2 Years Later.....

We have been in Germany for two years! I can't believe that the time has gone so fast. We miss family, but feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. We don't travel nearly as much as we had hoped, it's so expensive, and still stressful with young kids, but we enjoy the everyday life here. We have wonderful neighbors who we have parties with and just hang out in the front and talk.

Martin is now working at Ramstein Air force Base, he is working as a trainer and is on a 9-5 schedule. He has had the opportunity to travel for training, and has been learning more about radars. He is currently working on a new family portrait, it is AMAZING. I will post a picture as soon as it's done.

In May I completed 8 months of an intensive German course. Jetzt kann ich deutsch sprechen. Once a moth I get together with a bunch of great ladies and discuss a book, AKA Twisted Sisters book club. I am still active in my local quilt guild, as well as an Art Quilt group. I purchased a Longarm Quilting Machine, and am practicing on any quilt that I can get my hands on.

All 4 kids are fluent in German and speak German to each other. We are continually impressed with there skills, and are very proud of them.

Naomi is now in the big school in the next village, she is making great grades and her German is impeccable! This week her class had a three day, two night stay in the forest. She had a great time and made lots of memories. She has a few electives this year one of which is Bee Keeping!

Eyan is 9. He is in 4th grade and loves playing outside, roller blading, and hanging out with his friends. He loves pestering anyone he gets near, as well as playing jokes on others.

Silus went into first grade this year, so he is at the same school as Eyan. He is excited about learning to read, he plays "Ninja" on a regular basis, and LOVES Legos.

Toben is now 3. He has been practicing dressing himself and putting on his own shoes. He loves going to the indoor swimming pool, playing with Silus and being read to.

Wordless Wednesday

Kerve

Last weekend we had a little town Carnival.

All of the kindergarten kids had a little float that sprayed water, and threw candy. Toben had a blast throwing candy at all the old ladies and after about half way began handing the candy since the older people couldn't bend down and reach it.

Eyan walked with the grade school, and also threw candy. They had decorated a wagon with pictures of each kid holding a book. They were there promoting the new library.

At the end of the parade we stopped at the Carnival. We played games, ate brots, and drank beer. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

School Lunch

Silus is a very picky eater. He doesn't like potatoes, onions, garlic, anything with sauce, and the list goes on and on and on. At school there is a hot lunch, and I decided to have a date with Silus and see if he could be persuaded to eat there. He ate the salad, and got a plate of Lasagna, and that's as far as we made it. I don't think he'll try it again. But, that's OK I don't mind packing a Peanut butter sandwich everyday.

Wordless Wednesday

Strasbourg, France

Naomi and I took a tour with the USO to Strasbourg France. It was very relaxing to not drive the Suburban down these little streets and enjoy the ride.

Strasbourg is in the Alsace region, and was once part of Germany. Today it is the host of the Council of Europe, as well as the European Court of Human Rights. We made a short stop to see the headquarters and take pictures.

Next we walked the city center, stopped at a market, admired all the old architecture and went to the cathedral. Our tour guide was an older lady who surprisingly walked VERY fast and was extremely knowledgeable.

For lunch we found a charming plaza, enjoyed the sunny afternoon and watched the people passing by.

We ended our tour with on a boat tour. Although it sounds lovely it was uncomfortably hot and we had no water left. But, over all it was a great day and we got to see another little corner of Europe.

Before we knew it we were back on the bus and headed home.

Ganzatagschule

This year Eyan and Silus attend the same school down the street. They walk to school together at about 7:45 and sometimes a little earlier if they want to play before school. This year the school offered a program to help kids with homework and have a few extra fun activities. I was hesitant to enroll them since it required that they stay until 4, but decided that it would be best since I'm not very helpful in that department. I also liked that it was Monday - Thursday and not all week. So far it's going really well, they have have a Lego hour, First Aid training, walks to the school garden only a few minutes away, reading time, and lots of other activities.