Bilingual life and more

Holiday time to me is family time. I grew up enjoying our advent Sundays together with songs, cookies and just celebrating the holidays together. It still has the same feel to me. We enjoy spending time together as a family. We get a tree, put it up and decorate it. We make a beautiful gingerbread house together and light a new candle on every Sunday until Christmas is here. We read stories and sing songs, and all that brings me to dearly miss my family back in Germany, at this time especially. (more…)

Michael and I started talking about teaching our kids about money. It is said that it is never too early to teach them about money. So, naturally the question of  an allowance came up.

A few questions arose: What is the right age to start? How much? When to start? (more…)

Finally, the holiday break has started. Today was the last day of school. Emily had been home for two days already, because she has been sick with a head cold, including a fever. But what I gather, she has not really been missing anything. Anna acted like a zombie this afternoon after watching TV all day. (more…)

Emily told me tonight that her favorite thing this weekend was her sleepover with Maya!

My favorite was the breakfast in bed Anna and Emily surprised us with on Sunday morning at 8AM. Sorry, Grasso’s, dinner with you all is a close second to that. Then Anna and Emily kept

Anna really got into playing Timez Attack and is doing great, both at this computer game and at she is learning her time tables very quickly. She has always had trouble with how fast you have to be to play computer games, but is doing great on this.

It is freezing outside, so we are happier than ever about the new windows. No drafts, the warmth stays in and the cold out! Gotta love it!

Emily has some problems with a neighborhood girl. Because Emily will stand up to her, she keeps bullying her. Emily, I have to say, handles it amazingly well. She stays away from her and does not resort to the same antics.

Since we have started to go to Yoga on Sundays the men attending the class has slowly increased to about 50%. That is pretty amazing, as it is usually the men making fun of men doing Yoga.

That is it for this weekend. We will be in Albany, GA for Thanksgiving – turkey day, without a turkey. Maybe more about that later … Happy Thanksgiving!

I was tagged by Tales from the Script. This is an interesting one. There are so many ways to answer these prompts and I will write the first and foremost honest answers that come to mind. So, brace yourself.

I am- German, a mother of two great girls, a Brownie Girl Scout Leader, a PTA chair, Michael’s wife, employee of Workplace Spanish, Inc., a sister to three brothers in various stages of life, a daughter and grand-daughter, a friend, a blogger, … apparently too many to list,  or to bore you before you even get to the bottom of the list and not necessarily in that particular order either!
I want- to have more time to devote to my hobby – photography – and take more classes for it.
I have- a great life – with a loving family near and far, wonderful friends, a great job – ever challenging, just the way I like it.
I wish- I lived closer to my family, then again, I would be further away from some very good friends. We can’t have it all, but we can still wish.
I dislike- cat fights. I don’t like the women’s politics, can’t stand it. I rather have honesty without games!
I fear- that I am not doing everything right with and for the girls and my family.
I hear- earlier, the girls’ sighs, as we tuck them into bed, their long, regular breaths while they sleep, now, my fingers hitting the keyboard – sounds like rats running, as Michael likes to say (lovely, huh?) the clock ticking and me and my thoughts.
I search- for old friends. I love to reconnect, see what they have done with their life. And I search for recipes. I love to cook and bake and am always looking for great recipes.
I wonder- what our life will be like 10 years from now. The girls will be 16 and 18. Where will we be? What will be doing work-wise? What is the next big thing that comes and changes our lives?
I always- make sure all the doors are locked and the  before leaving the house and going to bed.
I usually- go to bed too late, like now.
I am not- good at giving up.
I dance- wildly, and love it.
I sing- loudly, in the car, by myself, but also good night songs to my girls and the Girl Scout Songs during Brownie meetings.
I never- would have dreamed my life would turn out this way.
I rarely- say no, though I should more often, and when I do I feel incredibly guilty.
I cry- when I’m hurt or I just can’t anymore …
I am not always- on time, that is probably the most ungerman thing about me.
I lose- my keys all the time, though we have a basket and my purse for them.
I’m confused- when people don’t answer their e-mails for simple questions.
I need- Love.
I should- do more for myself. I know, I try, but not often enough.
I dream- but don’t remember my dreams most of the time.
I TAG- Jerry Grasso, Mary Maloof, The Strohmeyers and Nothing for Ungood.