SICK Days

The kids have both been sick this week. Layne really gets knocked out and had a fever for 5 days! Luke had one for 3. Nothing serious but just felt yucky. lots of TLC from mom, tea, rest, books on CD, Jim Weiss stories, a few movies etc. When they were feeling a bit more energetic we worked on Homework and some things that their teachers told me they were doing in class. Ive been accused of making sick days too fun--who cares! its NO fun being sick and being home is the place to be. I dont send them to schhol when even a "little sick" because as my amazing pediatrician says "a little sick is like being a little pregnant!" All are well and we are back to school this week.

Homework

Relaxing foot bath

Its a cold snowy day here in Wiesbaden. Sipping a cup of coffee after my yoga practice and cathcing on on some cyber reading. Not looking forward to Monday when the kids are back in school...I'll miss them! I am so lucky that they go to a school that doesnt measure their success with "grades" or punish them if they "forget", but rather gives them the power to think, create and take their interests and run with it. This quote made me think of ISW today:


"Of course, the more choice, movement, action, freedom, cooperation, talk, variety, energy, excitement, and joy there is in a classroom (home…family…), and the less invidious comparison, testing, gold-starring, grading, pecking-ordering, humiliation, coearcion, threat, punishment, and fear, the better it will be for the children…" J HOLT

IN our home we avoid punishment, never use the "charts" for good behavior and try to give the "L's " ( as Joey calls them) as voice to be respected and recognized. I especially like being able to tell them "Hey, mom's cranky, and annoyed" instead of just directing poor behavior at them which could really has nothing to do with them. As always, striving to be the parent they deserve. Authoritative without being Authoritarian.....

CHristmas markets, Ice SKating and SNow

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

December slow down

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.

I am trying to decide what direction to take this in.....anyone still reading??

YOGA

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..

Amsterdam

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

One of the things I love most about living abroad and experiencing so much is that my children seem to be very adaptable and make friends easily. Its seems wherever we go they seem to find a friend, even if just for the day, to play with and explore with. As you know, one of our favorite places to visit is Amsterdam and we went last weekend. Here are some picture of just what Im talking about.....as well as the things we love most about Amsterdam like riding bikes and being OUTSIDE!!