3 years to the day

3 years ago today we embarked on our German adventure. Our contract was to end today and we would be moving back to the USA. But because we are a.) a little crazy b.) enjoying ourselves c.) not finished with Larry's work assignment, we have agreed to stay for one more year.

We are happy to be staying, although missing our families makes staying a lot less fun. But we will be going home for a visit in the fall and some of our family will be visiting us. We are trying to make the most of our last year here. There are still many places on our "to see" list. We still won't make them all, but it nice to know we have another year to see some.

3 years into our adventure and it's interesting to look back at how the three years went by. The first year was getting our feet wet. Learning our way around, learning the language and customs, making friends and just plain figuring it all out. It was exhausting. The second year we were settled, but not rooted. Ford started sending people home early and for the longest time we didn't know if and when it would be our turn. Then half way through the second year we were evicted from our home and for 3 months we were in a temporary living space and even more unsure with what would happen next. Then the 3rd year began and we quickly went from talking about moving home to possibly extending our stay. That went on until May. So now finally it is our 4th and final year and hopefully we can just relax for a least the first 6 months, because I am sure that after Christmas we will have to start planning for our move home.

I have to say I am a little scared about moving back home. While I still don't feel rooted here, there is a comfort level here. I dread the thought of buying a house and the stresses that go with it. Then finding one fast enough to get the kids into school on time. School alone is a scary idea. While I'm sure bullying happens here, it doesn't to the extent of what it seems to be in the US. Reading the news about US schools would turn off any parent. And then all of the economic cuts happening in the schools. We are so blessed here with our schools and all of the accompanying programs. Then there is getting Landon situated once again with new therapists and all of the insurance worries that go along with that processes. I'm stressing out just writing about all of it!

So where will we go this year? Northern Italy this summer, Michigan this fall, hopefully family will come here for Christmas and we still need to figure out our one last hurrah before we leave. In between we will have short car trips including one to see a Woman's World Cup Soccer match.

So that's it for now. I did ask Larry to post some of his thoughts about the past 3 years, so stay tuned for his post.

Paris 2.0

This past week Germany celebrated Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ and a Western Catholic feast). In doing so we had the luxury of a long, 4 day weekend. And as typical American's we packed up a suitcase and hopped in the car. We won't be here forever and we need to see all we can!

Where did we go? Back to Paris! It is about 4 1/2 hours south of us if traffic isn't too bad. It's hard to think that in the time it would take us to drive to Traverse City we can be in Paris. We went back because we enjoyed it so much the

first time around, but mostly because we didn't really see much. This time we were better prepared! We knew how the train system worked, which bus was the best to take and most importantly we remembered to get lunch before the restaurants closed for the afternoon. Happy belly's = happy kids. Plus Larry and I enjoyed a little more wine to take the edge off of the kids whining.

We started our first day with the hop on-hop off bus. It was a beautiful sunny day and the kids loved sitting on the open topped double decker bus. Larry and I could relax a little from making sure Landon didn't run off anywhere. It was great! We saw the Arc de Triomphe, Champes-Elysees and other sights along that route. We shopped a little and ended our evening eating dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Burger's and fries for the kids, a Corona for me and Larry and everyone was happy!

The next day the kids slept in! We missed breakfast (really not a bad thing) and headed back to the bus. This time we took a different routing and saw the Moulin Rouge. It's really perfect timing for us as a family since Ali is currently learning sex education at school ;) I really enjoyed our special chat at we passed by some great stores with interesting window displays! Good times! We ended the evening in the Latin Quarter for dinner with a stroll past the Notre Dame.

On our last day we headed to see the Statue of Liberty (yes they have one too!), eat the best Falafel ever! and the kids played in the Luxembourg garden before getting in the car again for the drive home.

We had our fair share of meltdowns along the way (yes, all of us at one time or another) and we never saw a single museum or actually walked into a tourist attraction, but we enjoyed Paris in a way we have become accustomed to. We travel to the beat of a stubborn 4 year old and the interest level of an 8 year old. If you don't fight it and remember to be thankful you're even on a vacation, it can be quite enjoyable.

It's great to be Alianna

Again, time has flown and I am behind on the blog. Better late then never.

The Rondall Circus was a great success! Alianna was an acrobat and trained hard all week for her big performance. All the kids did great and it amazes me that she has now had this opportunity twice in her lifetime. I wish the schools in the US could experience such a week. These kids are amazing! The confidence it instills them and the pride of accomplishment is wonderful. They worked as a team and shined under the light of the big top. What an experience!

Alianna is also very excited because she earned her bronze swimming badge. She had to swim 200 m in under 15 mins. (11:53 min. was her time), dive from a 1m high platform, dive 2 m deep to pick up an object and take a written test of the swimming rules. She had been working very hard and is super excited especially since she only gets to swim once a week. Way to go Ali!

Next up for Alianna is her field day this Thursday and then next week she will attend a Women's World Cup soccer match with her teammates. Following is her class trip. It's a great time to be Ali!!

Sunday Afternoon

It Sunday afternoon and Alianna has a friend over. They are playing at the creek and I am just waiting for their very wet and muddy return. Of course they told me that won't be the case, but it has never not been the case. Her friends are always sent home with a bag full of wet clothes. But they have fun and kids need to get dirty. I just wish it wasn't in my house!

Landon and Larry are also outside playing. It is chilly and wet today compared to the past several weeks, but Landon NEEDS to be outside! They will play on the swing set and Landon will terrorize the ducks. Landon has a new game on the swing set. While pushing him he likes it if you guess his name. It goes something like this... "Are you Lucus?" "Hee!Hee! No mommy!" "Are you Friedrick?" Belly laugh, "Noooooo!" "I know are you Miss Jessica?" And we continue the game until I finally say, "Are you Landon?" and he says, "Yes!" and I say, "Landon who?" and he says, "Landon Margaret Groth!" He won't believe me that his middle name is different then Alianna's.

As for me, I am working on several things at once. Laundry is currently spinning, I am uploading Flip videos, trying to figure iMovie, and trying to decide if we should buy a new swing set that doesn't look like it is going to fall apart in any minute. Later yet today I need to pay some bills and write out my weekly plan so I can at least pretend like I thought it might all actually happen. Oh yeah, and I really need a coffee!

Circus week is coming up in two weeks at Alianna's school. I can't wait to see what act she will participate in this year. Her performance is on the 27th in case anyone wants to fly over here to catch it. But for those of you who can't, no worries. My Flip will work for a least another year.

After circus week, Germany celebrates it many spring holiday's. We will head back to Paris on one of the weekends and see something other then the Eifel Tower. Maybe Landon will be a little more willing to sightsee this time. If not, I'll still be in Paris. Who needs to actually see the Louve?

With summer gearing up, kids finish school JULY 22, we are starting to plan where we will vacation to next. This will be our last full summer so we still have several places to mark off our list. The Canary Islands and Alps are looking to take top billing. I'll keep you posted.

Pictures as promised

My new haircut.
Landon's new glasses.

Carnival pictures to come soon!