More Snow

Hoping to hit the farmer's market Saturday morning, I groaned when I looked out the window.  Really?!  More snow.  Everyone suffered from cabin fever.  We decided to suit up and find a hill to sled down.  A seemingly easy proposition except Emily said she left her snow pants at school.  I knew that meant five minutes outside before wails of agony.  I could hear, "My legs are frozen.  We need to leave right now."  We called around in search of pants, but no one was home.  Eliza was at an Easter Market.  Matthew, in Nuremberg.  Kim, skiing in the Black Forest.  Michelle had a pair of 4T's we could borrow in an hour.  Our limited pre-nap time ticking away, we waited.  Finally, Dave went to get the pants while the kids and I finished layering up.  Of course, Emily went to get her gloves and she finds her snow pants.  We drove to her school and enjoyed the small hills with nobody watching.

Winter Blues

Dear Kelly,
I loved visiting you in Park City, UT last year.  Despite the blizzard,  I felt relaxed as we walked around the snow covered sidewalks and watched people move with a different swag than DC.   When I met you in first year chemistry 18 years ago, you embodied cool, calm and collected.  At that time, I thought, it must be the Colorado snow.  I hoped the snow here in Germany would have the same cooling affect on me.  I guess I need a few more winters to feel its effects.

Each morning we awake to snow-covered grounds.  The schools require the kids to keep boots and snow pants for recess.  Dave still practices his swing.  Last week, he dug out a practice green while incredulous eyes watched from the warmth of the clubhouse.  (He stopped swinging in the apartment after the club slipped from his hands.  A club shape etch now decorates the ceiling.)

With a hectic work schedule leaving little time to plan weekend trips, we spend our cold weekends relaxing and hanging around Frankfurt.  Emily and Owen joined a kid's art club.  Each month, they tour a different gallery.  They spent an afternoon at the Shirn Gallery learning about a French Impressionist, Gustave Caillebotte.  Dave helped an Italian woman carry her daughter's wheelchair up the stairs.  She said,"That is the difference between Americans and Europeans.  Americans just jump in and help."

We still love our favorite waffles at the Saturday farmer's market downtown.  Owen "suffers" the half mile walk to the U-bahn with sleet in his face for this culinary delight.  Emily found a spot under the tents.

We participated in traditional February events.  Emily attended a Fathers and Daughters Dance with Dave for Valentine's Day.  I watched Germans dressed in crazy hats and costumes while I attended a work dinner.  Here I learned about Fasching - pre-lenten activities celebrated by the German Catholics.

Because six whole weeks passed since the last vacation, the kids had a week and a half off for winter break.  I know you would spend the time skiing, but we are not quite ready to invest in that sport.  When I come visit you in a few years, JB will teach me.  Emily and I hung out in my favorite bookstore Hugeldubal - it is as good as the Tattered Cover you took me to in Denver.  Like mother like daughter, Emily wanted to stay all day.

That's it from Germany.  Sorry it has been so long since I wrote.  You know how it goes...

Love

D

Cake Making

Last week, my friend Beverly and I decided to learn an important skill - cake decorating.  I figure with two kids, I have a lot of cake making in my future.

First we made the frosting.  Karen explained the differences between the three levels of stiffness.

We cut the layers in half to make a tiered cake.

We stacked the layers and frosted the cake.

We practiced making lines and shells on boards...

... and then on cupcakes, cookies, and the cake.

Of course, the kids enjoyed the results.

Catching Up

Between working, cooking dinners, preparing lunches, bathing kids and Dave being back in the States, I devoted limited time to blogging the last two weeks.  In between the chaos of everyday life, Emily celebrated her 6th birthday.

She requested four friends to join her for art and dancing.  "Mommy, I don't want you to be nervous with too many kids."

We started the party coloring

Followed by a zumba dancing class

presents,

and cupcakes.

We spent the last two weekends creating mosaic boxes, learning chess, and baking muffins, pumpkin bread, cupcakes, peanut butter cookies.....