Right under our nose

I mentioned quite a while ago that we wanted to explore Burg Nanstein. Since it is located in the nearby town of Lanstuhl, it would only make sense that we would check it out soon upon moving here, right? Not so. We had to live here at least a year and a half before seeing it! And can I tell you how many times we have driven past this location??? Hundreds.

This castle was built in 1162, and is associated with the Sickingen family. Nanstein is known for an elaborate siege during the Knight's Revolt in 1523. Restoration work continues throughout the castle as we saw new buildings, ladders, etc. scattered around. This is not really the tourist season, so we were lucky that it was open! Many attractions are closed November -March or April because of the poor weather.

We basically spent part of the afternoon exploring the rooms of the castle. I like trying to guess a room's purpose and look for little holes along the walls. These were often used to throw things out onto enemies (tar, rubbish, boiling water, etc). Dungeons and privy's (toilet) are also fun to find, too. There were not many people out exploring on a gloomy Sunday afternoon. That tends to be the day for walking here in Deutschland. Stores are closed-not much else to do!

Logan has to have a snack while we are out. Somebody had the grand idea of bringing small boxes of Smarties. These are not the sweet/tart discs that I enjoyed when I was young. These are miniature, brightly colored chocolate pieces-very similar to M&M@s, but slightly fruity. Very yummy, in my opinion.






Lots of fun arches and architecture.






The "tween" uniform. Hoodie from "store of the moment", skinny leg jeans and Convers@e shoes.

The view of Landstuhl below.
Crazy for taking kids out on a gloomy Sunday afternoon instead of enjoying naps? Probably.

Snail Crossing??

I saw this posted in a parking area recently.

I'm not sure exactly what it means....but I will be looking out for slow moving snails.

Where I left off

I honestly had no idea as I loaded Logan's birthday pictures a few months ago and left it unedited (crazy blog wouldn't let me move the pictures and kept deleting pictures/text), that I would take such a loooooooong hiatus from blogging.

I've missed it.

I've missed reading people's updates and little peeks into their lives. Funny sayings and events-I've missed you, too.

I have found myself adopting a different life away from my green laptop. I have stopped coming up with blog events, titles and pictures. It was strange from the life I had been living this past year.

Even now, as I type I can see that this will take baby steps to get back into this groove ~where I left my blog hanging. Logan has emptied out the fridge magnet basket at my side and smeared peanut butter from his face on my arm (ewww); the dryer cycle has finished; and there is a basket from my kitchen that I need to clear out on my other side. I am pretty positive that most of the school correspondence in it is now outdated. *Sigh* I am surrounded by things to pick up and sort in the next hour before I venture out into the drizzle and get the kids from school.

Just to give you a glimpse of what we have been doing, here are a few pictures from the past month. I visited Metz, France with a friend and her kids on a recent Sunday. It rained pretty much all day, but in Europe you cannot let that stop you! If you waited for a nice, sunny day---you might not see much of anything. Besides, the sun, clouds and rain are fleeting~sometimes. Allen stayed home with most of the kids. I say most since Lauren was snowboarding in France for the day with a neighbor and her son. Allen's only request is that I bring back some fresh bread from the patisserie. Most stores are closed in Germany on Sunday, so it was a nice break to get away to France. My friend, Jennifer and I made a nice discovery of a rose jam from the crepe vendor in Place de Jacque. It is an unusual sweet, rose-infused syrup. Nice on scones, pancakes, ice cream.........who would have thought?!? Funny story about the french bread: I told Nicholas that I went to France to get the bread that we enjoyed with pasta the next day. A few days ago I went to the local backerie to get some bread for dinner. I returned after 10-15 minutes and Nicholas asked me "How did you get the bread so fast??". He was asssuming that you always have to go to France to get french bread. If we could all be so lucky.





The "Rose Window" inside the cathedral.
Cathedral front entrance adorned with many saints.Some men's fashion that were questionable. Who knows? This might be the next big trend.
Cobbled, narrow streets are so lovely!

A nice sample of gateau in a patisserie window
It was dark in the cathedral, but this is a very ornate confessional inside.
Metz Cathedral. I love that lamp in the right-hand corner.

Logan on his special day

Logan received an "Elmo Live" for his birthday. He loves him! Elmo is very animated and tells stories, sings, sits down, and makes silly noises. Ugh. This is such a cute picture of Logan with Elmo, but the mis-matched pants are a disaster! Logan apparently got his jeans dirty and some fashion challenged soul put Thomas the Train pajamas on him in preparation for bed. *sigh*.
Logan also received a fun tool kit from our newly discovered local store "Ernstings Family". Different name-cute things! Usually I am the good mom who bakes a cool cake. Not so for this occasion. I think after the holidays I just am not in the mood to bake. I bought these plain cupcakes at the commissary and decorated them.
What else could we fit into the day? Well, Allen had a minor day surgery and Nicholas had a 50's theme dance at his school. We ate Chinese after we picked up Daddy. The picture is a few down-I can't get the pictures to move around. Arghh!


Logan started off his day with a pain au chocolate from the local bakery. Yes~he did go to the store in his pajamas. Every morning we go to the bus and Ryan's school in pajamas (him, not me) because I just can't get six people dressed, fed and out the door by seven. Something had to give! Here is Logan with Super Grover. My friend Jill gave him to me years ago. I love him. Until now, he has only made rare appearances and generally hides out in my hope chest. Okay-I finally updated, somewhat. For some reason these pictures won't move, and several have been delated in the correction process.

Christmas Tag

I wasn't tagged, but I read this on Hilary's blog, "My Own Little Circus" and thought it would be fun and easy--it was!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? I love wrapping paper and ribbons, but when time is short-the bag will have to do.

2. When do you put the tree up? Ryan has a birthday in early December, so we usually wait until after that and begin Christmas decorations..so usually the 8th or 9th. We put it up on the 14th this year.

3. When do you take the tree down? Since we are late putting it up, we have waited until January 5th or 6th. Logan has a birthday soon after that, so we try and get decorations put away before his celebrations.

4. Eggnog?? Love, love, love it. The hips? Not so much.

5. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember getting a Tender Love doll that I loved ( I am dating myself!), a Barbie bedroom fold-out carry box and a stereo with cassette player (hehe) in seventh grade.

6. Hardest person to buy for?? Parents. We have been getting them regional foods and gifts because they are quite happy with what they have at the moment.

7. Easiest person to buy for? Lauren. She has a great list----And an alternative list.

8. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes-three of them. I have one that my mom gave me from my childhood, a Little Pe@ple one, and a handmade one from a Polish Christian Mission. I love them.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? I have honestly been so irresponsible in this department the past few years. I used the "Baby due" and "moving excuse"in past years. This year I am going for the "trying to update addresses" and "procrastination" excuse. I will get them out-it is a matter of when. I love getting pictures and updates from others though.

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? Hmmm.. I remember an itchy nightshirt from my Mema when I was little.

11. Favorite Christmas movie? The Holiday, National Lampoon Christmas (is that the name?), Love Actually.

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I like to get things here and there throughout the year, but the bulk of it is done October through December.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Hmmm...don't remember. If I did, hopefully someone didn't notice it?!?

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? We make decorated sugar cookies every year. I also loove chocolate covered pretzels.

15. Lights on the tree? Yes. Lots and lots of white ones-no twinkling allowed. :)

16. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night (Celene Dion-oh my...brings tears to my eyes every time), Do You Hear What I Hear, What Child is This, Carol of the Bells, Little Drummer Boy (love the movie).

17. Least favorite Christmas song? A Wonderful Christmas Time, the George Michael one that I hear every year.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? No family here=no traveling. I'm sure we will have lots of catching up to do in several years. Next year we really want to go somewhere and have a simple holiday. Switzerland or Garmisch, Germany come to mind as choices.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Always.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A homemade angel doll with ribons cascading from her feet down the tree.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We have been known to open pajamas on Christmas Eve before church, but I haven't bought any this year!?! Hmmm....

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The days are short and so is my patience. I want this to be a special time for my kids. I have fond memories of this season, and want the same for them.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have British history theme--Henry VIII, his wives, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Scottish crown and Prince Albert and Victoria ornaments intermingled with other traditional ornaments. The past two years we had the "pretty tree" with snowflakes, pearl ornaments, red jewel garland....but this year I let the kids add some more of their ornaments that we have collected over the years. I think I want two trees every year-one pretty and one sentimental/kid friendly.

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Spiral ham with Shannon's mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots and baked bread. Some kind of apple cobbler is a bonus.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A drama free, kids-listening, calm and loving day/evening.

I'm back!

After a very long, unscheduled blog break....I am working on several posts. It's amazing how the last eighteen days have flown by! I have been checking blogs, leaving some comments and updating Faceb@@k, but the thought of a long post has been daunting.

Yikes! I have ideas swimming in my head and photos hanging out on the flash drive. Besides the normal day-to-day mundane tasks of laundry, school runs, after school activities, cleaning, blah, blah---here are some of the things we have been doing:

• celebrating two birthdays and planning another in a few weeks!
• celebrating St. Nicholas Day
• having pictures with Santa Claus
• attending the annual squadron Holiday party
• ice skating, lasagna and sleepover with friends
• buying and trimming the tree
• Christmas markets
• a visit from a friend in the UK with their sweet baby
• school Christmas music production
  

Here are some things that we/I am still working on:

• holiday/Christmas cards
• wrapping gifts
• mailing boxes of gifts
• finishing Logan's stocking
  
• I am sure there are other things that I am completely blocking out!

Be back soon! Promise.

Dear Mr. Weatherman

Dear Mr. Weatherman,

It is a busy time of year for you, I know. I need you to understand something. I am a Texas girl, you see. I am used to snow falling and lasting maybe......five hours......not two weeks!!! You have to understand that we live on a very steep and slippery hill. I watch the experienced German drivers sliding around on the hill, and I know better to let my Texas icy weather driving skills get the better of me. I really do not enjoy sliding up and down hills with a car full of kids squealing. Honestly.

And speaking of kids, my children must despise any sort of winter gear because it takes forever to get gloves, hats, coats and scarves assembled in the morning. This is just time that we don't have to spare, you see. All of the aforementioned gear is then taken off immediately as the car starts to move, and relocated and donned again when we reach our destination. Extra time...are you seeing the trend here?? These crazy kids actually toss gloves and hats everywhere so that we often are missing items mid-journey. These items are supposed to last us all winter, and we already are missing quite a few things. It takes time to locate these things-- time we don't have. So, mis-matched gloves it is.

Speaking of time, I just don't have those extra ten minutes before seven a.m. to de-ice the car. Can we limit the ice, rain and fog a bit? Come'on...it's just December 1st. Ya Know??? Give us a break.

We decided to walk to the bus stop this morning, but our experienced German bus driver was running a tad bit early. Obviously our slipping down the hill did not increase our speed...so we missed the bus. That is not a great way to start the week, I tell you.

I am asking that you consider toning the weather down just a little and letting us ease into this winter state-of-mind. I certainly could use the time to gain better patience, driving skills and just readjust my schedule a bit so we can make it on time, safely.

No need to respond, just help out if you would.

Sincerely,
A Busy Household