Flowers and Cellos

It was freezing cold and really, really rainy on Saturday morning so we stayed inside watched cartoons, chatted with Grandma and baked honey jumbles until it stopped raining. Then we headed into town for the afternoon. The Monkey and I had an engagement to eat a ridiculous amount of ice cream with a friend as the Monkey had missed her birthday party a couple of weeks before and Herr Fitz decided to take the Bear and the Mouse to the City Museum. All the ice cream eating training of late summer paid off as the Monkey managed to eat her two scoops, the cone (that was on top) and the waffle dish it was in (I am pretty sure it was edible). We then had a lovely ladies shopping hour and met back up with the boys and the Mouse. Herr Fitz had left with 4 euros in his pocket and a grand dream of buying hot chips and mayonnaise but the Bear had other thoughts. Upon seeing the flower sellers (flowers are ludicrously cheap here) he stated, "I think Mummy would really like some flowers." With the sweet smell of chips just around the corner and the earnest eyes of our first born before him Herr Fitz gave up the dream and asked which colour flowers. As we met up the Bear released his clutch on the beautiful flowers and handed them to me with the sweetest look on his face. Herr Fitz asked for some money and took the Bear for an ice cream as it was too late for chips. Then we all came home on the bus and had a great evening with Frau F and Herr M eating pizza, reading all the German books from the library (can't pass up a fluent German speaker even if she does come via Australia) and generally muckin' around.

Sunday with the temperature a much more satisfactory 5 oC we chatted with Grandma and Grandad, baked the "Shazza Choccy Cake", Herr Chip went jogging and we cleaned up for a coffee and cake visit from another kindergarten family. We inhaled the cake and coffee then the mums and the big kids went to see a very sweet concert. 12 cellos, a piano and a dancing school performing the "Carnival of Animals". It was just perfect and the Monkey nearly fell off he chair trying to see the ballerina on point dancing the Swan part. Apart from the elephant in a tutu who was revealed to be a very short man underneath to the amusement of all the kids, all of the other dancers were young kids from a dancing school. Just the right mix of beautifully played music and kids ballet (they all looked like they were having fun) all held together by a very sweet narrator.

We took the night ride home on the bikes to Herr Fitz and the Mouse who had spent the afternoon reading books and playing.

February: Back to normal

Since the great plague of late January finished promptly at the beginning of February we have just been going about our day to day lives and having a very nice time doing so. Not a lot of pictures have been taken but lots of very plain, very lovely everyday moments have occurred (I am choosing to forget the sporadic tantrums of a 5 year old, whining of a 4 year old and worry about the nearly 2 year olds skin problem). February began with a couple of sunny but freezing days then proceeded to get very warm (around 7oC) and very grey for a week. So even though it was easier to get dressed and out the door on time as there was a layer less and no need for gloves we still spend a bit of time indoors as it just wasn't inviting to go out and play. Lucky for us we had lego castles and space ships to build, tear down and rebuild, bugel perlen (ironing beads) creations to make. There were new words to learn in both English and German, swimming to be done at the indoor pool, dancing and bike riding. Not to forget all the old books and crazy hand writing Herr Fitz has been wading through and my trip to the cinema and a very lovely ladies breakfast.

The kids love doing these but I am totally hopeless at it. I have had start saying "Mummy doesn't do bugel perlen her fingers are just to big" This now means the Bear and the Monkey say this to each other as an explanation to point out the pointlessness of the other asking me for help. Not great for my self esteem as I imagine myself with hands like those foam hands given out at sporting events. It's a small price to pay for not having to do bugel perlen. I get so tense even just carrying it to the kitchen to iron it that I inevitably bump a few beads off when I put it down then have to put them back in add in a nearly 2 year old opening and closing the bottom drawer on my shins and any whistling while I work goes out the window.

There has been some beautiful sunny weather over the last few days. Cold mornings but when the sun hits you you feel the planet is rotating slowly closer to the warmer side. We lingered in the backyard where we played soccer and spent time at the playground to soak up some rays before the predicted rainy weekend sets in.

Nearly forgot to mention the highlight of my week. Yesterday I read an English book to the kids kindergarten class. "Giraffes can't Dance" (dance with South Australian accent) was well received and I don't think I scared any kids with my German explanations. I did get them up and dancing as I thought it might have been a bit boring if they weren't understanding the story. We waltzed, rock and rolled and tangoed. We attempted a Scottish reel but really that was just jumping up and down as I had no idea. I really enjoyed doing it, the Bear and the Monkey seemed very thrilled to have one of their books read in their language, the Mouse got to come along and be a real kindergarten kid and the teacher and a couple of other mums gave me some really lovely comments. Really, I have to say a big thanks to Zita and HOG as I heavily relied on theatrics to please the crowd. There were photos taken but I dread them as I was having to much fun for the photos to be flattering.

So Good...So Bad

Left over from Gemeinsam Fruehstueck

Herr Fitz was away in Berlin all last week and the kids and I held the fort at home. Happily I can say that everyone got to where they had to be relatively on time, ate really good food and we even snuck in a bit of a relax everyday (even if it was only for 10 minutes). So everything was fantastic until Friday afternoon. During a lovely visit from fellow internationals a brother sister altercation lead to the Bear whacking his head on the central heating. Lots of tears and hugs helped but true to Grandma M home remedy form he put his hoodie over his head and continued on. Herr Fitz returned home a little before midnight just in time to help the poor Bear to the bathroom to vomit. The Bear slept most of the next day as parental worry rose. That said we still went ahead with the Joint Breakfast with our upstairs neighbours and their little boy and the girls and Herr Fitz went to the zoo with friends (at least we drew the line at dragging the Bear there). However when I found the biggest bump and blood on the Bears head I decided that as soon as Herr Fitz returned with the girls it was off to emergency...ok emergency normally means straight away but nevertheless... So all rugged up off they went on the bike with trailer in -5 oC temperatures to the hospital (luckily it is only at the end of our street). Fortunately Herr Fitz took a wrong turn in the hospital and ended up straight in the children's ward and as no one sent him away that is where he and the Bear stayed and promptly got seen to. Diagnosis was either a slight concussion or a stomach bug and as 24hours had already passed they were allowed to come home.

But wait there is more!

Home they came and Frau M had arrived for a visit and was keeping a worried mum company. We definitely thought concussion and off to bed everyone went. Sunday started with crazy people jogging in -6 oC temps, the realisation that there was a 50 0C temperature difference between here and home, cartoon watching and the best lunch ever. After lunch the day took a turn for the worse. Still disbelieving the stomach bug theory I thought I had just eaten to much and retired to the lounge to be jumped on by the Mouse and stirred from a quasi slumber by the Monkey saying she had a tummy ache and clutching her mouth. Super power ability got me off the lounge and I managed to navigate the Monkey to a safe landing. From here let's just say it went down hill quickly and by 1am the next morning everyone in our house had been visited by the stomach bug. Actually everyone in the entire house had had a call as our neighbours upstairs weren't spared. Frau M is currently living in fear. Luckily it was severe but short lived. Today, Monday were decided the world wasn't for us and we hunkered down to recuperate. Just for the record it was fascinating to watch a disease spread, was just a little sad I was one of those infected.

An interesting end to January. Hopefully we will resume normal global relations tomorrow.

Unterwegs

So holidays at home are all well and good but there are times when you just have to grab your backpack and jump on the train for an adventure. Or when you have three kids; make sure all have their wet weather gear (the Mouse now has a new pair of rain pants as we forgot hers), pack snacks grab the wheelie suitcase and do one last glove and hat check then walk slowly to the bus stop to go to the train station. Herr Fitz had to give a lecture in a town not far from us and we have friends there so it was a family mini break for us. The kids have been telling everyone that Mum had a holiday because she didn't have to cook. We actually got our "nanny" to babysit and we had a very fine meal out with other grown ups. Then great falafel the next night. For the record our"nanny" is Frau M from Australia and as she is studying here we get to use her babysitting services every now and then. She now calls us "brangelina" as we drank coffee/tea and chatted at the cafe while the kids jumped all over her.

We received a package from Miss B just before we left...great train snacks! Yum

My favourite sculpture in the whole world.

Flying lessons at the Paderquelle (the source of the Pader River).

Our hotel is in the background.

A personal tour from an old friend. Thanks Herr T

So a few days break and back home. The Bear had a birthday party to go to and lego to build and the Monkey and I had a date to build a rocket ship. The Mouse did a spot of cooking.

Anyone for cake soup?

(and I did take her to the doctor about the rash on her face. All good)

6,3,5,1 Blast off

First made up lego build.

Sun is briefly shining for the first time in about a week hopefully it will stay out for an hour at least. Best go and pick up all the kids and give them some lunch. See ya next time.

holiday at home

With three kids and snow everywhere (though it has finally thawed) we decided to have a holiday at home and wait till the spring to go on adventures further away. So, armed with one of my infamous mudmaps with the bus connections scrawled in the margin we set off for the mythical indoor play centre. There was a brief moment as we stepped off the bus and an ill wind blew up that we thought we might never find it and end up stealing potatoes from the nearby fields to survive but as we rounded the corner the wind died down and there it was. Google German weather for that day and you will see that I wasn't just using the wind as a literary device it really was a very gusty day.

We had a great day and only lost the Monkey for 15 minutes but found her wandering in the maze possible unaware she was lost until she saw Herr Fitz and it was then she started crying. Totally exhausted we ate pizza for dinner, bathed and put the kids to bed and started in on some of the English language DVDs we got as Christmas presents to round off a great holiday at home weekend.

Even though the Christmas decorations are just about all down and kindergarten has gone back we kept the holiday mood alive with lots of lego play and the discovery of "Berliners" (jam filled doughnuts). We have always known about them but the kids have only just discovered them as the local bakery have put them low enough for the kids to see.

The Bear joined the Lego club and has been waiting months for his first Lego magazine. The day it arrived he took it with him to sport as he had to wait for the girls. Unfortunately it rained that day and I didn't realise his bag was at the bottom of the trailer which gets wet. Luckily we dried it out on the heater and he was very philosophical about it, "I can still read it Mum, it doesn't matter that it is a bit wrinkled". I would have cried like a baby had it been mine so I was dumbfounded and very proud.

The holiday spirit promptly ended on Wednesday when I went to the skin clinic to get a pimple that had gone crazy over the last 6 months seen to and came away with a numb face, wonky smile and the feeling that I had definitely mispronounced the word pickel (ie pimple) at least once which, for the record would have had very embarrassing connotations so I will not elaborate. There were no embarrassing questions asked so let's just say I got it right every time. And let us never mention the fact that when reading a kids book in German to some new friends yesterday I may have said dein (your) instead of sein (his) so i may have indicated that the half dragon / half hippopotomus character had the nose of the kid's mum not of the character's mum (who was actually a hippopotomus). Again let's never speak of this possible mistake every again and see if we get invited back.

We wrapped up this week with a few late night drinks with Frau S the First and her Herr M. So it is safe to say we are starting off the weekend very slowly.

Three Kings

My Three Kings

We had a lovely start to our day when the three kings knocked on our door and sang us a song. The 6th of January is the Day of the Three Kings (as in "We Three Kings of Orient Are" aka Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, I just learnt their names) and children come singing and collecting for good causes in other countries. Oh and of course sweets for themselves which, can I say they deserve as it was really slippery out there today. Luckily they were carrying staves. It was also lucky that we had a donation ready, sweets prepared and I had showered.

Then we had our first successful library trip today. Everyone enjoyed themselves, we got to do some research and we stuck to the one book each rule without any complaining and we didn't lose any gloves and no one nearly got left behind, though I did accidentally did press the stop button on the bus one stop too early and again had to say sorry as there weren't many people on the bus and it was obviously me who had done it. It was a very serious research trip. We took our book "Gorilla" by Anthony Browne and went to find the paintings and statue that he references. We found the "Mona Lisa" and the "Statue of Liberty" but with the Mouse starting to pull out the encyclopedias we gave up on "Whistler's Mother". It is the Mouse's favourite book at the moment so the Bear and the Monkey have been looking very closely at the illustrations and we only just noticed the banana in the Dad's back pocket at the end. The Bear and Mouse got counting books (always easier to read in German) and the Monkey got a Lotta book by Astrid Lindgren called "Na klar, Lotta kann Rad fahren" and it suits her down to a tee as Lotta can do everything the bigger kids can and got a second hand bike for her birthday (just like the Monkey's second hand bike).

Yesterdays Bugelperlen (those ironing bead things) efforts with lovely new friends, shops were also a played by those with shorter attention spans. Today the Monkey and I tried to finish her butterfly and I nearly went crazy as the Mouse knocked it over once and my fingers are just to big to do it not to mention the stress I feel when doing it. Definitely a kid only activity.

A quiet finish to the day.

A New Year

The traditional melting of lead which is then thrown into water to give you a shape to see what the new year will bring. Or better known as Abstract Art.

We had a very nice new years with a couple of friends, pizza and chocolate fondue . Luckily for Herr Fitz I foresaw a problem with the amount of fruit present and bought him caramels to dip...needless to say he was very happy. Oh and I forgot to mention a few backyard fireworks. In the week before new year it is always a bit scary to see teenagers looking a I dare say buying fireworks from the supermarket and normally I am totally against them as they are REALLY dangerous and I am a killjoy. But, this year our friend bought a couple of rockets around so we let a few off for the kids before they went to bed though for the first one they were at the window but as they saw nothing we dragged them out in the cold for a better view. Then we had one of midnight, luckily everyone else in the neighbourhood had stocked up so we saw many more. And I must say it was really fun. I had forgotten the hilarious run the person who has just lit the fuse does, I hadn't seen that since I was a kid and it was my Dad. Add a bit of snow and the knees go even higher.

Since then we have been taking it easy and letting the kids relax at home and play with their christmas stuff...except when we said they must join us on a 6 km walk around the lake but as they were either being pushed (the Mouse) or being pulled on the sled (the Bear and the Monkey) I don't think it was too strenuous.

Lego was a hit with everyone.

I got to sort out all the pieces one night to find the small black connector in the wrong place so the build could continue, all my OCD needs were met.

Who'd have thought that sticky toothbrushes would create so much joy. Except for Herr Fitz who copped a toothbrush to the eye as he wasn't expecting it to be sticking out of the wall.

Home haircut...I am always against as the hair goes everywhere but, must say Kudos as it rocks!

Today I ventured out with the kids to do some shopping and got to test out the "German on the Bus" section of my vocabulary. Firstly I couldn't get over the snow with the stroller to get off the bus but luckily after a conversation with the driver about not being able to fit through the front door another Australian popped up and helped me off. I was outside the international house so very handy place to get stuck. The next bus braked so hard to avoid a u-turning van that i went flying into the stroller in front of me. Shopping went well and kids were great on the buses but again the snow was problematic and the back doors didn't even open as we headed home so as 10 or so people entered the bus I summed up the courage to call "back doors please" in German. Now for the record I hate speaking on buses in English let alone using modal and separable verbs to politely ask the driver to move up a bit past the snow. Mustn't have yelled out that I was a purple tree as the bus moved up and we got out. In my head I heard applause but maybe that was the entire bus laughing at my accent. You'd think we were home and hosed here but the last bus nearly left the poor Bear behind as the doors closed before he got on and again I had to yell out so he didn't have to put into practice the "what to do if lost" plan. Luckily he didn't panic as it happened really quickly. May stay home tomorrow.