Frohe Weinachten!

So, yes, I write those newsletter-type Christmas cards.  Everyone in our family does it, so of course we do to!  It isn't a competitive thing...but rather a respect thing.  If they take the time to type it up, then so should we.  Ya know?  Maybe the motivation for it isn't perfect, but I still think it is a good reason.  This years was shorter than usual.  Initially, I gave the kids the chore of writing something about everyone but it went a little like this:  My brother likes to play with me.  We got such and such for Christmas.  And silence.  They don't get the whole newsletter update thing like I do.  Clearly some things are meant for the more sophisticated :)  So, once again, I found myself at the helm of this project.  Last year I had it all formatted nicely, but then I had trouble emailing it.  I went simpler this year and I hope that no one holds it against me.  Additionally, my lovely camera is broken.  I have yet to find a place to take it to be repaired.  I bought a 60 Euro Nikon Coolpix and it is officially the WORST camera ever.  Some of our Christmas pics were taken with it, though the batteries kept running out but most were taken with our cell phones.  We were desperate.

So, here is this years:

Merry Christmas our dear family and friends,

This year has been full of lots of excitement and growth.  We are spending our first Christmas in our German home.  Germany has lots of beautiful churches, nativity scenes, Christmas music and other fun traditions.  As we walk through the Christmas markets, they always center around a giant Cathedral (Dom) and it is easy to remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas.  This Christmas in particular, the presents aren't even out and the Christmas tree wasn't decorated all that much due to our rambunctious (and a bit destructive) 17 month old.  The other children haven't seemed to miss out on any of the extra sparkles and wrappings that inspire so much speculation.  It is our testimony that Christ is our Savior and the sacrifices that He made are sufficient to satisfy all of our truest wants and needs.

A quick update:

Holland is 17 months old and full of scars and bruises.  We have had to turn over the piano bench and he can often be found shakin' his boogie on any table he can climb on top of.  He is brilliant in every way.  It took 3 children to prepare us for this one.  This past month they inducted him into nursery and he sits calmly, plays well with the other children and enjoys every minute of it while his mommy waits outside spying on him.

Parker, 6 years old, enjoys being a 1st grader.  He is a sensational big brother and has begun playing piano.  Parker recently received a tortoise as his christmas present.  The name is pending due to much debate.  Parker continues to be food picky and bread loving...Germany is a great source for his bread needs.

Madelyn is now in the double digit club and is 10 years old.  She is the mother hen at home and school.  She plays cricket, sings in the school choir, loves reading and is addicted to watching movies.   She has garnered quite a bit of theatrical flair recently and put it to use in her school play as Little Red Riding Hood.

Angelina turned 11 and has already attended a Young Women orientation.  Her parents are freaking out.  She is taking on more responsible roles such as 'babysitter' and 'cleaner' and 'boss.'  She is a member of the science club, school choir, is learning German and French and will soon be learning Spanish.  She has a real gift for languages.

David is the bread winner, Amber is the bread maker.  

Frohe Weinachten!

Love,

David, Amber, Angelina, Madelyn, Parker and Holland

a gift we won't accept

When I first glanced at this, it looked like the little girl on the left was doing something other than having fun.  I call this the 'suicide slide' and my kids won't be getting this from Santa.

Wheeling and Jumping

These next few posts are going to take a few steps forward and 5 steps back then 3 steps forward and 2 steps back...I'm going to be jumping through time.  Forgive me.

Last post was on Holland's birth which was 15 months ago, so this post I want to introduce you to the current, hip, cute Holland of today.

Last week he went for his first bike ride!

I'm hoping you focus on the supercuteness going on here and not the fact that we have a tiled garage.  VERY practical.

Yes he grabs at everything...it is part of his charm.  He also gives fabulous hugs.

And, they are off!  Aren't those beautiful trees?  I was a little worried at first as his head was kind of bobbing.  I predicted his neck would be sore.  The Daddy report is that he blabbed and talked and hugged from behind UNTIL he fell asleep.  I guess the lull of cobblestones will do that to you.

Jumping back...

When we first moved to the Netherland's (our last location - we are in Bremen, Germany right now) we purchased bikes for everyone.  Afterall, the Netherland's is known for their bikes!  We wanted to be a part of it all.

The first chore after we picked up our shiny new bikes, was to learn how to ride them!

So we crossed our canal and then the street and another canal and went to the parking lot across the street.  Convenient.  See our ducks?  They were out that day.

Everyone got coached by Daddy.  Parker had it pretty easy as his training wheels were left on, but he still needed to practice and figure it all out.

There were a few slips...

AND THEN....there was the spill.  Angelina went head first into the canal (or ditch).  Good thing David has big arms.  He scooped her out with one and the bike out with the other.  She was fine.

Her pride was a little hurt.  And of course, after we had determined that she wasn't hurt, I took a quick succession of photos.  I laugh every time I look at them.  Maybe I'm sick.  But just give it a try.  Look at them properly...you have to look at them quickly one after the other.  You'll have to tell me if you find it as funny as me.  She was soo mad I was taking her picture and laughing.

Her shiny new bike was covered in muck.  This session was over.

Interesting fact about bedrest during pregnancy:  your body gets weak and your muscles disappear while your baby grows stronger faster than your muscles.  And you have to decide...do I work out so I get some strength back to make handling baby easier?  If I do, then my arms are even more tired.  And that doesn't make holding him any easier.  Or do I save up as much of my energy for holding him?  It's a catch 22.  Anyone who has ever been on bedrest is probably screaming "I KNOW!!!!!!" right now.

Coincidentally, I haven't really ridden my bike in a long time.  I finally took her out for a spin this past week.  David and I were going to a lunch date down the road.

I got tired really fast.  Then we jumped a curb from the road to the sidewalk...well, David jumped the curb.  I hit the pavement.  No lie.  It was crazy.  My knee was bashed.  Worse than that was my pride.  

I'm so glad Angelina wasn't around.  I'm sure she would have whipped out a camera and documented it all whilst she openly laughed at me.  I would have deserved it.

David was so worried.  I was so embarrassed.  And tired.  15 months later, and I STILL don't have back my energy and strength...or coordination.  But mostly I was afraid to look at my knee...

I would have actually cried if I had ripped my jeans.

Luckily, I didn't.

Phew.  Dodged that bullet.  They were stained, but not ripped. All was good.

So, in this post we've wheeled and jumped back in time, forward in time, into a canal and onto the pavement.

Crash, Bam, Boom!

That's life.

realization, revitilization

I just read back through some of my blogs because I had to find something...and I realize how much I miss blogging!  Sure it was a hassle and a pain in the rear at times.  Waiting for my pics to upload always took up an exorbitant amount of time...and I'm incredibly behind.  Like, I have an entire country I lived in that I didn't really post about!   I felt more creative and driven when I was blogging, and I do enjoy looking back and reliving the memories.  I know I keep recommitting to blogging over and over again.  But this time, I think I actually will tidy up a few of my old posts and do some highlight posts and call it square and start from the present.  I reread some of the stimulating conversations that happened in the comment boxes and felt a surge of energy.  It is time to revive this ghost of a blog!

Back to Schule

August is the time to leave our summer behind and head back to Schule.  This year, Parker had a fun addition.  

Holland's world is about to change.  The kids are leaving him behind and he will be home with me.  MY world is about to change.  For the record, my leg has never been the same again.  This little boy is the King of Cling.

 This is Parker's Schultute that we made for him.  It is filled with all sorts of goodies.  For the record, it wasn't supposed to be this big, but we didn't know.  His was absurdly large.

 Angelina chose a very sophisticated ensemble for her first day back.  She even fixed her hair in something other than a low ponytail.

 Madelyn chose to wear her 'heels' on the first day and was very specific about her hair and her jewelry.  This would only happen a few times throughout the year.

As a mother, I cherish these photos.  My kids don't look nearly so good or put together the rest of the year.  I thought having girls would be filled with fights about not wearing makeup too soon or spending too much time in front of the mirror or having to say no to overly-expensive clothes.  Nope.  These girls could care less.  As it turns out, Parker is the most concerned about hair.  And that is only 2 days a week.  I don't know whether to be proud of my girls or worried.  I sure do love them!

Pierced through the heart

When Angelina first moved in with us her ears were pierced...in the wrong place.  After we adopted her we got the right to decide what to do about it.  But we had another little girl.  When we first gave birth to Madelyn (or maybe it was before) David and I had the discussion about pierced ears.  We decided that it would happen when the girl was old enough and mature enough to ask to get it done all on her own.  We would not prompt or suggest.  When she asked we would make it happen.  So, naturally, since Angelina was so young we took her poorly placed earrings out and left it at that.  When she wanted them repierced, she would ask.  When Madelyn wanted earrings, she would ask.  Right?  

4 year age mark passed.

5 year age mark passed.

6 year age mark passed.

I started worrying.  

We decided to stick to the plan.

7 year age mark passed.

More worried.

8 year age mark passed.

Should I prompt them in any way?  No.  Wait.  It is the agreement.

Someone gave the girls some sticker earrings...I thought "FINALLY this will happen!"

Nope.

9 and 10 year age mark passed.

A friend gives them clip ons which they start wearing.

I am unable to hold it in any longer and start buying earrings for them under the radar from places like Prague (best place for crystals).

Christmas comes and I give them the matching necklace/bracelet and conveniently leave my jewelry box open so that they can 'find' the earrings on their own.

Still nothing.

I'm dying.  When will this rite of passage actually happen?!?

I actually GIVE THEM A PAIR of earrings.

The conversation comes up a little bit later after a few days of "mom's an idiot, our ears aren't pierced!"

There is fear of pain.  We assure the girls and also talk to them about being open to talk to us about these things.  It is decided it will happen this summer and that Angelina will go first. 

In the meantime, Angelina decides she will just repierce her ears herself with a needle.  Sigh.  In the bad holes.  So, now those are reopened (but I don't actually discover this until much later, but still prior to the new piercing.  This gives me a teensy taste of this girls independent streak and the tween issue of not talking to a parent about things like sticking needles in your ear.)

I'm completely excited!  And exhilarated!  And ready!

I thought.

 Then they put the mark on her ear and I started to panic.  And Madelyn was beside me and already crying.  And I was fighting back the tears.  I remembered suddenly how it felt.  I was excited to be sharing this with her (I didn't get her as a baby, so every little thing like this matters!)  My mommy heart was bursting!

 She is looking cute and brave.

 Still so brave.

 Ahhhhh!  Second earring in.  And I love this picture.  Look at Jacob in the background.  He looks agonized for his sister.  As was I.  As was Madelyn.  Madelyn was consistently losing it and I was whispering to Angelina "keep it together!  Your sister follows you!"

 And she did.  She pulled it together.

 Her sister was next.  I didn't get a lot of pictures of her prior to the first piercing because I was trying to calm her.

 DONE!  But not without completely ripping my heart out and making me feel completely guilty.

 Because I kind of DID give them a pair of earrings that they had no holes for.

 Trying to get Madelyn calm in front of the mirror...she was still howling long after the earrings were in.

 Both girls together.

 After begging for them to smile...this is what I got.  One smirkingly proud sister (afterall, she wasn't the one who completely lost it!) and one who...well, can you really call that a smile?  Oh well, it was the best I got at this point.

After this we had lots of hole infections.  It was pretty disgusting.  I don't know why.  But we cleaned and cleaned and discussed hygeine and whatever.  Angelina's are good now.  Madelyn's...not so much.  In fact, the mark the lady put on Madelyn's ears isn't where it actually went through.  It went in much too low...so we have decided that we will let the holes grow back and try again this summer.  Sigh.  I'm thinking it might not happen.  Although, she sure loved wearing earrings.  So maybe.

My heart.  So proud and aching.  This summer I am going to get us matching earrings.  Think they will let me?!?! hahahaha.