Week of September 16th, 2012

Sunday morning Jacob's friend got picked up and then we headed off to church.  We got a new priest that will now be at the parish.  He is a bit younger then the last one and seems very nice.  He is from Ireland and the UK. 
After church we drove about 1/2 hour to another town along the Moselle river and met another family there for lunch along the river, mini golf and mini bumper cars and a park all along the river.  The mini golf was pretty funny.  It is just metal fairways that you hit your ball on.  Not quite the same as it is at home.  But we all had a fun time!

 

 

 

Remich ducks.

After the park we drove about 15 min. north, still in Luxembourg, to another town that was participating in the Riesling Open it was called.  This weekend a bunch of towns along the Moselle river were hosting little fairs or wine tastings.  So here was a tiny town on these little cobble stone roads that would have wine tastings at their caves (wineries)  So we stopped at one and sampled some wine.   They had a band playing and all our kids were just running around this little street area.  It was a neat area. 
There were all marching here back to the car.

From here we drove home and I had picked up this chicken looking thing when we were shopping in Germany awhile ago.  It didn't translate so I am not sure exactly what it was but it was very similar to a chicken. 
After dinner the boys still had their homework to get to this weekend since we ended up having a pretty busy weekend and of course they waited until the last minute to do it!

Monday after drop off my friend picked me up from home and we drove out to a town in Germany about an hour away.  This town is where they make that Villeroy china that I have started to collect.  They have 2 china stores in this shopping area, along with a Land's End store, but small and more expensive then the stuff at home,  and just a few other stores.  We got some things just in the china store.  It was cheaper then buying them here.  Besides this shopping area there wasn't else much in the town, but it was pretty.  So my friend thought she had heard that the town about 15 min. from here had a Starbucks coffee place.  So we drive there and park and start walking through town.  It was very pretty and a lovely day to be outside walking around.  She asked a couple people if they knew where this coffee place was and no one had any idea what she was talking about.  In the end she realized it was a different town a little bit further south but with a similar name.   So we had a nice time in this town.  We sat outside for lunch at a little cafe next to the little waterfall/river running through the town.

It was around 11:30 or so and we saw everyone just walking around eating ice cream and cones.  We noticed  a lot of different ice cream shops too.  Once I got home I looked up the town in my book and I guess it is known for all their ice cream shops.   Too funny, I guess we should have tried some.  So after walking through the town we drove home.  We had a nice time!
A bit later in the afternoon Sean's retainer was ready so we went and picked up retainer #2 and said a prayer it sticks with him!

Tuesday after drop off I got my hair cut.  I had my appt. for Thursday afternoon and thought I would get it fixed nice before our girls dinner out.  But then Sean's river field trip came up.  So now instead I will just look like I have been playing in the river!  So I changed my appt. to today.
After this I went over to the Woman's Club to help my friend stuff the envelopes to hand out to the residents where they want to host the big treat or treating event.  After we got all the envelopes stuffed we drove to the area in the town over and in this one area where they want to have it we passed out the envelopes in every one's mailbox.  So that was nice.  Basically they are asking the residents if they will pass out the candy that the Woman's club will give them.  So hopefully they will have a good turn out.  We will be attending it. 
After this I ran home, got a late lunch and then back to school for a room parent meeting.  Got lots of things we need to start doing!
After school Amber went to the park with a friend. 

Wednesday I finally made the big drive by myself to Germany!  Ha Ha!  Today I drove out to a town in Germany about half an hour away to go shopping at the cheaper grocery stores and toy store.  It ends up taking the whole morning after drop off to drive out there and go to the 2 stores plus today I hit the toy store too.  The toy store actually had some kids Halloween costumes, decorations and things.  I was very surprised since they don't celebrate that here.   To go to these supermarkets before I had made Jason go with me on the weekends or I would follow a friend out there.  I just don't feel comfortable driving far by myself here.  All the time here they just close the roads and ok you have to figure a new way to go!  And my GPS sometimes just doesn't have the up to date roads on it either.  Jason got home from the airport late tonight and went to get on the ramp by the airport to get on the expressway and after he got to the expressway they had it closed and people have to go back up the ramp and find a new way to go!  It is ridiculous.
So today Amber only goes 1/2 days and she went home with a friend for lunch and a bit of playing and then I met them back at school for their first ballet class today!

All the girls were so excited and in their pink leotards, Amber's more hot pink, and they enjoyed the class. When Amber woke up this morning, even though we had discussed the outfit options last night and not wearing the leotard until ballet, she was in tears wanting to wear the leotard to school.
So while she had ballet the boys got out of school and Sean started a sports class and Jacob started back up with Religion Education.  Sean isn't doing it this trimester as he will start classes on Sunday for making his First Communion this year.
After school we made some rice krispie treats and they were yummy!  Then had a bunch of paperwork and school stuff to do.

Thursday was Sean's field trip to a forest and a river near the Belgium border.  So I went on the trip to help out.  It was about a 20 min. drive.  At one point in the forest  some people's cell phones were switching over to the Belgium network.  Too funny!  But we had to look for certain things in the forest and the river.  They are studying rivers right now.  They had to collect soil and water samples as well.  We got there at 10am and we started walking.  The kids got to go in the river 3 times and they sat in the middle of the forest for lunch and we walked until 1:30 so a lot of walking for some of the kids.  Everyone had to wear their big rain boots since the kids did get in the river.

They loved it!  It was mostly a shallow river.  But they could never do a trip like this at home, ha! 
By the time we got back to school I ran to the store for a few things and then back to the school to pick up the kids. 
Jacob had guitar and Jason made it home in time to take the kids to that and then I left to go out to dinner with a few friends.  We went to this nice little Italian restaurant.  We had a nice dinner and good time!

Friday morning after drop off I was driving up a side, back road to the bigger grocery store and there was a work truck parked along side the road.  Well I didn't think I was at risk of hitting it and all of a sudden my side mirror just popped off and the glass shattered.  I stopped and turned around and drove back and looked at the work truck and no marks.  Then I had to stop and pick up the back case of the side mirror that was on the side of the street.  And the glass is just hanging from the structure now.  Sucks.  It is really hard to park here without your side mirror!  So after I got all my errands done I came home and called the dealer and they said I would have to bring the car in for someone to see what parts they would need to order before I make the service appt.  So I didn't have a chance to go today so we will have to do it tomorrow.
My lunch club was today and we tried an Italian restaurant that had a huge menu.  I had a risotto with shrimp and asparagus.  It was very good.  Last night and today we had all tried the Italian champagne and it was very good.  My friend was trying to ask where they bought it but I guess they don't sell it here in the stores which surprises me because their alcohol sections here are huge!
After school Amber had a friend over, Jacob went to a friend's house and Sean's friend came over a bit after school and was spending the night.  Then a girl down the street came over to play with the boys as well.  So with all the picking up and dropping off it was a bit of a zoo over here!

Sat. morning Jason took my car into the dealership for them to see what parts would need to be ordered.  OMG it is going to cost a lot more then we thought-yikes! 
Sat. afternoon Amber had a b'day party to go to.  It was very nice.  It was at an indoor play/climby place perfect size for 4 yr. olds.  They made their own individual size pizzas, they got their face painted, went on a treasure hunt and got a bag of gold coins, some edible!  Had their pizzas and then cake.  And the mom had brought these yummy little dessert finger foods from my favorite bakery with some pastries as well.  It was a nice party and Amber had a great time!  The boys went down into the Grund and played soccer and played at a park. 
Then we had a sitter come over.  Amber was excited.  It was one of her friend's nannies.  So we know her well.  Then Jason and I went out with 2 other couples we are good friends with and then one couple invited one guy and his girlfriend so we all met them as well.
It was a lovely evening.  We went to an Italian restaurant.  Third day in a row of Italian food, but loving the Italian Champagne my friends introduced me too!  Then we went to this club very upscale with sofa's and little chairs.  It was a fun time!

Week of September 9, 2012

Sunday was another beautiful day so my friend had told me about this place in Germany that had those toboggan rides down a hill.  So once Sean got home from his sleepover last night.  We headed out.  We first found a Burger King in Germany.  They don't have them here, but in Germany they are in some of the rest stops along the road, funny.  So we had lunch there and then headed on to the place.  It was about an hour away.  It was so fun!  It is behind a hotel in the middle of a wine region.
This is what you see across the way as you are coming down the ride.

 

 

 You get in these little cars and they go up the track and then you can go sliding down the track.

 It curves down the side of the land. 

We all did a few runs all together and then the rest of the runs we let the boys take turns with having Amber with them.

 Next to this hotel was a lake that you could water ski on.  There were no boats, but a cable running around the lake in the air and that is what the ski rope was attached too.  It was neat to see.  Then next to this little lake was a bigger lake they had made a beachy area and people were on the beach and swimming.  We didn't do the swimming today, but it all looked neat.  From here we drove back and went to the school's ice cream social they were having today.  The kids enjoyed their ice cream sundaes and they have different people come in and set up booths about different things/activities the kids can do after school.  Amber of course got her face painted.  Not really sure what she was going for.

 We came home after this.  Jacob had to finish up his project as he has to present it tomorrow.

Monday morning as I am feeding Jacob breakfast he tells me that this week he has to be at school early b/c his class is taking turns doing the morning announcements.  Ok that might have been helpful to tell me last night!  So we try and hurry out the door.  Amber wanted to buy her lunch again today.  I think she is loving the hot lunch program!  My sunglasses fell off my head this morning at school and broke, rats!  I had bought a couple pairs at home this summer, but I liked those.
So after the kids were at school I came home and went for an hour walk around town.  It was another beautiful day.  I stopped by the restaurant of this one hotel b/c Jason had said he thought it had a view of the Grund so I checked it out.  It was nice.  Then I just walked around town and back.  After lunch I drove out to Belgium where the Ikea is, like 20 min. away!  I had a gift card for there so picked up some cute things.  On the way home I ran to the mall to run in and pick up Jason's dry cleaning.  So the shirts I dropped of last week were not ready, but the shirts from 2 weeks ago were ready today!  This is driving me crazy!  His pants that had to be re-hemmed at the bottom and cleaned are still not done from 2 weeks ago! 
After school Jacob went to a friend's house.  Sean has more homework this year then last year and is not happy about it.

Tuesday morning I got a call from my French teacher.  Rats, I was hoping she would forget about me!  I almost didn't answer it.  So she is going to come on Thursday.  I am going to tell her I just want to do it once a week. 
At 12 I had to go back to school for a meeting about band for Jacob.  He wants to learn the drums so if he gets it he will start out with the percussion section.  I find out next week which instrument he gets.
In the afternoon I went to this area with a toy store and I got a few b'day gifts since they were a good price to save until the next party comes along.  There are a few other stores there too so I just picked up a few other things.
After school Sean had a friend over, and Amber went to a friend's house.  Jacob had his pictures taken today.  I made him shower this morning to have his hair looking nice.  Otherwise he is wetting it down every morning and for pictures that wasn't going to do it.  He looked so handsome.  We had the picture clothes discussion the night before so no fights in the morning (:  He had on a collared shirt and jeans.  When I picked him up from school he had his collar up and was wearing it like that?  But he said he had pictures at the very end of the day before school ended, great we will have to see how they turn out.
I had looked in Sean's book bag before we left school and noticed he didn't have his homework sachet so I made him go back and get it.  I didn't realize he didn't have his lunch box either and he swears he took it out of the lunch cubbie.  So hopefully he didn't lose something else already!  Not only would he have lost a nice lunch box, but the small ice packs are hard to come by here.
Jacob said his presentation went well that he did today and he even volunteered to go first, so I was impressed that he did that.  Probably only b/c he knew if he didn't present it today I was going to make him practice it again tonight!

 Here is a picture of her and her other Pinkalicious friend.

I went and did some errands and then worked out.  Amber gets out before lunch on this day so I went back and picked her up.
Sean found his lunch box at school and handed it to me this morning.  I set it down in the preschool area with my umbrella and then I left it at school!  It was still there when I picked Amber up thank goodness.
Since my car is 3 years old now, every year it has to go for a sort of emissions test here.  So Jason took it this morning, the tank as he calls it!  All went well but he did have to wait for about 1 1/2 hours and that was with an appt.!  Not quite like at home.
After school we went to the chiropractor.  It is hard to get into him b/c a lot of days he doesn't take appts. after 4pm and when school gets out at 3:30  we can't get there and have 3 appts.
I had signed up Sean and Amber for after school sports through the school.  You do it through the school website and then you wait to hear if you got a spot.  So Amber got on the wait list for swimming, not surprised as they try and take the older kids first.  But Sean got in a new sports class they are doing with working on ball handling skills.  He has 2 good friends that got in it with him, so that is nice.

Thursday.  Last night when the kids went to get a snack the overhead light in the kitchen blew out.  Jason will have to see if we have a bulb and then he needs to get the ladder from the basement to change the bulb.  There are a few little lights under the cupboards but they get so hot they bake whatever is below them.  So this morning we pretty much ate breakfast in the dark.  Especially since the sun isn't up yet!  Today was Sean's school pictures so he took a shower this morning.  He was in there for like 20 min.  I finally went up and asked him what was he doing?  He said he wanted to make sure he was extra clean.  So I asked him if he was cleaning places he normally doesn't clean or what?  But he looked handsome in his collared shirt and jeans with his hair a bit spiked in the front.  Again his pictures as well were right before school let out so we will see how they turn out.
Today I did preschool coffee with some moms.  As I was coming home from school I saw one of the moms walking with the stroller near my house so I once I parked I went and asked her if she lived near here and come to find out she lives just a block down by the park.  Her little boy has cute red hair too!
Once I got home I see Sean's homework blue sac with all his school notebooks inside it- ugh!  I had been standing there to make sure he put on the right shoes for pictures today and he packed up all his stuff and didn't leave anything behind.  He seemed to have it all together and so I went downstairs to the car.  I guess not!  So he left that here, Jacob left his gym clothes here and I forgot to give Amber her water bottle- geesh!  So I couldn't go back to school until after French.  Yes French started up again today.  It went ok, but definitely forgot some over the summer -oops!  So after class ended I ate lunch and ran back to school to drop every one's things off.  Amber was in line holding hands with her good boy friend since they needed a buddy and were headed off to go outside all dressed in their rain boots and pants. 
After getting everyone what they needed I called my friend to tell her about those 2 holding hands and asked if she wanted to come with me to the china outlet close by.  So I picked her up and we went out to the Villorey outlet.  I got a teacup and saucer in the Luxembourg pattern I have a few things from and then a Christmas one as well. 
After school Amber went over to a friend's house and I had a room parent meeting for Sean's grade.  We picked up Amber before dinner and another girl that was at this house as well and brought her back here since they live further away and with traffic it was easier to just come to my house.  Then after dinner I totally forgot Jacob was starting up with guitar today.  I realized it 10 min. before the lesson was about to start- yikes!  We made it maybe just a few minutes late. 

Friday morning I had to take my neighbor's 2 older boys to school with us since her younger daughter was sick.  So I told my kids to go downstairs get on your shoes, coats, etc.  Well once at school Amber goes to get out of the car and I see that she has her sandals on!  Are you kidding me- ugh!  It was 60 degrees here today and these are her outside shoes for school.  So I told her she couldn't play in the sand then today.  Where do you think she was when I saw her before school pickup?  Yep in the sand!
A friend had asked me to have lunch today so a few of us did that.  It was close by so I could walk and we had a nice time!
After school I helped drive all the boys from Sean's class over to the other mom's house that I am working with for room mom.  Here the classes have 2 room moms b/c there are no party moms, etc.  So there were 10 boys in total going over to her house for a playdate after school.  It was very nice of her to have all these boys over!  Sean was excited!  So we got them all there. 

Sat. morning all 3 boys went and had their hair appts.  Then Jason was busy all day in yard.  The handyman came over and hung some more pictures we had bought from trips, and helped to remove the washing machine to the recycling center.
Amber taking an afternoon nap in an awkward place.

In the afternoon one of my friends had a b'day party at an art museum here in town.  It was very nice.  It was for the whole family which was neat.  It was about an hour tour for the adults and the children had their own tour and they got to dress up on old victorian clothing, and then made some hats.  When it was done they had a buffet of appetizers out in the garden.  We then had to leave as we were having another family over for dinner and she said, but the cake hasn't even come yet.  So I was sorry we had to leave, but also since I parked on the street my 2 hour time limit was up.  So then our friends came over for dinner.  We just grilled out and the kids all played and then we had a fire in the fire pit and made smores- imported stuff of course!  Then Jacob had his friend spend the night.  We had a nice time!

Week of Sept. 2nd, 2012

Sunday morning Jason went back out and picked up Jacob from the slumber party.  He said they got no more then a couple hours of sleep.  Jacob looked pretty tired when he got home and it was about 11am so I put him upstairs to bed and said I will wake you up for lunch!  So he ended up sleeping for about 45 min. which was good for Jacob b/c he is not a napper and he had another party to go to after lunch!  So after lunch Amber and I went to one of her friend's parties at a park.  We had a lovely time.  It was a lot of kids from her preschool class last year and it was a beautiful day to be outside.  It is a smaller park, but perfect for that age group and it is all fenced in so you don't have to worry about losing the kids.  So while we did this Jason took the boys and picked up Sean's new friend, dropped Jacob off at the lazer tag party and took Sean and his friend down the street to Yoyo to play.  Then after the party the boys just all came back here and played and once I got home from our party I drove Sean's friend home.   I got Jacob to bed earlier tonight as he needs his rest!

Monday morning we had to go back downtown to finish up the residency paperwork for this year.  They don't open until 8:30 so we were there right when they opened but there were still people in front of us.  Today is one of the very few days Luxembourg has sales!  So it is like a big sidewalk sale in the downtown area.  So since we were already down here doing this paperwork I convinced Jason to take the kids back to school by himself so I could meet one of my friends here to do some shopping! Of course since it is a new school year Jason has no clue where the kids are suppose to be going.  He doesn't even know where the office is to take them to get their class passes!  It isn't near the entrance.  So the kids had to show him what he was suppose to be doing- ha!
But I was thankful and I met my friend and we walked around for a bit.  It was fun.  I bought one thing for everyone I think.  Then I needed to get going and either figure out the buses or walk home, and then my friend calls me who lives on the other side of the downtown area. She said that she is driving by and said she wouldn't mind picking me up and dropping me at home.  So nice!  I gladly accepted.  So I met her quickly and she took me home.  I dropped my stuff and got the car since today Amber only goes until 12.  So I picked up her and her 2 good friends for lunch and a play date.
Later I dropped off her friends on the way back to school to pick up the boys and she ended up staying at the little boy's house to play a bit longer.  Then at school Jacob had a friend come over, so after school we went back and picked her up. 
For dinner I made a taco casserole new recipe and it went over well.  Jacob had 3 helpings of it!

Tuesday I ran some errands in the morning.  One of the things I got was these gourmet type of cookies for a friend whose b'day was the other day.  They have to be refrigerated so of course I put them in the fridge and then forgot to bring them to her today!   Then came home b/c my French class was suppose to start up again today.  We had scheduled today before we ended in the summer.  I never heard from her about today but she doesn't call much b/c she is difficult to understand on the phone.  Well she never showed up.  I wasn't too disappointed other then the fact I made sure I was at home.
Amber still just went until lunch today and we came home and enjoyed lunch together. 
I finally got around to defrosting, manually, the ice box in the fridge.  It has been on my to do list for a month but I wasn't looking forward to it.  So I have to open the fridge to get to it.  So I tried to have the fridge a bit empty before doing this and putting some things in the fridge downstairs.  I spent about a half an hour between the hair dryer and the knife just picking away.  Then I had to run to school for a meeting and then pick up.  Sean went home with a friend.  So once I got back home I finished it all up.  In total I had 3 1/2 mixing bowls of ice I pulled out of this tiny ice box.  That is how bad the ice/frost had built up.  I should have taken a picture of it.  So it looks nice and clean now, but it is going to kill me when it fills back up with frost probably in a week, since the door doesn't really seal all the way.
At pickup Amber got a blister on her hand from some equipment on the playground.  I think she cried/screamed for about 15 min.  People kept asking what was wrong.  She sounded like she lost a finger or something.  Geesh, drama.  We get home and she goes upstairs to put herself down for a nap and comes back down crying.  She went to take a drink of water and somehow it went down the back of her shirt.  Sure enough there is a big line of water down her back and her shirt is all wet.  Now she has just had it.  She goes back upstairs and I let her sleep for about 45 min.  When I went to wake her up she was so out of it and not happy to get up.  Rough day for her!
Last year Jacob's French teacher, I had mentioned before, she told a bad story and always seem to be yelling at the children and before Christmas she was on a "medical leave"   I don't think she ever came back.  So Jacob had 2 or so French subs last year.  He didn't learn much French.  So this year he was happy that he got the teacher Sean had last year and he is looking forward to learning it this year.  The last sub Jacob had last year must have gotten the job b/c now she is teaching it and Jacob's friend got her.  He is not happy.  She doesn't have a classroom and when Jacob and some of his class goes out to his French class his friend goes to Jacob's classroom and she teaches there.  Unfortunately Sean got her too.  At a different time he has her, but we will have to see how this goes!

Wednesday after doing a few things I got to go for a nice walk outside.  It was getting a little cloudy so I brought my umbrella just in case.  You never know here! 
This morning when Jacob opened the door inside to the garage I guess there was a big spider there.  This time of year the big spiders are out and trying to come in.  So far I haven't seen the big ones like last year that I still shiver when I think about.  So I told him to kill it.  I told him he has one chance to get it so do it right.  He grabs my plastic rain boot and drops it on him.  Well of course the spider just crawls right out under that!  He crawled in the house and went under this black thing for coats and umbrellas that is attached to the wall.  I made Jason come down and look for it but of course he couldn't find it.  So you know who is going to be the one to find it- ME!  The thing that really got me was that it was in the garage but Jacob ended up having it run in the house!  Now every time I am down there I am looking around praying it doesn't hop out at me.
Wed. Amber will always get out at noon and the rest of the days she will stay all day.  That is just the schedule here.  So I went and picked her up for lunch and a new girl in her class.  Her mom used to have coffee with my friend and I last year occasionally.   The girls had lunch and a fun time playing.  Then I dropped her off on my way back to school to get the boys. 
After school Sean had an appt. at the orthodontist to get his retainer remade-ugh!  So we are starting this all over again.  We saw another family there from school too!  She is like the school orthodontist/dentist!
After this we rushed home and got everyone feed dinner, and the babysitter came over.  Amber was excited to see her again since it had been awhile.  And Jason met me at school.  Tonight was the back to school night.  The school has changed some things around compared to how they did them last year and mostly it has been for the better.  So they redid the program for tonight.  It is a lot better now, but only allows you to go to one classroom.  So it worked out ok with both of us there and Amber's meeting was during the day last week.  But if you had 3 or more kids in the lower school it would be difficult.  The 3rd grade teachers did one presentation together and then you could go in the child's classroom and meet the teacher and walk around.  So I did 3rd grade, since I am the room mom here,  and Jason did 5th grade.  I finished early so went down to the 5th grade room, but she was just about finished talking.  All sounds good this year.  For Jacob's 5th grade trip they get to go to Switzerland!  Can you believe it?  I think the mom's need to go too!

Thursday Jason had to travel to Poland.  So he left the house around 5:30am.  So I hear him leave and lock the door and then I hear him unlock the door and come all the way back upstairs as his shoes clicked on the marble stairs.  He taps my toe and asks me where his new residence ID card is that we just got on Monday.  I told him that Monday night I handed him back his passport and his new card.  Geezsh.  Now I am totally awake wondering what has happened to his card and he has also woken up Sean from being up and down and opening and closing the door!  He really had the card all along, but he thought it was his old card b/c he had looked at the wrong date!  So glad he woke us up to try and figure it out!! 
Today was Amber's first full day of school with lunch! 

She got to stay for lunch and the afternoon!  She was so excited to bring her lunch and stay at school  until the boys leave.  She said she wanted to bring her lunch today and see how it went and then maybe buy her lunch tomorrow.  I was very excited for this!
We decided to have our preschool morning coffees at the school on Thursdays this year instead of Fridays as it worked out better for some moms.  So some of us did that this morning.  One of the new moms I was talking with come to find out they just moved here for the same company Jason is working for- too funny!  They don't work together and they are from Europe already. 
After this I got another nice walk in and decided to walk down to this boutique store that I saw opened last year but never made it too.  I ended up getting an outfit there that is more of a European look, and more expensive then I would have liked.  But I figured I haven't bought anything like this here so what the heck!
Since Amber was in school all day I set up lunch with some friends- yeah!  I even wore my new outfit!  So today 4 of us made it and went out to a place I had found and wanted to try.  It was good and we had a nice time and of course had a glass of champagne!  There was an elderly couple behind us that told us we were being too loud.  We were sitting outside and ok maybe our laughs every now and then but we were just talking.  So I think I will set something up for our lunch group maybe every other week.  Every week might be too much for my waistline!
At the end of the day it was nice to go back to school to pick everyone up with out Amber being by my side whining the whole time.  So instead I went outside to talk to everyone while we waited and we could see the preschoolers playing outside on their playground.  And Amber is waving and yelling things to me, but so happy and excited.  So she had a great day.  She enjoyed eating her lunch there and said everything was good. 
After school Sean had a friend over to play.

Friday one of my friends was hosting a coffee morning from a coffee group she is in, and since it was at her house she asked if I wanted to join them.  So I met a lot of new moms this morning.  My friend had made a bunch of yummy breakfast items.  So I spent the morning there.  Then I ran home and Jason came back from Poland and we went out to lunch, this all day school thing is great!  We had a nice lunch at this place I had wanted to try out of town.  So that was pleasant, except that when you sit outside here it smells like smoke b/c they all smoke.  It was a beautiful day and they had all this seating on their deck with umbrellas.  At least indoors here it is smoke free, besides the bars!
Before school ended I was outside chatting and I felt something up my dress on my legs and I was moving around trying to shew it away.  Well I guess it was a bee, b/c all of a sudden I have a lot of pain way up my leg.  That nasty bee stung me!  So I can't even see it, so my friend is helping me look, too funny and she sees it.  What pain!
Jacob went over to his friend's house after school to play.
We had a relaxing evening at home with a movie night and popcorn, and me with an ice pack on my bee sting!

Saturday it was going to be a nice warm day so I had called around yesterday and found an outdoor pool that was  still open.  Most of them had already closed down for the season.  But this one was about 20 min. away that ended up taking a lot longer b/c they had part of the highway shut down with the exit that we needed so we ended up taking a round about way via back roads.  But the pool was nice.  Here there are no chairs around the pool you have to go and sit on the grass.  I had known this from last year so I brought a bunch of towels and packed us a picnic lunch.  This place had a baby pool with a little slide that Amber spent most of her time in, a middle depth pool that was good for Amber but she thought it was too cold.  It had a little slide for her and then a big wide slide for the boys.  They enjoyed that.  Then there was a huge pool with diving boards.  The high one wasn't open so the boys were bummed, but they enjoyed the low one.  So we stayed at the pool until the mid afternoon.  Then my friend had told me that this weekend in this same town they were having a Medieval festival.  So we decided to go over there.  We saw 2 friends there as well.
The place where they had this was a bit outside of town and down the one street it was on they had straw down on the road.

 

So the festival just had white tents set up all down this street and little wood houses selling things, medieval clothes and items.   They had drinks and food.  We got these cookie macaroon things, poppy seed bread that looks like a huge cinnamon roll, a pretzel the size of Amber's head, rock candy.  So at the end of the street you turn and start to walk into a field. 

 

 There there is a little area where you can fight a knight, and do archery.  All 3 boys did the archery.

 

They were aiming at these taxidermy like animals they had placed in the field.  So you walk back down the path further into the field and just more white tents, and they had a music stage, and then at the end of the festival lane they had knights on horses doing things. 

 

So it was very interesting.  Jason said that if this fair was held 300 years ago it wouldn't have looked much different then it did today.  Even a lot of the visitors today were all dressed in medieval attire in addition to everyone in their tents and working there.  Amber got a pink cone medieval hat.

She also went on this merry go around that was a manual one.  Two guys would push it around!

 

 

When we left the festival we picked up Amber's friend who was doing a pre sleep over tonight!  She stayed until around 7:30 b/c she wasn't ready to spend the night.  And Sean went to a friend's house to spend the night.  So everyone had a busy and fun day!



Week of Aug 26th, 2012 Back to school!

Sunday it was the coolest it has been.  It was 66 degrees and raining on and off.  Our upstairs is still so warm.  Last night was a bit cooler upstairs, but even with the windows open up there all day it is hard to cool off that area.
Since the weather was poor we couldn't go to the big fair in town.  Hopefully one night this week we can get to it.  We tried after lunch to go to a kids indoor play area we hadn't been too, but it was closed when we got there.  Here places websites won't say anything about them closing and you go up to the door and there will just be a note on it like, Closed for 2 weeks, etc.  So this note said it was closed on weekends until mid Sept.  Probably just b/c there are not enough people back in town yet.  The locals don't start school until the middle of Sept.   So in August here there are things shut down b/c this is when everyone goes on holiday here.
So since this play area didn't work out we just went to the big one the kids enjoy and they played there for 2 hours and then we came home and had another big BBQ.  We ate well this weekend!

Monday we had to go back downtown and reapply for our yearly residency cards.  By the time we left home and got back home it was 2 hours later!  They will make the cards and we all have to be present and pick them up next week, which means now we have to pull the kids out of school.
Soon after we got back the boys had their hair cuts.  They look handsome to go back to school!
Then after lunch one of Jacob's 3 parties this week, was today.  The boy was taking 3 friends to a ropes course about 20 min away.  So the other 2 kids and I went with and joined them!  The kids had so much fun!  There are 7 levels of rope climbing/swinging.  It is just in a forest area.  Amber could do the level 1.  She looked so cute all harnessed up. 

We were there for 2 hours and I think she did her course maybe 5 times or so.  She loved it!  I walked beneath/next to her and would have to help hook her up to the zip line and help her with the clamps from tree to tree, but she did a really good job!

The other 2 were loving it!  All the kids did really good.  The mom went with the rest of her kids and the boys and they did the level 3 and 4 course.  They were pretty far up and had some difficult parts!

Here is Amber eating a snack in the middle of it all!

After everyone finished they all had ice cream there and then Jacob went home with them back to their house and they were having dinner and a sleep over for the party.  Jacob was so excited about his afternoon today!

Tuesday was the kids last day of summer!  In the morning we ran to the store for a few things and then went and picked Jacob up from the sleepover.  He had a great time!
After lunch Amber and Sean went over to the same house for a playdate as they have kids the same age.  They have a pool in their backyard so the kids were excited to go swimming.  It wasn't that warm today but they still got in it!  So they had a fun time with their friends.
Jason came home early today and we picked up the kids from their playdate and went to the big fair/carnival that is in town.  It was a great time to go.  We got there at 5pm and it wasn't too crowded and there were no lines for any of the rides. The little kids rides were a little over $3/ride and the boys rides were a little over $7/ride!  Crazy.   I told the boys to go on whatever spinny, upside down, crazy rides you want to do first before we eat dinner.  So I went with Amber and she was happy on all the little kid rides.

 

 

I had to go on the swing ride with her and then this super fast spinny ride.  I enjoy the rides so it was fun.  Jason went with the boys and Jason watched as the boys did all the rides.

So the last one they did only took like 12 people at a time and Sean was just at the height to go and it takes you upside down then spins you around and then you just keep doing circles all the way around.

Well when the boys get off this they both have no color left in their faces.  Lovely.  And now we are going to eat dinner.  I find a table at the Gyros station. Here they have full blown restaurants set up that have an inside, some even have 2 floors!   And Sean puts his head on the table and actually falls asleep after telling us he doesn't want anything to eat.  Jacob managed to pick at a sausage a bit.  I had a pork Gyros and it was wonderful.  Them and overdoing it!  Last summer before we moved here we went to the county fair at home.  We made the mistake of eating first and then the boys did all those rides.  Well the same thing happened and we had to leave b/c the rest of the time Sean looked like he was going to throw up.  After dinner we walked around the booths selling things.   Jacob wants a Swatch watch for Christmas, well I see these watches and they look really cool and just like the ones he had wanted.  So we get him a gray one for like $15!  Merry Christmas, Jacob, ha. There goes our big idea for Christmas!   Then went on the big ferris wheel.  It is almost 8pm now and there was no one in line for the big ferris wheel- crazy!  So we did this.  Amber did the merry go round and we were done.  By the time we were walking back to the car Sean seemed to have his bounce back in his step and I had to feed him dinner when we got home. 
It was a great way to end our summer!!

Wednesday was the first day of school- yeah!  I got up early got breakfast, lunches and snacks ready!  Got pictures of kids and got to school early.

I didn't get to see the boys line up and leave with their teachers since I had to stay downstairs with Amber.

So I told them tomorrow I will come up and take their pictures in their lines.  Jacob goes "really mom, it will be the second day of school now!"  Ha.
Amber only went for an hour and a 1/2 today.  They broke the class in half and took each half for a bit to ease them in.  Whatever.  She is good to go!
So most of the moms just went upstairs and we chatted.  I sat with one table for a bit and then moved over to the preschool table.  No sense in leaving since she wasn't there that long.  So it was nice to visit with people.
After Amber finished we came home and then when her friend finished their session they came over for lunch.  So we had a nice lunch with Amber's friend and her mom and their youngest child as well.

Then after school the boys played at school for a bit.  It was nice to catch up with the other moms I hadn't seen yet.  It was so much better then last year when I knew one person and that was it.    Then Jacob went home with his friend, the one mom I knew last year!  And Sean had a friend over.
Sean and his friend were picking the berries across the street.  It is about the last of the berries, and they were covered in berry stains- ugh!  They got a big cup of them and then they took them to the new girl neighbor that is their age and played a bit with her looking for snails, too funny!
The boys are happy with things so far!  Jacob's classroom is down stairs on the same level as Amber's  preschool!  So in this area, there are preschool rooms, some French rooms and a 5th grade room and the music room for the younger kids.  Poor 5th graders!  At least pickup will be easy! 
Sean gets to eat in the big cafeteria this year and gets trays and is able to pick out more of a selection of foods and they get to sit with whoever they want at the tables. 
I wasn't that impressed with Amber's classroom this morning. So we will see how this year goes!

Thursday morning I took some pictures of the boys before school at school since yesterday I was down in the preschool area and I didn't get a chance to come up and take pictures of them lining up in their new class lines.  Jacob was like, "Mom it is the second day of school.  You can't take any pictures now!"  Ha!

Amber only went until 10am again.  So one of my friends and I just had coffee and hung out in the cafeteria.  After Amber finished we went to the park and had lunch and the kids played. 
After the boys were done Sean had his good friend from last year over.  He missed him over the summer.  This boy is from Italy and went back there for the summer.  So they had fun playing and they also went over to the new girl's house that lives just across the street from us to see if she wanted to join us at the park.  Too funny!

Friday after dropoff I had a meeting to go for preschool.  That was good and they went over everything we need to know.  It finished at 10 and then Amber went today until noon.  So this morning all of her class was there at once and then they got to have their snack at school. 
After the boys finished school Sean went home with a friend and we came back home and Amber went over to the neighbor's house.  Other then that pretty low key evening.

Sat. morning we went to the farmer's market downtown and got some fruit, veggies, soft pretzels, flower for Amber's room, a roasted chicken with potatoes.  Then after dropping the food off at home we went the other direction to the sports store about 20 min away that the school has their PE uniforms at.  Jacob needed a bigger size.  So he got new shirts, shorts and the a warmup outfit as well, and a bag.  I think he needs to wear the warmup outfit when he travels for basketball and the bag as well.  Sean will just take all of Jacob's old PE uniforms plus if any of his still fit him from last year as well.  Then we came home and had lunch and a bit later we drove out near Germany as this is where Jacob's friend lives that was having a b'day party.  He was having a swimming, BBQ, sleepover party.  They were going to be sleeping in tents in the backyard.  It is only going to be in the 40's tonight so I hope he is warm enough.  We packed heavier clothes.  They invited 5 girls too with the 12 boys.  There is no way they are getting any sleep tonight with all those kids!  The parents are sleeping out there too.
After we dropped him off at the party we drove down around the Moselle River and through some towns.  It was a pretty drive.  Then we stopped in this one town that has a Champagne Cave.  We missed the last tour, but we went and bought some bottles of wine and champagne in the shop and we will have to go back for the tour some time later.  The kids even got bottled juice they sell too!
We had the roasted chicken for dinner, and it was good!