Week 10

September 25

A recent blog post of a friend of mine gave a run-down of a typical day for her. Here's a sample of mine:

5:30/45 a.m. Alarm goes off, get up, go for run or do pilates/yoga in the living room
6:30 a.m. Shower
6:45 a.m. Wake MK up to get ready for school, start making breakfast: MK likes toast w/2 eggs over-easy and some fruit. ME likes toast, 1 hard-boiled egg, and fruit. HR has toast/cereal, 1 hard-boiled egg, and fruit (if I force it on her). GE goofs off and annoys her sisters while occasionally taking a bite from her yogurt/scrambled egg/toast/banana with Nutella.
7:00-7:30 a.m. Hassle MK to get ready to go--she must brush her teeth, hair, put on socks and shoes, repack her backpack for each day's different course schedule, making sure she has her Sport bag if she needs it, art supplies if she needs that, as well as weather-ready clothing depending on the forecast for that day. "Don't forget your helmet!" Meanwhile, I'm making the sandwiches and apple slices for the girls' Frühstuck boxes.
7:30 a.m. MK heads out the door with a blessing ("Go in Love for Love alone endures, Go in Peace for Peace is the gift of God, Go in Safety for you cannot go where God is not."). HR and ME start getting teeth brushed, hair brushed, socks and shoes on. I finish up their Frühstuck boxes and keep trying to get GE to eat some breakfast and leave her sisters alone.
7:45 a.m. Send the other 2 girls out the door, same blessing; must make sure to send Sport bag with HR on Mondays/Thursdays/Fridays. ME needs Schwimmen bag on Weds. and Sport bag on Thursdays.
7:45-8:15 a.m. Finish eating my own breakfast, drink my tea, clean up the kitchen, get GE to go potty, put her clothes on, socks & shoes on, teeth brushed, hair brushed/braided/pony-tailed per her almost-4-years-old-desires. Throw on my shoes & coat, grab her Kindergarten knapsack, my shopping bags/back-pack, purse, keys, cell phone...
8:15 a.m. Get the bike out of the garage and load GE and her bag up OR head to the nearest bus stop for the 612/614 and take the bus down to the street nearest her KG and walk from there (this is if it's pouring rain or otherwise miserable weather for biking).
8:30 a.m. Drop GE off at KG, helping her hang her jacket up in the right spot, take off her shoes and put on her Hausschuhe, hang up her knapsack and greet her teachers, "Guten Morgen Frau K. and Frau J.!"
8:35 a.m. Head to the store(s)/Markts for that day's grocery needs. Thursdays I hit the open Fish market for fresh fish from the Nordsee. Friday I try to make it to the Okömarkt (Organic market) in Bad Godesberg where there's a huge veg and fruit stand, cheese stand, bread stand, and meat stand. I get as much as I can carry on the bicycle and my back. Other days I head to Aldi or Netto for discounted bulk foods and some fresh items (they have a bagged mixed greens, Feltsalat Mischung, that I particularly like; they also have organic ground beef for my Bolognese spaghetti sauce). If I've taken the bus then I go to the Lidl that's next to the return bus stop. Another favorite place is Der Leyenhof (http://www.derleyenhof.de/ ), an organic farm and grocery in our "village", Friesdorf. There are wandering chickens, a couple of pigs, huge rabbits, and other organic food items. Found my favorite no-sugar-added natural nut butters and applesauce here. If it's a harder to find item like frozen unsweetened berries, frozen spinach, or frozen kale, I have to go to the larger Rewe in Bad Godesberg or the Edeka in Friesdorf or wait to go with my neighbor to Kaisers.
9:30-11:30 a.m./12:30 p.m. Here's where I have some flexibility: Either I'm still shopping, having tea with my neighbor, meeting with a new acquaintance, going for a run (if I didn't go in the early a.m.), doing laundry, cleaning the apartment, preparing a recipe for later, practicing (theoretically, somehow this happens less often than I'd like), or catching up on email/blogging/logging, or running other errands (post office, bakery, pharmacy, etc.) Sometimes my neighbor calls and says she's headed to a larger grocery store and do I want to tag along. When I do this, I've learned to buy a whole crate of sparkling water, boxed ultra-heated-long-shelf-life milk (not my favorite item but the kids don't mind it and then I'm not having to buy and carry milk every day), boxed orange juice, and canned/dry goods which then leaves just meats and fresh produce for me to buy on a daily basis.
11:30 a.m./12:30 p.m. Meet HR at the Grundschule. This week we are working on walking home alone. Each day I meet her a little further away from the school and closer to home. Yesterday it was the corner down the street from the school. Today it was down the street and across the cross-walk. Tomorrow I'm meeting her at the "white house" half-way down the last stretch to our building. Thursday and Friday she should just come all the way home...
12:45 p.m. Make lunch for HR and ME.
1 p.m. Help HR get her homework started, then leave her to it. ME pretty well does that on her own and only occasionally needs help translating directions.
1:30 p.m. MK gets home some days and eats lunch. Sometimes she's already eaten at school, depending on her schedule.
2:00 p.m. Leave to pick up GE from KG.
2:15 p.m. KG doors open for pick-up time. GE greets me enthusiastically, fruit snack in hand (they get fresh fruit in the afternoon: an apple, banana, pear, or today: Kiwi). Help her change from her Hausschuhe into her regular shoes, put on coat, cap, scarf, bike helmet... pick up her knapsack and load onto the bike for home.
2:30 p.m. Get home and prepare a healthy "snack-lunch" for GE (she's still not eating the warm lunches provided by the KG).
2:45-5 p.m. Help any of the older girls with homework needs. Catch a moment to myself with a mug of tea and my Kindle?! Or... laundry, straightening up, reading to girls, catching up on email/blogging/logging/researching weekend outings/vacation plans/facebook....
5 p.m. Start working on supper prep: Mondays is pasta night (spaghetti or rotini), Tuesdays and Wednesdays we have traditional German Abendbrot, Thursdays is fish (because I can get fresh fish from the fish market). Friday is chicken and rice/potatoes (because I can get fresh local free-range chicken from the organic meat stand). Saturday night is pancakes if we're home or a restaurant if we're on an outing. Sunday is Abendbrot and popcorn (a carry-over tradition from home). Since I eat less meat and bread, I typically also have some sort of salad and bean/lentil dish on the side, steamed veggies for everyone, and fruit. I also keep a steady stock of either a curry or soup in the fridge for my lunches or a warm dinner option. With everyone coming home at different times with different levels of hunger, I sometimes feel like I'm in the kitchen from 12:45 until 7 p.m.!
6/6:30 p.m. Dinner is served.
6:45 p.m. Get GE ready for bed, read a few books to her, sing some songs, read to myself in the corner while reminding her to stay put and hold still (she is SOOO tired by this point from her day at KG and not having a nap, that adrenaline causes her to twitch, sing, sit up, and squirm. J and I have been taking turns either lying down with her or sitting in the room to help remind her to shush up and go to sleep! Doesn't take long once she holds still!)
7:00 p.m. Finish cleaning up the kitchen, start getting the older kids ready for bed, read to them, hang up the wash to dry overnight...
8:15 p.m. Kids are all in bed. Finish cleaning up the kitchen, hang up the wash.... um, didn't I do that already?! Oh yeah, make a cup of tea, sit at the computer to read/catch up on email/blogging/logging...
Watch a little T.V. in German, read my Kindle, hang out with hubby... breathe.
10:00 p.m. Sleep. Oops, it's 10:30.

Oh, and of course, spattered throughout I'm solving problems, settling spats, running interference, and generally keeping the masses from strangling each other.

September 26

Today was richtige Deutsches Wetter (proper German weather): rain, 50's, gray. A bright scarf, rain boots, and a hot mug of tea were in order. GE stomped happily through the puddles to the bus stop. On weekdays, the bus comes every 10 mins in the morning and afternoons for school children. Convenient for me! It's a quick ride (just 4 stops) and a short walk through the drizzle, past the Haribo factory shop (oh my, am I glad it's not open when we walk by in the early a.m.!) to the KG. GE sings "There's my Kindergarten" when the yellow building with the big painted smiling sun comes into view. I had a coffee date later in the a.m. with my neighbor and another American friend and a British woman who I hadn't met yet--she has a 1st grader and 4 year old. The 1st grader is at the same school as HR. I'm sure we'll meet her again. I could only visit for about 45 mins before I had to leave to meet HR, but we all discussed the possibility of having a German conversation group with some German friends who also want to have an English conversation group--maybe an exchange of some kind can be worked out. Woot! Friends, coffee/tea, and conversation... what more could I want?

September 27

View from the dining room door looking west towards the woods.

The weather has turned properly fall-like. The trees are following suit. Splotches of yellow, orange and red dot the forest and leaves are piling up in the streets. The street cleaning machines come through every other day it seems. Neighbors are out sweeping their porches, stairs, and the side walk in front of their homes. I noticed as I rode to the KG this afternoon to pick up GE that the light was different. It's been so cloudy that I hadn't noticed the change. This morning was the first time that I thought, "MK should use her bike light while she rides to school." Soon it will be dark when she leaves!

From the dining room balcony looking north over the Friesdorf neighborhood.

View from our balcony with the sycamore trees turning yellow.

View down the street from the Kindergarten.

Took the bus again to KG (it was raining) and then rode it all the way up to the Klufterplatz where the fresh fish stand is. I was the first customer when he opened at 9 a.m. I got 2 Lachs (salmon) fillets (got to watch him pick out the bones for me) and 4 Kabeljau (cod) fillets for dinner tonight. I may try the Forelle (trout) or Heilbutt  (halibut)  or Schellfisch (haddock) next time. Some are whole fish, some with skin on, all still have their bones but I can ask him to remove whatever I want. Pretty cool. I asked him when they were caught: yesterday! I've never gotten fish that's that fresh unless I caught it myself!
Note: The fish was exceptional! The salmon was probably the best I've ever eaten and certainly the best I've ever cooked myself. I just chopped up some fresh tomatoes, sprinkled some herbs on top, spritzed some lemon juice on and wrapped it up in foil. Melt-in-your-mouth good!

Later in the morning I had an appointment to meet with the mezzo/voice teacher who lives down the street. We had a great time talking "shop"--although I found this particularly difficult because I don't have the vocabulary for things as simple as "auditions" or for explaining vocal technique! Learned some of it, of course, as we talked. She has 2 small boys (20 months and 2.5 months) who were underfoot and doing the usual--I so remember the days of juggling my singing with mothering, trying to eek out a few minutes to practice something between kids needing to be fed, changed, paid attention to, etc. She asked if I wanted to plan a little program together--her accompanist wants to do something fun in the spring. Would I like to sing some duets with her? Of course! If she hears of someone looking for a soprano for a quick gig or a substitute in case of illness, would I be interested in that? Of course! Wonderful. We have plans to meet again for coffee and sing some together after the fall break. Cool.

HR walked all the way home from school by herself.  MK went home with a friend. ME went home with a friend. HR had a birthday party invitation. And so it goes!

September 28

Happy Birthday to my little sister!

Short version to today: hit the Okömarkt in Bad Godesberg for fruit & veggies and got a whole roasting chicken again--this time a little bigger variety that the butcher said was ideal for roasting rather than soups and such. MK said it was the best chicken she's ever had. Have to say, I thought it was pretty excellent too. That'll be a repeat!  The rain cleared off and made way for some sun and a little warmer temps again. HR and I walked to a second hand shop I'd been eye-ing in our neighborhood after I picked her up from school. Sisters-in-law, you'd like this one: felt like I was in a German version of St. Mary's! Someone likes to buy and re-sell scarves. Had to keep myself from buying several--too many already!  After I picked up GE, I dropped her at home with J and the older girls and rode bike with HR to her classmate, E's, house (in a neighborhood near MK's school). They played for a couple of hours while I visited with her mom. Turkish family. Sweet kids, very friendly mom. Was able to understand her after I got used to the Turkish accent! She grew up in Germany so her German is quite good, but accented. E will come to our house next week sometime after school. ME and MK have a friend spending the night. They were busy playing already when I got home with HR. GE was running wild. Fed her an early supper, stuck her in the bath while the other girls ate their dinner, then plunked her into bed. Hopefully she'll sleep in a bit tomorrow--this a.m. she was up at 6:30 before everyone else!

One week until Herbstferien (Fall Break)!

September 29

Early morning run, stopped at the Biobäkerei on the way back to pick up fresh Brötchen and croissants for the girls' breakfast (I only buy the white ones for Saturday or Sunday morning; their overnight friend likes croissants better, thus I got both.) After their friend left late morning, MK and I hurried out the door to go to Bad Godesberg to shop for some pants. She's already outgrown the ones we brought--all of a sudden too short and tight in the rear! She's getting so tall... Also needed to get the regular groceries for the weekend. I did notice last Sunday when I was out for my run that some bakeries and fruit/vegetable stands are open in the early Sunday a.m., but apparently only between about 8 and 10 a.m. So, in a pinch I could get some stuff then but the regular grocery stores are all closed. So, MK and I raced to town on our bikes, went to H&M and discovered there was a sale on so it was crowded, but also a good deal. 3 pairs of pants, 1 shirt, 1 cardigan, and a belt for the pants she already has along that are just too loose in the waist (all the biking + eating mostly at home + shooting up taller = skinny waist on an already skinny girl!). Home just in time to shovel some food into myself before taking GE and HR to see "Der Gruffelo" (http://www.junges-theater-bonn.de/ ) at the Junges Theater in Beuel with our neighbor, RP, and her son, T. She lent us the book ahead of time so we could read it through and know the story. Very well done production! Sweet and funny with singing and dancing and silliness plus audience participation. The girls enjoyed it even though they didn't understand it all. I thought it was wonderful. Hopefully we'll be able to see something in the Spring that's a little more complex once the girls' German is better.

No other big outings this weekend. We have an invite to Kaffee und Kuchen tomorrow with the brother (MH) of my father's friend (we met them already at the pizzeria in Kessinich a few weekends ago). They live quite close to us so we'll probably go on bikes to the Kindergarten, then walk up through the woods to their neighborhood. We'll have enough outings to last for a while when we leave for the Herbstferien (fall break) next weekend! The plan is to pick up the rental car Saturday morning, drive to the Ahrtal (http://www.ahrtal.de/en/index.php) nearby for a day of walking through the red wine region, visit a Trachtmode (traditional clothing) shop we learned about, and enjoying the region. Then Sunday morning we leave for France, heading to the Loire Valley just south of Paris for most of the week, exploring the various Romantic palaces and Gothic cathedrals, then on to Paris for the weekend before coming back to Bonn for a few days. The last weekend of the break we plan to spend in Hamburg with some old friends.

Lots of good stuff this week! Had some moments when I thought to myself, "I love this culture! I want to stay!" Particularly when the sun was out and I could ride my bike through the cool autumn air, admiring the way the light has changed and the leaves that are beginning to color. Also felt that way when I was standing in the cold waiting for my turn at the Fleischwagon at the farmer's market despite the fact that my toes were freezing but folks were visiting with each other, chatting with the butcher, and enjoying the Erntedank (harvest thanksgiving) sunflowers that were being offered for free to all the customers.. and then to tuck all my goodies onto my bicycle with my sunflower poking out of the child's seat in the back and ride back through the brisk air!

September 30

Where did September go?!

The church was full of families this morning for Erntedank (Thanksgiving). The OGS (an afterschool program at the school) performed some songs. The Kindergarten kids (from the KG associated with this church) processed down the middle of the sanctuary carrying in baskets of fruits and veggies...There was a Flohmarkt to raise money for the youth's trip to Holland over the Herbstferien and a Wildschwein goulash dinner with traditional egg noodles, bread and applesauce (no greens or vegetables in sight!). I wandered through the fleamarket tables after I'd gotten the younger girls set up with food and as I came to the end suddenly noticed a small used Yamaha keyboard! Bought it on the spot and they threw in the metal folding music stand for free. Hallelujah! ME sat down at it with her piano music that we brought along and soon the sounds of a "piano" drifted out to the kitchen where I was cleaning up. Set up my music when she was done and will get some real practicing in tomorrow!

At 3:30 we all headed out into the glorious sunny afternoon to ride bikes to GE's Kindergarten and then walked up through the woods to MH's house.  Sat out in the garden to drink up the last of the afternoon sun while enjoying fresh coffee, tea, and an assortment of cakes. KH asked the bakery what they had that was dairy-free, so even I was able to enjoy some cake! The girls played outside and in with their daughter, M, while we enjoyed a Denglisch conversation--we spoke mostly Englisch last time we met with them, so this time we tried to stick to Deutsch, but occasionally resorted to Englisch to get an idea across quickly.

The hill up through the woods to the H's house.

The view from their back porch includes two of the castles/ruins of the Siebengebirge that dot the hills along the Rhein.

 

One can also see the ruins of the Godesburg from their back yard.

A lovely little tree house!

Daughter, M (age 10)

Week 9

September 21

ME and HR both had play dates after school yesterday. HR with another 1st grader whose family just returned from 2 years in Australia and so she speaks some English. ME with a classmate. Both had a good time! When I picked HR up from school today, there were two more girls from ME's class who wanted to have her over to their house too. Perfect--more German for ME!  MK had her first Deutsch test yesterday and was not completely lost. She was allowed to use her pocket dictionary and said that she felt like she actually was able to complete it--we'll see what kind of grade they give her on Monday. The important thing was that she came out of it feeling empowered and confident and not worn down! She called me on her cell phone, she was so excited. :)  Today she is at a friend of a friends' house to play with their daughter--they met at my friend's birthday party a couple of weeks ago.

I have a Termin to meet with the voice teacher here in Friesdorf next Thursday! A little nervous, especially since I'm so vocally out of shape--need to work on that between now and then. Carving out the time is trickier than I thought even with everyone in school. Between getting shopping done, taking kids to school/kindergarten and picking them up again, putting meals on the table, helping with homework,  managing the on-going laundry needs, plus fitting in some exercise for myself, somehow the days just don't leave much room leftover! My biggest frustration at the moment is that we haven't found an easy rhythm for meals. I feel like I'm feeding someone all day long! Everyone gets home at different times, is hungry for lunch at different times, then hungry for dinner either too early or too late! Yesterday I gave up on trying to get GE to eat dinner sitting down. She just couldn't keep her body still any longer after 4 full days of Kindergarten and no naps! So I let her eat while circling the apartment--she'd stop and take a bite from her plate, then roam, then come back and take a bite. At least it mostly ended up inside her and not on the floor.

September 23

What makes a culture hospitable? We are finding it difficult to understand how a family with four children can be living here and yet have so few invitations to share a dinner or an afternoon Kaffee, meet at the local Eis Cafe or even just share a short conversation after church during the fellowship time.  I would think folks would at least be curious about what we are doing here, but beyond a few introductions, we have had more interactions with the local ex-pats and Brits than Germans! Maybe it's just a slower process than we are used to. I had expected a little more interaction from the folks in the choir, but even those that we've spoken to before don't initiate conversations with us on Sunday mornings. Any tips for how to break the ice further?! We'd welcome them...

Yesterday we stayed home for the a.m. then left shortly after lunch to catch the train from Bad Godesberg Bahnhof to Köln Dom. The weather was clear, but quite cool (low 50's), so we dressed warmly.

GE wearing her little Mütze (stocking cap) and Halstuch (neck scarf).

ME engrossed in a book on the Kindle while waiting for the train to arrive.

Ever catch a glimpse of what your child might look like when she grows up? This one makes HR look so grown up somehow.

In Köln we met up with my old friend, VM, and took the Bimmelbahn http://www.bimmelbahnen.de/stadtfuehrungen-koeln.html to the Schokolademuseum http://www.bimmelbahnen.de/stadtfuehrungen-koeln.html situated along the Rhein river. The Bimmelbahn took us on a 20 min little tour through parts of the Altstadt and then along the Rhein. The museum was not quite as exciting as we had expected--at least not at first. Then we got to the demonstration section!

 

We could watch where the cocoa beans were crushed into powder, formed into a chocolate "mass" (sort of like chocolate butter!), poured into the moulds (lots of different mould types were shown--including antique ones and huge Easter bunnies and such), then cooled and popped out onto the conveyor belts where they got wrapped up in the little gold papers and boxed up. The kids realized that they were watching the little chocolates being made that they had eaten when we bought our tickets!   

AND THEN THE SAMPLES!!

My friend, VM

Don't you wonder how much she gets paid to smile and hand out chocolate all day?

The giant moulds.

 At the end of this level you could also select toppings and flavors for your very own special order chocolate bar. The girls picked marshmallows, extra chocolate powder and crushed dark chocolate. I had slivered almonds, black currants, and vanilla. J's was crushed coffee beans, pistachios, and black pepper! We picked them up about an hour later and ate them all (well, almost all, the girls couldn't finish theirs then, but had the rest after dinner). I think the museum was worth the entrance fee just to get the customized chocolate. Man was it good!

A peek into an antique shop in the Altstadt.

 Then we had to walk off some of that chocolate energy! VM took us through the Altstadt where we stopped at a souvenir shop and bought "Köln" trinkets to go into their collections (the girls are each collecting one type of item: MK-Schnapps glasses, ME-spoons, HR-thimbles, GE-mini plates). We met VM's husband, C, at a favorite wurst restaurant and sat outside on the cobblestone courtyard to eat dinner: currywurst, pommes (French fries), and salad. And beer, of course.

 The Dom tower peeking between buildings.

 

Jacked up on chocolate and no nap, GE climbs into the fountain (thankfully dry!)

... while HR climbs a tree!

VM points out an unusual decoration on the side of the old Radhaus... Apparently Konrad wasn't well liked!

The Radhaus where VM and C were married last spring.

Walking all afternoon makes for tired girls!

Conversing with V & C (J really hit it off with C while for V and me it's like meeting up with a long-lost sister!) while we wait for the food to arrive.

PROST!

A wonderful day, all told! We were lucky with the weather again--it was cool, but not raining, then gorgeous by the time we came out of the museum and warm enough to sit outside to eat (a necessity for GE who could no longer hold still after no nap and 1/2 a chocolate bar!)

Thanks VM for the wonderful suggestion!



September 24

Rained on and off today and was very windy. Still got my shopping done, just got a little wetter doing it! GE went cheerfully to Kindergarten and when I picked her up they said she hadn't cried at lunchtime--an improvement--but still hadn't eaten the food. They don't put any pressure on her to eat it. She's allowed to just push it away. Not sure if she has to stay sitting at the table or what, but last week she would get upset too. We talked about it several times over the weekend, so I guess something stuck! The teachers said it has happened before--there was another boy who didn't eat the lunches for several months and then just up and started. That'll probably be GE! I'm just trying to make sure she has good stuff in her Frühstuck box and then I put out a plate of good "snacks" when we get home.

MK had her first session with the German tutor. Went great! The tutor, S, immediately began in German and said, "Nur auf Deutsch hier. Kein Englisch!" She used a poster with pictures of buildings in a typical town and started simply pointing and saying what they were called, encouraging MK to repeat after her and then gradually adding in "Ich gehe zum/zur..." (I'm going to...) or "Hier ist die..." (Here is the...). Then she worked on stating time from a clock (using the pieces from a children's game) which also incorporated numbers. At first she just had MK use the numbers, then incorporated "Wieviel Uhr ist es?" (What time is is?) and "Es ist... Uhr." (It is ... o'clock.) MK slowly loosened up and began to speak out a little more! She was chipper and said it was fun, so Weds. she'll be back for another 45 min session.

HR's homework book came home with a note from her teacher that HR was joining the Deutschförderung (concentrated German instruction at her level) class in the last period on Mondays. ME also goes to this. ME went home with a different classmate this afternoon. They did their homework together and then played and played--she came home spouting German (lots of mistakes, but I'm not complaining!). Tomorrow her friend, C, is coming here and another school friend wants to know if she can go to her house next Tuesday. So fun to watch all this develop. HR's best school friend called this afternoon and we now have plans for the girls to play together after school on Friday. The more playdates, the more German immersion, I say!

I managed to get a run in through the woods between rain showers and some practicing before having to pick up HR. This week we are practicing her walking home alone. So instead of meeting her on the playground, I agreed to meet her at the first street corner. Tomorrow we'll meet on the other side of the cross walk, then it's just a straight shot home, so we'll see how's she's feeling about it after that. Our brave HR!

Week 8

September 15

Discovered that Feldsalat is also called Rapunzel! It's the herb that Rapunzel's mother craves from the witches garden leading to the witch taking her baby after it's born and naming her Rapunzel. I've been eating a lot of it--very mild, light nutty flavor, tender leaves.

We were lucky again with the weather for our weekend outing. It was cloudy but not supposed to rain (it didn't) and mixed with sun at times, cool but not too cold. A good solid German Fall day.

The expedition: bike to the Rhein, take the ferry across, find the vineyard Gut Sülz (http://weinhaus-gutsuelz.de/Weinhaus_Gut_Suelz_ausgezeichnete_Weine.html) in Oberdollendorf, eat lunch at their restaurant (and sample some wine, of course), then head by foot to the ruins of a medieval cloister (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heisterbach_Abbey ). Only hiccup: I forgot my camera. So, sorry the pictures will be a little more grainy--used J's smartphone instead.

 Waiting for the ferry! You can see it in the back left corner of the pic. It goes back and forth all day (7 a.m. to 9:50 p.m. except Sundays which have reduced hours) for cars/pedestrians/cyclists.

Walking from where we locked up our bikes, we passed this beautiful old Fachwerk house.

 The wine house has a lovely garden in the back with a small playground and wandering goats and chickens (hmm, how is this sanitary? We did see the advantages of not having to mow the grass or pick up food that customers have dropped...)

 The sun came out!

 As we left after lunch we saw that the date 1659 was carved into the wood on the side of the house!

 Here's to the good life! What luxury!

What's for lunch? The girls had Bratwurst with bread & butter, shared sides of Bratkartoffeln (panfried potatoes), salad, roast beef with Remouladensauce, and Kartoffelsalat.  And of course, the wine: Weingut Blöser, 2010er Oberdollendorfer Sülzenberg Portugieser trocken.

 GE really likes her Bratwurst (and these were huge--as long as the plate's diameter!). It's completely gone with no help from anyone, including the goats!

 Spotted this quaint windmill in a garden as we trekked to the Abbey.

 We are really enjoying "city" life in Bonn, but it was still wonderful to get out of it and see all the green!  Spotted one maple that was turning a bright red already. Fall is not far off...

 Our little GE is such a trooper! She got a lift from Daddy for just a bit but mostly hiked the whole way on her own. Thanks SH (last year's preschool teacher) for grooming her to be a "good hiker"! :)

 A gate! Must pose for picture!

 On the ferry back home!

September 16

Can't believe we're half-way through September already. Time is flying!

The Pauluskirche joined other congregations at the Waldau (http://www.waldau.de/ ) for an outdoor service and Familienfest this morning. We took a bus from the church to the Waldau--open roof! And great weather for it. Opened the apartment windows as doors again this afternoon. Just gorgeous.  We didn't stay the afternoon, opting instead to take the same bus back (it was free) so that MK could finish her homework and we could have some quiet down time at home. We'll have to return to the Waldau some other time though since we didn't have time to explore the grounds beyond the playground or see the wild pigs and deer.

 Very cool! German Jagdhorn ensemble.

 As usual, we continue our collection of cool playgrounds!!

Back at home, I had my afternoon "treat": a cup of espresso (unfortunately, it's just instant, but I can pretend with the appropriate cup and saucer!)

GE's quiet time activity choice: painting.

September 17

I met with Mary's Schulleiterin (School director/principal), Fr. A this morning. I was at the school's office to get a paper for the Bonn Schulamt stating that our child was enrolled in school. While I was there Fr. A came out of her office, noticed me and invited me in to talk for a bit. I asked her how things seemed to be going. She was impressed with how MK has been writing everything down neatly and thoroughly, completing her homework, and otherwise behaving herself. However, she noted that she thought that MK would benefit from some additional German instruction so that she could integrate into the class camaraderie more. J and I had both talked about this before as well, so the only question I had was with regard to time: we didn't want MK to burn out on doing German instruction on top of homework on top of school days. Fr. A was quick to suggest that the teachers could easily accept less homework from MK until her German was up and running, so to speak. When I got home I emailed J and talked it over. I called the tutor that an American friend had recommended and set up some sessions starting next week. The focus will be on German first but she also provides homework support.  We'll just plan to do less homework on those days, even if it means not always completing all the work. I just have to remember to write a note to her teachers on those days.

ME and HR continue to pick up new words and phrases, understand more of what's being said, etc. It's amazing. Last week GE came home from KG saying something over and over and it wasn't until I asked her to be quiet that I realized she was singing/saying "Gum-mi-stie-fel, gum-mi-stie-fel..." (rubber boots/rain boots)!

I am happy to report to those of you that know of GE's food/eating saga that she is eating the lunches at Kindergarten! I was concerned that she would reject the new things put in front of her, but when I picked her up today at 2:15, the teacher reported that she had cheerfully eaten with everyone else. She was sitting at a table spinning her pear (it was fruit snack time) like all the other girls at her table, smiling, and content. So happy that she's made this transition so quickly and easily!  What a trooper. Tomorrow evening is the Elternabend (Parent night) for the Raupengruppe and Thursday is the some sort of "Children around the world" day when we are invited to join the children for the breakfast/snack time (and bring a typical breakfast food to share--cornflakes and milk??!! J thought pancakes and maple syrup but I'm not sure how I can share that very easily.)
9/19 Note: well, she's eating the lunches sometimes! Yesterday she refused it again, but today she says she tried a bite but didn't like it. Who knows?!  It's a good experience for her anyway. I make sure she gets a pretty big "Frühstuck" in her sack, so she can make it home for a late lunch. Maybe one day she'll get hungry enough to just eat whatever's in front of her!
On another note: one of my concerns about starting KG was whether she'd handle her potty needs. We were still occasionally having some issues--especially when we were on outings--but either they have routine bathroom times for the kids or she is happy about using the little potties and little sinks (everything is sized for 2-5 years olds!) that it's not been an issue. No dirty clothes have come home yet--well, sandy and muddy, but not the accident kind.
 
GE has also pretty much given up her nap. She "rests" at KG but by the time I pick her up it's too late to actually put her to sleep, so we've been muscling through the last part of the day and I've been putting her to bed around 7 p.m. A couple of times the day has ended with more tears than I would like, but today was better--she just gets really hyper and can't control her actions after about 6:30--most frustratingly, she can't seem to stay at the table long enough to eat and then she's hungry when I'm trying to put her to bed. I may have to bump up supper time again to 5:30 so I can get her to eat properly before she falls apart!
9/19: today I let her eat on the run: she'd stop at the table, take a bite, then go in a circle through the apartment, come back, take a bite, make another circle, and so on. She ate almost all of her dinner this way! I just decided to take the pressure off and told her she could eat it however she liked as long as the food stayed at the table. 
 
My dad pointed out that I haven't said much about J. :) Mostly for privacy reasons but also because I don't fully know what he's doing! He's writing a lot. He's written more in the last two weeks (he says) than in the last year. The research project seems to be coming along--he meets with the consulting researcher at the Max Planck as well as with some students who are assisting with the design. Not sure when the actual experiment will launch, but there's lots of prep in the meantime.

I've committed to another choir project--in October and November with concert in December--an open mass choir to perform Mozart "Der Kleine C-moll Messe". Should be fun! Still haven't figured out how to squeeze in some vocalizing here--so conscious of the sound carrying to the apartments below or outside. What am I afraid of? Someone hearing me?! :)

September 19

J is off to Göttingen today for the Fulbright Orientation Conference. He'll be back sometime on Friday. The girls launched off to school without a hitch. I took GE to KG, picked up a few groceries, then got dressed for a run in the woods. The sun was out but it was quite cool--probably only 50's this morning. As I shut the apartment door behind me I realized I'd forgotten to grab my keys and phone!  Normally this isn't a problem when I run because someone's at home, but with everyone at school or out of town, I was a bit stuck!  I quickly decided to head over to the elementary school and see when the recess times were. Luckily only needed to wait about 15 mins before the big recess when I could grab ME out of class and ask her to get her keys for me. :) Whew. I'll have to be more careful about that!

Took a different route through the woods this time than I have before. I'd already discovered a loop that took me back to our neighborhood but landed me further north so I come back through our little plaza and down our street. This time when I came to the big intersection of paths at the top of the Berg, I went left instead of right, eventually coming out in a part of town that I didn't recognize at all. I ran a bit through the neighborhood hoping to see a major road or landmark that I recognized, then realized that I was a good ways from home and wasn't sure exactly how to go to get back. So I back tracked how I'd come instead. I'll have to study the city map a bit before I take that route again. Took me almost a full hour! Home in time to change clothes, have some tea and then go to pick up HR from school.

I often wish for a mounted camera when I go on these runs or on bike rides. So much to see and take in: little details that make it "Germany" like the flower boxes and gardens, the climbing flowering vines that people have nurtured out of  crack in the pavement and run up the gutter spout, the narrow streets, Fachwerk houses, bicycles everywhere, people carrying wicker shopping baskets with celery greens and a flower bunch peeping over the rim. Can't really capture the smell of the bakeries which dot the corners of the streets, but you could see them there--how do two different bakery brands manage to make it when they're directly opposite each other on the street with another one just around the corner?!
 
Got surprised by rain for the first time (it was bound to happen) this afternoon:
Mid-afternoon it got cloudy and I tried to turn on the lamp in the living room only to discover that the bulb had burned out. I told the girls I would run to the OBI and pick up another bulb and be right back (it's only a few blocks away). While I was in the OBI I heard a drumming sound and realized it was pouring rain outside. I'd ridden my bike with the child's seat on the back and now the padding is soaked! Hope it's dry enough to sit on in the a.m.! Or maybe I'll just put her rain pants on to keep her dry for the ride to school. :) By the time I left the store the shower was over and it was just spritzing lightly, but my seat was still wet. Live and learn!