest theater in the world! Hidden downstairs in a small building is a 2 screen theater with a snack bar! We purchased our tickets and the best part 3D glasses that you pay for and than keep! Than off for snacks...they had it all popcorn, pop, candy! They also had new things like Ben and Jerry's ice cream, BEER, sweet popcorn, and my favorite 10 kinds of gummy bears! We placed our order a simple meal of M&M's, popcorn, water, and gummies! When we walked in I was brought back to my childhood at the Park Theater in Augusta, Michigan! A small theater that seats and 100 or so with long tables for your snacks instead of cupholders! We got setteled into our seats and the movie started! While it wasn't the greatest movie I had ever seen, I loved it! I loved that I accomplished something new!  I loved being reminded of my childhood...I still call my dad, papa; thank you papa smurf. I loved doing something with my kiddo's!

School Supplies

About a month ago I recieved this school supply list in the mail...

Dear Grade 3-5 Parents,
We are looking forward to your arrival at school on 31 August. Your classroom will be ready for you by then and we hope that you will settle in quickly and happily. We would like to inform you that you will need the following school supplies:
Soft-sided back-pack to contain all school materials (ideally it should be possible to hang this up
with the coats). Please mark clearly with the child’s name.
Pencil-case containing 5 pencils (HB), ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener,
A box of coloured pencils
A box of thin coloured markers
A glue stick
Lunch-box and drink bottle (not glass!). Please pack all lunch items in reusable containers. A
school lunch is available at a cost. Please see attached information.
Sports shoes (with light-colored soles, for Physical Education) and cloth bag. Your child’s sport
shoes need to be kept in a cloth bag that can be hung up. This should be clearly marked with the
child’s name
A pair of soft “slip-on” indoor shoes
A box of tissues to share

German class
Pencil: Stabilo’s move easy ergo OR Pelikan griffix Bleistift
Ink Pen: Stabilo’s move easy or Pelikan griffix Tintenschreiber

Today I recieved a lesson on what school supplies I actually needed, and what some of these items actually are! One of our neighbors offered to take us to the Real (pronounced Reale) which is like Walmart! There we found everything we needed!  It is funny to have to need lessons on pencils and pens but I needed one! I couldnt figure out these name brand pens! Basically they are refilable pens because Germans don't throw away anything but they are also ergonomically designed for a childs hand! They are pretty fancy!
We also needed a lesson in lunch boxes! After purchasing the matching LL Bean bags before we left Michigan, I have now learned that German children take a plastic box similar to a pencil box to school! So out we wnt to look for these!  They seem so small and boring but again this is what everyone else has! The funny thing is there food must all go in this box without any plastic wrap or baggies! Weird but change is good right? Trying to figure out what I will even pack the kids without the foods they are so use too!
Finally the "house slippers"...what? I couldn't even begin to figure out what these could be! Are they Croc's, Keds, Sandals? No they are quite literally slippers with treads on the bottom! So cute! It is so different but they never wear their street shoes at school! They change into these on arrival to school and than at gym time they have special shoes just for that class! So many shoes that we will never see at home again!
Everything else I was able to purchase with no difficulty! The shopping trip was a huge success! I loved seeing a new store, and a big store!  I loved being able to do that with the kiddo's and for the kiddo's! Another success!

Play time!

As Ethan predicted "mommy you will make friends with the other mommy's after I make friends with the kids," well Friday we had our first friends over for afternoon coffee! It was so nice to talk to another mom, another women, and another person who understands this transition. The kids played for a couple hours and we chatted about school, shopping, vacations, and general life! The kids were so excited to meet with people and have them at our house! Things went so well that she even offered to take me and the kids around today with their school supply list and help me find the items! It is so nice to have someone on the ground with 6 years experience to show me the ropes! Here's to meeting new people!

Damn That Garlic Press!

Everyone knowes that I love to cook!  That I love food! So being here in a new country with new foods I am in heaven, trying new things, buying new things...both loving and hating new things! I have been embracing my newly found Schwabisch and Bavarian roots and creating such dishes as weisswurst, zwiebelrostbraten, schnitzel, and maultaschen! I have been doing ok with buying items that I dont even really know what they are for eg. flour 405 vs. flour 505! However, the one thing that is really stumping my cooking here in Germany is garlic and the damn garlic press! Yes I am a prima donna I am use to my garlic in a jar of olive oil sitting on shelf, and yes I am use to just spooning into a pan! Now there is all this work involved in cooking...peeling, chopping, pressing! YUCK! I think I actually am heavily involved in a love/hate relationship with my garlic press!

The Simple Things...

August has arrived, and with August comes many preparations for our family! During the month of August we will celebrate Ethan's 9th birthday and on the last day of the month the children return to school! Scott will start to travel again in August with 2 planned trips already in the works, and another for September. Our new life in Germany is now in full swing! As lifes pace begins to pick up, I find myself slamming the breaks and trying to savior every moment! All to often we here it is the simple things that truly matter and I am reminded of that each day! Would it be fun to see all of Germany, yes of course, but the kids were just so happy when I surprised them on the way to the store with a trip to the park and dinner at the beirgarten. The two trips we took to the castles, were so simplistic, yet some of my favorite memories of the year! We even packed picnics and just talked high up on a mountain top! The kids have been such blessings and pearls of wisdom during this transition, yes of course they still fight and don't listen but than there are the times where they have me laughing so hard! As we stood in one castle, and over looked the worlds largest wine barrel...Abigail looks up and says "yeah it's the largest no shock German's like to drink!"
So as we make plans to go places, do things, and live life, I also need to find the time to enjoy my home, savior my friends, love my family(even the dog), celebrate years, honor accomplishments, support my husband, grow myslef, and simply smile! It truly is more simple here I just need to live as such!