wow, the pressure is on. i finally uploaded all my blog posts and people are reading them! i even had a random stranger like it! does this mean my time in germany is interesting? does this mean i have to continue to be interesting?! ha, yeah, not so likely. but i will continue to post thoughts and experiences and random stories as they occur! and if you follow my blog you’ll get notices when i update! just bear in mind- i am completely new to this whole blogging realm. i have not a clue how to follow people, nor do i understand how my blog shows up on searches or pages (i presume it has to do with my tags), or how or why to search for other’s blogs. so i’m learning and exploring and we’ll consider each blog post practice!
(note: as i type this i listen to j squealing, laughing, and giggling uncontrollably as he no doubt tries to best marv in a tickling war!)
so j has been so good while here in germany. our schedule consists of waking up, getting some granola and orange juice, cleaning up, grabbing our pack and heading out the door. from there it is a short walk to town stopping for caffe or frisch obst (fresh fruit) and hitting the playground or window shopping or just aimless meandering! being here is still so new to me and i am just like a sponge soaking up the sights, the sounds, the experiences. around noon our time we head to a meeting point and my husband leaves the office and comes to get us. we then head back to the office and stay there through the afternoon/evening. it is during this time that i am home schooling our son and give him activities and learning tools that he concentrates on while my husband and i work. throughout that we have times that we all stop and work on some lessons together (home schooling ideas appreciated!). and we add in a few new german words each day. my favorite to hear j say is über. Last night he was über tired- so were the trees, the sun, his parents, and of course the cars! He also now says danke schön and bitte schön in german for everything! Then, depending on what is going on with our work we leave around 6-ish and head to the house where we both monitor email and work responsibilities the rest of the EST day. its not too difficult. if my husband has pressing work, j and i find things to do to occupy our time. if i have work, then my husband steps in and takes the reins with j and they go get into some sort of trouble, errr activity! and there is always time once j goes to bed to catch up on any work!
the latest trouble, errr activity, errr project my husband has found to do is cleaning and landscaping our backyard. i’ve warned him that this could lead to trouble! because when we do head back to the states i’ll want the same thing recreated at our house! right down to slate and granite tiles and vegetation! it could get pricey! but he is so gifted at doing things like this- see the pictures of before and after! and our little one has become his mini me. he is so eager to “work” on our backyard. its a constant question of when they can go “work outside again?” he loves to help him and be helpful in any way. so he is given tasks of carrying sticks and small branches away. and “helping” to lift things- although i think a lot of the times this makes it harder for marv to actually carry things. he not only has to bear all the weight but also accomodate and carry it in such a way that j thinks he is carrying it as well. marv is such a great sport! and j is learning how to build things and work in the yard and organize.
jordan is definitely learning and thriving. i think we all are really over here. and i’m starting to adjust and realize that i am not here on vacation. that i don’t have to worry about trying to squeeze everything into one day. if i don’t see a shop or taste a new dish or see some historic building it WILL be ok! i can do it tomorrow! i think the next thing on my to-do list is get my hair cut/colored. now, i don’t speak german, and most stylists probably won’t speak english so…….!!! should be interesting! as one of my friends recommended, i will be taking a picture or two. its a universal language right?!!! well, we will see i suppose!
miscellaneous blog notes here:
A: oh- the other side note- no one take credit cards here! debit cards, credit cards- nein. its all euro bills or coins. which is very hard to adapt to. i am used to merely using my debit card and then recording what i spend later in my register. easy. if it $160 and i thought it was going to be $130 no worries. but, here, i have to very clearly know what the cost is so that i have cash ready to give them. odd! note to self- remember this and get prepared!
B: In other news….he’s got it, by George I think he has it, he’s really got it!!! J asked me tonight how to say something in german!!! He’s learning!!! He understands that there is a new language! Yay! Totally stoked! Only problem now…..keeping up with his need and want to know and being able to translate!! Lol!!! i suppose i best get off this blog and hit the books….
C: all pictures are taken now….so yeah-the ones of the guys in full on coats- it was taken in the middle of july! have i mentioned how much i love germany?!!!
pictures above: 1. & 2. are the backyard pre transformation, 3. & 4. is a preview of the amazing things marv can do!, 5. & 6.- no explanation needed, i’m the luckiest woman ever, these men steal my heart!
pictures below are just all random of j because the lighting was soo good tonight! who needs instagram when i’ve got perfect natural light?!!!
burrbaby 