Random Pictures and Thoughts from the Month of April...So here in Germany on the eve of May day, the local teenage boys take part in a cool tradition... they will decorate a birch tree with colored streamers (called a Maibaum) and bring it to the home of their love interest and tie it to the side of the house in the middle of the night. We have also seen hanging from the windows of many homes, a large rose collage in the shape of a heart (wrapped in plastic to protect it from the weather and to preserve it) with a woman's name written on a ribbon in the center. I think they mean the same thing as the trees but they look far more expensive!
While barbecuing the other night we had a blazing fire with lots of left over coals. We made some extra meals and even broke out the marshmallows to make smores with the kids...
After that was all done I said, "I wish we could make breakfast for tomorrow." Jim asked if there was anything else we could cook and Rhiannon chimes in with, "Let's burn some old stuff, like the cat!" Wow! That kid is still not getting a dog!!! After we admonished her for her comment she stated that it was just a joke in a tone that should only be reserved for teenage girls who have just been told they are grounded.
Our kids love to play together in the bath. They would stay in there all night if I let them and Brad is always trying to swim and slide around like a fish. Rhi usually tries to squirt me with one of the plastic toys. After they get out, we have snuggle hugs with one kid in each side of my lap to help them dry faster.
Rhiannon thought it would disguise her face if she colored the whole thing with purple chalk. It didn't. I still knew who she was.
As you can tell, Bradley got a haircut and he talks about it all the time. He loves his buzz cut. He has also taken quite fondly to the expression "You Shup it Up!" I am sure you can figure that one out. Lately many things and people scare him and push him and he tells me about the unjustness he's enduring all day. He's also been saying "I don't wanna..." fill in the blank; sleep, eat, potty, clean up, etc. But if he does decide to do those things he will tell me "Good job Bradley." Already fishing for compliments. After our bike ride tonite he said, "Had a good time Momma," when we got home.
Before the Hair CutI gave the kids chalkboards to color on...Brad threw his chalk so Rhi took over his board and wrote us the sweetest messages and left them on our pillows.
Poor Brad just gets so tired sometimes...he fell asleep in the ice cream shop, after eating his ice cream of course. The kid didn't wake up again until the next morning, even after we carried him back to our friend's house and then later put him in the car to ride home.
Time is flying here. Great friends, great weather, happy times. But I can't wait to get home in a few weeks for a much needed visit with the family...
