Day 151

First of all - Happy Birthday Florian!

We all surprised him when he came out of the bathroom - the boys hid under the blankets and when Florian came, the blanket started to sing Happy Birthday - too cute!
We had friends over for breakfast and had a lovely morning! I baked two cakes whilst they were here. And then in the afternoon it was time for Robert's birthday party. So off we went to the skittles alley.
It was a really nice place, and we will definitely have to go back to try out the restaurant, it smelt so good when we walked through on our way home!

The kids had a great - all be it "noisy" - time! I took a few pictures, but I'll only show the ones of Robert here. Here he is blowing out NINE candles - still can't quite believe that!

So here he is bowling

and here he is "cleaning" the balls - no idea what that was about!

When we got home however Robert had terrible earache, and I don't think it was cause they were all so noisy, so he had some medicine and hopefully when he wakes in the morning it will all be better!

After the boys were in bed, a friend's husband, who is a plumber, came round and now the party on the coming Saturday can happen - cause our downstairs toilet is fixed! Florian watched and said that there is no way he would ever have been able to fix that. Thank goodness for good friends!

CU tomorrow!

Day 150

It's a bank holiday in parts of Germany today, and lucky for me and the boys it is here and where Florian works, so we all get a long weekend together. And Florian and I started it off with a nice lay in!

Richard had made a "nest" on the floor when we came down, and at sometime Lucky shared it with him! Too cute!

The weather was a bit better today than yesterday and Robert did get to go out and test his waveboard. I didn't get a picture as he was half way down the road, when I went out to see him use it. But I will get a picture sometime soon!

In the afternoon we went to the cinema with friends. We went to see "Epic" a new Pixar movie. We all loved it, and I am sure the boys will be throwing quotes at us all day tomorrow!

Today was sort of the calm before the storm tomorrow. Tomorrow we have Florian's birthday and Robert's birthday party! I had some organising for both to do today, and I am still not sure I have it all covered, but I hope so. These are the goodie bags for the guests!

I'll be baking in the morning and I hope I can convince Robert that one cake is enough, we'll see, and now off to bed to gather energy for the day ahead!
CU tomorrow!

Day 149

Happy Birthday Robert!

Gosh 9 years old, where did the time go!

Speaking of time, luckily I told Robert last night when he went to bed, that he wasn't to wake me up unless it was 6am or past that. Well at 5.10am I heard him head for the toilet, and then go back to bed, but like me I doubt he went to sleep again! And at 6am on the dot he was there, along with Richard!

We sang him Happy Birthday then he went and searched for his presents. I didn't hide them very well, cause he was finished with his search within seconds!

First he read all his cards

Then he opened his presents, and it was really cute after opening them all, he put them all on display for me to take a picture of! Too cute!

As they were up so early, they even got to play the new Wii game before school! And as it was library day, they came to school with me, and got an extra 20minutes too!

After school, Robert didn't have any homework, cause it was his birthday, so he was very excited about that. He had a friend round to play, but unfortunately because his friend was a bit naughty at home, he only got to come for an hour. But in that time they had a great game on the Wii. Richard had a friend over too, a girl from his class. All of them had a good time. And at 4pm I took the friends back home and then we headed to art school, with a big bowl of fairy cakes for their friends there!

I think at the end of the day, Robert had heard "happy birthday" a LOT of times, apparently he heard it in every lesson at school (each time a different teacher), then a few phone calls, again at art school, and more phone calls this evening! And he loved it, by the look on his face, during the phone calls!

He also loved all the facebook messages he got, and made me read them all to him and then again to Richard! Too cute!

It was just a huge shame that it rained all day, and he didn't get to try out his new waveboard, maybe tomorrow!

CU then!

Day 147 and Day 148

Sorry through no fault of my own I couldn't blog last night! My computer decided it was too hot to work, and shut down on me! too bad it was only the computer that was too hot...

Day 147 - Monday

This morning I decided that I didn't need to go shopping until Wednesday afternoon, so instead I tackled a messy corner in the kitchen. Still not perfect, but a LOT lot better! By the time I had finished that, it was time to pick my friend up as we were going to sports (Thursday is another bank holiday here). So off we went to sport and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as always. Richard had to stay at school an extra lesson so we could go, but he survived! ;o)

It was only yesterday and now I can't remember what happened in the afternoon....erm...ah yeah, got it. My friends kids came round to play with the boys. Robert took a break from his homework to join in, and whilst they were all playing I baked a loaf of bread. Then poor Robert had to come back and do his homework, and I had to help him. And then we had to revise for a test he is writing tomorrow!

This is my picture of the day - Lucky guarding the kids drawings whilst they were back upstairs playing hide and seek!

Day 148 - Tuesday

English lesson at Kindergarden this morning. And as we were doing body parts and singing "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" I decided that taking Twister along would be a good idea! And yep it was the kids had great fun, although they weren't that good at it, their little legs are just too short!
After that, I rushed to Media Markt. Richard apparently has promised Robert a Wii game for his birthday tomorrow, only he forgot to tell me that!!! So I researched with the boys what Wii game we were talking about, then I searched the internet for the price, and decided that he could get Robert that for his birthday and headed to Media Markt. Luckily after some serious searching there, I found the right game at the right price, so Robert will have two presents to unwrap in the morning.

At lunchtime, we all went to Heike's for lunch, she made Flurgönder for us, which is a traditional dish from this area, that until this year I had never heard of. It doesn't really look very delicious, but it WAS! REALLY really yummy!

Unfortunately we did have to go home again, for Robert to do his homework (Richard had already finished). After finishing his homework, both kids went out to play, at least today the sun came out. After having the lights on all day yesterday it was a relief!
At 5.30 it was time for football training and whilst they were chasing a ball, I went "walking" - I was on my own today so I went quite quickly. I had some music on and it was great fun.

This evening I have been sorting out things for Robert's birthday tomorrow - a birthday card from us for one thing!
CU tomorrow!

Day 145 and Day 146

Day 145 - Saturday
We had a really lazy day today, Florian still has a cold, and I had a cough, so we just took it easy for the day. Well I say that, but I did plenty of washing and ironing and cooking, but overall it felt like a lazy day.
The boys had friends over in the morning and played upstairs all the while. Whilst they were up there, Florian and I tried out our 3D film and glasses. Even when the boys realised what we were doing they didn't stop their play, so they must have been having a great time.

In the afternoon I organised Robert's birthday party. I have found a different place to play skittles, so on Friday it is time for the party.
The boys went to the playground with some friends for the first half of the afternoon and when they got back home, they had just enough time for a drink and then another friend called for them if they wanted to go and play with them, so off they went again, and we didn't see them until tea time.

Today was the Champions League Final (football) and as we know that all of Robert's friends would be watching it, we let the boys stay up for it too. And it didn't start until 8.45pm! Here are all my men waiting for the game to start.

I asked on facebook who would fall asleep first. Well, none of the fell asleep in front of the TV but Richard did go to bed before it had finished. And as the game was quite good, neither Florian or Robert fell asleep! It was Bayern München vs Borussia Dortmund and Bayern won 2:1.

Day 146 - Sunday
Today was Mum and Dad's 70th Birthday party. And it was a good job they didn't choose to have a garden party, cause it poured and poured and poured all day long and it wasn't too warm either. But it was lovely and warm in the Fontäne. Mum and Dad had booked the whole restaurant just for us, and had ordered a set menue. And wow was it delicious!
For starters we had an asparagus soup (I didn't take a picture of that), then our main course was asparagus with potatoes and salmon (or with pork filet) Look how yummy it looks, and it tasted even better!

Florian's asparagus was wrapped in a pancake that was delicious too. And this was dessert. I ate the lot, cause calories are never invited to parties, right!

And as you can see from this picture Mum and Dad had a great time too.

And here they are cutting the cake.

It was a lovely party, thank you for having us Mum and Dad. We left about 5pm and drove home, we wanted the boys in bed on time seeing as they were both so late yesterday and tomorrow is school. And we did have them in bed at that time, too bad, they played up until 8pm!

We have just watched Back to the Future Part 3, still great after all these years.
CU tomorrow!

Day 144

No work today, but I did still have to pop to school, with the guitars and bags and on the way back I stopped at the shop and got the ingredients for something new for lunch. Today I made Tortellini in a tomato ricotta sauce. It was the sauce that was new, cause I used to use a glass of ready-made sauce, but not today, and I have to say it was really easy to make and delicious!

And the best thing - the boys loved it too! And Florian, he arrived home just as we were finishing our late lunch. He is still full of cold and has had an early night tonight. He took a book and my mobile to bed with him, so I hope he didn't get too bothered with it whistling at him. I did get a lot of messages tonight chatting with an old friend!

This afternoon Richard had football training, but it really took some convincing to get him to go. He would rather play with his friends, which if I am honest I can totally understand, but that is not how a team sport works. They have a game on Monday and they need to train beforehand! After a bit of a fuss, with me threatening not to let him play football at all, if he didn't go today, he went off to play with his friends for an hour and then I went and picked him up there for training.

Whilst they were out playing I very cleverly organised Robert's birthday party. With weather as cold as this we can't really have a garden party, so I booked the skittles alley for them for Wednesday. That is really soon, so I rushed to get the invitations ready and printed, so that whilst Richard was at football, Robert could deliver them. Unfortunately when I gave the first invitation to his best friend's Mum I found out that not one of his guests would be able to come on Wednesday! AGH, so now it is back to the drawing board to either find another skittles alley for next weekend, or break down and take them all to Takka Tukka Land. We'll see in the morning!

Off to bed now!
CU tomorrow!

Day 143

Work this morning, and again I didn't remember to slow down, so I was on my way home again at 11am. Oh well, I got three hours of work in, I have since had the email telling me not to go in tomorrow. Oh well, the housework will be pleased, I haven't had much time to do any this week, so I'll try and do a week's worth in the morning!

On my way home from work, I drove to school, to drop off Robert's sports things, so that he could take part in his tennis lesson in the afternoon. Not sure, that it was a good idea to bother, cause he has now left it on the bus! KIDS!

After lunch, Richard went to my friends to do his homework with her girls, whilst I went to sport. It was hard today, the trainer decided to work on our bikini figure and made us "work our tummy muscles" - ouch! I kept telling him it was OK, I have a tankini, but maybe he thinks I should aim for a bikini, cause he didn't let us stop! ;o)

BAck home though, I went to my friends for a brownie and a muffin - she had been baking, so I think I'll be sticking with the tankini!! hihi!
Back home both boys practiced their guitars. Just in time for their lesson tomorrow!

This evening I had a babysitter here, so I could go to the parents evening for Richard's class. I got all the helpers I needed for the various activities coming up at school, and sold lots of the class photos I took the other week, with all the proceeds going to the school library! It helps when you go into the class room and ask "who doesn't want a picture" I don't think anyone dared to say no to me!!

CU tomorrow!

Day 142

Something completely different this morning. This morning I went into town and helped test English students in their final oral exam. I was quite nervous about it, but I needn't have been. The students were well prepared for the exam, and that made it easy for the three of us sitting opposite them. I was really impressed, I cannot compare my English, but if I had had to take this sort of test in French right after school, I would never in a million years been able to do it like these girls did. Amazing.

After the exams, I stopped by the opticians to pay from my contact lenses. My four weeks trial are up and I am NOT giving them back. They are not always perfect, but with my eyes I hardly expected that, but my quality of life has definitely impoved with being able to read and write properly again! So if anyone needs convincing about multifocal lenses I can help!

Because I didn't know when I would be home from the exams, the boys had instructions to go to my friend's if I wasn't back. I wasn't far behind Richard, but he wanted to eat there anyways. So for lunch it was just me and Robert.
I was a bit apprehensive seeing as Robert did not talk to me this morning either, but when he got in from school, he had changed his tune completely. He even redid his homework without complaint. I wonder what got in to him this morning and last night!

This afternoon I spent helping with homework and doing laundry - where does it all come from - and here are some pictures of some of the help I had to do.

Yep, Richard had to practice tying his shoelaces for his sport homework. Now I remember why I love Velcro!

At 4pm I took Robert to his friend's house so that they could take him to the football game, and Richard and I went to art school. And whilst Richard was there, I went shopping. Nothing exciting today though.
After art school, we went back to the shopping centre, cause I had to bribe Richard into going to art school. And he was allowed to buy some crafting stuff for 2 Euros. We were supposed to bring a new card game back for Robert, but they didn't have any card games there.

Robert got back from his game, which they drew 1:1, at 6.45pm and after his tea it was off to bed, and it is so much nicer to get a kiss at bedtime! I hope he stays this way for a while longer!

CU tomorrow!

Day 141

Ha, didn't think I would did you! Well here I am on time!
It's been quite a day again, but I slowed it down a little bit in the middle! So first off a trip to school to take more pictures for the school paper we are making. This time it was of the headmistress and her deputy. When I suggested taking a picture of them together, we wondered where to do it, we decided on in front of the new climbing frame. Hihi, when they were there, I told them they should climb it, and they did! I love it!

After school I went shopping, but only for today and tomorrow, will have to think of the rest of the week, when I go shopping tomorrow night! From there I got a 20 minute break before it was time to go to Kindergarden for an English lesson!
And straight from there, I headed to the hairdresser where I managed to slow my life right back down and pamper myself.

Mum asked me if I looked younger when I got back in and I sent her this picture. I think I look good and maybe a bit younger!

I had an extra child again for lunch, only this time I remembered all about it! But all the kids went out to play after finishing their homework, so it wasn't any extra work for me.

I went around to my friend to act as a witness whilst she spoke to her ex (the father of her twins) about him bringing the girls home earlier on the days he has them, as they are starting to be too tired and have even fallen asleep at school. Being me, I always see the good in people and was sure he would put his girls first, but nope I was wrong, he was really rude and would not back down. So my poor friend was in a right state. But she has her head screwed on right and instantly got in touch with the authorities that sorted everything when they split up, and they told her that she is in the right, now all she needs is a letter to him to put it all right! Good luck!

As Robert was feeling rotten this morning before school I cancelled his football training for today. I was going to let him play in the game tomorrow, but someone phoned to find out if he could play and then told me that the game was brought forward 30 minutes, so nope he won't be playing tomorrow as I can't be in two places at once, and as I have to pay for art school, that is where we will be going!

Florian has Robert's cold too, now - so get well soon!

OK, time to finish watching the final part of the Vampire Diaries
CU tomorrow!

Day 138, Day 139 and Day 140

When will I stop playing catch up...tomorrow hopefully, but now to bring this blog back up to date!

Day 138 - Saturday
Happy Birthday Mum! It was Mum's birthday today and we couldn't be there. It is also our niece's confirmation tomorrow and we have some of her guests staying with us, so we couldn't disappear. But Mum is very forgiving, and we did sing her a lovely (*cough, cough*) tune! And we will be going on Monday!

So how was our day, I was going to get up really early and go shopping before Florian went to sport, but I overslept, oops! So after Florian had been to sport we all went shopping. We started at Aldi and I got all the ingredients I needed for Apple cake, Brownies and Marscarpone dessert. Then I went and got Richard a new pair of shoes as his shoes too are falling apart. For once I am not impressed with the things I bought from Aldi. Richard put his new shoes straight on, and then he told me that he thought his feet had got smaller as his sandals no longer fitted as well, well turns out that he had come out in Robert's sandals!
Then we went to Media Markt and bought a BluRay DVD for our new player - the boys got to choose.

Back home and after lunch, I set to baking. I started with the Brownies, its a new recipe from a friend and I was determined to get it right, it smelt soooo good, but I couldn't try it :o(

Then I made the apple cake, that smelt good too, but I already know that I can make a good apple cake!

At 5ish our visitors arrived, we had a drink here and then headed over to Florian's sisters for a bbq.

We had a nice time there, and the boys loved having their cousins to play with!
Unfortunately Robert's cold returned with a vengeance and we had to leave in a hurry to get him some medicine. By the time we arrived home he was in tears, but the medicine and cherry pip cushion worked wonders and he went straight to sleep.

Day 139 - Sunday
Robert woke me up at 6.30 to tell me that the medicine had helped and that he felt a lot lot better, that was good news, just a bit too early! Still we had to be up and out by 9.30am so it wasn't too bad. We all got out and were at church for the confirmation on time.
The service was quite long, but luckily for the kids they were allowed to go to "kids church" which Robert enjoyed and Richard found boring, but I think they would have been even more bored in the "real" church. After church it was back to Florian's sister for a party/get-together. The day had started out with pretty dull eather, but when we came out of church the sun came out and stayed all day. So much so, that I can still feel its effects on my nose!

It was a lovely day and our niece had a great time, got some lovely presents and we all had delicious food. My dessert even made my FIL come over and talk to me, so it must have been really really good!

And again the boys had the best time with their cousins, at one point they were all playing Twister in the garden.

The storm that they had been forecasting came at 7.15pm and we had to get everything inside pretty quickly. After that we had yet more food, and then we headed home with the kids.

Day 140 - Sunday
Happy Birthday Dad! So today was Dad's birthday and after lunch, we went down to celebrate a little bit. Richard drew a picture for them both and Nanna hang it up when we got there, so Richard was pleased. Lee and family came too and we all had a nice afternoon. Mum and Dad liked their present which so far is just a promise, but we will be sending them off to Dresden for a weekend, when they can find one in their busy calendar! (Maybe that is where I get it from)

Lee and Ramone were interested in my new mobile phone and whilst Lee was testing it out, the kids helped him out!

On our way there I took a picture on the motorway of the airplane going over

On the way home I took another photo of an accident that we were right behind, but far enough behind, that we have no idea what happened, except that a car was burning and there was no ambulance so we assume that is the good news here.

OK, I promise to keep up this week,
CU tomorrow

Day 134, Day 135, Day 136 and Day 137

So to top off my rollercoaster ride of a week, Telekom have been turning my internet on and off like a yoyo this week. I think I am online right now, but who knows! Good luck to me getting this post out tonight! So where do I have to remember back to, to catch up....

Day 134 - Tuesday
So my life has to run like clockwork this week to work, as I have so much going on! So Tuesday had English lessons on the agenda. I got to Kindergarden all on time, by car, cause straight after I was going shopping. Well I got to Kindergarden and they had forgotten that I was coming - oops. Especially as they were in the middle of a birthday party. So I went shopping early and next week, we'll do a bit longer. Although I have since remembered a hairdressers appointment so we will be doing a bit longer the week after!
Back home I can't remember what I got up too, but some sort of housework. And then Richard came home and with him another little lad from his class. "Mummy, xyz says he is coming here today" - Oops, yep, I vaguely remember promising to look after him about 2 weeks ago. I think I need to let people know that I need reminding if it was a while ago. No problem, I hadn't started cooking so I was able to make a bit more and no one was any the wiser - or they wouldn't be if I didn't find it so funny, that I told everyone!

Tuesday afternoon the boys spent riding around the village with their bikes and our visitor on a scooter. At 4pm our visitor was back in time for his Daddy to pick him up, and at 5pm my boys were back in time to get ready to go to football training. I picked them up again a 6.15pm so that we were back home in time for the babysitter who was coming at 6.30pm. I had just enough time to show her where everything was and then off I went to a parents evening for Roberts class.

The teacher spoke to me before it all started and she is going to try and sort Robert's situation in the class out, so that was good news. Other than that the evening was all about the class trip Robert will be going on at the end of June.
I was back at 9pm and the poor babysitter was exhausted. The boys had had her on a bit of string! and the poor girl had only just got back downstairs.

I was able to then say goodnight to my little monsters and then settle down to watch Vampire Diaries.

Day 135 - Wednesday
Library duty this morning. One class was on an outing, so we actually finished with the library at just after 10am, but then we worked on the pictures I had taken of the classes. Trying to determine who the kids all are. We did pretty well, by cornering some of the kids in the break and asking the secretary and any teachers, that happened to come by. Slowly we are getting there.

I got home about 12ish, then I had lunch all on my own, cause the boys were having lunch at school, as they had guitar lessons until 3pm.

I then went and picked 4 kids, 4 guitars, 3 school bags and 4 guitar bags up and that all in my little Corsa. BUT I got them all in with only one schoolbag by their feet. Not bad going!
We dropped one of the kids off at his home, then the boys and a friends daughter came back to me, We all had an icecream and then off we went to art school (no peace for the wicked).

Art school was an extra half hour today, because a newspaper reporter was coming. The boys didn't talk to her though, so I don't need to look for the article. They said they didn't talk to her, cause I didn't tell them they could, but I think they were just being awkward!
I had a long chat with my friend whilst waiting for the boys to finish, and just talking about Robert's new problem, helped. We'll get there, I'm sure!

In the evening I had a lot of work to do before a meeting with the headmistress the next night, but I didn't get  as much done as I wanted to, instead I had a lot of people phoning me. Never mind, the calls were important too!

Day 136 - Thursday
Work this morning, and there was quite a lot to do, although it was planned that I did it in two days, I finished it before I left. Bother I thought at the time, cause it probably meant that they will have to send me home early again!

When I got home I quickly made spaghetti bolognese, and then Richard and my friend's daughter, who I am looking after, after school til Tuesday, came home.
We had lunch, and then I sent the kids to another friend, whilst I went to sport. At sport I again discussed Robert - if something is bothering me, it has to be OUT there - one of those I was talking to, is a Mum of one of the kids who complained about Robert and who won't let him join in. So that was well placed talking too!

Back from sport I phoned my friend who had the kids that I was back, but the kids - as so often - didn't want to come home. No problem, I was able to carry on with my housework.
I managed to organise someone else to take Robert to his football game, so that gave me a bit of breathing space.
Richard came home at 6pm and we had tea together, Robert got home at 7.40pm, and I managed to have both boys in bed by the time the other Mums and headteacher came at 8pm! Phew! Sometimes I wonder how I do it all!

Our meeting about the chronik went well, everyone liked the cover I had designed and the page I had made. Then we discussed how to put the class and names on the pictures. I had worked on them whilst Robert was at football, but how I had done it, if you shrunk the picture down, you wouldn't be able to read it, so I have to come up with something new now.
At 10pm everyone left and I relaxed.

Day 137 - Friday
I woke up this morning at just after 6am, when Richard called me. But when I got to their bedroom it was Robert sat up in bed in tears, with earache. I later found out, that it was Richard that called me, and he called because Robert was crying so much, because of the pain.

So no work again, instead a trip to the doctor. With the weekend upon us, we need the medicine now and not on Tuesday.
It seemed to work wonders, cause this afternoon he was a different child.

I ended up adding window cleaning to my list of chores today. I aired upstairs and we haven't yet got the fly protections up, and today thousands of flies came in. And when I went upstairs again, I saw them all. What to do? I have some fly thingys that go on the windows and kill the flies without them sticking to it. But to put them on the window I have to have cleaned them. So before I went out to pick Richard and his guitar up from school, I cleaned all upstairs front windows and put the fly thingys on there.

This afternoon the boys tidied their bedroom up and then were allowed to watch "Die Wilden Kerle" AGAIN. And I got the beds ready for out guests that come tomorrow.

At 6.15pm I took the boys to my friends and left them with her husband whilst we went to a Tupperware party. And Florian picked them up from there, when he got home 45 minutes later. There was just too much traffic to get here on time. But never mind it worked fine!
I ordered a Spätzle making thing, a garlic press and a cook book, so not too bad!

Now I need to see if I took any photos this week. Mmh, let me think! Not really, I think I was just too stressed, hopefully next week won't be quite so bad!

CU tomorrow

Day 133 and Day 131

Oops, seems I managed to forget to post about Saturday, I'll have to play catch up then!

Day 131 - Saturday

Saturday we helped friends move their bedrooms up to the upper floor. Not really sure why they were doing it, other than the rooms upstairs being bigger, but they certainly looked nice, once we had moved the cupboards for and with them.
We had lunch there - a bbq lunch, but we didn't bbq it, her parents did the cooking we just came down and ate it. All very delicious.
I tried to take it easy, seeing as I still have this cold, but by the evening I was exhausted. Which is probably why I forgot to blog and get any photos of the day, except this one of Lucky, and that was only me playing with my new phone!

And now back to today

Day 133 - Monday
Up nice and bright and early and off to Aldi, where I got quite a few goodies for the boys - new football shoes for Richard, 2 T-shirts each for the boys and new crocks/slippers for them both. Then when I got home the books for them had arrived. So lots of things for the boys.
Richard was so cute he really appreciated all of the things and that it was a really really good day, cause they got so much! Cute!

These are the books, A complete set of "Die Wilden Kerle", and at least three of them are books about the films, Richard was over the moon and went and cleared a book shelf right away for them!

And started reading too!

After homework, they went out and found someone in the village to play with and spent the next couple of hours playing football on our  "field" until it was time to go to Richard's football game.

Richard's team lost 5:7, but they scored 5 goals, so the trainers were happy, and Richard saved more than he let in, so he was OK with it too! (Note Richard's new shoes and bright shoe laces!)

This evening our internet and phone lines were down, but as you can see we are back up and running again now, and I hope it stays that way!
I spoke to Robert's teacher again today, he has problems with his class mates, no one wants to play with him and when he tries to join in anyways they get upset (I should think Robert is really upset too). It breaks my heart, as for me it sounds like a form of bullying, but what can I do about it. I have been surfing the internet, since it came back up for tips and such,. But there is so much out there, that I think I am going to go for professional parenting help first. But first a talk with Robert's other teacher to see if she knows more. Wish me luck and strong nerves - cause they aren't at the moment!

OK, off to bed now
CU tomorrow!

Day 132

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mum's reading this! And of course to me. Richard nearly reduced me to tears with his present for me this morning. He had made a nice place mat a school, which was lovely, but it was his letter to me, which he wrote at home with no help from anyone. I remember him checking with me that it was OK if he wrote in German, cause he can't write in English, but I didn't at the time know what for. It was really touching, cause without any help, he actually thanked me for all that I do for him. Gosh, I love my boys!

Even if one didn't want to be on the picture with me!

We had a pretty lazy day today, with quite a bit of TV, some delicious food and lovely company. The boys did go out late in the day, and they bumped into our friends out there and went with them on their walk. Unfortunately in the half hour they were gone, they got caught in a hail and rain shower! They didn't really mind though!

CU tomorrow!

Day 130

I feel quite a bit better today, so much so, that I went shopping in the morning. I took Robert with me, to get him some new shoes. The ones I got him at Aldi not so long ago have completely fallen apart inside. I am going to have to either send them this picture, or take them back into Aldi. We'll see!

Well these two pairs I got him look a bit better, less painful I hope!

Florian started on the lawn whilst I was out. And as it was the first time this year, he had his work cut out for him. The grass, dandelions and other pretty weeds, were nearly knee high - oops! I was slightly worn out from my trip out in the morning and had a bit of a nap on the couch. And the boys were out most of the day on their bikes visiting friends, and at 5pm I rounded them up and they were taken by another friend to football training.

CU tomorrow!

Day 129

I had a nice lay in after a good nights sleep, unfortunately what I now call my "tissue addiction" hasn't subsided. But I'll get there!
We had a pretty lazy bank holiday. The boys spent a lot of it out on their bikes, but just as much watching TV - we let them watch "Rise of the Guardians" this morning (a cartoon about Jack Frost, Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Toothfairy), I quite enjoyed it too!

This afternoon when they had determined that none of their friends were out riding bikes, they wanted to "make something" as Richard put it, "make something with wood, nails and screws, Daddy". So Florian got them both set up with what they needed, then sat close by to be on hand with kisses and the emergency phone number. Richard needed a kiss after hitting his thumb with the hammer but we didn't need the emergency phone number! Here are some pictures of them at work and with what they made.

CU tomorrow!

Day 128

Still feeling full of cold, but my Lemsip worked last night, and I nearly slept right through, and sleep helps, right!
The boys gave me a break to today, after they had finished their homework they went out and rode their bikes around the village - they had their walkie talkie with them, so that I could call them home in time for art school. Unfortunately the walkie talkie (or kids) chose exactly that time NOT to work. So I had to jump in the car and go and find them! Grrrrr!

We were back in time for another friend to pick them both up and take them to art school!

I only took one picture today, and that was of Lucky, who started to eat again today, I just hope he isn't expecting tuna every day from now on! And of course I hope he is feeling better, he was certainly more relaxed today!

Still waiting for Florian to come home (it's a bank holiday here tomorrow and we all have a long weekend), but it seems that most of Germany has had the same idea and he is somewhere stuck in traffic!

CU tomorrow!

Day 127

Well this post is going to be short and sweet, I was awake a lot of the night with the start of a horrific cold, and have been feeling like death warmed up most of the day.
This morning after the boys had gone to school, I lay down on the couch and had a snooze. This afternoon after sending the boys to the hairdressers on their own, I had another snooze, and I may well just go to bed, after blogging, sleep will maybe make me all better!
So like I said the boys went to the hairdressers, Richard took his pictures of "Wilde Kerle" with him (that is a German series of films about a group of young lads who play football), he wanted his hair cut like the goalie. Our hairdresser did pretty well - of course it is not very short, but it couldn't be, if you compare it to the photo he showed her!

I got another Dad to pick the boys up for their football training and nearly dozed off in that hour too! Instead I put the fire on for me and Lucky. He is still not himself, but I have managed to get him to eat a couple of treats. Hopefully we can get him back on track - right now he is "sun-bathing" in front of the fire, he is the most relaxed now I have seen him since Saturday night.

CU tomorrow!

Day 124, Day 125 and Day 126

I do lead a busy life don't I, and especially so at the weekends, so here I am playing catch up again!

Day 124 - Saturday
So busy day prepared for 3 in one again! First thing on our timetable - Sport for Florian, and when he got in I nipped straight out to the shops. I desperately needed chicken food, so I couldn't find an excuse not to go. I got everything on my list, then I came back home, got changed and went to join Florian at the sports field. Robert had a game, and whilst he was playing and Florian and Richard were watching, I went for a lovely walk in the woods! All those calories I may or may not have burned I put right back in me, when I got back to the sports field though. I had a sausage, and it was so delicious.

After the football game, we stopped off back home for the boys to get changed, then out we went again. First stop the Opel dealer to sit in an Agila, but they didn't have one - cheek. So now I am going to order it without trying it first. I only have it for 9 months, so we will get by. From there it was off to Media Markt to spend Florian's bonus!
We now have a lovely new TV - its bigger, better, clearer and more fun than the old TV. (Right now I have Pirates of the Caribean on in HD, even blind old me can tell its a clearer picture!) Florian also got me a new mobile phone - a Samsung S3. Expect to see a lot more mobile phone pictures now. It takes some good ones. Well the phone was easy to get into the car, the TV was a bit of a bigger problem. Even in the Mercedes it didn't want to fit, but if we tilted the back seat forward we could get it in, so the boys had to travel back home in a slightly cramped position. Good job we don't live too far from Media Markt!

Back home we had about an hour to play with our new toys and then we had to go off out again. We had been invited round to Florian's sister for a BBQ. It was lovely to see them again, its been a while. Shame Robert was being a "big" devil. He was misbehaving for most of the day, but he really went over the top at the BBQ. He came over to me stood in front of me and growled the word "thirsty" - as we had already told him that we were no longer willing to answer to "one word sentences", he didn't get anything, and we politely asked him to rephrase it, well he went and sulked for about 2 hours on the trampoline. KIDS! When Florian's sister went over after about an hour, he climbed out of the opposite side of the trampoline and went and hid. AGH!!!!
Whilst he was busy sulking though we were having fun, delicous food and taking some funny photos. I really like this one of Florian and Bella

And this one of Florian and Bella - and yes, Florian can nod off just about anywhere!

Florian redeemed himself though, when he climbed the cherry tree and cut now a couple of dead branches for his sister!

Sunday - Day 125
I have had a sore throat for a couple of days now, and I woke up on Sunday morning with it at its worst. So much so, that I sent Florian and the boys off to a birthday brunch on their own. I did make the promised salads though for them to take with them.
I took it nice and easy whilst they were gone, although I did make some muffins - Apple chocolate ones. Delicious!
(I'll post the picture tomorrow, can't get it to download right now)

They got back at 3ish, and Robert was able to practice some more for his maths test on Monday, before Heike popped round to see us, the new TV and my new phone and of course to try out my new cakes. Everyone loved them, and I will definitely be baking them again!

Monday - Day 126
Still got a sore throat, and this evening it seems to be turning into a proper cold - grrrrrr! I tried out a couple of sporty moves when I got up and decided that sport wasn't really a clever idea. So I just took Julia, made a new appointment and watched! It is so funny watching, cause it really does look like they are doing nothing. But I know for a fact, that that nothing is very efficient and very difficult!
After sport, I took Julia home then headed for school to take the last class picture. I found out there that Robert is writing a dictation tomorrow, mmh funny how he managed to forget that test too! KIDS!
Anyhow after that I met Heike at the vets. Poor Lucky has been being sick for the past day and a half, so I wanted to take him to the vets. Heike offered to pick the cat up on her way into town to do her shopping, to save me driving back and forth. That made it really easy for me.

The doctor doesn't really know what is up with him. His tummy doesn't not react to touch, he is not constipated, so she gave him a shot for worms and something to stop him from feeling sick and so far he hasn't been sick again, but he is not well. I know he is always a lazy cat, but he is a different sort of lazy today. I hope he feels better soon. Here he is waiting to see the vet.

And here he is having a cuddle with Richard and I!

After the boys had both finished their homework, we popped to see Heike, who has given me some throat medicine. Then it was time for Richard's football game. I don't know what happened to the team, but wow, they fought today and actually won! Here a couple of shots of Richard in action!

CU tomorrow