And Then There Was School

Our last week before school actually ended up being pretty eventful!!  And it was all thanks to ladies in the ward extending invitations online to go do things with them.  It's so nice to do stuff with other people!  Then at least I have someone to talk to!

The first was a walk in the woods!!  There is a mystery club of sorts in our ward.  When people find something fun or interesting they want to share with others, they post a few details and it's a mystery!  This one was an exercise trail loop through the woods and we had a great time.

We're a few hours from the Black Forest which is the forest of fables and fairytales but this one felt magical too.  I think it's partly the moss -- there were areas where the ground is a literal carpet of moss.  I have never seen that before and it was really beautiful and yes, soft and squishy.  In one pretty clear area, the kids decided to take naps!

Megan's friend Eliza -- they are the same age and grade and seem to get along really well.  But Eliza goes to German school -- I do wish she and Megan were at the elementary together.  

One woman and daughter pair on our adventure are very knowledgeable about the forests and plant life.  They showed the girls wild clovers that you can eat, picked some mushrooms for their dinner, and showed us how the seed pods on these flowers pop when you touch them.  I've seen a lot here that I'm not familiar with -- I need to find a book about Germany flora and fauna, but in English.

Slugs - so delightful.  Blech!

Just a picture or two from the lake.  The water was COLD!

This actually isn't the lake -- it's a beach volleyball place at a park but William was enjoying himself a lot!

We also participated in a color run.  At first it was just the girls and I.

The run took place on a paved, one-mile loop.  I gave the girls the option to quit after each mile (we mostly walked and the sun was out and it was pretty hot), but they wanted to continue each mile.  Then at the beginning of our third mile, Chopper and William showed up and decided to finish it with us!!  Of course that means that Chopper walked with the girls and I had to chase William - he ran almost the entire mile!!  But he did stop at each color station to get thoroughly covered.  He loved that part!

Then it was time for the first day of school.  Our first week we were still living in the Cozy Corners apartments so I had to drive them to and from.  That first day William got his backpack and lunch ready as well and was ready to go to school.  We took the obligatory first day pictures and he doesn't take nice, smiling pictures so we got lots of great silly ones.

When we arrived at the school I was very surprised to see tanks!  The school itself is on the base so it was a fun way for the kids to be entertained while waiting for the day to start.  And I certainly don't have to worry about safety and security!!

They were even able to get inside!

We found the places where the kids wait with their classes for their teacher and walked with Abby to her first grade classroom.  Then it was time to go and William had a meltdown.  He was very sad that he didn't get to stay at school.  Of course he was fine on day 2.  Being at home with mom by yourself isn't as fun but you do get to pick the movies and play with the girls toys without them getting upset!!  Life treats him just fine!  And we're in the process of hopefully getting him into preschool so that should be fun!

We opted out of putting any of the kids in German school.  The girls would be held back a year to make up for the language deficiency and I think that generally my kids get easily frustrated and I don't want to compound the move, the lack of friends, and the strange environment with not understanding the language as well.  Not understanding makes ME cranky and I don't think they need that on them as well.  But so far being in a new school seems to be going fine.  Abby particularly has had some nights of crying about it being different but by the time she started school she already knew Chavez because of Megan going there so it wasn't a new experience entirely.  It's funny actually because she talks all the time about how much she loves Germany but when she's tired and upset about something, suddenly she wants to go back to Texas right now!!!  Poor girl!