Updates on the family

Yesterday Landon started his new preschool. It went OK. He never left my lap while inside and only briefly left my lap while outside. He left just long enough to get a shovel, dig it in the dirt and snow and then eat it. We go back again on Friday. I hope he at least stands next to me.
So in the meantime my German lessons are on hold again. Which isn't good. I had to take Landon to the doctor on Monday because he dropped a 1 liter water bottle on his foot. Turns out it was a good thing because he had an infection under his pinkie toe that I didn't see. German would have been helpful! Although it was obvious by looking at his foot, it was fun playing charades to understand how to treat the infection and what medicine I needed.

As for everyone else, they are all doing just fine. Alianna loves school, but thinks they should do other things besides work. "Everyday I go to school, I work, I come home, I play a little, I go to bed, I get up and go back to school. The only time I can play is on Saturday and Sunday." And with that realization, I welcomed Alianna to the REAL WORLD! She at least had 6 good years before she caught on.

The next worker reduction announcement is coming up around Jan. 18. Keep us in your prayers! We did go ahead and order a new car. We will soon be turning in the Galaxy mini-van for a S-Max SUV. I will miss my mini-van, but I think I will like the S-Max.

The castle is falling apart before Frau Shumacher's eyes. With the recent cold spell, several old water pipes broke and there has been flooding in several rooms (but luckily not ours). The plumbers have been here since last Friday working around the clock. I don't really understand much of what is being said, but every morning I wake to 2 buckets of water at my front door to use for the day. We are hoping to have our upstairs toilet to use by tonight. I continue to be reminded not to expect too much. The castle is 300 years old.