August 30 (tuesday) ~First day of School pictures

The boys had their first day back to school yesterday. Elee started 1st grade and Josiah 3rd. The boys had a good first day. The best thing was that the notes brought home were in English!! It's great that they ride the bus together. The first thing Elee told me was that Josiah hit a girl on the way home. I guess she was name calling and Elee was name calling back and then Josiah hit her. So I had them apologize to her today which they said they did. And we definately had a a BIG talk with Josiah and Elee about not hitting girls. Josiah said today that she was not an appropriate girl because she showed him her butt (with her pants on). She's in fourth grade. I told them to sit in the front of the bus from now on to get away from her. She won't want to sit in the front if she likes to be bad.




Elee got a Schuletute after school. Normally in Germany kids going into first grade have a big party and get these on the day they go to school. They are filled with toys and school supplies. It's a huge celebration for the kids and usually the parents are invited to come and they even have champagne for the parents. Since we are in the American school we didn't have that for him, but we still gave him the Schuletute and he felt really special.




Josiah had his first soccer practice and he really liked it! It's his first time playing with Americans. He was the only one to score a goal during practice and he really liked that. :)

We have an Open House on Thursday for the boys. I'm looking forward to that.

Trip to Belgium~ August 14th-16th

Sunday morning we packed up the van and headed to Belgium. Richie had a work trip there so we decided to all go since the boys are not in school yet. I forgot the Crayola magic clay and when we went to dinner I had forgotten to bring things for Pace to play with so it was very eventful. Before we got to our destination we went off the beaten path to a festival for this brewery that Richie likes called LaChouffe. Beer was extremely good. The kids had super fun playing on the bouncy and the mushrooms. After another two hours drive we made it to Mons, Belgium. We stayed in a small apartment right in downtown Mons called the Infotel. For some reason, they don't offer pots and pans, plates or forks in the apartment. That's an extra 100 euro fee. I mean come on...really? Won't be staying there again. The first night was awful with Pace not wanting to sleep the first night. However, after I moved his pack n' play into the kitchen and closed the door the second night, he was out when it was time for bed! He likes to have his own space. hahah. The second night was awesome. It takes a little while to figure out a new place sometimes

The last place we went for dinner had steak on stone where you can cook your steak to you liking at your own table. Very awesome. Also, they had over 100 delicious Belgian beers to choose from. Very fun! And in Beligium, they speak French. I tried remebering all the French I learned in highschool and maybe "Si vous plait" and "merci" was all I could remember. Pretty pathetic. It's crazy how I'm beginning to feel more at home in Germany with the little I know. But at least I can get around. :)

"I'm standing on a mushroom"!!

LUNA'S FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN (PRESCHOOL)~ 8 AUGUST

Today was Luna's first day of Kindergarten. In Germany you can start Kindergarten, what we call preschool at the age of 3. She was so excited to go. She wore a pretty princess dress, wore new shoes, and had a brand new Owl backpack. She was ready to go! Her days this first week are only from 9-11am to slowly get her integrated in the class. Boy how I wish they had done this for Elee when he started Kindergarten here in Germany.

When I dropped Luna off, I watched a little bit and the teacher talked with Luna all in German and Luna happily picked out a puzzle and all the kids crowded around her. I think she thought she really was a princess...either that or realized that she really is. :)

When I picked Luna up today the teacher said Luna did great today. She played in the big two story wood house in her class and got to dress up in clothes. She drank a couple cups of warm tea and had bread and fruit. She even has a class 'partner' who is 5 and goes into first grade next year named Elena. She was really sweet and spoke to me all in German. I understood what she was saying so that was nice. :) The teacher speaks only in German with me and I speak with her in German as well. As much as I can.

Luna is such a big girl. It's amazing that she is all potty trained now wearing panties and going to kindergarten.

My Twin

Say hello to my twin. His name is Andy. That's what i felt the moment I cut my hair. That's also what Josiah's first reaction was when he saw a picture of me. Now, when I say something in a monotone voice, Richie says, "okay Andy". Then he starts laughing. Not so fun to feel like you look like a guy with a new short doo. :) By the way, Andy is my younger bro.

Killed the Dreads.....for now.

photo by Suze Wessels

photo by Suze Wessels

After five years, I finally took the plunge of cutting off the dreadlocks. It was actually a very difficult thing for me to do emotionally. I wanted to keep them, but I felt it was time for something fresh and something that will help with my running. It would be easier for running and washing my hair! I'm really trying to get back into shape and I'm running a half marathon in October. When I went home to Michigan, my sisters and I (they were great support) cut our hair. We went to Salon 6 in Royal Oak where they were great! Very patient with me and they even massaged my scalp about 5 times. My sisters didn't go as drastic as I had to, but all the same they were there with me to cut their hair along side me. Also, Suze was there for support and took some amazing pictures as was Beka. So these photos were taken by them.

photo by Suze Wessels

photo by Suze Wessels

photo by Suze Wessels


Not sure when I started crying but I think it might have been before the first snip of the scissors. It was very emotional for me. How can you get so attached to hair? It's crazy, but I really felt that they were a part of me. Which is why, I couldn't just let them go. I saved them....for what? Well, maybe we'll make a hat for the kids or something. We did burn one in the fire which was interesting to see it light up so quick. Would make great kindling. Ha.

photo by Suze Wessels






photo by Beka Kerwin

photo by Beka Kerwin

photo by Beka Kerwin