Day 63

It was another of those busy days for me today, but somehow not a stressful one. First off was a trip to school with my camera. Today each class at school had a fancy dress party/breakfast. So I went in before it all started and took a couple of group photos of the classes (won't post them here though!)
Then it was time for shopping, and from there it was straight to Kindergarden for my English lesson with the kids! They were still full of carnival magic or something and were full of chatter and mischief, but it was still fun!

After Kindergarden I stopped off at home to pick up my sport stuff and then off I went to sport. Still can't do all of it cause of my toe, but it was still fun.
The boys and I arrived home at exactly the same time. I went to cook us some lunch and they had both had so much to eat at school, that they didn't want lunch! Fine by me, I had yesterdays leftovers (broccoli and potatoe bake, yummy!)

After lunch, Richard went with his friends to their Dad to play and I went to the hairdressers - young again!

Unfortunately none of Roberts friends had time for him this afternoon, but Heike picked him up when she took the dog for a walk, so he did get some fresh air today!

My running around finished after the hairdressers and Robert and I relaxed with a game of Skipbo!
CU tomorrow!

Day 59, Day 60, Day 61 and Day 62

Day 59 - Friday
Work in the morning. I managed to drag it out until about 11am by chatting to just about everybody around. But then I had definitely finished and had to go home, still I got about 7 hours work in this week, not too bad.

In the afternoon Robert went to his friend to play until it was time for football, and I went to Heike's to help make things to give to the kids at the carnival party on Sunday. I had to leave just before 4pm to pick Robert and another lad from the village up for football. When I got to pick Robert up, he was feeling really rough, said he had too much earache to go to football. Too bad, that I had volunteered to take the other lad. Robert had to tag along to take him to football, then go shopping with me. I hadn't realised just how rough he was feeling. By the time we were in the second shop - he was looking really pale and then he said he felt sick. I sent him outside and finished paying by the time I got there the poor thing had been sick. We then went and picked the other lad up about 5 minutes early so I could get Robert home again.
Back home I gave him some medicine and by the time it was bedtime he was feeling much better.

Florian was flying back from the UK today and got home just after 10pm. Some guys from my firm (Florian's old firm) gave him a lift from the airport. Cool!

I made a picture for a dance group this evening. The kids are dressed as "Pumuckl" who is a little "elf", so I put them on the kitchen work top!

Day 60 - Saturday
Florian and I divided the work this morning. I took the boys to the shoe shop to get them new shoes and Florian went and got some odds and ends we need to do the wallpapering.
Both boys have bigger feet now, we had them measured properly, then they got to choose their new shoes. Both chose the same ones. So we'll be checking the sizes now before going out!

Florian painted the walls with something to prepare them to be wallpapered in the afternoon, and I am not really sure what I got up to.
At 5ish Heike popped around to get some music for the carnival party tomorrow. Can't host a kids party and not have my signature tune and dance ready for it!

Day 61 - Sunday
Carnival party with the kids! Heike, Petra, Britta and I were hosting it. We were dressed as cowboys and indians.

We started the party off with a good dance session with the kids. We even managed to get quite a few to join in, although I had quite a few run away from me!

We did a "best costume" competition and a little girl dressed as one of the monster high girls won(No. 8), followed by Obi Wan Kenobi (No.5) and an indian (No. 4)! They were all too cute, I was glad I didn't have to choose who was up for voting!

Our part in the party finished at 5pm and I was quite worn out. Most of all my feet, which are just not used to being in high heels at all!

Day 62 - Monday
No school for the boys today -it's Rosenmontag. Which means lots and lots of towns have carnival parades. I joined my friends again at a parade that I really don't like, but being with friends made up for that! Here are the kids waiting for the sweeties to start coming

And here are my boys with their "haul"!

We were back by 3pm and spent the rest of the afternoon watching films! Well the boys did, I baked a loaf of bread!

Oh and this morning I made "Quarkbällchen" for our trip to the parade - they turned out really yummy. I think I will be making these again soon!

CU tomorrow!

Day 58

Work this morning, and for the first time in EDAG history (I would think) the women of the firm didn't take over on "Weiberfastnacht". Normally no one can get much work done on this day where women rule in carnival Germany. I was worried that I would get dragged into it all, but nothing had been organised, there was no party, no donuts, no one in fancy dress - I know I don't like it all, but this didn't seem right either. Times change I suppose!

Well with no party going on I got all my work done, then it was time to go home. As usual I was supposed to pick Richard up from Heike, but he invited himself to lunch again!

After lunch he did his homework there and then at 2ish came running home and got changed for the birthday party he was invited to. I was going along to, to get lots of pictures. I hope Heike doesn't get bored looking through 166 pictures! I won't bore you, I'll only post a couple (or more!!)

Yep, she took the kids climbing. It was a really impressive place, and they kids loved it. Richard did too, once he got over his full blown tantrum!

CU tomorrow!

Day 56 and 57

Couldn't blog last night, Telekom doesn't like us much and I had no internet and no wi-fi for my phone! It was pretty quiet around here yesterday evening, but it does leave me with catching up to do again, so here goes!
Day 56 - Tuesday
I got a phone call about 9am and my English lesson was postponed until Wednesday, that meant I didn't have to rush getting the bits and pieces ready for it. To get things ready for it, I had to take my laptop upstairs to the printer to get it attached directly. Luckily that worked, and I have colouring sheets for the kids ready to go.
At 10.30am I went and picked my friend up and off we went to sport. After sport I joined Richard at my friends house for a birthday lunch. Her girls turned 8 and we were invited for lunch. Heike had not only made Lasagne but also a great cake for the girls too!

We stayed until the girls were picked up by their Dad to go to their next birthday party, then it was back home for us, to do homework and things. At 4pm Robert went to his friends to play and Richard and I started making a window decoration.

Like I said the internet was completely down after the boys were in bed, so I couldn't even reset it all. Marcel has since suggested that next time I just turn the fuse for the room off, I'll have to remember that!

Day 57 - Wednesday
I'll have to be careful tomorrow morning, cause today was too much like a Tuesday, so I might be confused in the morning. Once the boys had gone to school, I got busy tidying up Richard's desk, I decided that if I did it, I could throw a LOT of things away, and if he did it, everything would have need to have been kept!

By the time I finished that it was time for my English lesson. The kids are loving learning the nursery rhyme, we will be doing this EVERY lesson from now until the summer, so that when it is time for the summer party, the kids can perform it without anyone hearing me!

After English I picked up my friend again and we went to sport again. Today we worked out on the machines there. I had to use heavier weights this time, so I know I am going to feel all muscles tomorrow! I arrived back home just in time. Robert was just heading for Heikes but he had only got two houses on from us!

Robert went to his friends again this afternoon and Richard and I went to art school.That was after I had spent some time on the phone with the Telekom to check our router. Whatever the guy had me change in the set up seems to be working but according to Florian we are not using the router to its full potential and it was a cheek of the guy to make me set it up like that! I think they will be getting another call from Florian on Friday! Too bad he wasn't here today!

CU tomorrow!

Day 55

A busy day here, as always on a Monday, I just seem to be driving back and forwards to places! But it was nice to start the day with Florian home for breakfast! Plus he took one of my trips off of my hands and took the guitars to where the boys need them for me!

First stop on my to do list was the bank this morning. We got a check from our health insurance at the weekend, they have decided to give us some money back, and I went to cash the check. (Lovely surprise that was!) and seeing as I was in town, I went around looking for some finishing touches for my carnival costume! I am going as a cowgirl, and I need a gun (or two)!

Whilst out looking I found a Dirndl instead. It needs some finishing touches to it too, but I like it, its comfy and I can move and take pictures in it, with no problems whatsoever! Not sure how I feel about the fact that I need green or blue shoes to go with it, but I'll tackle that problem another time!

After that it was a trip to Aldi for the weekly shop, then back home for lunch. Ironing after lunch, until it was time to pick Robert up from guitar. Richard came with me and we from there to Toys R Us to get the girls their birthday presents for tomorrow.
Back home then for about 30 minutes, then it was time to get Richard off to his Karate lesson. Florian wasn't back from his business trip when I got home and I got a bit nervous, cause he had a taxi booked within the hour to take him to the station as he is on his way to the UK (update, just had a message through that he is now IN the UK). I had just sent him a message to find out where he was, when he walked through the door!
Robert was pleased to see him and after he had eaten, and admired my Dirndl, we all played a game of Skipbo. And throughout that game the taxi was sat outside. He had got there too early and we made him wait!

CU tomorrow!

Day 54

No lay ins this weekend, Richard had a football tournament at 9am. I chose taking him to football over painting the ceiling the boys room again. Florian did that whilst Richard and I were gone. Richard's team didn't do too well this time, they were the 5th winner out of 5. Never mind, it was good exercise for the kids! I didn't have the camera with me today, so I didn't go down and take the group shot, but I got this one from the distance.

Back home we decided to go out for lunch again. Today the weather there was much nicer than last week, so we let the kids have 10 minutes on the playground, whilst we enjoyed the sunshine!

Back home again after lunch, Robert went to his friend to play, and Florian, Richard and I went for a walk with our friends. My toe is a bit sore now from all the walking, but it was nice out at the time.

CU tomorrow!

Day 53

So much for a weekend, I was up and showered and downstairs by 6.45 am and guess who I met down there - the boys! During the week they moan at me for waking them up at 6.35, why can't we sleep longer, etc. And now when they can, they are both up at the crack of dawn, grrrrr!

I was up early as I was off with Heike to a flea market to try and get rid of some of the kids stuff! I had boxes and bags full of things

I came home with boxes and bags still full of things, but I must have sold something, cause I had 55 Euros in my purse that weren't there when I went! I have to deduct 10 Euros that I paid for the table there, but 45 Euros for our old "rubbish" is really good!
I gave the boys 5 Euros each, seeing as a lot of what I sold was their toys and jigsaws! Here I am in the midst of all my stuff - everything left of the fence was mine, except for the pink stuff on the hangers they were Heike's!

It was fun, but really really cold there, even though it was indoors, when people came in they reckoned it was warmer outside than in! Oops! I spent most of the afternoon then at home trying to get warm again. Thank goodness for our fireplace!

Robert was at a birthday party this afternoon (they went bowling) and Richard spent the afternoon on the tablet listening to his mp3 player (a child of the modern world).

CU tomorrow!