20 September 2007

Let's Have Some Reality on the Blogosphere

Today, as I was picking Margaret's half-chewed grapes out of my asparagus soup ( from a packet), I decided that it was a good day for an infusion of reality on the blogosphere. We really DO have wonderful children and live in a beautiful place and are happy, fortunate, grateful people most of the time, BUT some days are better than others. Mother Therese's dirty laundry has been published in a book, so I figured, why not join in? I got dirty laundry, too, and some of it molds before it gets to the washer. Like Mother Therese, sometimes I'm not sure who my saviour is, and sometimes, when I get a flash of truth and for an instant KNOW who my saviour would be ( a very nice-looking gay man with a super-powered vacuum cleaner and all the attachments who would give me fashion tips and clean my apartment), I feel somewhat embarrassed to declare it to the public.

William, Margaret, and I all have colds. Nights of coughing fits have been shown to have a negative influence on mood. Sean, lucky man, had been at a conference for the last few days, and came home last night to a trio of grumpy, snotty, short people with hacking coughs. For some reason, Sean has become very dedicated to his work lately. We love you, Sean...please come home, we promise it's safe! :^)

This morning, Sean gave me a break and let me stay in bed while he took a loudly tantruming William to Kindergarten and took Margaret on a walk to the pharmacy to get some good drugs for the family. A few hours later, the Kindergarten called to tell me to come pick William up, he had just gotten stung in the face by a bee and was very upset. It was nothing a DVD and getting to eat lunch on the couch couldn't resolve, but the boy ain't looking too pretty today...


...Margaret also isn't looking so great today...she HATES having her nose wiped.


...unless she can do it herself. YUM!

The house looks like this. Margaret and Emory (www.theplesspeople.blogspot.com) could get together and have a lot of fun these days. Margaret is very interested in books, and their relationship to gravity. Now I, the proud daughter of several librarians who used to shelve books with gusto 10 hours a week, just shove the books to the side with my foot before meals so we can eat without getting them sticky when the food starts to fly.

The kitchen looks like this, and the main motivation to do dishes is to reach the coffee pot more easily. Some things in life should always be easy, and getting to the coffee in the morning is one of those things.
This is how I fold and organize Margaret's clothes in her closet. She removes all the clothes daily, so I don't bother with the details anymore. Life is a process of learning to let go. I just wash the clothes and throw them in, saves a few steps.
And I know it's not all about looks, but sometimes how we look and how the space around us looks is a good reflection of what's going on and how we are feeling. Bad hair days only come when the other things in your life are also askew; when the Dr. Hausfrau, neither an exemplary doctor, nor even an approximation of a decent German housewife, starts to consider changing her blog-identity to "Oscar the Grouch". This is how my hair looks today, and today we are just getting by. I'm pulling the shades to shut out the sun, and we're watching the "Cars" video as often as we want while eating gummi bears.
Gotta go, the doorbell is ringing. Hey! It's a guy with a vacuum cleaner! He says I should part my hair instead to the right! Brilliant!







18 September 2007

Pictures of Marga's Playgroup

A few weeks ago, Marga started going to a playgroup at the University. Since William was there, they have renovated the whole area! Check out these pictures of her new school.

A play kitchen is always a big hit.
She is a lot braver than William was - and has no respect for gravity. ( help!)
She likes to drive Bobby cars, just like William did.
Somewhere to hide.

Gigantic soft building blocks!

Her group, of ten children and two teachers, is called the "Wawuschels", or the "Pom Poms". Here she is, checking out the class mascot.







Hoppe Hoppe!

Another day, another playground. This playground is on the Island of Rheichenau. Beeba took this picture.

15 September 2007

Nothing Exciting Happened This Week

But two weeks ago, Margaret went to her first day of school! Here she is sitting on the step waiting to put her shoes on.
...William and Beeba made chocolate chip cookies!

... And I got to play on all kinds of playground equipment and ride on a real live kiddie-train!


09 September 2007

Klettermous


William, as Himself.




Margaret takes her baby for a walk.




oops!


Buurehof zom Aaluege

Yesterday we drove to Tufertschwil, Switzerland ( near Wil) to tour a little farm. For 3 Sfr per adult, you can explore the entire farm - they had chickens, goats, pigs and piglets, cows and calves, ducks, and even a fish! We learned about hay and straw ( there is a difference!) and we observed bees making honey ( from our sandwiches and apples).
But more exciting was the playground at the restaurant down the street! They had motorcycles!




Carousel in Tufertschwil






William and Beeba exchange treats.





William gives Beeba a taste of his "Nescar" ice cream and Beeba gives William a taste of her homemade flan.



01 September 2007

S'Mores

Margaret's first S'More. She liked it!


A satisfying stickiness!


Pick- Your - Own Flowers!

You can go into this field in a neighboring town and cut your own flowers for 60 cents a stem.


What a fun idea! Now we have a huge bouquet on our table!


Another 2000 Year Old City: Trier, Germany

Trier is the oldest city in Germany - 2,023 years old! Above are pictures from the Imperial Roman Baths. Their construction dates back to the year 293!

The dark, windy hallways under the baths.


The Porta Nigra, part of the Roman city wall from the 2nd century, A.D.
ANTE ROMAN TREVIRIS STETIT ANNIS MILLE TRECENTIS PERSTET AETERNA PACE FRVATVR. ( Trier existed 1300 years before Rome. May it continue to exist and enjoy an eternal peace.)



A Walk Around Nijmegen with Jonas and Hilda

Here are a few sights from picturesque Nijmegen, Holland , Oma's hometown. Above is Jop's ( Sean's cousin) restaurant de Waage where we were treated to a cup of coffee.
Nijmegen Cathedral.

A building in the old town. Okay, this building is old. But what does "old" mean, anyway? Nijmegen celebrated it's 2,000th birthday - yes, 2,000th! - in 2005. It was founded by the Romans in 5 A.D.

Jonas and Hilda by the Waal river.

Margaret learned the word "boat" on this day!