Week of Sept. 18th

Sunday morning we went to Church.  They have one English mass and it is later in the morning so that is nice.  During mass they call kids ages 4-7 up and they go to a little Sunday school mass so that is nice for Sean.  After church we saw a few people we knew and the kids enjoyed some cookies.  The church is a small, older gothic looking church.  They don't have pews just wooden chairs.  And as you come in you put the amount of host that your family needs in the bowl.  The priest is from Ireland and gave a good sermon.  After we left church we tried a little Chinese place just down the street from us for lunch.  Everything was very good.  The owners are a nice older Chinese couple and they spoke some English and he was telling us how he liked the Sears Tower and China Town in Chicago.  Then Jason flew out today for Romania for part of the week and then on to Paris later in the week.  Last week when he drove to Paris he said he was pretty sure he got a ticket.  He saw some flashing going on after he passed a camera which he didn't see.  Here we don't really see police at all on the road let alone pulling people over.  Everything is done via electronic camera.  We will see how many tickets he ends up with at the end of the year!
Here the cub scouts is done through the British School on the other side of town and the scout program has so many kids that want to join and not enough den leaders that they have a waiting list.  So both boys I put on the waiting list and we will see what happens.  They told me that in the spring it looks like they may open up a Beaver section which would be Sean so he may be able to get in then.

Monday morning I tried out a chiropractor here.  There are only a couple around here.  Everything went well.  He is from Canada and has 5 kids!  After school today the boys started their sports class called Ball Skills.  It works out well since it is 2-4th grade so the boys are together.  Today I went when school ended to make sure they got where they needed to be.  So right after school Jacob can go to the gym and Sean goes to a meeting point with teachers and then they walk them over to the gym and it is a hour class.  So next week I will just start coming only once the sports class ends.  After the boys got to their sports class Amber started running around and playing outside with one of her preschool friends and the mom and I chatted so Amber got in some exercise too!

Tuesday I had another French lesson.  She has me trying to say words that sound like words that aren't very nice in the states especially the way I am saying them.  When Amber and I came home from school today she came in and went up to the first floor and took off her shoes and her coat then proceed to come back down stairs in the basement to tell me she has to go to the bathroom (which she can do by herself) so I told her great, go back upstairs and go potty.  Not sure what she was thinking about coming back down but then she said she couldn't hold it anymore and just peed through her clothes all over the step.  Nothing like pee running down the steeps!  After school both boys had a friend over so that was nice.  Glad I had the bigger car to be able to take 5 kids.  I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of days looking at places to go for the weekends and we are planning a trip to Italy too.

Wednesday was a fun day.  After I dropped the kids off at school I went to get Jacob some ear phones and a USB stick for school and then got a little lost looking for the American Women's club brunch this morning since it was out of town a bit for me.  I was also looking for the store that sells American items out that way and thought I missed that too and went to turn around and what do you know it was the store's parking lot.  So got some special cereals, mac and cheese, some mixes and a few other things.  Then went back and found the restaurant for the brunch.  Had a nice time at the brunch but had to leave early to get back to get Amber at school.  After school we went for a picnic at a park, got lost trying to find it, with other kids from her class.  I have a GPS but both places today just were not in there I guess, which kind of defeats the purpose! 
I volunteered to be a Room Parent for Amber's class this year.  Most of the moms from Amber's class have either just had a baby/ or have a younger sibling, are pregnant or this is their only child.  Quite a few people only have 1 child here.  I think I may be the only one with 3 children from her class and definatley the only one with kids that old.  Even though I would say the moms are all still around my age.  It is a weird feeling not having to drag the stroller and a baby around to and from school.  Since Amber is my youngest it is nice.
The boys had their religious education class today after school, so Jacob went and picked up Sean from his school building and they walked together over to the class.  And then I just came and picked them up after their RE class.  One thing I have noticed here is just because of the schedules and activities here that the boys do more things together here and in turn are doing more things together at home.  So that is always nice to see.  And then of course there is the scene on the sidwalk in front of school where Sean grabbed Amber and was holding her and she didn't like that so she bit him.  2 out of 3 getting along isn't bad (:

Thursday was one of those running around days where you can't seem to get anything done at home.  After drop off I ran to the store, then came home and had French lessons.  Then back to school to get Amber, and home for lunch and then off to her gymnastics class.  For this class I normally leave 10 min. before it ends so I can get back to school in time to get the boys.  Well today when I got out 10 min. early I physically couldn't get my car out of the parking space.  Ugh this is what I have been dreading!  So this parking lot has cars parked in all different directions.  And I couldn't manage to get the volvo out of the space.  So since I can't speak enough French to ask people to move their cars we waited for the end of class, but then people  here just seem to take their time.  No one is ever in a hurry.  So it was definately longer then 10 min. before the lady next to me came out and then I was able to go forward and kiddie corner out of the lot.  But by this time I am not able to be at school to get Sean.  Jacob is free to go wherever after the bell rings, but Sean's class I have to pick him up in his building in the lobby from the teacher.  So I am in a hurry trying to get there, and here people are such polite drivers, they stop and let people cross the street or let people that are turning left go in front of them.  And of course they don't use the horn here, which is funny b/c Jason can't figure out why he has been honked at a couple of times!  So I am going crazy.  I call my friend to tell her to let the boys know that I am coming b/c now the bell has rung and I am not even at school yet.  When I get to the school the lot is of course full, so I can get into the garage at the high school next store (but only in the afternoons).  We park at the top- 2nd level and there are stairs up to an area behind one of the highschools near the boys school.  I am trying to run, and Amber is crying and saying now she can't run.  But during her class we were just at she was just fine running around.  So now I am carrying her and trying to get there.  I have to go through Jacob's building then out to the playground/blacktop area and then to Sean's building.  But by the time I got there my friend was nice enough to get Sean for me and Jacob was with him too.  Whew I was out of breath!
Then that same friend took Jacob home for a playdate with her son.  They live on the other side of town from me where you have to go through the city and down close into the grund area.  So I am able to get there fine to pick him up, but going home the GPS takes me down these little brick paver roads between the buildings where people are walking.  The road really isn't even wide enough for 2 cars at once. I went in the road and then you have to turn left and then go around a corner which you can't even see if another car is coming and it is so narrow.  I am freaking out again.  People are looking at me like I shouldn't be on this road, but I had just seen a car come out when I went in.  Yikes.  Story has it that the wife who was the previous owner of my car went down one of these roads somewhere in town and another car was coming so she either tried to turn around or back up and physically got the car stuck between the buildings or poles.  She called her husband who had to leave work and come and unstick the car and it took him 30 min. of going back and forth to unstick the car and it still got scratched up.  They had it all fixed after this but this is what I am afraid of too!  The car was probably having flashbacks when it went down the roads today.  Not a good day with the car!

Friday was one of those days that just didn't work out like I had it planned.   Sean woke up with a headache again that he had gotten yesterday afternoon.  Then when we got to school he was running around on the playground and his neck just snapped and he got shooting pain down his neck.  So he went to the nurse and she put some heat and cream on it and it helped it feel better a bit and I thought I would have to go home to get the chiropractor's number but I was talking to someone and she said she had it, too funny.  There are just a few chiropractors here and most people see him.   So I called and got him in around lunch.   I had our Friday coffee with the preschool moms and then I went to the Room Mom meeting.  Here they don't have a room mom and party mom just one and if other people volunteer to help you then that is great.  Once that ended I picked up Sean and Amber early and went out to the Chiropractor.  Sean started to feel better right away so we were near the mall so I just took those 2 out to lunch at a sandwich place.  And then a little ice cream treat for them on the way out.  Amber was suppose to have one of her friends and his mom over for lunch but he was sick today so it was good we had to reschedule anyway.
Jason came home tonight from his trip this week and we went out to the Brazilian restaurant in the downtown Grund area.  It was wonderful.  Our waiter told me I spoke Portuguese well -I liked him.  Our food was great, and we got my favorite Brazilian drinks.  Everywhere here there are no kids cups, so the kids are always given glass cups to drink out of, scary!   Sean's neck started hurting again so after we came home he put himself to bed.  Poor thing.  Hopefully it will feel better tomorrow as he has a lazer tag party he was looking forward too.
Jason told me that he canceled his US trip for next week.  I am glad he will be around, but will miss my things from Target he was suppose to buy.

Saturday was a day filled with birthday parties.  Sean had a party to attend not too far from here right after lunch.  It was at a lazer tag place. His neck was feeling a bit better, but he still can't turn his head to the left all the way.  Amber and I stayed close by and just walked to a strip mall across the street.  They had a cheapier clothing store so I got a sweater and a scarf.  My first clothing purchases here.  Most stores are just so expensive I don't buy anything,  I went in one store next to Amber's Little Gym once and there was a cute plaid skirt that was for an 18 month old and it was $177.  Are you kidding me!  The boots and shoes in there were all around $525.  I couldn't believe it.  At this strip mall we were at today they also had a nice toy store in there, so I bought some things for Amber stocking for Christmas- yes I start early.  I enjoy Christmas shopping and I try to get it done early.   After the party Sean said he likes the lazer tag places better at home.  He said it was harder here. 
So while we did this Jason drove Jacob to Germany, about 45 min. away, for a party that Jacob was invited too.  It was called a football party, but that means soccer here.  So Jason walked to a flea market while Jacob was at the party. It was a beautiful sunny day here in the 70's.  We don't get many pure sunny days here, so it was nice.  Jason came home with some interesting things from the flea market. One thing he bought was a used smaller fooseball table for the boys.  We'll see how long it will last but the boys like it.  On the way home Jason and Jacob found a road side stand selling fruits and good size pumpkins so we now have 3 nice looking pumpkins sitting outside ready for Halloween!  Here is a picture of Jacob standing one foot in Luxembourg and one foot in Germany.

Week of Sept.11th

Today was Sunday and Jacob has started to go running with Jason.  They ran for about 2 miles.  Of course Jacob did some walking too.  In the afternoon we went to the school's Ice Cream Social.  They had ice cream and a bunch of tables of different organizations from the area telling about their different activities.  That was very helpful being new.

Monday morning we had to go back downtown to the Medical Center and have our TB tests read.  They were all ok.  So now this information gets passes on to the Ministry with our other paperwork from last week and then we wait to recieve a letter (probably in 6 more weeks) that invites us to the Ministry to get our pictures taken and finger prints.  So now we just wait to receive the letter in the mail.  The kids were late to school  today because of this so we walked them in and they all got passes even Amber- like she was going to skip school!  And when we took Amber to her class, her new little friend hopped right over and said she could sit next to him.  So cute.
Then Jason left to drive to Germany for a few days for work.  It is the European Automotive Show over there this week. I tried out the cleaners this morning.  From talking to other people, any women's clothes you bring in will be dry cleaned and are expensive probably starting around $7 and go up per item.  But men's shirts they will do something like wash and press and then it is about $3.25/shirt.  So I dropped off 2 shirts and not really sure what to say and she asked if I wanted them on hangers I said yes and she charged me that.  Then she said it would be ready on Sat!  That is a long time to wash and iron 2 shirts!  We will see what they look like when I pick them up.
Today both boys wanted to buy lunch, so they tried it out.  Sean loved his lunch, and Jacob thought it was just ok.  Lunch cost $6/person.  I haven't seen any chicken nuggets on the menu, and only pizza and hamburger once per month so that is nice.   It is more full meals like you would be served at home or a restaurant.  So today was Chinese beef stew with asian mix vegetables and rice.  Then everyday you can also just get a pasta dish instead of the main entree.   They also have 5 different types of premade cold sandwiches on a baguette if they prefer.  Other main entrees they have this month include, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Beef Stroganoff, Pork, Turkey, fish, Ham, sausages, and Veal are some examples.  After school we went to a friend's house for all the kids to play so that was nice!

Tuesday Sean had his first fieldtrip!  The took a bus downtown and did a walking tour of Luxembourg.  They brought their lunch and had it outside and then they took a little bus that looks like a train and did a tour on that.  He was gone most of the day and said he enjoyed it!  They both got invites for b'day parties next weekend same day.  One is here just outside of town at a lazer tag place, so good to know they have that!  And the other party is called a football party, but it is really soccer at a place in Germany.  So that one is about 45 min. away.  Tonight before I started dinner Amber wanted to watch a movie so I got her all set.  Then soon she came down and said the movie was giving her a headache so I told her just to play in her craft area.  Well soon she went back upstairs and I figured it was to watch her movie.  When it was time for dinner I called everyone down and the boys came and I asked where Amber was and they said they hadn't seen her.  I now knew where she had gone- to bed.  I went up to her room and there she was in her clothes with the light on at 5:20pm all curled up and sound asleep.  Oh no.  I woke her up and carried her downstairs and she was not happy.  When she finally calmed down I was able to get her to eat but only by feeding her myself.  By the end of the night I had caught her "headache".
I joined the chuch and it is right over by the school.  They have one Sunday mass in English and during the mass kids 7 and under can go to a little Sunday school.  The boys are going to be signing up for Religious Education classes that will be held after school at school.  I am still trying to figure it out, but it is one day after school for an hour.   Then at home kids normally make their 1st Communion in 2nd grade and I asked the church about it.  Here the child has be 8 as of Jan. 1st of the year they make it, so since Sean's b'day isn't until spring he will have to wait until next year.  And this is something that is done through the church not the RE classes, so after chuch every Sunday he will have to take 1st Communion classes next year.

On Wednesday Amber was very excited because we were going out to lunch with her new little friend!  She even wanted to wear one of her play necklaces to look pretty!  She was so ready for school today that when the teacher opend the door she just ran in the class room doors holding one of her girlfriend's hands and I never even said goodbye.  After school we walked with Amber's friend and his mom to a cafe up the street from the school and we had a very nice time.  It was a nice lunch and we hung out there until I had to pick up the boys since on Wed. they get out at 2:20.  After school today their religous education classes started.   I had signed up twice for these and never received a call or note when it was starting.  There were some postings on the school website about it, but this morning when I looked it up all I could find was something with dates and days that didn't match up.  This is a perfect example of why I feel so flustered trying to find out what is going on.   So I left him a message. When he called back I was already out the door to get Amber and I am finding out it is starting today.  I had not told the boys they now had to stay after school for an hour and I had no snacks for them.  So I picked them up something from the bakery at lunch.  We got back to school after lunch and when school ended I took the boys to the room where the RE class was being held.  Since today was the first class there were only a few other boys there too.  Since class was for an hour I decided we would just go home for a bit.  Well once I get Amber in the car she tells me she has to go potty and then I realize I left the stroller in the school since I had brought it b/c we walked to lunch.  So I drag her out of the car and up and about to the school, get the stroller, take her potty and now have to change her pants.  By the time we finished this up we only had 30 min. left so now we just stayed and hung out in the school lobby b/c there was no sense in going home. 
Tonight Jason came back so the kids were happy to see Jason again.

Thursday my French lessons started.  Someone is going to come to the house for an hour.  Not sure if I will do this 1 or 2 times a week.  She didn't have a book she was just talking and trying to get me to say the accents on the words right.  I didn't sound good!  But on a positive note my Portuguese is improving!  So we will see about the French.
Jacob's French homework has already bypassed me.
Once every 7 days (for the 7 day schedule the kids classes are on)  Amber's class does a cooking lesson.  Today they did pigs in blankets.  She loved it!
Jacob told us that each week they are assigned a class job.  This week he is "tech support".  Jason busted out laughing when Jacob said this.  We asked him what he had to do.  He said he is in charge of turing the computers on and off in the room and then if someone needs help on the computer they can ask him.  Then he adds " and it is a good thing no one has needed help b/c I don't think I would be able to help them!"  Too funny!
This week is when local Luxembourgish schools have started up again.  This week also started up afternoon preschool.  This is where kids who go to preschool in the morning can just stay at school all day and it ends when the upper school ends at 3:20.  So they eat lunch there and then just have different play areas, but no more schooling.  So now there are only a handful of us who pick up their preschoolers at 12:20 (except Wed. everyone needs to be picked up at 12:20).  But this is a nice quiet time for Amber and I.  We eat lunch together in peace and she talks and talks about her day or things in general.  She is such my little baby.  She tells me "Mommy your my best friend.  I am going to keep you"  Too cute.  I will remind her of this when she is 16.  Maybe I should video tape it for her later.  Besides her new little boy friend she now likes and plays with 2 other girls as well.  And then today she does her gymnastics class after school and just loves it.
I am in the process of trying to locate a guitar teacher for Jacob.  Up until we moved he had been taking electric guitar lessons for 1 1/2 years.
Tonight was the boys curriculm night at school.  The first hour was all the department heads talking and then the second hour was divided up by grade.  So it was a good thing Jason had come with me.  He went to the 2nd grade presentation and I did the 4th grade one.  So the whole grade met together and went over what the children will be learning this year, and then you could go into your child's classroom and meet the teacher.  So it was nice.  Here in addition to the Principal they have a Deputy Principal, Assistant Principal Curriculum, Counsellor, and French Coordinator.  They have 7 different French Teachers here for grades 1-5!
I missed the notes the boys would write and leave on their desks when we did curriculm nights at home.  Here one of the supplies the school gives all the kids are these homework little briefcase looking bags. Each grade has a different color.  Sean can fit his in his bookbag but Jacob we got a clip and attached his to his book bag.  This is what all their homework goes in and anything they need to bring home from school.  But Jacob also has this big French binder/folder thing that doesn't fit in that bag so that has to go in his bookbag.

Friday morning some of the preschool moms/dads went up and had coffee together so this was nice.  There are quite a few dads that do the dropping of the kids off in the morning here.  Since school does start earlier 8:25 maybe it works out better for the dads to take the kids.  Today the highschools that are right next to the kids school started- strange doing it on a Friday.  But there was more traffic this morning and they can park in the beginning of our school lot, yikes now even less spaces.  Can you tell I freak out about parking here!  Then after coffee I came home and got Jason and we took the Volvo to be serviced.  There is a light on in the car saying bulbs are out and service due, so we thought we better get it checked out.  We took it to the dealership since that is where the other set of tires are stored and there really aren't other places to take your car.  Then Jason left and drove to Paris for the day for work and returned late tonight.  It is about a 3 1/2 hour drive one way.  I told him if he gets lost he can go ahead and give me a call- ha I don't even know my way around here.
Let me just say a note about the pencils here.  To buy a box of pencils at the store is around $3-4 and it is for maybe 3-6 pencils and they don't have erasers on them.  Jacob does not like these no eraser pencils at all.
Tonight Jacob had one of his good friends he has made sleep over.  He was so excited and they had a good time!

Saturday was a busy day.  Jacob's friend had spent the night and all had gone well.  Then the cleaning lady came over with her friends to take away the big old fridge in the laundry room we didn't need.  We had gotten a nice, newer, smaller fridge from someone else and just didn't need that other one any more.  We went and picked up Jason's shirts from the dry cleaners.  They turned out nice and we dropped off some more which won't be ready until next Sat.- kind of crazy long time.  They have this neat system to pick up your shirts.  You put your ticket in this bar scanner and the rack of dry cleaning starts moving and then finds your stuff and slides it out this little slot to you.   Then for lunch, the American's Women's Club was having a fundraiser for raising money for the training of dogs for disabled children.  They brought some of the golden retrievers.  They were so cute and they showed us some of the things they can help the children with.  The dogs could take off someone's glasses and socks!  They were having a pancake brunch.  So we went there and had breakfast for lunch!  They had yummy pancakes, eggs, our favorite turkey bacon from home, and juice.  Sean and Amber also got their faces painted.  Amber got a ladybug and Sean became a tiger!

Then in the afternoon one of Jason's coworkers invited us over for a BBQ.  It was so fun.  There were 2 other families there as well.  And they live a bit outside of town so they have a nice house with a yard, so there were kids just running around everywhere.  He is from Germany, and he goes to a butcher in Germany about 20 minutes away and gets all his meat.  Jason's steak was big enough for 3 people!  Great food, and company.  Here it is common to serve Champagne at get togethers so that was yummy too.  The day wore out the kids who are now all tucked in bed with their faces washed!

Week of Sept. 5th

Today is Labor Day, but not a holiday here.  I spent most of the morning at school.  This morning was difficult with Amber because she started crying and didn't want me to leave her in the classroom.  She was fine last week and now is crying.   After I got her off my leg I went and had coffee in the cafe with other moms.  Then I went to the PTO meeting.  I signed up to help with the wine tasting event the PTO will put in on January.  They host a couple big events through out the year so it seems nice.  Then 2 of us went over to the sports office to figure out why we couldn't get the online signup to work and come to find out they never unlocked it for people to start signing up.  So she unlocked it and let us sign up.  We will see what happens b/c if kids had been on a waiting list for this class last year they are given priority first.  By the time all of this was done it didn't make sense for me to go home so I just stayed and waited for Amber to be done.  After school we had some friends over for a playdate so that was nice.  Today the washing machine decided not to work properly and ruined 2 of my shirts, my pjs and Amber's too.  The pj's fine we can wear them blue, but not my shirts- ugh!  Today Jason recieved our Slingbox for our TV.  This is the device which plays our TV from home on a TV here. We couldn't get it to ship to Luxembourg, so it had to go to his secretary who lives in France.  He tried hooking it up, and then accidently unhooked the internet and the internet didn't come back on for a couple of hours.  Once the internet came back on he tried hooking it up in the TV room upstairs and that didn't work so then he got it to work on the TV in the family room.  By the time he finished it was after 1am.

Monday we finally got all the insurance and stuff so Tuesday I was able to start driving the car.  Our garage is 2 car deep but only 1 car width wide so it is a tight squeeze.  And to back it up our driveway is like going backwards up a steep ramp.  You really have to step on the gas to get it up the ramp.

I like driving the car, but it is a diseal, as are most cars here, so it is louder and drives more like a truck.
This morning Jason drove separate and went with me and we took all the kids to school so he could see what he would need to do with the Amber if he takes the kids to school every once an awhile.  Then I followed him to this big shopping plaza way on the other side of town.  It is a huge mall with a grocery store that has 2 floors.  And in the bottom of the parking garage, 3 levels down, is a car cleaning service.  Jason then left and went to work and I went grocery shopping.  The car cleaning service was 2 hours.  So after that I rushed home dropped off the groceries and went back to school to get Amber since she is done at 12:20.  I was pulling the seats forward and adjusting her car seat and such and saw a ton of stuff on the floor under the seats!  What kind of cleaning place doesn't clean under the seats!  I was so annoyed.  It was expensive to get done in the first place and now the car still has crap in it!  I even found 3 DS games left by the previous owners.  Jason was able to hook up the sling box to the right TV tonight so the kids were excited to see their shows from home!  I decided at the last minute to trim Amber's hair before her school pictures.  I ended up taking off about an inch.  It looks nice.  Jean you will have to give me some tips for just trimming her hair!



Here is a picture of Amber in her rain pants for school.  She leaves these at school with a pair of rain boots.  If it isn't raining maybe she could go fishing (:
To become a resident of Luxembourg, in addition to all the paperwork, and dr. visits, we also had to get TB testing and chest x-rays done.  So we did this Wednesday after the kids got out of school.  Everyone did well.  Now we have to wait a few days and go back and have it looked at.
Thursday was Sean's and Amber's picture day for school.  They looked good in the morning before school but can't be so sure they will still be clean when it is picture time!

 In the morning at school they did the whole lower school picture outside.  Here is the half with Sean and Amber.  It was cold and they were out there waiting for 1/2 hour before the guy was ready to take their picture.

Amber is in the second row up and about 4th from the left.  Sean is in the 5th row up and is leaning forward.  You can't see his face it is blurry but he has on a blue vest sweater.  Today Amber started her class at The Little Gym and loved it.  It is taught in French, but one of the guys also speaks English if she gets confused.   Later this evening I saw her talking to herself in front of her mirror jibber jabbing and she said she was speaking French, too funny!  After school we had a play group at the park close by for Amber's mom and tots group from the American Woman's Club.
Friday-yeah!  Jacob has his school picture today.  Then after school we had to go back downtown and do that paperwork we tried to do when we first arrived and they told us no, because we were there after 7 days and they said now it is 3 days after you arrive you have to come and register with us.  So our relocation agent got new paperwork and we had to start the process over again. We were there for 1:45 min.  You can imagine how happy Amber was to be there that long- ugh!  So after that we drove down into the Grund and went out to eat at this place called Maybe Not Bob's.  It is in an old old building across from the river so since most places don't open until around 6:30pm we walked around down there and along the river.

We found a Brazil restaurant we decided we will have to come back and try!  Bob's restaurant was good food.  They had burgers, wings, ribs, salads, and sandwiches.  It is more American food.

Sat. we went to the Farmer's Market in the morning and figured out where the closer underground parking was so that was nice.  We got fruits, vegetables, bread, and a roasted chicken, so dinner was all set.  And was very yummy! Then since it was going to be a sunny day, we decided to try a new pool.  We drove about 1/2 hour away to a town right along the Moselle River.  The pool was right on the river then across the river was Germany. Here is a picture of the kids by the river.

We didn't realize that today was also the wine festival in this town too, so before the pool opened we walked around the cute town.  Here is a picture of what I think was a fountain and they filled it with ice to put wine and champagne in it.

We also went to the park along the river.   Sean is driving the pirate ship.

Then spent a couple hours at the pool, and came home and picked up a few things we had bought from another of Jason's coworkers moving back home. 

Beyond the fence of the pool is a hill with the walkway we walked on, then the river then that hill in the background are the grapes growing in the Germany vineyards.

The bottom of the pools here seem to be aluminum.  This is the baby pool the boys are in but they had 2 bigger pools one with 2 diving boards, and one with a slide that Jason and Amber went down.  Those pools had cement on the bottom.  But that indoor pool we went to last month all the bottoms of the pools were aluminum as well.  As you can see here there are no chairs to sit around the pool.  You put all your stuff in the grass outside of the pool area.  To get into the pool you first go through a building and pay on the other side and there are dressing rooms there, then you walk across a big open field and that is where most people sit.  Then you get to the pool.  And there are showers right at the pool entrance you must use before you go in.  It was a nice day, now we are going to have movie night.  It is Jacob's turn to pick one!

Labor Day Weekend

Thursday was Amber's first full morning of preschool.  She was so excited to go!  I took the boys out to the playground where they need to wait and she was pulling on my leg "Lets go to my classroom"  she kept saying.  By the way to get to the boys blacktop, we park and walk through the lot, then up the stairs and across the black top in front of the school, then we walk through the foyer of the school, pass the cafeteria, down the stairs and out the back of the school onto the playground blacktop.  It was cold outside this morning so the boys even came downstairs to the preschool area with us.  She knew where to hang up her coat, change into her indoor shoes, and put her bookbag in her cubby.  I walked her into her classroom and she went to play then ran back and hugged my leg and was about to get a little sad and then one of the aides came and showed her a place to play and she went happily!  So that was great.  I was expecting tears.
So I had a free morning in a long time!  I did some grocery shopping and bought a birthday present for myself- a food steamer.  I hadn't seen one here yet and I love mine at home.  That is how I cook most of the vegetables.  I am not sure if I will be able to wait a few more weeks till my birthday or start using it now!  Funny thing is the steamer is huge.  So some things are little here and others not.  It has 3 stacking trays for steaming.  It looks like a tower. 
The bread here is wonderful.  The olive oil is a staple at the dinner table now.  The grocery stores even have wonderful fresh baked bread- a lot of it.  And then in the big grocery stores there is also a bakery in the store with even more bread, and pastries for sale.  Then outside those big grocery stores is the mall, and in the mall there is always a bakery right outside the grocery store exit which sells the same stuff.  So they all sell a lot of bread, then a raisin loaf, crossants, a pastry that is made out of the same dough as a crossant but is a rectangle and has chocolate in the middle- yummy.  Then something that looks like a cinnamon roll, but it has raisins and something else in it.  Then some desserts.  The most popular one is a tart with a fruit topping.  We have tried the one with the strawberries on top and it was pretty good.  Needless to say I think I have been eating more then exercising so that is why I did some walking next! There are no bakeries within walking distance to my house so that could be good or bad (:
Once I got back from the store I went for a walk/jog around the neighbor hood.  And here is a picture of the house that I like best here so far.  It is so pretty.  It is in the double court up the street from me.  The side on the right is the one I like the best. It is a duplex.  So one family on the right side and one on the left side.

When I picked Amber up after school she was so happy and she was talking about her new friend she made.  I asked her what her new friend's name was, and she said, "Oscar, he is a boy, so when can he come over and play".  Ok too funny.  There are 11 girls out of 18 kids in the class and her new friend is a boy!  She said they played outside together at recess and played inside together.  I asked her if he spoke English, b/c a lot of the preschoolers don't speak English yet and she said no.  So now really funny, b/c that is the perfect person for Amber she just does all the talking!
Here they have no paper sacks for lunchs or for kids to bring a snack.  So the kids have the lunch boxes for lunch just like at home, but then they all got to pick out a snack box.  It is a rectangler box and  that is what they bring their snack to school in. 
Sean was excited today in music because he gets to get a recorder.  At our old school the kids had to be in 3rd grade. 
One thing that always throws me for a loop is writing or reading the date here.  You write the day first, then the month and then the year.  So sept. 1st is written, 1/09/11. 
After school today we had to drive out by Jason's work and everyone needed a physical done and some paperwork for us to start getting a local drivers license.  All of this took about 1.5 hours so afterward we tried to go out for Chinese, but the restaurant didn't open until 6:30 or 7:30.   A lot of places open for lunch, then close and open later in the evening for dinner.  So we had seen a big Pizza Hut and hadn't tried it yet so we went there.  There are only 3 Pizza Huts anywhere around here.  It was very nice.  Nicer restaurant then at home, better service and the food actually tasted better we thought.  They  had a little kids play area.  The menu was even in English.  Pizza Hut was in Brazil too.
Friday everyone finished up their first week of school.  When I dropped off Amber I was looking around at the name tags and didn't see anyone named Oscar.  There is an Oliver and I asked her if that was it, but he wasn't there yet and she said no.  After school I asked her to show me Oscar.  She pointed to him and we walked over and I introduced myself and asked what her son's name is.  It is Oliver, and his mom is from MI so of course he speaks English.  The teacher even said these two have become good playmates and played together these last 2 days.  Too funny Amber's new best friend here and she is calling him the wrong name!
Two of the things on Amber's list to bring to school are rain pants and rain boots.  I was thinking for pants they just meant those silky jogging suit pants, but then I went to the store and saw these pants that are made into overalls and are water resisitant.  They look similiar to wading pants a fishman would wear.  I didn't buy any because I thought maybe they were for winter.  When I get to school the next time I see a ton of these pants hanging on kids coat hooks.  So I guess I will have to go back and get some.  I have never seen these before.

Friday was Jacob's day to have PE and at his age he brings his PE clothes, the school logo shorts and T-shirt, and changes into them in a locker room before class.  When Sean has PE they don't change so they have to wear their PE clothes to school that day.  Both boys also need separte shoes for PE.  They need to be clean shoes, otherwise they are made to take off their socks and shoes and play barefoot in the gym.  Friday night there was a social gathering at school put on by the Board, and the PTO for new parents.  It was a wine and cheese event.  Yes they served wine at school!  And they had babysitting for the kids.  We knew some people there but mostly preschool parents since I see them.  We started talking to one of the parents that have a son in Amber's class and come to find out the dad works for the man who used to live/rent our current house.  So funny.  I have no idea who is in the boys classes.  Jacob lines up out back and I think I saw his teacher once, and after school when the bell rings he is just let out of his class.  But we are not to get them from their rooms so I don't even know where his room is.  There was no meet and greet or anything to introduce the teacher.  I have no idea of who the parents might be either.  Sean's teacher I have seen and talked with since she brings them down to a meeting point.  But I don't know where his classroom is either.  And the meeting point is the same for that whole building so I don't know who are the parents of the kids in his class either. It is too bad they don't have anything to meet the families that are in the classes together.  Also since it is such a large school in terms of so many grades they just have a web site and you get an weekly newsletter with updates with information from the whole school.  Notes aren't really sent home.  I feel like I have to search things out to find out what is going on.  It definately seemed easier at home with the school information.
They have a limited number of after school sports activities that I can sign up the boys for and then they just stay for 1 more hour after school and do the sport there and then I pick them up after that. The sign up is online and for some reason mine is not working, and they only take so many kids so I hope that they can get in.
I saw pictures tonight of the graduating classes, and up to 2001 there were only 10-20 kids that were seniors and graduated.  Then last years graduating class there was maybe around 50 or so kids.  So a lot smaller size then at home. 

Sat. was a fun and busy day.  Jason tried out the haircutting lady in the morning, and then we drove about 15 min. or so to a store called Little Britian that sells UK and some American groceries.  We bought things like baking powder (I had found the baking soda at the woman's club house), goldfish, a staple for us, poptarts, this was the kids special yeah it is Friday morning treat at home.  We also bought some low fat mayo.  They have no low fat foods in the stores.  And brown sugar.
After the store we went to the American Woman's Club BBQ.  They had it at a big park with a lake and paths and a playground about 10 min, or so out of town, the other direction.

It was very nice.   We met a bunch of people and had some hamburgers, and hotdogs.  Then before we left the kids got to do a water balloon fight so the boys loved that!  Amber was excited and she went and got a balloon and then she saw what they were doing with the balloons and she just backed up and gave her balloon to Jason and said he could go throw it at Jacob!  Such sisterly love!
After the BBQ we drove back into the downtown area and took the kids to the carnival that is in town.  They come for about 6 weeks in the summer and we hadn't been yet and they are leaving soon.  It is a couple of blocks long and just an amazing carnival.  They come from Germany, so they are these great German engerinered rides. They are extreme.  A lot of the rides were for kids 10-12 and older, so the boys couldn't even do some of them.  But everything was so nice for a carnival that gets torn down.  They had a huge ferris wheel that has about 45 little cages that you sit in and they are all enclosed.

The rides were very expensive.  One of Amber's rides was a jumpy thing that she gets hooked up to bungy cords that help her bounce on a trampoline so she looks like she is flying up and down, and this ride was $7.50!

So the kids were only able to go on so many rides and only once.  At least the length of the rides were long.  I would say double the time they normally are at carnivals.  There were not many lines so that was nice.  Then we stayed and had dinner.  For some of the food there they had made indoor restaurants.  They had walls and doors and windows.  It was nice to be able to sit down at a table and eat with the kids out of the sun.  The bathrooms were in a trailer but very nice and clean and of course you had to pay to use them.  Then they also had a flea market area, so Jacob bought a Brazil flag and Sean a Luxembourg flag that they hung in their rooms. 

Sunday here the stores were open.  I guess twice a year they do big sales and open on those days.  All stores were open today.  So we went on the other side of town to a big super grocery store that again is in a mall, but this one is like 3 floors.  You pick up your cart in the parking garage, put your coin in it of course, and then take them on these moving walk ways that go up and down.  The cart has special wheels so it doesn't roll back down the walk way, but it is still freaky.  We had to buy a GPS for the Volvo.  The previous owners wanted DVD players but I guess no GPS!  The store also had good prices on kids movies.  So the kids each got to pick out a movie for the zone 2 DVD player in the car. 
Since it rains a lot here some people get awnings put on the back of their houses to cover the patio so you can still grill or sit outside if you wish.  Our house has one so Jason was able to grill dinner and not get wet.  I had gotten a box of a type of augratin potatoes to go with dinner, but the directions were in German.  Thank goodness for google translater.  Amber was playing in her craft area and was cutting things up, and accidently cut open her lip.  There was blood everywhere.  It took me about 20 min, to get the bleeding to stop.  It really isn't too bad, but her lip is puffy now with a bloody scab.
Monday here obviously is not a holiday but at least a little lighter day for Jason at work since no one in the US will be working.  Hope everyone had a good Labor Day Weekend!