Sunday, November 30, 2008

Christmas Markets here and there


We went to the Geilenkirchen christmas market this weekend and had a good time walking a bit of the city (it was the first time we had really walked around GK proper.) After being here for nearly two weeks scored our first currywurst for lunch.

we tried to go to another local market today, but by the time we got there, both kids had fallen asleep in the car, it was raining and we would have had to park rather far away and slog through the rain-- didn't seem like it was worth waking them up for it.

we have decided that b/c we will either have no stuff or very discombobulated stuff for Christmas that we'll spend Christmas week in Nurnberg at the mother of all Christmas markets, seems like a good year to do it

Both GK and Heinsberg have children's play equipment on random street corners (see above). C likes to go exploring now 'cause he never knows what he's going to find!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Heinsberg-- flying solo

Our guesthouse is in the town of Heinsberg. Earlier this week a friend and I walked down town for lunch. However with three kids in tow, two of whom were sick and all of whom alternated between fits of whining, kvetching, and general complaining, what I saw of Heinsberg that day remains a bit of a blur. Until my stroller stash gets here, walking outings with both kids are less than ideal. I have to carry B, which is no big deal, really, 'cause he's still such a lightweight. My garagantuan preschooler, on the other hand, presents a problem. C still would rather ride than walk -- and the 20 minute walk downtown is too much for him anyway-- but the only stroller I have with me simply isn't designed to hold my 50lb monster, especially over curbs and cobblestones.

However, D came home after lunch yesterday and after feeding both kiddos and getting them tucked into bed for their naps, I went back to Heinsberg, this time flying solo.

'Twas the first solo time I'd had since we landed and had a lovely time in and out of the children boutique, the toy store, the stationary store, and a second hand shop or two. I found the German version of the dollar store (which really and truly looks very much like the American version of a dollar store), stopped to try on some shoes, and lingered to sip some Gluvein at one of the booths in the market.On one hand I do wish C was with me because he would have like the pseudo-puppetshow thing I happened accross in the market, but we can take him back one day, just for that.

The wee bit of solo exploring makes me feel a bit more human and not quite the bumbling, incompetent American.

This morning, I ventured out with both kiddos. We grabbed a snack at the local bakery and then came back to a playground right around the corner from our guesthouse. C has a very interesting playground ethic. When he's at the playground with other kids he *always always always* convinces the other kids to get on the equipment first; that way it's their bottoms that dry of the morning dew. Today there were no other kids and C gets to the top of the slide, pauses at the platform, sees the water, and looks at me and asks, "where's W?". (W is our 2.5 year old friend in town). Disappointed he was when he realized he'd have to dry the slide himself today!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy American Thanksgiving!


Today is just another ol Thursday over here. Yet, it's still a good time to stop and count some of our many blessings, including all of our family and friends. We've been invited to thanksgiving dinner at friends on Saturday, but today D had to go to some meetings and the boys and I made banana bread. I had to open a temperature converter on the computer to know what tto set the oven at. (Note: 350 F is 176 C). I couldn't find any measuring devices, so it was really guess-a-bread on the proportions... we'll see how it turns out. I think I got pretty close using a 5oz baby bottle I'm carrying around.

This week has been a wee bit crazy. The boys have been to the Doctor both with bacteiral bronchitis. I was at the dentist with what I thought was a root canal, but thankfully turned out to only be an uneven filling.

The Christmas markets start here in earnest this weekend, so will try to get to one in the next couple of days.

It snowed here this week (from what I hear an unusual occurence, especially this early in the year) so C had fun frolicking in it. I can post some pictures as soon as I find the camera cord.


D is looking for a used car this week. Here's something you don't normally think to check out before buying. Achtung Automarder! - Local Pests

Have an extra helping of Turkey todayy for us!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

To Sittard

Today we wandered over to Sittard in the Netherlands. From what I hear we'll be there a great deal, seems like folks around here are always saying, "When I was over at Sittard..."

Todays destination was the open air market and then lunch at bagels and beans. If you go, C highly recommends the double chocolate muffin.


After lunch we went a little further to Shinnen so D could look at TVs and C could play on the indoor playplace as it 'twas mighty cold here today (a few snow flurries even). The indoor playplace, however, ajoins the bowling alley and C had more fun watching the bowling. He cheered each person on as they stepped to the line and then offered the heartiest of congratulations whether they threw a strike or a gutter ball. Me thinks that we might have a bowling birthday this year, hmmmm?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Mcs have landed

What day is it? The boys seem to have adjusted ok and slept full nights last night with normal naps today, D and I, however, are still operating on EST and are two mighty tired travelers.

The trip itself went really well, a couple of seating snafus on the plane and a really long wait to clear customs, but otherwise uneventful. C has earned the preschooler of the year award; he's just been an angel (and angel isn't typically the word I use to describe the boy)

Didn't see anything of brussels other than what you see along the interstate, namely brief glimpse of the Atomium, but it's not a far drive and might be one of our first day trips once the car arrives.

Our guest house is lovely and the owner's a dear.
http://www.gaestehauscosima.de./