Changes in September

This month has already brought about many changes, so every day I just wait to see what new challenge will come about that needs to be addressed or adaption will need to occur for us to keep peace and happiness within our home.

One of the newspapers big articles on September 1st was how Frankfurt had record setting high temperatures in July, and then abnormal rain amounts in August. Normally, the area gets 180mm (7 inches) of rain, but this August brought 250mm (9.8inches) and cool temperatures. The first week of September we have had highs in the mid 60's during the day and in the mid 40s at night. Even Emmie said it was cold one morning walking to school. I hope we have an Indian Summer as most of us are still waiting for the warm sunny days. The news anchors and radio announcers are comically stating it will come in 2013.

This week started Adeline's first week on her daily school schedule. She also changed seats in her classroom as one of the girls asked if she could sit next to her in school. Tuesday, she had her first choir practice. Adeline and Emmie saw each other for the first time when they were both outside at their schools, so they gave each other hugs through the fence. By Thursday morning, the girls were dragging as school begins now at 8am Tuesday-Friday, so it is an adjustment from the 8:45am start time the past 2 weeks.

In the afternoon, Adeline has also tried out two different dance classes from friends' referrals. She was very excited to attend them both. I just need to decide which suits  her better and fits in her schedule. Unfortunately, Emmie is too young for dance classes, even though she wants to participate. She has been pouting and wishing to go to an activity. I inform her when she is four she can start an activity as this seems to be the age when all activities for children begin.

Eric and I  picked up our German driver's licenses. It was a weird feeling handing over the Michigan license to the lady to put in our file as we cannot carry them both. We are here longer than 6 months, so our Michigan license is not valid for our entire stay . The nice thing about this process was we did not have to take any tests to get it and it does not expire.

 My German class started this week. I attend two days a week while the girls are in school. The class is the second level as I was able to test out of the first level. The class started with 3 hausfraus (stay at home women), 3 Russian au-pairs, and myself. Throughout the class, I was able to answer simple questions, read some of the articles, and also get corrected numerous times on my speech. Of course, I cannot roll my r's  like the Germans, just as the Germans have a hard time with ths and ws as in world wide web (www). The teacher and I joke about this now. In the second class there were only four of us who showed up to class.  I had to stay focused with so few of us participating and by the end I was mentally exhausted from this session. Just like Adeline's class, the teacher has sent us home with homework after every meeting. Adeline thinks this is cool that I have homework like her.

At the end of week, Adeline and I have also gotten our hair cut. After having to change the appointment twice due to conflicts, we finally made it into the salon. This came at just the right time as lice has been discovered in Adeline's school this week. Between hand motions and simple directions, I managed to get Adeline's hair cut into a cute bob for her.