So shocking..

Let's start another blog post about how terrible I am as a consistent blogger. (insert eyeroll) I think I'm honest enough to admit I'm terrible at this and do not even have a good excuse. So - I just wanted to jot down some quick things before I forget them in my failing memory. Brad started off the school year rough. We signed him up for an after school program and he's been assigned a tutor to work with him one on one. Her name is F. Waltmann and we can't get over the change in Brad!!!! Not only is he doing great in school, but his confidence is up, he seems so much more mature, he's making friends, and loving school! We went from 5 hours a night of homework to him saying school was the best part of his day! Totally amazing. Katina Waltmann even invited us over for cake and coffee. Her family is so kind. I will never forget what she's done for Brad. On the flip side, Cole started off really great at school. He was loving the social aspect and making so many new friends. He loved the break time between classes where he dominated the tish tennis (table tennis) tables. Then the parent/teacher meetings took place. It seems his teachers painted the worst of the worst scenarios. Now we're still dealing with the fallout just hoping they don't kick him out of school for the remainder of the year. The hardships of Germany plus the reality of Cole's school situation has caused us to change our bid. I'm ready to move. I wished it could have worked out longer. Keith really likes his job and there's benefits to staying, but I think it's time to leave. The decision now is "Where?" I guess we have a few months to decide. Ah, I love the smell of stress 24/7. I flew home to Texas for a quick trip in November. I can't believe how much I missed understanding people around me, driving, reading the billboards and talking on the phone! Most of all, I really missed my friends and family  It was such a quick trip but was able to see so many. I've vowed to bring the kids back this summer. Cute moments: Brad was really sassy one night and got in trouble for talking back to us. He screamed at us that he had a black heart. God gave him a broken heart like Carrie and now she's dead. I'm always unprepared for what comes out of his mouth. We tried to explain to him the best we could, but Brad is convinced he has a black heart. Our elderly neighbor next door isn't doing well health-wise. Her son has been here quite a bit to help her. I asked the boys "when I am old and have a hard time getting around, will you help me in the car and drive me to the store?" Brad simply stroked my face with his tiny hand and looked right into my eyes and nodded yes. This is why I will buy him a new car and pony. I'm constantly discovering what drives Cole. He really responds to positive reinforcement, building his confidence and praising! He has a rough start to his soccer team this year. We've ironed out a few bumps and now he's really doing well. I think his coach found him a new position on the field and he's really stepping up! I'm so proud of him. I'm sad to leave this type of training. I need to find a way to pick and choose all my favorites and form my own little world. Both boys know the truth of Santa this year. I wish we could have recorded Brad's reaction. Cole warned us not to tell him. We should have listened. He was so mad. There was a whole rant about how Santa is dead. I'm a little sad how this season will be. They already don't care about finding Jelf the Elf anymore. I feel robbed of so much time with them. They celebrate St. Nicholas Day over here so there isn't a "Santa" per se. Ugh. Germany.

Family Pics 2014

https://plus.google.com/photos/104542351719038038676/albums/6074880272461286145

Bon Bons

If I had actual bon bons I would be eating those. Instead I am resorting to my secret stash of Reece's Peanut Butter cups. Germany doesn't sell these small cups of life. This fact alone should raise all sorts of questions about the environment they provide for their citizens. Today is Wednesday. My most favorite dance class is going on right now down the road, but I can't find the strength to get up and go. I'm dressed, ready, and depressed. Guess which one wins? Why you ask? Another blow to the constant, never ending, frustrating, DRAMA which daily evolves into a new form. Yesterday Keith and I rode our bikes to school with Brad. After drop off, we rode to the train stop. I bought a coke from my favorite keiosk and we boarded the train downtown. We had an appointment with an attorney to go over all our landlord crap. It felt reassuring we had legal protection over here dealing with this house. Keith and I stumbled upon this museum of sorts. We walked inside and discovered it was Roman ruins under ground. Canals and buildings dating back to the year 4. I wish more of the placards were in English. I bet it is more remarkable than what we could decipher from the readings. We strolled over to Starbucks, in and out of shops, and finally landed at a fancy place for lunch. As I was sitting there, a sense of peace came over me. I thought "This is so nice. Finally an easy day!" QUE: DRAMA. We returned home to find an eviction notice from our landlord. The history and dealings with this guy are fully documented in HUNDREDS of emails and texts. I know in the States we would have NO issues in suing his ass for all the wrong doings. However, we aren't in the States. It doesn't work that way over here. Honestly, I have no idea how it works, but I'm so dis-attached to figure it out. We have 2 weeks to be out. Oh, and he wants 12,000 Euro. Me too buddy! Get in line!!! There's so much to say, I don't even know where to start. I know we aren't in the wrong. I don't know why we are being tested so hard and so consistently. I am officially requesting peace with Karma. I deeply apologize for everything - just make it end! I'm sitting on the couch waiting for Keith to tell me the news. I don't know what it will be. Today could be filled with peace and understanding or shit is about to hit the fan. I'm guessing the latter. Welcome to Germany.

Bedtime

Tucking Cole into bed tonight and he says "I love you. You're the best mom in the world." I told him I love him more and I'm so lucky to have him. Then I said, "I'm sorry I mess up all the time". Cole replies "but so do we"

Time to go buy him a pony.

Consistency

I lack consistency. We had a great whirlwind summer. I should blog about it. We went to Barcelona, San Sebastian, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen. We came home and have a long visit from Grandpa and Bobbie.

School started this week. Cole started high school. 5th grade. There was a big ceremony for him. I didn't understand a word of it, but apparently it was a big deal. He has the same schedule as Aiden. They ride their bikes to the train stop and then take the train to school. It's been a hard time letting go. I have so many questions about all the unknowns. Cole is a bit tired of answering.

Brad also started 3rd grade in a German public school. It's a walk down the road. I couldn't drive there if I wanted to! No parking! Truly a neighborhood school. His teacher is sweet enough.. My stomach turns when he tells me people tease him and he sits by himself at recess. I tell him it will get better. Lord, please let it get better.

Keith is back in the states for recurrent training. He left early to travel with Grandpa and Bobbie. I'm glad he did. He's had the chance to visit all our friends. I'm insanely jealous. I'm so torn between spending the $ to visit. The whole point coming over here was to save money. It seems counterproductive to the pain we've endured. Speaking of....

August 5, 2014 was our one year anniversary to being in Germany. We survived. That's all I have to say about that.
So, I'm trying to be hopeful that our second year here is much better than our first. We've worked out the kinks. Right? Lord, please tell me it gets better.

Grey Hair

The little girls upstairs had a small lice outbreak. This is one of those childhood things that happens to everyone, but it's also one of my greatest fears!! Anyway, Keith was checking my head and in the process found a grey hair! GULP! Surely it was an isolated incident! Today I went to get my hair colored and the lady told me I have several more!! OMG!! I could have been greying for years but have never known because of all the coloring. This is the longest I've been without color. Being German, she is forced to be very direct and blunt. So I'm blogging: today I'm a greying, almost 38 year old chick. Sniff. Sniff. It was bound to happen.

Bedtime

My kids have always been super easy to put to bed. I've been very lucky in this field. They're old enough now to bathe, dress, brush their own teeth, clean up the bathroom and get in bed all while I'm up here working candy crushing. How did this happen so quickly? I clearly remember the chore of getting toddlers ready for bed. The baths, bath toys, soap in the eyes, the very stinky and unwashed superman pjs, aquaphor, brushing their teeth with the baby toothbrushes. Now I yearn to smother them in baby lotion. We just have a different kind of routine here. I'll tell them if they can shower and be in bed in 20 minutes, I'll rub their feet. My high maintenance lads don't mess around with that promise!! They lay in bed and talk to me while I massage their feet for 10 minutes each. I'm basically creating monsters and their girlfriends and spouses will one day hate me. When they run out of things to talk about, they want to hear stories from me! They ask very good questions for conversation starters. They ask "how did you meet Daddy?" "tell me about your first pet" "what was your first car" "who was your best friend growing up" "tell me about when I was born" "how did you pick my name"??? If this is how they date girls, I'm in trouble! We talk about everything under the sun. It's my favorite time of the day. We say prayers and Cole always wants to snuggle. I'll lay with him and he says the sweetest things. Tonight this conversation happened... C - I love you so much mommy. You're the best mommy in the world. Me - I love you baby bear. I could do better. I fail you more times than I should. C - No, you're the best you can be. Me - You deserve more. You're great kids and I'm a lucky mommy. C - We're lucky kids. God, thank you for this kid. Please don't let me screw him up too badly!!