Week of Sept. 22nd, 2013

Sunday Sean helped me make some homemade waffles.  They were good.  Amber ate 4 1/2 of them!
Sean has really been on a cooking kick lately! 
Today at school was the Back to School Fair.

So we went at lunch as they were having an American BBQ.  We never miss out when that is going on!  So we had hotdogs and hamburgers for lunch, but of course you could buy champagne and beer too, so funny since it is at school!
The purpose of this was for people in the community to advertise their activities or things geared towards the kids.  So we walked around and saw all their tables and Amber did the bouncy castle too.  From here we decided to try out this pumpkin festival I had heard about.  Again no real address just knew which town it was in.  We found it fine, there were signs and also signs for parking in the field close by so all was good.  It was about 40 min. away.  They had a bunch of vendors there selling things.  Jacob got a great hat!  I told him it will be perfect for wearing when we drag them to the Christmas markets this year!

There was also a band there.  They were signing American country songs in English.  They sounded American, but don't know for sure.  So that was funny.  We just walked around and then at the end of the area they had some pumpkins for sale.  So the kids each picked one out.  Pretty cheap for here!  So then Jason and I lugged them back to the car and we headed back home.  I put them out front and now we are ready for fall!

Monday when I was grocery shopping I decided for lunch to pick up some sushi from the new sushi counter/café in the grocery store.   I told my friend don't tell our Norwegian friend that I bought package sushi she would probably die!  It tasted great!  I saved a piece for Jacob to eat with his dinner and he was so happy!
After school Sean and Amber had dentist appts with a new dentist today.  Our old one moved back to Sweden at the end of the school year.  So a friend had recommend this one.  She was very nice and the kids did well so we are good for another 6 months!  Jacob had cross country after school so he will go to the dentist next week. 

Tuesday Jacob went in early for band and then after I dropped off the other ones I went to the yoga class at my friend's house.  There were 6 of us there today.  The class was a bit harder then last week's class.  But I am nice and stretched out now! During this class the school opened its online sign up for lower school conferences.  So I had Jason do it for me.  I think it was the first time he had ever been on the website!   After this, a friend from class and I went to the b'day venue place were we have having the girls b'day party at!  It will be a baking party.  I am excited since this type of place is new to Luxembourg for younger ones to do this.  We are having Amber's party early this year and doing it with her best friend.  From here we picked up some sushi for lunch!  Can't stop eating it!  Then we drove to France to the sporting goods store.  I got a mat for yoga, some ballet stuff for Amber and some winter stuff. 
It was a gorgeous sunny day here today so after school we went to the park.  After dinner Jacob started back up with guitar lessons.  So he enjoyed starting that back up again.  Jacob had his pictures today so hopefully he had a good smile going!

Wednesday I went in the morning and got my hair cut.  Then things to do at home.  When Amber got out at 12 we took one of her friends home for a playdate, so they had a good time!  Today Sean had his pictures so hopefully that went well.  He also started soccer after school.  It works out well b/c he gets out early and can do this and then when Jacob gets out he just has to wait a little bit and then Sean is done and I can pick them both up.  So for soccer have all the kids meet in one spot then the coach comes and gets them and walks them to the field/changing rooms. 
After Amber's friend left we went back to school, and saw Jacob and his friend he was having over after school walking up to the soccer pitch.  So we just had to wait a little bit until Sean changed and then we came back home.  Jacob's friend doesn't live too far away but farther then I would let Jacob walk by himself and she told me to let her son just walk home.  I asked him if he knew how to get home from our house and he wasn't too sure.  He knew where to go once he got closer to school.  So when it was time for him to go home Jacob walked him back until he was comfortable knowing where he was.  Although then I was a little worried Jacob might get lost! 

Thursday when I pulled up to drop off the younger two at school some idiot had parked his car and gotten out and left it there in the small little area to drop off- ugh!  So it was difficult to do the drop off area for Amber b/c I couldn't fit my car in very well.  Then I had a bunch of groceries to get as I have some things I want to make and bake today and this weekend.  My morning coffee got canceled so lots of time to grocery shop and exercise this morning.
I made 2 loaves of chocolate chip banana bread so I can give one of them to my friend's family since she isn't feeling well. 
After lunch I went upstairs and turned the light on in my bathroom, the only light that works b/c the other light in the bathroom has been serviced twice by an electrician and it still burns the light bulb and I am afraid it is going to start a fire so we finally just removed the light bulb.  So when I turned the light on, one bulb shot out of the fixture, across the bathroom and shattered.  Ok glad I wasn't standing in front of that!  But crap, it blew the power out on the entire 3rd floor!  And the base of the light bulb is still attached inside the light fixture- ugh.  I have never had more problems with lights then I have had in this house.  2 years ago Sean's light fixture caught on fire!  Seriously!
After school Jacob had cross country and Amber joined Rainbows, that is what they call the little ones for Girl Scouts.  It was for an hour and a half.  Long activity for her, but there were other girls she knew and she loved it and had a great time!  One of Sean's friends came over and is staying with us tonight and into tomorrow night as both of his parents are out of town. 
After I picked up Amber we waited forever for Jacob to come down.  I didn't know what was taking them so long.  It turns out they took a bus today and went for a run in the forest where the meet is this weekend.  Crazy here they don't even tell the parents what they are doing!
We had a nice dinner and I got everyone settled for the night.  Amber wasn't very happy about doing everything in the dark.  Earlier today when I told Jason what happened he was just like, flip the switches on the box and it will be fine.  Yeah,  I said I think it needs more help then that and I didn't touch the switches.  So when he got home I told him to go and try the switches, yeah nothing.  I think something more serious happened!  I emailed the relocation lady and she notified the owner.  So we will see what happens, but in the meantime we are in the dark with our flashlight!

Friday Jacob didn't have school but the other ones did.  Something about a teacher's training day.  So he was excited!  Jason took Sean, Amber and Sean's friend to school so that was nice.  Then Jacob and I had a nice breakfast, and later I made him some tea.  He loves tea! 
I started tennis back up today.  So at the end of last year the 2 other girls I was doing it with and I agreed that we would sign up with the same teacher again same day and time.  Well I show up and I guess no one else is doing it at this time.  I didn't know the girls but we had a nice time in the lessons together.  So bummer.  But now it is like a private lesson doing tennis for an hour.  Yikes!  I am wondering if they are billing me for a private lesson or a group lesson.  We will see!
Since Jacob had no school I told him I would take him out to lunch.  So Jason even met up with us.  We went to this Italian/Pizza place on the top floor of a mall that I had wanted to try.  It was packed by the time we got there and we had to wait a little bit for a table.  Food was good and we had a nice time with Jacob.  After lunch we did a little grocery shopping and we walked around the mall to the end where they had added the addition that Jason hadn't seen.   Then we came home and soon after I had to go back to school to get the other ones.  Jason came home since he was flying out in a bit.  He was going to Oktoberfest in Munich this weekend with some people from work.  He hasn't ever been so figured he should try it out once while we are here!  He is just renting a room in a house so it will be interesting to see how that goes too!
Sean's friend came home with us again.  It was a beautiful day today, so after school the boys played outside and then set up some domino like things to see the reaction.
I invited the boy that was staying with us and his mom, once she got back in town, for dinner tonight.  I had mentioned yesterday to him that we were having tacos tonight and he said he like tacos.  He is from Italy so I asked if he had had them there.  He said no, but when he was in the US over the summer he had some and like them.  So we had a nice taco dinner night!

Sat morning the kids wrapped my presents that I had given them and then hid them from me!  Later in the morning we dropped Amber off at her friend's house where she had lunch and then they went to a b'day party together.  The boys and I went to Jacob's cross country meet.  It was in a forest!  Of course I had no idea where it is and it doesn't have an address.  I spent awhile last night on google maps trying to figure it out.  We did find it but they said they would have signs by the car park entrance and there weren't any that I saw!  So we just parked in the gravel lot and the first thing they did was take a walk around the forest trail.  5 teams came in town for the meet.  We didn't have to house any boys.  Some may have stayed with the older kids or I think they must have stayed at a hotel.  So the under 12 team which is what Jacob is on ran the 2.5 kilometer race and then the older ones ran the 5km race.  For the 2.5 race it was only boys but the under 12 and under 14 teams with 5 schools so maybe around 50 plus kids.  Jacob's good friend came in 5th!  Jacob came in 32nd.  We stayed around until they did the medals to support the team and Jacob's friend was actually 2nd place b/c the medals were broken up by age group so even though he came in 5th, he was 2nd in the under 12 age group!  So he got a medal!

At this location there was a park so Sean played with another boy he knew.  I had packed lunch as well so we just ate there too.
When the meet ended Jacob's friend came home with us for the rest of the afternoon.  Soon after we got home, Amber's party she went to ended so my friend brought her back home. 
Then Amber and I baked my birthday cupcakes for tomorrow!  I found a recipe for chocolate ones, since no box mixes here!  And then a new recipe for frosting too.  So we will see how they taste tomorrow.  Then Sean helped me make sugar cinnamon donuts for breakfast tomorrow.

Tonight Sean and I played a game of checkers and the poor thing started crying b/c he wasn't winning.  Amber loves playing too but doesn't like losing.  She normally storms off!  We talked to Jason today and he said he didn't get into his room until later last night so he didn't go out.  And that his room was more like a closet and then there was a shared bathroom.  Today he was out walking around and then after lunch was going to meet with the guy who had organized it and they were going to walk around and then their table was going to be ready at 4pm for everyone. 

Week of Sept. 15th, 2013- Apple picking

Sunday was the first day in about a week that it didn't rain!  The sun was even out for most of the day- amazing!  We enjoyed the homemade cinnamon rolls I had made last night.  Then later in the morning Amber's friend left from the sleepover.  In the afternoon we met our friends out at the apple orchard to do some apple picking!  It was open today!  Unfortunately they didn't have many rows of apples open to pick ): 

It was the first weekend and I guess they are trying to save some apples for later, not sure.  But was disappointed with what we could pick.  Jacob picked a lot of apples.

Sean was busy trying to man the wheelbarrow and Amber was between picking and trying to sit on the wheelbarrow. 

 

 

Because it wasn't the festival they have there was no food for sale and they weren't making the apple cider and no boxes to actually put your apples in.  Jason had a few bags in his car so we put the apples in those.  The kids enjoyed the wheelbarrow and going down the apple aisles!  And of course we all had an apple or two for a snack!

 

 

I made another new dinner tonight.  It was kind of similar to a green bean casserole but then you also add rice and chicken to it.  It was really good and the kids all had 2 helpings of it!
Jacob had lost another tooth today, crazy that he is still losing teeth!  I thought they would have all been out by now.  I think last school year he lost 6 teeth! 

Monday morning the rain came back for the week!  I dropped the kids off, worked out, got ready and drove to my friend's house.  She had heard of a craft store in Germany by our grocery store we go to.  So we drove and found it, but it really was more of an art store then a true craft store.  Then we hit our usual stores and tried a few others as she was looking for some other things.
By the time I got back home I had time to unload the cold/freezer stuff and change the wash with a few minutes to spare then back to school.  Amber had a friend over after school and Jacob had cross country.  Sean and I made applesauce with some of our apples.  Then dropped off Amber's friend and picked up Jacob after cross country.  We had some warm, freshly made applesauce with our dinner.  It was yummy!

Tuesday Jason dropped off Jacob early for band.  I dropped off the other 2 a bit later, worked out and got ready and ran to the mall for a few errands.  Then my girlfriend picked me up and we went to Ikea and the Import store for some things.  I should be set for awhile!
After school we went with friends to the park to feed the ducks and play for a bit between downpours!

After dinner we had appts. at the Chiropractor.  He doesn't have many time slots that are after school that work for the boys. 

Wednesday morning before Amber's half day pickup was a beginner band meeting for Sean.  So I went to that and got all the forms.  He has to pick his top 3 choices and in music class they have been going over the instruments so we will see which one he ends up with!  He is hoping for percussion like Jacob.
Then I picked up Amber and one of her friends and drove them to a friend's house for a b'day party!  They were so excited!  They had costumes for them they had rented.  Witches for the girls and the costumes were super cute.  Of course when I go to pick up Amber she thinks she gets to keep it and didn't want to take it off!  I had left my camera in the car so I didn't get a picture of her in it.
Before I picked her up I had to pick up Sean, then Amber, then dropped them off at home.  Jason had a lunch meeting at the Embassy, which he said is now his favorite restaurant in town.  Ha b/c of course it isn't a restaurant you have to be invited for a meal!  Anyway he just had gotten back home from the luncheon meeting and worked from home for the rest of the day.  So after I dropped those 2 off I headed back to school to get Jacob only to have 2 more friends come out with him.  One couldn't get ahold of his mom so decided he better not come over.  The other one said his mom was in another parking lot on the other side of the school so we drove him over there and he couldn't come to our house since his grandparents were in town so Jacob went to his house.  Before dinner I went and picked up Jacob.  The traffic going the other direction was backed up so badly.  I had never seen it that bad before so I knew I had to go a different way home.  Oh no I don't like to do that.  I know one way to get places, as most of the time there is only one way with the roads here.  But I sort of knew of another way and turned on the GPS- it sucks and isn't working right.  Ugh- I sort of knew where I was going, but missed the exit and so had to go another way.  To take the girls to the b'day party today the GPS completely froze and didn't even work! 

Thursday morning a friend of mine is going to start teaching yoga in her house.  She has a spare room on the top floor and can fit up to 8 people at a time.  So today she had 2 trial classes.  I did one and liked it.  I do my exercise videos and the treadmill, so we will see how this goes.  It is good for all the stretching it does.  But I did have a headache after I left.  In yoga I feel like your head is always upside down.  So we will see.  It was nice as it is mostly moms from school doing it.   Then I went over to the Woman's club and signed up the kids for the trick or treating and bought some American goodies! 
After school Amber had one of her boy friends over, and Jacob had cross country.  I found a boy's jacket in my car today so I believe it was Jacob's friend yesterday that wanted to come over, so we found his mom at pick up and gave it back.  About 1/2 hour before I am suppose to pick up Jacob he called and said he was done!  Unfortunately, Amber's friend was getting picked up in about 10 min. So I told him he had to wait at school until the little boy left and then we would be right over.  I am not sure why they ended so early today.

Friday Jason took Jacob in early for band and then I dropped off the other 2 when it was their start time.  I quickly ran to the store and then my friend picked me up and we were going downtown to see a few stores.  We did a lot of shopping this week but didn't really buy much.
So we went to a couple stores downtown, mainly their good toy store.  One thing I got was a chess set for Sean for Christmas.  He learned how to play last year at school and I think it would be a nice game for the family.  Then we headed out to the mall.  I got my friend in the hospital a little something and then a little pumpkin.  We grabbed a brot from the lunch area and then headed back home. 
After school Jacob had a b'day party to go to at a friend's house.  So we hung around a bit as it wasn't right after school.  His friend's house is over by the construction, closed street, by the basketball place we tried to go a few weeks ago.  So at least I knew about the construction b/c their driveway is in the middle of it all and you have to park somewhere else, not on the street and then walk back.  It didn't say anything about it on the invite so I hope other people did ok with it.
Then we came back home and Sean and I made some apple crisp.  We had it for dessert after dinner and it tasted so good I couldn't stop eating it!
Later in the evening I went back and picked up Jacob from the party.

Saturday we decided to take the kids after lunch to the Alpine Slide we did last year in Germany.  The kids love it!  It is about 45 min. to get there and on the way there we see that a good portion of the highway going the other direction is closed- seriously! 
So we spend some time going down the slides.  Jason and I only went twice, then the kids went together the rest of the time.  The boys took turns taking Amber.  Amber never wanted to ride with me, she told me that I go too slow!  Thanks Amber!

 

 

 

It is a lot of fun.  You go way up to the top of the hill and then down through the forest.  You can smell the pine trees and across the way see the grapes growing on surrounding hills.  It is very pretty scenery.  When we got here we saw another family that we knew that was celebrating their daughter's b'day here.  Perfect day for it, considering all the rain we have had and a perfect idea for parties!  Then we drove home and got rerouted b/c of the closed highway.  Later we got ready to go out with some friends for dinner.

There was a new restaurant in my friend's neighborhood so we drove over to their house and then walked, just the adults.  It was very good.  It was a combination of French, Chinese and Japanese restaurant.  We had a good time!

Week of Sept. 8th, 2013

Sunday we decided we would try the apple festival in the afternoon when it opened.  I had read something someone had posted that it opened this weekend.  So after lunch we drove out there.  We had put on our wellie boots since it had rained last night.  Today wasn't super sunny but I thought it might be better to go b/c it is suppose to rain all week and next weekend the fields will be a mess.  So again no address to find this place.  We remember last year how long we drove around looking for it!  So this year we remember seeing this road.  It tees off another road and goes straight up into a forest.  So we found it easier this year, only to get there and see that it was closed!  It opens next weekend- ugh!
So I had another town I had wanted to go to so we drove there.  But trying to get to the orchard and out was hard b/c there was a bike race going on and a lot of streets were blocked or closed- seriously!  So we drove about 30 min. to another town that was on the Moselle river.  It had a small little aquarium that we saw and walked along the river and saw the swans.

Then there was a park there and the kids played there for a long time.  Then we drove through the rest of the town and headed home and had a BBQ.  And the boys rented another movie.  They love renting movies!

Monday when we got to school the boys went their way and I walked Amber to her area but right away she was able to go in her cubbie room area and put away her stuff and then I just said goodbye to her and she went off to the common area by her classroom.  Today was the first full day of Kindergarten for her!  I then ran to the store, post office, dry cleaners, bank and salon to make an appt.  and then got gas on my way out.  All at the mall!  Got home and worked out, had lunch and got ready to go back to school.  Did a few more things at home and then back for pick up. 
This afternoon it was windy and kind of chilly.  We have to wait outside now for the kids.  We were always allowed inside the old school before.  Now we have to stand under this covered area.  But the wind just seems to blow through the area.  I am not going to like this come winter!  When I see Sean he had his sweatshirt unzipped and I noticed his shirt is Jacob's pj shirt!  Agh seriously!  He had his sweatshirt on this morning so never noticed it.  Of course it doesn't really look like a pj shirt but still!  So once I got Amber and Sean we went to get Sean's hair cut and Jacob had cross country.  Our hairdresser was going out of town tonight so she couldn't fit both boys in after Jacob's cross country, so I did Sean before and then we went home.  Back to school a bit later to get Jacob and over to get his hair cut. 
Jason and another guy from work drove to Germany today for the big car show there this week. 

Tuesday morning I talked to the kids about doing the drop off today.  So I first dropped off Jacob at the first building and then drove into the drop off lane for the other building.  At Amber's spot I dropped off Sean and Amber and he waited there with her, me too in the car until a high school kid in a yellow vest was ready to take her in.  Then Sean went and walked just a bit further to his area to wait for school to start.  After school Amber said it went well so I think we can continue this!
After school Sean had a friend over and Amber went to a friend's house.  As Sean and his friend and I were walking back to the car it started pouring.  We got soaked!  My umbrella was turning inside out and the back of my pants got so wet I had to change when we got home.  Then we had to wait about 15 min or so for Jacob to get out of school and meet us. 
I made a new dinner, taco lasagna.  It was good.  I got a lot of new recipes from magazines at home over the summer so looking forward to trying them out!
After Sean's friend left, I went and picked up Amber.  It took awhile to get there as the highway was all backed up. 
I got a note from the bball league Jacob wants to join here and all the players have to go to one of these "certain" doctors to get a medical approval to play.  I said he just had a physical at home can't we use this.  No, all players have to go to an approved dr.  There are like 10 drs. and only one anywhere close by here!  I also think I got a note saying b/c he wasn't born in that year he can't play.  I am checking into this, b/c we just want to practice with the team once a week, so we will see where this goes.  I guess all the other boys were born before Jan. that are in his grade on the team.
I have a shoe tying book that I have used for all the kids to help them learn how to tie their shoes.  So I have been working with Amber on how to tie your shoes.  Well tonight she got it!  She may tie her shoes better then Sean now!
Jason had gotten home before I did.  So he drove to Germany yesterday with another guy from work who is German.  The guy's dad falls and ends up in the hospital so the guy tells Jason he is staying and now can't drive him back here.  So the company had to book a flight for him.  It was very expensive being a one way, last minute ticket.  Then once at the airport he still had to take a cab over to the guy's house here to get his car. 

Wednesday, I was emailing back and forth with the coach and the bball club to see if Jacob could somehow stay on that team or just practice with them on Wed. without joining the club, but no such luck! 
Amber was done at 12 and then we came home and had lunch and made Monster Cookies.  I won't be making those again, as it calls for 2 cups of peanut butter!  That uses up like a whole jar and I have to import this!  Yikes! 
The weather today was a high of 58 degrees and sun/rain/down pouring/dark/thunder.  Crazy weather!
Then back to school in the early afternoon for Sean and an hour later for Jacob.  Tonight was the back to school night for the lower school.  So Jason met me there and it was in the auditorium.  So Jason got to see some of the new school and he thought it looked really good.  Then you break out into the kid's classrooms and normally the teacher does a presentation about the school year.  I did Sean's class and sent Jason to Amber's class.  Neither teacher gave a presentation!  There were handouts on the kids desks and that was it.  Ok if you are just giving handouts and not saying anything why not just send it home with the kids?  I was annoyed.  So glad they are willing to share what will be going on this year!!
I will have to find out if other grades did the same.

Thursday morning after drop off was the 6th grade coffee at school.  So I went to that.  It was nice to see some moms of 6th grade kids.  Some moms work so some of my friends were not able to make it, but it was nice to catch up with others and meet some new moms too.
Then later in the morning I joined my friend as she wanted to see a house here.  She is looking to buy a house here.  I guess they will be staying awhile.  So me and another friend joined our girlfriend and we went to visit a farmhouse for sale.  The house is pretty expensive, a little over 3 million euros!  It was over a hundred years old.  It is a house attached to a barn.  The woman who owns it said they renovated it once they had bought it and it took 6 years!  Lots of bare wood throughout the house.  The house was pretty fancy looking.   The barn was really neat.  There was a small room in the barn that was the old horse stable.  It was the man's workshop.  It still smelled pretty bad.  But the barn had a ping pong table in it and a basketball hoop.  It had concrete floors and then just open to the beams from the ceiling so lots of space.  They were using some of it as storage.  The owners were going to put an indoor pool in but decided not too.  My friend was considering putting a tennis court in there/multipurpose area.  How fun for the kids!  But she wasn't really crazy about the house.  So the 3 of us met up with another friend for lunch at an Italian place by school.  I was looking forward to trying it as I had never been there yet.
So we had a nice lunch.  Then I ran home to change the wash and back to school for pick up.  I got Amber and Sean and then later back to school to get Jacob from cross country and home quick to heat up dinner and then back to school for the back to school night for middle school.  So when I got to the school they give you a copy of your kid's schedule and you all start out in the auditorium and then you go to visit his classes.  Jacob's homeroom/English and social studies teacher is Sean's teacher from last year and I really liked her.  So then I met with his other teachers.  They all seem really nice.  His German teacher even makes me want to learn German! 

Friday I had coffee with a friend at school.  A lot going on with her.  Then ran to the store.  When I came home it was just so cold I turned the heat on!  Can you believe it!  Sept. 13th and the heat is on.  If it stays cold like this and we don't get any more sun it is going to be a long long winter!
After school Jacob had a fun run for cross country so we stayed and watched him do that.

 

After this Jacob went over to a friend's house to spend the night.  Then we came home and brought one of Sean's friends home with us.   After dinner we had movie night- Home Alone 3.

 

Sat. it rained, as it had all week long!  The construction company didn't touch that area across the street this week.  They picked up the tractor but all the logs and brush are still there in a pile.  The land will need to still be leveled.  So we will see how long before any more work is done.  Things move pretty slow here. 

Sat. afternoon Jacob's friend and Amber's friend came over for a sleepover.  We had a bbq and the boys rented the 3rd Pirates of the Caribbean movie and the girls got their toes and nails done.  I made some cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then unfortunately once in bed Jacob's friend started to not feel well and then started to worry about things.  So in the end he went home. 

Week of Sept. 1st, 2013

Sunday we got up and got ready for church.  We got there and all the doors were locked.  I see on the board outside the church it says as of July we have moved to a church downtown.  What?  We went to church the beginning of June and then I went to Poland and then we came home and they never said anything about this then.  In fact in the spring there was a big to do b/c the European Church group was giving the English church this church.  I don't know if it was just for Sunday mass or what.  So I was quite surprised that now they can't have church there anymore.  The church is really run down and in need of a lot of repairs so I don't know if that had something to do with it.  So I called my friend and asked where was this other church.  Her husband was just leaving to head to church so he drove by the parking lot of the old church where we were and we followed him.  We drove downtown and parked in a different garage then we are used to.  And then the church is just around the corner.  It is a really neat, pretty, big church.  It is too bad Sean's Communion couldn't have been here.  But I guess this one is only temporary until they find a new one.  So we enjoyed mass here today.  After mass since we were already downtown we just went out to lunch.  Jacob was at an amusement park with a friend all day so we took the other 2 to McDonalds for lunch. 
Then back at home I spent most of the day doing the blog for summer and the first week back here and downloading all the pictures.  It takes awhile.  So I got that all done. 
I also finally finished unpacking and sorting everything from returning back here.
Amber's friend came over in the afternoon to spend the night. 

Jacob got home about 8:30.  He was pretty tired.  So I got everyone to bed.

Monday the girls slept into 8am so that was good. 

And Jason was still able to take Jacob in this week to school so that was good too.  Then later in the morning Amber also had another friend over to play and for lunch.  Then the friend that spent the night, her mom and siblings came over for lunch and then the girls went to a painting class after lunch.  It was cute.  The lady who did Amber's jewelry party also does some craft workshops and today was painting.  So they could pick out a design and then paint it.  Amber did a seahorse.  It turned out really cute.  While she did that Sean and I ran to the store and we may have gotten some ice cream cones there too!
We went and picked up Amber and then ran home to unload groceries and then to school.  Jacob was starting cross country today.  So we took all his 3 other bags he had and gave him his running clothes and then he had a meeting about cross country and went for a run.  Since it was Labor Day at home Jason was able to leave work at a descent time and was able to pick up Jacob after cross country.  We BBQ out just like we would have at home today! 

Tuesday, last day of summer for Sean and Amber.  Jacob today decided he should just shower before school.  I was cracking up!  He is showering before bed b/c of sports and being sweaty but then in the morning his hair is all over the place.  The last 2 years he would just spray it down every morning and put on a hat.  He wore a hat to school every day for 2 years!  This year he hasn't worn a hat at all!  He did leave his favorite hat at home.  So we don't have that back yet.  But still surprised about the shower.   Jason dropped off Jacob and the other 2 got ready for their playdates.  One of Sean's friends came first around 9:30 and the mom stayed to chat a bit.  Then one of Amber's boy friends came over and then another friend of Sean's came.   So the kids were busy all morning.  The 3 boys played nerf guns I think for an hour and Amber and her friend played with the barn and animals for an hour!  I made a big thing of pasta for everyone with some cut up fruit for lunch.  After lunch the 3 boys each took a bowl and went and picked the blackberries across the street.  They came in and washed them and then the one friend said he eats them with milk and sugar, so the boys thought they would try that too.  Sean just wanted the sugar on his. 
A bit after lunch Amber's friend got picked up, then we dropped off one of Sean's friends on the way to school.  Today we had Amber's tour of the school and her area she will be in.  So Sean and his friend had to join us since I wasn't meeting his mom until after the tour when the older boys got out of school.  So they were trying to sit and rest on all the couches that we would come across b/c they weren't interested in seeing the kindergarten area!  Ha! 

The area looks great with lots of space.  There will be 4 classes and they each have no more then 18 kids in them with 2 teachers.  Next to the classrooms there is a big space for reading with tables and books, chairs and other things if small groups want to use this space.   It is shared by the 4 classes.  The class rooms themselves have a little tree house like thing that you can climb the stairs and go into a play area and then there is a play area under the tree house thing too.  The kids were so excited.  After the tour Sean's friend left with his mom and we met Jacob and his friend that was coming over after school.  We went home and they all played.  I got everyone and their things ready for school tomorrow! 

Wednesday was the other two's big day, first day of school!  I got everyone up early so we had time to take some pictures and get to school early- they weren't excited about the getting up part!
Over the summer I finally bought a tripod and so we finally took our first family photo by ourselves!  Most of the rest of our photos throughout Europe have only Jason or I in the picture and the other one is taking the picture.  Sometimes I would let a stranger take it.  But this is great.  The camera has a timer on it and so this is nice!  I looked into a remote for the camera but for some reason my camera is not compatible with any of the remotes out there!  So we got a nice family photo for the first day of school!

Jacob went to school normally today and I walked the other 2 over to the new building.  The main area is covered and that is where grade 1-5 meet and wait for their teacher in the morning.  Amber I have to walk around the side of the building and go to her playground and that is where they will let those children in. 

 

 Sean being interviewed! 

 

Here is a picture of the cupcakes the kids all got for snacks today.

Good way to start the day!

So today I was able to stay with Amber for a bit and I went in and we got her stuff put away in her cubbie and went to her classroom. 

 

 

Her teacher and aide seem nice.  I had to fill out some forms in the class and while I am doing that Amber is back and forth between playing and checking on me and telling me that if I am done I can go and kept giving me kisses!  So funny, so this is Kindergarten so for some kids it could be the first time they go to school and may be sad.  This is Amber's 4th year of school already!  She was so excited and ready to be there!  Love it!  So off I went to the store kid free!   When I get home from the store I see some men across the street putting up a fence around the block in front of me.  Yuck that means construction is coming.  There go our blackberry bushes ):

Amber gets done at 12 on Wednesdays so I just packed a picnic for us and after I picked her up some moms and kids went to the park close by for a picnic.  It was a lovely day!

Then back to school to get Sean, and then home for a bit and back to school to get Jacob.  On Wed. Sean gets out an hour earlier then Jacob so will be a tricky day!  After we got Jacob we ran back home again for him to change and get a snack and then we went to this new basketball program he may join.  It is a local group so he was a little nervous about going, but one of his friends from school was doing it as well.  Well my GPS can't find it and the road it is on is under construction and part of it is closed so I wasn't sure where it was.  There was another building around the corner that I thought might be it so we park and go in and it is a gym.  We hang out for like 5 min. and no one is there so I thought we must have the wrong gym.  I get ahold of the other boy's parents that know where it is and we started just walking over there.  It wasn't too far and with that street under construction there wasn't really anywhere to park anyway.  So once we found it I started talking to the coach praying he speaks English and he did!  So he seems nice and Jacob joined them.  His friend brought Jacob home.  Jacob said he loved it and knew like 7 kids!  Other kids from school are doing it.  I think it is mostly a 7th-8grade team.  The boys are quite tall.  The boy who signed us up has a Dec. b'day so hopefully Jacob can stay on the team even though he wasn't born until a bit later.  One kid on the team went to school with Jacob last year.  This year when school started Jacob was asking around for him and no one knew but one friend that he transferred schools.  What do you know he plays basketball here too!  So Jacob was excited to see him.  So hopefully this works out ok.  B/c since it is a club they are suppose to practice 2 times a week and then games on Sat, but we only want the practice 1 time a week b/c of cross country. 

Thursday I parked and walked to the drop off points for the younger 2.  Jacob knows where he needs to be.  They are allowed to just walk in school and start getting ready for their first class.
Sean knows where he needs to be and is fine.  For Amber we walk to the playground and then when it is time they let them in to their cubbies area and they drop everything off and then head to their room.  I am not sure when I will decide to just drop her off.  There were some kids that got dropped off by car but still a lot of parents around today.  It is not like the drop offs at home.  Here younger years kids get dropped off next to the area were they go in.  So someone has to be standing out there and walk them over to the playground where they can play until they get let in the school. 
Afterwards I came home and straightened up the house and started getting lunch ready as I was having a back to school lunch for some friends at the house today.  It ended up being really hot today and I was making soup, and cornbread.  One friend brought a salad and one brought some French bread to go with it.  Then I made a blueberry cobbler and we had ice cream with that for dessert.  It was hot in my kitchen.  I had the windows, they open like doors, so I had the doors open and then I had flies and bees coming in so I had to close the doors and just open them like windows.  But everything tasted good!  Amber is still getting out at 12 this week, so my friend picked her up on the way over here so we had 4 kids for lunch too! 
It was nice to get together again!  I missed our champagne lunches over the summer!  We were sitting in the dining room and the big window looking out faces those bushes that were across the street, well all of a sudden this big backhoe just comes through and starts tearing down all the bushes.  So lovely to look at! 
Everyone stayed until school pickup and then we went and got Sean.  Jacob had cross country so we picked him up before dinner.  He seems to be doing a good job of keeping track of what he needs to do for each class and bringing home the right materials for it.  Lets hope this continues.

Friday morning after I got Amber in class I went to a meeting about volunteering for 6th grade.  It went well and they don't really have room parents just activities they have arranged and then volunteers to help with them.  So I signed up to help with some things.  Then after that I ran home for a bit and then back to school for a meeting in Amber's classroom.  The kids showed the parents around. 

Then she went home with a friend for a playdate.  I went back home for lunch and then a bit later back to school for another meeting about the after school activities that the school will have.    Then picked Sean up, and Jacob and his friend and we went over to pick up Amber at her friend's house.
By the end of the day today they had finished clearing all the land.  No more pear trees, blackberry bushes or privacy!

 
Tonight was the kids back to school celebration dinner.  They like the Japanese restaurant down the street.  We can walk to it.  I got my sushi again.  I love it!  Jacob really likes it too.  Then we came home and had movie night.  So an end to the first week and off to a good start of school!

Sat. for breakfast Jason did omlets.  They were tasty!  Then for lunch we met some friends at a Medieval Festival in another town.  So we did what everyone else does to find this place.  It is on a street in a town that leds to the fields and half of the festival is down the street and the other half in the field.  So we put the town in the GPS and that takes us to the town, but it is really on the outskirts of the town almost in another town.  So once you get to the town you have to start looking for the handmade signs that someone puts up that guide you to the fields to park in down the street from the entrance.  So the signs aren't always at all the intersections.  So sometimes you have to guess.  We guessed wrong once and turned around.  Then you end up in an industrial park area and if you keep following the road it dead ends.  They missed putting a sign before the dead end that would say to exit here and get you back out on the road that goes to the field, crazy.  The lack of addresses to put in the GPS here drives Jason crazy!  So we finally found it and went in.  They have people dressed from Medieval times here and are selling all sorts of medieval attire or things you would have needed or wanted then.

So us and another family found a table and got lunch.  They had hotdog like things and brats and fries.  Then for drinks we couldn't find any bottled water.  A lot of beer and wine were here though!  So I ended up having to buy the water in these cups and then you can keep the medieval looking cups.  Jason found the elephant ear like cart and then we got some fried apple crisp things too.  The whole narrow street here is covered in straw.

Then the path turns into the field and we walked down there.  Jacob and Amber did archery! 

 

 

Then they all did a little shooting game with cross bow like thing with nerf darts. 

It was a lot of fun.  We had gone last year too.

The tall ladies.

 

The parade

 

Jason and I rented the Gatsby movie and watched that tonight.  I liked it and remembered reading the book in school.