German Hokey Pokey

The first week of school, Carly's grade prepared a fun program for the new, incoming first graders. Instead of doing, "You shake it all about," you do, "Your heart goes boom, boom, boom."

It was fun seeing Carly up on a stage singing in German so soon after we got here. They impressed the parents by singing "School is Fun" in English. Definitely an easy one for Carly!

One of my fav. parts of this video is the mom's fun hair.

Our New Pet

Germany Is...

trustworthy

Morgens

Shutterblinds and guten Tags

Omas peddling

bicycle Baskets

through

farmers' Fields to

market Squares

loyal

tiled Rooftops, flower Boxes

black

red

and

yellow
waving

balcony's Pride

teenage Drinking

sharp Remains

scattered at bus benched
Train Stops

churchbelled Cobblestones

hosting

Cigarettes and

bakery-window
Gazing

Chocolate.

Yogurt.

Bretzels...

Cheese, bitte,

vielen Dank

the French,

the Czechs
the Polish
Greeks,

Italian Iced

Russians
eating

Turkish Doners

Milk in Boxes

Apfelmus, too

Sausage and Doorknobs
hidden Courtyards

iron Gates locked

barbed wire Fences standing

still.

flower Gardens

garden Gnomes

beer Gardens

belly Laughing

kinder Gartens

running Bikes

rainbow graffitied

tattoos,
lip-ringed
Mothers pushing
Kinderwagons

round fountained Statues'

kingly Castles

pink-haired Nodding

ice cream Licking
in sunny Rain

platz Places

newspaper Reading

walking Dogs,

yellow Post Carts and

Playmobil People

past

our new Home

First day of School

I love this shot of Robyn. She was so ready to go! She sets her alarm for 6:30 AM to be ready in time to ride on a bike path with other kids from the neighborhood to her "gymnasium."

It was so perfect that we moved here when we did because 5th grade is the beginning of this school, so it's new for all the other kids, too. (It goes all the way through Sr. yr. of our HS equivalent).

She has worked hard, been responsible for what she needs to do, and has complained very little, even though she could understand very little, especially at the beginning.

She has different classes, teachers, and schedules everyday. From kindergarten they start learning English. Although one might think English would be "easy cheesy lemon squeezy" for her, she has to know the German equivalent, so that class has been challenging, but good, too.

In 5th grade, they begin learning their 3rd language. She could choose either Latin or French, and chose Latin since she already had some Latin last year. (In 2 years, she'll take French, too). So, she takes Latin from a German-speaking Asian teacher!

English, art, and sport are her favorite classes so far. She has been blessed with nice kids at school and in the neighborhood to help her out.

Carly has been happy to go to school, too. She's pretty darn tired after listening to German all day by the time she gets home and is expected to do homework!

She has a different schedule every day, too. I'm grateful our one-on-one chances we get. In this school, the kids already learned cursive in first grade. So, when the teacher wrote words for her in English on the board, it was still like a foreign language for her! She is working hard to learn how to read and write all over again. She has also been blessed with nice friends and a patient teacher. Her favorite subject so far are English, sport and art, too!

Macy and I were surprised to see only scooters at Robyn's school. When I asked a mom, she explained that kids have to get their bike license in 3rd grade before they can ride bikes to school.

Macy is enjoying kindergarten and comes home speaking full sentences in German already. Her new best friend is a three-year-old boy. (They have mixed ages in the same group from 2-6). She loves the playhouse inside, sport in the gym, and playing outside. She likes taking kiwis for her snack so she can eat it with a "cute little spoon" like the other kids. Her teachers are very professional and caring.

Our First Visitors!

We were so excited when we heard our great friends and old neighbors, Katie and Andy, would be coming through Germany! Andy's mom is from here, and they got to take a trip with her to visit places from her childhood.

The girls talked their ears off the entire time. They were so excited to see friends, and be able to talk to them a mile a minute in English!

It was so fun to hear about their travels and get to show them our new neighborhood. These flowers lasted almost 2 weeks.

We had to take a picture with the dolls and T-shirt Katie helped make with another friend before we moved.

Our only sadness? That they couldn't stay longer! And, that we didn't get to see their kids, too.

Pinocchio's

Some great friends took us to a super fun indoor play place on one of our last days of summer vacation before school started.

I couldn't believe how tall this volcano was!

Robyn did a really cool ropes course for the first time.

Carly discovered a fun roller slide.

Macy was brave about going down this one.

On our road trip before moving out here, Myles read the chapter book Pinocchio to the girls, so it was extra fun to hang out with the characters.

Below: the girls with our fun friends!

Our New Place

We feel very blessed to be where we are now. After many long nights of scouring the Internet, weekends of apartment visiting, much prayer, and help from some friends, we have found a really nice place to meet the needs of our family. Many people have asked, "How did you land here?" Or have said things like, "We looked for 2 years before finding our place here."

It was challenging to find a place near 3 different schools, a grocery store, and a train stop that allowed 3 children and was in our price range! Before we could thank our landlord enough, she showed up with an apple peach cake for US!

We have nice neighbors all around, and have met some really nice kids and moms since school has started. There is a weekly open-air market in the cute, little downtown area just a few blocks away, and a park within a few steps. Some of the buildings in the pics. may look like big houses. Most of them are divided into 2 buildings and then into apartments. We have a 2-bedroom.

Saying Goodbye to the City

What we miss:
So much shopping so close by
Fantenella Ice cream
Fresh, hot pretzel stands
The children's library
Myles being able to walk to work
Lots of parks close by
Frau Pisch
Klara and her boys
our balcony and view of the castle

What we don't miss:
the noise
the crowds
worrying about being hit by cars
living on the 4th floor
knowing so few people

It's been fun to be able to experience life in the city and now life in a village.