The 'Four Month' Mark & Holidays

We're almost there. That magic date when you start to feel like you actually know what is going on (almost) and have something more on your social calendar than 'Dentist Appointment.' We still have some hurdles we've not crossed: finding a babysitter, clothes shopping, eating at a real restaurant. But these things, too, will come. Best of all - somebody likes us! We've had some get-togethers the past few weeks that have gone really well and even a weekend away with our friends the Leinarts. Had a blast in the Black Forest at a kid-oriented fun hotel at the bottom of a sled/ski hill. Much playing in the snow, swimming, indoor playground romping and even mini-golf, all with five kids and two sets of parents. Everyone likes each other and you can see the pics to the right. Mary did not like the wind or sled for awhile but loosened up eventually. Eli did fantastic and was more courageous than last year. Looking forward to getting him in the snow in Switzerland in March.

Growth is Good: I thought we had until our kids were teenagers before they would 'eat us out of the house' and i'm sure they will. But let me tell you, a growing 3 year old and hefty nearly 1-year old can put away a LOT of food. They eat constantly and in large quantities. Mary gets weighed next week. Their bodies are growing of course, as evidenced by the rapidly growing "too small" clothes pile, but also their brains. Eli is doing more reading and some math and Mary is trying to keep up with him. She drives cars and trains (correctly) and is starting to 'read' books. She even programmed the phone for me. I tried for 45 minutes over two days to erase the call log on our inexplicably complicated German-bought phone and failed. Mary played with it for two minutes and cleared the log. Wish she could tell me what she did.

Sweet? I think not: And lest you are mislead by the too-cute pictures to believe, as my sister did, that Mary is 'sweet,' let me be the first to correct you. She is very, very charming and cute and uses her smile to manipulate all susceptible persons but she is NOT sweet. Sweet is tentative, giving, and innocent. At 11 months old Mary is none of these things. Her personality is go-getter, take or yell, and she knows exactly what she is doing. Highly entertaining right now but indicative of the need for a disciplinary plan in the very near future. We love her too much. Her newest tricks are open-mouth kisses and dancing (more like swaying) to anything that resembles music.

Epiphany & The Three Kings: January 6th is Epiphany in Germany, when children dress as the 3 Kings and go door to door singing, asking for donations perhaps, and mostly bring 'luck.' Every house in Germany has this chalked message on their front door: The initials of the 3 Kings in the middle, year of last visit split - on the ends. Our visit this year came while I was out shopping, unfortunately but Eli and Daddy were home. We had wondered what the door label was for many months ago and speculated it meant passing an inspection, perhaps a government requirement, or had something to do with the mail delivery. But no. It is practically required but only means that you'll have 'good luck' in that house. Read a bit more of the history here: http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/christmas/epiphany-three-kings.htm

Fasching - last week of January: Think about New Orleans and 'Mardi-Gras' or Rio and "Carneval" only German. Halloween is not big here so for partying like an animal while remaining aonymously costumed, they have Fasching. Our German teacher in Cincinnati had warned us that in some places, like Munich or Cologne, it gets very wild in the streets for an entire week. Nothing like that (thankfully) in our little neighborhood. Eli gets to where a costume to school for a few days and PJ's on the Tuesday after RoseMonday (see link below). Kevin will miss it all as he's going to Iowa for 10 days but tonight we shopped together for costumes and Eli has chosen to be a fireman so pictures will follow. See link for more Fasching history: http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/la/lote/german/links/topics/karneval.htm