The Saturday Update

What a fabulous holiday week!  We had a busy weekend of shopping, wrapping and sending in a last minute dash to prepare for Christmas.  I never want to be that late again!  

We spent Christmas Eve visiting Nico's family with my Dad.  It was really lovely to catch up with everyone and the kids had a whale of a time.  It was nice to look forward to the new year too with an invitation to a family wedding.

Christmas was blissfully quiet.  Just the four of us at home with my Dad.  We had bacon sandwiches for breakfast and duck for dinner and in between we opened gifts, played and watched a couple of films.

Boxing day was similar with a visit from Nico's parents too.  It was nice to be relaxed.

Dad left on Thursday.  The kids were quite down but we had a lovely breakfast and bit of shopping before taking him to the station.

Yesterday I handed in my application for citizenship - just a six week wait to hear now.  We got a few bits and bobs done in the afternoon but we are definitely still in rest mode.

Today I have a hair appointment and then I need to get on top of a few jobs to have a quiet week next week.  I am loving this vague period between Christmas and New Year now that the Christmas stress is over.

The Saturday Update

Holidays!!

They didn't get here quick enough but we finally have two weeks off which are much needed right now.  We had a busy start to the weekend with the rennovations at Kindergarten.  

Monday was another Christmas party, this time at Isabella's dance class and then I spent the evening at the small animal clinic in Bremen with Pete.  We got his wound cleaned and closed and he is recovering well, despite his grumpiness at being housebound with a collar on.

Wednesday was manic.  I took Isabella to work with me as Kindergarten was short-staffed.  She was actually really good and almost too tired for her friend's birthday in the afternoon.  I had the Kindergarten staff Christmas meal which was really nice.  Then Dad arrived in the evening and we had a catch up.

On Thursday we took the kids around the Christmas market in Bremen and got the bus home.  It was a bit cold and wet but they enjoyed it.

I finally finished my Christmas shopping yesterday.  Work was really nice with an end of year show / celebration.  The school spirit is really strong and I'm feeling very glad to be working there.

Our new sofa finally arrived and it makes a huge difference.  Reall glad it's here for Christmas.

Today we did our big shop for the holidays and now we are getting bits and bobs done but it is a quiet weekend.  We are all tired so catching up on a bit of sleep too.

The Saturday Update

After a full work week, two Gonis parties, a committee meeting for Kindergarten, a Kindergarten Christmas party and helping out with rennovations this morning, we are soooo ready for the weekend.

It was also a very social week.  We had a few former colleagues last weekend, I also saw friends through the Gonis parties (and got my order in for the new catalogue - roll on 2019) and we saw lots of the other families at Kindergarten this week and that's one of the things I love about this time of year.

It was a good week but busy and tiring.  Next week is the last one before Christmas and should be a bit calmer.  Dad is arriving on Wednesday.  Once I have finished my Christmas shopping and done my cards, I will be able to relax a bit.

The Saturday Update

We've had a good week here. It was a busy but fun weekend celebrating Joshua's birthday and accompanying Isabella to a friend's birthday party.

Nico and Isabella were both under the weather at the start of the week but picked up over the last few days.

Isabella had a few playdates this week so the kids have been busy. Nico had his Christmas do with work. 

I finished a big project and managed to keep on top of things.

We're busy this weekend with guests coming tomorrow and I'm taking Isabella to a birthday party today. On top of that, I've promised the kids Christmas decorations today too...

The Saturday Update

We have had another busy, and fast disappearing week here.

We both had a full work week.  I had my first full staff meeting and a check in with my new boss.  Nico had his school's Christmas Fair.

Isabella had dancing, her friend's Bibi and Tina themed birthday party and a playdate with another Kindergarten friend.

Joshua turned two, which I'm still loving and hating in equal measure.

Another highlight of the week was receiving my civil servant certificate yesterday after a six and a half year struggle.  It is a huge change for us and brings us a lot more stability.  It's still sinking in.

Today we are celebrating Joshua's birthday with family and his Godmothers before another busy busy week.

The Saturday Update

This week has been a hard slog.  Lots of late nights for Kindergarten work or school.  This morning we didn't get up until ten and I still feel exhausted.  I'm also fighting off a cough and losing my voice.

I've also made more of an effort to do things with the kids on an evening, on Monday Joshua and I played lego while Isabella had a playdate and Nico worked late.  On Tuesday and Wednesday we made salt dough decorations and started to paint them.  I had to work Thursday evening - parents' evening and last night was my work's Christmas do, which was a really nice evening.

I'm not sure I'm ready for Christmas yet though.  I feel like next week is going to be manic with Joshua's birthday and then I can make plans for Christmas.  I was quite disappointed to hear Santa Baby on the supermarket radio in the week - it's not even advent yet!

Despite the drop in temperatures this week, I have been cycling and getting my steps every day during the week.  I'm trying to keep up with my water intake too but struggling healthwise isn't helping to motivate me at the moment.  Hopefully, things will look up after a quiet weekend.

The Saturday Update

I say it every week but I really can't believe how the time is flying. It's been another really busy week here. 

After a quiet weekend Isabella had dance class on Monday. Both kids had a full week and we had to wrap up warm as the temperatures dropped.

My bike broke down on Tuesday, luckily my saviour husband rescued us and fixed it.

Work was full on and with a successful Gonis presentation and lots to do at Kindergarten, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.

Luckily it's another quiet weekend now with time to get back on top of things.

The Saturday Update

This week has been long and crazy and I am so glad for another quiet weekend.

Nico has been off sick but he's on the mend now.  I've had a full work week, with late meetings on Tuesday.  Joshua was home on Tuesday as nursery was rennovated.  Isabella had dancing on Monday, a new Kindergarten location on Tuesday due to rennovations, a playdate and lantern festival!

I spent two nights doing admin for Kindergarten, completed Joshua's kindergarten application (eek!), and took my citizenship exam.

I got in touch with two friends I haven't heard from in a long time, which was really nice.

This weekend, we have no big plans but we want to get things done around the house and catch up with friends and family on the phone.

The fireplace is going again as the real autumn weather has kicked in this week with cold, fog and rain. I'm also back into my crochet and crafting, when I have the time and energy.  It is the season for it!

Next week is just as busy with work and appointments.

The Saturday Update

It's been a strange old week here with the mid-week bank holiday. We were crazy busy anyway, and it's catching up with us now.

We went to our friends' pumpkin garden party last weekend and despite the drop in temperatures, it was really nice.

Monday was a normal work day all round and Isabella went to dance class where I caught up with some other mums.

After a long day and an interesting training course on Tuesday, we drove up to Nico's parents' to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday.

After some family visits on Wednesday we drove home and watched Hocus Pocus with the kids for Halloween.

Joshua came down with conjunctivitis again so I stayed home with him on Thursday. Isabella had a playdate. In the evening I did a Gonis presentation, which went well and got me more in the mood for Christmas.

Nico is also under the weather so stayed home on Friday with Joshua and I worked and got some kindergarten jobs sorted too.

Luckily we have a fairly quiet weekend ahead. Tonight I'll be learning what a Pampered Chef party is and next week should be a bit calmer.

The Saturday Update

Another crazy, busy work week here. After a quiet weekend we've all had a full work / daycare week.

Isabella had a busy week with play dates and dance class and she's got events every day until next weekend too.

Joshua is coming on leaps and bounds with his speech and looks bigger every day.

I've missed dance class but hit all my fitness goals anyway thanks to the commute. Just need to get on track with my diet now.

Kindergarten commitments have picked up a bit again and my crafting time has suffered but I have some Gonis parties coming up so I'll be making time for that this week.

I've been reading lots and we are enjoying an international series called The Team.

Autumn is going to be a busy one but I feel like we're off to a good start.

The Saturday Update

Wow, this week has been absolutely manic.  Work has been great, I'm really enjoying it but I am absolutely exhausted.  The commute is long but it's given me lots of time to read and I'm on top of planning at the moment.

There hasn't been time for much else.  Isabella started dance class officially on Monday and I made it to my class on Monday too but couldn't face it the rest of the week but I did hit my step and heart rate targets every day.  The cycling is doing me good, but exhausting too.

Pete disappeared for a day last weekend and worried us.  We'd asked around and I was really overwhelmed by the support from friends and neighbours here.  He came back in the middle of the night with a nasty injury - possibly a dog bite - and we kept him in for a while but he is doing well now.

We're having a much needed quiet weekend to recover before the next work week and a much busier weekend coming up!

The Saturday Update

We've had a fantastic last week of the holidays.  At the weekend we were at a wedding and a Richtsfest.  That's the celebration when the roof is finished on a new house.  Nico's cousin is building at the moment and that was my first Richtfest.  It was really nice.

On Monday we went to Münster with Dad for a day trip - some lunch, sightseeing, shopping and pigeon chasing.  More to come on that.

We had a quieter day closer to home on Tuesday.  After breakfast and an appointment in Syke we discovered the lake near our house and got some great photos.

Dad left on Wednesday and we're missing him lots.  We took the train into Bremen with him and then he waved us off for a day in Oldenburg.  Nico and I both lived in Oldenburg before we knew each other and still love the city.  We don't get back enough.  It was nice to take the kids.

The kids went back to daycare on Thursday so we had a couple of days to get the house sorted, get on top of the chores and mountain of washing and buy a new sofa!

We're having a quiet weekend.  I'm catching up with some friends this evening and then we'll be preparing for a new work week.

The Saturday Update

We've had a great start to the holidays here.  We kept the kids in daycare for the first couple of days so that we could get some things done around the house.  We had a trip to Ikea and got things straightened up.

Dad arrived on Tuesday afternoon and we've been keeping him very busy.  We went to the local woods on Wednesday where there is a huge dune.  The weather wasn't fantastic but we were wrapped up and the kids had fun.

On Thursday we went to look at sofas and Dad babysat while Nico and I enjoyed date night - we don't often have the chance so it was nice to be out as a couple and see a bit of Bremen.

We drove up to Nico's parents house for the weekend.  We had a lovely afternoon there on Friday and then Nico and I are going to his friends' wedding today while the kids are with Grandad, Oma and Opa.  They're planning to head to the playground. 

Tomorrow we are at a family party and next week we are planning a couple more trips before Dad leaves and the kids are back at daycare.

The Saturday Update

This week was my first full work week and it was really good.  It was very busy and I am exhausted but the school is great, colleagues and pupils are nice and although the commute is long, I'm even enjoying that.  I've been reading a lot and after five long weeks at home, it's been nice to be out and about with actual people!

The routine of it all worked well.  Both kids were back in daycare this week and enjoyed it.  We had various appointments and playdates too and we managed to fit it all in.  The housework has been left to the weekend but we've got two weeks off now and we'll find a routine when we get back to work again.

Looking forward to a quiet weekend staying warm.  We've got the fire going again and as I said, we need to sort some things out around the house.  We're preparing for my Dad arriving next week and a trip to the in-laws' for a wedding next weekend.

I also need to get back on track with eating better but I have managed to hit my steps target every day this week - another good thing about the commute!  So far, Autumn is good.

The Saturday Update

FINALLY, I can share with you that I started my new job this week!  There were more highs and lows and tears and smiles but I finally signed the contract on Thursday and had my first day at school yesterday.  I've got a bit of catching up and settling in to do but so far I love it.  The kids are nice, especially my German course, and so are the colleagues.  Really happy about this new stage.

In other news, the kids have been off all week.  Joshua has Hand-Foot-Mouth as it is going round at nursery.  He's slept more and needed more cuddles but otherwise he's done really well.  They had a couple of trips out - Bremen for my contract and a walk to the lake with Nico while I worked.

Isabella had a good dentist visit and a friend's birthday party this week.  Her behaviour has been up and down but I think it was improved for us having a bit more family time.  It was nice to have that before finally getting back to work and I'm really looking forward to more of the same in the holidays.

Autumn is definitely here and I'm feeling the change of seasons in many ways.  I'll be sharing more on that this week.  For now, it's a quiet weekend for us before a full work week.

The Saturday Update

It's been another long week here, there's light at the end of the tunnel but it's been a whole month of waiting around now.

At the weekend we went to a little theme park which the kids loved, and then a flea market on Sunday.

Then the wave of illnesses struck. Apart from Isabella, we've all been under the weather and off track in general. Hoping things pick up next month.

I did get round to some crafting - lots of crochet and some Fimo modelling. I also took the kids out to find conkers for some autumn decoration.

Today we're helping out in the garden at Kindergarten and getting ready for a new week.

The Saturday Update

It's been another quiet week here without work but hopefully there's been some progress on that front so that I can start soon.

I've been catching up on my sport, tidying and cleaning in the house, working on the garden and spending some quality time with the kids.

We had an important meeting for kindergarten which went well. I did another Gonis party which also went well.

Yesterday, I took Isabella to visit her old nursery which was lovely. We had a nice breakfast out afterwards and then played Playmobil. We also watched and loved the new Peter Rabbit film on DVD.

Today we are going out with the kids and crossing our fingers for good weather.

The Saturday Update

Another week of chasing officials around has gotten me nowhere on the work front. It feels like one step forward, two steps back right now. Here's hoping for more progress next week.

The kids have had a good week. We had a playdate on Monday and got to know a new family. Isabella had a birthday party yesterday too. 

I couldn't walk for three days after the pound workshop last Sunday and missed all my classes with one appointment or another. I'm hoping to get back on course next week.

I did my third Gonis party on Thursday so I've been crafting a bit to prepare for that. I've also gotten a bit done in the garden.

Tomorrow is the autumn market in Leeste and we're visiting that. 

The Saturday Update

On the whole I've had a quiet week because I'm still chasing down papers and permissions for my new job and haven't started yet.

I've got a fair bit done around the house, made a start on the garden and caught up on various appointments both for me and the kids.

A friend came over for tea and cake yesterday and it was lovely to catch up.

I also had plenty to do with my Kindergarten work this week too.

Last night we camped in the garden. We were a bit apprehensive but the kids were fantastic - sleeping straight away, and it was a great test run for October despite the rain. 

Today I'm doing my second Gonis presentation, at home. Looking forward to that and we're catching up with friends tomorrow too. Busy times.

The Saturday Update

It's been a frustrating week. I finished my work with my adult course and I've been running around, emailing and calling various offices, trying to sort out my new contract and get to school but I'm still waiting for various papers and information. The red tape really annoys me here.

The kids have had a good week back at nursery and kindergarten and I'm more or less on top of things there. Yesterday we met some friends at the farm and the girls went horse riding. It was really nice.

I've also used the time to catch up on things around the house and plan my next Gonis projects. I'm going to be crafting this weekend to get ready for two presentations next week. Really looking forward to it.