Merry Christmas!

Baking Day

Silus had a baking and crafting day at school last week. We got started about 9 and began in the kitchen with pre-made Sugar Cookie dough.

Each child had a mat, rolling pin, cookie cutters, and decorations. Our table made more cookies than we could have ever eaten.

Next we had a craft time in the class room where we made a paper snowman. I love being able to work with the kids and see Silus with his classmates.

Birthday Kid

Toben's birthday was almost a month ago, but our Internet was down for a few weeks and I was never able to put anything up, so here it is.

Toben is 4! His favorite color is green. He loves dressing up. He usually is dressed up in one way or another with a hat, or a Police shirt, and sometimes his "Reit Stiefel" AKA Cowboy boots.

He eats a huge bowl Oatmeal every morning. His request. He also loves juice and drinking anything I have left sitting on the table.

He still crawls in our bed almost every night, and loves to be snuggled. I can hardly believe that Toben is 4. No more diapers, strollers, naps. A new era....

Parent Stuff

We have entered into the embarrassing parents arena. It's actually not as bad of a place as I once imagined.

I can totally understand why we are embarrassing. We don't speak German all that well, and the German I speak is pretty elementary.

It's kind of like being asking to be dropped off down the street so that you're not seen in that ugly blue van. Except for us it's being asked to not go to the Christmas party.

Which we went to anyway and were on our BEST behavior. Here is the picture to prove it.

(Here is the translation)

Naomi's Dad

No German

Thanks

Family Pic

Every few years Martin sketches our family.

We've got a lot going on with the kids, as you can see in the picture.

Wordless Wednesday

Sketchbook Class

Martin's boot.

He is amazing.

And I love him.

Wordless Wednesday

Secret Agent

The boys decided to be Secret Agents for Halloween. Here is a little preview of our activities.

Silus

Painting in his sketchbook. He used almost all of the computer paper up, so when I was at the PX I picked up a thick sketchbook. (Not his first one) I like it so much more than loose paper. His drawings are all together and will be such a keepsake. He draws lots of Lego and Ninja stuff, but also does some painting too. A kid after my own heart.

Wordless Wednesday

Rolling

There's nothing like rolling down a hill full of crunchy leafs, or watching someone else! Toben went down roll speed, laughing all the way. What sight to be seen.

Waggle Tooth

Last week Silus noticed he had his FIRST "waggle Zahn" (loose tooth).

He took the advice of the well seasoned tooth pullers in the house and ate an apple.

Out it came.

Wordless Wednesday

Bavaria

Where you can almost touch a time long ago.

Where you can hear the sound of cow bells clinging.

And see a parade.

Where you can feel the cool water on your toes.

And make friends.

Sketching and Watercolor

I started an online art class about a week ago. The teacher sends out very simple instruction that I download. I can read, and re-read, and yes, read again, hen begin the project. I sketch, outline, and paint. Next I upload a photo to a forum and the teacher gives me her thoughts and suggestions about it.

The kids have gotten really excited about the class after seeing a few of the things I've done, so I decided to give them a little mini lesson. They did a great job, and painted little works of art.

You'd be suprised,

turns out ducks LOVE Cheese Its

Wordless Wednesday

Penny Market

On the outer edge of village a new Penny Mart opened. The new one is in a better location, and very spacious. It's like a very mini grocery store. We can get fresh fruits and veggies, toilet paper, wine, as well as Guinea pig food. I will be shopping there as much as I can.

Wordless Wednesday

Opened House

Strange, but true: Naomi had school on a Saturday. She did get to sleep in a little bit, but had to be there at 8:30. Her school had an opened house, or "a day with an opened door". There were all kinds of activities going on in the school. She took the little boys on a little tour and did a few stations with them. There was freshly made apple juice, a stand of things the kids had made for sale and honey that the bees at the school made. Hard to believe that next year Eyan will be there too.

Pow-Wow

Once everyone is sitting down and has been served we begin our Pow-Wow. What is a Pow-Wow? Pow is something that was bad about your day, something that was disagreeable, and a Wow is something good, exciting, or funny.

For awhile we were going from youngest to oldest, but now we are starting with Dad, and making our way down the line.

Here is our Pow-Wow today: (Martin is out of town)

Mine: My Pow it that our dryer won't be fixed until Monday, and my Wow is that I got out the fall decorations.

Naomi: Pow is that there was a pop quiz in Science, and her Wow was that her teacher was really nice today.

Eyan: Wow was that he got to go to the farm and pick up milk, his Pow was that the little baby kittens ran away and he didn't get to hold them.

Silus: Wow was that he got to build a Lego airplane on the computer and then build it with Legos. Pow was the first thing he built didn't work.

Toben: Sang a song for us for his Pow-Wow. It's a German song about going on the train. Some nights he does it, and other nights he changes it up, but he still participates in his own little 3 year old way.

Have a Pow-Wow at your dinner table tonight!

Special thanks to Lisa Barnett, who shared her family tradition with us. We miss your beautiful family!

Wordless Wednesday

Ranting....and Raving

A little ranting and raving, just because you see all of the beautiful pictures, but I also want you to see..... it's not perfect and there are things about being overseas that are annoying.

1. I hate that no one calls us, with the one exception of my sister Trisha, and occasionally my mom. I know that adding 8 hours to the time, and by that time we are sleeping, and that all those numbers can be confusing, but really?!

2. I HATE that I can't read all the school papers. This week even I accidentally threw away an important paper for Naomi's school. I did a quick look, and tossed it. I can ask my Naomi most of the time, but it's annoying not being able to just read a school paper.

3. I MISS blue skies, I really do think that I got depressed over the summer from no sunshine and gray skies.

4. I HATE THE PX! Screaming kids running all over the place, never the size that I need, takes FOREVER to walk from one side of the store to the other, AND they never have what I am looking for. I miss Target. A lot.

5. I hate that it takes forever for things to get here. I ordered books over a month ago, and am still waiting! AND I hate it when companies won't ship to our military post office box!

6. I hate that there are so many little bases and that there is a different base for the hospital, commissary, dentist, mail, work, and even the library.

Laundry, dishes and cranky children, a messy house, and me.

I just want the picture to be clear.

Wordless Wednesday