Week of Oct. 13th, 2013

Sunday I woke up with a horrible head cold.  I really had it by the time I went to bed last night and didn't sleep well.  Today I got my Polish Pottery out for a goodbye coffee I am having this week for my friend, also named Kerry, who is moving back to New Zealand.  Her daughter is Amber's age and they have been friends since we moved here.   I haven't used the tea set yet so I had the kids help me peel all those awful stickers off the pottery.

There were 3 stickers on each piece!
Jacob had a friend over after lunch.  Then I took Amber to the girl that is moving, her going away party and her brother turned 3 so they combined the parties. 

Monday I had the Grade 4 coffee right after drop off.  This is where parents can come together and hear the room parents tell what they know about how the year is going to be.  We do it at a café right across from school.  So that was nice.  After that I ran to the store then home and tried to rest as I still am very stuffy and not sleeping well.  Jason got up super early as I think his flight left at 6:20.  I can hear the plane and I always think it is his flight!  He flew back to MI for the week. 
Amber had a field trip today.  They went and saw a play.  She said it was mostly dancing.  But she enjoyed it. 
After lunch I tried to rest for a bit but don't think I really ever fell asleep.  Then before pick up I had Amber's grade coffee.  Same place.  So it is also a nice way to meet other moms.
After school Jacob had cross country in the rain. And a little boy from Amber's class had invited her over for a playdate.  He lives about 25 min or so from the school.  So we just decided Sean and I would come over too.  So that was nice to get to know them.  They are from the UK, but have lived her for about 8 years but are new to the school this year.
When I picked Jacob up from cross country he was really excited.  He had gotten picked to be on the final team that goes to competition.  It is in November and they leave on a Friday and come back late Sat.  They go to Antwerp, Belgium.  They get to spend the night in a hotel and everything.  He is super excited!

Tuesday I took Jacob in early for band and then back to school later for the other 2.  I still wasn't feeling good so I didn't go to yoga. Today Sean went on a field trip to a cave in Belgium.  He was excited.  But it was a wet, cold day.  I took it easy and then got things made for my coffee I am going to have tomorrow.  I made a blueberry coffee cake, apple dumpling cake, berry salad, and before bed I made zucchini bread.  After school Sean had a friend over, and then when his brother finished his drum lesson he came over to play with Jacob.    Today at school a samurai came to school.  He performed for the school which of course the boys thought was super cool!  He also has a book series, so Jacob bought the book for his age and Sean would like one of the books for his age.  After school Jacob and I were talking after school and all of a sudden he just points to something.  It is writing on the wall!  We go and look at it and it is a self portrait and then the person signed their name!  Any guesses?  It was Amber!! 

I couldn't believe it!  This is a picture of it after we tried erasing it too!  I called her over to take a look at it and she knew I was mad and was already about in tears when she saw what I was talking about, but she said she didn't remember doing it.  She said maybe someone else did it, but I told her that she signed her name to it!  It was her!  She never admitted to doing it but just kept saying she was sorry.  She tried erasing it but it didn't come off.  The walls here are concrete so not really sure what kind of paint this is.  So after her time out she went under the dining room table to hide and then up to her room and put herself to bed and that was at like 4pm!  So around 5pm I went up and woke her up.  Then dinner and back to school for Jacob's guitar lesson.

Wednesday morning after I dropped off the kids I had some friends over for a coffee to say goodbye to our friend that is moving back to New Zealand.  Her daughter is Amber's age.  So we had a nice time and enjoyed using my Polish pottery.

The one in the middle is the one moving.  I didn't think of taking a picture until the end and some people had already left.  My friend on the left side is the one who does the professional pictures.Amber went home with her friend for lunch and back to school for ballet.  Jacob had early dismissal just by an hour so he just met me where I pick Amber up after ballet so it worked out well.  Sean had soccer after school and then went to a friend's house. 

Thursday I still wasn't feeling too good, so I spent the morning at home doing some nutrition articles for my credits I need.  Then before lunch was my dr. appt.  He said I had the start of an ear infection and a bad cough, congestion, nose thing.  So here when you get medicine you get like 6 things you need to take!  I got the antibiotic, probiotic, nose spray, nose pill to take, cough syrup and a cough thing to take that helps break up the mucus.  So then on to pharmacy. 
After school today Jacob had cross country and Amber had a Halloween party for Rainbows so she went as a witch.

 
Sean had a new friend over to play.  He is from Buenos Aires.  They had a fun time.  Then I took them back to school later to drop off the boy and pick up my other two.  Today Sean brought home his procession set from school.  He was so excited!  He would take it out and play it and then put it all away.  Then a bit later he would take it out again and play some more.  So funny!

Friday morning at 5:30 Amber woke up complaining that her throat was hurting.  Oh no I thought, her best little girlfriend just had strep so I wondered if maybe she had it now.  She went back to bed though.  Jac had early band this morning and the other 2 didn't have school today for conferences.  So this morning we did Amber's first, as usual she is doing great and nothing to really say.  Her writing book is so cute though!  So cool to see her writing. I love it, just not on my walls!
Sean's conference this year included him.  So it was good with Sean and the teacher going over his goals and things.  It went well too.  After this we grabbed a sandwich at the bakery near school and then on the Dr. to check out Amber.  She didn't have strep just a viral sore throat so that was good.  After this I took Sean to a friend's house to play and Amber and I came home for a bit.
Once Jacob finished school I went and picked him and a friend up and then we went back to pick up Sean.  The boys had fun playing here and at the park.  Jacob friend stayed for dinner then went home after that.  Tonight Jason flew from MI to China.

Sat. was trick or treating in the late afternoon.

The weather was great today!  It was sunny and warmer.  The Woman's Club puts it on b/c they don't do Halloween here and the 31st is over fall break here.  So we went with friends and the kids had fun!

It is in a little subdivision here, around 30 or so houses participate, and when it ends the kids play at the park and they sell hot dogs and chips.  After this we came home and had a movie night.

Week of Oct. 6th, 2013

Sunday morning, nothing beats waking up in a castle!!  Opening the windows and looking out was just so cool! 
Our room key I think weighted 8 lbs or so!

We had breakfast there.  I was hoping for some pancakes but no such luck, just a European breakfast, breads, meats, cereal, yogurt, and hard boiled eggs.  Fruits too.
Then I took a lovely bubble bath in the tub, no shower here, and they even had these little medieval candle holders, so relaxing!! 
View from breakfast window.

After breakfast we figured out how to get up on the top wall around the castle.

 

 

Since it wasn't raining today we got a chance to walk around the gardens today. 

View of castle from gardens.

They had a giant chess board.

A cool tree house with castle like furniture inside of it!

 

And a great view of the town.

Here is just a little cozy spot on the way back from the garden overlooking the river.

From here we just headed home.  It took over 2 hours with the traffic and closed roads- geesh! 
It was a great time, one that we will remember!!

Monday I got my Monday errands done, exercised and then got ready to go and visit my friend still in the hospital.  I picked her up a paper, one place that I know sells them in English, and a cute little glass vase with pumpkins and fallish things in it.  It was nice to see her and I think she enjoys the company. 
After school Amber stayed at school to play with a friend who they were staying to wait for a bit.  And Jacob cross country.  The went and ran in the valley and Jacob really enjoyed it! 

Tuesday Jac had early band, and then after I dropped off the other 2 I had my yoga class.  My friend said that she thinks I fell asleep during the relaxing part at the end!  I must have b/c I don't remember!
After class my friend and I went to the mall to look for a few things.  Jac could really use some long sleeve shirts.  When we were home this summer those really weren't out for sale yet.  Then we ate at my favorite new place there- the sushi counter! 
After school Amber stayed and played with a friend at school and then came home later.  Jacob had guitar after dinner. 

Wednesday I had an appt. to get my eyebrows waxed and I showed up and she said I didn't have an appt. but they could take me in an hour if I wanted- ugh.  So I rescheduled for tomorrow morning and went to the store instead.
I got a little treadmill time in and then back to school to get Amber and 2 friends.  We came home and they had lunch here, got a little playdate in and then back to school for ballet.  The little girl on Amber's left is moving back to New Zealand in a few weeks.

Since this year the parents aren't allowed in the new school the ballet teacher meets us by the reception desk and takes them and just brings them back when they are finished.  There are no chairs or anywhere to sit so I left and ran to a shoe store to see about getting Sean a new pair of shoes for our picture shoot this weekend.  The traffic was pretty bad so I got back a few minutes late, but my friend had grabbed Amber for me.  So from here we went to the upper school building where they have an area to sit and hang out and wait and we waited for Jacob since he doesn't get out early on Wednesdays like the other 2 do.  Then walked up to the soccer pitch to pick up Sean from soccer.  He really enjoys it!  From here I had made hair appts. for the kids so they all got their hair cut. 

Thursday morning Jacob didn't have school but we had his conferences.  So we dropped the other 2 off at school and then walked over to Jacob's school.  He now does the conferences with us.  I like it better that way they can get feedback from the teacher.  So Jason was able to attend a few of them with us, but we did 5 teachers.  So first German, then Science, Math, French and English and Social studies, those 2 are together b/c same teacher.  So it went well besides having to study more for German and French.  But those German words are tricky!  After this we ran to the store and I had a quick appt.  Then we ran home and dropped off Jacob and groceries with the cleaning lady.  I ran to my friend's house that is going to do our family pictures this weekend to go over things and see the photos of the area she scouted out.  It looks really nice.  I had said I wanted a Luxembourg setting so it is in the valley with the bridge and old stones, etc so hopefully we have good weather and they turn out ok.  I didn't get the top of my hair colored so no close ups of my head! 
After this I came home and Jacob and I ate the sushi we had picked up from my favorite new spot!  I think I should get best customer this month!  Then he went to a friend's house and I ended up staying for a bit for some tea and a chat so that was nice.  Then back home for a little bit and on to school.  Amber had rainbows after school, so I picked up Sean.  Jacob and his friend came back to school b/c they thought they might have had cross country but they didn't so I took them back to our house.  They played here until we had to go back to school for Amber and I dropped off Jacob's friend on the way to school.  Amber really enjoys rainbows! 

Friday Jacob didn't have school again b/c his teachers still doing conferences.  So Jason took the other 2 to school and then Jacob and I ate breakfast together.  We had some things to get together for our movie night we are hosting tomorrow night and then we had appts. at the chiropractor.  After this I had tennis.  When I got home from tennis Jacob had eaten lunch but had made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and had cut it in half and given me half an apple cut in half too and a glass of water.  It was super cute!  After I ate we went to the pool where we meet 2 of Jacob's friends and one of their moms.  It was a great time to go to the pool as there was no one there.  So normally I really don't get in the water as most of the time it is too cold for me, but my friend convinced me I needed to do laps with her.  So for about 15 min. or so we did laps and then just sat and chatted.  It was nice.  From here I took all 3 boys with me to school to pick up Amber as Sean was getting a ride to the b'day party at lazer tag he was going too.  So then we came home and the boys played.  When I had to go back and pick up Sean after the party I just dropped off all the boys at their houses.  I think Jacob had 2 nice days off!
I ironed and got everyone's clothes ready for picture day tomorrow.
Tonight we got some more stuff ready for movie night!  The kids are excited.  I made some mint brownies.

Sat. I got up at 7 and ran to the store for tonight.  Then we got ready for pictures.  We met my friend down in the valley at 10am.  It was a good day for pictures here, no rain and not sunny.  So we spent about 1:15 walking along in the valley and taking pictures.  It was really neat with the background to really show the old Luxembourg.  The only problem was it was really cold and we were walking around with no coats.  It went well and hopefully the kids smiled good!  I talked to her later in the day and she took 570 pictures!  We were so cold by the time it was done we walked to a restaurant I had wanted to try down in the Grund right next to the valley and had hot chocolate and lunch!
Picture just someone took with my phone, after lunch so we had warmed up a bit,  but you can get an idea of the background.

After this we went home.  We were suppose to have movie night but the 2 families had sickness of a couple people so we had to cancel.  My kids were so bummed they had gotten stuff ready for tonight.  So I still made chili and the boys had chili dogs, and we just rented Pirates of the Caribbean 4.  We love those movies!  So we had a nice evening, just not what we had planned.

Week of Sept. 29th, 2013!

Sunday was a very nice day!  The boys had brought me breakfast in bed!  My donut even had a lit candle in it!  Besides the donut they had gotten me fruit and cereal and some apple cider.  I was just telling Jacob yesterday we forgotten to try it.  Sean had brought up the camera and was taking pictures! 

They had found balloons and put some on the tray.  They did a really nice job and were really cute.  They also brought up my presents.   So I had a nice breakfast in bed.

We went to church today and then after out to Pizza Hut with 2 other families.  I though the kids would enjoy that for my big b'day meal!  It was all downtown in the city center so nice to be out walking around.
Just what everyone needs after pizza... a big thing of cotton candy!

After this Jacob was going to a friend's house.  He lives more out in the country so we all ended up staying for about 2 hours.  Then Amber and I left and the 2 boys stayed for about 2 more hours and then the mom brought them home. 
After dinner we had the chocolate cupcakes to celebrate!  I had a very nice day!!

 

Monday morning I tried to visit my friend that is in the hospital with extreme morning sickness, beyond normal.  The maternity ward isn't too far from me and I was already out for a walk when my friend said to stop by.  So I got in and found her but then the nurses found me and told me visiting hours didn't start until 1:30!  So I got to see my friend for about a half an hour.  So that was nice.  She has been really sick for about 4 weeks now.  I couldn't believe that no one is suppose to visit before 1:30 in the afternoon! 
Today I went online and registered for Jacob's conferences.  He comes with us to them now, and we have 5 teachers to go and see,  one teacher does English and Social Studies otherwise we would have had 6 teachers to see. 
Jason made it back to the states last night and got to work today and saw my boxes I had ordered waiting on his desk for him!  Gotta love online shopping! (:  
After lunch I noticed Jacob's lunch card here at home- ugh.  I wonder if he was able to get anything for lunch today?
When I went back for pickup I ran into Jacob's school and dropped off a bigger snack for him for cross country after school since I won't see him.  Amber had a friend over so the rest of us came home after school.
When the little boy's dad came over to pick him up we discussed me helping him do his son's party since the mom is still in the hospital.  So we worked it all out and we will be ready for it tomorrow!
Then back to school for Jacob.

Tuesday morning with Jason out of town I had to take Jacob in early for band.  So the other two got to go for an early car ride and then back for 25 min or so until we needed to leave for them!
Today the boys had their standardized testing all morning.  And Amber went on a field trip to the milk processing plant.
Today I got a few errands done, exercised and then ready for a lunch at my friend's house!
She had a little b'day lunch for me since she can't come to the birthday breakfast tomorrow.  She made a yummy pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot soup and then salmon patties that were delicious!  And then a fruit berry dessert in a crème sauce.  It was very nice, with my good lunch buddies!
From here I went to school to pick up the kids and when I get to the lower school all the kids were on the blacktop by the drop off areas.  There was some fire in the ventilation shaft.  So they all got out safely and the fire dept. came and put everything out.  There was little damage done.  So when the kids left the school they had to leave all their backpacks and such there and coats.  At least the sun was shining, but Sean was in his PE clothes so he was a little bit cold and we had to take Jacob to the dentist right after school.  Thank goodness Jacob's friend's track jacket was still in my car from this weekend.  I haven't seen his mom to give it back to her so Sean was able to put that on.  
As we were going to the dentist Jacob was so funny.  He said, "So I am probably going to leave the dentist today with braces on, right?"  I laughed and told him probably some day, but you can't just go in for your checkup and come out with braces.  That is a whole other appt.  Jacob had a good checkup, and she recommended waiting on a retainer or such until his last 3 teeth fall out. 
Later in the evening Jacob had his guitar lesson.  Then back at home Sean helped me make 48 cupcakes for my friend's son b'day party.

I then got some of the fruit ready too. 

Wednesday was a full day!
Before we left for school I loaded my car down with all the stuff I needed for the day, so the boys were out there trying to get the seats in the back of the car down and put the wagon in there for the walk to the park with all of the party stuff for the little boy's party.  It didn't fit well!
Then after I dropped the kids at school I went to my good friend's house as she was so sweet and had a b'day breakfast for me!  About 8 friends came and it was very nice.  She had done a lovely breakfast and everyone even had brought me a little something.  It was so sweet!

 

Unfortunately I have some funky piece of hair sticking up in all the photos.
Then from here I went to school to pick up Amber and 2 friends and over to the one boy's house as it was his b'day party that I was helping the dad do.  So once all the kids arrived we walked my wagon full of things and my bags of cupcakes over to the park.  It was a really cute park and the kids had a great time and the weather was good. 

Any guesses what this is?  It was in the park.  It is a water tower.  Not sure if it is still used anymore, but how cool looking is this!

The dad ordered pizza and the kids all enjoyed it. 

We had cupcakes and then back to the house and the little boy opened presents and then other parents were coming back so Amber and I had to leave to go back and get Jacob from school.
Sean had soccer after school and then went home with a friend.  So I got Jacob and we ran home to find the electrician waiting in front of the house.  We finally got an appt. with him for my no power for about a week now upstairs.  So he said that one light was too bad and had to be replaced so he had another light he put up, not sure if it was what the owner wanted but I had him talk to the secretary at work and she deals with the relocation lady who speaks for the owner so I am assuming it was ok.  He got the other light bulb base out of the other light and got the power back on so for now we are back up and running upstairs! Yeah!
Shortly after he left we left to go over the where Sean was at his friend's house as the mom was fixing us a true Italian dinner!  Her husband was out of town too.  She made pasta with a homemade sauce.  Breadsticks from Italy, a hard salami from Italy she just sliced, and parmesan cheese from Italy that was a pie shaped hard cheese and you just hold it with the grater and put it on your pasta.  Her husband had just returned from Italy and had brought all their foods!  After the pasta she brought out sliced cantaloupe with prossunto, ham,  over it.  I had never had that before or even seen it like that before.  She said we had to have red wine with the pasta and the wine was from Italy.  Her father owns some land in Italy where someone else uses it to grow grapes.  So instead of paying her father money the man pays him with wine!  How great! Then she brought out sliced bread and tomatoes with mozzarella balls with a olive oil sauce over it.  It was very good.  So we had a lovely evening at her house.
It was a long day by the time we had gotten home and I had eaten a lot!

Thursday was attend your child's French class with them, just for the lower school.  So Sean's French was around 11 and then Amber's class was at 1pm.  It was fun to go and see them.  I could understand much of what Sean's teacher was saying so that was good.  So my level is probably somewhere between kindergarten and 4th grade!  Their teachers seem very nice.  Amber's is the same one she had last year and Amber really likes her.

Amber is hoping to the song they are listening too!
After school Jacob had cross country and Amber rainbows so I just picked up Sean and his friend.  Then back later to pick everyone up. 

Friday Jacob had to be at school early and I had gotten the time set on my alarm the night before but must have forgotten to actually set it!  So about 25 min after I should have been up, thankfully I heard dogs barking outside, which doesn't happen very often and raced out of bed to get the kids up and ready.  So boys helped me get breakfast ready and then we took Jacob to school after that.  Then back later for the other ones.  I needed just a few quick things at the store.  I was done shopping before 9am and I kept spying the sushi deli waiting for them to put out something.  Then they would and I would look at it, but it wasn't what I wanted so then I waited about 10 min. or so and then they put some stuff out I was ok with so I got that.  Then home I made a new recipe of lemon blueberry bread for a friend's house we are going to after school.  Right before I left for tennis Jason got home and worked from home today. 
Tennis was good.  My instructor wasn't there b/c of a death in his family.  A guy in charge who speaks English normally pretty good, goes "Fred not here, his mother dead."  I had 2 other ladies join me today.  One of them was 72!  She could totally hit the ball so much harder and faster then me!  I didn't like being on the receiving end of them!  She looked great!  She was telling us that she has had her hip replaced so she may not run for all the balls.  I told her that was ok b/c I don't run for all the balls either!
After tennis I got everyone packed for our trip to the castle tomorrow!
At school I picked up my 3 kids and then my friends 2 kids as well.  I dropped Sean off at a lazer tag party and then we went to my friend's house.  The boys played and the girls played.  Everyone liked the bread!  They are from Holland.
Then back to pick up Sean and head home.  The kids were excited to see Jason!

Sat. morning we got up and left to go to Koblenz, a town on the Rhine River in Germany.  Here the Rhine River and the Mosel met up.  It was about a 2 hour drive and it rained all day.  We walked to where the rivers meet and there was a big statue and look out point.

From here we took the cable car across the river up to the 2nd largest fortress in Europe!

Views from the fortress.

 

From here we went back down on the cable car and walked through town.

 

From here we drove down the river about 45 minutes and this was another castle along the way.

 

 

Then on to our castle for the night!!

 

 

The kids loved the room!  The bathroom was hidden behind a bookshelf and the kids thought that was so cool!

 

 



 

Our castle map and information.

 

We had a balcony off our room.

 

 

Views from our room.

 

  Then we walked around the castle and checked things out.

 

Then we went to the museum in the castle.

 

 

We walked around the within the castle grounds.

 

 

Then we went inside and sat in the library and had hot chocolate and the boys played chess.

 

 

A little room off of the library.

 

Dinner was at the castle.  They had a couple of different dining rooms so we had to ask where to go.

Dinner was good but very long.  It was a 4 course meal and took 2 hours!  The boys had a 3 course kids meal, and Amber 2.

 

Goodnight castle!