Karneval Fun!

Karneval was very fun! It's too bad we don't have anything like it in Michigan. It would make our long winters a little more fun! We decided this year to stick with the small-town parades. We were a little scared of taking the kids into Köln. We watched that one on TV. It started around 10:30 am and it was still going at 4:30 when we came home and turned the TV back on. So we are glad we didn't venture over there.

On Saturday we checked out Brauweiler with Larry's work friend Cathy. We had a great time and came home with loads of candy. It was our first parade, but also my favorite. Everyone was dressed up having a good time. Sunday we went to Widdersdorf to support Alianna's classmates who were walking in the parade. When her friends saw her they loaded her up with enough candy to make it until next karneval! On Monday we stayed in our neighborhood and just walked up the corner to watch the Geyen parade.

So in the end we had a long, fun weekend. The kids are all sugared up and I still have 4 bags of candy and chips. I'm working on a video, but for now I'm posting some pictures.

Little People Demolition

The first tooth has been successfully carried away by the Tooth Fairy! Alianna lost her first tooth Sunday, Feb. 1st and I was there to witness the whole event. Actually, I caused the whole event. Landon had a new toy truck from the Little People collection. It was a truck with a demolition ball. I was joking around with Alianna and picked up the truck to "demo" her tooth. I was closer then I thought and when I swung the ball it hit her in the mouth. I was expecting her to be mad and possibly start crying. Instead when she moved her hand away from her mouth, her little, white, left bottom tooth was lying in it. She got the biggest smile on her face and screamed, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Mom!" I just started cracking up. Then she ran downstairs and told Larry I pulled it out!

Well needless to say the Tooth Fairy, who was already on high alert, showed up that night and left her a 2 euro coin. It was very exciting and now she has the toothless grin she has been dying for over the last year. So I have included a picture for all to see.

Alianna's First Loose Tooth

Alianna's tooth is hanging on by a thread! I am hoping it hangs on at least until she get's home today. I have been watching this action packed drama unfold since March 2008 when she first annouced her tooth was loose (did you know that can 'tighten up' again). It has to happen while we are together. And if it doesn't I gave her permission to lie to me. I instructed her to not say anything until we were in the car and then she should place the tooth back in the hole and then shout out, "My tooth just fell out!" and fake the whole thing. She is so excited about it being loose I can't wait to see her expression when it actually falls out!

So the Tooth Fairy is on high alert and I hope to post a toothless picture soon!

Christmas Part 2

Here is our Christmas back at our house. Santa left gifts there too!

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.

Grindelwald 2008

Going to the Top!

This video is the our gondola ride to the top of mountain! Landon loved it most!