Very funny, guys

So children are demanding of their parents. Any mother or father will tell you that children master the art of begging, pleading, bargaining, and scamming very early on. There is nothing cuter than Ava saying, "Pleath?" with a knowing smile on her face. They sense that millisecond hesitation where your heart says, "Awww...Isn't she the cutest thing ever?!?! Give her what she wants, just spoil her rotten!" before your carefully guilted-in and babycenter-researched parenting skills kick in..."No, baby." And the battle is on.

Tonight, I got double-teamed. Aiden and Ava both wanted something simultaneously--not as rare as it should be--and the answers were wait until later and no, respectively. Aiden, quite innocently started it all with one please? and Ava looked at him, smiled, and said pleath? Aiden looked back at her, grinned...And it was on. Please...pleath...please...pleath...please...pleath...please...pleath...please...pleath...pleeeeeeee...

I tried to get this sweet yet annoying spectacle on tape, but of course the second the camera came out it was dancing time. So, it effectively ended the pleath...please... session, but now no one but me can appreciate the hilarity of that moment :) The hilarious part is, not only were the two monsters entertaining themselves, but they were also seriously still begging me. Neither one of them can be distracted or made to forget very easily. Talk about multi-tasking!

Punished

Aiden got his first real punishment today. Typically, our discipline up to this time has been lecturing (I'm really good at that) or more rarely, time-out. I have to say, Aiden has not done a whole lot to require anything more serious. Well, except the time he stuck his tongue out at me when he was walking away and...let's just say I caught up to him real fast and that was the last time he did that! But, in the last week or so, I've noticed some sneaky behavior on his part and outright lies. Like yesterday, when I had my back turned to him to load groceries onto the conveyor belt and when I turned around, I saw the cashier ring up sour twizzlers. I instantly called him on it (he snuck them onto the belt when I wasn't looking) and he looked sheepish and then crushed when I told the cashier to go ahead and keep them cuz I'll give them to Daddy. We had a talk in the car about asking for things first. Or, the other day, when he pushed his chair up to the counter and ran up to his room...I busted him with empty candy wrappers...

Then, this morning, as I rushed around getting everything in the car and mentally trying to count off the 30 things I needed to be sure I got to Bianka's, Kindergarten, and work in the next 10 minutes, I threw a waffle at Aiden and told him to start eating. Now, Aiden is against all food. To get him to eat breakfast, in particular, is painful. I just don't have time in the morning to stand sentry and encourage every bite until he chokes down a decent amount of nourishment. So, I've compromised and I get him his fave waffles that he eats sans syrup (so it's actually not bad) or sometimes a muffin or banana bread work, too. Anyway, this breakfast almost always gets carried over into the car on the way to kindergarten. I check every few minutes that he chews, swallows, repeats steps 1 and 2. Otherwise, he won't eat. Well, at one point this morning I just asked him, "Are you eating?" And he answered "Yes." I resumed my concentration on driving on the icy roads, up icy hill, over icy parking lot, into kindergarten--drop-off complete! Fool...

Fast forward to me picking up the kids after work. As I'm putting Ava into her car seat, I notice a waffle on the floor. Aiden's waffle that he told me he ate and then threw on the floor. A) Lying, B) Wasting expensive food, C) Trashing my van!!!!!!! So no video games today for all those reasons. Boy, did he cry! Not that he plays video games every day, but the sheer fact that I said NO not a chance for you to play at all, devastated him. So, long story...We'll see if it made an impact. Sigh...And another breakfast is just 11 hours away...

Footprints on a bathmat

I just have to say, I love looking down as I'm doing my business in the bathroom :) and seeing little footprints on the bathmat. Somehow, Ava's feet leave these perfect impressions on the bathmat when I take her out and stand her there as I'm wrapping her towel around her. Perfect! Just a little moment of joy...

Tarantula

There is a spider on my wall. Seriously. A tarantula. I'm going to put a pic of it up here, but it doesn't do it justice, of course. It's the size of a golf ball...a little bigger than that. It's too big to fit into the vacuum hose nicely. Normally, I can get the vacuum out, turn it on Max, stand as far away as possible, be sure not to touch the flexible part of the hose so as to not feel it bang it's way up the hose, let out a scream...and suck it up. But when they're this big...Even Radley gets squeamish about it, and he'd totally deny that, but you know...It's so big you can almost see it thinking, "Yeah, biatch...What you gonna do about me and my big, bad self? Nothing cuz you too scaaaaaaared! So I'm just gonna sit here and chill like I own this wall..." My defense...Leave the stairway light on so he doesn't finish climbing up out of the basement into the living area of the house. But that's not a sure thing...So, I'll just have to leave Radley a note (because of course he's not home to deal with this crisis) to deal with it when he gets home or he knows what kind of freakin' out he'll have to deal with from me when I find out that he let it escape and find another hiding place while I know that it's still here somewhere...Just next to my feet...Watching my every move...Planning when to creep out and--AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

A good cry

Don't you find it hitting you at the most unexpected moment? The need for a good cry. It may be that life has just bombarded you with demands, expectations, and bitter disappointments. Or maybe you just had a crappy day. You feel it welling up inside you. The rational side of your mind says, "get over it, you're an adult--deal." But child inside you wants to lie on the floor kicking and screaming, "Waaaaaaaaahh!!! Why me?!? It's not fair!" And then, equally as unexpectedly...The Release...Usually prompted by an episode of Extreme Home Makeover, Oprah, or one of those priceless credit card commercials...An unrepentant ugly cry. You're sobbing loudly over the injustice of Rachel and Ross being denied their rightful true love all these years because of their blind stubbornness to see the truth right in front of their EYES!!! You're heaving great sighs of sadness over the poor crippled boy who JUST NEEDS A RAMP TO GET INTO HIS HOUSE! You're wailing because Oprah looooooooved her doggie and how could he die?!? What? That hasn't happened to you before? Never been hit by the sobs and the sheepish relief that follows? Oh, I see. Yeah, I was just talking about what my friend does...She's crazy.

Bad Memory

I have a horrible memory. Unless I'm in an argument with Radley--then it's impeccable. Anyway, recently one of my friends put up pics of us from our college days up on her Facebook account and I was enthralled. There were bunches of us and there were so many moments I realized I'd forgotten about. But seeing the pictures just brought it all back and now I'm feeling nostalgic for my Longwood days. I tend to remember mainly my regrets. Like, I wish I'd partied harder, explored more friendships, and not bought those gastly blue suede shoes at Wal-Mart that I let my friend talk me into and I never wore. And that's a horrible thing, because really, I did have a great time and I did branch out and explore in my own way. My time at Longwood was the time I view as when I started to become the real me. I made my own mind up about my beliefs and opinions, and those are still evolving today, but that was the beginning of me realizing I didn't have to believe the same thing as those I loved and respected. I also realized, slowly, what a capable individual I am. I've come a looooooong way and it's really been a wonderful journey! So, the pictures have triggered some nostalgic introspection in me, but it's also because another Facebook friend found some of my old youth group friends and it was so cool to reconnect with them. So three cheers for friends, Facebook, and reminiscing!

Cooking...BAH!

I am so sick of my standard recipes and limited cooking repertoire. I've been trying lately to get some new recipes to try out. Rachel Ray's stuff lends herself to my style because it's simple, quick, and comforting. So, tonight, I tried her french onion soup. I felt very fancy with my french bread, gouda cheese, white wine and beef boullion (you must pronounce that as I did--with a snotty french accent). I only made servings for myself and Rad since Aiden would rather slit his throat than try something new and Ava would burn herself being too impatient to delve into onions to wait for it to cool (polar opposites, those two). They got chicken soup to fit the soup theme, which they love and that's fine with me. Anyway, I would say it turned out phenomenal with maybe a teensy bit too much thyme and bread (not really soupy, but I don't mind that). Radley with his onion phobic self, left a pile of tender onion loops in his bowl. He tried to be positive, but he clearly wasn't satisfied and I was bummed. I never imagined it would be so difficult to cook for 2--let alone 4--individuals to satisfy, well, even two of them! Well, I guess I will fight the urge to be discouraged and try again. This time, it'll be something even Aiden may put a bite of in his mouth--cheesburger meatloaf with mashed potatoes! Yeah...wish me luck.

Off the bottle

I decided that Ava needed to go cold-turkey off the bottle. She only gets it at night now but with infant formula that is costly and does her no good. Plus, most of the time in the middle of the night, she'll wake, take a couple sips, and go back to bed. Why would I want to mess up such a predictable, smooth thing? Like I said, formula is NOT cheap (she rejected the toddler kind and refuses milk) and it just bothers me that she's 17 months old and still drinking from a bottle. Plus, she has lately gotten really attached to it and started requesting "mih" [milk] about 2 hrs. before bedtime and I refuse to give it to her until it's time for bed and thus the battle begins. That girl is nothing if not persistent. I can forget about trying to sit down and relax for 1 minute if she is on a mission to get something--especially that dang bottle. Anyway, tonight is the second night of mission "Ditch the bottle". She cries for a while, but eventually goes to sleep. Not that bad. Still, I feel bad like I've cut off something valuable to her. Or maybe it's just me realizing that she's more a toddler than a baby now. How did that happen?!? Growing pains...We all have them but for different reasons. So my victory is tempered with a bit of sadness. Until I think of all the bottles I don't have to wash anymore--hallelujah!!!

A witch and a ninja

Trick or treat! We headed over to Baumholder last night with Aiden's friend, Devin, for some Halloween fun! We did the trick or treating thing and got a boat-load of candy. The kids tired out after an hour, so then we went over to the bowling alley for pizza (they've got the best American-style around here). Devin was fascinated by the game of bowling and sat down with some nice strangers to watch their game and cheer them on :) All night that boy kept talking to me in German (imagine!) and for some reason I have a hard time understanding his speech (he's 5), so I kept just saying, "ya..." and that caused a little confusion when he thought I was giving him permission for some stuff. He'd run off to play games and I'd realize he thinks he can play for free and I'd have to call him back to tell him we have no money (the lame ol' parent trick--but hey, those games are expensive!) He surely thinks I'm a nut. Anyway, we got home sort of late and even I was exhausted after a long week. A couple German kids were suess and saur-ing ("sweet and sour" is their version of "trick or treat") and I was a bad American representative of our holiday and didn't buy candy, but had tons on hand anyway. No, I didn't give Aiden and Ava's away :) Not that it wasn't tempting. But now they've got permission to devour candy all day. I'm going to try to get them to get rid of it this weekend so it's gone and we're not dragging out the "I WANT CANDY"s for months.

Yummy guts

It's the holiday season and I'm all abuzz with kid-like excitement! I got especially giddy when I went outside this morning to go to work and realized that the drizzle was actually wet snow--woohoo! Yes, I know many of you are raising your eyebrows at this and saying "woopdeedoo". All I can say is this is my favorite time of year and I love when it snows for so many reasons (i.e., beauty, peaceful images, sledding, snowmen...no school, perhaps?) and it just added a little excitement to the morning. Anyway, tomorrow, we're going trick or treating!! Aiden is a ninja, Ava is a witch (perfectly appropriate, trust me), I will be my best Sarah Palin (I think it'll be hysterical), and Rad will be his usual stick in the mud. I tried to get him to be Obama thinking that with me being Palin and him as a Filipino Obama we'd, well...we'd confuse people, but I sure as heck would be rolling with fits of laughter all night at how clever we were! Anyway, I'll let you know how that turns out. We're taking Aiden's BFF, Devin, for his first American trick or treating night, so that'll be fun, too. Tonight, we did our jackolantern and thank goodness we got it on tape because we have the unbelievable evidence of Ava eating the pumpkin guts and mmm-ing, then offering some to Aiden who just about gagged! HA HA!! Yeah, I'm sure that'll be on UTube. We'll let you know when Rad gets around to that!

Vote

I am excited to report that I've cast my vote for the President and I'll be sending my absentee ballot in tomorrow! I'm so anxious to find out who it'll be and I'm so happy the time is soon!

The case of the missing shoe

The other day, I found these nikes for 25% off at the Px for Aiden. He wore them for about 3 days when one of them went missing. We immediately suspected the smallest member of the household due to her shoe fetish and the fact that I once found one of my shoes--quite by accident--in the decorative terracota fireplace in our dining room. Well, we've looked everywhere we can think of for a week now and can't find it anywhere. We tried all the typical interrogation techniques with her and nada. We cringe to think she may have put it in the trash, thinking she was helping out somehow, and now it's gone. What to do with one nice shoe and that sinking feeling in your stomach knowing you just threw money in the trash--literally?

Did it!

Woohoo! I ran my first 5K yesterday for breast cancer awareness. Me and my friend, Saundra, stuck together and broke the pink tape at 34 minutes! So we did a little over 11-minute miles, which is good for me! It was super-fun having all those people lined up and cheering you on! I was really just excited about the personal challenge of running a 5K without stopping, but having such general positivity and good-willed people around was a nice switch from the week I'd been having. I needed that! So it was a great experience in more than one way. Then, to cap off a great day, Rad and I drove to Luxembourg with some friends to hit up our fave Portuguese restaurant for some garlicy prawns swimming in butter (balanced with plenty of white wine) and lots of laughs with old friends. Great day!

My African sister

You may remember that a long time ago I blogged on how I'd decided to be a sponsor through Women4Women International. I saw the 60 minutes special on how the women in the Congo were being used as weapons of war in unspeakable ways and was so angry and at the same time so helpless that I did the only thing I could think of to help. Anyway, I had written my first sister (you get a name, photo, and basic details of her life when she's assigned to you for a year) but was disappointed when she never wrote back. I was assigned to a new sister a few months ago--much earlier than a year--which made me worry about what happened to the first woman. I don't think I'll ever know. However, today, I got a letter from my new sister!! She is also from the Congo and her letter told me about her 4 girls, her mud/grass hut (no water/electric) and her gratitude. But her excitement at being selected for the program was evident (there's a long list), and I teared up all the way home after reading the letter in the car right when I got it. She was praising God and sending me praise for sending her a few bucks a month. ... ... Speechless. I guess it's the chance I have to do some good in this sometimes fantastically unjust world. And that my dollars can change a person's life--literally. Geez, man. I think I'm a sponsor for life. To my women all over the world just trying to make it to tomorrow!

City slickin' it

So we're farm-town hicks. We spent the weekend up at our cosmopolitan Wiesbaden city friends' apartment--tres chic et moderne. Anyway, everytime we go to "the city" I find myself saying things to Aiden like, "See how bright it is at night in the city? See how much traffic is in the city? There's no cows in the city." And it's so exciting to be in the midst of all the noise and action as you walk down the streets and enjoy the variety of the shopping. In our beloved Reichenbach, our little Spar Markt is about the size of our living room, and serves as the grocery store, butcher, flower shop, and post office. It's really all you need on a typical day. It's a world away from Super Walmart--literally. But every now and then, it is frankly exciting to go to the city and revel in the choices and the...city-ness! Our city friend, Chris, and I were talking about the benefits of both city and country living as we strolled back to the apartment. Of course, we can both think of good and negative things about living where we live. My #1 negative is the smell of cow-poo first thing in the morning. But I'm not sure that out-weighs the gorgeous views of sprawling country and wooded areas, the relative safety of village-life, knowing your neighbors well, and (a big one for me) being able to go running and biking through nature just by stepping out your door. I'll keep being a country hick for now if I can get my dose of city every now and then.

A new do? A new you!

I treated myself to a hair appt. today after work. Got a fresh trim and highlights. It's not a major difference, but I somehow feel prettier, sexier, younger! I used to just go to the "beauty shop" on-post cuz it was easy and cheap. But, after a particularly disastrous chop-up, I decided to abide by the old motto: You get what you pay for. So, now I pay more but I look decent and get served while I get made up! They serve all kinds of drinks from water to lattes to coke. With my cafe au lait today I got a little chocolate cookie--Yay! But the best part of it all is the head massage--mmmmmmm...So this is what I say to all you over-worked, over-burdened, under-paid, and under-appreciated women out there: Find a real salon or spa and treat yourself on a regular basis. You'll feel 10 years younger when you walk out that door looking hot with a smile on your face. Who can say that's not worth a pretty penny every now and then?

Simple pleasures

Hi, it's Ava. Hang out with your Mommy for a day and really play with her to remind her of the simpler pleasures found in life right under her nose. Why just today, I reminded my mommy that rolling around in clothes fresh and warm from the dryer is one of the cuddliest feelings you can get. Even if your mom is trying her darndest to snag the underwear from your head to fold them. Or, squeeze yourself into a basket meant for a more functional/decorative purpose, such as containing diapers and wipes, and use said items as a sort of blanket. Then, just sit there and delight in your cleverness! Or, (during another battle for laundry) see if you can race your mommy and toss the clean clothes back behind you (and down the stairs!!) before she can get more than two things folded. Then, it's off to the kitchen! While mommy does some boring dishes or cooking of lunch, insist on getting some of those pretty spiral pastas dumped into a pot, as well as a spoon to stir them with. Once it is "cooked", just dump it all over the floor and giggle when mommy steps on the unexpectedly sharp and jabbing little noodles. Now, while mommy is distracted, head over to the...Tupperware cupboard! Don't worry, they can't break, so just toss them about and discover just how loud dozens of plastic containers can sound as they are crashing to the floor. And now, what is this insistence mommy has on matching shoes? Let's help her live a little by dragging out every single shoe (winter and summer) of mommy's, daddy's, brother's, and mine and mix them up for a little variety. Love the chaos, Mommy! Oh. Mommy says I'm stinky. Well, I'll best her yet again! She can't catch me if I RUN!!!!!!!

Misery

I feel sorry for people who are so miserable that it affects their health, personal relationships, and professionalism. Today, I am grateful for the people in my life that make it a happy one, where I can take the day-to-day crud and shrug it off because I know what's really important.

TV

Aiden: Mommy, can I watch a movie?
Me: What movie do you want to watch?
Aiden: TV
Me: Okay...(proceed to turn on TV)
Aiden: Mommy! I wanna watch a movie!!!!
Me: You said you want to watch TV!
Aiden: No!
(Then it dawns on me...)
Me: You mean ET???? (He was watching it last night)
Aiden: Yeah, TV!!!

Still rollin'

So regarding new milestones still...Aiden rode his bike a little without training wheels yesterday and I've never seen him so excited :) Fun moment. Then today, he rode with our neighbor to take her grandson--his new bestest friend, Devin--back to his house. Aiden is always too shy to go with anyone else other than Bianka and has always thrown a fit when I've tried to encourage him to go with his friends somewhere. It's okay because he's only 4, but I was happy to see he was taking more risks (safe ones). Anyway, I'm getting a kick out of Aiden and Devin. They are so cute running over to each other's houses right when they find out the other one is there. See, Devin stays with his Oma and Opa, our neighbors across the street, several times a week at least for a few hours. And he usually gets right out of the car and comes straight over here looking for Aiden. And Aiden has started asking if he can play with Devin before I have even finished the 2 min. car ride home from Bianka's. It's nice to see Aiden with a best friend who also happens to be a sweet and funny kid. I know he's funny despite the fact that I can't understand half of his German. I try to eavesdrop on their conversations, but these 4 year-olds have already passed me up in German skills. Crisis! Where's my Rosetta Stone???

Milestones

Since my last posting in July (if I have any readers to let down other than my mom...sorry folks!), we have been busy hitting milestones. Aiden has started his second year of kindergarten, now writes his name legibly, rejoined soccer and played his first game (all in the same week), ate an entire schnitzel, got in his first fight with a kid (okay, the kid pushed him down and busted his lip; they're okay now), and got his first bee sting (on the face).

Ava says several words now, most of which sound like "bumbah", which was orignially Spongebob but now includes bubble, peek-a-boo, pretzel, among other things. She has six teeth now, and more incoming. She needs to get molars soon because she will eat just about anything. Except applesauce. I am confounded that both of my children appear to be literally repulsed by applesauce of all flavors. Isn't this supposedly a childhood staple? Anyway, Ava's going to be a witch for Halloween--this her daddy and I insist on because it is oh-so-fitting. I love her to pieces, but, wow...We're in for it. Let's see...she also went through bottle withdrawl, except she still gets it at night, but that's next. She prefers a regular cup to a sippy cup so she can make more messes of course.

Rad and I are in full-swing in weight-loss/get-back-in-shape mode. I have gotten back to the point where I'm a little obsessed with running and try to do it daily. I'm running a 5K Oct. 4th for breast cancer awareness. A friend of mine just underwent a masectomy this summer, so I'll be doing it in her honor. At any rate, I'm glad to be back in the running groove and have been dropping pounds after a rather sad weight gain from fat camp (aka, visiting VaBeach), and a subsequent plateau in which I began to get very ticked that I was running my butt off but it wasn't coming off. Rad is doing spinning, Filipino martial arts, and boxing. He's just really getting started, so I'm trying to cheer him on until he gets used to the new activity level.

That's the update...I'll be better about posting humorous tidbits about Reichenbach life...

Which one?

Aiden has hit that phase where every comment, statement, declaration, definition, or question I make is countered by a question from him. Such as, "Look at the river there, Aiden!" Which one? "The only giant body of flowing water 15 feet from your window." Where? Sigh... Or his other big curiousity right now: How are things made. How you make a chair, mommy? [basic explanation] Oh, How you make a airplane? [extremely basic explanation] Oh, how you make you? "God did it." As a speech-language pathologist, I should be cheering and encouraging this development in Aiden's cognitive and language development--and I try--but I'm finding I have little patience for the endless Why's and I tend to think of many smart-alec remarks in my head. I'm actually relieved when he from time to time reverts back to his know-it-all attitude: [Me to Rad] "We should leave at 4:00 cuz it'll take about 30 minutes to get there if there's no traffic..." [Aiden, interjecting into our conversation] Yeah, I know.

Long time...

Just got back from a trip to the States. It was a surprise for Rad's mom since we had been saying we weren't coming back this summer. She was definitely surprised and very happy. Anyway, we got back today after a whirlwind of wedding events (congrats, Josh and Marissa!), reunions, and dinner dates. We've completely wrecked the nice little schedule we had going for the kids, but I keep reminding myself that life is short and things like messing up life's schedules for the chance to spend time with family and friends is worth it. But now, I'm deep into "return to normalism". I didn't realize how much I missed my Riechenbach home until we walked into the door. Was sort of feeling like I might be sad and a bit regretful coming home because it was so nice being with everyone again. But I don't :) Now I just want everyone to come here. People still ask when we're coming back to the States, though. They find it hard to conceive that this is Home (though, in our hearts, so is Va Beach). But when you think about it, this is where Rad and I started our married life together, had our first cars, career jobs, house, where our children have been born and grown up very happy. So it's good to be home in our little place in the world!

What the...?!?

So I've had this sore on my hip for like a month now and it's been slowly going away, so I haven't given it too much thought. Though because I knew I hadn't had a cut, bite, or scratch there, I did think, "What the hell is that?!?" After it lingering for a couple weeks, my friend Jill saw my band aid and asked what was up. I told her about the sore and she stated, "You better make sure that's not staph." Commence freak-out mode. I have been reading a lot of yucky stuff about the staph bacteria (AKA, flesh-eating disease, among other colorful names) on the news lately. Most recently, how staph infections kill more people every year than AIDS. One trip to your friendly, informative, freak-out-enhancing internet will make you privy to all the gory details. At any rate, as my stress level and magnified mirror inspections intensified over the next few days, I decided I should just go to the stupid doctor. So as I sat in the doctor's office while the prep nurse or whatever they're called puzzled over my sore--clearly perplexed as to what the heck it was--I just wanted to yell, "Just cut it off already!" Finally, the doc came in, took one look at "it" and said plainly......."It's an infected stretch mark." I must've looked at her like she was smoking crack because she then proceeded to explain that she'd just had another chick in with infected stretch marks all up and down her thighs, so there. I did actually say, "Did you say an infected stretch mark?!?!?! Are you sure it's not staph or skin cancer?!?!?" Nope. Just a plain ol' infected stretch mark. So, people, still I'm sitting here saying to myself, "What the...?!?!?"

Blue light special, Online Shoppers!

There is this annoying commercial over here on AFN (that's Armed Forces Network for you non-DoDDSers), where this hardcore chick is saying, "What do drugs, alcohol, gambling, and credit cards all have in common? They can all be addicting--Yes, even credit cards." (We can't have normal commercials here so we get educated during our show breaks!) This is what is going through my mind as I click, yet again, to Old Navy's website "just to look". It's not like we have a lot of options here. Especially right now. The euro rate pretty much restricts us from buying much from German stores and our other illustrious option is the Px (post exchange). Or as Aiden calls it, "The Pee Eks". I'm not a snob. I've bought and currently wear the Px brands--particularly proud of my purchases when they've been 75% off and cost about $2. But, I can only lace my meager wardrobe with these particular purchases or I risk looking like a doughty middle-aged mom. Shut up, Odell. Anyway! I've really been trying to get some different, colorful, bold patterns added to my staple black and gray pieces. BUT...Radley's got a few financial goals for us that he'd love to make easily done IF I can not shop like I normally do online for like, a month? I though, "No problem!" So, today, several times, I thought, "So it must've been a month by now that I've shopped at ON." So I counted back to my last purchase. It was NOT a month ago. And now I'm feeling...what I would liken to withdrawl...And that's when I go online "just to browse" while the AFN lady's talking to ME now...My bag has several items in it but I haven't hit that magical "checkout" button yet...How strong am I? Do I need to go to Old Navy rehab?

Quitters

Well, I don't know, but Aiden might be quitting soccer after barely getting started. Radley took him a couple weeks ago and he quit half-way through. He said he was tired (which I'm sure he was) and sat down like I'd said he should do (instead of crying like last time). This is the part that chagrined Radley: He then got up and started picking flowers and running around with another little boy that'd had enough. (I'm secretly laughing about this). Then last week, we got Aiden all dressed out in his soccer outfit complete with shiny new shin guards and right after they get there, Aiden refused to play because he said he was too tired. So, Radley got him back into the van to head home. That's when Aiden decided that he wanted to go to the spielplatz (playground)! Oh, that ticked Radley off. I thought he should give the poor kid a break because he really does still need a nap by the afternoon but I gave up getting him down for a nap over a year ago. Too much drama. He gets 12 hrs. of sleep a night anyway. Whatever. So tonight...He said he just wanted to watch the other kids play because....You guessed it--he was tired. We ended up not going because he was tired and I've actually just put him to bed (6:45pm). I don't know if this is just a bad streak, or if he's really quitting. By the way, I'm over belly dancing, so...I'm quitting :)

Charlie Sheen

Okay, seriously. Am I the only one who thinks that Charlie Sheen is one of the worst actors ever? What is up with him being on a popular show and winning awards for...acting? Ugh. I can' t stand him and I just can't figure out this bizarre following he's got. Is it because his dad's decent and people are loyal to him? What is it?!?!? Seriously. It bothers me enough to blog it.

You're fired!

I'm in a quandry. I like the woman that's been cleaning my house the past few years because she really cleans, but she has a horrible habit of breaking things--and not telling me about it until I see it myself, while still taking every euro we pay her. That ticks me off. Today, I saw my soap holder was broken and I can't for the life of me figure out HOW she could break that. Like the vacuum's retractable cord that she breaks repeatedly after Rad fixes it. And she chipped my polish pottery spoon holder. Ripped a rug long time ago...I'm just tired of my stuff being broken by someone else continually. My kids don't even break that much stuff!! So, I want to fire her. But I can't bring myself to say to her, "You suck, you're fired." So, I will probably sheepishly ask for my key back under the pretense of saving money this summer while I'm off and have more time to clean. Then, just not re-hire her. And then, I actually have to resume cleaning for hours...Our bathrooms are so huge when you have to clean them! Ugh. But on the bright side, I have been feeling indulgent not ever having to clean the bathrooms (since that's her main job) and I sort of miss disinfecting and grounging out dirt myself...It's satisfying. So, commence the toilet scrubbing...

Hexenacht

Here are some pics of our first attendance of the official hexenacht (witches night) bonfire of Reichenbach. The night before May 1, everyone stays up all night burning bonfires to burn or scare away the winter witches and usher in spring. The witches--in the form of hooligan teens--in revenge, wreck havoc through the town by dumping flower pots, stealing trash cans, tp-ing stuff, and other shinanigans.

Trouble

My daughter scares the living daylights out of me. She climbed into the bathtub with Aiden the other night as my back was turned, quick as lightning, pajamas and all. As I was turning, Aiden whined, "Aw, Mommy! Ava's in here, too!" I caught her mid-fall as she had climbed from the couch onto the adjacent TV tray for thrills and it proceeded to tip over (it is not stable enough to accomodate a 20 lb. child you know). She knows how to get around the gate blocking the stairs and gave us a scare. She threw a towel in the toilet. With Aiden, we didn't need to put gates up, quarantine the plants, move potential climbing tools away from danger areas, worry about him eating poisonous stuff (since he eats essentially nothing anyway--again, opposite of Miss Piggy). Radley and I would probably fall in the middle of the "child-proof lockdown to child-endangerment" range of parents. However, since Ava's mobility arrived, we've been forced to move a little to the lockdown side. I have to say, though, it is interesting at the same time as it's scary. She's so different from Aiden and she was just born that way--less cautious, fearless, and wanting to be in the middle of everything. With Aiden, you can see his mind calculating the chances that he'll land on his feet from a 3-foot jump, or if he should risk going down the slide standing, etc. Ava...No way man, it's jump!! And ask mommy for a bandaid later. Seeing the difference in how they approach hazardous situations has been fascinating and I'm ready for where the ride will take us next because so far, it's been a blast!

Soccer mom

It's official! Aiden had his first soccer practice tonight! Too bad Radley didn't get to see it (he's at JLS) because it was great! When we first got there, he ran off to the field with his friend where a few boys were calling his name. So he knows kids from kindergarten there. He surprised me by jumping right in and running the drills--passing the ball back and forth with his partner, Moritz, and then taking a shot at the goal. I've got to say, I was so proud of him for jumping in like that! They practiced drills for about 45 minutes while I watched Ava play on her blanket and chatted with the sideline folks--one of which was Bianka cuz Fabian was playing on the other side of the field. Bianka and I ended up talking most of the time, so I didn't have my full attention on the field like I wanted to. Anyway, when there was about 15 min. left, I noticed Aiden lagging behind and sticking his fingers in his mouth like he does when he's insecure. One of the coaches tried to see what was up, but when he picked him up, Aiden started crying. He was just so exhausted from his big day, kindergarten, Bianka's and playing at the playground, and then soccer practice which ran right up to his bedtime :P I felt so bad for him when I asked him if he was just so tired and needed a rest, and he cried out, "Yeah...Waaaaaaa!" Anyway, then we drove his friend Moritz home (my friend Astrid's kid) and they were in the back seat chatting away in deutsch and I was just really happy for him and amazed at how he's officially a big boy now. Back when we were potty training him, we used to always use his desire to play soccer with the big boys as motivation for getting him to go on the potty, and look at him now! It's a proud day :)

Mmm...Smells like...

Okay, so why do we despise telemarketers and rebuff door-to-door salespeople and yet fight to get invited to these Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Discovery Toy parties, etc? Well, I don't, but I know a lot of people that do. Anyway, it's like we're lining up with our wallets open, begging them to sell to us. I went to a PartyLite party tonight because my friend was hosting and I had fun at the first one that my other friend was hosting. Last time--at my first party--I won some tealight holders during a game, so that was motivation: Free Stuff! And tonight, I actually won two 6-packs of votive candles, so that was super lucky! And I did have fun. But I'm sitting there, looking through the catalog, feeling like I have to buy something (and I expected this ahead of time, so that was okay), and thinking, "Holy crizap! This stuff is crazy ridiculous expensive." Yet, I put myself down for 4 items knowing I was getting ripped off. I chose to get ripped off. Why? We are such suckers for these parties that it becomes worth it to us through some warped perception of value. I don't know...I just never figured myself for the type of person to buy into it so willingly. My reasoning is, I have a good time, help out a friend, and get some fun stuff for lots o' money :) Whatever. It's ridiculous.

Some wild animals aren't crazy like martins

A couple years ago, Rad snapped this photo of a gorgeous pheasant in our backyard. We see these every now and then around this time of year. I like them better than martins, who it seems are out to get me...

Creepy martin

I just had a close encounter with a martin--a wild weasle-like creature about the size of a mediumish fox. Anyway, I had just blown out a candle in the darkened kitchen, ready to go upstairs to sleep, and I glimpsed a martin running along the sidewalk. You don't see them that often. The biggest evidence they've been around is your car won't start cuz they've eaten the starter wires and stuff. They like car wires. Just climb up under the hood and eat the coating off. Weird as hell, but whatever. Anyway, it ran under our across the street neighbor's car and I was curious to see it better, so I opened the front door. Right away, it poked it's head out from under the car and looked right at me. Then it started running for me! I just stood there a second thinking, "What, does it want to come in?" Then I slammed the door shut and ran and jumped up on the counter in the kitchen so I could look out the window at the ground. Well, I didn't see it. I thought maybe it went under Rad's car for a snack (he's at stick-fighting with my car), I grabbed his keys and activated the alarm with the remote so the horn would honk and scare it away. I still didn't see him run. So I don't know where he is and I'm a little creeped out by how he looked at me and ran at me...Like he's waiting for me now...out there...until I open the door out of irrepressible curiousity...

Sugar and Spice?

I thought it was boys that were supposed to eat the glue and dirt and stuff. Ava has developed this annoying obsession with shoveling a handful of dirt from a particular potted plant into her mouth. She'll do it several times a day if I'm not vigilant in keeping her away from it. I refuse to move it--she needs to learn what not to touch/eat. Aiden never touched a plant when he was that age. But Ava is much more reckless, fearless, uninhibited, dirt-loving--whatever you'd like to call it. I call her crazy. When she's eating dirt. Or dirty girl. Or Miss Piggy. Otherwise, she's snow white, baby girl, or pretty baby :) But those just don't fit when she's chowing down on some good, black potting soil.

spring blizzard

Happy Spring Break to us...We're having a blizzard. Come on!! There was no snow during the winter but now in the spring there's plenty. I saw a fireman escorting a bunch of school kids up the road to our village. Their bus must've plowed into something. That's when you know it's a blizzard! Ugh. Guess we'll be sledding today!

Not right

Aiden's world is not right. Due to the ocurrence of a few events (i.e., the chocolate milk tsunami of Feb. 08, beer bottle topple and crash during some party, orange-juice dump of April 08, various Ava-leaks during air-out time...) Radley and I decided to rent one of those carpet cleaners to clean several carpets in the house. Since I did all the actual cleaning, Rad was responsible for replacing the displaced furniture when I was done. He decided to switch the love seat and couch in the living room. It does give us more walking room in the living room, but it doesn't work perfectly for our typical sitting arrangements, so it probably won't stay. Much to Aiden's relief. He was all upset that Radley had switched the sofas and kept telling him "Daddy, it's not right!" and when Radley wouldn't listen to him, he got me to fix the situation. But much to his dismay, I told him let's just leave it for tonight and see if we get used to it. "But it's not right!" It's okay, Aiden, really. "No, it's not right..." Sigh...The black and whiteness of a preschooler's world.

UB

So we went up to Wiesbaden and met the newest member of Chris and Christie's budding family--Isaac Thomas! He is really cute and actually doesn't have that newborn scrunched look :) He looks more like he's already a month old. Anyway, we were talking about how he's actually a cutie and ventured to talk about how some babies just aren't really that cute. It's the truth, people!!! Radley loves to say ours were ugly babies (UB) but I prefer to think he says this for the shock factor (he loves getting people riled up, and that does it)--I certainly thought they were beautiful! Anyway, Christie told us that she'd heard that nurses that work in maternity wards sometimes put "UB" on particular unattractive babies' charts to ward off unkind shocked expressions upon gazing at the little one's giant head or...whatever makes a baby unattractive. I thought this was sad but interesting information worth sharing :) Cerntainly something that would bring up a lot of strong feelings and debate in a crowd of mommies!

#4

Happy birthday, Aiden (a day late)! Four years-old...Where have the years gone?!?!?! I remember spending our first days together in the hospital(s) and how I loved you so much the power of it left me breathless and on the verge of tears. I love you, Bebop!

It's my friend!!

It's not uncommon for me to be doing something around the house and hear Aiden in the next room talking--to himself/on the "phone"/with his friends. And every now and then he'll run past me all excited and yelling, "My friend is here!" (You see, he was on the phone talking to him and then invited him over.) And he'll actually run and open the door and talk to his friend as he comes in and takes off his shoes. Then, he excitedly tells him to come on and "they" run to the living room to play. Well, at least he has an imagination!

Easter Excess

Easter. Bah!! There is so much candy in this house that if Aiden got another Easter basket from someone (He's gotten 4 already) he would just look at it, wave it towards me, and request that I add it to his stash for future consumption. And guess what? Tomorrow's his birthday! More gifts and goodies! I'm overwhelmed by the sheer monumentality of rationing or getting rid of this candy without Aiden noticing and yelling, "No! That's my favorite!" He even got upset when I tried to throw out the grass from his baskets before Ava ate it all--"No! That's my present!" BOY! We're going to have to do some deprivation intervention to purge him of his Mine, All Mines.

Pop up history

I've always had this intense curiousity about old buildings. If a building looks ancient--even if it's plain or ugly--I want to know it's history and the life stories that took place in it. Maybe that's why I liked art history so much because it sort of let me indulge that curiousity a bit. Tonight, on the way to K-town with the kids sleeping in the back and a moment to just look around, I noticed for the thousandth time this old, delapidated building that I've been noticing and wondering about ever since I first rode A6 to Hoppstaetden. It's being redone in some way--not knocked down. And I told Radley that I wish so much I knew the history of that old building. It seems to have this life and something in it that makes me stare at it each time I drive or ride by it. And simply the fact that's it's remained there, neglected but still standing, through all these years must mean something of its importance. So then I had this idea that maybe in the future, there might be a service where you could see an interesting place and think, "pop-up", and the history and interesting stories related to it would pop up above it like on those VH1 pop up videos :) Those are cool and funny and interesting, so if you are interested in old buildings and architechture, that would be very fun! Just an idea...I call patent!

Muddy shoes

My running shoes are muddy and I'm taking special pride in it. It makes me feel like a hard-core runner. Like a Nike commercial or something...Hear the sounds of my feet pounding the road, my hard breathing (edit out the inevitable snort of exertion as I hit the uphill part), see my breath puffing out in cold weather (again, edit out runny nose from cold), but I'm running...Oh yeah...

And another thing...

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY! I can't remember the last time I saw the sun for a full solid hour!!!! It's really putting kink in my running rountine!!!! I usually shrug my shoulders when people talk about SAD and hating the rain because normally it doesn't bother me--I actually like gray, rainy days a lot (call me weird, whatever), but now I've had enough!

Good neighbors

Yesterday, we had our nanny's family (cousin and family visiting from KY) over just to hang out and eat pizza. But while Rad was out with some of them getting the pizza and beer, and I was waiting for the others to come, I saw my across the street neighbor, Marianne, going back to her house. So I called her into the house to come have a glass of wine with me and we just chatted for about 30 minutes or so before she had to get back. We have taken to ambushing each other with invites to come and "have a glass of wine" ever since she invited me in for a "glass" at 10:30 one morning when I was giving her a package the mail man had left with us (Do they do that in the States--Have a neighbor take and deliver the package when the person's not home?). Anyway, that glass turned into the whole bottle and it's our joke now :) This is the first place I've ever lived that I've associated with my neighbors and it's made me realize how valuable this little piece of life is that is disappearing from American social norms. Not only because good neighbors watch your house for interesting goings-on and would call the cops or fireman when you're so in need (or run out at 2am with a super-soaker to put out your barn fire--as Rad did for Marianne much to my chagrin years ago), but because having that positive social interaction can be fulfilling when you're learning about a different perspective, experiences, and opinions. And Aiden talking to our 80-something year-old neighbor over the fence is the cutest Dennis the Menace replay! I laugh as I watch the old man raise his eyebrows and fein amazement as Aiden shows him how he can kick the soccer ball :) Not all neighbors are worth knowing, but it's worth taking the time to figure out which are the good ones.

Educational Debate

So Rad and I have very different opinions about where Aiden (and eventually Ava) should be educated. Rad is pro-German schools and I'm sort of pro-American (well, DoDDS). Radley simply feels that the experience of getting a German education will be unmatched by a DoDDS school experience. At least that's what I get of his arguments. I think it is hard to switch from a German school culturally and academically (I've seen it first-hand with students at my school), which he may have to do one day. Also, their vacations & holidays are largely out of synch with ours. However, I can see that the fact that he is making friends at the German school will be a major factor in the decision. I do want him to have local friends and he's making them already. I don't know...I said we'll see when we get there. He still has at least one more year of German kindergarten. He wouldn't be able to start American kindergarten until Fall 2009, so...We have a little time to decide.

I win

So thanks to Rad and his sneakiness, I won my belly dancing skirt right after I got back from my second class--Yay! Though, tonight, my teacher was all over me like...green on a clover :)...It's much harder than it looks, people!! And the champagne, mid-way-through did not help!

I want my TV

So yesterday, we woke up to a crazy storm that was blowing gale-force winds and rain/snow was pouring down. Didn't have much time to worry about the house because I was responsible for my friend Christie's baby shower up in Wiesbaden 1.5 hours away and we had to get ready and go set up and cook. By the time we were 1/4 of the way there, the storm had passed and I didn't think about it. The shower was great and everyone had a great time. Big sigh of relief (until the 29th when I throw Jill's shower!) and we're 1/4 of the way home when I realized we forgot my purse out of all the 50 things we had actually remembered to reload into the van. Turn around (not an easy task on German autobahns), get it, go home, get kids in bed, get myself in bed. I remember Radley mentioning that the power had gone out at some point. Got up this morning (my turn to sleep in), and the first thing that Rad tells me is that the satellite decoder (our only link to American TV) is fried. Waaaaah!! We have to get a new one asap. How can I miss America's Next Top Model? Survivor? American Idol? Many people get up on their soapbox about how TV is poison, wasted time, blah blah blah...But for me, it's the only way I can turn off my spinning mind for an hour or two so I can get in bed and sleep not think, conjecture, worry, plan...It's my Death by Chocolate reward for making it through another work day with snot on my work outfit and fitting in a run and taking care of my kids and attending to rashes and the house and cooking dinner that no one really eats while I fold the last load of laundry for the day...I want my TV!

Belly dancing

So! I just took my first belly dancing class! My former landlady and her daughter invited me to the class they've been taking for a long time now, and after assurances that I did not actually have to show my belly (the horror!!), I agreed to try it out. Astrid lent me a belly dancing skirt and that was probably the funnest part of the whole deal, hearing that clang-clang-swish, but the whole event was hysterical. Natti assured me that I was doing great, but I felt like an awkward poser the whole time. It didn't matter though, because everyone seemed to be working as hard as I was to coordinate the hip shakes with the hand movements and THEN cha-cha-cha feet! I felt mildly spastic. I did break out in a sweat, so it was a workout, which is good. And it was fun! The less I concentrated, the better I did. I think I would've been hot if I'd had the champagne we had at the end, first :) So I learned some moves and afterward, we sat around and drank champagne and talked auf deutsch. Of course, there is this girl there that wants to learn English, so she was talking to me a lot, but I tried to only respond in German, so I could practice. I even was able to join in the conversation a bit and they seemed to understand my broken German, or they just very nicely smiled and nodded :) So ANYWAY...I've decided to go back for a couple months just to do something different and maybe learn more deutsch. I've even bid on my first ebay item...my pretty purple belly dancing skirt. Wish me luck!

Women

So about a month and a half ago I saw this 60 minutes show on the horrors happening to women in the Congo and was so moved, that I got up, went to the computer, looked up Women4Women (the charity mentioned on the show), and signed up to sponsor a woman. This week, I got my "sister" and a little bit about her life in the Congo. I have a photo of her and for some reason, she looked familiar to me. Anyway, Women4Women sets it up so that we can write each other. I sponsor her for a year, get to know her life, and hopefully, my few dollars a month makes her able to get more education and get basic supplies and medical care for her family (she has one daughter). I was so anxious to get my sponsorship packet that told me who I was sponsoring and all that. I finally got it after over a month (they had a huge response from the 60 min. story) and when I did, I had this strange mix of shyness, excitement, and worry. Here I am, having anything and everything I could ever want in the world--travel, family, friends, security, happiness, support...writing to a woman that had suffered atrocities unspeakable. Thankfully, Women4Women takes this fact into account and guides us on how to write our sisters. They warn us that some of these women may not have the time or resources to write back, but encourage us to keep writing because for many of them, our letters are tangible hope of a better life that they carry with them everywhere. I have yet to hear from my sister (takes 3 months for a letter to transverse), but I hope I do. Like I said in my letter: I was appalled and angry at the atrocities these women have faced merely because they are women, that Iwas moved to do SOMETHING. I am hoping this is one person I can make a difference for...

Legs

So maybe it's cuz I know about all sorts of early developmental milestones from working in the schools, but I'm SUPER excited that Aiden now draws pictures of people that resemble Picasso works more than scribbles. Overnight, Aiden has discovered how to make a circle for a head, round splotches for eyes, cheeks, ears, chins, noses, etc...and LEGS! Okay, so for you non-elementary ed people, this is actually a significant developmental milestone, not just mommy pride. Yes, I'm the speech therapist that actually notes in my kids' baby books "reduplicated babbling: da da--6 months; first wh-question form--2.5 years", ect. Ha ha! Oh well. Using my education for something :) Anyway, that's been the highlight of my week so far! That, and when Aiden explained a drawing that he did at kindergarten today included his "balls"...Nice, Daddy...

NCA=Now Crashes Andrea

Okay, so it's been a crazy week. Rad came back late Thursday night, we saw each other Sat. and Sun. and then I left first thing Monday morning to be an NCA augmentor for two schools in Bavaria. We have a team of people who basically make sure that the schools are doing what they say they're doing in order for them to be accredited. Sounds simple, but it's not. We used every second of the two days we were at each school to gather and put-together info. into our final reports. It was intense. But the team I was with, about 8 people, was really cool and we had a great time together while we worked and hanging out afterwards. I am so mentally taxed, that I'm physically worn-out. Well, and I was up before 5am each day. By the time I got home after the nightmarish drive home (stau/traffic jam on Autobahn 5 that left me stranded in one spot for hours until I got close enough to an exit to get off and guess my way to the next Autobahn...more on that another time), I was fairly incoherent with exhaustion. But, I have learned so much in the last week and feel so prepared for my school's visit next year that it was worth it. Plus, the people on my team made it fun. I'll blog on that crazy stau soon...

Missing Radley

Okay, Radley has been gone 6 days and normally, I'd be cool about this. I am used to him being off somewhere for work for a week or so pretty regularly. However, I think being sooo sick right when he left just shook me up and not to mention wore me out. I'm feeling much better--looking forward to a glass of wine and TV tonight after the kids are in bed! All week, I've been crashing into my bed barely able to think right after I turn out Aiden's light (and Ava's usually sleeping by then). That would be about 7:30. Anyway, so but now I really miss Rad and can't wait for Thursday night. It's sad that I'm thinking how luxurious life will be when I only have to wake up at night with Ava every OTHER night and how he can field some of the 1,000 requests I get from Aiden each hour and maybe Ava can climb on HIM for 30 minutes, and I'll get the next 30, and so on...Parenting is much easier when you're tag-teaming it!

It got me

Before you say anything, I DID get my vacinne...But The Flu got me still. The day Radley left, too. And it's still here. I started off Tuesday feeling extra tired, but thought it must be just getting up early. But every hour I felt worse, and by 1:00, I could barely get my work done. I got out of there, picked up the kids, laid on the couch. I got Ava in bed just in time...Starting seeing my meager dinner again and almost passed out. I had to lay on the floor for a while cuz it was the only way I felt like I wouldn't black out. Tried to call Bianka to come help me with the kids until I could sit up, but the phone was busy! I tried crawling to find a cordless which stores everyone's phone #s in it, but couldn't find it from the floor. Aiden wouldn't respond to my call for help...He must've thought I was going to make him do something because he was yelling back that his leg hurt so he couldn't come...I wanted to shake him! So I just laid on the floor hoping I wasn't dying until I felt like I could get up and put me and Aiden to bed, which he was not thrilled about. But I seriously couldn't move. I was so cold I slept with long pajamas, my robe, socks, and two down comforters, but I was still cold to the touch! After a few hours I got HOT and I still have a little fever, but it's better than that bone-piercing cold. So Bianka's got the kids while I rest...Just had to document my worse single-parent fear coming true...Back to bed!

Rad's in the PI

Radley's Lola passed away this past weekend and he is already on a flight to the PI to attend the funeral. As soon as he gets back on the 8th of Feb, I'm turning around and headed to Bavaria to be an NCA augmentor in a couple schools there for a week. So it'll be a while before we're back to normal here...Guess my last blog was a little soon...

Good ol' normal life

Rad and I went on a date last night! We went to see "I am Legend" with Will Smith. It was good, but it was one of those movies that makes you glad to return to your normal, regular ol' life afterwards...You know, he lost his family and dog and everyone in the world is dead except him...It was really interesting and intense, despite my description of it--I liked it. But anyway, at the end I said to Radley that that's one of those movies that makes you glad you've got your family and home and just regular everyday life that we usually take for granted. You know, there could be psycho-virus-ridden darkness-seakers just waiting to pounce on us and eat us alive if we step outside at night...Okay, in some places that might be reality...Ick. But back to the date! We got to the theater about an hour early and ate popcorn, had soda, and caught up. The theaters here have really nice lounges and sometimes cafe/bistros in them where you can chill, eat, get a drink. So it was nice and quiet, no bouncing between kids, just two adults relaxing on plush red velvet couches...Ahhh...But then, when the movie was done I was anxious to get the kids because I hadn't seen them all day...And now, life is back to normal :)

Wass?

So you probably know that Aiden has been attending German kindergarten since last September. Everything's going great, it's been a good experience for him, and for me in learning how to let him go little by little. Okay, bigly...He rides a big ol' city bus from the kindergarten to Reichenbach--no stops between--and it took me a while not to sweat over the mere thought...Anyway...The only problem is, the kindergarten is super at communicating and sending home monthly booklets with pics and updates on the kids' most recent projects and at doing special things to include families (the bad part's coming...) but {Duh...} it's all in German :P I have found that Google's translator is LAME. I can figure it out better all myself. But there are still major holes I can't interpret. I am learning the words that tend to appear note after note, but I am still finding that Bianka is informing me of the kindergarten goings-on that she happens to hear about from the other parents...It's a small town. Otherwise, Aiden would've again been the only kid NOT dressed up for Fasching--the German craziness sort of like mardi gras that goes on for like a month. I didn't know they dressed up on Halloween! Our Halloween. These Germans like to party...Anyway, so I feel a little like the mom that's always going, "OH! Was that today? Oh, okay, well Aiden's dressed up like a Wilden Kerle!" He happened to have that t-shirt on for Halloween and so that's what he was...So I guess I'm getting a crash course in schulesprech-deutsch. I made that word up, by the way.

Tim

Did you ever have an imaginary friend? An alter-ego? Aiden insists that he's "Tim" about 30 times a day...
Aiden...Ich bin Tim, Mommy.Ok, Tim, go get in the bathtub. Later, ok, Mommy? No, now. No, later, ok? AIDEN...Mommy! Ich bin Tiiiiiiiiim!!!!

Aiden also has not only ONE imaginary friend, he has a GANG. Sometimes he'll name each kid that's sitting in the back of the van with him, including Makenzie, his girlfriend. Who "goes away" when we get around our friend's 10th-grade daughter, Cierra, who is a very cute cheerleader...Shoot me now...

Running

So if you would've told me 10 years ago that I'd actually enjoy running, I'd have laughed until I was out of breath with my out-of-shape self. But now I've gotten back to the place where everyday one of the first things I think of is when I can go running. It's taken me 8 months post-Ava, but it took 1 1/2 yrs. post-Aiden! I love it because it's made losing baby-weight so easy. Not that the running is easy, but if I just run, the weight will come off surprisingly fast. I love it, too, because it's my time to meditate and just be alone with my thoughts and reconnect with God and nature. I've actually gained peace and more happiness in my life because of my conversations with God out there. And mentally, it cleanses me...It's where I run off being pissed off at co-workers or myself even. So it's been healthy for my mind, body, and soul! So I like that added dimension of myself as a "runner". Who would've thought? So, yeah, I still have a ways to go, but if I can maintain the momentum, I'll be back in my old wardrobe in time to need to buy a new one cuz it's so out of style :) Yay for Old Navy!!

I'm bloggin'!

So I've joined the technological revolution! Figured it was time I did something techie. Plus, I have a horrible memory and this blog will help me to document some of the everyday events in life that--though they're "everyday"--one day I will want to look back and remember. I hope to contribute a thought or two a couple times a week, so add this to your favorites if you're interested...I'll try to be at my wittiest and most entertaining here :) Yeah, so that pic at the top is really big...Not sure if I like that. But I thought it was fitting to the title and theme of this blog. This scene is how I spend 90% of my time at home with the kids--being a live jungle gym. Ava's at that clingy stage (almost 8 mos) and Aiden resents her getting so much mommy time, so he just joins in. I keep reminding myself that one day I'll miss the feeling of little feet and hands digging into every part of my body trying to propell themselves...wherever they think they're going (usually ends up with someone tangled in my hair). Well, this will just be my first blog. Little voices are calling...