October 26th, 2016

Somewhere between six and nine months, we began to settle more deeply into our new rhythms of life here in Germany. We’ve experienced many milestones markers; the comforts of community again, a sense of coming “home” when we returned from summer travels, and becoming a familiar face to some of the locals. I receive a smile from the bakery woman when she sees me coming now followed by a short German pronunciation lesson each time I order a new kind of bread. Its our routine!

Milestones mark time, catch our attention and remind us of the gifts we have been given. Here are a few milestones we experienced in September…

On September 11th, we celebrated our 17th Wedding Anniversary here in Germany. That afternoon, we enjoyed ice cream together at our favorite coffee shop and hung out in our own biergarten. Later in the week, we had a date downtown when Mein Mann (my husband) had a day off. The boys were in school so we didn’t need to worry about a babysitter!

Mein Mann had been talking for a couple of months about creating a biergarten in our yard. As an anniversary gift, I took on the challenge and surprised him with our own little outdoor eating area. I cleared out a space under the trees, cut back branches, hung some lights, purchased a couple of IKEA lanterns and set up tables previously stored away in our garage. Thankfully, Amy helped me move the tables. She also lent me a dirndl to wear and some beer mugs to make it even more authentic! Its pretty simple but a fun addition non-the-less!

 

We’ve used it a bit…catching up with friends or enjoying lazy Sunday afternoons while the boys play in the yard. The trees form a natural canopy just like the biergartens we have been to on our travels.

The First Füssball game of the Season! S was beyond excited to put on a team uniform and move with the pack on a beautiful Fall afternoon. We are grateful he started playing when he did because he was able to join his peers as they develop their beginning soccer skills together. There is also an older, German boy who helps the coach with practice. He speaks English and has been so kind to take our little guy under his wing to make sure he understands the drills. This boy definitely bridges the gap between the coach and our five-year old! At the first game, he wasn’t there and I could hear S trying to remind his German-speaking coach that he doesn’t speak German. He is learning some words though. Thankfully, she is still working with him and giving him playing time in the games too!

 

 

Sadly, E hasn’t had such a positive experience. The gap in skills was greater for him and the language/cultural piece more challenging without the help of a translator. Teams are determined by birth year. As an end-of-December baby, E is young in age and skill set. He hung in there for a while, even in the midst of some discouraging words from fellow players. But, his discouragement grew over time until it was no longer fun. He still comes along to see his brother play in games and is positive about the sport itself. Hopefully, we will be able to find something for him that will be a better fit. We are on the lookout!

Celebrating the First Year of Life! Our pastor’s son turned a year old near the end of September. He and his wife invited our family to a birthday celebration in a nearby park. We spent the afternoon celebrating their little guy and enjoying the beautiful weather. We are so grateful for this sweet family and for their leadership in our church.

The boys had a blast playing at the park as hours slipped away in the warmth of the sun.

 

 

As I write this post, the month of November is just around the corner. On November 17th, we will mark another milestone for us…our one year anniversary of living in Germany!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 24th, 2016

I’m still playing catchup here on the Blog! My goal is to be current again before we reach our one year mark on November 17th. Can you believe that??!!! Here are a few snippets of our lives here in Germany this past September…

Laundry Day…this is what I found in the boys’ pockets on one particular laundry day. Good thing I checked BEFORE I put the clothes in!

Our Feisty Feline…Adi is nice company for me while the boys are at school. She still enjoys being near when they are around too as long as she isn’t “loved” on too much!

 

German Lessons…we started private lessons with one of Mein Mann’s co-workers, Mo, who is a German National. In exchange, we provide dinner, lots of entertainment as we attempt to pronounce words in German and love from two little boys who quickly made their way into her heart. Mo has become their German Oma (Grandma) and even spoils them with candy if they eat all their dinner. It’s sweet to see how much the three enjoy each other!

Village Weddings…A horse-drawn carriage rode through our village one Saturday afternoon and parked in front of the church. I walked over and watched a newly wed couple, surrounded by their loved-ones, exit the church. The carriage awaited them. I love how these common aspects of life are lived out all across the globe! They are little glimpses into our shared humanity.

Clothes Shopping…two Saturdays in September, I went to a Kinderbasar to look for clothing items for the boys. I joined my friend, Amy, for the first one. She walked me through what to expect. At the first bazaar, women had individual tables set up with the clothing items they were selling. The second week, long tables were covered with clothes sorted by sizes. It felt more like a free-for-all as I edged my way in to search through the piles. Most of the clothing was gently used. However, I found a few items that were brand new, including shoes. I left with two bags STUFFED with clothes both times! I also learned how to say, “How much?” in German. “Wie Viel?” I used it repeatedly! I also did a little bargaining. I brought down the price on one shirt simply because I didn’t understand German. I also learned to get there early as these events are popular. When the doors open, the masses make their way in and get down to business!

 

Local Beverages…’Tis the season for New Wine! Our landlords told us to be on the lookout for this tasty treat and gave us a little tutorial about its unique properties. “Neuer Wein,” as it is written in German, is like taking home a science experiment. When you purchase the wine, the yeast has already been added to the grapes and the alcohol content is at least four percent. However, it’s still actively fermenting (sugar contained in the grapes is broken down into alcohol and carbon dioxide) and thus changes properties within a few days of purchasing. The color switches from a light yellow to a dark amber/brown, the alcohol content continues to increase and the taste changes from sweet to bitter. It is stored in the fridge with the cap barely twisted on so it doesn’t explode. You are encouraged to drink it the first couple of days after you bring it home when it’s at its peak. It can be compared to a refreshing grape soda or a sweet, sparkling wine. Our landlords did warn us, however, to not consume too much at a time as it can give you a bloated sensation in your stomach. When they described it to us, they sat back in their seats and patted their tummies while making funny faces! Got it!! =)

 

Lunch dates…with our newly-minted Kindergartener. Our school encourages parents to join their kiddos at lunch and meet their classmates. I started doing this last year with E. Now I get to see both of our boys. This was my first “date” with our youngest!

Sunflowers…E and I enjoyed a bike ride together one Friday afternoon when S was at his soccer practice with his Daddy. On the edge of one of the farm fields was a few rows of sunflowers. We love these bright, cheery flowers!

A Compliment to Condiments…making sandwiches is super-easy when you squeeze your mayonnaise and mustard  out of tubes!

German Dinner…Amy shared with me awhile back how she enjoys the ease of German Dinner at her house. Sometimes, Germans eat heavier meals earlier in the day and dine on something a little lighter at dinner. She explained how she buys some bread from the bakery and then adds cheese, meat, veggies, fruit, spread and condiments. We have instituted this at our house as well. Viola! Dinner is Served!

A Common Site…though it still surprises me a bit when I see dogs in coffee houses, restaurants and retail stores.

I LOVE having little boys that enjoy playing dress up…I never know when I’ll be greeted by an astronaut, superhero, fireman or a pterodactyl!

Der Hühner Fred…brings “die besten Hähnchen” (the best chicken) to our village every Tuesday. We call him “The Chicken Man.” Rotisserie chicken is always a backup option for dinner that night. On the weeks we take advantage of it, dinner is done in a snap! I simply walk down to our village square, put in our order and stroll back home with bags full of hot deliciousness. On nice weather days, it’s even better!

 

 

Day Dates…since Mein Mann works about fifteen minutes away from our village, a lunch date is now a lovely option with both boys in school. At the beginning of Fall, I packed us a picnic lunch and we hiked into the nearby woods on a trail Mein Mann runs on. We were quickly rewarded with a beautiful view of the city.

 

 

 

I’m grateful for this season as we continue to settle into rhythms of life and acclimate to Germany. What a journey!

Tschüss!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 21st, 2016

“Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start…”

On the morning of September 4th, we boarded a bus parked near the Mirabell Gardens to head out for the four-hour, Original Sound of Music Tour. There are actually several SOM tour options in Salzburg, including a bicycle tour. We choose Panorama Tours from the recommendation of my travel buddy, Rick Steves. We also got the Rick Steve’s discount. Score!

 

Our first stop was the Leopoldskron Palace where the famous boat scene was filmed. Remember watching Julie Andrews and the children fall out of the boat? That’s the place! We were only able to see it from the other side of the lake. Only the backyard, gardens and lake were used from this location. The Von Trapp home in the movie was actually a different building. Those techy movie folks did some pretty fancy film editing in 1964!

 

Remember the gazebo where the dancing scene from “16 going on 17” was filmed? It was originally on the grounds of the Leopoldskron Palace. But, due to the significant foot traffic it brought from fans of the movie, it was eventually moved to the Hellbrunn Palace where we saw it. Unfortunately, Mein Mann did not get to swing me around while I sang at the top of my lungs. Our tour guide, Peter, told us the gazebo was locked after an 80-year-old, American woman danced on the benches, fell off and broke her hip. A kindred spirit.

 

After driving through Salzburg, we ventured out to the Salzburg Lake District Area where panorama shots and scenes of the picnic were filmed. We stopped at St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang. What breath-taking scenery!

Once we boarded the bus again, we settled in for the drive out to Mondsee where the wedding of Maria and Baron von Trapp was filmed in the movie. Peter cued the music and led us in a massive sing- along. I’ve heard the tour guide can make or break the experience you signed up for. Peter was FANTASTIC!

I introduced the boys to the Sound of Music a couple of years ago. Before our Salzburg trip, I pulled out the movie again and showed them the first half. We also watched a few of the song sequences on Youtube. “Play it again Mom!” S surprised me with how quickly he learned a couple of the songs! During the sing-along, he melted a few hearts of the folks sitting around us.

Here’s a little video…

Before we knew it, we were pulling into the quaint town of Mondsee. A street train took us to St. Michael’s Basilica. Here are a few of our fellow SOM groupies from our tour bus. They were from Ohio.

St. Michael’s

 

 

After visiting the church, we sat down at a little café for a quick bite to eat that we ended up taking with us so we wouldn’t miss our bus.

 

Our sing-along continued on the ride back to Salzburg. We finished the ride singing Edelweiss. It was grand! What a GREAT tour!!! The boys did well and even Mein Mann enjoyed it. After we disembarked, Peter took us back to the Mirabell Gardens and told us where we could find the little gnome from the movie! He also encouraged us to go to the Augustiner Bräustübl, a well-known biergärten.

 

As is our norm, we balanced out the day shifting gears in the boys direction and spending the afternoon playing at a couple of parks. The first one was in the Mirabell Gardens.

 

We came across the second one completely by surprise as we were walking to the biergärten Peter recommended. The boys are at the perfect age to enjoy all of these amazing parks Europeans have built. Cheers for childhood!

 

 

 

We took a couple of more detours on our way to the Augustiner Bräustübl, including a short rest in the Parish Church of Mülln. The boys were fans of the door knockers!

 

 

 

We eventually made it to the Augustiner Bräustübl for an early dinner. The famous beer, Augustiner, is a local and national favorite. The recipe has been kept secret and guarded for nearly 400 years. Since 1621, the Mülln Monastery has been brewing beer for the city and all of Austria.

 

Don’t worry…the children drank water! Prost (cheers)!!!

Afterwards, they played in the kid’s area. Of course!

On our way back to our hotel, we threw in one more SOM reenactment for good measure! Crazy Mama! =)

 

The Sound of Music drew us to Salzburg and I’m so glad it did! Next time we watch the movie, we’ll say, “Hey, we were there!” I never imagined when I was a little girl, I would get to play in Salzburg with my own family. What a treat! I’ll remember the beauty for years to come!

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name, I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow So
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will lead us back to Do, oh, oh, oh…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 16th, 2016

Most people seem to have some sort of Bucket List. I have never formally written mine out. However, I definitely have ideas that float around in my mind of things I would like to experience and places I would like to see. Hovering near the top of my list for years has been taking a trip to Salzburg, Austria…the original landscape for the Sound of Music. 

Over Labor Day weekend, we toured around Salzburg to my heart’s delight! I think I wore a smile on my face almost non-stop for two days. Mein Mann and our boys were quite the good sports for allowing me to relish in the sites of the movie, the beauty of the city and the Sound of Music bus tour complete with a sing-along! Cheesy? Perhaps to some. But, I’m SO good with this kind of cheesiness! Super-fun? Absolutely!!! Here’s a recap…

After leaving Munich on Saturday morning, we drove into Salzburg in time for lunch.

Our hotel had a lovely beer garden in the back with a teeter totter that kept the boys entertained while we waited for our food. If I haven’t mentioned it before, a Beer Garden (“Biergarten” in German) is an outdoor area where beer and local food is served. E still talks about the fun hotdogs he ate there!

After fueling up, we ventured off on foot in the direction of the Old Town. On our way, we walked and played in the Mirabell Gardens where the Do, Re, Mi sequence was filmed in the Sound of Music. The soundtrack was playing in my mind as I tapped into my inner Maria. I may have sang out a tune or two! The surrounding beauty alone inspires one to burst out in song. I can see why the film-makers chose this enchanting garden for the film.

 

 

We crossed over a bridge covered in locks, sealing the love and commitment of those who attached them. We have seen this fun display of love in a few place now, including Paris and Koblenz. The boys like finding the really old, classic locks.

 

As we began to meander through the streets of the Altstadt, I was excited to come across the puppet lady! During my trip-planning, I read about this local woman, Maria, who has been selling her handmade puppets out of a brown basket since 1987. I was so surprised that we actually crossed paths with her! Both boys bought one of her puppets as their souvenir from Salzburg.

My souvenir was a water-color print from a local artist selling his work in one of the piazzas. I have started a travel wall in our kitchen and am slowing collecting prints from artist I meet from the various places we visit. I always ask if I can take their picture after I purchase a print. Its my plan to print the pictures off and add them to the back of the frames.

After an ice-cream stop, we made our way over to the Residenzplatz. The incredible, marble fountain in the middle of the square is considered the largest baroque fountain of Middle Europe. Another SOM sequence was filmed here. For the fans out there…remember when Maria first leaves the convent and splashes her hand in the fountain? Of course, the boys and I  had to do the same!

 

I loved taking in all the beautiful architecture and surrounding artistry. The Salzburg Dom is the first picture.

 

In the Kapitelplatz, we came across a sculpture of a massive gold ball with a man standing on top of it gazing out. The sculpture is called “Sphaera” by Stephan Balkenhol. From its base, there is a lovely view of the Hohensalzburg Castle…one of the biggest medieval castles in all of Europe.

We rode up to the castle on a funicular (a cable railway) and toured the grounds, including a little marionette museum.  It’s like a mini-village up top…some people even live there! The views were amazing!

 

 

 

During my travel prep on Salzburg (did I mention I get to be the family trip planner?), I learned of another exit down from the castle that enables you to walk to the Nonnberg Abbey. Thankfully, we found this exit and slowly made our way over, giving our boys rides as needed.

 

 

The real Maria von Trapp was a postulant at Nonnberg Abbey and the outside of the Abbey was used for filming. It is still run as a convent today so tours are not possible. However, you can visit the chapel. When we walked in, the nuns were singing. Beautiful!!!!

Here is a short video of what we heard…

We could only hear their voices which was a bit of a disappointment to our youngest who kept asking, “Where are the nuns?”

Our boys began to lose steam around this time. Can you tell?

 

We slowly made our way back down to the Kapitelplatz on foot for another refueling. The view along the way definitely helped along with the fountain we found to fill up our water bottles! We love how so many places in Europe have fountains with drinkable water.

The bells were chiming! Imagine walking with us for a moment…

Once the boys were reenergized again, we walked through the Petersfriedhof, the cementary at Saint Peters church, dating back to 1627.

 

We also peeked into St. Peter’s before making our way back to one of the big squares for a good round of pigeon chasing. This is seriously one of the boys’ absolute, favorite things to do when we travel! You know they are just about to run when you hear them say in a low voice,” p…i…g…e…o…n…s!” Fly birds, fly!!!!!!

 

 

I’m seriously thinking of putting together a collage of the boys chasing pigeons in all of the different places we have visited. Poor birds!

 

I’ll share some more Salzburg stories in the next post. Its Thursday afternoon now as I wrap up this post. I gotta go and pick up the boys from the bus stop! Lots of love and locks from our family to you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 14th, 2016

München is the German way of saying Munich. This Capitol city of the state of Bavaria is also its largest. Known for its annual Oktoberfest celebrations and its beer halls, Munich seems to always attract a crowd. Since it was on our way to Salzburg, Munich made a good stopping point for our road trip over Labor Day weekend.

Mein Mann rented a German car to save the wear and tear on our aging Honda. Driving on the Autobahn was a whole new experience for him! Though there is often an impression that you can drive at any speed on the Autobahn there are many areas that still post speed limits above the roads. In the picture below, the limit was 100km…about 62 mph.  On this particular stretch, we enjoyed some open roads. However, just on the other side of the barrier, the traffic was bumper to bumper. After getting caught in our fair share of stau’s (traffic jams) and construction zones for hours, we were more than ready to pile out of the car!

Our hotel was near the train station and within reasonable walking distance to the Altstadt (Old Town). On the walls in the entry way, there were pictures of various Bavarian kings, including King Ludwig whose castle we visited over Memorial weekend. E was excited to sit on a throne (just an old chair!) amongst pictures of royalty!

Though we only spent one night in Munich, we still took advantage of the nice weather to head out on foot. We got directions to a wonderful pedestrian walking area where we enjoyed fountains, popping in to a church to light candles, beautiful architecture, lovely flower boxes on windows and getting a feel for the international culture we were in the midst of.

 

 

Here’s is a short video I took as we walked…

We got the boys a couple of brezeln (giant pretzels) as we walked through the central Marienplatz square to help starve off their hourly hunger attacks. The Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (town hall) has a popular glockenspiel show that chimes and reenacts stories from the 16th century. Unfortunately, we missed the show but the building was still impressive!

 

Thanks to the navigational skills of Mein Mann (and his trusty iPhone), we found the famed Hofbräuhaus where we stopped for dinner. This three-floor, beer hall was founded in 1589 and has pictures on its walls showing its history over the centuries. Many tables were reserved for men and women who were sitting in traditional lederhosen and tasteful dirndls (women’s dresses). The place is quite the tourist attraction and felt a bit over the top with its large crowds and loud music. Thankfully, we found a table off to the side so our little travelers could rest their legs and refuel on meat and apfelschorle (sparkling apple cider). Of course, Daddy got the house beer!

 

After dinner, we started weaving our way back through the downtown streets, passing musicians on the way.

The boys caught sight of this sweet ride (next picture below) and begged us to take it back to the hotel. We quietly agreed on a price that we would be willing to pay. The cyclist’s price matched our figure exactly so we piled on. On the ride home, we chatted with the man who powered this rikscha with his strong, thin legs. He was Hispanic, had lived in Munich for a year and was extending his language skills to include German. We were impressed!

Once we arrived back at the hotel, our driver put both boys on the bike for pictures. For these two boys that literally put miles on their shoes whenever we travel, this was a real treat! They LOVED the ride!

 

The next morning, we ate a delicious breakfast at our hotel, packed up and hit the road!

Salzburg, here we come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 26th, 2016

(I started this post, took a break for a couple of weeks, and am finally playing catch up again!)

E started second grade on August 29th. Did I type that correctly? SECOND GRADE???? FB memories just showed me a picture of him today on one of our traditional Autumn hikes five years ago when he was TWO!!! The cliché is real…time is flying!!!

So here is our seven-year old before we left the house. I think these pictures capture different aspects of his personality! Each year, I ask the boys what they want to be when they grow up. This year, E told me he wanted to be a pilot for cats. He’ll probably have Adi as his co-pilot.

 

 

After a couple of more silly pics with Mom and Dad, we were off to school!

We all accompanied E to his new classroom.  He likes his teacher and has fifteen other students in his class.

 

After dropping E off, we headed over to the Kindergarten rooms for an orientation.

(Here’s a quick catch up for those of you who knew about our hopes for S to experience our village Kindergarten…We had S on a waiting list for almost seven months. However, after our landlord did some investigative legwork and determined we wouldn’t get a spot, we finally let go of this hope and enrolled him at E’s school the Friday before school started. Though I was initially disappointed he wouldn’t get to experience a German school, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the great fit his Kindergarten class is!)

I loved how the classroom was set up with tables, a reading area and different play stations. S immediately started playing! A few days later, his new teacher and her assistant came to our house for a Home Visit. I was impressed with this personal touch.

S and I had the rest of the week to ourselves before school officially started for him the day after Labor Day. We took advantage of the nice weather and rode our scooters at the Dino Park one afternoon. Did you catch the “our” in that last sentence? Mein Mann ordered us a scooter to share so we can keep up with the boys when they ride their scooters. Our boys are FAST! Thankfully, the skate park was empty so I could get a lot of practice in without colliding with anyone! Though Tuesday’s child is supposed to be full of grace, I’m a bit of a klutz!

 

To help E ease into his new school routine, we did some unwinding at the ice cream shop after school. Adi also got a lot of after-school snuggles. =)

 

That Friday we drove to Salzburg for the long Labor Day weekend (more on that adventure later). On Monday night, with TWO backpacks ready at the door, I sat with the boys in their room and read a book about a little boy starting Kindergarten. To my surprise, the story was about the mixed emotions of both the mother and the boy. Suddenly, a few tears rolled down my cheeks. I was struck with the reality of this new transition and it pulled at my heart-strings harder than I expected. Mein Mann took this picture in the moment…

I took a breath, wiped my eyes and continued reading. I knew S was SO ready to start school. I also knew I would miss spending my days with this joy-filled little guy. The heart of a parent can hold so many emotions all at the same time for these dear ones entrusted to us.

The next morning, September 6th, it was our five-year old’s turn to smile wide for the camera with his First Day of Kindergarten Sign. He did so with pride and joy…of course! Here’s our future firefighter!!

 

 

He took pictures with Dad and Mom before we both dropped him off together.

 

He walked into his classroom with confidence! His cubby was labeled with his picture and name. His teacher is FANTASTIC and her assistant is from the same city we lived in before moving to Germany. S has fifteen other students in his class for a total of ten boys and six girls. Like his brother, he has six Specials that rotate throughout the week alongside his regular classroom subjects. The Specials are: Host Nation (a German culture class), Spanish, Music, Art, Gym, Library, and Computers.

 

He did great! No tears from him and only watery eyes from Mama after I walked out of his classroom. Mein Mann and I went to the downtown Farmers Market together afterwards where he bought me flowers. It was a sweet time to be together…just the two of us!

 

When I returned to school that afternoon to pick up the boys, S came charging out the door. He yelled “Mama” as he ran into my arms! BIG HUGS!!!!!!! Big brother joined us shortly afterwards. How I love these boys!

 

S had an AWESOME first day of Kindergarten! He adores his teacher and we think he hit the jackpot getting her. He was so excited to show us the hat he made and the book he colored. What a great start to his school years!

 

 

When a German child starts their formal education in first grade, they receive a Schultüte as a gift from their parents. This special, cone-shaped container is about three feet tall and filled with candy, toys and school supplies. To celebrate this new school year for our boys, they both received their own Schultüte on S’s first day.

 

And as they quickly figured out, the cones double as hats. Gotta love it!

In case you are wondering what I’m doing with all my free time now…

Trust me, I have a list a mile long of things to do and catch up on! I did start volunteering at the boys’ school on Wednesday mornings, spending time in both of their classrooms. I love the insider’s peek I get of their school day, the opportunity to meet their classmates and the lunch dates we have. I’m continually grateful for this season of life!

Schönen Tag (Good Day)!