Having a little fun...

Here is a video of Landon playing at the Rhein Park back in July. We had a great day. It was hot and sunny! Landon just loved being able to run around and go up the hills and down the hills.

This past weekend we visited a castle along the Rhein. I will hopefully download some video of that soon. We have a usually busy week ahead of us. We are all enrolled in language instruction now so between our classes and studying and we don't seem to have much free time. Alianna of course is learning much faster then Larry and I. Even Landon has a few German words. I also now have a babysitter twice a week for language lessons. She is really sweet and very helpful in explaining so many things! In one day we covered how to really work the dishwasher (she had to call her mom to ask!), we went to the electronic store and bought an audio cable to hook the computer up to the TV and we went to Toys R Us to find a birthday present for a new friend of Landon's.

I am still in the process of deciding which car to order. I love the Galaxy mini van I have right now, but it is not very practical for parking. It is really large and long. This week I am trying out a Ford C-Max. It's great for parking, but not to much storage space once the stroller is in the trunk. And Landon keeps kicking the back of my seat! I am hopefully going to test out a Ford Focus wagon next. I think it might be a nice in between.

That's it for now. Landon and I are off for an adventure and to go chase the ducks! The ducks dread Hurricane Landon. He is a fast blowing storm that comes in out of nowhere and creates mass chaos in seconds. The poor ducks. Since we've been here they are on raised alert. Have you ever seen a nervous duck? I'll have to get video of that too.

Tshoos!

We are settling in...

It's been a busy couple of weeks, but we have emptied 90% of the boxes. Most things made it, but there were a few damaged items. Nothing that cannot be fixed. We have successfully setup internet and phone connections and now we are gearing up to attack TV. I have a feeling this might be quite difficult.

Alianna started school the past week and she is loving it! She had a hard time in the mornings, but by Friday she was tear free! It's only been a week and she has already learned so much German! It is very cute hearing her, especially when she mixes German and English. Landon is missing his big sister terribly. He walks around the house looking for her and goes to the window and calls out "Alya, Alya". It is so sweet and sad. He loves his big sister so much!

Larry is enjoying his work. Ford had a big celebration this weekend to celebrate 40 years in Cologne. We had a very nice time. The kids had the chance to see where dad works and Alianna verified that he really does hang up her artwork on his walls. I had a chance to check out all of the cars because I still haven't picked one out yet. I am torn between picking a car with passagener space or picking a car that I can actually park in the tiny parking spaces and tight parking structures.

As for me I haven't jumped in the moat yet... I start language instruction this week so that is a step in the right direction. I have also starting meeting people and making friends. I'm sure things will continue to get easier...

We have moved in!

So on Friday, July 25, exactly one month after we left the USA, our container arrived and we moved into the castle! The crane showed up, boxes were brought in and uh oh... I guess we didn't think about a few measurements. Our bed didn't make it in our guest room and our bedroom dresser is in our garage, but all in all it went well. Only a few damaged items, but nothing that can't be fixed.

Over the weekend we built furniture and began to unpack 310 boxes! Who knew we had so much stuff! It is one week later and we still have loads to unpack. Our place is beginning to look like home. Landon's bedroom is the most complete and Alianna has the best room in the house. I do like our kitchen even though we don't have much storage space. The hardest part of the house is the stairs. It takes about 52 stairs to reach our bedroom from the front door. It is 10 stairs to the front door, 14 stairs to the living room, 14 stairs to the kid's room and another 14 to our room! But we have a great view!

So it is late and I am off to climb the stairs to my bed. I am going to try to load a short video. Larry just finished hooking up the new TV. We don't have a connection to satellite yet, but now we can watch DVD's. Yeah! Alianna got a German Hanna Montana video. She'll be excited to see it!

Please stop raining...

So once again it is raining. It has been cold and rainy for 2 weeks. I mean it's been 45 degrees at night cold and only in the 50's during the day. Sorry to complain, but come on. Even on a german calender it is July!

So today was moving day. The crane showed up at 8 am and took over an hour to set up, blocking the street for our new neighbors. Then we waited. And waited... our sea container never showed up! So we are back to not knowing where exactly our stuff is and we still cannot move. Uggh!!!!!

So our blog is a little boring right now. I can't upload pictures at the cafe, but I will once we get connected. The kids are great and adjusting very well. We just want the rain to stop! Landon is starting to talk a little. He calls for Ali and it is so cute the way he says her name. He can also say bröt. (which he eats a lot of). Alianna is working hard on her German and can now count to 10. I actually ordered food through the drive thru window! now that was something to hear!

We miss everyone!

Every day is a new adventure

I found my way back to the internet cafe. I should be doing other things, but it's always good to take a break. We are still in temp living quaters. I cannot wait to move! Our newest hurdle is getting our furniture in the house. The movers have realized how tight the stairways are and so now they have to order a crane to get our stuff in the house. Yes, i did say a crane. The furniture will be lifted over the roof and through a new door on the second floor. The next challange will be getting our bed to the 4th floor. I am fairly confident that we will be getting two new twin beds. I don't remember wood (boxspring) having the ability to bend. I guess I'll soon find out.

I have been trying to meet people and make friends, but it' challenging in so many ways. I did go for a girl's night out last week and had a nice time. I did meet one woman the other day at the castle. People come there throughout the day just to hang out. So I stopped by to check out our new kitchen (it's really nice). As i was getting ready to leave, i was held up by the castle's pet goose! She (Gerta) was pecking at the back wheel of the car and i couldn't drive off without taking her head with me. It took me almost 10 mins. to get her to move. She just kept hissing at me as i yelled at her to move. Needless to say, the new woman I had just met, found me crazy and I probably won't be seeing her around any time soon.

The kid's are adjusting well. Alianna is already learning German and Landon loves gummi bears. Landon is starting to say a few words himself. He finds saying brot easier then bread. Larry is also doing well and is very happy with his new position. It will still be a while before we have internet, but I'll try to keep up. Until next time...

Still in temp living...

Happy 4th July! We are doing well. We are living in Widdersdorf for another week and a half. We have American neighbors so that is nice. Our building is all Ford employees. We are now official residents of Germany. We went to the city hall and had so much fun with the kids all day in a city building. Everyone knows the Groth's have arrived. Landon loved the echo of his screaming through the open attruim. The language is very challenging. hopefully german lessons will start soon.

I'm very excited about my new coffee maker! I can make my own lattes! The kids are adjusting fine. Ali is very bored because our air shipment is overdue. it should have been here a week ago. landon is out of his allergy medicine, so things are starting to go downhill. that shipment needs to arrive! He is actually sick right now. We got our first experience in the German ER. It went well luckly. Landon just has a virus, but he was having problems breathing. We thought he was having an allergic reaction to something.

So that is it for now. We have ordered internet service for our new place, but have been told it will be at least 2 weeks. So I am hopeful sometime in August. I will then be able to download some pictures.

The time has come...

We are getting ready to head out in a few hours. We have 9 suitcases and 9 pieces of carrying on luggage! Someone will be getting a good laugh watching us.

We will arrive tomorrow in the afternoon and then go check out our temporary apartment in Widdersdorf. I'm not sure if there is a web connection, so it might be a little bit before my next entry.

Thank you all again for your kind words of support.