Back to Normal

After the chaos and craziness of Christmas break, I have to say that we were happy to return back to our normal chaos and craziness.  At least here it has a routine!

Erin and team after a great win vs. Antwerp International School

Soccer continues year-round for Ryan, rain or shine or darkness, or negative temperatures.  Erin has been continuing with her basketball practices as well.  She was moved up to the U12 team, so she is by far the smallest one on the court.  This past weekend they played2 games against Antwerp.  She scored her first 2 international points on a nice out of bounds play.

On Sunday Erin and Ryan had an indoor baseball tournament.  They played 8 games, long day.  They are playing for the Ratingen Goosenecks (other local team names include the Raccoons, Chipmunks, Wanderers, and Steelers).  Erin played 1st, Short and came in for one game for Ryan at 3rd, you can imagine how that went over.  Erin also had her first indoor and first international home-run on Sunday.  Video of EJ's Homerun

We have committed ourselves to going to church again.  Yes, there is an English mass.  Erin has started CCD, but there is no class for Ryan.  He will need to wait until next year.

Playing Soccer in his Steeler hoodie and Bucco snow hat

Ryan has had a few hilarious, classic Ryan moments lately.  They are currently on a Unit about Cultures and how we live in our culture.  Last Sunday night, after we put him to bed, he came back downstairs to ask us how we were going to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.  When I picked him up from school on Monday, he said that we missed a great day to be in the US because they have "parades and cheerleaders and bands and they carry MLK's body though the streets".  OK, we all know that is not true, he was confusing every MLK day with the day of his funeral.

He has also become a follower of whoever is building the new Titanic.  He can give you the exact numbers who how many survived, how many died and how most of them froze to death in the water because there weren't  enough life boats.  I don't see a cruise in his near future.

One week he told me that living in America is easier than living in Düsseldorf because "you don't need to wear fancy clothes to dance like you do in Düsseldorf.  But living in Africa is hard because you need to watch out for tigers."

The kid's school offers 3 different levels of German classes, and Erin was recently moved into the middle class, which is wonderful!  She is very excited for the challenge.  She doesn't use her German often at home, but when she does, it's correct and usually something that I didn't know.  Ryan has also brought home a few phrases from class, that he blows me away with.  And as can be expected, they are learning their fair share of "swear words", mostly from their father.

Report Cards came in today also. They don't have letter or number grades, but are more of a written summary of how each of the kids are progressing, and where they fall among their peers.  I give the teachers all the credit in the world for how detailed they are.  Interestingly, Erin and Ryan also have some quotes in their own reports cards about what they think their own strengths and weaknesses are and what they can do to improve them.

Random note, German's seem to love this kind of paper?  It's everywhere.  I can't explain it.  What I wouldn't give for a sheet of old-fashioned college ruled loose-leaf.

Why?  How many graphs so we need to make?

So what is 'normal' for me?  Usually twice a week Mike takes the train so I have the car.  Those days I can go to some of my 4 different grocery stores that I use.  People always told me that you can't get everything at one store, and it's true.  The other days, I'm on the train and that is fine. Sometimes I really dislike having a car.  The train is easy, you get on and just sit there.  No thinking.  No matter what, laundry still takes lots of time, 3 hours and 45 minutes to wash and about 2 hours to dry, in case you forgot.  I also have German lessons twice a week for a total of 4 hours.  Ich habe Deutsche Klasse zweimal pro Woche.

For the next month or so, my #1 job will be travel agent.  In the coming weeks, we have Hamburg, Luxembourg, & Skiing in Austria.  Followed by a few marathon months of visitors, Rick & Linda, Mary & Dan, Katie & Tony, Chad & Abby, Sue & Jay, Dan & Marlena, & Nat & Mike.  Did I miss anyone?  Today we booked our flights home for Julie & John and Dan & Kait's weddings.  After that we have a potential week in Portugal at the beach and we already have our Penn State~Central Florida in Dublin tickets in hand.

America

This past weekend some military friends visited the commissary in The Netherlands, so we have a solid supply of Kraft Mac & Cheese and Red Hot.  :)

Finally, let me suggest to everyone our newest obsession.  Every night for the last few weeks, we have been putting the kids to bed and watching episodes of The Good Wife.  We HIGHLY suggest it!  I'm late right now for our date!  Talk to you all soon!

Three Random Thoughts for Your Friday

1. I love the guy on the train drinking a beer at 9AM.  Yes, I understand he works a night job as a security guard, but I have seen him several times and he still fascinates me.

2. I really love that I went to the bakery this morning and Jay-Z was being played on the radio.  Great way to start your day.

3.  I DO NOT love that this song is strangely on the radio OFTEN in Germany.  Mike will say he never heard it, but I do.  I have also seen the video on Germany's version of MTV.  WHY??????

Have a good weekend!  Schönes Wochenende!

Frohe Neues Jahr!

Happy New Year!  We have returned from our trip to the US and are back into our (not-so-boring) everyday routine. 

Erin & Lexie

I think we adjusted fairly well from the time change for our first time.  The first day Erin was up at 4:30, the next 6:30.  That morning she said "Well, I have made up 2 hours in one day, two more days and I will be good".  A planner, just like her Father!  Lord help me!  Leading up to Christmas, we spent time with my parent's, Mike's parents and many family and friends. 

We also filled in a lot of shopping, both for Christmas and our return.  Side note, the week leading up Christmas we spent perfectly packing many gifts, four suitcases and 4 carry-on bags.  Everyone had everything.  When we arrived, I had 2 pairs of jean and 2 dresses, and 2 shirts.  I never packed anything for myself!!!  Classic.  So out shopping I went, of course! 


Christmas morning we woke up at 7 AM at Mike's parent's house.  Santa may have mislabeled a few items, but he did good finding us.  He even delivered a new bike to the house in Germany and sent along a picture of it for Erin.  And he brought Ryan (and Mike) a PS4, which wouldn't have been possible with out his elves Rick & Linda hunting one down. 
                                                                         

Then we headed to a delicious dinner with my family, we must cover all portions of the entire State of Pennsylvania!  (We failed, we missed Erie, lol)  As James Franklin would say, we were able to "dominate the state"  (Yes, Mike made me say that)

Maybe we weren't as adjusted as I thought we had been, the kids slept the whole way back to Harrisburg, then slept all night!

Thursday morning we headed out to Pittsburgh to spend some time in Pristine Fields and Pittsburgh.  Thank You again to Dan & Marlena and Mike & Nat for letting us stay with you!

    
                                                                    
The kids got to see so many of their friends (and cousins), but it is never enough.  Santa had also delivered tickets to see the Pitt~Albany basketball game on New Year's Eve. 

New Year's Eve was spent, as it has been for the last few years, in the neighborhood with such good friends.  This year even included a concert! (http://youtu.be/6Wv5xkRWwcA)  For those who don't know, we have an amazing group of neighborhood and Pittsburgh friends, always up for a bonfire, lazy Saturday afternoon watching football or neighborhood t-ball game.  Or a beer or two or three or four.

                            

                     

          

    

  

                                                                                                                                                                       

Thursday morning we packed up and headed back across the turnpike to Harrisburg.  We left from Newark on Saturday, squeezing in our flight between the snow storm and the cold cold cold temperatures settling in.  Even though we flew all night, landing at 6 AM, none of us slept (love Wi-Fi on the plane!).  We were the first flight to land that morning and by 6:40 we were all in our beds.  It's great living so close to the airport.  We slept in until noon and tried to being our re-adjustment.