tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13367337343108386842024-03-13T10:39:46.029+01:00Desi's mommyI am a young mom. i love my son and my husband. i want to be a mom first and formost. I love re-ment and reading.Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-12846383797553375662011-01-06T18:53:00.002+01:002011-01-06T19:15:18.969+01:00Christmas is officially over in our house!yep, the 6th of January is officially here and that mean the end of christmas. the funny part this year is that we are still waiting on a couple of christmas packages that are stranded in transit. i did get the customs letter today for my dads package so now just the one from my mom and christmas will be done, considering that my birthday is in the first week of febuary this is cutting it close! :)<br /><br />i was not surprised to get a customs letter for my dads package because i was pretty certain (and he accidently confirmed on the phone a couple days ago) what he got me. this might seem wierd since i am 23 and have a 6 year old, but he got me American Girl stuff. you see i have collected (well ok been in love with and wished i could collect) AG stuff since i was about 10 years old. i got my first doll for christmas (pretty sure about that though it could have been my birtday, they are so close together) and i have been a fan ever since. i now own 3 dolls and quite a bit of clothing and accesories for each of them. i have to admit that the price tag is steep and now i am back to only dreaming, but i did go ahead and tell my dad (who swear is trying to make up for how bad he treated me all my life without having to apoligize or making up for "forgetting" to send us even a christmas card for the last 5 years) that one of my dolls was retiring and i was still missing some key pieces for her and would really love them for christmas. i really do love my dolls. to clarify though, i collect the historical ones with one exception: the british doll (Emily) from 1944 is so beautiful, but she looks so modern to me and i really like some of the pretty sparkly dresses they have these days, so she is a modern doll, but i gave all her clothes to the other doll from 1944 (Molly, my first doll). I also have Felicity who is from 1776. i adore the clothes from the time period even though they have become less historically accurate they still are the style and for me bring history to life. I really think these dolls are great way to get young girls into history and will definantly buy them for my own daughter one day ( my son got his very own bitty twin that looks just like him last year for christmas in order share in mommy's fun and even a second outfit, but he never really bonded with the doll who he name Diego and i am sure that in a couple of years Diego will be living with my girls on my dolly shelf. but i do feel better about trying to get him into it.)<br /><br />wow that was a tangent. my real topic for today was taking down the christmas decorations. i find it a bit sad, especially beacause i have no real decoration in my apartment yet so my walls will be bare so to say after everything is down. :( but this year even i feel the need to get christmas packed away. i am hoping this changes next year though.<br /><br />my apartment comes with a basment storage room that locks. i really like that i can store my stuff locked away and not worry about, but there is a very serious downside. last summer, shortly before i moved in the basement flooded and aside from every who had things on the floor getting there things ruined, the basement really smells like mold. i will admit that it has gotten better, but i am still warry of putting anything with fabric or the slightest smell absorbancy down there. sadly i have no space in my apartment and really no other choice. i have come up with an idea and did it with the halloween stuff. i bought two plastic tubs (those are soooo expensive over here, 10 bucks each and that was after searcing for the best price) and i crammed all our halloween stuff in them. then i taped, with clear duck tape, around the space where the lid connects with the box to try to limit the air that can get into the box. i am hoping this works, but i have no way of know thill next year when i bring the decorations out again. tomorrow i am going to go and buy the boxes to put the christmas stuff in and hope for the best.<br /><br />well i am off to try and sort out the rest of the chrismas stuff and get it ready to put away tomorrow. night night my bloggy friends!<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-79434514421462407402011-01-05T20:06:00.003+01:002011-01-05T21:42:38.604+01:00New Life, New Startso much has happened since i wrote that last post about the beach. wow, is all i can say. I am think of just writing here. our daily happenings and the ups and downs of a yound single mom and her little prince. well there is no better time than the present to start so here goes:<br /><br />So looking back on today (with my glass of wine :) ) it wasn't as bad as i though it was going to be. I work for a wholesale store. today was inventory day meaning they were only going to be open till 6:00 pm. that is when i was supposed to get off (hahhaha). I was actually supposed to work at the check (which is where the items are scanned, but not paid for), but for some reason my boss thought it would be a great idea to have me clean up the shelves in the candy section and pull everything forward to make it easier for the inventory later. trust me, that is a much better job than just sitting at the check all day. it was a lot of work and after wall all the boxs and plastic wrappers rubbed a cut in my wrist and finger! i was really suprised that i was doing anything that could cause that. i do have to ment that when i finished i felt a real sense of having accomplished something. The women who is actually in charge of the candy was impressed with my work and asked if could help start the inventory counting. i was thrilled. it really made me feel like i had done something right, not only that she was impressed but i was actually able to put what i just done to use. :) i am really worn out though from standing on top of the bottom shelf on my tip toes to reach to top shelf and then practically laying on the floor (in the most professional manner possible of course) to reach the back of the bottom ones. it is a good worn out feeling though.<br /><br />The little prince was at his Oma's all day. i think she enjoyed it as well as he did. He came home with a huge stuffed shark that is actually (thankfully) for his papa's house. He is in bed on time tonight because school starts back tomorrow. YAY!!! oh wait no that is my reponse not his. i know he is excited to see his friends again (we did not see anyone over christmas break for some reason. i think though it had a lot do with everyone being so sick of being out in the snow). As long as he gets past that first morning of getting up again, i think he will really be fine.<br /><br />speaking of the little Desi one, he had a huge experience over the christmas break. He cut his hand open and had to have stitches! i was not at the scence of the crime ;) but his papa was babysitting Desi's cousins and brought desi with him. while papa was playing with the little girl in the living room the little boy wandered off, so he sent to get him. The boy went to his room which is at the oppisite end of the hall next to the apartment door. the door has small glass panels about halfway up and desi was running down the hall after his cousin and tripped on a pair of shoes next to the door and put out his hand to break his fall and end up hitting/going though one of the glass panels in the door instead of hitting the wood. He tore open his arm and cut his hand near his wrist. it was apparently very bloody and his response was "papa i need a band aid". the only witness was a two year old who said "Desi, Tür, kaputt, owe" which translates to: "Desi, door, broke, ouch". His papa was in total shock and didn't know what to do as he had 3 kids at that moment. a neighboor came down to watch the kids while the mom and dad were on their way home and Desi got to ride in an ambulance, he even got lights and the siren on. I got a call about an hour after it happened that i should come to the hospital and desi's papa had arragned for his sister to come pick me up. poor desi was in such shock still when i got there, but said it didn't hurt. we were told he would need stiches and that on children that small he would need full ansthesia so that he would be calm enough for it. the problem was that desi had eaten shortly before that and had to wait two hours at least which ended up being about 8 pm, but a few emergancies came in between and he was not operated on till midnight. in the meantime the piece of skin, that he had practially ripped off, died so they had to cut it off and tightly pull his arm back together. the surgry took 45 mins and i stayed at the hospital till about 3 am. we disscussed with desi beforehand who he wanted to stay and he said papa (which i think was better since papa was so worried and felt so responsible for the whole thing even though it was truly an accident that could not be helped.) Desi was out the next day and had no pain. he gets his stiches out next week. it was scary, but for what happened it ended up not being as serious as it could have been. its a shame that it had to be his left hand (he is left-handed), but he has no nerve damage (well there may be a slight bit that will heal in his thumb) and when he had his bandaged changed last week the doctor said it was hearling up really well.<br /><br />other than that our christmas break and new year were uneventful and considering all that has been going on, i am thankful for it.<br /><br />i am going to call it a night now. i have to get up for school too! well ok i have to get up to make desi's school breakfast and see him off. so goodnight bloggy friends!<br /><br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-69119041374823477462009-09-14T15:28:00.003+02:002009-09-14T15:45:43.176+02:00The beach is outside my door!Hi everyone!<br /><br />I managed to pack the suitcases. 2 for desi. 2 for me. 2 for maik.<br /><br />We got up at 4:00 am. yes it was still dark. no desi did not want to wake.<br /><br />We got on a plane.<br /><br />We flew.<br /><br />We were awake for over 24 hours.<br /><br />The beach is now outside my door!<br /><br /><br />Getting here took a lot in my opinion. I do not like Air France. I like them even less when i have to go through paris and/or Atlanta. Most everything went alright, but i was very sick in the airplane. I have severe motion sickness. i know most people (my husband included) do not believe it can be that bad, but it is. It gets worse the older i get. This time it was awful. the last 2 hours of the trans-atlantic it was all i could do to keep from throwing up. Desi only slept for two hours on that flight which was 8 and half hours long. the food was awful and the there was only one kids movie. it was cars. desi loves that movie he can quote the whole thing word for word and knows every song. he has seen it a million times. he was not happy to watch it more than once. so we setteled on french cartoons which put him to sleep for those two hours (i guess he and i share and opinon on french. hehe) Atlanta was awful but i expected as much. the airport is a horrible reflection on a city that is so big and has so much history. i have only been to atlanta a couple of town, but i never found the city that bad. The airport is another story. the meanest and rudest people work there. we had a baggage problem and the people would not listen to us. we kept telling the lady that we needed to go to the counter to recheck a couple of our bags (due to a computer error) and she kept telling us to go somewhere else. i am sure that God was holding my tongue beacuse this women was beyond rude and i was trying to control a very tired 5 year old and translate for my mother and father-in-law who do not speak english. i was very happy to leave there. we only just made our plane too.<br /><br />In Jacksonville we were very surprised that only one suitcase was missing. My husband suitcase, the one with all his clothes. this happened last year too. i told him to give me a change of his clothes to put in my carryon with mine and desi's clothes. he did not want to. oh well his problem. i think he will listen to me next time! his suitcase was dropped off at our house here at 7:00 am the next day so it was not all that serious.<br /><br />Since arriving everything has been awsome. the weather was a bit uncooperative the past 2 days, but that was ok. we went shopping and explored the island a bit. There was a surf contest right outside our house the second day we were here. it was neat to watch, but we were not allowed to use the beach that is infront of our house. so we did other things that day.<br /><br />all in all these first 5 days have been fun! I could not find my camera charger before i left and i am hoping to be able to get a new one here, but until then i have not taken many pictures. i hope to put some up soon!<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-45066284708566979912009-09-04T11:22:00.000+02:002009-09-04T11:27:49.043+02:006 daysyes it is six days until we have to get up at 4:00 in the morning to go to the airport. I have not yet begun to pack. i am going to be there for 3 months, problably live through 3 seasons and have a 5 year old who somehow decided now would be a wonderful time to outgrow all his clothes. ok i know he didn't chose to do that now, but it really feels like it.<br /><br />Everytime i want to start packing something gets in my way. Cleaning the house, haveing a friend over, parents night at the kindergarten...the list goes on. we have decided however that we are going to start packing this weekend.<br /><br />this is not going to be fun.<br /><br />My husband seems to think all you have to do is take out your clothes, put them in a suitcaes, and you're done.<br /><br />uhmmmmm....NO. I always make lists. i write down every single thing that goes into my bag. This is also really important for Desi. He will need to take toys and all kinds of things. How am i supposed to know at the end of 2 weeks in a beach house if i really have everything. not to mention after the 3 months of staying with my family. hence why the lists are important.<br /><br />wish me luck. i need it.<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-81876663390297170332009-08-29T11:19:00.004+02:002009-08-29T11:47:59.625+02:00LÜKI have discovered something really awesome. i want to share with you guys. I doubt any of you are familiar with this but it is the LÜK system (it may also be spelled LUEK). This system is wonderful. The idea is that you a workbook filled with fun problems and using the answers tiles you child works through the problems and can check them himself at the end. It perfect for car rides or quiet time!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5cCZP2LlsJo09ntGTi8rUxm7kCS2q4XUQJDQ-T-IgXg0SiiRZRjPjkZs35rFMvVrZsaBhjB8gf5aA9EN0VUs-RMZGdLCPRCQeWjwjjpx6bqywrFXUAYGrNpGUT7WPk7zAL3Bvc6NIaJP/s1600-h/P1010827.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375315494695793298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5cCZP2LlsJo09ntGTi8rUxm7kCS2q4XUQJDQ-T-IgXg0SiiRZRjPjkZs35rFMvVrZsaBhjB8gf5aA9EN0VUs-RMZGdLCPRCQeWjwjjpx6bqywrFXUAYGrNpGUT7WPk7zAL3Bvc6NIaJP/s320/P1010827.JPG" border="0" /></a> A few years ago we recieved this set for Desi for his 2nd birthday. My german was not very good so i had a very hard time figuring out what to do with this thing. I eventually gave up and tossed it on a self in his room thinking one day Desi might figure it out.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375313868074810130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhLTMrUBub_M22C8xF29_s9KMl45ybfqV4Mwp_VtMK4I4So_fpXxu1IBb0rHhjZPMxItY2QFy5d6y2aEe9e6iY0I_fwdheEGUp7wrpgmA9XfMWqUro-Rlg0uVrAkyocHMIy99eQ0UhWRw/s320/P1010820.JPG" border="0" /><br />Well shortly after my abitur, Desi (now 4) asked me what that was and how to use it. I finally sat down figuring that if i could and abitur i could certainly figure out something ment for two year olds. I worked on it for about two hours. then i finally understood. Now our collection has grown.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375313875750872770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7rckwYa-s7UE5izh2t_e3LgtczUzGRZ3FMLAOBVjefX3MSL5xRUKvvqJMs6mo6YCeSN6fuk0GB_9N-ZJKiBe6hRfx7Usz4GwrHpSQ5klMrkFoShXC3g_fOT-ghskB-QZBhM5iwG27Umk/s320/P1010822.JPG" border="0" />We have: a coganative thinking for two year old, matching for 3-5 year olds, beginners addition and subtraction for 4-6 year olds and beginners reading for 4-6 year olds. These however belong with the baby version of the set. only up to 6 years old. These are really nice introductions for kids to learn the system and build confidence. Desi really love the Math set. The only problem for me is that it is all in German. I am trying to find a way to order some from England, but they do not like shipping outside the UK...hehe.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375313879896474274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstfOU6PeL-DQ05aBVdEhXHlZWHbbsMZ3AQZ0DQyHlVr2JefUFN3wUqBIhi38dYcKpFErzWdpASxCDyxej1jZKM9WuEf63R3ks-V5RMeK6IgtHYo46gP7iuBP6DSeq7W2fBqLU2mlFQiWL/s320/P1010823.JPG" border="0" />This is the math book. The problems at the top each have a corrosponding picture and the tile with that picture is layed over the answer. in the end the child closes the case and truns it over. on the back is a pattern that needs to match the one on the page. if it matches then then all the answers are right. if not then the child has to go back and figure out which one is wrong.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqvPs95kYCG7QF5RFTe5CyVQbjDnZhL8w8TNhg3gKrf1RlcPtNO1BPF3FzntejXvzlPc0CJx0nk5TyDuFxxmfX9nNMWCsIj4gWjoUxRVx358eclLLMdi9CeJCLEXqfppQJ07mXp8oFdQc/s1600-h/P1010824.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375313888200967330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqvPs95kYCG7QF5RFTe5CyVQbjDnZhL8w8TNhg3gKrf1RlcPtNO1BPF3FzntejXvzlPc0CJx0nk5TyDuFxxmfX9nNMWCsIj4gWjoUxRVx358eclLLMdi9CeJCLEXqfppQJ07mXp8oFdQc/s320/P1010824.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The baby (bambino) line is very new and only has a few workbooks. so we sprung for the Mini set which is the next step up and has books to help him up till the 5th grade. The books are really not very expensive 5.70Euro. it is the the case with the tiles that kills ya. Desi is really happy with his new set:<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375313894955863762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeffJ8-MmzpHzhDmZ1iHLfU-2OJr_9vDlG8hrGnxXVeHIE0SM7IomHxUe2uoufJQjlERX-_m93rp8UHumYoPyQ0G7z9ppuq9GWSP8Z-Z6ciPKHW2vJRJkl2_sw_HtLY9-6JzUVJihC7wl/s320/P1010826.JPG" border="0" /><br />He has and ABC book, two learning to read books, and math book, and a picture story book. These are obviously a bit harder as they have more problems, but Desi jumped right into when he got home from kindergarten. I really see this as being a big help through out his school time and reccommend it to all other parents (not just to help the kids i had fun with too!)</div><div></div><div>lots of love,</div><div>amy </div></div></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-71716432288178233352009-08-29T11:03:00.004+02:002009-08-29T11:19:36.149+02:00ImaginariumA couple of days ago i went shopping. it was the first time in about two months that i had gone any shopping except grocery shopping. I was beyond excited. Not just about getting some new things, but about what i was going to get. I finally decided that i was going to buy Desi some new sand toys. I debated for weeks because as Desi and i are going to be in the USA for 3 months we don't need to take unneccesary things with us. I ended up deciding that as he is only 5 years old and will be alone at a beach house (school is back in and my sister or cousins don't have time to come visit) getting some cool beach toys would the best i could do.<br /><br />We recently got one of these in our downtown department store:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_xuc6X9JEIKA2rw5PRZOckwHIGhnSLYcp1Tp0PwI0PcymJGWkMC5sZ3NzI0d29svU45VL7ZsAPYdk_-_5R1n5aKxWBeT2Os0FXLzaxl3-tsMNx-ebIR2TsWT6-kHgwkf5SYzkPPyTbve/s1600-h/imaginarium_8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375309714735696946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_xuc6X9JEIKA2rw5PRZOckwHIGhnSLYcp1Tp0PwI0PcymJGWkMC5sZ3NzI0d29svU45VL7ZsAPYdk_-_5R1n5aKxWBeT2Os0FXLzaxl3-tsMNx-ebIR2TsWT6-kHgwkf5SYzkPPyTbve/s320/imaginarium_8.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is actually a picture of the store in barcelona (from the internet). Ours has a cool entrance like that though. This store is awsome. they have learning based toys and really are not too expensive. My sister-in-law refuses to by any toys made of plastic or that are colorful in any way for her children (no i do not understand why either), but even she own several toys from here. I know i had to give it a try.<br /><br />So i went hoping to get one of the really really awsome sand sets i saw earlier this summer, but most everything was sold out. on the bright side though what was left was marked way down.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375309600195493090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzKI-xjffR1U0S8CfMlQVVdYB1u6Pl0oVSod0Bis-tJQcrR9uaqmbv_dOVSLcFO9VDOFE28oLLiO4q7Qo459Ic6OjYHjxg-tzfCwONXWbmypENyKT0eHkJ3z4RymANc0RXrbX8P-iHpAj/s320/P1010815.JPG" border="0" /><br />Desi now has:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZVAGTLK1C_qxtbxaOMShzJKnCzEz_HtqdOxqVxWsgZyWoO6pPPKzXTszm5jqVLPjLdMYZ4hVvk9AToR4EZsALywvPCP_ZmeTAPvGlZcK_wCdBXh1HFXb4scJ0E9t4O-gOnx3Jc7iZ83g/s1600-h/P1010819.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375309627028404178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZVAGTLK1C_qxtbxaOMShzJKnCzEz_HtqdOxqVxWsgZyWoO6pPPKzXTszm5jqVLPjLdMYZ4hVvk9AToR4EZsALywvPCP_ZmeTAPvGlZcK_wCdBXh1HFXb4scJ0E9t4O-gOnx3Jc7iZ83g/s320/P1010819.JPG" border="0" /></a> A brick making set to build a sand wall (it is a german beach thing to build a sand wall, but really really fun). I am really wondering how well this will work.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLfeZgNoYGdKv_8IZ7m8o5zW1KU6jMqjH4KHMlh0j5Sm9z31II9b7Fv03XEoIHgZujTm21kOKKquvcViWQ273M6qjWFhOsqm0NhneYkWmq_cSNfHT6sfquBdVXWDgX3Qd79mn4D8Ee9PI/s1600-h/P1010818.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375309620639794722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLfeZgNoYGdKv_8IZ7m8o5zW1KU6jMqjH4KHMlh0j5Sm9z31II9b7Fv03XEoIHgZujTm21kOKKquvcViWQ273M6qjWFhOsqm0NhneYkWmq_cSNfHT6sfquBdVXWDgX3Qd79mn4D8Ee9PI/s320/P1010818.JPG" border="0" /></a> A stamper to make his bricks look pretty. (sorry about the shadows.)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVGyqohiqxKNzdBohLGJdVB79zl2QeNTDa2hUsGBZWAk4VIkwPPQobdKxoGuNqyQNlT7-T2Njqc7ZwXsHJB1-I5dR2OlN4kIg2YtwQWgU3inAtcYQUxjN-qItECFJjcQXNDNcEsQ5D9RE/s1600-h/P1010817.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375309611368604338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVGyqohiqxKNzdBohLGJdVB79zl2QeNTDa2hUsGBZWAk4VIkwPPQobdKxoGuNqyQNlT7-T2Njqc7ZwXsHJB1-I5dR2OlN4kIg2YtwQWgU3inAtcYQUxjN-qItECFJjcQXNDNcEsQ5D9RE/s320/P1010817.JPG" border="0" /></a>And last the Acropolis. Why? well because it looks really cool! it was only one they had left, earlier this summer they had four or five different famous landmarks you make out of sand. </div><div></div><div>I had a lot of fun choosing these and i can't wait to see what desi does with them at the beach (his mouth dropped open when he saw them! hehe)</div><div></div><div>lots of love, </div><div>amy </div></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-76101971182041518722009-08-24T21:03:00.002+02:002009-08-24T21:16:42.851+02:00Counting downyes my dear friends i am counting down. I love my home, my life, my family and being able to be at the center of it and take care of it, but i am truly ready for a break. I am counting down my friends in 17 days, i will be on Amelia Island in Florida.<br /><br />In 17 days...<br /><br />I will see this face, a happy little boy playing in the sand and jumping in the waves:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTofFhDY3pMfWK9iERXjGBzbm0OOpPm0EL2BsQhNxjb36MJ-gCcuXmuKGmwND__xcFzLTpyLC6S12MC858bA_rWK4vrzPL6ybtF9m9P6s8bfouaERClAcCfpAW6oYGob8X-N49OHVt0ewP/s1600-h/CIMG4131.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTofFhDY3pMfWK9iERXjGBzbm0OOpPm0EL2BsQhNxjb36MJ-gCcuXmuKGmwND__xcFzLTpyLC6S12MC858bA_rWK4vrzPL6ybtF9m9P6s8bfouaERClAcCfpAW6oYGob8X-N49OHVt0ewP/s320/CIMG4131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373609631299966962" border="0" /></a>I will be able to walk down this path for less than 60 seconds and have sand between my toes and the ocean in front of me. (No sadly my family will not be there :( )<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a8E-srPTxbyQV86Rz1DV3DD9G4-EXBxAI350TfWQvux3r2wgC2Sm_vgKvSuRj6meR1NNvnMcXk2gwZNN6VhwUWAn4N7wN4MWXsUSuW-4GJY9yqlodVBv5uEN_LbJSw1Iq29DOZ57k3CS/s1600-h/CIMG4045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a8E-srPTxbyQV86Rz1DV3DD9G4-EXBxAI350TfWQvux3r2wgC2Sm_vgKvSuRj6meR1NNvnMcXk2gwZNN6VhwUWAn4N7wN4MWXsUSuW-4GJY9yqlodVBv5uEN_LbJSw1Iq29DOZ57k3CS/s320/CIMG4045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373609629553677234" border="0" /></a><br />I will see a different side of my husband. I will see a man who likes to boogie bored with me and carries me when my feet don't touch the bottom and teases me because he can still touch (yes my hubby is convinced i am short, but if he carries me and cares then i will let him tease away! hehe)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlSRDcLsObaj4KdZXFwoKJhNpPYLr2f4qSOHTfdehwP7ybfFmIdLdLe8JpCCFTPQ3JwyWAY8MERhCk9NQ4fX-YGDJ2F_QBV6K0CRovpdP3C1v7I85vV2LNKkeaV9SD_WQGm7OP6BIafnZ/s1600-h/CIMG4124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlSRDcLsObaj4KdZXFwoKJhNpPYLr2f4qSOHTfdehwP7ybfFmIdLdLe8JpCCFTPQ3JwyWAY8MERhCk9NQ4fX-YGDJ2F_QBV6K0CRovpdP3C1v7I85vV2LNKkeaV9SD_WQGm7OP6BIafnZ/s320/CIMG4124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373609618450228786" border="0" /></a>I will see many oppertunities to take pictures with my new camera, a chance to put cares away and make memories with my family.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLMChuY7w6H019utfghElyGZensajPh1_orRUZqLOyt1lKamftaU2HwA9eN0VK2zjswLvgC5owYeCoDYTnAoDVE4Nd9KUqDz55OaTJzRMLjnKQx8kvBrMbL4aBz2ssG6C0XdnVDM51ri_/s1600-h/CIMG4092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLMChuY7w6H019utfghElyGZensajPh1_orRUZqLOyt1lKamftaU2HwA9eN0VK2zjswLvgC5owYeCoDYTnAoDVE4Nd9KUqDz55OaTJzRMLjnKQx8kvBrMbL4aBz2ssG6C0XdnVDM51ri_/s320/CIMG4092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373609614339853282" border="0" /></a>In 17 days.<br /><br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-48543501956597256152009-08-12T17:41:00.002+02:002009-08-12T17:55:26.040+02:00Sick and thinking of books.yes that is what i am. I am so very sick. i have been in bed for 2 days now. i have no idea what i have, but my energy is nil. i am even too tited to shower (i am going to though as soon as Hook is over hehe). I wanted to post some more pictures, but i can't from the laptop.<br /><br />Anyway. i wanted to share an idea with you all. When i was baby my mom bought me a copy of her favorite book. she even wrote me a message in the front. The book is Little Women. Though i have never read it (i fully intend to, but it is really really long), the though behind it means the world to me. My mom instilled a love of reading in me that has lasted to this day. I love to read beyond anything else. I love all genres and lengths. I have even caved and begun reading a 400 page book in German (Die Stadt der traumenden Bücher by Walter Moers).<br /><br />This act of love, coupled with the fact that my 5 year old will beg and then sit still every night as i read him a chapter of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has inspired me to do the same. I have chosen the book Peter Pan and Wendy by J. M. Barrie. I am determed to find him a beautiful copy and and instill in him the same love of reading. I chose this book because he is really into pirates and peter pan, as well as the story being one of the greatest classics ever. I just have to find a suitable copy, which i predict will take years. I really want a used copy in fairly good, but loved condition. I would kill for a first edition and am actually thinking of setting up a savings for this. I really love the idea of him having an heirloom like that...hmmm i really have to think about this...i was also wondering if any of you guys out their in bloggyland have something like this for your children? any reoccuring theme or collections you plan to pass on?<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-28023065795266089312009-08-06T09:35:00.001+02:002009-08-30T17:40:52.797+02:00BeginningsYes it is that time of year again. The last 6 weeks seem to have just flown by. A few highlights are:<br /><br />*Desi turned five!<br />*My brother Brian came to visit for 4 weeks.<br />*We spent several days in Duhnen (our summer house).<br />*We spent a week on a lovely island called Amrum.<br />*We went to Legoland in Denmark (and our license plates were stolen).<br />*We went to Heidepark.<br /><br />Even with all that exciting fun summer has come to an end. At least for now hehe we are leaving for Florida on september 10. :)<br /><br />Kindergarten has now started. German kindergarten that is. It is more like preschool in the US. Desi is now in his last year! He is Pate this year which means a younger child who is new this year is paired up with an older child and the older child shows them around and introduces them to other older kids. Desi is so excited to be helping out a younger child.<br /><br />Desi on his first day:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375782158718217698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yeT6mfTg0C7lRoLpK7Xubuy8lYdLS2RnQFFIRsfpKCte4UuUpGxsCN7d4y8fnNtHfo37SzauEOtohmSKrRddhap1Ww4TQjNLEV6GifWeTMfCbCHLE9kTV0NZTFO47lGIHU5Rzvcs3A6y/s320/P1010707.JPG" border="0" /><br />Also i wanted to insert a little update on our language issues. I mentioned a while back (May i think it was) that all the 4 and 1/2 year olds were tested (on computers) to asses there language abilities. The results were not available to parents. A letter would only be sent if the child needed special classes. Everyone was sure Desi would recive a letter. So we spent the summer (in the back of our minds) waiting for this letter. Well i am proud and pleased to say that Desi did not recive a letter. A sign was posted in the Kindergarten saying the money for the classes was due. I think can safely say that our little bilingual boy is progressing just as well as his monolingual peers!<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-37279458386143564002009-06-28T16:39:00.002+02:002009-06-28T16:41:35.325+02:00Dino boy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JgKM9WaltzASb9H14YAguW95WXKkgsRNO2SLdASprvTBrU283HK0zPQape6HWn3bnEqDz__fMnvR5xsKf3yB0_ecIr2dDmAanXGKRBqanWott4iqheVckGyqweVEombqxOJbmg1FjuEu/s1600-h/P1000474.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352388411542560642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JgKM9WaltzASb9H14YAguW95WXKkgsRNO2SLdASprvTBrU283HK0zPQape6HWn3bnEqDz__fMnvR5xsKf3yB0_ecIr2dDmAanXGKRBqanWott4iqheVckGyqweVEombqxOJbmg1FjuEu/s320/P1000474.JPG" border="0" /></a> Desi is having a Dinosaur themed birthday this year. This is the picture we took to include on his invitation.<br /><div></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-17725706372445863152009-06-21T21:00:00.002+02:002009-06-22T09:17:23.318+02:00Father's DayToday was father's day. This was the first time Desi and i were able to put together something special for Maik to show him how much we appriciate all he does for us all year long. We made a pretty card and t-shirt with Desi's handprints all over it. We still have to figure out how to seal the paint as we used finger paint that washes off. Oh well it is the thought that counts...right? hehe.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd22a4m1I2jk8k-A-9PMJwixI3XZ1oxghvxpNzkOrpePhVfT79nnz5ubwTlHzDw60TvhkMC0t2jEc5iWltq_OTNyqaOoxhA4GL2VE9fVYOrGyNwrYMvssiobeIsS1IU5wks9QnFlaKvF9Z/s1600-h/P1000304.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350042527765902978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd22a4m1I2jk8k-A-9PMJwixI3XZ1oxghvxpNzkOrpePhVfT79nnz5ubwTlHzDw60TvhkMC0t2jEc5iWltq_OTNyqaOoxhA4GL2VE9fVYOrGyNwrYMvssiobeIsS1IU5wks9QnFlaKvF9Z/s320/P1000304.JPG" border="0" /></a> breakfast in bed.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350036170096031682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoT0VYHspYLN03g-DHAF36kQI9oeFj0XX966zMkTtmBDLxghn7k6EHYAs5gKZg9fG5AakyPeEXhOJGUELrXg-Ou4xu-WK4NfYFDR5w_QmfdhgtK4lbWJm3OS3j9aIPeuRdpt1Pyr92BxrA/s320/P1000306.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">wake up sleepy papa!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350036190843539890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTXm-ohsphSbtCGWNWlHihD3AkQiHq6V1WXQJln929Gym7stYsYow0JmrwSW9M0HIRJIRYvPnmmPW9Cqg4l0YPafF2_OBUygtkJB_eB19jWMc3MG9w0ceiygyE94dIVyX6olbl6Fi6uza/s320/P1000312.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Papa opening his present.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350036182339985106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtFNKeRgAJfBVZGA9RBY-x6TtQokOyqRL1z9_spjnUF6_xLLukgfttjXB19A2PqquRkRGtzU4TuFrm6YdzlrDQntd1eSb3q3ro3aojxacnQsU33pl0U5XceZ5j8sE4mk-ZdzGpIth1kwB/s320/P1000308.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Desi was so proud!</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350036191928221586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxDlEZFx3D__kO1-Doqe3LZ0Vq6kyA-dVnakvtrjV5clQuRK5k45n89dyWdwU0eHQT_tNapChzz3YhzkTX5Ibge_DU9GGLMluyikF8Q9gU4HzMMaXk07uDmjM8Y0gL4j5zBfIkbibmJcu/s320/P1000316.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Desi and his papa</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Later on we went to Strawberry festival that was taking place across the street from our house. It was nice, except for one of the bouncy houses where desi was told he could not jump because he had glasses. I don't understand that at all. we have a personal (very large) bouncy house at home and desi's glasses have never been a problem. i was a bit ticked and desi was very hurt, but we moved on.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350037308305205874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNcbbP3E8THfsKx7jrzrkn74dxwuHdP4Hs0BXFznNqJMcd2Ctf6ljbKvYm___XSX_FVS-r1vd5BhJYV4DI6jP5VkkdpbfnE5h3cJEZRfJseE4XYR6bZ3kZ4v1dg6U1VIA3XxQ_te5_ic7/s320/P1000326.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Desi climbing the tower. he was afraid to go any higher even though he did really well!</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350037317133498178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo1hJLyQdbJtj4Y98-tLOsZzV7q_rHimADN0isbVXuh8PqmCPU726wb_HMM6CR1ezw9VhQo2myCWjJofT5R5S4n0ANAWnBL6_z7pjIB1YvrZly4TCrDd8JSSbBOXILwq8uOsCBuabroL2/s320/P1000332.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Bouncy house land!</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350037324840047938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicByECw-CUghwSoMcyq9hH4IA2tAcp8vSQ3Xu_0p-TdUSLuzpK0Jr_No2dnrZwV_d8O5O4ObXsMuDi5dycNe0nIJ8946dM_IQH4FyuM9oDw_qaLD7ndRS4pvqkvpBb9Sy2kKjB9Q8hyphenhyphenLSE/s320/P1000348.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Desi bounced to his hearts content.</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350037327082225986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp2EtoHKs0gebbBPdZx0tO3L2mRtEGoegpXeHhskYnHen_775QaW138UdKSxxQDRvztvI93GrGI9eR7vV7hubPESuXjvRhzJO_Rt25Q2A92LKxF6CQGN2VoT8Q1o5eP8RvVsyt3UwyOLW/s320/P1000349.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">wait a minute!</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350038963180193762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dQNpIpRU_HswxOO3E7qRX_UmBIP5d47v-i-ZkVtolNowv0sitlVVCqbqU3WMNYM-kxo1ehWAz0U1NKKsuXW87uTq3I59uKHXFwnpd6L3YGlZ2L9HDD5mtxEAepkOeixpPi4UEXrgqx96/s320/P1000350.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">awww i just want a picture!</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350038973904530306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqRkaJzFmSMQOiOXwithICRVce87u0oSEQQoB_FAjER6fyZqnmgz8az6lTdwCBRDWq0gllxw5RoIsuSkY000EmQiPecB_hc4w_Qr5kNlUIMF5mP_xkm6JlqjYT9UhcWVBPSWrdFlLcfyG/s320/P1000354.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">yay! hi desi!</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350038977187505970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XdbmDkIlAUUeGD6hpaEy3WFtN0C13EHsQ8b3G8hpmSwAmH0Tt-c_Ycx4XFPWNbC6rn9E4zRoDbs-X0P4vHBQnmHzqeqOIz8Wsz5YHBurjOxc6pUpB6OVFIpxZPpq_joF3NOSdkIWKnkC/s320/P1000359.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">i am still learning with my camera. it felt the net was more important.</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350038982804033026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge55HABKBfVOLa-O_vtUGrck3eQyUtB6yTYAwWGSoYkqISQT9b3e9pO7kycOXuymySOZwC_MP4FWr-kyddOmz3BwYmAJhMrsijNZL7RCL6vA_by3g_VWFx-vGLkjOiHhKHaj2-P0CZcPyw/s320/P1000360.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">maik coming down the huge slide.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350038990816323282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DbbVLPup51ABCp-pIuXznjrSXvjLIr0RV_v0h7GOSOz08bYHFAHNlVuN9-o6ymS1gQ2Mn8U15mKk7Pcs9Od9zK0_HA1p-wNnQ4mTd1lky9RELiK0oBkWYsVoub5XAaftTNB18d7fjA2b/s320/P1000368.JPG" border="0" />Maik and desi had so much fun playing!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_RBGV8YtRws5XGFT3cNXnPDXa8kGqpAkOjK_ONB338YIMqk-BhcskbiLsdJONuUOF1zASvny1csnvm-rN9cLZAeesoaHvM-V9cp9Cn2-AFFqjTLjdDPROB1CAadxy30HatR5ageaVda4/s1600-h/P1000389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350042179646182242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_RBGV8YtRws5XGFT3cNXnPDXa8kGqpAkOjK_ONB338YIMqk-BhcskbiLsdJONuUOF1zASvny1csnvm-rN9cLZAeesoaHvM-V9cp9Cn2-AFFqjTLjdDPROB1CAadxy30HatR5ageaVda4/s320/P1000389.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This last picture is us walking home. the rain came out of nowhere!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Needless to say by the time we were home, we were all soaked through. It was fun though. That evening we grilled and just hung around. it was nice to have some down time and just be the three of us. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Happy Father's Day Maik!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">lot's of love,</div><div align="left">amy<br /></div><div align="center"></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-47570905644640675982009-06-05T09:02:00.003+02:002009-06-05T09:06:09.232+02:00Guess what!I got my abitur. well ok i found out on wenesday, but still i passes. I even got a wonderful average. I have 2,3 (1,0 is the best you can get). I am so happy and really proud. I am so very thankful that God moved a mountain (or rather a heart of stone) so i could have this. I know in the grand scheme of things this is a tiny rather insignificant problem compared to children caught in war zones, missing planes and all the other things people deal with on a daily basis, but for me this is huge.<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-50839213336782075522009-06-01T11:04:00.012+02:002009-06-05T08:59:06.973+02:00Desi's Birthday BookWow have i been busy lately. It is really hard to change my routine over from school and being mom and just doing enough to get by to being just mom and really working hard for my family. in short everything is crazy.<br /><br /><br />So i have been working on a project. I call it Desi's birthday book. I just cannot throw away a birthday card or any card for that matter and have sooooo much stuff from desi's birthdays so i though this would be a good idea.<br /><br /><br /><br />I started with a binder that i didn't really find pretty.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342284883655097506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OWjXPJBH5POHdDoLeA5Rcl9jgDqmhuLra04rmfJb0ihcxX8TFv10oTLB3bWF6aPCx7TUF9YL1Tn38YEuliX-CIIKV2CPY5DUFwrYkvi4hyUsVXb6sVB72ZpyPPDHL52_2fl85BIthxqN/s320/CIMG6311.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Then i used my digi scrapbooking stuff (the kit i used for this is Swing on a Star from Ziggle and PPD from Scraporchard).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342283342849206354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4oaclO77_aJvuUz-N8VHf6Zr9H277iuGHQJcxBXK3wSkjLt4Y-_ZVp1GTLnhYjnlOklGQdeKSy5zlSxPvqQDIuij0pPaeveWN8wekPJl1dheqnvBLmwFcg6NW4rOxjXIsVjgrYRcvD-5/s320/CIMG6312.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342283347224506770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R1XxU5xUkUxy4D7lN9PuSDjUzAMvoBR6M8iCFv8dak3zTj6PKRFbOQedg-TaXMk5fG6B1v1yj1FpDSBwAvNZvaxNKX2hsTTSHmMxahzcx3J598RCUcYz0en86fWuXiMeW0vgNf60q6dI/s320/CIMG6315.JPG" border="0" /><br />I printed everything out and taped it all down. Then i covered it with clear packing tape. It looks laminated onto binder. Here is the finished cover.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342283353425965106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNsIWX8ZPtzizA3C41QJFjx6wnJvrCz8IWbb71c3YFRX45aYyh_xdAXnLxoi1T8sdt-EL57FmgppdXSdaSK3jJCoSJSgxvo1TQbGwU9Sg0WoQtIzJ7rGKvuNXxd66Zkhh5gu3EgPOoGnE/s320/CIMG6332.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342284896191523042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DDbYcPwWpojheRN4UqhKveWSR_jfTZchdCaSMtg1sMhkF6glnkOgZBJW3EW1pwIsoyqvS3-Fxzj4fP8WhFG5e4ptpY1D3eXqDoQWhGYk7kxrOmJnROs-FGpub1YFINhnEq3_Yd9PLYK5/s320/CIMG6333.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342287752893528962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpY9hGrWr5-VMFhUpWhSLnTVtC6uEbdVRxxQxPd3cyhi75_YVlXGmzitK5cDKgXa7z8JoQK3CfoKc10jyDZpSLu3c-BtKBKoysWl5wMtsrxGMsmQrsVYw8Nac8X53yvTKyQGSwD25cCsp/s320/CIMG6334.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342284903497659810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAcmp3D2BRDicDuVObaMI6-fHwmkfEXtsFtD0kHYVlw8Tscb-l-grujjhYHsEZGniENkdDclCFuAOBS_ee29mmoeZtOsmwNU0WpDob2r2Vx1CvFNfL3v4EPivfQyHI0I-Crz2Lv1zPtsd/s320/CIMG6335.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />The inside is a bit more interesting. I just can't throw away cards and that is where the idea came from. I really wanted a way for desi to look back and see how much fun his birthdays were and see all the cards people wrote. When blogger decides to quit wrecking my colors on the pages then i will add those too. update later.Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-15400199328762734342009-05-09T21:20:00.009+02:002009-06-05T08:59:39.749+02:00A boy and his bikeIn germany an important mode od transportation is the bicycle. This is my bike. I love it and i usually take it to and from school and well anywhere near except grocery shopping. i think my basket is a bit small.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifsE8henopiQfSm4vCbN2Yvco0J-MDNHc9F4_TG-a5ent8qfV7NpqOFE8dhUiGfZZIKGEPo3CZ8RAxa-Ei-QuO1fs_ZSKsDxcnE2oZXkkdepYHUJbhIDTvwF52kHwB9Pfx4b4PGzv4WQR/s1600-h/100_1817.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333907497056220418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifsE8henopiQfSm4vCbN2Yvco0J-MDNHc9F4_TG-a5ent8qfV7NpqOFE8dhUiGfZZIKGEPo3CZ8RAxa-Ei-QuO1fs_ZSKsDxcnE2oZXkkdepYHUJbhIDTvwF52kHwB9Pfx4b4PGzv4WQR/s320/100_1817.JPG" border="0" /></a>my bike<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left">Naturally Desi would need to learn to ride a bike. So we started working on leaning. Here he is at two with his first bike.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fTqu6aSslRvsnyzD7lb55H8FdsqsmxTsaB_rwSWZD675l4gMqFFtCoKqFBpTbrmQTS6wo2EJmqgDxjQpxjG-uYwQS0gJjpJ2O7m1gl2H2QhLCT4_8jrnEutyxBw1rlJzKYvMv57Ixh1W/s1600-h/100_1631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333907504713462642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fTqu6aSslRvsnyzD7lb55H8FdsqsmxTsaB_rwSWZD675l4gMqFFtCoKqFBpTbrmQTS6wo2EJmqgDxjQpxjG-uYwQS0gJjpJ2O7m1gl2H2QhLCT4_8jrnEutyxBw1rlJzKYvMv57Ixh1W/s320/100_1631.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left">That was fun, but not really helping him so we went on to this. In german it is called a Laufrad, but i have seen them called Likeabike in the USA. These are awsome. They teach balance and coordintation. oh and they can be used to scare the crap out of moms!</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333907508940856418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSWL-suJT8IAzSHnubF67UNWO2sez4s4nXPiU5Ap6MAG-QVTv4VnmKK8u8VkC4GZqReJDY9qlLkKf4Fyc5JQL1QG1q8fDxEDsxvS00T5TyOOJ5m01vQ5OgKDrIzQH9S39cFzOKgUmp1To/s320/100_2094.JPG" border="0" />Desi as he zoomed past me</div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left">Due to the Laufrad when it came time for Desi to get a real bike and learn to ride. The moment he tried out to ride the two wheel bike at the store he was able to. Here he is about 5 months after he got his bike on our ride home from kindergarten. This was take 3 after i crashed, then desi and i crashed into each other. talk about trick i was trying to film, ride, and watch for cars. hence the no breath! hehe.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5YUxGppbytkvwil-V1kO3A3HRNRn1XWT7cRxghVN2-tVl0ffNIEpBfEiqVaZifAI2OvA2GV-kAiV-pHw64g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><div></div><div>yep my little boy is all grown up and riding a two wheel bike! I can't believe it.</div><div></div><div>A couple of days ago it was so nice outside. Desi told me that his bike was very dirty and he wanted to wash it. How responsible!</div><div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334164574461655954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fIQ5F_Da9joihnktTsISEND8hcbHAt_HH9xSrBKvUM_6wpdMCG9DZxmdB5chaQ7vf1bxnQVtcmMprfr30r-BXpcIDguvfGqv7YDcJu4ulr9nWnwkGgTK_qyS5JcRt2iZsIzEGqI4q5dj/s320/CIMG6317.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334164580752432882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjn-x1Tx6xkz3EPiZSf3AwjZLecIDPo6m6l5E9-xQI5N5nM4VIXCFWFIy4kXY00I-HOH9pkj2FnoWqUguIKhj6NufwN8TEIJhvhd0kLAEVbzy2UNfw4TKwdK1Ax0UCvYQhYqJj6TB5Rl_/s320/CIMG6319.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334164585123561362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYAHaxyVFC3Tb94hR5PnS0ofSuSUBUDSmmzV9sYg6tucj98NB7vQFH-Vt2fgUXBvHClVGPKNJfK5mw-Cx26cM_mGYikAyy60-SvIDYmxnbdy0Eu-2D76pCnBggmthIBPzPqVweWOem6k2/s320/CIMG6321.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334164586932044130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTPGu23sZ1uumqX4Gb-kFpM9DAjYEcROIAklRm2tEhFnGIjjL_h-PpgE8MMIC3npOqSsAORLH4g-1l4VEHbdtODWPER7LWA4Ro_jAe9iwQ3woWn1cNAt1mbsqEUBJLuG_dypqa_XPkVC8/s320/CIMG6323.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334164593648648322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Cdl0wPmYFSZZ73UxJyGe880g_IaTEqvLw2bYBSBmMMy-9ShzLxHEa0QkRAExZgk-sCly_n1to3PNC1fbgMAPZsNjHCPiUNXt-XJPZv2287jQpmNQuVSyQYrNNgtZIqjYueFQakMmRNuL/s320/CIMG6326.JPG" border="0" />The finished product. He was so proud! He really does love his bike.<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><p>lots of love,</p><p>amy</p></div></div></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-73812447238396630572009-04-30T19:41:00.008+02:002009-06-05T09:00:00.437+02:00AbiturSo i know i have been gone for quite a long time. I do have a really do have a good reason. I have been working on my abitur. I would like give you a slight look into the madness that is the abitur.<br /><br /><a href="http://de.tinypic.com/" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 390px; HEIGHT: 287px" height="956" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/jikr6e.jpg" width="1311" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(Sidenote: still having issues with my pictures uploading, but i figured out how to get this one!)<br /><br />So as i said i have been studying to for my abitur. I think for anyone to really follow and understand how i ended up at this point i have to tell you a little bit about myself.<br /><br />I am 22 years old. I had my son at age 17 and while that undoubtly made things harder, i persisted through (some rather hard circumstance that i may tell about at another date) and graduated high school at age 18 in 2005. That was all fine and dandy. i missed honar graduate by o.5 gpa points and i also failed to achieve my International Baccholorette (sp?) diploma by 3 points though i got all my certifecates except in Psychology (sp?). So even though i wanted to be an honar graduate i did recognize how lucky i was to be graduating at all considering my circumstances<br /><br />While in high school in my senior i fell in love with my husband. He was an exchange student took my son and i back to germany with him the summer after graduation. This was supposed to be only a 5 week vacation. Well as you can see it turned into a bit more than that. His father asked me if i wanted to stay and learn german for a year and go to univerity here. This was a hard decision. I had a one year old toddler, i didn't speak the language, and i was already accepted to a collage in the USA. I finally decided my decision would come down to one thing: money. Specifically if i got the scholarship i was counting on to pay for my tuition (on top of tuition and books, i was going to have live away from home, pay for an apartment, food, all those associated bills, plus day care.) I ended up not getting the scholarship because of the IB program i did not meet the science requierment and was not allowed to have the scholarship. At the time it was free to go to University in germany and i was looking at starting life with at least $20,000 in debt. I chose to stay.<br /><br />So I went to apply at the University which was loads of fun. They would not accept my diploma they said it was the equivelent of what german childeren recieve after graduating the 10th grade. My ACT score were also not high enough (i had a 24 i needed a 29 or 30 out of 32 points to get in). They said the only way i could go to unversity here would be to do the Abitur which i believe is truly the equivelent of a collage education in the USA. It is three years long and is more work than i ever thought.<br /><br />To bring this around to a point. The past 3 or 4 weeks i have been preparing and taking my Abitur exams. My exams were:<br /><br />English: topic: Utopia. I liked this topic, but i was dissapointed by the text in the examine. It was not well written nor was it like any of the practice material. I definantly do not feel i did my best.<br /><br />Biology (in English): topic: Genetics and Evolution. I thought this exam was well structured the question were fun to work through, but i almost ran out of time. I really enjoy biology.<br /><br />Wirtschaft (Economics) (in German): topic: Markt, Preis, Wettbewerb (Market, Price, Competition) and Globalisierung (Globalization). This was a nightmare. Not only were the question about other topics than the ones we were told i am bad in the class anyway. I do not understand it and doing it in a foreign language did not help. I only need one point on the exam to pass. The catch is that i actually have to score three points to pass because they will take of the maximum two points for my german mistakes. Did i mention how bad my german is.<br /><br />These were my written exams. To point out a few things on the above picture: My beloved pink tea pot that is thermal so my tea stays warm, it is sitting on top of my two biology books and below that is my fuzzy blue phone ( i had to call someone to explain a math thing in Eco to me), my importants notes on princess note paper (i love disney princesses) hanging on my window sill, the candy wrappers really thought all i ate was candy to keep the endorphines coming, Economics for Dummies that book really helped me understand some things, two full binders worth of information that i need to know, my three-eyed-fish blinky sitting in my childhood jelwery box, my thomas kinkade background regaurdless of your feelings about his reasons for painting they are calming pictures and last my oversized belle cup from disneyland paris. those are all my essesntials from studying.<br /><br />These things are stating to pile up again as i study for my oral exam. The class is World Studies and the topic is South Africa. I am very nervous.<br /><br />I spent a lot of time over the past two weeks in prayer. Specific prayer for my exams. Please add me to your prayer list that i get my abitur. Also that i have focus and clarity in my oral exam. thanks in advance.<br /><br />I wanted everyone to know that i have been itching to blog, but i feel so guilty as i have 100 other things to get done. i really need to keep up with this. I really enjoy writing and well i love reading everyone elses. my last exam (the world studies one) is on May 5th. please keep me in your thoughts and prayers then.<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-73266158498121378712009-02-27T15:47:00.001+01:002009-02-27T15:50:04.443+01:00Ahhhh....how nicethis little family of three is going away. I have lots to tell everyone, but i will wait till i get back. Our family really needs some time together, just us. This is just a weekend away, but after how the past couple of weeks have gone, it feels like a vacation!<br /><br />i hope you all have a wonderful weekend. i have to pack now, see you on sunday!<br /><br /><3 amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-2487602039705030002009-02-19T18:32:00.016+01:002009-06-05T09:00:22.853+02:00Fasching!That is the german word for carnival. Desi's Kindergarten celebrated it today. The theme was "what I have always wanted come to kindergarten as". Desi was of course Captian Hook. He was so excited about it.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuPQX3YTofGnEl30AjucyQ5gitd8Toed2zL8YvkSU2okJTwYkITJAx9jH3aTuBTcZcrieF3hKSndbc8-5I-ONeSIJdgv9JvIV2wkojCOn7jf1g1SojQZqfFhwHHmjccFY8qeoMB8l8Vxn/s1600-h/CIMG5923.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304565949192482450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuPQX3YTofGnEl30AjucyQ5gitd8Toed2zL8YvkSU2okJTwYkITJAx9jH3aTuBTcZcrieF3hKSndbc8-5I-ONeSIJdgv9JvIV2wkojCOn7jf1g1SojQZqfFhwHHmjccFY8qeoMB8l8Vxn/s320/CIMG5923.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the over excited pirate eating his breakfast of choice: Ceral with soy milk!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnIxO96dt2kD1W3s0J0g97LjRRVdQS-HKMbT5KxY1pdPdRYKNU6mf1xhIDzS8HdRvlp0fU3SDXcUy0vrsuZKzVxgftEeUAiT3eLsd1Q41_1BSPDEHHkzdnHU0ZBLFyUidCipMR7NVyqq9/s1600-h/CIMG5924.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304590911726054610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnIxO96dt2kD1W3s0J0g97LjRRVdQS-HKMbT5KxY1pdPdRYKNU6mf1xhIDzS8HdRvlp0fU3SDXcUy0vrsuZKzVxgftEeUAiT3eLsd1Q41_1BSPDEHHkzdnHU0ZBLFyUidCipMR7NVyqq9/s320/CIMG5924.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUn41BWhHegBpqSPiE-ZIFEYL4ZfUZZZIZEO1_xVB1F-0EAK7TSYe-HJiOEBPOmdmb-UK1R0e7GnavyKStnW6bLEQbXFS2MsaS5Rib-B5hgkqzCp3ztFGc4kvuiCi3JsZsufw5emxg_OD/s1600-h/CIMG5926.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304588134021648114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUn41BWhHegBpqSPiE-ZIFEYL4ZfUZZZIZEO1_xVB1F-0EAK7TSYe-HJiOEBPOmdmb-UK1R0e7GnavyKStnW6bLEQbXFS2MsaS5Rib-B5hgkqzCp3ztFGc4kvuiCi3JsZsufw5emxg_OD/s320/CIMG5926.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLYFVPSK4W9E5saRtcwaU4L9MQQ1IEMi2d4EeCo5vC-ORQaJaL2ylSFjJ1I9opiQtKXZ8UPraNobT7Urkuy69yioiIWv0yslMvYtUMpHuVT4SR8Y5KmRQr5Q94a5CGAZmqDGnYF07wJ0R/s1600-h/CIMG5931.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304588468758289202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLYFVPSK4W9E5saRtcwaU4L9MQQ1IEMi2d4EeCo5vC-ORQaJaL2ylSFjJ1I9opiQtKXZ8UPraNobT7Urkuy69yioiIWv0yslMvYtUMpHuVT4SR8Y5KmRQr5Q94a5CGAZmqDGnYF07wJ0R/s320/CIMG5931.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the big area in the middle of Desi's kindergarten. More kids in costumes!<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuaQ_GRm_VhJfPv8vTIPmcb8szosmN8-sjZNpuvpEwS_WSOhDA73C8XTcW5r0jJFOZGBnp7vD6sFeh4IBFiHJ9cXBRM1_tPp3B05xai5O9Rf-RxDAFcK_FDYf_ItpfkslGa1wAjnOXu3k/s1600-h/CIMG5934.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304588811791230994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuaQ_GRm_VhJfPv8vTIPmcb8szosmN8-sjZNpuvpEwS_WSOhDA73C8XTcW5r0jJFOZGBnp7vD6sFeh4IBFiHJ9cXBRM1_tPp3B05xai5O9Rf-RxDAFcK_FDYf_ItpfkslGa1wAjnOXu3k/s320/CIMG5934.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br />Desi's classroom had a huge pirate ship much to desi's delight!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQjMJbmOuuaVYDI1FG7Gb8E5lmjDS-bJVA7PjXRbY2OTRcBTJ-sOYMFqQtN1HYsOnHozZJXxKzVPlR_8rW3LB4GHDjubaUdZevrWC8CvSqZttWq2GOXAiQznc1NHULNRF1S2Z8PlOp2tj/s1600-h/CIMG5935.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304592012452088994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQjMJbmOuuaVYDI1FG7Gb8E5lmjDS-bJVA7PjXRbY2OTRcBTJ-sOYMFqQtN1HYsOnHozZJXxKzVPlR_8rW3LB4GHDjubaUdZevrWC8CvSqZttWq2GOXAiQznc1NHULNRF1S2Z8PlOp2tj/s320/CIMG5935.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div>I think this picture is so sweet. This is desi and a little girl from his class named Sogand. She is so cute and so sweet, but you think this looks like a really old and bad wedding picture! lol.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yf2RjSt6dk4J2IpM2ZGPx4cULn0O2awtqse7H_GeUzzaQEu2M6X5Fw-1zE4vkKF4MKunRYwt0jCh7xTCDnGWe7NXogPp7_h0A8Ufe1JOXnQwa4RfuHQvopKkRxki5ZWUqL4Waz67zF9R/s1600-h/CIMG5937.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304589356818981026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yf2RjSt6dk4J2IpM2ZGPx4cULn0O2awtqse7H_GeUzzaQEu2M6X5Fw-1zE4vkKF4MKunRYwt0jCh7xTCDnGWe7NXogPp7_h0A8Ufe1JOXnQwa4RfuHQvopKkRxki5ZWUqL4Waz67zF9R/s320/CIMG5937.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div></div>Desi and his best friend Jannis were the pirates of the day!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxlkRypQiJQSRwXVQei6c0B94cguL4AUQu7XCSlpygK-ho5WPUhmD7R-eRk0cScsj-Ci-lhMtjvh7zBQs8sB3VGiem_Elc_rqMZa2TqxCewrvxbchUKkyTmhxeTHnWa5NScXL8JrAehp7/s1600-h/CIMG5938.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304592863361973810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxlkRypQiJQSRwXVQei6c0B94cguL4AUQu7XCSlpygK-ho5WPUhmD7R-eRk0cScsj-Ci-lhMtjvh7zBQs8sB3VGiem_Elc_rqMZa2TqxCewrvxbchUKkyTmhxeTHnWa5NScXL8JrAehp7/s320/CIMG5938.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div>One of Desi's teacher was also a pirate!<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL57KoYqNmoM5ik78rg9oabGWuhQeaUjYp3H9psijb5bZxgpN883RH71vddvGLzEw2pFL9y4rkc4hQTjiMyBlRO6XAaSd0nhVZT5ARMzifZi0Vy1aPfger2ZJo-29m5RVfgrjgysTRO-Z/s1600-h/CIMG5939.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304589870693702194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL57KoYqNmoM5ik78rg9oabGWuhQeaUjYp3H9psijb5bZxgpN883RH71vddvGLzEw2pFL9y4rkc4hQTjiMyBlRO6XAaSd0nhVZT5ARMzifZi0Vy1aPfger2ZJo-29m5RVfgrjgysTRO-Z/s320/CIMG5939.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Desi's friend Tobi. His dog even had a matching costume.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVtjrhpIaRETf3W2HHNgrheXhauCV6M1J2Hm6WnrCv1uK3We82h42f0cLJTCtpa-C2nUtxBjKs8PIED7Pf0uOrmy_poaZv_VmeuQQdg1HftKVufDwrk1SdQC-tWHHL0OWrCKFoWgP3nqv/s1600-h/CIMG5940.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304590161032952978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVtjrhpIaRETf3W2HHNgrheXhauCV6M1J2Hm6WnrCv1uK3We82h42f0cLJTCtpa-C2nUtxBjKs8PIED7Pf0uOrmy_poaZv_VmeuQQdg1HftKVufDwrk1SdQC-tWHHL0OWrCKFoWgP3nqv/s320/CIMG5940.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Random view of the parents being kicked out. look at all those kids. wow. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Happy Fasching to everybody!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-14938240564773092872009-02-07T21:54:00.005+01:002009-06-05T09:00:44.020+02:00Glassesok so this is not the post that i just wrote. I just wrote the one about the snow, but blogger does not like me and killed my post. I will just do that one then next week when i have more time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Desi just got his glasses today. He really likes them! yay! He is farsighted and has astigmatism in one eye. He had a ball picking out the frames. Here is what he chose! Enjoy:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300162369020510466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRUeDzzZ083OVH73aFcEkTEt119xBNWpIsyq8E5zCCHnsqX8Iwpia09cumJPk_kR4wxtnyfiVVCIXWeAcKhxZRuL-3VZL7pMhS-n0dvjbqDax35WSbo5nCpUcVvC_csfu1v_3S2m8G3tw/s320/CIMG5910.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p>Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post. I will definantly be using the advice and most likely be rereading those wonderful comments often because I have a feeling this is going to be a battle for a long time. I will update everyone on the situation after we see a speech therapist probably next month sometime after our lives quiet down a little bit.</p><p><3></p>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-63236290083227661322009-02-04T21:15:00.004+01:002009-06-05T09:01:09.692+02:00I need some advice...I have held off on posting this week (well last week) because I didn't want to turn my blog into a complaining place.<br /><br />On the other hand I would like to get this off my chest.<br /><br />I went to Desi's very first parent teacher conference this past monday. It was scheduled so I knew that he was not in trouble or anything, but I was most definantly not prepared for what I heard.<br /><br />It strated off well. Desi can cut very precisly with scissors. He is the only 4-year-old in his class that can write his name (kindergarten classes are usually a mix of kids ages 3-7. Kids usually go for 3 years kind of like a preschool setting). He has lots of friends. His shyness is much less now. He works very precisly and concetrated when building or the like. He is very inteseted in technical things. On and on. She did say that during group time Desi tends to not pay attention, but to be honest I remember when I got in trouble for that in the 2nd grade. I still zone out during class for no reason.<br /><br />The next point was the bad one. She said that Desi's German is not very good. He makes more grammatical mistakes than normal for his age group and she has to repeat instructions several times before he seems to understand them leading her to also think that he does not understand German that well.<br /><br />This was like nail to my heart. I really didn't know what to say to her.<br /><br />I think for this to make sense I should back track a little bit. Desi is not Maik's biological son. Come on look at the pictures. For us this is not a big deal. Maik has been in Desi's life since he was 6 months old. Desi was born in the USA. For the first year (and i mean exactuly 5 days after his first birthday we left) Desi heard only English. Maik only spoke English to him, because he did not want to confuse him (that is another story). Anyway after we got here Desi began be BILINGUALLY raised. I only speak English to him and Maik only speaks German. The Germany influence in his life is HUGE. I don't have any English speaking friends here and apart from speaking English to me and watching some English dvd's, Desi's English influence is very small.<br /><br />So back to this conference. The teacher (who speaks VERY little English) thinks that Desi's English is much better than his German and that the English influence in his life is too much and that I (who can not even pass German at school) should stop speaking English (to my own child) and only speak German to him (so that i can no longer communicate and did i mention that grammar is awful!?!?) so that his German improves.<br /><br />I still don't know how to respond to this. I read everything I can find on the topic of bilingualism. I read through all the methods, the different types of bilingualism, the effects, the problems, and what good can come of it. In our life it is nessacery that Desi (and all following children) be bilingual. My family cannot speak German, nor Maik's family English. Aside from that Desi is bilingual in the very sense of he has two native languages. From what I have read at this point it would most likely harm him more to take him out of the bilingual enviornment.<br /><br />My main question is: did I do something wrong? I mean Desi's problem seems to be that the minority language (English) is better that the enviornment language (German). That is not common. I don't know why this is. I would like to point out though: I waited over 2 years to hear my child's first word. I had to wait almost another year to hear his first sentance. Yes Desi did not start to talk until he was 3. I think that what he learned speech wise in the past one and half years is increadable. On the other hand I really cannot say anything about his German. I really don't know if it is that bad, but i can say that his English needs work. He makes a lot of grammar mistakes that I know are from German and I can imagine vice versa.<br /><br />We plan in March to (once all our testing is done) take him to a speech therapist and have his speech and all that jazz evaluated. Other than this I am at a loss. I could really use some advice. I don't think raising him bilingually is a bad thing, nor do think we should stop what we are doing. I just don't know how to explain that to anyone.<br /><br />If you read this far, thank you. I would really value your imput. I promise next post will have pictures of fun in this snow!<br /><br />lots of love,<br />amyAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-407768976092540102009-01-26T17:45:00.006+01:002009-01-26T18:09:40.054+01:00Model no?<div><div>I love my son. I love him more than anything and would never trade him. I must admit though. I really wanted a girl. I think that was because I was afraid of raising a boy. I didn't, don't and probably never will really know anything about boys. Anyway, the point of that was to say I think sometimes the side of me that wishes I had a little girl to dress up takes over and the result is well have a look:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ag1z_C0x4cJk8eI4dVoOH2nE6LOD3HvExTZeiFH9nxVlGhHjrp8VitY-ER5c6vB_MuXEwn1EIigRk6ot1hSDbbf8kTcmUZC_Ple59TLEWMcxdgk46IuGy1J-BQYEhmrayu1a1vkBXiRB/s1600-h/CIMG5819.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295647641756786994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ag1z_C0x4cJk8eI4dVoOH2nE6LOD3HvExTZeiFH9nxVlGhHjrp8VitY-ER5c6vB_MuXEwn1EIigRk6ot1hSDbbf8kTcmUZC_Ple59TLEWMcxdgk46IuGy1J-BQYEhmrayu1a1vkBXiRB/s320/CIMG5819.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><p align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ag1z_C0x4cJk8eI4dVoOH2nE6LOD3HvExTZeiFH9nxVlGhHjrp8VitY-ER5c6vB_MuXEwn1EIigRk6ot1hSDbbf8kTcmUZC_Ple59TLEWMcxdgk46IuGy1J-BQYEhmrayu1a1vkBXiRB/s1600-h/CIMG5819.JPG"></a></p><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:+0;">Desi actually liked the outfit too! I really spent about 20 minutes choosing something then another 20 on his hair. All of this just to go to a birthday party. hehe.</span></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Here is a close up on his hair and cute face:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5-rxbpgU6kI6XzJEYFttjsY8S1dqZ5OQJhKhJ_WlfkPDH52iMZF_2lWpCHvB5ZTpR1bb-Tf1g4IO4A_UbrvGLavART6jkijCAJpA9cgyOlQMLXaWV6Y3aG-aOYMo_yss_doIkOKUFeir/s1600-h/CIMG5820.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295649182112549602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5-rxbpgU6kI6XzJEYFttjsY8S1dqZ5OQJhKhJ_WlfkPDH52iMZF_2lWpCHvB5ZTpR1bb-Tf1g4IO4A_UbrvGLavART6jkijCAJpA9cgyOlQMLXaWV6Y3aG-aOYMo_yss_doIkOKUFeir/s320/CIMG5820.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes well that was our weekend. We did have a good time at the party. It was nice to see family. I didn't take any pictures though. I wish I would have, the kids were playing so cute!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Something a little off topic. Desi has Handball on mondays. Today when went to pick him up I found out just how German he is!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295650269021515858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5Y-1xuovHAqN1-CDr29dDwd-EYuBtBpSAkgi19ey1XibJ0OO4cB1hbKOv7584SlNB6jWmw0emF5ttD0gzHfTWwM1jFv6WycXhfFg3jFpSWOZJugI0RyBrjqQHdmxp8jn1VsnbVljdyKi/s320/CIMG5821.JPG" border="0" />Today the National German Handball team is playing and all the kids got German flag stamps on there cheeks. Very fitting as Desi and I just got our visas extended for two years today!</div><div> </div><div><3 amy<br /><div></div></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-17257501835080362872009-01-20T14:37:00.002+01:002009-01-20T14:49:45.666+01:00A cup of teaThat is exactly what i need to get through this week. ok well the next few weeks. I don't really have too much say. I really wanted to post on Sunday when i had some time to write something nice, but i was at my sister-in-laws house (that Baileys cake was amazing) visiting.<br /><br />We got to see their new apartment. It is one floor down from the one they live in now, but it is amazing. I love how big it is and the layout. I don't like the tile in hall, but i don't like tile anywhere except the bathroom anyway. The kitchen is a bit small, but i don't think she is that much into cooking. In return they have a huge living room combinded sort of dining room. in other words there is a large archway connecting the rooms. They also have some nicely placed storage space. all in all i like the apartment.<br /><br />I ended up getting sick. I would just like to say that when i get sick, i get really sick. I still don't feel well, but i managed to go to school today so i guess i am not that bad off. I hate going to doctors or staying home because i am sick. i always feel like i am not sick enough to need to. I felt this way yesterday and found out had i not gone yesterday i would be in bed with over 100° fever. Glad i went.<br /><br />Just a little bit about keeping my new years resolutions:<br /><ul><li>diet is going great! i really recomment myfitnesspal.com it makes it easier to stay on track. I have already lost 4-4.5 lbs in two weeks. i am very amazed and motivated.</li><li>I have been scrapping like crazy (when i have time) I finally finished the Christmas eve pictures and post so if you want have a look, just click on the christmas eve tag. </li><li>I am trying to keep up here and so far so good.</li><li>i forgot the 4th one. oh well.</li></ul><p>i am working hard for school and i can't wait for it to be over. </p><p>i guess that really sums everything up. i will try for a better post next week. Now i have to start on the the christmas day pictures.</p>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-35426738483979120462009-01-10T23:46:00.003+01:002009-06-05T09:02:13.854+02:00My dear brotherThis is one of my brothers. The younger one. We are really close even with an age difference of like 7 years. He is so smart and sweet. I know that one day he will go on to do wonderful things. I love you Brian!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289800721449092178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rlWfKGdyL_3aAdJRqzKY7N_ajKZxfSsaxa6F8J4M_6Zx6wPvofKgcuHDYBE6g8szp4t5QdPZ1KL38X7XceP1pb50lkBzvtCkpFJr3OUSG7NQcbPa-inLpv84rixruvfEblop5IRfi7Z7/s320/Brian-+internet+size.JPG" border="0" />Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-46455769793470707392009-01-08T17:06:00.003+01:002009-01-08T17:17:39.552+01:001st Anniversary<div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>Today is my first wedding anniversary. I have been together with my husband for 4 years but we only got married just last year. It was small and not the wedding i want to have one day, but i really felt it was more important that we were married and the wedding will come when we can afford it. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I really have to say that it was one the happiest moments of my life. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Maik, </div><br /><br /><br /><div>I love you more anything in the world. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. We fight sometimes, but i know the alternative. We both know where you end up without communication. I know we have kinks to work out, but i wouldn't trade my life for anything else in the world.</div><div> </div><div>i love you</div><div> </div><div>Amy</div><div> </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288957374727368946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV4ROvt6y6x9grUMvbBPBFslK8rsEeeKxSWk9HOUPaYVf7a2hAIz_a0u2J9vsmew9dORjfYAiDAFFAIbM5cZb7fJr2EBkkI2gy0QNhpqxLechTRGGBAErAg7OLj8TX6mbXW-20BWghL0X/s320/CIMG0306.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288957385479870082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk-BZbXkeOhq_QLUAraO9io3l2eeYa-AIWjUUJDCkYAkShrzEhcI76mJrIOIB9IV7faTqUta5lI0OkNoo9TqSKxQ4_X4LcigNHYQeSWgdy1Vp7qaK4Nfa3DVTV132_21VdFgE-PCp1O06/s320/P1130017.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288957394682824274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZis8uNLiLxJI49Nz3mZ6fqGwx0GpdrLx3YhkAJfS-FNJ-O_hLFYs7Auyj4fQMA3Xw5EO2ZGevcaC-bA6XmgQZ9bvkj5hQ-UaEaFQphx0EVlK-5ArVHWLqyggOwmkzXiK6ON_6KxbhKzv/s320/P1130094.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-77076058817891611232009-01-01T22:40:00.000+01:002009-01-01T22:46:16.315+01:00New years resolutionI want to post my resolutions here because i think i may keep some of them this year!<br /><br />here they are:<br /><br /><ul><li>To blog here at least once a week</li><li>to scrapbook more</li><li>take more pictures</li><li>lose weight</li></ul><p>i really think i will do it all this year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>happy new year everyone!</p><p> </p><p> </p>Amy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336733734310838684.post-76847318190713985922009-01-01T22:37:00.000+01:002009-01-01T22:40:53.599+01:00New year's eveThis new years eve was similar to christmas eve. bad moods all around. most of it is due to the passing of Maik's grandmother today. She was 93.<br /><br />Nevertheless we celebrated the passing of a new year. Welcome 2009 we all hope you hold more for us than 2008 did!<br /><br />pictures to comeAmy in Germanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250584718716046045noreply@blogger.com0