Celebrations

After surviving flying along the autobahn at 180km/h not to mention the theatre piece that required a car trip (still not entirely sure about a couple of sub plots but enjoyed it) and a week with Herr Fitz in Berlin, it was time to start a weekend of celebrations.

Mum and Mouse relaxing by the lake.

First came the Bear's 6th birthday party with kindergarten friends. It had been planned for a long time and the Bear had made a list with pictures of what he wanted to eat and what colour invitations the friends would get. I must say this list was very helpful and often updated and referred to in the preceding weeks. We all got into the party mood in the week before by decorating the lolly bags and creating a Schatzkiste (treasure chest). Which will always be remembered as exciting fun activities as the memory of glitter being used with out auhtorization and reluctance to help clean up are already fading.

Then came party day and the mad, last-minute organisation and finishing touches. All with the very sound knowledge that Germans are really quite punctual folk. Luckily as the first guest arrived the frozen pizza had been bought, then returned and re-bought as only the top one was cheese, all the others were salami. All children that belonged to us had clothes in the right place and wonder of wonders their hair was brushed and a makeshift cubby was built.

The parking lot at the party.

All credit must go to Herr Fitz for the brilliant self portrait party activity.

It was such a fun lunch party as the Bear and the Monkey are in the same kindergarten group and share the same friends and the Mouse is friends with their siblings so it was a real one-in-all-in party. One of my favourite parts of the day was when the kids pulled down the cubby I'd built and relocated to a better area and rebuilt to a far superior standard. There was also lots of self portraits painted, a large parcel passed around and a saucepan hit not to mention the ongoing soccer game. All this fun and the weather was amazing, so amazing that in the afternoon the sprinkler came out and the fun continued.

Coming from South Australia our kids haven't know the joy of running under the sprinkler.

Sunday was Mother's day and the big kids had secreted presents home from kindergarten, wrapped them all by themselves and hidden them. The Monkey was first up and trotted in with her present in hand and a huge smile on her face. It was such a wonderful moment as she had been waiting for so long to give me the present. Then came the Bear with his gift and the Mouse with lots of kisses. As I read the gift tag the Monkey joined in to help finish the poem...it ended with a Zuckerkuss. Then it got better with breakfast in bed which I managed to eat without spilling. Thanks lovely kids.

Mother's Day. It was never going to be a flattering photo but one to treasure.