zauber-a

well, sort of. For the next two weeks at least, and without the annoyance of me having to work, which is either a good thing, or a bad thing (since I'm stuck 24 hours a day, entertaining Georgia). Sven left at noon today, after a flurry of worries and backs and forths and weighings and more weighings. He did take a moment to sit and eat lunch with us, but that was it. You know Sven, why do anything ahead of time when you can leave it to the last minute? So yesterday we were running all over town (not really, we just went to the euro-industrie-park and toys-r-us) to get a sandbox and stock up on some groceries. Okay, and when I saw that they've opened a Subway in a brand new mall-complex right in front of Toys-R-Us, well, you know we had to stop and have lunch...So we got a sandbox, but ran out of time to build it together. So either I will have to do it on my own next week while G plays in the garden (um, sure...) or we'll have to wait until FIL gets here the week after that and get his help while MIL watches G...I might end up doing that anyway, because, as life would have it, the weather has taken a turn for the blahs and it looks like a cold, wet two weeks ahead of us. This is Murphy's Law, right? The weeks where it could have rained and shut us up inside, where it wouldn't have mattered as much because Sven was HOME and could help, it was sunny and beautiful and we went out everyday and the days slipped by faster than fast. Now of course, Sven is gone, the weather turns and we are going to be trapped and both of us are going to go bananas, i just know it. Anyway, so maybe we won't have any need for a sandbox until the weather turns nice again. Yes, I am one big run-on today, and no. I don't care. I'm hoping ot get this typed up while G naps, because I'll be going to bed with her tonight and won't have any more time.

So anyway. We left Toys-R-Us about 100 euros poorer, but rich in a sandbox (with sun protection), sand, sand toys (a bucket, shovel, rake and watering can with winne-the-pooh motives) a nice big, blue ball for G and her very own mop. Why did we get her a Georgie-sized mop? Because Sven said no to the little mini vacuum-cleaner and she was happy as a clam, pushing the mop around the store - and I have to tell you, so far, those five euros were totally worth it!

Okay, so here is why Sven was freaking out about the flight to Russia, did you know that they weigh EVERYTHING you have, hand luggage AND checked baggage and TOGETHER, it may not weigh more than 20 kilos (that's about 44lbs)? They charge 5 euros for every kilo over 20 kilos! So he had two scales out and was weighing, and removing, and weighing and putting back, and deciding and and and and...It wasn't a nice peaceful goodbye. It was rushed and hectic, but it wouldn't be Sven any other way.

Two weeks without him. Wish him luck in Russia, and us luck on our own...

Posted at 12:39 pm by zauber-a
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today, been waiting for the digital scrapbook magazine to go online for months now. Well, it went up sometime this week, maybe today? Not sure, but if you get a chance, run over, because my baby is the first featured and I don't know what will happen to her when day 2 hits! Read the ARTICLE HERE.

I don't know why the picture is so teeny - and I couldn't figure out how to make it bigger. a shame really. Oh well. I'm glad to see my babe in print again, she hasn't made it that often...

Posted at 08:33 pm by zauber-a
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Posted at 01:39 pm by zauber-a
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So I mentioned that G loves to dance, right?
Well, here ya go:

this footage was taken in early January by my Dad. She's dancing to the music on her magnetic farm. Unfortunately, everytime a video camera comes out, she gets distracted and doesn't dance quite like we want her to for the film...

Posted at 10:30 am by zauber-a
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Emma and Georgia get along great...here's proof:

Posted at 01:30 pm by zauber-a
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Had these adorable pics, but had never gotten around to scrapping them, when I realized that I had done pics of everyone with G except him, I thought I should get moving. So dad, here ya go!

credits for this layout can be seen: HERE

and credits for this layout are HERE.

Georgia and I went to the park on the corner today. It wasn't our original plan, but that is where we ended up. We've been before, when she was just walking and it wasn't a very successful trip, but we went again anyway. There is a sandbox (but G has no sandbox toys) and a very high slide, a merry-go-round, two big-kid swings, a climbing wall and a ping-pong table.

G started in the sandbox with two other girls - but she just stood there and watched them while they played. She was too overwhelmed to join in, and her mean old mommy just sat there and chatted with the other girl's grandma. Eventually she gave me a look and just started bawling. I took her out. By that time, another girl and her mommy had shown up. She was on the merry-go-round (is that what it's called? can't remember) and so we joined them. The other little girl got shy and took off. So we spun around for a while - G sat on the bench and held on and I spun her (no way was i getting on that thing and spinning - ugh!).

We moved to the climbing wall. G ran around it in one direction and I in the other and surprised her at the edge. Resulted in squeals and giggles EVERY time.

Another round on the merry-go-round.

On to the slide. This slide is on a small hill. It has a path going up on one side and stairs on the other. We took the path and then I held G's hand as she slid down. She thought it was so much fun, she couldn't hold still when she got back up and was dancing on her feet and running back up to the path. We went up and down over and over and over and then all of a sudden, she was sitting on the slide, holding on to the edges, not moving. I was momentarily distracted when she gave herself a push and WHOOSH! she was down the slide all by herself. She came to no harm, but I was a little shocked!

Another round on the merry-go-round and then a short shift in the sandbox, where she played with the other little girl's sand toys (shovel, bucket, rake etc.) and ate a shovelful of dirt on purpose. silly little girl.

I think that took up an hour of our afternoon and was pretty successful. Thank goodness for sunny days in February!!

Posted at 09:30 pm by zauber-a
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There is a lot of 'life stuff' going on right now. Stuff I wasn't sure I should be sharing - but as it all came in a big bunch today, I have to throw it up there. First, the Email from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society came with the first online class for Knowledge Is Power (KIP). And minutes later, an Email from Dad arrived with the link to his blog, My Father's Chair. If you are wondering why I'm getting mail from the NMSS, that will explain it. If you do go over and read it - be sure you have a strong stomach. He is good with details.

Georgia has found a new favorite 'spot'. She no longer stands while we are in the bathroom (because she always has to be there with us) no, she has her own seat now:

(feel free to give it a click if you can't, but want to read the journaling)

A quick 'huh...?': playgroup today. We meet up once a month outside of playgroup, just the Mom's, and go out to dinner. Once a month isn't all that often, right? Right. And it's once a month to get away from family responsibilities and just have some fun. So we are discussing plans for our next dinner, when and where, and one of the Mom's says: "oh no, this whole meeting thing is getting to be too much for me, I'm not going to go." to which I just say: huh?

and a fun series of pictures. Miss Mae, once again pulling out the can of RedBull, even though she knows she's not supposed to:

Posted at 11:09 pm by zauber-a
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You know, the nasty kind that doesn't stick? it just falls all day and blows in your face when you want to go out - kinda like rain? grey and dreary? We braved the weather and went to sport (G had fun) and were one of very few who made it...then, after a nap that ended in hysterical crying (second day in a row, don't know what is the matter here...) we were picked up by Sandy and Emma and spent the afternoon at Ikea. Fabulous for kids, just go, let 'em play with all the toys set up.

Weekend - can't think of anything of importance that might have happened. We went to lunch on Saturday becuase I wanted chinese - it wasn't great. Sunday we drove to the Isar and Sven made us walk to Waldwirtschaft - which was of course, closed and thus lost us time for an actul walk ALONG the river...

That's about it. Boring. Winter. Nothing exciting going on at all. Maybe I'll try for pictures tomorrow since we have no further plans and are facing another grey, snowy day...

Currently reading:
The Fourth Bear: A Nursery Crime
By Jasper Fforde

Posted at 11:38 pm by zauber-a
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So you might have maybe caught in passing...that Georgia fell down the stairs in our building this past week. She got a huge goose egg (that looks better two days later than I expected) but did not bleed. Fate made up for that by causing her to take a face-plant at playgroup the following day and split open her lip, blood everywhere. Poor Baby. Yah. I realized I already wrote all this down. but whatever, today's repeated 'bericht' includes pictures:

And then we had gorgeous, fabulous, sunny weather today and so met up with Sandy and Emma and took a tour through the Umweltgarten. The girls played a bit in the sand - well, Georgia fell over because of her bulky snowsuit and remained, while Emma ran all over. Then Emma got hungry and started eating grapes. Every three grapes or so, she'd grab one and take it over to Georgia in the sandbox. Yup. Georgia had it good, just sat and waited to be served!

Walked around and visited the animals - a couple ponies that G fell in love with and didn't want to leave - goats were penned elsewhere, then chickens and bunnies (bunnies are always a hit) and finally the sheep, which Emma wanted to feed. Georgia acted like she wanted to as well, but when the sheep got near, she dropped the pretzel real quick. Georgia loves to copy everything Emma does. So when Emma started pushing her stroller, Georgia marched up and tried to help. Emma kept pushing her away and Georgia would look at her with these big (slightly stubborn) eyes and try again...

A bit of playtime at Emma's which included a short stint of dancing and Sandy attempting to video it...she didn't have much luck. Speaking of dancing videos, I received one in the mail today as well. Might try and upload it to youtube and then link it to the blog. Nothing funnier than Georgia dancing!!

Currently reading:
Das Gegenteil von Schokolade. Roman.
By Mirjam Müntefering

Posted at 11:10 pm by zauber-a
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Really and truly. Catching up on Layouts. Yup, started scrapping again. Love it. Getting faster - can almost do a layout a day during G's nap (if I'm lucky, she sleeps long enough or I use a sketch!).

Share? Okay!


Little Thief credits HERE	this one is for Kylene, think she'll look? such a perfect day credits HERE	door with a view credits HERE

snoozing credits HERE	lil stinker credits HERE	this one's for YOU dad! (credits HERE)

I've actually done four more, but can only share one of them, if you're interested, find it HERE.

In other news, after he fall down the stairs yesterday, which was bloodless, fate decided Georgia needed to balance things by splitting her lip at playgroup this morning. Lots of blood and tears. When we got home, she whined until I gave up on lunch and just put her to bed.

Yesterday, G and I had gone out to Aldi to get a prepaid card for the cell mom gave us. Waste of time as they discontinued the offer until today. Argh. So all we got for our trouble was a tumble down the stairs.

Considering a swim course with G in Feb., if there is still room. Sandy was calling today (I think?) to see if they did have any more free spaces. I ask anyone who has gone swimming with their little ones before: what do I need? And esp. anyone in Germany - do I need anything for me? a swim cap? a towel? and where do I get swimmy diapers?

Okay. gonna end this before G wakes up.

Just finished reading:
The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime
By Jasper Fforde

Posted at 02:10 pm by zauber-a
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