January 29th, 2016

We have seen more snow in the month of January then we did last winter! On January 2nd, we received our first snowfall to the boys’ utter delight! The freshly fallen snow left a thin blanket of white over the plants and the yard. It was beautiful!

Mein Mann had the day off from work so all three of them were outside playing in it for hours! I saw sleigh rides, snowball fights, the startings of a snow fort and even a replica of the Zugspitze (Germany’s tallest mountain that we went to the top of last May).

 

 

The following Tuesday, we got some SERIOUS snow! We were surprised the boys did not get a snow day or an early release. I went for a walk through the snow-covered trails with one of my friends from our village. A snow-shoveling session completed my workout for the day!

 

The boys showed me this snowman that was built on their school grounds.

S made his own snowman in the backyard using our snowman kit. They definitely enjoyed the winter wonderland we found ourselves in for a few days!

On January 6th, the Epiphany (when Jesus received a visit from the three kings) is celebrated here in Germany. I was REALLY looking forward to it after learning last year of the meaning behind the cryptic letters I saw above so many door frames which I wrote about it in this post: https://www.germanyjournals.com/?p=1390. This year, I had prepped the boys, set aside our donation and waited. When the day came and went without any visitors, I was disappointed. We were so ready!!! Thankfully, the next morning (which fell on a Saturday) the doorbell rang. When I looked out the window, I saw children wearing crowns and an adult accompanying them. “They are here!” I shouted. The boys were excited and so was I.

 

Our visitors sang, accepted our donation (they were collecting money to help children in Kenya) and asked if they could put a sticker on our door to remind us of their visit. Then, off they went! I love these beautiful traditions that help draw our attention to the Sacred. It was also helpful to know what was going on since it was all done in German.

 

In other news…

~On January 4th, our oldest got one of his front teeth pulled by the “Tooth Counter” (a.k.a. our Dentist).

This tooth reminded me of our son…determinedly stubborn. It was chipped, had a small abscess, resisted wiggling and was knocked into a backward slant a couple of months ago when E accidentally hit into his teacher’s knee during carpet time. He earned a recognition for being brave that day at school by keeping his composure as tears filled his eyes. I had hoped it would have fallen out but it STILL hung in there! An x-ray showed the adult tooth waiting to come in. So, our dentist put some numbing gel around it, gave it a couple of serious tugs while “checking on it” and out it came. However, it held on until the end and did not make an easy exit out of E’s mouth. He was quite the trouper, staying in his chair and enduring it all. But, oh the tears…

Here is a “before shot” as we waited for the dentist to come and check things out…smiling but nervous.

Here is our lil man afterwards. I was really proud of him for the way he handled it all. We went and got ice cream per the doctor’s orders! E was excited to hear the currency rate goes up for a tooth pulled out by the Dentist than one that falls out on its own accord. The next morning, he showed us a 2 Euro coin that appeared under his pillow.

  

~We saw Shrek the Musical!

As a gift from their Dear and Pop Pop, the boys received theatre tickets for Christmas. They also got a collared-shirt to wear to the show performed in English at a community theatre.

 

What a fun night! Afterwards, the audience was invited to come on stage and get pictures with their favorite characters. Both boys picked the dragon!

 

~ The Blender Incident

Our kitchen wall near the sink is stained with smoothie remnants after a frozen banana knocked the top right of the blender! Our walls, curtain, countertops, floor, my clothes, body…you name it…was hit with flying smoothie! I literally had juice dripping down my nose. Oh the clean up! Our white walls absorbed the color at an alarming rate, thus leaving them stained and in need of another paint job. Mein Mann was home at the time and came running. He tried to capture the moment though its hard to see due to lighting. You can try to click on the picture for a better view. At least, I still got to drink a little smoothie!

~The Prayer Cube

Sometimes at dinner, we roll our prayer cube. I found this little treasure in a Catholic shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico years ago. (Do you remember that store, Mom?)  Last week, S rolled the cube and we recited this prayer…”God, bless this food we are about to receive! Give bread to those who hunger, and hunger for charity and justice to us who have bread! Amen.” The depth of this prayer felt very timely in light of current events. On Tuesday afternoons, our family sits at tables with German nationals and refugees who have fled their homes and countries with children the same ages as our boys. Statistics are transformed by personal stories. This prayer is taking on new meaning…