Day 152

Happy Birthday Florian!

WE missed you today, but we went out celebrating without you! I took the boys to the ice cream parlour this afternoon. It wasn't as nice as we thought it would be, as the threatening weather change came right on cue. Exactly when I said what we would be doing, it started raining! Never mind, the indoors of an ice-cream parlour works too.

The plan was a bit different, the plan was to go to the ice-cream parlour on our way to sport/english lesson. Only 1) the kids ate their ice-cream quicker than you can blink and 2) Robert forgot to pick his sports bag up on the way out of the door. So I thought for a minute about buying him a pair of shorts so he could do sports, and then thought again, that might not be quite the example I should be setting. So we drove back home to get his sports stuff, and then after a bit at home set off again for Sports.

My English student wasn't really in the mood for a lesson today and we didn't really accomplish anything. But it was over in an hour then it was back to pick Robert up.

At bedtime Robert remembered that he had forgotten to pick up his watch at sports. Yep, the watch that he got for his birthday on Tuesday! AGH - the second thing he forgot this week, on Tuesday he left his sandals at the football field. Luckily there the trainer spotted them and sent them home with someone else after the game today! KIDS!!! Hopefully tomorrow we'll find his watch again. Luckily it was only from Aldi and only €3.99 But still really annoying!

Then this evening to top it off, I had to endure an hour long phone call, with the other Mum who is on the PTA with me - we don't really get along, but it doesn't stop her dragging out a phone call! In the end I lied out right and told her my film was starting now and I had to go, there is no other way to get her off the phone.

Still haven't finished all my ironing but only 6 more shirts to go, I'll get them done after finding Robert's watch tomorrow!

Oh there is a bit of good news ROBERT GOT A 1 in his dictation (The German scheme goes from 1 very good down to 6 very bad) he had NO mistakes! Woohoo way to go Robert!

OK off to bed now
CU tomorrow!

Day 151

This morning I didn't go to the library, the girls there had it all under control and I got to accompany some of the Kindergarden kids on their morning out. They are doing a newspaper project at Kindergarden and it is sponsored not only by the local newspaper, but also by the local furniture store. And the furniture store invited them there to create their "Dream house". They had a great time! And I got to go along, take pictures and join in! Here some of the pics I can post online!

This afternoon Richard went back to Kindergarden, and I had Nelly and Robert home. Only Nelly didn't feel very well, so much so, that when I suggested she lay down a bit, she jumped at the chance, and when I checked on her 30mins later she was sound asleep. I sent her Mum a text and she picked her up at 4pm (she was still asleep then) Poor thing, I hope she feels better tomorrow.

That meant it was art school without Nelly, and Robert wasn't happy about that. By the looks of Richard's drawing when I got there to pick them up, Richard too wasn't a happy chappy. But I suppose we all have our off days.
After art school, I took them to the shopping mall, and we got Richard a new pair of sandals, and then they went into woolworth and spent their pocket money. Richard treated himself to some felt tip pens and Robert got some silly kind of gun toy (shoots polystyrene dart things). They were happy.

CU tomorrow!

Day 150

Happy 8th Birthday Robert! Love you lots and lots!

When we woke up, Richard and I both sang to Robert and then he got to open the presents and cards that he didn't open yesterday on his early birthday! He asked me to say thank you for the cards, cash and the cool smart game! He loves it all!
Unfortunately it was still school, work and kindergarden even if he had turned 8!

His kids birthday party is on Saturday and he took the invitations in to school today, haven't heard who is or isn't coming yet, we'll see soon! In the afternoon one of his friends came around and they played really nicely together, even if it doesn't look that way in this picture! (They are playing Star Wars)

Later in the afternoon it was football training for Robert and a game for Richard. I had it a bit easy today, one Dad took Robert to training and someone else took Richard for his game. That made my life a lot easier as I didn't have to rush around to be in the right place at the right time!

Oooh nearly forgot, we got 4 more chickens today! And I think that is the last, so we now have 10 chickens and 1 cockrel - anyone for eggs?!

CU tomorrow!

Day 149

Well, Robert and Florian did spend the whole night in the tent, but they were rudely awoken both by the birds and our cockrel! They did stay in bed for a while then, but got up when the church bells rang, that was 6am!! Oops! Richard and I had a lay in, Richard didn't even wake up til nearly 10am!

Robert then asked if we could perhaps celebrate his birthday today seeing as it is a bank holiday. And we thought about it and decided that it was actually a good idea, so I set about baking a birthday cake - with some help

Whilst Florian set up the present for Robert. We gave him a ball of wool for his birthday and made him follow it to his present.

And this is him when he realised what was on the end of the wool!

He loved his present, so even though it wasn't a remote controlled car (which he already knew he wasn't getting!) he was very happy.

So was Richard who got to have Robert's old bike!

At 1pm our friends came round for a bbq, and we were all so busy having fun, that the camera got forgotten indoors and so no pictures! But we ate really well and had a great time. AND the weather played nice too!

This evening has seemed to be a mad rush, cleaning up from the bbq, ironing and then I still needed a b-day card for Robert and invitations to his party! All done now though!

CU tomorrow!

Day 148

We had a lovely day today, we went with friends to another friends for a barbecue. We didn't have to take anything with us, just turn up and eat. And it was DELICIOUS. One of our friends loves trying out new things on the bbq and today we had pork shoulder, the meat just fell off of the bone it was so tender. YUMMY! And he always remembers Florian so we had some really delicious veg too!

The kids loved it there, the friends live directly next to a little stream, so they did a lot of paddling in that. And all generally played really well together.

We stayed until nearly 8pm. When we got home we had a little picnic in the garden and then Florian and the boys went to bed.... in the tent in the garden!

That was at about 9pm, at nearly 10pm Richard came in to go to bed in his bed. Now to see if Robert and Florian last all night out there!

CU tomorrow!

Day 147

A bit late tonight, too busy watching Eurovision! So what did we get up to?!
Well this morning I decided that a trip to a beergarden would be a fun idea, and there is one in Fulda I had been meaning to try since we moved here 9 years ago. Mmh, I should have decided earlier than today, as when we got there, it was closed, they now are no longer a beer garden, and only open for weddings and such. Oops! Shame, cause the boys loved the look of the playground there! Instead we went to the Wiesenmühle in town, which has a beer garden too, but the playground - as the boys told me, was "only really small" - but had we gone there first it would have been big enough, I am sure!

After lunch we got the shopping and the car cleaned and headed home. Where we mowed the lawn, and then aired our old tent!

The boys thought it was brilliant. We want to get a new tent for our birthdays, but the boys were quite happy with this one for now to play in. It is no longer waterproof and the elastic in the poles is no longer elasticated, but it built up OK. And tomorrow the boys would like to sleep in it - we'll see! Cause it would mean building up the other tent and sleeping out there too...mmmh!

We barbecued again today, got to make the most of the beautiful weather, whilst it lasts. Florian wanted to know if this was summer or if there was more to come, I told him to enjoy it as if it was all we were going to get, but hope for more!

This evening we have been watching the Eurovision Song Contest.
CU tomorrow!

Day 146

All the late nights this week are catching up with Richard, he did NOT want to get up this morning, even begging me to let him sleep longer. Unfortunately I had to be at school at 7.45am, so he had to get up, but I promised (and so did Robert) that we would let him sleep in the morning.

They had a reading competition at school today and today was the final round, where the best reader from each class competed with the other winners from their year. And all this took place in front of a jury, and being a library Mum I was part of the jury. It was great fun. All the readers were good, and at times it was really difficult to determine a winner, but luckily there were 5 of us. With 4 years and 3-4 classes in each year, we were there all morning. To take some of the stress out of the day, Richard had lunch at Kindergarden today. I took a picture of the prize table, didn't like to take pics of other peoples kids and Robert didn't make it to the finals.

After school, we had just enough time to grab a sandwich at home and then it was straight back out to the hairdressers. Yep, time to become young again! I didn't have much cut though, cause in this weather it is nice to be able to put my hair up even if it is only a little bit!

After the hairdressers I went to the busstop where I had to wait for Richard, who was coming home from Kindergarden on his own today! He was so proud. Now he wants to come all the way home next Friday, I'll have to think about that one!

And after picking him up from there (oh Robert has been playing with his friend (the hairdresser's son) all afternoon) Richard and I went home for an ice-cream, then it was time to pick Robert back up, and go to football training. The boys had a good time training (Robert joined in) and I had a good time gossiping with the other Mum's!

Told you today was going to be busy! It's nice that the weekend is now here!
CU tomorrow!

Day 145

I feel rushed off my feet today, but looking back it wasn't really as bad as it felt.
This morning I put both English classes together and only had to go in to Kindergarden for one lesson, before I went, I decided to find out where Robert's bike had got to! Well when I phoned up, he told me that it was on the lorry and he would find out, when it was coming - no apology about yesterday or anything. When he got back to me, he told me that it would be here between 10 and 11am. Great, good news its coming, bad news that I had to replan my morning. No shopping today! Well, that is not strictly true, but when I have the boys with me, I never manage to do a proper shop! But back to the morning.

The bike got here at 10.40am and the driver did sort of apologise, but only sort of. Apparently when he did his usual lunchtime drop off and pick up, someone unloaded the bike, he noticed before he got to me, but why no one informed me or asked for a different delivery day, I'll never know! Still at least I didn't have to distract Robert, whilst it was delivered!

At lunchtime I got Richard and he refused point blank to go back to Kindergarden today. Not sure what it was all about, but I'll try and get to the bottom of it tomorrow!
Both boys wanted me to take them to a different shop and get them the collectors album for the European Championship cards. So off we went, but once there I couldn't do the shopping properly, but I have enough Weetabix now to open a shop - well at least until I see Mum and Dad again! (its the only shop around by us, that sells Weetabix so I always stock up there!)

When we got back from that, we went in the garden and the boys played on their bikes. Well I looked up at one point, cause of the sound Robert's bike was making - he sounded so fast. And boy was he fast! Unfortunately Richard was in his path with his bike (just stood there luckily), and instead of Robert steering out of the way or maybe even breaking, he just charged straight into Richard, knocking the bike out from under him and Richard onto his back! And even then Robert only braked, when  I shouted at him. Had he already had his new bike, I would have taken it back then and there. As it is I have just under a week to forgive him before he gets his new bike!
Richard fortunately only grazed both elbows, from where I was it looked a LOT worse when it happened. He must have a great guardian angel!

After that accident it was time to get Robert to his sport and Richard and me to my student. My student got her English exam back today and she did well, she got a 3! So proud of her!  and she was of herself too!
After that Richard and I went and got Robert and then raced down the hill to get Robert to his football match on time!

His team did really well, and won 3:2, and Robert was a lot fitter than I thought he was going to be! But I think he fell straight to sleep when his head hit the pillow!

Another busy day tomorrow, but I'm prepared!
CU then!

Day 144

No coughs today either, so the day went according to plan. In the morning it was library for me. One of the Mum's there had some good/bad news. She has got a job from June 1st and so today was her last day. Time for me to start looking and recruiting some new Mum's to help us out after the summer holidays!

I made Zucchinipfanne for lunch (courgettes with rice and feta cheese and a tomato sauce) one of our favourites, Nelly didn't agree with us. Well she liked it but she picked out all the zucchini, so she only had rice with cheese! Never mind, she didn't go hungry!
After she had finished her homework, she went round to play with one of her friends, whilst Robert and I stayed home. I had to stay here, because Robert's birthday present was supposed to be delivered some time between 12 and 4pm. Guess what it didn't happen. I tried to reach the delivery guys to let them know that I would be out from 4 (which at the time was 10 minutes away) but no one answered the call. So I left them a note on the door, letting them know which neighbour would take my delivery in. But nothing! Oh well, I'll have to call them again in the morning.

At 4pm it was time to round all my "kids" up and take them to art school, where by the sounds of it, they had a SUPER DUPER time. They got to paint with water pistols! The weather was soooo warm that the did their painting outside and sprayed various colours at their paper! I think I could have enjoyed that too!

Whilst I was out, Florian called, and he had a lovely surprise for all of us. He was on his way from one end of Germany to the other, and he stopped here for his tea! The boys were so surprised! And it was lovely to have him home unsuspected!

Watching NCIS now
CU tomorrow!

Day 143

So Robert's voice was a bit squeaky when he woke me up to tell me that the chickens were fighting at 5.45am! But when he was telling me about something else at 6.20am it was back to normal, until he remembered school...mmmh, no fooling Mummy though, he went to school! And I went to work!

This afternoon you would never have known he had a cough yesterday, I wish I knew what it was all about, but whatever it was, it seems to have gone. I will keep him on the cough mixture though for a bit, just in case!

Nelly was round again today and as always she is a very easy guest, first we did all their homework, then we went out in the garden, for an ice-cream, and then they rode up and down the road on anything with wheels! The main toys being the bikes and the go-kart.
After we had taken Nelly back to her Mum, I rushed the boys off to get Robert some new shoes, mainly as he didn't have any shoes to go to athletics. But when you see them you will see that I can't really let him go out in these again, he might really hurt himself! So he actually got two new pairs, one for sport and the other for school.

I think I have worked out, why the others wore out so quick, I think, they may well have been too big and that might be the reason for the wear and tear - we'll see how long this next pair last! Longer than four weeks I hope!

Anyhow we made it right on time to athletics with the new shoes and I think Robert really enjoyed it, but the poor boy is still none the wiser about whether to choose athletics or football. Poor thing! I promised he could try athletics again next Tuesday too if he wanted to.

CU tomorrow

Day 142

Today didn't quite go according to plan, but then why should a month go by and I not see my new best friend the doctor?! Yep, when I got the boys up this morning to get ready for school and Kindergarden, Robert was coughing and it was a really scary sort of cough, he was wheezing and really red, so I decided "doctors" and not school. I phoned the doctor and we were able to go at 1pm. Until then I had some work that I could work on from home. Robert got to watch a film whilst I worked.

The doctor was able to put my mind at rest, it really is "just" a cough, but a very dry cough, which we need to loosen, so I have the right cough mixture and he is to have as much honey as he wants and he should be drinking a LOT. We are working on it!

After we had picked Richard up from Kindergarden, we went into the garden and planted the plants the boys got from Nanna yesterday.

Robert's wallflower

Richard planting his wallflower

This all started when we took the boys to buy Nanna and Pop's presents on Friday. I couldn't post the pictures then as I didn't want to give anything away. They got Nanna something with flowers and Pop some tomato plants and after sorting them out Richard said "Can I buy myself a flower now?" so we let them. Richard got himself a rose

And Robert got a Zebra tomato plant, and where the rest of the ground is wet is where our carrots and radishes are.

After our hard work the boys had an ice lolly!

And I picked a bunch of lily of the valley, love that smell

Oops nearly forgot today we had a special delivery... we have two new hens, they are a bit shy and were hiding well from me, but I promise a better photo soon!

CU tomorrow

Day 141

First things first - Happy Birthday Dad! We had a lovely day with you and everyone!
Yep, today is Dad's birthday and we went down for a BBQ. When we got there it looked like we might get really rained on, but the clouds blew over (or were dragged away by the noisy airplanes!) and we were able to spend the whole day in the garden!

We ate loads of food. I made a starters, I made the asparagus dish again, yummy! And we followed that up with sausages, spare ribs and Grillfackel, delicious! We didn't take that many pictures, but we did get some good ones of Mum and me!

Maybe I should remake Mum's birthday card, and then she won't look so frozen!! ;o)

I drove the new car home, I am still getting used to it so I didn't try any of the "scary" things out. You can let the car control your distance to the car in front and keeping the right speed. Maybe when I have mastered the automatic gears I'll try that other stuff out!
We got back safe and sound though, so I can't have done too bad!

CU tomorrow!

Day 140

So as the boys put it this evening..."really?! THREE fun things in ONE day!" Yep, really!

This morning after Florian had been to the hairdressers, he took the boys swimming, whilst I went shopping for some bits for tomorrow. Katrin popped round to get the three cards I made last night, and was over the moon with them - phew!
Florian sent me this photo from the swimming pool - they got a treat after the swimming.

It was apparently a really really yummy ice-cream, I was told when they got home.

In the afternoon, Florian took the boys to Robert's football tournament (they came 4th), and I went out, scouting the location for the wedding I am taking pictures at in June. I went with the bride and her mother. We will be taking the pictures in the palace gardens in town and I just hope the weather is as beautiful as today! I got to take some pictures of the bride and her daughter, and I think I can post this one here.

When the boys got back from their football tournament, that was when they got really excited, not only had they been swimming and to football, but now we were going to have a bbq too! Too cute!

This evening I have been making strawberry tiramisu to take to Dad's party tomorrow, I don't think I'll ever win prizes for looks, but maybe it tastes good! We'll find out tomorrow!

CU then!

Day 139

First of all  - Happy Birthday Mum! Hope you had a lovely day and we'll see you on Sunday!

We started our day of course by singing Happy Birthday to Mum, but apparently our choir effort wasn't quite as large as the song she had heard from my nieces. They are away with the hockey club, and they ALL sang to her! Cool!

We went for breakfast at Florian's sisters this morning, we arranged to be there at 9.30am, as they are not known for being on time, I half expected to only meet one of them when we got there, but they were actually all up in time for breakfast with us! It was delicious and fun. We left before lunch this time and went shopping from there. And then decided to go out for our lunch, we stopped at a restaurant, owned by one of the library Mum's only it doesn't do lunch times, so we'll have to try there again soon. So instead we went here...

recognise it? Of course our favourite restaurant!
After eating the boys went on the playground and when we joined them there, Florian played chess with them.
Their first game!

In the afternoon it was gardening time. Florian and the boys cleared out the greenhouse and planted some seeds I bought them a while back. So soon we should be having carrots and radishes from our own garden! (If we remember to water them daily that is!) And whilst they were busy doing that, I did the lawn mowing.

This evening we all went to watch Richard's football match, where it absolutely fell down, and that was such a surprise as it had been beautiful all day, and we didn't have an umbrella with us. Luckily it wasn't for the whole game and we seemed to dry pretty quickly after too! Strange weather! What did I read yesterday "Dear May, please go and see someone about your identity crisis, You are NOT April, regardless of what anyone may be trying to tell you!"

This evening I have been making Birthday cards, three different ones for the same person, not an easy task, so I hope my friend will be pleased with what I did!

Oh, and finally a picture of Florian's company car!

CU tomorrow!

Day 138

Father's Day! So Happy Father's Day to my Dad (I know I didn't phone until this evening, but I did think about it earlier in the day!) and Happy Father's Day Florian

The boys had made things at school and Kindergarden again. Richard had made a matching place mat, so we now have a pair, and Robert made a gift voucher, which he forgot at school. So yesterday at art school, he made another picture for Daddy! And here they all are presents and all!

The main thing father's do on Father's day in Germany is go walking or cycling, so we were going to go cycling with the boys. When we got outside, a few of the neighbours popped around and all wanted to see the new car. The bike ride got postponed by about 90 minutes, so that I then couldn't join the boys as I had to make a couple of things for bbq'ing at Florian's sisters! I wasn't too disappointed though, its been a long while since I cycled. And by the looks of these photos that Florian took, it was more pushing up hill than cycling!

At 2pm we set off in the new car to Florian's sister. I got to drive there, it is going to take me a while to get used to the new car as it is an automatic, and I have only ever driven an automatic once. It's wierd, when it feels like the car is controlling you and not the other way around.
Sorry no pics of the new car, for some strange reason we both forgot to take pictures of it!

We had a lovely time bbq'ing the sun was out all day. There was a chill to the air, but it was fine enough to be outside all day! And to think yesterday we were out but freezing and watching it hail!!

CU tomorrow!

Day 137

In the morning it was library duty for me. We had one first class come in, where nearly all the kids had forgotten their books for the second or third time. We are used to this from the third and fourth years, but not first years. So the teacher was going to let the parents know that it wasn't acceptable. But that was the only excitement this morning.
I then went shopping, needed something to feed my hungry kids with at lunch time. Richard chose sausages and mash and red cabbage - it was really nice, although I didn't manage to sell the red cabbage to Nelly or Robert. Robert now that was strange, cause normally he really likes it, but today he tried to tell me that he has never eaten it - Kids!!
After they had finished their homework, Robert and Nelly went out to play and I joined them after a few phone calls. (Richard was back at Kindergarden, where the newspaper reporter was visiting today)

It was really cool out today, in fact so much so, that we had hail this afternoon, we sheltered from that in the barn.
At 4pm it was time to pick Richard up and head to art school. Not sure what they did today but they said they had fun that's the main thing.

This evening Florian drove home from work, with his new company car! I have just been out and sat in it, it was too dark for a picture of the outside, so here is one from the inside!

CU tomorrow!

Day 136

Another day at work, with nothing to report. My boss left for lunch before I left for my "weekend" so he couldn't put his foot in it this week!
Robert was on his own this afternoon, the little girl I am looking after had a day at her friends house today. I was going to take Robert to do a test lesson in athletics this afternoon but at about four we got stuck in some thunderstorms, so I cancelled that idea. Not the best of days to do a try out!

I picked Richard up at 4.30 and we now have his Schultüte at home - here it is. The only difference to Robert's is that this one has a white tip and Robert's had a black tip! But Richard is really happy with it, and it wouldn't have been the same to use Robert's!

Richard's friend came round for an hour after Kindergarden. And today they did get to play on the Wii, especially as it was falling down outside!

CU tomorrow!

Day 135

Nothing new at work this morning, I had a few translations to do, and I took my time, its quite hard to translate whilst there are 8 other people in the office talking. So I decided not to rush things and worked when it quietened down!

This afternoon I had to go into Kindergarden, today was the day I got to make another Schultüte - this time for Richard! And guess what, I got to make EXACTLY the same one as Robert had. Apparently all the boys at Kindergarden this year are having the same one, all are having a football one and nearly all of them in green, their team colours. Oh well, I suppose having done it all two years ago it was a bit easier. It still took 2.5 hours though! All finished now and tomorrow morning I will bring it home again.

And that in a nutshell was my day. Not quite between working and coming home I popped into town to Karstadt, I had some vouchers for 20% off there, and I bought a dress - which I will be getting for my birthday, so I can't take a picture of that for my blog.

Mmh, so what shall I take....LUCKY, you're turn!
This is how close he will willingly get to outside - a look out the window. Not sure what he can actually see out there at this time of night, but he is quite interested.

CU tomorrow!

Day 134

It's Sunday, not only that it's Mother's Day and when does our alarm clock get us up - 5.30am!!! Never mind  it was all worth it. We did Mother's Day yesterday and today we travelled south for our nieces confirmation. The church service was at 10am, so we really did have to get up that early. We got there with 20 minutes to spare! The service was nice BUT about 1 hour too long, we were in church for nearly 2 hours, Richard got a bit fidgety, but I can't say I blame him!

After church we all went to a playground, whilst the hosts went and finished off making lunch! All of the boys cousins on Florian's side were there today and I made sure I got a group shot, which I had better not post here. I haven't actually got many pictures I can post here, but this one is a fun one. The boys climbing all over Daddy whilst we wait for lunch.

We stayed until about 6pm then it was time to make our way home. There was a LOT of traffic in Stuttgart and it took a while just to get to the motorway, and once there the boys were hungry so we stopped at McDonalds for a Happy Meal. We got home about 9pm, I hope I can convince them to wake up in the morning.

CU tomorrow!

Day 133

Well, I promised a weather update, and yep, the temperature dropped by nearly 20°C today, and it was 12°C.  BUT having said that we did spend all afternoon in the garden, so it can't have been that bad!

Yep, this afternoon we went to Florian's sister for a BBQ. Florian's other sister and family were there too. It was good to see them all again, and the boys didn't even take one minute to get acquainted again. We got there and it was as if we see one another every week! Brilliant!

Richard got hold of the camera again and here are a couple of pics that he took

And again I caught him climbing a tree!

Now guess what I forgot, oops! This morning we brought Mother's Day forward, as we are not going to be in tomorrow. And the boys out did themselves. I LOVE what they made, and its already hanging on our wall! Here some of the pictures from this morning (and if you are wondering about my glasses, I have to "wake" my eyes up lately, cause if I put my lenses in too soon, I only have to take them out again, cause they have clouded over. I think it may be a mild case of hayfever as this only ever seems to happen in spring!)

CU tomorrow!