All Under Control

I wonder, if there were some central, governmental agency that had to approve families who wished to have more children if we would pass?

Maybe She is Enough Girl for All of Us

I can honestly say that I never thought I would own a Barbie bust. That day, however, has come.

Y-Chromosome in the House

At my 17 week check-up today we learned, much to Vivian's chagrin, that our October arrival will be a little brother. You maybe be wondering how this was so evident at just 17 weeks. Well, suffice it to say that this little guy does not appear to be too shy. Boys 21 months apart, heaven help us! It really blows my mind these days to look at Seth and imagine him as the big brother.

Summer Must Be Approaching

When you have a little boy with mud on his forehead, enjoying a nectarine in the bathtub.

Homeschooling with an Insaneo

My decision to homeschool eager, attentive Vivian has been a no-brainer.

The guy that follows her, however, is going to be a bit more of a challenge.

Stairwell Blessings

Ever since 9/11 (and the frequent deployments that ensued) the Army makes all families who come to Germany live in government quarters. This means no quaint German house, no awkward yet instructive interactions with German neighbors, and quite frankly, it often means you can forget you are in Germany. The families are placed into 2,3,4 or 5 bedroom apartments off of a common stairwell in a big group of apartment buildings. There are shared playgrounds, pavilion areas and way more parking than a German apartment complex would ever have. Families are grouped loosely by rank and family size, so you have a good chance of sharing a stairwell with families of the same age and time in the Army as yourself. Nonetheless, there are the inevitable strains of living in close quarters with so many other families. There are the inconsiderate families whose surround sound comes through the floor at night, there are the dog owners who somehow "forget" to bring a poop bag along... every time. Whenever a family moves out in a stairwell there is a joke about "stairwell roulette" - meaning that the next inhabitants to move in could become lifelong friends or may be your worst nightmare. I am pleased to report that our experience in our six-family stairwell of three and four bedroom apartments has been superb. These shots are of our friends on the first floor. Seth relentlessly pursues Julia - 3 months his junior and quite immune to his "charms" and Viv and Catie are like long lost sparkly sisters.

Why I Miss My Mommy

My mother came to stay with us for nearly four weeks. She did laundry while I took afternoon naps. She took Seth to German playgrounds alone - an adrenaline rush for anyone. She mopped my floor. She played hours of My Little Ponies and who knows what else. All this heroism in the name of my first trimester ickiness and I have scant a picture to even prove she was here.

Suffice it to say that my mother prefers to be behind the lens. Nonetheless, I do have this picture of one of her last mornings here. We piled the kids into the double stroller, walked down the hill to a playground with a German bakery truck in front of it, and the rest is in the faces. It was fun to do stuff like this with our Grandma. Oh, and she speaks German... no matter what she claims. In fact, I think I can write whatever I want about you here, Mom, and you have no voice because you can't figure out how to comment.