Its been a long time since Ive posted here. There have been many reasons but the main one is simple-our life back in the Western Hemisphere is much busier than it was back East. I am a year behind in my scrapbooking of the Barber's adventures and that creates stress for me in and of itself. Still, the adventures are still happening and I hear from all that the older the kids get...the more hectic the schedules.
So, with Chris off work for 2 weeks and the kids out for 3, and having about 6 inches of snow on the ground, I have something precious-TIME!! Time for reading, knitting, refecting as well as time as a family. Luke is a verocious reader, so he and I can sit on the couch together reading while Layne is making one of her famous books. (right now she is fascinated by the SMurfs and is quite good at drawing them!)
All this time and reflection has brought me to a peaceful place. I love our life here in Europe. As a friend of ours said,its the perfect blend for us as a family-CB can work and travel like he loves, and its just bohemian enough for me, but not too bohemian for Chris!! That made a lot of sense to me. The kids are also very happy at the their lovely little school and enjoy going most days. So what is my day like and why do I like it??? Here's a typical day for me:
530-6 up for coffee and some quiet time before the monkeys are up/ yoga practice and/or meditation. Maybe put something in the crockpot
6:45 Laundry in the washer ( everyday bacuase its quite small) and start making lunches and cooking breafast. Yes, they have a hot breakfast most days and I pack a morning snack and a lunch. The school offers nice vegetarian wholefood lunches but the kids arent always crazy about the selection (Vegetarian Schnitzel!!??) They do enjoy the pasta days and it is served with fresh salad and fruit so mom likes that.
8:15 we leave the house for the short ride to school. I walk them to their classes and hand them off-neither are hesitant to kiss mom goodbye but Im expecting this soon. If theres time, I sit for a few minutes and visit with friends. The school offers coffee in the morning for the mums and dads.
915 I have to be at the base to teach my 930 Yoga Class
11:00 class is over so on the way home I stop at the bakery, the gardener for fresh organic veggies or the market (no strip malls here-everything is a little shop...stop here for fresh bread, stop there for fresh veggies-I very much enjoy grocery shopping here.)
11:30 walk Angel- she needs 2-3 short walks a day. I love walking her outside here- its so green and lush, very old Europe with the timber houses
12:30 my lunch and dinner prep
2:00 check email/ prepare for afternoon activities/maybe a little knitting or sitting/reading
3:10 at the school and then its either trumpet lessons, choir, Daisy Scouts,Boy Scouts, or Newspaper CLub
Home usually by 430--homework time, finish dinner, fold laundry
6:00 dinner , cleanup, baths
7:00 family reading-CB with Layne, me with Luke
Layne is usually asleep by 745-8 and Luke by 830-9
Some may find this mundane, even boring, but I love taking care of my family and our home. Im pretty tradtional in the homemaker sense and we like living simply with fresh organic foods (I spend a lot of time cooking), little TV, lots of reading and just the things that make life good. Im working on blogging more to that mix. We';; see how that goes.
Luke ready to attack!
Ice Skating
Layne waits in the treefort for the counter attack!
Wiesbaden Christmas Market
Gleuwein and Hot Chocolate in Wiesbaden
Nativity at Rudesheim Christmas market
Layne at the ISW CHristmas concert
St Nicholas in WIesbaden
Hot Chocolate break at Rudesheim
I am still deeply devoted to my daily yoga practice....here's a new pose for me...cant quite get my left leg straight though..
Layne found a huge fountain where all the kids were either naked or in their underwear playing in the water. The clothes were off in an instant!
Luke talking with his friend who was on the ground while he was in the tree
Waiting for the parade on the first day there......
Layne got to hug Blue, Sully, King Louie and Donald....she like Donald best and Tigger the least because he "pushed me out of the way to get on the train!"
Teacup!
we got there at 7:50 and were the 6th people in!!
Laynee was tired.....here Luke is encouraging her to hang in there just a little longer! I love these types of pictures....
After a long day, chillin at the pool. It was pretty deep so Layne wanted to wear a swim belt
PISA
Pizza and Tuscany's finest..
Luke at Michelangelo's tomb
Our cat, Gerri passed away on Tuesday. We actually had to put her dwon. SHe had heart problems and she had stopped eating. We were taking her in for cortisone shots and to have fluid pulled out every few weeks. It was time. We think she was 16--Chris had her before we ever met and she has been with us all these years--moving and flying all over the world. When the kids were young she hid a lot and she always had her own space, but when it was quiet-she loved to come out and cuddle. In Bahrain, she would spend hours laying with Luke as he read. In Germany she seemed to really enjoy the house and spent much more time with all of us. When she got sick, Layne started including her in all her drawings. The past 2 days Layne has made about 25 drawings of her and Gerri- at the park, swimming in the pool, sleeping, swinging--so cute. Her teacher brought them to me today to show me. Im going to keep them for her. Here are a few:
THis picture is of Gerri sleeping in her doll bed; then Layne and Gerri on a picnic. The last frame shows someone in a wheel chair ( she has a thing for people in wheelchairs.) Its amazing how kids process things. Im so glad she can express so well. SHe has drawn many of an Angel kitty with a halo and wings. SHe told her teacher that Gerri is in her heart in spirit. Love it.
Layne blowing out the candles on her birthday cake-she made it herself! Super Moist Vegan Chocolate...she did a great job!
Layne grew "cress" at school- here she is having some on bread
Layne and her best friend Iliiana ( who lives in Frankfurt but has been her best friend since Bahrain!)
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