My Anya

Lotion Anyone?

Queen of screaming tantrums!

The best mommy ever. She is also a very good artist.

The day dad was in charge.  She was warmly dressed at least.

She has lots of hair and sits for a long time and lets me do whatever I like.  It is so much fun for me!
 

 

Her smile usually gets her whatever she wants. 
It doesn't hurt that she knows which brother to go to for each of her different needs and they always cave.

 

 

 

She has a huge vocabulary and a supersized personality.  She is bossy and very funny.  She is in love with all of her brothers when she isn't mad at them.  She is the biggest tease in the house.

I am totally in LOVE with this little girl.

 Everyone in this house is. 

 

He Would Have Freaked Out if I'd Taken a Picture!

Darin was gone for a couple of weeks and while he was gone I took the kids bowling with some friends.  After our first bowling game, Noah, Anya, and I visited with our friends while waiting for the older boys to bowl again.  Noah was playing monkey with his little friend on the bowling ball racks.  After about 5 frames India comes running to us and informs us that Noah's head is stuck.

Stuck!  *Insert the scream of the boy from Christmas story with his tongue stuck to the flag pole* Noah some how got his head up between the 2 rails that hold the bowling balls.  4-5 inches!  That is all the space that the little guy had.  He was tricky and somehow managed a rebirth and got his head up between the rails.  The husband took a calm presence and I freaked out and thought about the lecture that Darin would give me when he heard about this.  We pushed and pulled on Noah's head.  It was impossible without totally removing his ears to get his head down and out.  A kind bystander offered lotion and we greased his entire head up filling his ears.  More pushing and screaming and still nothing. 

Finally we decided that it was time to involve the staff at the alley and most likely the fire department because these were steel poles that his head was stuck in. 

Now a note about Noah.  He hates unwanted attention!  He doesn't want anyone to look at him or talk to him especially when he is in an attention-grabbing situation.  The fact that everyone was looking at him was as much torture as the stuck head.  Now someone said fire department and left to get more people involved.  That was about it for him.

Noah got a look of determination on his greasy little face and said, "I'm coming out."  Then he sucked in all his breath and forced himself UP (we'd already tried this, but his chest/ribs wouldn't fit).  Screaming and determined he crammed his body into the 12 inch space between the top ball rack and the counter top.  I still don't know how he did it.  He was greasy, crying, scared, scraped up, but out. And the fire department could enjoy their Friday night.

Wow!  Everything is better with the Fawcett's.

Later Noah told me that something in his head told him that he shouldn't stick his head in the bars, but he didn't listen.  We have since had a lesson on listening to the voice that tells us not to do stupid things that almost make us live at a bowling alley forever.

The craziest thing of all is that this isn't the first time a Fawcett boy has gotten their head stuck in a place that is way too small.  Christian did it at Noah's age, but between fence bars at a castle in Turkey.  Nothing like seeing a man try to channel their inner Superman and bend some steel.

Anyone want to go bowling?  The Fawett's are sure to bring the fun.

Worms (Vurms)

I am starting to feel like a brat as I whine that I haven't been anywhere except for Christmas markets in two months.  But...insert whine...I haven't been anywhere.  Then Darin reminded me that we went to Worms, pronounced Vurms, and that is somewhere.  My issue is that it is only about an hour from our house, so doesn't that count?!

He says yes.

 

Europe's oldest Jewish cemetary is in Worms.  It was really neat.

A lot of the headstones were half buried and moss covered because they were so old.

The traditional paper and/or rock that is left on the Jewish headstones.

Milestones

 

We had a few major events between November and December that I had forgotten to mention.  These are definitely things that I want to remember. 

Number 1:  No more DIAPERS at our house! 

Because it is winter and I didn't trust her in pants, she ran around in the lovely outfit of undies and leg warmers.  She was so cute.

Number 2:  Jag had his LAST appointment for his hip!

This may be hard to see, but the Left picture is his current X-ray.  The Right picture is the X-ray from a year and a half ago.  When I saw the x-rays this time I clapped.  It looks done.  The doctor pointed out that it isn't shaped quite right, but looks like it is done.  I have seen the entire process from the time he was 2 1/2 and I know that he is done.  I didn't expect perfect, but his hip looks great.  This Dr. hasn't really dealt with Perthes disease, but he'd done some reading.  Jag still has some occasional painful nights, but they have decreased greatly.  We don't have to go to the Dr. again unless he all of a sudden starts having problems or pain.  6 years of hip pains are almost over.

 

 Number 3:  Noah became a READER!

Noah finished our reading book!  After using this book to teach 4 kids to read, I am so glad that there is only one more.   The book works!  The kids are great, but teaching a kid to read is a long, long process.  I am glad for the break.  Noah is an excellent and willing reader.  He didn't have the gap between 'I can read' and 'I am a reader' that some of his brothers had.  We had a party.  That is an N...for Noah.  Lame, but tasty.

Noah showing his brothers how well he reads.  I now have to watch him because he likes to read over my shoulder when I am on the computer.

December In Pictures

Noah's Kindergarten singing at our local Christmas Market.

Noah with his 2 buddies Marlon and Valentin (both in blue coats).  These are the boys that he has "play dates" with.  It is my turn to host, but I just can't do it yet.  What if the moms stay and want to hang out for 2 hours with me struggling to speak to them and homework and dinner aren't getting done?!  I know it is an excuse for my lack of language skills.  Both are nice boys.

Jaggy eating Heart waffles on a stick.  A delicious Christmas market treat.

Saint Nickolas

See how tall and thin this St. Nickolas is?  There isn't any order to handing out packages to the kinder.  Everyone just gathers around him while he stand and hands stuff to whichever kid is closest.

Dipping chocolates

Tasty messes.

Trier Christmas Market.  Looks like I didn't have my camera when we saw the Elf's Red Light District or I was advised by my legal council that I shouldn't take pictures of naughty elves.

December 6th is Saint Nickolas day in Germany.  You leave your shoes out and wake up to treats in them if you've been good.  If you are bad, then you get a potato or a switch (stick for beating) in your shoe.  Davis was sneaky and left out 2 shoes, one downstairs and one upstairs.  He got a large eye-filled potato upstairs and a treat downstairs.  The favorite trick is for one of the boys to replace a brother's treat with an onion or potato. 

Band Concert.  Christian got 'Beginning band musician of the quarter', he plays trumpet and Davis plays the French horn.

Trains.  Notice how large and symmetrical Christian's train (?) is.  It is so very him.

The Christmas eve pajamas.  Of course I was up the night before and even 3 hours before this picture finishing them.  Every year I wonder why I started this tradition, then the kids get so excited and I think I'll do it another year.

My Favorite Pictures from Christmas Morning!

Davis and his snare drum.  The noise just added to our chaos.

Jag didn't (still doesn't) take his hat off.

Christian

Noah and his strumphosen.  Basically these are boy tights that all the kids wear under their clothes at the school.  We've been teasing Noah that Santa was going to bring him some.  His reaction was perfect.  He is perfectly certain that he will never wear them.  Thankfully they are just navy and Anya can use them one day.  That Santa is a funny man.

And that is Christmas!

New Years in Germany!

 

New Years Eve in Germany is a very loud and exciting time.  Nobody celebrates like the Germans.  We went to a friends house earlier in the evening for the traditional eat-a-ton.  We came home before midnight because once the celebrations start the roads are not easy to drive on.  Besides our villiage has an amazing New Years and I would have missed seeing it.

 

At midnight the fireworks start and the church bells ring loudly for 20 minutes.  After the noise settles down a little then our neighbors from across the street and their friends come over.  Lots of hugs and cheers and wishes for the New Year are given.  They pass around the wine and the Kinderpunch for us.  Then we sit outside and freeze and visit until really late (2:00).  Before Germany I can't remember the last time that I stayed up until midnight without fighting the desire to go to bed.  Here it is impossible, unless you are under 9.  Davis and Christian stay up, but the little 3 sleep right through the noise, thankfully.

 

Here is a sample of the noise on our little street.  Remember that it goes on constantly for at least 45 minutes and because of the way our village is set the noise echos around. 

 

December without Pictures

Why does Blogger Hate Me?!
I am having a time trying to upload pictures...grr.  I am not liking the blog right now.  I tried to google the answer (I am missing the button that says browse for pictures) and it looks like it is a blogger problem.  Who knows if it will ever be fixed.  I can tell you all about December, but it is better with the pictures. 

December was super busy with all the stuff that the kids were involved in.  We were also trying to go to as many Christmas markets as possible.  It didn't help that December started out bitter cold.  We went to two different Christmas markets and would have liked more, but the weekends were filled with necessary shopping and scout campouts.  The Trier market was crowded and cold, but filled with amazing smells and food.  It had a huge spinning pyramid with moving animals on it (not real).  The other market was St. Wendel's.  Darin took a day off and we went during the afternoon with only 3 of the kids.  It was fun with lots of different nativities around and live reindeer.  My favorite part of St. Wendels market was the "Elf Village."  Scary little elf dolls that moved and reminded me of my childhood when I would walk through Valley Fair Mall at Christmas time and see the moving dolls then.  These elves were scary looking.  There were numerous little houses...elves dancing, elves at the barber, elves in a bakery,  elves at home, elves dropping their pants...the naked elf sauna, the elf sex shop...HONESTLY!! It was hysterical!! I couldn't stop laughing as Darin and I tried to shoo Jag and Noah away from the Elf Red Light District.  Oh, the Germans.  The naughty elf dolls were followed up by creepy large elf men who did bathroom humor tricks.  Yes, one large elf grunted and grunted until he fake pooped in the other elf's hand.  This was a market unlike the others.

We also went to our little village market where Noah and the other Kindergarten Kinder sang songs to open the market.  Then a really tall and skinny Sankt Nikolas  passed out large gift bags to all the kids.  I will miss German Christmas Markets a lot.  You never know what you are going to find.

We did all the traditional stuff.  We built our Christmas trains and gave gifts to our neighbors.  We once again sat and visited for at least an hour in our little neighbors' house trying to have a conversation.  It is frustrating and at times awkward, but one of my favorite things.  I also taught the boys how to dip chocolates.  I made a bunch of "centers" and they each got to make their own chocolates.  It was fun and it is something that I want to pass on to the kids.

We went to a Christmas band concert and listened to Christmas music constantly.  It was a very busy and fun Christmas season.  By the time Christmas eve arrived all the snow and bitter temps were gone.  Herr Cappel, my cute little neighbor, said that we were having the warmest Christmas eve ever.  He said it would be a white Easter because of it.  I really hope not.  I say warm, but really the temps were only in the 40s.

Christmas day was wonderful.  The kids were so happy and excited.  I loved just sitting and watching each child as they enjoyed their day.  It was a very good time for all.  And I got new shoes...always a good thing. Oh, and ABBA Gold.  ABBA reminds me of my parents' 8 track and listening to it while I cleaned their bathroom.  I should have gone to the museum in Stockholm! Dang.

We had hoped to go to Italy after Christmas, but the friends that we were going to go with totally backed out on us had something come up.  So we didn't get an adventure.  We did get lazy mornings sleeping in, afternoons watching movies,  visits with friends, and time together.  It wasn't all bad.  In fact it was a really great December.