A Surprise Package, Pics & Vids of the Park, Winnie the Pooh, Out of Nose Experience

Well, we received a package yesterday. Always a pleasant surprise...particularly when you thought the package was only intended for a little boy by the name of Ezra. Turns out, there were gifts for all of us. This package came from my very thoughtful and kind sister-in-law, Honour. It included a Handmade by Honour apron for me, the movie Elizabeth for Michael (and me too, really...), and some delightful pictures of Ezra's cousins, Weston, Sammy, Norah, and Willa as well as pictures drawn and coloured by the same cousins. Of course, there was a kind letter included as well. Honour was thoughtful enough to remember me mentioning (probably more than once) on this blog that I really wished I had an apron here and that I can't seem to find them anywhere (at least locally.) So, she fashioned a smock-style one for me (a style I've never had before) with pockets (bonus!) and I LOVE it. I even happened to be wearing an outfit that went perfectly with it when I opened the package. Talk about a Donna Reed moment! I have already been wearing it a TON and one of my favourite apron moments was this morning when I went down to put the laundry on the line. Instead of taking the bag of clothespins with me that I always have to walk back and forth to while hanging the clothes, I just put all the clothespins in the two huge pockets and they tagged along with me! Ok, I know, some of you may be a bit concerned for my social life right now, but I'm not. This apron is such a useful tool for me and I'm going to shout it from the rooftops (...the internet rooftops...) If you would like to see a picture of my apron, just click here.

We found out the package came when Michael came home for lunch. He doesn't usually do this, but we had some leftover stuffed pastries from dinner the night before which we had for lunch. Ezra and I were downstairs in the community kitchen area (the one that has the oven) warming up the pastries. While we waited, we clicked on the television in one of the little community rooms and watched a bit of a German animated program. There was a knight and a dragon involved but that's about as much as I got. Ezra was interested enough, but then the package came with Michael and the food finished warming up and we headed upstairs. Always nice to get to eat lunch together as a family too.

Yesterday afternoon we met Karin and her kids at the playground. We had fun. I snapped some photos of them playing if you're interested. Just click here to see them. Here's a video as well:



After we got home, we had some dinner and took care of all our usual nighttime rituals, although, Ezra and I seem to have inadvertently acquired a new ritual. A couple nights ago, I took my after-dinner cup of tea over to the couch to relax as I enjoyed it. I told Ezra to run and get a book and we could sit and read. He ran off to his room and came back with a Winnie the Pooh book. (Before he was even born, I went to a church rummage sale or something and found a bunch of small editions of the Winnie the Pooh stories. We do have the large collected works of A. A. Milne but these were so handy. Ezra couldn't have run and brought me the entire collection -- he wouldn't have been able to carry it! I think I got about 5 or 6 of them for around 25 cents a piece.) I LOVE the Winnie the Pooh stories. Such clever humour. If you have not read them, you should -- even if you don't have children. Anyway...Ezra snuggled up next to me and we read the entire story (which took about 10 to 15 minutes and half of the pages don't have pictures.) When we finished, he ran and got another one which we read. It was so great. Every night since, he has brought me a Winnie the Pooh book after dinner and we sit and read it. It is great!

As I was getting Ezra suited up for bed, I quoted a line from another of our favourite books, Olivia. "You know, you really wear me out..." I said. To which Ezra exuberantly responded, "I wear you out because I'm HAPPY!" I had to laugh out loud.

Michael and I were able to watch Elizabeth last night and realized that it had been a really long time since we had seen that film. It is really good. The costumes are just amazing. It must have been awesome to design them and work with that fabric. You should see it if you haven't. Thanks again, Honour.

Most of today has been pretty chilled out. This morning, Michael made pancakes for breakfast. So yummy. I've been crafting and crocheting when I have any time.

This evening, at dinner, Ezra had his first food-out-of-nose experience. We usually end up giggling at the end of dinner over one thing or another -- either Daddy makes a silly sound that makes Ezra laugh, or Ezra says something that makes us laugh. Well, I decided to provide some silly sounds of my own. I was being mindful that Ezra had swallowed whatever bit of apple sauce he had just taken, but apparently I miscalculated this evening because Ezra's applesauce found a new lease on life by finding an exit out of his nose. Much coughing and sneezing was soon replaced by gales of laughter from our little man. The only problem then was to try to keep him from re-creating the experience, which is his wont after he's done something that makes us all laugh. Not easy when we were laughing heartily ourselves.

Lately, Ezra has been really into the prayer portion of our bedtime ritual. He is very verbose when it's his turn to talk with God. If Michael and I attempt to join in the prayer, he usually says, "No! MY God!" Tonight he had another doozy. As I was attempting to help him wind down his prayer he said to me, "No! I'm still God-ing!" Michael abrubptly shoved his mouth into his t-shirt and commenced the silent laughter shake.

If you think of it, pray for us. We just found out that swine flu has reared its ugly head in the Collegienhaus. I know that not everyone in the U.S. has access to the vaccine, but there is really not vaccine in Germany at all. I don't care if I get it or Michael, but I just don't want Ezra to get it. Especially since we are only 19 days from coming back to the states and riding on a plane for 8 hours with a ton of strangers. I would hate to spend the holidays and my time with my family sick. Wouldn't we all?

Cafe Keim, A European Haircut, Finger-Painting, A Learning Nap, and a Letter from Jesus

The days are flying. At the end of the day, I usually find myself looking back and trying to figure out why I feel like I did a ton of stuff when, in all actuality, I really didn't! I have figured out that I can cut myself a bit of slack, though, since I'm doing lots of things the slow way these days -- laundry, errands (ie. walking), and dishes (I know there are plenty of Americans who live just fine without a dishwasher, but when you do them all by hand, it does take time...although, Michael usually does at least one of the three loads so maybe I can't really complain there.) Also, when we do run errands, because it's now cold out, the process of getting suited up and preparing the stroller with bags, etc. takes at least 10 minutes! My time is spent on lots of "in-between" stuff, if you catch my meaning. Maybe you don't. But I do...I've figured it out and now I don't feel SO bad.

So, all that to say that yesterday morning was mostly spent doing "in-between" things. After Ezra's nap, however, we headed out for Cafe Keim. I was able to take some pictures this time which you can see by clicking here. We had our usual. Ezra enjoyed looking at the books and the lady who is always there gave BOTH of us a complimentary sugar cookie. Guess I was very well-behaved yesterday too! There was a man who was sitting at the table next to us for about 20 minutes and he was trying to converse with us. He tried to speak some English, which was very nice, but he mostly spoke in German. I understood some of it, but everytime he would say something, Ezra would say, "That's not a nice name..." I told him that he was speaking in German and that he wasn't telling us his name and that he shouldn't say that because it's rude. Still, it was funny...mostly 'cause he said it in a growly kind of voice...I was trying not to laugh.

On our way home, I started giving the haircut pep-talk to Ezra. Yes, we scheduled a haircut for him because he was starting to look like a beatle...still cute, just way too much hair for me to shampoo...Earlier in the day, we had a haircut rehearsal. I sat him in his chair in his room, draped his blanket around him like a cape, and even used a comb and scissors (just for the sound effect.) He did great with the rehearsal. We told him that if he was very good and didn't cry there would be a special surprise for him at home. Of course, we told him this part in the morning to get him really excited so all day he kept talking about the special surprise at which point I would inevitably have to remind him HOW he was going to get the special surprise. Each time he would nod with wide eyes and serious expression. So, the time finally came for us to do the actual deed. The tears started when he sat in the chair despite the reminder of the special surprise, but they were not hysterical, petrified "get me out of this chair now" types of tears. Just a little whimpering. He was actually doing really well and then the stylist let him play with a set of her clippers. Forget about it...Haircut? What haircut? She could've been using a lawnmower to cut his hair and he wouldn't have cared at that point. He thought that was great. All the tears instantly dried up. He had brought one of his cars with him and I was picking up locks of his hair and putting them on top of the car and he was pretending to cut the car's hair. Very funny. The stylist was VERY good. She must have trained to cut children's hair by practicing on a ship on stormy seas. Her hands just moved with his head. Very impressive. He got a candy when he was all done and the haircut was only 8 Euros. In my (secret) opinion, children's haircuts should probably cost more than adult haircuts since we, at least, sit still. Cutting a child's hair is like EXTREME haircutting...it should actually be a sport...If you want to see pics of the haircut experience, just click here.

Of course, he earned his special surprise. He did get a cookie since there is a bakery right next door to the salon. However, the big special surprise was that we got him some finger paints. They have been finger-painting at church and I saw some the other day in the store and figured it would make for the perfect gift for being well-behaved at his haircut. Boy, was I ever right. He LOVED it. We covered our coffee table with newspaper and it was the perfect height for him to stand at. He made some lovely creations and it's fun to have something new that he enjoys. Needless to say he now has a set of clothes that serve as his finger-painting uniform. If you want to see some pics from the finger-painting experience, just click here.

Today we did some more finger-painting and just had a relaxed day. Here is a video for you of some finger-painting fun:



So, Ezra's nap must've been a "learning nap", as Michael so aptly coined it this evening at dinner. As soon as I got him up, he was saying lots of things he has never said before. Some of you may have noticed him talking about his "nasty" hands in the above clip. Never said that before. Then, after Michael said something a bit confusing to him at the dinner table, he scrunched up his nose and said, "What are you talking about?" Then this evening in the bathtub he was talking about a conversation he was having with someone...cracked me up.

At bedtime, Ezra is still thanking God for our trip to the natural history museum this past Saturday. So cute. And he always carries on in detail about the whole experience in his conversation with God. It's great.

I have been really missing Mexican food these days. My sister told me I should make some tacos or something, but what is normally an inexpensive meal in the states would be very pricey here in Germany and you can't always get all the necessary components. For instance, it is very difficult to find shredded cheddar cheese or cheddar cheese at all, for that matter. I think I may have mentioned this before, so I won't bore you with the details. All I know is, you should go buy stock in Taco Bell right now because over the holidays sales at Taco Bell are gonna go through the roof! Ok...must stop thinking about it...my stomach is starting to respond to me.

This morning, I did receive a VERY interesting forward from my father. I know, I know. Pick your jaw up off the ground. Those of you who know me at all know that I can't STAND forwards and, typically, just delete them. However, this one kind of caught my eye. The title is, "A Letter from Jesus about Christmas". I began to read and was immediately hooked and then forwarded it on to anyone I thought may appreciate it or be challenged by it...again, I've maybe done this once or twice in my history with email. I appreciated it so much and it expressed so much the way that I feel about the ridiculous debate that goes on every holiday season between American Christians and the rest of the country. I have taken the liberty of posting it on this blog. So, if you're not interested, you can just check out now, but I do think that if it doesn't challenge you, at the very least, it will make you think.

A Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa's and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks was. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:

I love you,

Jesus

A Cooking Lesson, Chor Probe, und Confession

After the usual cleaning of the bathrooms, dusting, and napping yesterday, Ezra and I met up with Jana around 3pm and headed to Tengelmann. We had some lovely stuffed pastries for dinner when her family had us over a week and a half ago and I had commented that I would love to learn how to make them. Jana had actually made them and said that we should make a trip to the store together so she could show me the items to buy and then we could make the meal together. This explains why we were on our way to Tenglemann. Jana pushed the stroller the entire way there and back. It was odd not having something to push or drag. I felt as though I should be able to fly home. Our trip was pretty quick so Jana and I set up a rendevouz time of 5:30pm in the downstairs community kitchen. An oven is necessary for the making of these pastries and we do not have one in our home. It was very simple to make them (and inexpensive...2 points right there...) and Jana joined us for the eating of them as well!

After our meal, we had choir rehearsal. We are practicing our pieces for Advent which will be accompanied by piano and horns and last night we were able to rehearse with the horns for the first time. It was, as is usually the case, start and stop, but still fun.

Today was the weekly doing of the floors. Then, Jana stopped by as we were sitting down for lunch. She stayed to chat and after we ate, she played with Ezra. Ezra even bypassed the usual after-lunch cookie so as to get to Jana-time more quickly. He had a blast.

So, nothing too exciting (that goes without saying, I know, but...) Therefore, in order to add some excitement to this post, I will confess something. (I'll bet that made you sit up and take notice real quick...nothing more exciting than a juicy confession...) Ezra and I listened to Christmas music today. I know...judge me. My usual policy is no Christmas tunes until after Thanksgiving, HOWEVER, Germany already celebrated it's Thanksgiving, so technically, I still fall within my own guidelines. That, and I want to give Ezra an opportunity to start learning some of the tunes...Now admit it, how many of you have already started in? It's ok...this is a safe place...you can tell us...

A Visit to a Museum, Breakfast at Church, and a Hedgehog

If there's one thing I've come to rely on during our stay in Germany so far, and maybe I've already mentioned this, it's that you cannot rely on weather reports around here. Geesh. During the week, Michael and I decided to make a day trip to Stuttgart to visit the Schloß Rosenstein Natural History Museum. Even though we had already had unreliable experience with weather reports, we checked out a report anyway...we hope too much. The report called for partly cloudy weather with some slight off and on drizzling, but it said the high would be 55 which is pretty warm for mid-November. So, we dressed accordingly. Unfortunately, this report was as unreliable as the rest have been. I was pretty cold, but, being a mother, I did come prepared at least for Ezra, so he was fine.

Before making it to the train station, we stopped in at the post office to mail a few things. Sent off Emma Jane's birthday present (she celebrated her first birthday yesterday!) and sent out a few cards.

Michael and Ezra both rode the train for free (Ezra because of his age, and Michael because he's a student) and I got a day pass for 12 Euros. We stopped in Ludwigsburg on the way at a store called Saturn. This is kind of like Best Buy. We needed a new ink cartridge for our printer and some camera batteries because we wanted to take all of these photos of our outing. Enjoy. Before we stopped in Ludwigsburg, I made the observation that this was the first time I had been out of Marbach since our last IKEA outing which, if my memory serves me correctly, has been almost, if not more than, a month. That's just weird to me and I don't know why. We made it to Stuttgart around 11:30am. Michael had told me that the Rosenstein was at the back of a very large park (a park nearly the size of Marbach itself!) For some reason, my head had a hard time really believing this and I figured that there would probably be plenty to eat around a museum (I hadn't packed a lunch.) As we entered the park and hopped on the path that would take us to the Rosenstein, we noticed a cafe, but seeing as it was only 11:30, I thought we'd just see if there was anything by Rosenstein itself. We made it back there in about 15 minutes and there did not seem to be any place to eat around. Ah well. There was an exhibit on Charles Darwin and his studies. We purchased our tickets for the exhibit/museum and headed in. We enjoyed ourselves until about 1pm when we started getting pretty hungry and decided it was time to start heading back toward the cafe. Normally, this would not be such a groaner for me, but this meant that we would be traversing the path 3 more times (once to get to the cafe, once to get back to the museum, and once more when we left to hop on the train.) So, plenty of exercise for the Hutchins yesterday which is why I felt no compunction ordering a big juicy cheeseburger (the first I've had since I can't remember when...) and french fries. Yummy. The cafe was very nice and they had a lovely little play place that Ezra thoroughly enjoyed. After enjoying our meal, we suited back up and headed back out to the museum again. The exhibit was really good and the museum itself is wonderful. TONS of animals. Animals I had no idea even existed. I'm sure you have observed them in some of the above pictures. Ezra loved it just as much as we did. We left around 4pm and Ezra passed out in the stroller on the way back to the train. We had about a 20 minute wait for our train and that ride lasted about 20 minutes and it was nice to just sit for a bit. We were all worn out. Ezra slept until we got to Marbach so he got a good nap in. We stopped in at Tengelmann to get our dinner and headed home. On our way, we ran into Heike Buck outside of the church. She was there setting up for a breakfast we had this morning at church.

The breakfast was lovely and I love that the church we are at is always mixing things up. I don't know that we've been to two services that have been the same. Very cool. We gathered in the "fellowship hall" and sat at tables. We sang some songs together, there was some prayer, then we all ate and then there was a children's story told at which point the children (and adults) were invited to make some pictures/cards for people they know who aren't feeling well (the story was about a little girl who has cancer.) Ezra had so much fun and was so well-behaved. I was even given a bunch of unsolicited hugs and kisses from him, which is always a bonus! We had no tears this week when we left church which was a very nice change of pace. I was still pretty beat this afternoon, so, I took a nap while Ezra napped.

On Friday night I experienced a first. Michael told me while he was outside having a pipe, a little hedgehog toddled by him. He told me about it and I was glad for his experience. Later that night, I heard a distinct animal sound outside our door. For some reason I knew it was the hedgehog. So, we stopped our movie (What About Bob?....so good...) and headed out and, there, sure enough, was a little hedgehog. So, cute. I had never seen one before. And then I got to see another one when we visited the Natural History museum...of course, that one was not alive...

Sticker Charts, Funny Face, Panic Attacks Avoided, Play Date, A Cosmopolitan Conversation, and Superman

Well, Ezra and I made a sticker chart yesterday. Thoughts? Am I forcing my Type A personality onto my child? Michael approves of my idea. There are several things that we struggle to get Ezra to do each day (eat his breakfast and lunch in a timely manner, brush his teeth without pitching a fit, comply with requests made of him that he does not like without pitching a fit, etc.) so, we thought we'd try some positive reinforcement. We've been good with giving him negative consequences for his actions (ie. we leave the park immediately if he cries and pitches a fit because someone else picks up his sand toys) but not so good with the positive. I'm not proud to admit that, but there you have it. So far, we've had good results with it. Ezra LOVES stickers. Anyway...

Ezra discovered his "funny face" yesterday evening. He was walking around my room in his birthday suit (we were getting ready to take a bath) and I was doing something and he looked at me in a funny way. I cracked up and so he continued making the face. We were both rolling. I asked him to do it at bedtime for Daddy and he was more than happy to fulfill my wish. He continued to make the face for a couple minutes and we finally got the laugh riot calmed down and got him in bed.

Today was, in technical terminology, insane-o day. You may remember me telling you about the new standing play date we have with Karin and two of her children for Fridays at 2pm. In order to make it to that play date, Ezra and I had lots to do in the morning. We were out of the apartment by 20 to 10 to not only go grocery shopping, but to run some other miscellaneous errands that needed to be run. I figured I would do those first and we would hit the grocery store on the way home. Time had other plans. I needed to get Ezra down earlier for his nap since we planned to meet with our friends right at his usual nap time which meant that lunch would be earlier too. So, we had to head home without making it to the grocery store. We did finish the other errands, just not the life-sustaining one. On our way home, I was trying to figure out when I was going to grocery shop. It was about 10 after 11 at this point and I made the split decision to go knock on Michael's window at the archive and see if he'd be willing to come home early for lunch and handle Ezra while I went back out again. He gladly agreed and met us at home within 15 minutes. I started Ezra on his lunch and headed to the grocery store. I was back in time to get the groceries put away and chat a bit with me mum on the computer and, finally, to get Ezra up and ready to meet our friends at the park.

Had a ridiculous experience while I was out today. Upon entering the Altstadt, I needed to make a pit stop. Fortunately, there are public restrooms right where we enter, so I decided to go for it. Ezra and I went into the handicap restroom (since I had him in a stroller) and, upon finishing my business, I proceeded to wash my hands, as is my wont. I began to push the pump for the soap, which, at first, appeared to be empty, since nothing was coming out, however, I soon realized I was just "cocking the gun", so to speak, and out the soap sprayed all over my hand in a big splat! Sigh...I began to rub my hands together reminding myself to be grateful that, at least, there was soap to be splatted. Then I waved my hands under the magic water faucet (since it was one of them kind...the magic kind that use lasers...) and, apparently, someone forgot to turn the magic on today. So, there I stood, in a nasty public restroom, with soap smeared all over my hands, and the door was very locked. I grumbled to myself as I tore pieces of toilet paper off to attempt to remove the soap so that I could try to unlock the door. The locks on most public restrooms around here are these little round knobs that you just turn, multiple times, in the appropriate direction to either lock or unlock the door. Well, this one seemed to be unwilling to release us. I began to panic as the left-over soap hardened on my hands, trying, in vain, not to entertain the thought that Ezra and I could be stuck in a public restroom without anyone knowing about it for a very long time. Well, I guess I could have texted Michael. I can just see him sitting at the archive and being startled by the buzz on his phone only to be more startled to read: Help! We r stuck n the handicap wc in altstadt and cant get out. He would rise quickly from his cubicle and leave the archive, no one ever knowing the insane mission on which he would be going. Ok...back to reality....The lock finally gave, after some very firm verbal admonitions from myself. I gasped in the fresh air as we stepped out, parked Ezra at the top of the stairs that lead to the other restrooms and sprinted to the ladies room to rinse the soap off my hands. Hmmm...no trouble with the water in there...poor handicapped folks...doomed to wheel themselves around the Altstadt with sticky, soap-scummy hands....

In other news, I happened upon a new shop today. It's right next door to NKD and I've never gone in, 'cause I've never really been able to tell what it is and I'm usually in a hurry, but there are always carts of greeting cards outside and that is exactly what I was looking for today. I peeked my head in and, low and behold, if it wasn't a Hallmark-type gift shop. Very cool. I must admit, some of the time that slipped away from me could probably be found on some of the shelves at this store...I did get some things I needed there, so, it wasn't a complete waste of time.

As Ezra and I headed up to the park, we saw Karin pull up in her van. Upon opening the tailgate, I observed that she had even come with bikes in tow! Ezra was delighted. She brought a 2-wheeler for Helena, a pedal-free 2-wheeler for Nicholas, and a tricycle for Ezra. They had a lot of fun. A short while after we arrived at the park, another woman and her son showed up and I noticed she was speaking French to him. It was uncanny how much I understood. I took French in college and did pretty well with it, but I was just astounded at how much easier it is for me to hear and understand French than it is for me to hear and understand German. Karin and I ended up conversing with her and it was, quite possibly, one of the funniest, cosmopolitan conversations I've ever had. The three of us kept hopping between French and German and English. I actually started sentences that began in French, switched to German, then ended in English. It was hilarious. When I first began speaking with her, I thought the French would just roll out ('cause that's what usually is trying to roll out every time I try to speak German) however, I found myself searching for French words but German words came out. It was a most confounding thing and all I could do was laugh at myself. I'm certain it's because I've trained myself to only fumble around in the darkness of my brain for German words. So, I think I've figured out a solution for the difficulties I have speaking German. I just need to imagine that the person I'm speaking with is French and that I'm trying to communicate in French with that person and German will come out. Who knew the answer was as simple as that!

After a good bit of playing, we finally said our goodbyes (Karin actually sent the tricycle home with Ezra...he was/continues to be elated!) We got home and Michael took over so I could go for a run which took me to the edge of town. There was a moment when I actually thought I might be lost, as, at one point, I found myself on a road that was as busy as a highway...I was running on a shoulder as opposed to a sidewalk, but I made the appropriate turn (not confidently, mind you) and found myself in familiar territory again. Another potential panic attack avoided.

Michael actually made dinner tonight too (gulasch and spätzle...yummy...) So, he's basically been super husband/dad today...not that he always isn't but, he went above and beyond the call of duty today...in a nutshell, he is awesome and I love him (please read the rest in the voice of Antonio Banderas) with a thousand loves.

Dignitaries, Goodbye B., and Family Time

Ezra and I had a typical morning yesterday. I did the floors and then we ran some errands. However, Michael had an atypical day. Construction has concluded on the Schiller Museum and there was a dedication ceremony of sorts he was able to attend and the president of Germany (not the Chancellor) spoke at it. Unfortunately, Michael had to be in an overflow room and there wasn't even a monitor showing the event. It was just the audio. Kind of funny. Michael said it was a bit anticlimactic, but things were pretty crazy around here. Lots of police and dogs, etc. The president of Germany is akin to the Queen of England -- a dignitary really -- so it's really funny to see all the hullaballoo.

After Ezra's nap, Jana came up. Ezra was very pleased. She stayed for about 45 minutes and, before she left, Ezra was sure to give her a hug and a kiss.

After breakfast this morning, B. stopped by. He is heading back to England today and had some food leftover he wanted to give to us. Of course, I was in all my domestic glory -- nasty yoga pants, a sweater, and, the crowning glory, the leftover zit cream I have been applying liberally to a stubborn zit that has popped up on my cheek! I only realized that was still on my face, leftover from the night before, after he came in the door, but before he mentioned it to me -- "Uh, I think you have a bit of toothpaste on your face..." And it makes you feel even more slovenly and low-brow when the observer speaks the king's English. He was very kind to not only bring the food, but to bring a gift he had purchased specifically for Ezra. It's a little placemat with a race car on it -- right up Ezra's alley! And Ezra was hanging all over B. too. Ezra led the poor man into his room by his pants and was clinging so much to him that B. finally picked him up. At this point, Ezra pointed to his teeth and asked him, "Are those your teeth?"

"Yes, they are, " B. replied.

"These are my teeth," Ezra responded while pointing at his own.

I believe I heard B. mumble something to the effect of, "Yes, and I wouldn't mind trading mine for yours..."

Ezra cried when B. finally said his goodbyes. Of course, I was transformed into my public self only 15 minutes later...too bad our goodbyes couldn't have been said then! Trust me, and my mother and husband can attest to this, it's unbelievable what a difference 15 minutes can make for me! Ezra and I ran to Müller and back then had some lunch. After Ezra finished, the sun burst out and I took that as my cue to ignore the dishes and seize the opportunity to make a quick trip to the park before Ezra's nap. Gotta enjoy the sun while you can around here since it's gone by 5pm. We were at the park for about 30 minutes at which point Ezra decided to take a bathroom break which he kept between himself and his pants for a few minutes. He did finally announce to me what he had done which, of course, ended our outing to the park. Neither of us was pleased. I like to give Ezra time to play outside, but when it's very cold, you cannot continue to play in wet pants. He whimpered most of the way home. Maybe he will remember this next time...but, probably not. Oh well. Live and learn...eventually (as is the way with toddlers.)

After Ezra's nap, we met Michael at Cafe Keim. I always look forward to this and have decided that it's nice and, dare I say, important to make a special experience for yourself and your child at least once a week. The people there know us and Ezra knows them. It's just a lot of fun. As we walked home, the sky was gorgeous. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to grab the camera on the way out. Unfortunately, it ran out of batteries...go figure...The sky was a pinky orange and it literally looked as though there was a dividing line between night and day as the clouds that had smothered the sun all day began to roll away. It was the type of beauty that made you stop whatever you were saying and take notice with a breathless, "Wow."

A Special Day In Germany

Yesterday morning, I sang with the choir. Every few Sundays, all the satellite churches of the church we attend, gather together in one big service. I took Ezra to Sunday School at the point in the service when the children were dismissed, however, this week, they asked if I would mind putting him with the younger kids. Usually they have more helpers from the teenage ranks, but the teens were doing something together so they didn't have as many helpers as usual. I told the leader that was not a problem. So, back upstairs we went to the other room. Ezra had just as much fun. So much that he didn't want to leave again. We finally got him downstairs where there was tea and coffee and cake. There he had fun running around with the kids. There is a stage in the "fellowship hall", if you will, and kids were climbing up the stairs and jumping off the front (it's not a big drop). One of the little girls, probably about 5, insisted on holding Ezra's hand the whole time. Ezra had no problem with this and enjoyed himself greatly. It was so cute. She felt like she had to be responsible for him. Of course, there were more tears when the mean mommy and daddy said we had to leave.

We walked home with the Lempp's. Ezra had to hold Jana's hand the entire way home. At one point, Karl and Jana were each holding one of his hands and this, of course, is the cue to Ezra that it's time to do the swing between two adults trick. Jana and Karl knew this instinctively and began to give him, what Karl called, an angel ride. The whole way back Ezra kept saying, "Angel! Angel!"

Jana came upstairs and played with Ezra for a bit when we got back. It's very hard for Ezra to say goodbye to her but he had to eventually as Jana had to go home to eat lunch.

After Ezra's nap, we headed over to the Buck's for tea and coffee and yummies. This is another family in our church. We had a delightful time. They had a big basket of big Lego toys out for Ezra to play with. We were able to ask them, during the course of conversation, if any church members would be offended that we are not Methodists. They told us not at all, which was a relief. Heike made mention to me that she had been an au pair in Canada when she was younger and that she got really good at speaking English by watching English movies with English subtitles. She suggested that I might find the same success by watching German movies with German subtitles. This does sound like a good idea since I have an easier time reading German than I do just hearing it. She loaned me several movies that they own. Now we just have to figure out how I can watch them on our technology since they are in different zones. I don't understand why they have to be that way. What's the big deal? So ridiculous. Hopefully we'll get it figured out soon and I guess I'll have to start watching movies...Although it was dark when we left the Buck's we got home at a decent hour, about 6:15.

I made some dinner and we had a relaxing night. Michael and I got a bit further into The Mill on the Floss and I got some crocheting done.

This morning, at the breakfast table, Ezra and I were reading the Bible together. We were talking about how God told Isaac not to go to Egypt but to stay in Gerar. Ezra responded with, "Olivia was on a camel in Egypt, but Isaac was not." You may or may not be familiar with the Olivia books, but Ezra is. This is a series of books based on the daily happenings of a certain little pig after whom the book is named. In one of the books, Olivia is having a dream that she's riding a camel in Egypt. Also, while I was reading the Bible, Ezra kept nodding his head and saying, "You're probably right." This is a phrase, I believe, he picked up from me.

Today, as I'm sure many of you know, was the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Of course, this day was commemorated in Germany all over the country. This evening, there was an ecumenical commemorative service at the Lutheran church in the Altstadt. It has been a pretty rainy nasty day here in Marbach am Neckar, but Michael and I really felt it would be ridiculous of us to be here in Germany on such a significant day and not go to some sort of event. This service was originally intended to be held outside, however, in case of rain, it was at the church. The rain seemed to be fading, but it was still raining nonetheless. The service started at 6pm and I have choir rehearsal at 7:45pm. We had been told the service would last 30 to 45 minutes, but we had to walk there and back. The dinner I had planned for the evening (maultaschen) is a quick meal to prepare so, we decided we'd go for it as long as we walked fast. The rain wasn't too bad and we made it there in 10 minutes. We recognized several faces from our church (including our minister) and the service was very nice. There happened to be a few people from the east in our midst. There is a neighborhood in south Marbach, we were told during the course of the service, that was built with East Germans in mind. Since Marbach is close to Stuttgart, the citizens felt they would probably get quite a few East Germans moving into town. Anyway...in this neighborhood, all the streets are named after cities in East Germany. Very cool and very welcoming. So, when you watch this video (check back soon for video...our stupid internet beefed out on us while i was trying to upload it...you can click here to see a few photos) of snippets of the service, know that this is what they are talking about when they are lighting the candles. Ezra sat very quietly the whole time, which was very nice. The service lasted about 40 minutes and we made it almost halfway home when I told Michael to take over the stroller and that I would book it back to get dinner started. I took off at a jog and I had one street left to run when Mrs. Lempp came up behind me in her car and offered to drive me the rest of the way (she had been at the service too.) So, I saved about 3 minutes that way. Every minute counts. I got upstairs and got things started at about five to seven and we were sitting at the table eating at a quarter after. Phew. I scarfed down my food and was out the door at 7:40pm to head to choir rehearsal which went well.

Michael and I just finished The Mill on the Floss...let's just say that I won't be making any judgement calls on the book (which I have not yet read) based on this production...not the best work put out by BBC, but you can't be great all the time!