Sunday, March 31, 2013

one little bunny

행복한 부활절  - haengboghan buhwaljeol -

 doesn't seam so difficult, but I just can't pronounce it right today. :)

so simply

Happy Easter! or Frohe Ostern!




We failed miserably coloring our easter eggs marbelized with shaving cream and food coloring after the instructions from pinterest, BUT the kids had a blast and made a big mess. Shaving cream was everywhere. We should just have skipped the eggs and it would have been the same fun. LOL. We hope you spend a wonderful weekend and if possible with your family and all your loved ones. 




Saturday, March 30, 2013

hammer & nails


The last two weeks are a little bit more of a change in my day as usually. I started a new job and leave the house right after all the kids are off with the school bus. I am supposed to work part-time, but until after all necessary appointments and training is done I am happy if I make it back before the kids come home with the bus again. Then my college books and papers are still waiting for me, but I was too tired, so now I have to catch up quite a bit. 
Last Saturday was the day we had to get everything done for the week including a trip to the hardware store. I needed wood for our veggy boxes and the kids picked up wood building kits.


Our front porch turns on those days in the woodshop until we can chase out the last wasp from the shed. All three kids were busy and almost coming along. :) No screams as far as being hit by a flying hammer and by now besides minor mishap they can build these pretty cool kits from Lowes all by themselves. We already have several from their free workshops and Soren loves especially the truck and the race car which really cool.



Soren collected all the badges from the previous workshops and eventually I have to sew them onto something like a craftsman vest or tool belt for him.


Guess who was right in the middle between kids, wood, hammers and nails? Brynne bee of course. Afterwards Bella and me built the two veggy planters for the garden. It took us a little to find the right screws, but eventually the first one was done and the second one soon after. They are not necessarily so beautiful, but after we weeded out the grass - the one spot where actually some is growing greener as anywhere as - sadly - and we added compost, soil and seedlings, it should be overlooked.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

a pretty normal day


I played in the sand box, dug in the cable salad under the desks, rode Soren's scooter, chased the dog, raced with a caterpillar, saw two lamas kissing, and drank coffee for dinner. Call it a pretty normal day.

Monday, March 18, 2013

alligator recipe


How is your day when you find an alligator in your bathroom sink? Are there really more words necessary!?
It's the end.

Not the end of the world, just the end of spring break, sleeping in, being lazy and kids free time.

I  have not clue who planted the alligator in the sink, I am just quite sure it did crawl in it by itself, the sink is pretty high up. :), but for once I am not necessarily accusing Chiara in the first place. She was busy anyway, helping cleaning the kitchen up so she could try how her recipe "Brownie in a cup".


All the kids sampled it, liked it and made their own afterwards, just one thinks a little less sugar would be a good idea. Here is the original recipe handwritten by Chiara. Just as a hint. Soak your cups really well afterwards for cleaning. Guten Appetit.




all the way in the water

I had only two kids in tow when we made our way to town for an errand on Saturday, quite convient when Bella and I can look and Soren manages to fit in the shopping cart just fine - or barely - but he had one of the seldom chances to play on my Kindle and was happy to let us browse. All set after the one store - I usually only go to one store if possible better even to none and Soren was ready for another trip to the lake. 
We met Tina and her kids there, she even brought the missing third one of mine along.


 The temperature was higher as a few days ago, but the wind a lot more, too. Can you see the sand flying on the little island in the lake? Nothing was safe that wasn't held on. Believe me. And we had a BBQ planned ... hahaha ... everything flew  ... from hamburger bun bags dancing like arabic snakes above the trash cans  to ketchup off the hotdog and you even had to hold to the salad on your plate. BUT the kid had a blast and you  definitely didn't feel your sunburn in all the wind until you left.


Bella is a little picky where she is swimming no matter what the water temperature is, but all the little ones were continously in and out the water till the evening. In between the colected roks and shells and of course dug in the mud. We fed them with snacks and BBQ and were one of the last ones to leave this time around.




Sunday, March 17, 2013

counting time

We are experts in counting time. I could list you countless examples ... Chiara is most annoyed with the the ever repeating one ... one every single car ride ... and the reason why my ipod is playing rather loud ... Soren is counting from one to 100 by the time we passed Oakalla Road and the airport he is at 200 after missing my turn to the lake he ended up at 2000. So I think any long distance roadtrips are currently out of question, because Soren would not survive Chiara. ... We also counting the days, months .. saying goodbye to the army permanently definitely.


Spring break day 4 - we stayed home and planned on being lazy, however we ended up working in the garden and started preparing our vegetable plots. We are getting ready to fence it off again to keep everythig save from nosy dogs, however after being chased by red wasp and separated from the tools in the shed where those wasps found their home again we got a stop. Some of the participants including the dog thought being lazy was way better anyway in any shady spot they found.



There's not much you can do then anymore!

Friday night - one stayed home, one wasn't feeling well, so out of five I took three kids skating. The ring was filled this time even with a skating coach and I am pretty proud that none of the three were hanging on the edge this time but trying their best turning rounds. 

- Soren -

- Becca & Chiara -


- friends -

- Soren -

He really did not hang on the side anymore, just peeked over and now even figured out how to get back on he rollerskates again when he falls. :) We might have a date with the skating ring once a while perfect for winter and hot summers.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

sand ... sun ... water


sun ... sand .. water ... a day at the beach of dana peak, texas.

We are a little bit late in the year to go out to the lake about a month and a couple of degrees highe rin temperatures higher as usually, but 77 degrees and almost no wind was just perfect for a day outside. Of course, the kids didn't need more as minutes to be in the water and were digging in the sand and mud for hours. They collected shells between in the rocks and the driftwood from the last storm. We also were the only once for the most part. Wasn't that neat.


The usual area marked area for swimming at Dana Peak was laying out on dry land and we walking and sat comfortably on it. Ir was a little bit of an eyesore for taking pictures but perhabs we have enough rainstorms still coming that even the Stillhouse lake is filling up again. You can always hope.


Everybody was enjoying the sun, standing, sitting, laying, on the rocks, in the water, in the sand on just lounging on the blankets .... for hours ... the kids are worn out and by now mine volunteerly went to bed ... all three. Hihihihi.



None of the little ones were ready to leave, but finally with lots of hugs, hands full of treasures and promises to come back .... we all had to leave for today.



Monday, March 11, 2013

Spring break continues and Oz stay away

Day two was something. Definitely. Soren had a playdate planned with Melly and first was totally against it. No and no again. Not without his Chiara. What to do. Plain nothing. We are just go and sleep a night over it while his Chiare is having a sleepover without him. :) Next day Soren is totally ready for an afternoon with his little girlfriend undisturbed by his little sister or shall we call her medium sister because she is absolutely not the big one. We still need the correct definition for this sister of his or just keep calling her Chiara or trouble. He was dropped of and Bella's remark was: 'Now it is like it used to be!' She definitely surprised me, because she usually tries to get rid off her sister and keeps that 'sweet' little brother close by.

So we were off to the movies to watch Oz the Great ans Powerful. The trailer looked pretty interesting for all three of us I believed. The girls were all excited and loved the movie and I always love the previews in the movie theatres. Threy are just the best. And that was just about it, because I don't remember much more about the first half of the movie because I fell asleep. It was not so interesting. Perhaps I should have remembered why I have never read a Wizard of the Oz story before beside the first page. Serouslt. Perhaps it's an American thing. I truly apologize. But even the second hour I baerely stayed awake in the movie theatre. The concession stand didn't sell coffee, the soda didn't work well and I only stayed awake because I was freeze my b*** off. Does that explain it. I couldn't wait for the movie to be over. Next time it's the redbox or ust the internet again. :)  And a blanket with some yummy snacks aand any drinks warm and cold becaue I have a working heater and a/c  deppending o the outside temperature :)))))     However spring break day 2 was a success for the kids. Just Oz stay away from me.



Day three was warm. No heater required, because we spent it outside it the park of course with a little friend again and it's cute little Melly. After we haven't seen her for so many weeks we use the days off to catch up with her and Patrizia. Somebody gave me the idea off cycling. Unfortunately I can't fit my bike neither on my car, behind or inside it, but two we can just stuffed in it. So Soren and Chiara happily rode their bikes on the walking trail back and forth around the playground instead just on our road while I chatted with Patrizia a lot in German. It's so nice skipping Englisg for a while even I won't understand everthing while she speaks with her daughter in Polish :). 

- drei kleine und grosse Racker - 

While those three and the biggest one of all were keeping themselves busy  I took some photos of the mom to be. We did not really plan ahead of what to do exactly. But Patrizia is such a beautiful woman nevertheless even you have to keep telling her and her baby belly is just adorable. She is so cute. I am really glad that she is my friend. Thank you.


 Aren't those two just too cute? Mom and daughter? And there is going to be another sweet girl added!!!



dancing in the rain

Spring break already started and very wet indeed. Friday night we stayed simply in the kids lounged in front of the living room and watched TV and I tortured the sewing machine. After years I actually tried sewing a shirt for myself.  I do have great friends who all said that the shirt is wearable however if it would fit me in a smaller size then I would love it a lot more.
It was an attempt using a stretching thin material including making my own pattern for a very reasonable price of the fabric called bargain.



 - me and silly Soren and the shirt - 


On Saturday it started with sprinkling and just continued with pouring down. The rain did not stop us from the leaving the house. We love the rain. We all own umbreallas, too. If we use them that's a totally different question.



We went to the public library to stock up on books for all the kids to read and to find a 'Pete the Cat' book for Soren. I never heard about Pete before, but Soren is hooked on Pete and since the book fair at the school it is all about Pete the Cat is Rocking in his School Shoes. All my kids love books. Here is proof. :)



Because there is limit possibilities what we can do in a down pour in we did not want to go shopping we stopped in McDonalds for an ice cream snack and to meet friends. Bella met her book and was occupied the whole time. Chiara was a little silly and reading, too, and Soren on the other side was just jumping off the walls. The soaked and closed playground there Can you see it in there yes?




Friday, March 8, 2013

german cooking on the menu

Soren's helping out with my pins and his conversation with my pincushion.

Soren: Mommy, what are these called?
Me: Nadeln. 
Soren. Nadeln, you won't poke me. You won't make me scream, needles.



School is out for spring break and with the drizzling outside it is the perfect evening to just lounge in the house with some home cooking. For a change I actually truly cooked German tonight even the kids are not absolutely happy about my choice of dinner. They love Bratwurst, but not necessarily Sauerkraut, but once a while I crave it even it is not on our regular menu.  I tried a new version with added bacon and apple today which turned out delicious and less sour as just cooking plain sauerkraut. Pst. Soren is just coming again to eat another serving of brats.

German Bratwurst and Sauerkraut

  • 6 slices of bacon
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • clove garlic, crushed
  • can of sauerkraut
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 Tbs. brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. chicken stock powder
  • 1 tsp. caraway seed
  • 1 lb. beer brats
  • 1 large apple, peeled and sliced

Cook bacon over medium high heat 4-5 minutes until crisp. Crumble and set aside. Discard all but 2 Tbs. drippings from skillet. Reduce heat to medium. 

Cook onion and garlic in the bacon drippings 4-5 minutes until tender. Stir in sauerkraut and and the rest of the ingredients besides the apple slices. Increase heat to high. Add up to 1/2 cup more water, if necessary, to cover potatoes. Bring to a boil. Add the brats to sauerkraut mixture. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are just tender, stirring occasionally. Add the sliced apple and crumbled bacon. Cover and cook 5-10 minutes more or until apples are just tender. Serve.


The kitchen is not cleaned yet, but Soren's keeps eating anyway so it can wait a little longer while I enjoy a glass of wine and make my pattern for a shirt. I am actually attempting to sew clothes, something I haven't done for a while and not for myself for a long time. 

Thursday, March 7, 2013

We are not growing bananas in the yard!


These cucumber seedlings do not fit in the miniature plastic green house anymore and are calling for bigger pots. Cucumbers and also the first squash seedlings are looking good. Everything else needs some more time, eve more sprouts are already seen. Soren was ready to get his hands dirty and helped preparing the new containers for the seedlings with Bella. We had to move our greenhouse from the back porch to the front because it could not withstand the wind when it once started. Nothing is able to hold up in our yard if it if it is not moving with the wind or held by down by cement. Hopefully at least our little veggie garden will grow this year.


Right after the two little ones left for the school bus in the morning, Bella peaked in the kitchen when she heard me making muffins with the overripe bananas from the top of the fridge. Banana bread or banana muffins are not the most favorite baked good in the house, but this time I had to convince Soren to leave some for breakfast in the morning so he definitely approved of the banana-chocolate chips-oatmeal muffins.

banana-chocolate chips-oatmeal

3-4 ripe bananas
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup melted butter

1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup oatmeal
1/1 cup chocolate chips

Mix the first 4 ingredients, set aside. Then mix the rest of the ingredients. Add it to the banana mix and fill it muffins forms either oiled or lined with paper. Heat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 20 minutes.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Spec's


Loving a liquor store does probably not rather harm my reputation instead of improving it, but next to the Oh!Mart - Asian grocery store and the Hobbylobby it is one of my favorite stores in the next town. I can take care of most of my errands around here and only occasionally make it into Killeen since shopping is definitely not one of my favorite things to do. But I love stopping at Spec's, an Texan liquor chain store with a huge variety of special things from alcohol to specialty food. There are not many places you could find Limoncello for sale or four different types of Irish cream in all sizes. It is interesting to browse through the aisles and see all the bottle and label designs and the huge selection of wines from all different countries. But I definitely ALWAYS stop at the rack with the Haribo gummies. Spec's has the biggest selection of Haribo gummies (produced in the States), even I am missing my favorite Haribo gummies which are only made in Germany. Thirteen years ago Leland and I lived just a tow away from the Haribo factory in Germany and visiting it was definitely worth it. But Spec's has an even bigger incentive, they sell cigars. I am not a smoker, but I do love cigar boxes and also the smell of them.Spec's sells empty cigar boxes for $1.49 that includes paper and wooded cigar boxes. I used them already for wrapping gifts and of course kept some for myself whenever I can find one. and the last one works perfectly for the collection of stamps we own which got collected it a Pooh Bear shoe box before - since the girls were little. Definitely an improvement for organizing!

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