Deutsch Dienstag-We Were Boo'ed?

The doorbell rang and we found a surprise on our porch.  A basket with tiny jack-o-lanterns.   There was also a brown (rotten) jack-o-lantern.  Excitedly we brought in the basket and we noticed that there were 4 small candies.  The boys instantly grabbed them and started eating.  How cute?  Who could have done this?  Then we decided to figure out what the note said. 

 

 

So the note says, "Give us Haribo (gummies) or Twix, then we won't do anything to you."  Oh, so we are supposed to give the basket back to the porch filled.  Uh. OK.  We happened to have both gummies and Twix in the house, so we filled the basket and put it back on the porch.  (But first, Noah grabbed the candle from the rotten pumpkin as a treasure, and Davis took the note off the basket to show to his German teacher and see if she could explain the tradition to us.)  Then the kids ran to hide and see who came to get the basket. 

We notice 2 girls coming to the porch.  They look confused.  They just stand and stand.  No grabbing and running back to enjoy the treats.  Now I am confussed.  Next, I see them talking to someone and notice Erica, our neighbor, coming down the sidewalk.  *Must be Erica's granddaughter and friend.  Then Erica starts laughing.  It is now I realize that we've done something wrong.

Finally, as they all stand on the porch, they ring the doorbell.  I so wished that Darin was home and could deal with this.  I hate feeling stupid in the language only to feel stupid in another way.  Erica was asking about something.  Took me a minute to realize that she was wanting the candle from the rotten pumpkin back.  Ok Noah gives.  Then, where was the lid to the rotten pumpkin.  Fell.  Then, where is the note that was on the basket?  Ok Davis gives.  Then they pick up all their stuff and leave.  We were really confussed.  They were wondering why we had taken everything apart and kept it I am sure.  One thing that I am really sure of is that we should not have eaten the candy that was inside the basket.  I think that is part of the reason that there was laughing. 

Still, I have no idea what went on.  All I know is that we've never been Boo'ed like that before.  I'm going to do it next year only my note will talk about delicious treats and chocolates not Haribo and Twix.

Deutsch Dienstag-Apple Picking

**I know that it is a day past Dienstag, but hey, I'd meant to get it posted.

 

We have a massive apple tree in our backyard. Our little neighbor let Darin use his apple picker.  It is a long stick and on the end is a little bag and some hooks.  You put the hooks over an apple and pull and the apple falls into the little bag.  So handy!  Now what do I make with tons of ugly, sour apples? 

They are fine tasting, but Davis refuses to try them, he prefers store bought apples because they are shiny and covered in wax.

 

Noah's job is to take the apples out of the little bag and put them into his bag.

 

Looking for red ones, which are actually pretty hard to find on our tree.

Heidlberg

**This has been sitting in my drafts folder since my grandma came for a visit in September.  Time to get my act together.

View of the city from the castle above.

Large church

Looking up at the castle

Maybe a little bit windy. 

Poor ladies just found them at the airport and hauled them up a castle.  Here they are doing "energy shots" to get through the day.

 

 

Inside of the big church.  Definately the brightest church that we've seen.  Most are really dark on the inside.

 

 

Resting.  The couple behind them sat and kissed for then entire time we were looking and hanging out...maybe 15 minutes.  I don't think that grandma and Jan noticed.

Time for gelato!

Final Update on the Question

In case there is anyone other than me that was wondering what I had agreed to at the Kindergarten for Friday, it was simply to pick up Noah before 12.  I guess that the school was closing early and they wanted to make sure that everyone knew.  I am sure that the Sub gave me the reason as to why it was closing, but the important part is that I didn't have to ask another question and confess my stupidity to anyone at the school.  They did what every teacher/caregiver would do if they wanted the parents to pick the kids up on time...they posted a large sign on the door.  I always take a camera with me to take pictures of any notes so that I can google translate at home.  Ta Duh!  Easy.

I also took a picture of a note this week that explained that they were going to be having a "potato fire."  After a lot of google research I learned that it is a farewell to summer and a welcoming of autumn tradition.  They start a fire, then toss potatoes and apples into it.  When the potatoes are done, they eat them with "white ketchup" (according to Noah).  I am thinking that just like all Europeans & fries, they also eat their potatoes with mayo.  Noah said it was tons of fun.

Deutsch Dienstag-still stupid

Went to the school and was met by the Sub.  Oh when will the regular teacher that knows I don't speak German come back?  She once again started talking at warp speed.  This time, however, she held a hand-out so I felt much better.  With a hand-out I can Google Translate until I am smart.  I understood several words...bring, potatoes, apples, apples, potatoes.  Totally got that she wanted me to bring stuff to school, so I thought I'd try and figure out what else she'd told me last week.  So I said, "OK, when?  Friday? "  Insert an 'I'm really smart smile' here.  She said no.  Tomorrow or the next day.   Shucks!  Now I'm still looking for what is up for Friday.  I'd hoped it would be easier to figure out. 

*The note said that I'm supposed to bring apples and potatoes and colorful leaves for the kids to do autumn projects with.

Alles Klar?

Many times as I walk into Noah's kindergarten I am approached by a little teacher who hesitantly approaches me.  Then in really broken English, she tells me about something that is happening or needed.  I often come home and complain that they, "Don't even try to speak German with me."  I mean, I am trying.  I knew the words and I would have understood...I think. 

Today I did it.  I walked in the school and a substitute was given the sad task of "letting me know" what was up.  Only difference?  She doesn't speak English.  She just starts rattling off way too many words for my brain to figure out.  When she stops, I say, "slower, please."  Again she starts slow and revvs up quickly.  I then give her the "I have no idea what you just told me" look.  Again. 

Finally, to save my self esteem and at least look like I have a clue, I did what I do with my neighbors.  I said, "OK." 

"Oh, gut  alles klar."   Then off she walks.  She informs the other teacher I just said Ok.  That was it.  (FYI, sound it out.  That German sounds just like what it is.)

All is not klar!!  What have I done?  "Ok" is such a small word to convey such a big message.  All I know is that I need to know something about next Friday afternoon.  I am hoping that my faking skills will be able to figure it out by looking around at the context clues between now and then.  Then again, I think I am going to have to pretend that I can't remember (that I totally agreed to teach the kindergarteners to dance or to bring 500 bars of strudel- just fill in the blank on this one and your guess is as good as mine) and have someone repeat themselves again...Oh, why had I wished that someone would speak German to me? 

Next Friday's lunch menu will be Humble pie served with a side of alles klar.  Who knows?  Maybe I agreed to make lunch for everyone on Friday.

Alles klar?

Good-bye September!

Where have I been?  What have we been doing?  Where did September go?  I think that I have been running for the past month.  I haven't had any time to blog about the crazy month called September.  I think that I am the only person that hasn't posted pictures of the First Day of School...it came, it went. 

Let's see, last I remember it was August.  School and soccer and grandma's visit all came at the same time.  Davis is now in 8th grade and Christian is in 6th.  They are both in the middle school, and it is nice to have them in the same school.  Jag is being homeschooled another year, 3rd grade.  I had thought about sending him, but whenever I thought about it, it just didn't feel right.  Yet.  Noah is being homeschooled, kindergarten, and also continuing to attend the local German school.  Anya is 2 and likes to throw tantrums. 

Yes, they are part vampire and can't stand the sun.
Enjoy the sun boys it won't be back for 9 months.

I drove the kids to school on the first day because the school had this stupid fabulous idea that parents should take their kid to Every Single Class!  How is that for a great open house idea?  I was debating which parent to be.  The one that didn't care enough to show up with the kid OR the one that has the 2yr old that throws a tantrum in every class while the 2 other brothers play with dinosaurs all over the floor.  I was really, really close to being the one that tossed a brick in the direction of the Principals office, but alas, grandma was here and watched the kids and Christian really wanted me to go.  Davis being an 8th grader has his reputation to keep, so excused me from attending any of his classes with him.

Homeschooling has taken some time to get used to again.  I've been trying to do Noah's school work both before and after his German school and then Jag's is taking most of the day.  I always have to find the balance that will work for our family and still keep me sane.  It is slowly coming along and the boys are resisting it less and less.  As for Noah's German school, it is great.  He was still young enough to attend 1 more year. He is making great progress with the language.  In fact I wish I could keep him there until we leave.  He really enjoys it and I LOVE to hear him speak.  German is actually cute when he speaks it.

Soccer started and has taken over our lives.  I have all 4 boys playing on different teams.  I have 4 practices on Monday.  2 practices on Wednesday. Noah's game Thursday.  Jag's game Friday.  Davis and Christian both have games on Saturday.  My 2 free days, Tuesday and Sunday, I get to spend sitting at the church for meetings, scouts, or mutual.  That is it.  I make dinner at 3:00 daily and pack our basket and we eat at the fields in between ball kicking.  The older boys walk to the library after school so that they can get a jump on homework, then I pick them up and they run play, eat.  Then home to shower and finish homework by 10 and do it all again the next day!  November can't come fast enough.  I actually love watching them play.  I don't mind sitting through practices.  I dislike making and transporting food.  I get tired of being gone and running in the door right before bedtimes.  [On another note, it has rained non-stop this week and we have had all practices cancelled!  I needed a little breather to get me through the next week.]

My grandma and her sister came and visited/toured Europe via train for 2 weeks.  We went to the Black Forest together.  Seperate post coming. 

There.  Good-bye September.  I hardly knew you were here!  I am back to blogging now that I have caught my breath.