He called you what?

Just another story of living cross-culturally. Driving here is always an adventure. We drive a standard so that always makes things interesting but then the traffic, cobblestone streets, narrow streets and cars parked everywhere just makes it crazy. Parking is even funner! Most of the time one has to parallel park. Jason and I were helping get our new team member settled and parking on the street can be hard to find. One has to watch for driveways, no parking zones and whatnot. Jason found a spot and we pulled in. I looked and didn't see any problem, there was a door but nothing obvious. We payed for 2 hours of parking and went up to her apartment. Two hours later, we send Amy (new team member) to pay for some more parking and she comes back saying someone wanted us to move our car. I grab Amy's shoes (I had only slippers on) and run outside thinking that someone just wanted us to move a little. When I got there I was very surprised.

The man sees me and asks if this was my car. I said "yes". He then goes into his tirade. Did you not see the no parking sign? Can you not read? This is total crude (he used a mild word). Are you stupid? I missed an appointment, I have been waiting for 30 minutes. Isn't it clearly marked? He also used a few other choice German curse words.

I quickly said first, that it was my car but I didn't park it. He asked if my husband was blind. I also got in a few "sorrys" and what else could I say. As parting shots after what seemed an eternity of being chewed out, he told me to lay off the alcohol!! I just laughed and told him I didn't drink! I think he would have been better off and gotten away faster if he had just said he was upset and let it go. I guess he felt better giving me my due and I felt pretty lucky to get off so easily. I am just glad I didn't cry!

Everything becomes an adventure! I will share about Amy's doctor visits later! Germany- good times! (and I really mean that, even though it can be difficult)

Teeth, Chins and Eyes, oh My!

Caedon has had an eventful couple of weeks. After weeks (literally) wiggling a loose tooth, Caedon accidentally wiggled a little too hard on January 3rd and out came his tooth. We happenend to be at our friends house and they "do" the tooth fairy. So, at 1 am Jason remembered that Caedon had put his tooth under his pillow and so he got out a euro and made the switch. After writing this sentance I realized that I don't know if it is an eyro or a euro. A euro just sounds right so I am sticking with it.

Today as Caedon was brushing his teeth he jumped around and busted his chin against the sink. He did a good job of opening the chin but we have just put a bandaid on it. Logan did this same thing a year ago Jan. 2nd or so and we took him to the ER where they glued and bandaged it. So, tonight it was Caedon's turn but with the temps being in the 0's (F) and lots of snow and slick roads, we are going to wait till morning and reassess then if we need to have it professionally glued and taped! We have had more injuries in the 2-and-a-half years in Germany than in the 7 years in Texas. Germany is a dangerous place with scary stairs, walls and sinks! Caedon and Logan will have matching scarred chins. Thankfully they add character on men, right? Or they can grow a beard to cover it!

I still need to have Caedon's eyes checked too. The doctors that checked him for school preparedness said he ought to have them checked. The doctor that came recommended wasn't taking new patients and the other doctor nearby has a wait of hours (they wouldn't give me an appt. so I just show up at 7am and wait till they get to me). This is the way the dr.s usually do it here. I can write about the cultural differences with dr.s in another blog.

Picasso?

I think I may have an emerging Picasso! Logan is 3 and loves to draw, everywhere! I have found "art" on his sheets, on the wall, and lots of other places. My favorite instance was the other day when I found a very crooked line drawn on the wall. I asked him if he had drawn on the wall and he replied, "that's a crack!". I had to stifle a laugh. He did admit to it and was very upset when he found out how upset I was. A couple of weeks ago, he was upstairs in the school /craft room when I found him with the other kids. They had all decided to draw. Logan, unfortunately decided again to use another canvas.

Sleeping Beauty

I just had to post this because it is fresh in my mind and rather cute! Caedon's class in the preschool is studying fairy tales. They are a little different here because they haven't been "Disneyfied" but still similar. Anyway, Caedon came home the other day telling us that he had role-played Sleeping Beauty. He told me what everyone did and who they were. I can't recall exactly who he said he was (I didn't understand all the parts!). Today, when we went to pick him up, he was about to do the Sleeping Beauty play again. this time he was the prince. So I waited till they got it all together and the teacher began to tell the story. Caedon came in in the end and kissed sweet little sleeping beauty. I didn' see him do it. On the way home, Caedon was telling his dad about being the prince. He said he had to kiss the princess (Antonia). I asked, on the cheek or on the mouth? He said, "on the mouth. Kisses on the mouth are more funner!" I thought that was so funny but also a little scary!

Another story along these lines. Caedon and Logan and I were talking about Jack. He is a "mature" dog now and the kids have taken notice. We talkedabout Jack having puppies later. That led to talking about getting married, etc. Caedon said he wanted to marry Marit, a girl in his preschool class. He said that she was his friend. Then 3 year old logan piped in, "I will marry Re'ne, he's my friend!" So, I had to tell him that boys only marry girls but that marrying your friend was a good idea! It was cute and fun to have "serious" discussions with my children.

Goethe

Jason and I began a 4 week language class on Monday. With Jason's sister being so unwell, class from 8:30 to 1:00, just my everyday chores, and everything else coming up in the holiday season, I will probably be posting very little. I am on the search for 2 apartments for some workers coming in January, and if Emily does well and Janis is not needed in December, Mike and Janis will be here with us for the 2 weeks around Christmas. So, with all that rambling I will sign off. If someone does something amazing cute, funny or precocious, or we have a great story to tell, I will blog it.
After Christmas I will share pics from the top floor of our house. I am hoping to have it done shortly after Mike and Janis bring my new bedding stuff! I know if you made it this far you must be thoroughly bored by now, so I will stop.

Bis dann...... (till then)