Under the Big Top

It has been an exciting three days with Zirkus Krawalli! 

Friday morning, the school performed for the local kindergarten school. Melanie and Marie also attended this performance and were able to sit in the front row. I arrived early to get pictures during the break of Emmie with the white pony and the director invited me to stay for the remaining portion.

During lunch, Emmie nonchalantly informed me she would like to work in the circus when she gets older. She does not have to work with the animals again and if there are too many clowns, she stated she could be on the trapeze or an acrobat.

All of the excitement caught up with the girls as they both took naps between the shows.

In the early evening, I attended the show to film the girls performances. I could tell the children were a little tired from this experience as they were not as energized and focused during their acts. 

Unfortunately, Adeline's group dropped their rings a few times when they were tossing them back and forth. Adeline told me at the break it was because the parents clapped and they lost their concentration. Adeline snacked on cotton candy and a slushy during the break. 

Emmie had another great performance. At the end, she was sad because she heard the parents laughing when she flew into the air. Once I told her it was a fun laugh due to what the pony did to make her fly and not at her, she felt better. It was  still another good performance for the full house. Afterwards, Emmie enjoyed her circus treat of cotton candy and a slushy.

Saturday morning was the final performance. There was much excitement in our house and we were out the door early so we could get good seats.  Adeline was perfect in her solo performances with hula hooping, juggling, and with her partner in tossing the rings. She had a huge smile as she walked off the main floor area. 

During the break, we learned Emmie brushed the pony and cared for the pony before each of act. Adeline held a huge snake this time that was in one of the circus acts. She stated it was just about little lighter than Emmie and surprised it was not slimy.

It was Emmie's turn for her performance. I think she may have flown the highest in this performance. She was all smiles when she was done tetter -tottering with the pony and did her curtsy. 

The entire performance was flawless. The excitement and energy for the final gathering of the children in the main area was overflowing as was the applause from the audience. When the show was over with, we enjoyed champagne and cake as the tent was taken down.

 We are all sad the circus project week has come to an end, but the experience and memories will be unforgettable.

Circus of the Stars

With the early evening Premiere show of Zirkus Krawalli, the afternoon could not go fast enough for Adeline and Emmie. After hair-dos and make-up, the girls were off and running to school to finish getting ready for the big performance.

Adeline informed me where Melanie, her boys, and I should sit in the tent to get the best possible viewing of her and Emmie. We were able to get these seats and we waited for the show to begin. 

The music started and the children started entering the tent. Adeline's group was the third group to enter and she walked right by us with a huge smile. Emmie's group sat on the opposite side of us, but once she sat down, she spotted us across the ring.

The excitement was tremendous and positive energy was already over flowing for this performance and it had not even started yet. However, once the ringmaster appeared, one could hear a pin drop.

After the black light show and pirate act, Adeline's group was up. She first did hula hooping for quite some time. Then she exchanged rings among a foursome which required lots of concentration. Her final act was juggling two rings alone. Afterwards she took a huge bow with her group and ran along the ring waving good-bye.

There was one more act and then a fifteen minute break. The girls joined us for a hotdog snack and a few pictures as this was the first time I got to fully see them in costume.

Emmie's act followed the break. She walked with her group into the main stage area and gave in an initial bow with the other children who also worked with the ponies. She then returned to the back part to hold a goat while the goats and ponies did some acts together. When it was her turn, she walked to the teeter-totter.The white pony lowered it for her to get on. Once on, the pony stepped backwards and popped her in the air. Her and the pony went back and forth like this a few times. 

She stayed poised and focused throughout her act and the audience laughed and cheered as I do not think they were expecting her to be popped up as she was. When it was over, she curtsied to the crowd and returned to her spot near the goats. When the act was over with, she took a bow with her group and waved good-bye to the audience as they departed.

Incorporating the entire school body into this performance and having everyone participate was well choreographed. Some of the other acts were on a trapeze, using fire, involving acrobatic moves, and of course a few clown acts. I give Adeline's teacher tons of credit as she helped nine children along with the trainer carry a huge snake out into the ring.

The two hour show was fantastic and amazing. It was such a fun and joyful environment. I  am very proud of Adeline and Emmie on their excellent performances tonight. I am very grateful and thankful they have been given the opportunity to participate in Zirkus Krawalli. 

Zirkus Krawalli

The Steinberg school is participating in a week long circus project. The tent went up on Sunday morning in the open field next to the school.  Two miniature ponies are roped off in the  field area  next to the tent and can be seen on our walk to school. It is simply amazing that a circus is in the middle of a neighborhood.  I am thankful that the neighbors and city government gave permission for it to occur so this wonderful experience could take place here in Hofheim. 

For me, this is going to be a juggling act as the school days this week have been shortened to two hours and 45 minutes as they have to allow for the performance times at the end of the week. There are four scheduled performances which begin on Thursday evening and end on Saturday morning.

Monday morning, the children gathered in the tent and the circus performers did a short performance to show the kids what they will be doing this week in their respective groups. The children will spend Monday thru Thursday mornings practicing their act. They  were given a cd of the circus songs as a gift from the circus team. 

Adeline will be performing a few acts in her group. She will be hula-hooping, juggling, and exchanging rings with a partner. 

Emmie is in the pet group.  She learned she is doing an act with the white miniature pony.

On Tuesday morning, everyone began practicing their act. The girls are super excited about this and are trying not to share what they are learning as they want it to be a surprise for us. Adeline is practicing in the school's music room and Emmie is in the tent. Emmie has shared with us she is teeter- tottering with the pony and goats are also present. 

Wednesday they tried on their costumes and are feeling more confident with their acts. In addition, I can hear them humming the theme song or play the songs in their room when the door is closed.

Thursday morning, we received news that the circus project was in the local paper. I purchased it for the girls to have as a keepsake. Upon arriving home, they pointed out that Emmie was in the picture on the front page telling where the entire story could be found later in the paper.

This evening is the Premiere and we are super excited for Adeline and Emmie's debut in Zirkus Krawalli.

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.