Well, we have now been in Germany for 7 weeks now. We are starting to get into the swing of our new life here. Everyone keeps telling us that we will just get life figured out here in a year and then have to return home. I have been told this a few times, which is super encouraging;-) However, I predict we will find our groove much sooner! We have kept busy. Peyton is loving ballet. She is super uncoordinated, so it is adorable watching her try to skip along and follow the moves in ballet. Apparently, the dance gene is inherited. Besides the general dance, Peyton follows along really well and is not concerned that the instruction is entirely in German (or should I say Deutsch). I realize I always tell people I don't speak German, but I should be saying Deutsch. Yes, I have become more intelligent since I came here. Anyways, please try and follow my rambling mind in the written form. Micah is doing well. She is all over the place all of the time. Most of the time she has sand, pieces of garbage or something easy to choke on in her mouth. I feel like it is impossible for me to turn my head that quickly and see her about to fall off something or eating something she shouldn't, or destroying someone's property. I feel like I really earn my time off when the kids go to bed. However, the girls are doing well. They are happy (most of the time) and adjusting. Peyton needs some more friends and to socialize more, so we are slowly finding her things to do and people to visit. We walk a lot every day, so they spend quite a bit of time in the stroller. We have to bring lots of snacks to keep them happy. Micah has eaten far more sweets and treats at this age than Peyton did at this age. Micah just wants everything Peyton has. In the car if Micah even hears a rustling of a wrapper, we hear the constant screaming of, "Pease, pease, pease." It's funny though because as exhausting as kids can be and as exciting it is when they go to bed, Robb and I find ourselves telling stories about things they did that were so cute or made us laugh. So, though in many ways it would have been easier to do this before we had kids, the memories will be that much better with them.
There are many crepe kiosks and they are so good.
Peyton before her ballet class.
Peyton always wants to push her stroller around the streets and when we go out shopping, "Like all the other kids do". I am pretty sure we saw one kid do this once, but you know, everyone's doing it.
This is the park right by our apartment. It is all sand, thus the kids are dirty all of the time.
This is in Peyton's room. Sometimes Micah and Peyton have the cutest moments.
We took a day trip out to Worms (Verms), with the director from Robb's school. It was really nice of him to chauffeur our whole family and tour us around. He took us to the Cathedral of St Peter. We got there later in the afternoon and the caretaker just let us sneak in before he closed the church for the day. It was beautiful. The Cathedral was famous as Martin Luther was invited to recant his teachings, and he was enthusiastically welcomed by the town. On the steps he refused to recant his teachings and denied the authority of the Pope. His famous statement was
Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.
After this statement he was declared an outlaw and after his 21 days of safe travel expired, anyone was able to kill him with no punishment. It is amazing to be in these places with such history.
Micah hanging out with the architect of the church.
Robb also went to a professional premiere league soccer match between Mainz and Hoffenheim. The game was in Mainz, which is about 15 minutes from Wiesbaden. The friends he went with were cheering for Hofenheim. So, he had to stand in the guest box, which had its own separate underground entrance and concession. They were surrounded by a six foot cage and plexiglass to keep the Mainz fans and Hoffenheim fans separated, so a little different from the Blazers games;)
We also went to Dusseldorf for the day. Dusseldorf is about a 2 hour drive from Wiesbaden. We decided to go to see the city and attend Hillsong Germany, as Brian Houston, from Australia, was speaking for their ten year anniversary. Dusseldorf was really pretty, but as we went on a Sunday, most shops and places were closed. Basically on Sunday, things shut down here. We really needed diapers for Micah, but that was an unrealistic goal on a Sunday. Anyway, we went to the church an hour early and were lined up around the building. The worship was really good and the church was packed out. Brian Houston gave a really encouraging message on faith. I was even more encouraged by the fact that Robb had Micah in the nursery and I heard the whole thing. However, due to Micah's general craziness, people did leave the nursery eventually to hear the sermon, as Micah may have drowned him out.
Dusseldorf
This a very real picture of the girls not cooperating and Robb and I in an argument, but now we can look at this and be like yeah remember how "fun" that moment was:)
We went to a Mexican restaurant (which turned out to not be Mexican, but a German spin on Mexican which means Schnitzel with salsa) and the server brought this to Peyton as a surprise. Peyton's response, "Why is there an umbrella in there?"
Hillsong Germany
They supplied head phones for the babies:-) They lasted on Micah for the length of this picture!
Awesome pretzel sandwich at Robb's school. They know how to celebrate birthdays here!
One of those moments.
We just got back from Amsterdam this past weekend. Amsterdam is only about a 4 and a half hour drive. So, as it was Reunification Day on Friday (celebration of the Berlin wall coming down) we headed out of Germany;-) Also because of this holiday, the 4 hour drive took us like 8 hours. I was very excited because one of my best friends Erica, who I met in Hawaii when I was 19 at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) is currently living here. Erica and I have remained close and have been able to visit each other every few years since. The last time we saw each other was in 2012 when Erica came to Kamloops. Peyton was 6 months old at the time. This is always a great time and we can pick up right where we leave off. Erica set us up with housing at the YWAM Urban Base in Amsterdam which is about a ten minute walk to the downtown core. This was especially exciting, as it is so different being without good friends close by. It was great time with a wonderful friend, who is doing awesome things for God in Amsterdam. I even got to go out kid free and enjoy great conversation with a dear friend. We ate fries with the traditional Dutch mayonnaise and ketchup toppings and drank a coke in the city square on a beautiful, sunny day. I loved Amsterdam. It is beautiful, the canals, the buildings, the trees, the churches, everything. I would love to go back and visit again. I feel like everywhere you walked was gorgeous and there was always something amazing to see. We took a canal tour and both girls didn't cry at all. This was great because I could see people's looks as we got onto the small boat with them:) Before we came, some co-workers asked Robb if he was going to go to the "coffee shops" when he arrived. Of course Robb said absolutely unknowing what the true item for sale was. However, it turns out coffee shops and cafes have very different meanings. Coffee shops main menu item is weed, usually ten to twenty different types and flavours and you sit around and smoke it, maybe you could get a coffee too, but probably not. We did go to some cafes and drank some strong espresso. We also had chocolate sprinkles on bread for breakfast, a staple in the Dutch diet. Peyton decided she wants to be Dutch. Where else would you want to live if you could live in the Netherlands and have sprinkles for breakfast every morning!
Reunited!!!!
This building is sinking as the foundation is on wooden stilts.
As you can see these buildings are leaning forward because as stairways were so narrow, it was impossible to move big items in. Therefore, they put hooks on the outside and lean the building forward to hoist up large furniture.
Sprinkles for breakfast.
The beautiful canals.
I thought our parallel parking was bad at the house, but imagine parallel parking beside the canal. Some people need to exit from the passenger door when they park.
Approximately 600,000 bicycles in the city.
Central Station
House boats line the canals everywhere.
The before picture to the actual good picture. This is very common in every picture we take! However, you will note Robb always looks the same.
The finished product, on our canal tour. Okay, so it is still definitely not 100%, but Robb looks like he is trying to model, so all is good.
The palace.
Family picture.
Rembrandt's former house and museum.
Love her:)
What a babe!
What Europe may have looked like without the kids;-)
Anne Frank's house.
Beautiful street.
The kids favourite part of Amsterdam:)
So, life here is good. We did get our first speeding ticket as suspected. The cameras really get you and the speed signs change so fast. Robb blamed it on me as apparently, my job as the designated non-driver, is to watch for speed signs and inform him. I clearly failed, but the ticket was only 30 Euros, so not too bad. Robb is getting into more of routine at school. He is really enjoying the school, the kids may be teaching him more German and customs than he is teaching them English. The kids are trying to convince him that to be a popular teacher, he must stop giving them homework and tell them to watch movies instead. Robb lets them know he is okay with not being popular in Germany, as he has many friends in Canada. I think it is hard for Robb, as obviously to those of you who know him, know he charms people and uses his humour with new situations, (or in restaurants or stores when he wants a deal). So, not speaking German and not being sure of the culture, his humour and charm don't always work out to his advantage;-) He doesn't miss a beat though and isn't uncomfortable very often.
Some other exciting news is that we have our first guest! Oscar is visiting us, for anyone who doesn't know Oscar, Oscar is one of our closest friends who we have known since elementary school. He arrived yesterday. Peyton was really excited that Uncle Oscar got to watch her ballet class today and tells people he is from Canada. Peyton has been showing him the ropes in Germany. He just arrived yesterday, so now we can feel like German pros and tell him how to get by (ha ha not at all). So, October will be a busy month for us, as it started with our Amsterdam trip and then next Saturday we will be heading to Italy for just over a week. Robb has a two week school break in October. We are going to drive to Italy and explore a few cities. I will write an update some time after our vacation. I will be sitting in the back of the car between the two car seats, so I might go a little insane, we will see.
Random thoughts. You can get a $100 parking ticket while sitting in your vehicle with your seat belt on, the car running and the kids strapped in. The smell of marijuana all day was a welcomed change to the constant smell of cigarette smoke, then I changed my mind and wished for cigarette smoke again:) Children who eat dirt and other things they shouldn't really does seem to boost their immune system. Using the public washroom and paying 0.50 Euros seems like a deal now as some cost more. Brown sugar doesn't exist here. I'm really proud of the fact that I semi-learned the bus system. Buses are a luxury to children and I seem like a hero for allowing them to ride on it. Tap water in a restaurant costs about $4-5 Canadian and does not include refills.
Thank you everyone for reading this and being connected to us. Please pray we can find more outlets for Peyton to be more social and make some friends. Please keep emailing or messaging us about your life updates, we want to hear from home more! It can get lonely sometimes, I think you really learn to appreciate relationships, and things you have when you don't have them for a time. This is a lesson I have been learning and through that learning to rely and trust in the Lord. He is ever faithful to us.
