1st Klasse

Today is Emmie's  first day of school. She is very excited when she wakes up and quickly gets ready.

Our morning started in the Johannesgemeinde Lutheran church. We are able to sit with our neighbors and one of Emmie's kindergarten friends. The church's kindergarten class sang a song to start the service. After a couple of songs, a few school children did a skit about being kind to others and leaving no one out as they were dressed in various colors and the one in black was always left out. The service also included a message from the pastor and a nice prayer for the children, parents, and teachers. 

We then headed back to the school and into the gymnasium for a special program.  Emmie found a seat on the benches near her friends with her backpack . This is her seat for the ceremony that is going to be put on by the current students. 

We watched and listened to the various songs sung by the choir which Adeline is in and an elephant skit put on by the  2nd class illustrating how the children should include everyone when they are together.  

The faculty then calls each child up in the first class to come to the front and meet their teacher. They announced the other first class first. Emmie waited patiently until they get to her class. She is full of smiles and is waiting anxiously for her name to be called. When her name is called, she bounces off of the bench and happily walks to the front to meet her teacher, Frau Brosch. After they have called all 22 children up to the front, the kids form a line and follow Frau Brosch out the gymnasium door and to their classroom which is in the school next door. (Here is where the tears start for me.) We are then invited to the school's yard for coffee and cake, but Eric has to get to work, so I take him to the train station.

Emmie's class is dismissed 45 minutes later, so Emmie shows  me her classroom and where she sits, along with her nametag. She does point out that is states Emmeline and not Emmie, but she already informed the teacher she can call her Emmie. She tells me her class pet is the ladybug named Mia. She is thrilled her schultüte matches with her class pet. ( I was happy too as I did not plan for it to match, it was just coincidence.) She knows a few boys in the class and our neighbor.

Upon returning home, Emmie is anxious to open her schultüte. She is delighted in the variety of treats, school supplies, and other items that are contained within.  

Our celebration lunch menu of hotdogs and mac-n-cheese was selected by Emmie for this special day.

Emmie's first homework assignment is drawing what she received in her schultüte.  She sits down and starts drawing out her jewelry, bubbles, and candy along with the ladybug decorations.

Klasse 3a

Adeline had jitters for her first day of school, so getting up and ready was no problem as she was already awake.

Emmie and I walked Adeline to school. We went with her to her classroom. The kids sat in their seats from last year and waited for their teacher, Frau Kühner, to arrive. After greetings and singing, each student presented a flower to her because her birthday was over the summer break. Her teacher asked Adeline if she remembered her German. 

Emmie and I returned home to enjoy our last morning together before she started school.

We returned to pick up Adeline a few hours later. Adeline reported there was a new boy and girl in class, so now they are a class of 24 as a few students did not return from last year.  She was happy because no homework was assigned at the end of the day.

Luckily, Adeline did not forget her German, so the first day was super duper exciting!

VBS Joseph's Journey

ICF's VBS Egypt: Joseph's Journey from Prison to Palace has helped us adjust our internal time clocks this week. The church has been transformed into Egypt with camels, pyramids, mummies, and palm trees all around. The staff has done a great job of dressing up like Egyptians.

Emmie is in the camel's group and Adeline is in the brick group. I am leading the camel group for their bible story time and associated learning craft. 

The girl's are enjoying every aspect of camp: crafts, songs, bible stories, learning about mission projects, and snacks too. During games, Emmie's group had a fun time when they wrapped me up like a mummy using toilet paper. Adeline's favorite part has been singing the songs with motions.

Unfortunately, it has been raining and cool this week, so this has been a great reason for us to get going in the morning and out of the house. However, in the afternoon, we have been moving slowly and watching the Olympics on the tv or computer. 

Friday evening, we attended the family potluck and then a small presentation about the week's activities. The children did an excellent job reviewing the week's storyline along with it's meaning and singing the songs while performing the motions that accompany the songs.

Not our Grandpa's Car

Our new vehicle was finished being built over the summer in the US and arrived here before our return. Eric finally got to pick up our new set of wheels today after delaying it for a few weeks.

The dealer gave him a quick tour on the features and then told Eric to keep it slow for the first 1000 km. When Eric asked how slow, he said under 100 mph to break in the axles.

The X3 has a 3 liter diesel 6 cylinder engine. It is quick and peppy, so we will be able to keep up with the autobahn traffic. It also has the start-stop system, which is a neat feature but is going to take some time getting used to it.

Eric did make a compromise as he did not get the heads-up display he really wanted, instead us girls got the panorama roof to enjoy during the warm and sunny days. However, we will have to convince the girls we do not want it open while on the autobahn.

Fortunately, it has parking sensors for my sake as I am still unsure how I am going to navigate this "bus" around town and in the parking structures, let alone backing it into the garage.

When speaking about our new vehicle at work, Eric learned most Germans who buy the SUV are older  because it is easier for ergonomic reasons and the families/ younger crowd drive station wagons. Oh well, we like it and it fits our tall family the best after trying out many vehicles.  I guess we are not so hip in our vehicle choice here.

Our first family drive was through the Taunus Hills with the roof open on our way to the VBS evening program at church.

Bandit update

It is an adjustment to our routine with Bandit. It is sad we cannot take him with us when we are out and about, so we are quickly doing what needs to be done so we are not away too long. He is doing great with leaving his surgery area alone while we are home. However, when we are away, I have to cover it so he does not open the open wound. 

On Sunday while we were at church and then on Monday while we were at camp, he removed the taped sock I had on his leg. From Tuesday onwards, he now has to wear the big white collar. I have learned how to get him into his cage with the "lampshade" on. 

He insists on going in his cage when we leave. At first, he constantly butted the cage head first to get in as the white collar would not fit in. Now he has learned to stand by it  and will let me back him into the cage. It is probably funny to watch me maneuver him backwards into it and adjust the white collar, but he does not fight me. He then sits in his cage and waits for his treat as we trained him. It appears that is where he wants to be since that is his routine when we leave. When we come home, he waits for us to adjust the white collar, so he can get out of the cage.

Leaving him in the morning seems to be good for him to rest because when we are home, he is constantly up and about  to be near us.

I have also learned that with a little dog and little exercise, they gain weight quickly. I have adjusted his feeding amounts to a smaller quantity too as he was beginning to look like a little polar bear.

Arriving back on this side of the pond

The overnight flight back was uneventful and peaceful. However, I have realized there is not as much room to stretch out across the three seats now that the girls are getting bigger.  We arrived safely back to Germany and with three large suitcases, three carry-ons, plus the girls' backpacks. Eric greeted us at the airport to help carry it. We managed to fit us and the luggage into the Audi although some of the small bags were on our laps for the short drive home.

Arriving home, we were greeted by a very happy puppy as Eric picked him up on Friday. We did our best to keep Bandit calm and not get too excited since his leg was still in healing mode. The girls were a little hesitant about interacting with him as we informed them about his accident before returning. They were very glad to see him and sat with him on the floor, giving him tons of affection. 

We made a trip to the vet to catch her up to speed on his current status. When Eric showed her the paperwork and she was reading it, she was amazed we were able to get the best surgeon in Germany to handle this. Eric joked that with the cost of it, it should be a good surgeon. On the positive note, she did say for the location of Bandit's break, we were very lucky to have been able to have him install the plate and six screws as he was highly skilled in this area.

After taking off his bandage and reviewing the area that had been operated on, she  informed us to keep the bandage off so the area could heal better. We had to chuckle because with his hair shaved, his leg is skinny like a chickens. I was given instructions on how to handle him so he slowly can regain his strength in his leg.

This was going to be challenging because for the next month, he had to be carried up and down our stairs to go outside and he was only to walk about a block or two to build up his strength again. Fortunately, our little garden was perfect to allow him to get fresh air on his own, but we would have to make sure he did not attempt any quick speed trips around it if he got a sudden burst of energy.

For the remainder of the weekend, we unpacked and watched some Olympics from the German point of view as the weather was rainy. We put Bandit's new collar on him and gave him a new toy to keep him occupied as we settled in.

One last visit

Our nephew, Carlton Herman Kammer 4,  was born the morning we were flying back to Germany. We were able to make a quick stop at the hospital on our way to the airport to meet him and congratulate the parents. Adeline was amazed to be holding a baby that was only a few hours. We wish Katie, Carl, and big sister, Hannah much love, laughter, and happiness with their new family member.

Family Time

From the simple things of sewing and gardening to an outing or gathering, everything we did was fun because it was with family. 

All of the little moments we spent with the family have made for many precious memories of our summer 2012. Thank you to everyone for a wonderful summer!

Green Lake

Our Michigan summer vacation would not be complete without a trip to Green Lake. The girls were really excited about spending time at "Gammy's Beach". 

At first they were a little sad because our cousins, Trevor and Kyle (aka activity directors),  were not there, but luckily their dad was there to take over the position. Driving the pontoon, jet ski, and golf cart and then playing in the water, they wore themselves out having so much fun.  The time went too fast, but we are happy we made the trip.

Adeline's Baptism

Sunday morning, Adeline was baptized by Pastor Pat at Woodside Bible Church. She read her testimony she composed before family and the congregation. She then answered the Pastor's questions acknowledging she believes in God before being immersed in the water. 

We are very proud of her in taking this next step in her journey with faith, her relationship with God, and living her life as a Christian.

Pretty Piggies

With Baby Kammer due any day, we picked an easy outing of getting pedicures for us girls to do. This was the first time for Adeline and Emmie to have their toes polished at the salon.

Their excitement of the outing could be felt throughout the salon. They managed to pick out one color after carefully looking at both walls of nail polish. Ruth, Katie, and I sat across the aisle from the girls. They gave us a step by step account of what was going on during their pedicure to keep us updated of what was happening. Emmie enjoyed the massaging chair as well. Katie, Ruth, and I had all picked out the same shade of pink and did not realize it till after.

We all had a good time at the salon being pampered. The girls are looking forward to their next visit.

Hands On

The Hannon family went on an outing to the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum. It was a great activity to escape the intense summer heat.

The museum had different areas for all ages, so everybody had fun learning while participating. A favorite activity was the laser harp and the life size bubble maker.  I am not sure who had more fun, the grandparents or the grandchildren. 

Afterwards, we dined at a German restaurant nearby. Adeline was happy to order schnitzel, but she thought her portion was way to small. Eric's parents liked us translating the numerous signs and pictures that were hanging up. It was a fun day.

Time goes so quickly

It never seems as if we have enough time to visit with our friends. We appreciate everyone penciling us in during their summer schedules. We had wonderful times catching up with every family. Meeting new family members and just being together are the moments we cherish. It was awesome to see the children play together as if they have not missed a beat.

We appreciate everyone's time and effort put forth for a memorable summer of BBQs and picnics. Our family is blessed with your family's friendship. Thank you very much!

Training?

While we have been in the US, Eric has been in a few training sessions for work.

The first week he spent in Kitzbühel. It is a small medieval town in Tyrol, Austria nestled in the Alps. He claimed his morning runs were strenuous around the mountains.

The second week Eric felt as if he had been transported to the world of Harry Potter. He stayed on the  University of Cambridge campus at the King's College in England. He had the opportunity to see much of the campus and visit downtown Cambridge. They also took them punting, which is a boat ride on a flat-bottom boat being propelled by a long pole.

Poor Puppy

We received unfortunate news from Germany about Bandit. He was quickly going up the stairs after a rainy evening walk and fell. The worse part is he broke both bones in his front right leg just above his wrist. Our caretaker is also a veterinary assistant, so with the help of her boss, she was able to get an x-ray to see the damage and get him admitted into the animal hospital for surgery the next day. A plate with six screws was embedded to ensure his leg heals properly.

We are very grateful for our caretaker who has taken extreme measures to ensure he is well cared for. She has been very attentive to his care and well being during this process.

We can only pray it heals correctly and he is not in much pain as it heals. It will be an adjustment for us when we return to Germany and pick him up in a few weeks.

Lost Lake Fun

We had another great summer week at Lost Lake. Even though the temperatures were soaring at the beginning of the week, we had plenty of activities to keep us cool and entertained.

Gams and Poppa bringing two dozen large donuts when they came to visit was a surprise as we told  them a half dozen would be enough.  The box was so heavy, Adeline could not carry it. We did not complain about the abundance of tasty treats. We altered our menu plan a few times to enjoy the yummy donuts.

On Saturday, the 4th of July parade, game tent, and pony rides brought many smiles and lots of excitement. The fireworks were once again spectacular.

On the last day, we went to a quaint sandy beach on Lake Huron. The water was surprisingly warm. The girls had fun digging a deep hole and playing in the waves.  The lake was sandy and shallow where we were at, so they could walk out a long way. It was the perfect afternoon to end our vacation up north.

Happy 5th Birthday Emmeline!

It was a full day of celebrating for the birthday girl. We started the morning off with a delicious birthday breakfast. I think her great-grandmother was just as thrilled as she was about the circus shaped waffles.

In the afternoon, we celebrated with cupcake ice cream cones and spending time at the beach as it was another hot summer day.

Disappointed she did not get pizza for dinner, she enjoyed a few helpings of baked beans and corn.

In the evening, Poppa Ray and Meme surprised Emmie with a piñata.  Friends joined our family for another round of celebrating.

A few things she wanted to share:

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite vegetables: Peas

Favorite fruit: Peach

Favorite ice cream: Vanilla

Favorite meal: Pizza

Favorite  animal: Horse

Favorite person: Sissy

Favorite cartoon: Kika

Favorite book: Princess books

Favorite Superhero: Supergirl

Favorite Princess: Sleeping Beauty

Favorite friend: Kinsey 

Favorite clothes: Dresses

Favorite Baby doll: Goo Goo Baba

Favorite letter to write: P

Favorite Number: 10

Favorite Song: So long, Farewell from The Sound of Music

Happy 4th of July!

The warm afternoon on Hubbard Lake was spent swimming, boating, and having fun with our family and Laura's family. We finally got to meet our newest family member, Mason. We all took turns giving him lots of attention as we were making up for the last 10 months we missed out on. 

In the evening, we consumed s'mores while we watched a beautiful sunset which lead to the excitement of the fireworks. 

We are thankful for our hosts who made the 4th of July celebration very enjoyable and memorable.

Warm Welcome

At the Frankfurt airport, we are grateful we made it through the airport lines with no hassle. We managed on the long plane ride, even though two of the three entertainment systems were not functioning properly. Even though we had to wait to get our luggage at the Detroit airport due to incorrect luggage claim information, we still arrived sooner that planned in Michigan. My parents were not expecting us so quickly, but they were thrilled when we came through the doors.

Summer vacation was starting out on a great note with a stop at Steak 'n Shake. It is hard to stay stressed when you consume some missed American tastes on a hot summer day while you are with family.

In the warm evening, the girls played with their cousin, Hannah, in numerous water activities. They had a fun time cooling off together.

We managed to stay up late enough to help ease our jetlag.

Busy...

Even though it was the first weekend of summer vacation, it was not a relaxing one for us. 

Saturday, we shopped for the school supplies. Emmie picked out her pencil organizer case. With the help of the store clerk, we found the specific binders and folders Adeline's teacher requested.

Early Sunday morning, we dropped Bandit off at the breeder's house. He remembered the house and quickly laid down as we discussed the paperwork while he would be in her care. We managed to leave with only a few tears.

We made it back to Hofheim in time for Adeline to sing with the school choir in the city's summer festival. She took her place on stage, while we found a spot at a front table with Uschi. The songs are now familiar to Emmie and me as this is our second year of hearing them.  After the show, the girls enjoyed a treat and found a few rides to go on.

In the evening, I checked in for our flight. The excitement of flying tomorrow is lost when the check-in process asks if I am willing to volunteer my seat since the plane is already overbooked. I am just praying it all goes smoothly for us at the airport and we have a safe flight.

Rainbow Pony Party

Emmie's 5th birthday celebration was a rainbow pony party. She selected the design for her cake and helped make the numerous treats to be served. 

Even though it started to sprinkle when the kids arrived, it did not ruin the party atmosphere. The kids ate ice cream in decorated ice cream cones before Emmie opened her presents.  They did their crafts on the picnic table which we fit on the patio and under the balcony. Singing and cake consumption occurred while we let the grass dry up. Despite the high humidity and heat, they all had fun galloping and racing against one another in the various pony games we played.

Everyone had a great time celebrating Emmie's birthday and left with smiles on their faces. Emmie was excited to play with her gifts and enjoy more of her birthday treats in the evening.

Tschüss Kindergarten

Emmie's last week at kindergarten was spent playing on the playground and continue watching the new kindergarten house being built.

This week the construction crew had great organization for bringing the prebuilt walls to the site and dropping them into location. It was very interesting observing how quickly and efficiently they operated for this phase. They had the building constructed within a six hour time period.

Passed 2a with flying colors

As the school year wraps up this week, Adeline has been the recipient of numerous awards. 

She was awarded two certificates from the Bundesjugendspiel. The first one was for placing first in the sprint race. The second one was for being the most athletic girl in her class as she accumulated the most points based on her overall performance.

In addition, she received a certificate for completing the instrument carousel program in the Hofheim music school.

We are very proud of her performance in school. Her teacher has approved for her to be in the third class next year.

Rhein Regional Route

On Saturday, we biked the local portion of Rhein Main regional route along a path that took us through the fields. Adeline likes using her gears to conquer the hills. Bandit is still getting used to being in the trailer, but after an hour or so, he finally accepts he must ride it in it in order to come along with us. There are different sights along the route to stop and see. We stopped and ate lunch at a lookout point. While having lunch, we decided to head over to a tall look out tower. 

We discovered the tower is at a new park they built that also has a restaurant and playground area. Eric and the girls climbed the tower, while I stayed at the bottom with Bandit. The tower also had a glass floor. The girls found it neat to look down where they just climbed up from. 

Go Germany!

Tonight Germany plays in their quarterfinal game in Eurocup 2012. The girls are excited about this as they have gotten into the spirit and have been practicing their cheers. Emmie is cheering for Greece since she really liked their beaches and Adeline is rooting for Germany. 

At school, Adeline was the only one wearing her jersey in her class, where Emmie joined with all of the boys who have worn their jerseys all week long along. 

In the evening, friends came over to watch the game with us. We celebrated with an international buffet of American snacks and had French champagne and German beer to go along with it. 

It was a fun evening and Germany won 4-2. They now have a spot in the semifinals and will play on Thursday evening.

Location Perks

Eric finished up his project in a little town outside of Zurich this week. He has managed to enjoy the scenery and atmosphere of his job location when not in the office these past few weeks. He arrived home with a specialty torte from the town of Solothurn. The torte was delicious and a great finale to this project.

Vorlesetag

This morning, Steinbergschule held their Vorseletag. This is the time when an a student from the older class reads a book to a student who will be entering school next year.  Adeline's class performed this task. Unfortunately, it was raining outside, so it was held in the gymnasium. Adeline and her classmates found a mat to sit on and then the kindergarten students who are coming to school (including Emmie) ran to find someone to sit next to. It worked out for Emmie to be with Adeline along with another girl.  Most of the students had two kindergarteners with them. Emmie agreed that Adeline did a good job reading the book. Adeline informed me her teacher demonstrated how to, but because she read slower, she did not get to finish the book. 

Afterwards the children played games and then visited Adeline's classroom. They also learned that Emmie is not the only sibling from Adeline's class who will be attending school next year. Both girls said it was fun morning being together in the school.

H is for..

Happy Father's Day! 

This afternoon, we hosted a house BBQ.  It is not Father's Day here today, but we thought it would be a fun summer gathering. I worked with my neighbor, Briggi, to coordinate a house BBQ in our yard. Everyone attended, including a few neighbors who do not live under our roof.

At one point, we had over 20 people in our little area. The weather was sunny and warm and great for being outdoors. Briggi made her famous strawberry bowl drink for us ladies while the men served themselves from the cooler packed full of beer. When the grill got going, it was non stop for about an hour of cooking, but the meats were delicious along with the numerous salads each family made.

Euro Cup 2012's schedule had Germany versus Denmark playing in the evening. Everyone moved over to our neighbor's place to watch the soccer game. We stayed for the first half as it was getting late. Germany won their match 2 to 1 and secured a spot in Friday's quarterfinals.

It was a happy day for everyone.

"auf der Baustelle"

Even though it rained in the morning, the kindergarten still held their summer festival in the afternoon. The theme of the festival was "auf der Baustelle" (on the building site) which was very appropriate since they are constructing the new portion of the school on the grounds. The playground area had construction tape all around it and cones scattered throughout. The teachers dressed in the blue overalls the construction workers wear while on the job. The children sang a construction song to start the party. The children played construction themed games of stacking bricks and racing with little wheelbarrows. Eric and I enjoyed a beer and Applewine while Adeline and Emmie played the games and on the playground. It was a fun afternoon. We left just in time because as we got home, the rain came down.

Wein, Sekt, und Roses

We enjoyed a day in Eltville am Rhein, the wine, sparkling wine, and rose city, as it was the location for Eric's company's Values Day. The company organized numerous activities for employees and their families to participate in throughout the oldest city on the Rhine River. 

When school was finished, we drove to Eltville. We first arrived at the welcoming center which was at Kurfürstliche Castle, an old castle along the Rhine River with beautiful rose gardens.

Our first activity was a Rhinegau Adventure treasure hunt. It turned out to be a family oriented tour of the city and the guide did her best to incorporate the children into looking for unique things on buildings and structures. We did learn many interesting facts about the city and found it amazing how a little town has over 350 types of roses growing throughout it. I am assuming we reached the treasure when we ended up sampling a local Reisling wine and the kids had kinder wine at a wine tasting venue. 

Eric was able to quickly get from Zurich to join us in time for the Cafe Tour. We were given a list of the three cafes in town and their specialities we could sample or choose our own. Our table was reserved for us in the first cafe when we arrived. We ate chocolate tortes while Eric selected a strawberry torte. Continuing on, we stopped at the ice cream cafe. Emmie's selection of a Mickey Mouse ice cream treat was the highlight. 

At the Altstadtcafe Glockenhof and our final cafe, we choose the famous Eltviller Rosentorte. It was very pretty, but we were not very hungry by this time. The inside filling was good, but not being a marzipan fan, we nibbled on the rose.

Fortunately, the weather cleared up and it became warm for the outdoor evening festivities. We strolled over to the other castle, Castle Crass. They served appetizers and drinks on the lawn overlooking the Rhine River. They also had a few activities for the kids to keep busy and carnival games to keep the adults entertained. Emmie managed to catch a little nap on one of the huge beanbags they had on the lawn, too. 

For dinner, they offered a wonderful BBQ buffet with many delicious meats and salads to choose from. It  was nice to have dinner sitting along the Rhine River. For dessert, everyone enjoyed the dessert table that included crepes with Nutella. We spent the evening relaxing on the beanbags and chatting with Eric's co-workers. It started to rain, so we found a tent to move under for a little while. When the rain let up, we ended our wonderful time in the city of Eltville.

Snails

This week Adeline's class completed their snail project. After Easter break, the kids brought in snails and put them in a glass aquarium in their classroom. Adeline has learned alot of information about the snail's anatomy and how it survives, along with a tongue twister poem she had to recite. Apparently there were babies at one point too, but the teacher has no idea where they went because they are so small. It has been a fun learning class for her. Adeline has captured her own weinberg snail and is caring for it outside. She is also sharing her knowledge with Emmie and Emmie's friends when they find one or two in the yard.

Celebration day

Saturday morning, Eric and the girls created a wonderful American breakfast to begin celebrating my birthday. The girls were very excited about helping make the blueberry pancakes.

We continued the celebration at lunch in Flörsheim am Main at the Bootshaus, which came as a recommendation. I knew it was the right choice to head out for lunch and not a bike ride when we approached the restaurant and there were white caps on the river. We lucked out as a table was open on the three sided enclosed patio. We enjoyed the river view, but were protected from the cool winds while we dined. Adeline was excited for her schnitzel and I choose the white asparagus meal while Eric found a homemade sausage meal to try. Everything was very tasty.

After lunch, we walked through the town and up to Flörsheim Warte. Along our walk, the girls picked flowers and had fun with Bandit walking along the path. In the middle of the vineyards, there is a little area where you can stop and have some drinks along with some food. It was nice to relax and enjoy the view as we could also see the Frankfurt skyline.

 We then returned to town and headed home. At home, we enjoyed the rasperry torte I selected from our local bakery. 

The Letter

The kindergarten teachers have been inquiring for the past two weeks why I have not de-registered Emmie from kindergarten for next year. (Here you have to formally indicate you do not want a place in the kindergarten when you remove the child from the school). I informed them it was because I had nothing official from the school indicating she had a place in the first class. Meanwhile, Eric and I  have been trying to schedule an appointment with the school director to discuss the next steps for Emmie because it was a different process with Adeline. We have been unsuccessful due to the difference in schedules and recent holidays. 

When I pick up Emmie from kindergarten, the teachers are handing out letters to the children; however, there is not one for me. I am approached again by the teachers about removing Emmie from kindergarten, so I explain to them why I have not proceeed with it. 

We celebrate Hanna's fourth birthday in the late afternoon and I am able to forget about the chaos and stress of  Emmie's school situation. When we come home, Adeline remembers she got a letter for us at the end of school today when I am telling Eric about the pressure I am starting to get at the kindergarten about her place for next year. 

She retrieves it and I quickly open it. It is the good news we have been waiting for-- Emmie has a spot in the first class and school begins on Tuesday, August 14, 2012.

I am filled with so many emotions and reread the letter to make sure I did not miss one German word that would change my first thought of her being accepted. Adeline then reads the letter to Eric to confirm my translation as well.

I read the letter to Emmie and her response is she wants to go to the other elementary school across town and be in that first class because that is where one of her classmates is going. Adeline is sad at this response, but Emmie quickly changes her mind and says how fun it will be to be with her sister in school.

I am so grateful it has worked out for her to attend first class and am very happy for her to start this new journey.

Whistle while you work

This weekend was a working weekend for us. Eric and the girls started cleaning the patio set, while I started organizing for the upcoming activities this month and the summer.

Fortunately the weather was cooler for numerous steps involved with restoring the patio set to its natural Teak color. Just by washing it down really well, it already looked better. By Saturday evening, Eric had accomplished the noisy steps, so on Sunday, he could do the quieter step of just applying the oil. He was able to get the basic set's first layer of oil applied before he ran out of oil on Sunday afternoon. Since the store was closed, the rest will have to wait until next weekend.

Trekking on up

This afternoon, we picked up Adeline's new bike. She picked out a mountain bike. She is a little hesitant with the bigger frame and wheels, but we know she will quickly get the hang of it along with using the front and rear brakes. She is looking forward to using the gears to make it up the hills when we go bike riding.

Bundesjugendspiele

This morning was Adeline's track and field day with the school. The kids warmed up for the numerous events by walking the 20 minutes to the track and field. The kids competed against their other classmates in a shot put, long jump, sprint, and long run. Last year, Louisa beat all of the girls in the running events and the entire class knows Louisa can run fast, so the girls are not very enthusiastic about running. Going into the event this year, Adeline asked Eric for some help in running as she was nervous about the long run. They went out to the track on Sunday afternoon to practice.

The first event of the morning was the shot put. She threw average for the girls and she knew she was not the best at this event. Then came the long jump. She crossed the line and fell backwards on one of her attempts, but the other two were successful.

Adeline competed against Louisa for the 50 meter sprint. Adeline won the sprint. The kids cheered during the race and she was so surprised she won. Afterwards, Louisa told her she tripped up at the beginning, so that is why she was not as fast this time.

For the 800 meter race, all eight girls lined up to start the race. With butterflies in her stomach, Adeline asked Eric to run along with her for this race because she was nervous and excited. When they said go, the girls all started running and Louisa took the lead. By the first turn, Adeline was even with Louisa. As they ran across the back stretch, Adeline was out in front of the entire group by at least 20 meters. Everyone was cheering for her as she came through the straight away where everyone was at. She continued to lead the group around the next turn and down the back stretch. Meanwhile, Eric was jogging along with her and encouraging her as she went, plus trying to help her pace a little bit as she was running faster than needed. As she was running into the last turn, all of the other kids started running along with her. Eric let Adeline run it out on the last stretch as it became congested with the kids and parents. She kept running and everyone kept cheering for her and Louisa as they approached the finish line. In the last meter before the finish line, Louisa caught Adeline and beat Adeline to the finish line by one second. 

Everyone came over and said congratulations to Adeline and Louisa and commented on what an exciting ending it was.  We are very proud of Adeline for trying her best and having fun. She improved greatly as she went from sixth place to second place this year in the long run and won her heat in the sprint. 

Two year Anniversary

This week marks our two year anniversary journey of living in Germany. We spent afternoon  downtown at the Waldestag festival. Seeing classmates at the children's activities area was fun for the girls and enjoying the afternoon events with friends made me realize how we are immersed in a good small town. 

We are grateful for everything God has provided for us in our new home and for the friends we have made to help us along the way. It is amazing how we have adopted some of the the German lifestyle into ours to enjoy the culture. The language barrier continues to get smaller for all of us since we first arrived making the daily tasks easier. There still are moments and days this country makes me question why the hassle of living abroad, but then I take a look into the bakery window at a delicious torte and the stress and worries do not seem as extreme anymore.

Heidelberg Zoo

On Monday, we met up with the Dageförde family at the Heidelberg Zoo. It was fun touring the zoo and catching up with them. The farm animal section was very interactive.  The kids had fun feeding the goats and mules. Emmie had fun watching the little monkey climb around the trees in the monkey house because he was not in any cage. Adeline liked watching the seals swim around their tank.

Bandit did a great job socializing with their dog, Oskar, as well as touring the zoo. We all took frequent breaks as the temperature was definitely hotter than what was predicted.