Germany - Part 3

One very fun part of our visit was that we got to meet little Matilda, my best high school friend Nadja's first baby.  She is a very alert little girl and I'm sad we got to see her (and her parents ;-) ) only twice while there.  

One day, Alexa came home from Kindergarten looking like this.  They had had access to face paints (I'm assuming), and Lexi was very proud of having applied her own lipstick. :)

One of the more, uh... unusual evening activities was sorting through old keys.  It really was interesting and fascinating to me on several levels.  Just imagining what doors/chests/closets/cupboards these keys went to back in their prime... and what contents they might have kept safe.  Time is so fascinating; how quickly it passes and we (and all our things) fade along with it.

Some things never change, no matter where you are. :-)  This girlie enjoyed reading...

Lexi figured out steering while in Germany, as well as using the back-brake on the little bike my parents had found for her.  We might slowly attempt the balance bike now that we're home again.

Beautiful spring landscape

Two peas in a pod. Ready to head into Kindergarten for the day. :-)

I staged this picture to copy one taken of me as a little girl... I'll have to see if I can find it and I'll share it on here eventually. :-)

Stopping by the rapeflower fields for a quick picture.

And getting ice cream on the day Papa finished his last exam in Texas to celebrate a huge milestone!  Yay!  What an accomplishment!!  Thumbs up for Dad!! :-)

Springtime in Germany!

We're back in Texas!  Before this summer heat consumes us all and the fun memories fade too far into the background, I wanted to share a few more pictures from our time in Germany and then our last week in France!

Before I get to those, though, I wanted to upload the beautiful spring pictures from around the yard.  I could've spent much more time wandering around looking for pretties, but this will give you a glimpse of German springtime.  May truly is a beautiful month to visit!!

Germany - Part 2

Here are some glimpses into our daily routine, now that the girls have started going to school and kindergarten.  We've managed to adjust to the time change and are finding a rhythm.  Papa is a huge gaping hole in our lives, of course, but we're counting down the weeks until he gets to join us!  Until then, we're making the most of things. :-)

Alexa on her way home from Kindergarten.  She thoroughly enjoys going and has already met another girl named Alexa.

After school therapy.

Lucia coming out of her school.  Her day ends at 12:50 every day.  The first few days we picked her up (either by car or on foot), but now she walks home on her own (though I sometimes still walk towards her a ways).

Coming home.  Here she has walked about a third of the way home.  You can see her school in the background; it's the building with the solar panels on the roof.

My big school girl! :-)

Stopping in to see Opa at the treasure house on the way home.

Opa offered for us to ride home with him since he was going back for lunch, but Lucia and Rhea decided they'd rather walk.

Alexa was happy to see big sister come home from school.  (Love this on so many levels.)

Oma and Alexa had a tasty dessert ready to celebrate finishing the first "work" week.

The girls' handsome, senile "big brother", Snickers.  This is what he looks like 80% of the time.

 More afternoon play.  This place couldn't be more fun and exciting for kids.  So much to do and discover!

The big girls were making a fairy house among the flowers.

 Coffee time in the grass.

 Reading comics together.

And this morning's view out the back windows.

Paradise, no? :-)  (My next post will be of some of the blossoms around the yard... per Opa's request.)

Germany Part 1 - We made it!

Papa took us to the airport on Wednesday, and it was so hard to have to leave him behind at security.  The two big girls especially had trouble holding back their tears, even though they were very excited about our upcoming trip.  It made me so thankful to have such a wonderful husband and Papa!  

After recovering from a drawn out good-bye, we made it to our gate with time to spare.  The girls enjoyed seeing our plane already parked and ready for us at the gate!

I was already a little on the tired side before our trip had even begun, so Lucia was kind enough to go get me some Starbucks. ;-)  Look at my big girlie carrying liquid gold!  After that, I knew I'd make it until 4 a.m. 

Lucia had already announced to everyone, including her friends at school, that she was planning to stay awake for the whole plane trip and watch movies and play games on her personal screen.  Unfortunately, she managed to do exactly that.  I tried to get Rhea and Alexa settled down around 9 p.m. Texas time, and by 10 Alexa was finally out and slept for the rest of our flight.  Rhea, on the other hand, held out until the landing gear was already out.  While we were making our final descent, her head started bobbing because she just couldn't keep her eyes open any longer.  So we stayed on the plane until everyone else had already gotten off to allow her a 20 minute nap before she had to pull her suitcase again.  By the time we were trying to get to our luggage belt, police had cordoned off part of the luggage area.  We're not sure what was going on, but we had to wait around for 15 minutes or so, until they finally took the police tape down again and allowed us to get to our belt.  By then, our suitcases were the last ones there and everyone else had already gone.  We made it to Oma and Opa's, and it's a good thing it was almost nap time when we got there!  

After naps, it was time to explore the back yard.  The neighbor's dog was happy for some Rhea love.

It's been beautifully sunny, though a bit on the chilly side (compared to TX :-) ).  Everything is lush and in full bloom.  A beautiful time of year to visit!

It didn't take much for the girls to talk Opa into going on a tractor ride.  Pure delight all around!

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The next day, we explored the "treasure house"; an old house that Oma and Opa are helping sort through and clean out because the elderly people who lived there have died.  Here we were on our way; the girls riding the bikes Oma and Opa organized for them.

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At the house, girls getting ready to find treasures.  Lots of "Oma, can I have this?", "Look what I found!!!", "Can I keep this?"  (Do you like the color scheme? ;-) )

The basement.  Canned fruits and veggies to last another decade.

Back at home, Rhea discovered the back pond with all the newts, which she called "baby turtles". She had lots of fun trying to catch them.

Both Lucia and Alexa had trouble waking up the first couple mornings.  This was after our very first night, which Alexa spent in my bed because she kept waking up in her room and I was tired of getting up constantly to check on her.  I tried waking her up around 10 a.m., but it was REALLY hard... that girlie was ASLEEP!

Lucia enjoyed ironing a little toy rug for the doll house.  Yes, Oma has a real kid ironing board and functioning iron.  (For some reason I don't see this toy making it in the U.S. ;-) )

This morning, we all went to church together.  It happened to be confirmation Sunday, and Oma and Opa sang with their a capella group during the service, which changed things up a bit and made it interesting for the kids.  It's been a great first few days here, and we're looking forward to our time together, especially after David gets to join us in a month!!  Can't wait!