Springy Saturdays

I bought flowers the other day.  Real, plant in the dirt and help them grow.  This is funny for two reasons: first, I don't plant.  Second, a friend just informed me that you don't plant flowers here until after Mother's Day if you want them to stay alive.  And yes, they are dying as we speak.  Thank goodness they were cheap!  Our nights are still below freezing but the days are getting up to 50 degrees and it feels so glorious!  One of the things that I love about living in any new location is the opportunity to explore.  And this is particularly awesome in Bavaria where there is SO MUCH to explore just within an hour of the house!  I'm keeping a list of places we want to go and how far they are from the house so that on a Saturday with good weather and healthy kids (which apparently is asking a bit much lately -- stupid colds), we can jump in the car and go!

A week ago we went out to some more castle ruins in the middle of a forest IN OUR SHIRT SLEEVES!  Ok I wore a jacket.  I am cold by nature I think.  Also, not surprisingly here is picture overload again.  I'm trying to find a publisher for last year's blog posts.  It's been difficult since I have 1299 pictures on my blog last year . . . no lie!!!

The forest going up to the ruins was just beautiful.  We are all falling in love with moss which sounds really weird but it's just so cool!

Great rocks for climbing and at the top of the hill / mountain you have:

Burgruine Kurnburg!!  Unfortunately graffitied.  At least it didn't say "love the nature" . . . 

Great ruins nonetheless.  The moat is still there (but dry) and you can climb to the top and get the great view.

Chopper found that somewhere, awwwww.  I didn't even see it.  That gives you an idea of who the romantic one is.  Or the one who pays attention to details.  But not who plans the details.  That's totally me.

I love the floors missing but you can see how cool it would've been.

Abby is a great selfie partner!

At the back of the ruins were trails that went off into the woods.  We followed an educational trail that gave us a lot of information about the forest . . . I think.  It was all in German.  It didn't really matter.  Most of the activities we could figure out with a little brain power and a little Google Translate.

This one was a pair of hollowed out trees with that sound thing where you speak in one end and the other end can hear you.  The girls say it worked.  I think it's because they were shouting into it.

Megan was crawling around the rocks and pulled a whole hat of moss right off of one when she slipped and went to catch herself.  Then she SMILED for a picture because I asked her to take them showing Grandpa that we could use this hat moss to cover up his lack of hair.  And she willingly did so!!  Smiling for the one's she loves!

Castle in the background

Pinecone throwing contest

In the parking lot was this small chapel?  I don't know what they call the little "houses" that have religious statues in them.  But then these were all memorial markers.  They were each dedicated to a musician, dancer, or artist but I didn't get if they were from the area or not.  And they were all born in the early 1900's -- about 1910-1935 -- and died in the 90's mostly.  Makes me wonder what the whole story is here.  

After our great day we decided to go get dinner on base and may have driven out of our way to the other side because PENGUINO'S IS OPEN!  Last summer we ate gelato here about every other day.  It's that good and cheap.  This year, we won't live close enough for that but I'm sure we'll find reasons to go!  Seriously the best gelato in Germany.  We try a lot of gelato just to make sure!

Then another week of school and kids getting sick again. What the heck?  It's a cold AGAIN although a different breed.  They're all staying home tomorrow because of the fevers they're sprouting in conjunction with gross noses and hacking coughs.  So yesterday we didn't really go anywhere but I wanted to get out.  Spring and watching everyone else's trips starting up again has me itching to travel!  So we traveled around town.

We followed a Natur Wanderweg - nature trail loop - that I came across on a run the other day (yes I ran!  Once!)  I didn't know how long it was and the girls were super troopers since it turned out to be 4 miles.  Some of the things we saw and learned:

These looked like pussy willows to me but I've never seen them on an actual tree, just always as cut branches. The girls just loved the -- doesn't everyone?!  Chopper didn't believe me that they grow here so I looked them up and found some interesting information.  In Northern Europe, pussy willow branches are often used on Palm Sunday and blessed in church because palms don't grow this far north.  Maybe on our next circuit we'll have to cut some.  Hopefully we're ok doing that!

This weird tree log with people cutouts?

On a side road going into Hahnbach are a series of doorways.  Turns out they are underground cellars that were dug in the 17th and 18th centuries and used by brewers to keep the beer cool and also for their winter vegetables.  During WWII the residents used them for shelter from cannon and fire.  After that they installed some cement tiles in the ceiling but they've mostly been left to decay and are gated and locked.

This one had a gate you could've gotten through but that's a big snakeskin draped across the top.  We didn't try.  I don't think I would've even without the snakeskin though -- they're kind've creepy looking.  But I'll bet in the summer they're cool!

Ok one more thing we learned that was awesome.  Beavers are a protected animal in Germany and I guess are pretty common in Bavaria BUT it's because years ago (hundreds), a Catholic pope decided that Beaver was ok to eat during Lent.  Traditionally you don't eat meat during Lent except for fish on Fridays.  But beaver live in the water and have a tail like a fish (??) so they were ok.  Beaver were hunted so much that by the mid-1800s they were pretty much extinct and so are now protected.  Fun trivia I thought!

Abby wanted to do the loop again today but with fevers we opted to stay at home.  But it's still fun to learn more about where we live!

It's All About Love

And yet the middle of February is the time of year I love the least.

Partly that's because of Valentine's Day.  I'm not a Valentine's Day person.  Flowers and chocolates and such are nice but I prefer them on a random basis than on a commercially assigned holiday.  But what really has me disliking the holiday are the school celebrations!  Ask any mom of multiple elementary age kids and she'll probably agree!  This year the PX ran out of Valentine's cards by the time we got there and the Germans only do Valentines for adult couples (nice!) so we had to improvise.  That means that I printed hearts on the computer that said "Happy Valentine's Day from _______".  The kids cut them out and glued them to scrap book paper my mom sent for another project about a month ago (THANK YOU GRANDMA!!!) and then decorated with stickers I found.  Fairly painless but it still took the entire afternoon and evening on the day before.  Blech.  Yay for Abby's teacher though who had them decorate boxes at school and Megan knows what she wants and we had the materials to make it quick and easy!  And it turned out cute!!

Then we have the 100th day of school.  UGH.  This usually involves a project displaying 100 of something that is "sure to be fun for the whole family".  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  First, you have to agree on a project.  Then you have to get the materials.  Then you have to put it together.  Not really fun -- especially when you add in counting to 100 several times before it's done. Oh it's delightful.  This year we have the hiccup of not having access to Hobby Lobby (can I just say how much I miss Hobby Lobby?  It's probably the biggest thing I miss but I suppose I'm saving money now . . . ).  So we agreed to use our massive collection of charms and although I did most of the stringing and drew the outline for the person, Abby did a great portion of the work and it turned out cute.  And I'm glad it's done.

February 18th of course is Aaron's birthday.  Megan asked me the morning of when we were taking presents to the hospital.  I love our little service project!  Next year I might have to see if we can do one for a local hospital but this year of course that didn't happen.  I did sew up 50 Beads of Courage bags and ship them out last Tuesday though.  I love being able to help in some small way at least.  

Grandma sent another package (GRANDMA SAVES THE DAY AGAIN!) and the kids enjoyed those snacks while we watched Trolls as a family.  FYI - weird movie.  They like it.  It's weird.  We've all been going through a round of illness the past few weeks -- nothing terrible, just a cold with fever, but Chopper and Abby both have it right now so we didn't do anything special for his birthday.

But we were incredibly blessed by our friend Chad and his wife Christi who went to the cemetery and placed flowers at the grave for us.  It is such a gift especially this first year being away because the honest truth is that we've felt a little like we've left him behind.  

 Oh some fun news though.  I did an online sew along creating this quilt and won the grand prize!!  It was a random drawing of the finished quilts but hey, a prize is a prize and I'm super excited because I don't know what it is!

Megan Turns 9!!

I'm a little amazed that we have a 9 year old.  It's her last year of single digits!  Unfortunately, for her birthday she was sick.  But on the plus side, she got to stay home from school and improved so she still had a great birthday.  It was about 40 degrees here which was a big improvement from what it has been so it felt practically like spring.

We're not doing friend parties this year, just our usual family party.  But we hung streamers and blew up balloons (including the kind you make swords and animals from -- the kids loved that) and it was very festive at home!  Megan chose a salad bar for her birthday dinner and we made a strawberry cake with a homemade vanilla whipped cream icing that turned out really good!  She did the decorating by drawing an owl and lots of sprinkles.  Drawing with icing is a lot harder than it looks!  She loved her presents: legos, books, horses from Grandma Whittacre and tea and peg people to paint from Grandma Gasser.  Even her primary teacher brought her a present!

I tried to get pictures of her smiling -- always a difficult task!

William was really good about NOT blowing out the candles or trying to open her presents!  But he is still struggling with understanding when birthdays come.  We've explained the order of operations for birthdays here -- me, Megan, Aaron, Abby, Daddy, William -- but now he just thinks that since Megan had her birthday that Abby is the next day, etc.

She has been so excited to get packages in the mail!  

Blurry but one of her favorite presents -- she loves this series of books about Warrior cats!

IF this video can be viewed it's great.  Not only did Megan let me video her, it's got great commentary by Abby throughout.  

So at nine years old, Megan is in the third grade and Mrs. Braatz is her teacher.  She also does Gifted and Talented sessions and continues to excel in school, particularly math and language arts.  We've run into a problem with her reading -- her teacher requires that they read within their lexile but it's high enough that a lot of the books within her lexile are too mature for her in content.  So loves the Warrior Cats series and is also reading another animal series about wolves I think.  She's read the first Harry Potter and is working on the second.  She likes them but I don't think she really adores the magical, fantasy genre.  She really continues to like animals and adventure.  I don't think that her art teacher and class push her as much as Mrs. Sutherland did, but she still draws and creates and writes stories as well.  She has really become interested in all things crafty and has tried her hand at loom knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, etc. 

I love watching Megan's personality develop.  She is getting a lot better at speaking in front of people but needs warning and preparation.  She has a great sense of humor but you have to be among the privileged few to see it I think.  She is also very concerned with things being done according to the rules and order of operations which has proved a little difficult when I'm trying to help her with her math but don't understand how she's learning it!  Common core!  She and Abby have been getting very close this year -- we don't have friends to play with close by.  They are all excited to go to England this summer but what she really wants to do is go to France and eat crepes and macaroons!

January's Adventures

January's adventures have been less about exploration and more about adaptation!  It's kind've nice to have Saturdays where we laze around or accomplish things at home though.  But our biggest adaptation has been to the snow!  Our sources say this has been the worst winter for this area in a few years.  If that's the case, we've been adequately prepared!  I honestly expected this area to get a lot more snow!

First major snowfall!  There hasn't been a single school cancellation but we've had several delayed starts which I think I like even better!  The roads are kept clear very well although there are issues with ice sometimes.  The schools send the kids outside everyday unless the temperature drops below a certain mark.  I love that they give them that outlet and it reminds me of my own elementary school and how much fun winter recess was!  But between days off of school for various reasons (holidays and teacher trainings) and late starts, we've had very little actual school!  I'm not complaining but William is out of the habit and doesn't want to go back now!

We had enough snow to make a great snowman.  We have not had enough snow to convince William that coats are a necessity.  However, one fall in snow with bare hands and he knows now that gloves are a necessity.  So his normal winter outfit is gloves and boots -- no coat.

 Megan decided to pose our snowman picking his nose for the picture.

I've been trying to shop more at German stores -- it actually saves me money.  I particularly love this bread dispenser at Aldi!

I had a great birthday -- a movie with friends from my ward and dessert afterwards, fantastic celebration and presents with the family, and then the next weekend a session at the Freiberg Temple with friends.  It's 2.5-3 hours away so I'm honestly now sure how often we'll get there as a couple.  There are lots of details to work out with that.  But going with a group of ladies for the first time was great.  They have a lot more snow there then we do and there was hardly anyone at the temple.  We expected to have the session in German and wear the translation headphones but they did it in English since we were pretty much it!

So far Germany has been beautiful in all it's seasons and I can't help but stop and take pictures of buildings and scenery.  Only problem is that I am NOT a photographer and can't do justice to what I'm seeing!

Our friend and art teacher from Chavez, Kelly Sutherland, has a book published and she sent a copy of the book and a plush bat to the kids!

I finally finished a quilt for Danny and Denise for Christmas -- these blocks have been sitting around for a long time!  It's a sampler (all the blocks are different) with a turquoise backing. 

If you can see the video, it's William saying the Pledge of Allegiance.  Preschool has been so good for this boy!  We're still having anger management and tantrum issues but he's learning a lot and is becoming a great artist with a lot of focus when he's creating.

Abby got her glasses!  I'm really glad that we went with a local shop.  Not only did they fit them to her face (and they're super cute), but we have 3 years of adjustments and repairs built in!  Since she's already lost them once (left them on the bus but her bus driver held on to them thank goodness!), I think we'll need that!  She wears them all the time, Chopper says her prescription is too powerful for him, but she's still getting used to taking care of them.

I waited at school 10 minutes for him to finish this picture and I wasn't allowed to look until it was done!

February has warmed up slightly (like 5 degrees) so our faces aren't falling off.  What else . . . we got our taxes done and in the process realized that they are not taking taxes out of Chopper's paychecks.  He's gotten that fixed and we were lucky enough that his income here so far was small enough and our refund covered it so we're not having to pay out of pocket.  But we'll definitely be checking that more carefully!  I've spent several days this week attached to a computer planning and booking and searching.  We've got our flights and all of our hotels scheduled for a long vacation in Great Britain this summer!!  We are both so so excited.  

New Year . . . cacophony and silence

OK I just like the word "cacophony".  But it is so appropriate.  

On New Year's Eve we spent the evening with some friends from church.  We had pizza and set off fireworks in their backyard.  We were a little worried about the legality, etc. of the fireworks but could hear the booms of a few others so figured it was ok.  The kids had sparklers and the dads set off some great Roman candles and fountains and a fantastic finale piece.  Then we went home and went to bed.  After all, we live in a small town so if the locals shoot off fireworks it shouldn't be too big of a deal.

Au contraire.

I should say that in German.

Andererseits.

I actually don't really know if that's correct but we'll go with it.

About 11:30 I wake up because of the booming.  Chopper's still up so I go downstairs and tell him he really needs to come to bed (we teach a primary class in the morning), and go back to bed.  But I can't sleep.  At 11:45 I give up and go to the window.  And it's amazing.  We live on a street behind the main street.  In at least two places on the main street (one pretty much directly in front of us), they're setting off fireworks.  Then there are some going off behind us.  And some on our street.  I went outside and took some video -- it's terrible quality but just constant booming, explosions, and the bells pealing madly.  We were in the heart of it all.  It was amazing.  And these are fireworks shooting into the sky and exploding with color -- near professional grade!  

Chopper and I have witnessed some great fireworks over the years but this was unlike any I've personally seen -- I think because it was all around us.  The finale was spectacular and then really it kept going after that!!  And we're not the only ones.  Apparently, Germany is big into New Year's and exploding things.  We appreciate so much more the songs "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" and "Ring Out Wild Bells" but you have to add the fireworks to that last one.  I don't even know how to describe it.  It was fantastic.

But now is silence.  The kids started back to school yesterday and today and tomorrow have a 2-hour delay because of snow.  It is wonderful to get up slowly in the morning, make a decent breakfast, kids play a bit, then send them off to school.  Especially because I didn't have to drive them -- they get on a bus (with a German driver so I think he knows how to handle the weather) and off they go.  It was quiet at home followed by snowman making and snowball throwing.  Such a good day.  And now we have the silence of snow and darkness.  I love the silence of snow.  I'm tempted to bundle up and go for a walk except that I don't want to do it in the dark.  

A 2-hour delay for school also includes a 2-hour delay for work.  It's been a while since we've had to shovel snow!

The kids played in the morning and then had to change out of wet clothes before school.  Yes we have snow pants but they're a pain when you're just in the yard and can change when you get cold!

We built the body of the snowman before the girls left for school and throughout the day it gradually leaned and leaned until it fell over.  William did try to push it up with the broom -- didn't work so much.

Our outside faucet that drips and the giant icicle it created.

Our snowman (woman?) revived!  And a head!  And hair!

Again with the broom?

Chopper added the eyebrows and Megan posed it picking it's nose.