Nick's Halloween bash

I wanted to blog this as soon as possible as I didn’t want to forget so many things that were apart of this evening.  This was part I of Nick’s birthday celebration.  Being so close to Halloween (and Halloween just starting to catch on here in Germany…) we opted to do a Halloween party with his American friends.  We hooked some of his German friends into doing a little ‘trick or treating’ so we have a few houses in our little neighborhood to travel to. 

Here was my atempt at a yummy Farrah McCullough cake.  I proclaimed the ultimate compliment was if someone asked me if she made it.... 

Spooky set up - check out those eyeball glasses

What an amazing group of kids.  Seriously, they are the best!  Well mannered, fun loving.  We couldn't ask for a better sweet crew. 

We played 'search for the eyeball' while their hotdog mummies cooled down

I love this photos of the munchkins sitting at the dinner table.  It looks like such chaos, but gosh it was prefect

A little happy birthday to Nick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCw5qpVwRs0

Onto pin the bone on the skeleton.....  Check out those two dragons!  Having a best buddie like Tate means not having to go through life alone.  He will be with you every step  - what a lucky Nick!!

We didn't even have to call eachother to see what we were wearing to just about match....  Yes, I am just as lucky as Nick!

We are the proud owners of a fog machine - and it rocked

Its so easy to get wrapped up in all the party planning that at the end of thr night you really just wonder if the one you were celebrating enjoyed it.  Well Nick surely did and I am glad Chris was there to be able to help.  We walked to 4 houses in our neighborhood.  All buddies of Nick's  They loved seeing the mob of American Kids as they chimed 'trick or treat' and ended with a sweet thank you.

Thank you all for making tonight a huge sucess.  One can make tons of festive treats, but if no one is there to enjoy them what is it all for?  You all are wonderful friends and we are truly lucky and thankful to have you in our lives.     

Soccer Star

Nick REALLY enjoys soccer.  He enjoys the process.  The jersey, putting on the shin guards, grabbing his ball and running out to great the coach.  Now of course, getting the ball and scoring during game time is another story (however, during our drive to his most recent game he did tell Chris and I that he intended to score a goal....  he got a few kicks in, but a goal, not yet....)

Saturday morning we took a brief break for a family 10k run (originally the plan was for Nick to bike it, however after a 5K failure, we figured the stroller was a better bet….)  with the fall ‘weather change’ we all have a bit of a cough.  After a night of minimal sleep, it was actually quite nice to force all of us outta bed to complete a 10K.  During the 1^st 5k I was thinking how thankful I was to have a husband who didn’t consider a little runny nose and cough something worth staying home for….  During the 2^nd 5k, I may have changed my tune (especially once I realized the Mile markers were Kilometer markers!)

After such a busy day, its nice to chill with a good buddy

Of course we didn't have dinner planned so off we went in search of a good meal.  Shame enjoyed a few games too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90rcxPTWZ34

The search for the Great Pumpkin

Last weekend Chris and I enjoyed an afternoon together – free of little munchkins for 5 full hours.  We went to downtown Stuttgart and enjoyed a lunch at an Asian Fusion Restaraunt.  We were the first ones in the door and enjoyed an early morning cocktail while casually ordering from the menu.  The food was great, and 30 minutes into it, families started coming it.  Its so easy enjoying a meal watching other people’s kids!!  We left and strolled through the city feeling rather cosmopolitan. 

We picked the kids up at 4pm and headed out searching for the great pumpkin (and some kince fall photos)

Shane is into the pointing stage, can you tell??

Here is the great pumpkin

Wait, HERE is the great pumpkin, but can we get it home??

Let the carving begin

Shane, any input?

Nick, on goop removal

The masterpeice

Photo taken via Nicholas Roy

Again, a Nicholas snap shot - great one!

 

Seeing it through THEIR eyes

This is something that I believe is difficult to grasp until you are actually there.  Books have talked about the amazement of watching your childs enjoyment.  Today I got to see Nick's enjoyment of a show first hand and it was truly magical.  We went to the Kleine Gespenst (small ghost).  It's a puppet show here in Neuhausen.  Obviously in German. 

Our attendance was debated, but I asked our german neighbor to join us (a week ago after seeing the advertisement) with her daughter and she thankfully held us to it (I'll be honest, its not always easy to find the location, purchase the tickets and even know what's expected, so sometimes its easier and often more enjoyable to stay home).

Its Monday at 1600 off we go not knowing what to expect.  We walk into a small auditouriam type room with chairs interlocked together.  We grabbed seats where we could see the cute little puppet stage in front of us and got ready for the show.  A rather energetic young man came out saying showtime was right around the corner. 

The lights dimmed and the little ghost came out.  She was cute as can be and her owl side kick was quite the 'hoot'.  Nick was captured at the sound of the first word.  Not the glued to the TV look, but that enchanted look where he will respond to whatever they ask.  The owl enganged the audiance evoking JAs and NEINs from the young kinder.  Nick responded without a beat each time (in german).  Kathleen, our german buddy, was also amazed by his understand and enjoyed watching him as well. 

I could not stop turning my head to watch the gleam in him eyes and his round cheeks as he laughed at the crazy guys who pretended not to be scared of the sweet ghost.  I was truly amazed at his enjoyment of the storyline as well as his comprehension of another language.  Of course I understood the scared shout of the goofy guy that he was 'machen in der Hose' (peeing his pants) at the sight of the ghost.... but I believe he understand much more.

They have another puppet show 22 November for the holidays.  Of course we will be there - this time, without Shane as you can imagine, his level of understanding was not up to snuff and I don't want to miss a minute of watching Nick (heck, maybe he will translate for me!)

After the show - they asked if the children wanted to meet the ghost.  Nick ran up there before I could even ask him.  Can you find Shane in this photo??  Right side, no pacficier

Kathleen treated them both to a lollipop for the walk home

A little 'post puppet show' chat....  Nick was supposed to ride his bike, but opted to stroll with his buddy.  Sweet end to a memorable afternoon.  Yes, dinner was in the crockpot! 



Being Open to Mom monents

Many of my days require me to cope with chaos. Shane is eating the dog food. I put the dog food outside. Nick opens the door to go outside (leaving it open). Shane crawls outside and is back in the dog food. Really? Need I even mention that hour before dinner when you wonder if you can even manage to make a dinner your husband would like to come home too?

Well these past few days I have had a few moments that I want to remember a lifetime. I wasn’t expecting any of these moments, but they stopped me in my tracks, each time I rethink them I get that warm fluttery feeling in my stomach.

Mr. Independent

In-between my spin and pump class I have 2.5 hours to rinse off, get home, feed dudes (thankful for Chris’s help), get them to kindergarten & mutter tooter, get back to work hoping for no traffic. In that time, my neighbor called feeling horribly sick and needed me to take her little one to her kindergarten as well. I said, no problem, I will get her in 5 minutes.

On our drive to Nick’s kindergarten I talked to him about needing his help and being a big boy with Shane and Jemina (now in the car with us). I didn’t tell him how, just asked for his help. As we stopped in front of his kindergarten, he got out and told me “Mom, stay here, I am going to look both ways for cars, cross the street, open the door to my kindergarten, walk up the steps, put my house shoes on and go in all by myself”

Honestly, I didn’t say anything at first because I really couldn’t believe everything I just heard. Nick was well thought out and rather affirmative. I was stopped in my tracks, Nick asked for a hug and kiss, looked both ways and headed off carrying his snack sack. With tears in my eyes, as I was not expecting this moment, I watched as my confident little almost 4 year old opened the heavy kindergarten door and headed upstairs. He didn’t look back once.

I picked him up that afternoon and asked how kindergarten was. He said he told his teacher he was there all by himself….. Surely makes me wonder what that translation was like =)



SMOOCHER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOYEEUxrhSw

Check out Shane the stomper - his enthusiasm may add a few days to the walking thing..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eCvFPRTG0U

2 – Just the other day, I left Shane with his Mutter Tooter (day mother, but Nick couldn’t figure out TagesMutter, so Mutter tooter stuck) I asked Shane for a kiss. Not sure what I would get (or if I would get anything) he leaned in to the sloppiest open mouth KISS. Wow ladies – look out! I got three more in that moment and loved every one!

Mr. Sensitive
3 – One more from Nicholas. Last night Chris put him to bed. Anyone who has ever complained about little girls and dolls needs to meet boys with matchbox cars. Nick seems to know where every single one is at any given moment - ESPECIALLY Lighting McQueen.

The end of the night, after teeth brushing, book reading, prayers, songs etc – he springs a car search on you. It seems to be his delay tactic. Most of the time we can stave him off saying, ‘Let’s look in the morning’ or ‘here’s Mr. Frog, he wants to sleep with you’

However, last night when Nick asked for Lightning McQueen and Chris said, ‘he is outside, we will get him tomorrow.’ Nick fell apart. The idea of Lightning McQueen spending a cold night outside by himself was enough to send him into absolutely misery (and boy did it sound horrible).

It was already dark here, but I thought I remembered seeing Lighting McQueen outside while we were working in the garden. Using my IPhone flashlight, I spotted him among the carrots. As Nick was still wailing I asked if I could be the hero this once (Chris and I agree not to cater to this and often let him cry it out). I crept upstairs, peeped open the door with Lightning McQueen. Nick stops crying at the sight of this little match box car. He instantly stands up and gives me the wettest kiss followed by the biggest hug and says ‘thank you mom, I love you’. That is what I will always remember.

A weekend in Lindau (and around lake constance)

 Its Columbus day weekend and although Chris's company doesn't observe the holiday, Nick's soccer team does!  Since we wouldn't be missing a game, we opted to take a weekend at lake Constance - about 2 hours away.  A year ago, Chris's folks spent a weekend in Lindau (as they were out helping with our new little baby Shane)  I loved being there and imagining them enjoying a few days of touring around as well. 

Nick cannot resist a train!

 Shane can still take a nap on the go!

 Want this photo for a black and white

 We walked from our hotel back down to the port later that evening.  Nick rode his bike for over an hour!  He loves it (thankfully)  That night we met up with his buddies (Casey and Vivian)  Its amazing how we can have buddies all over Europe!  We had a nice dinner with them and took the train home

 Love the lighting of this photo - its the port in Lindau

 Sunday morning we drove home via another town on the lake called Meersburg.  Beautiful little town.  The flower boxes were still over flowing with blumes

 REALLY odd, statue or something here....  I tried to get Pauli to pose in front of it.  I guess I should look it up to see what it all means....  Maybe not.

 Seriously?

 Nick, Posing

 We thought the flowers and vines were just amazing on this hotel

 Me and my man Shane

A little leaf throwing