Pumpkin Patch

Last Friday I was able to go on a fieldtrip with Katie to the Pumpkin Patch on a real working farm. This was her first fieldtrip and her first ride on a school bus. Thank you to her teacher who must understand that some of us mommies don't have family in town and allowed me to bring Allie and Will. I remember taking Katie and Allie to Emmie's first fieldtrip to a Pumpkin Patch in Cleveland. It was quite challenging with Allie and Will but worth every minute as Katie seemed to appreciate having me there.

Here is a pic of Katie's classOn the hayride...Allie and Will had fun on the hayride also...Katie picked her pumpkin and gourd...Sooo heavy.... just like Will was when I was carrying him through the muddy fields...
Through the corn maze...
At last....donuts with friends...Bus rides are fun!

At one point, we were waiting for Katie's class and I decided to take some pics of Allie by this board. As I was taking pics, Will started cracking up laughing and smiling thinking that Allie was playing peek-a-boo with him. It was soooo cute.

A video of Katie feeding the animals...

I'm sure in no time at all I will be posting pics of Will and I attending Allie's fieldtrip to the Pumpkin Patch when she is in Kindergarten.

Third Grade Musical

Last night we went to Emmie's 3rd grade musical. They all did a great job. Unfortunately all of my pictures have really intense red eye that I can't seem to correct in any program I have. They only turn from red to glow-in-the-dark white. However, I do have 2 videos!

Here is a video of Emmie during her speaking part.

Here is a video of Emmie during one of the songs.

Our Little Gymnast

This season Katie decided she was going to hang up her dancing shoes and try out some gymnastics at a real gym. She absolutely loves her gymnastics class. There are only 3 girls in her class and one of them is one of her best friends. She really looks forward to Wednesdays when she has gymnastics and soccer practice.

Here is a video of Katie on the balance beam.

Here is a video of Katie on the trampoline.

Fraulein Allie & Her 'German Party'

What do you wear to a 'German party'? Well... pajamas, a sparkly skirt, an apron, a flower in your hair and very sparkly shoes....of course!!

We must have inspired Allie with our party last weekend because this morning our little German Princess decided she was going to have a 'German party'! She was so excited and decided what to wear and that we were going to dance! So we danced and danced and danced...

Here is a video of Fraulein Allie dancing her German heart out:

There Is A Man Who Is Really Nice...

and Daddy is his name-o.
I love D-A-D
I love D-A-D
I love D-A-D
and Daddy is his name-o.

Today was 'Dads and Donuts' day at Allie's preschool. She was so excited to have Daddy come to school with her. They did some of their morning activities, painted each others hands to make handprints, ate donuts and sang this special version of BINGO. When I picked her up she said "I had fun with Daddy at school today!!"

Also, as I sit here and the girls are SUPPOSED to be having quiet time, I can hear them arguing. It's another argument about God. Allie is saying that God is pretend because he's not 'in our house' and he's in heaven. Katie is saying he's real and that God is always in heaven. Then Allie, very frustrated with the whole topic, said "I don't like God then." Then Katie said "Well, then, why do you always sing the song 'God in Heaven, we love you, we love you'?? Now, the argument has ended with "MOM! Allie said she didn't like God!" Time for me to go...

Video

Heißen Sie Willkommen zu Hinterhof Spassfest '09

This past Saturday we held our First Annual Hinterhof Spassfest. Rich's family is German and they grew up going to the Spassfest in Germantown, Illinois. Since Rich and I also have wonderful memories of spending a summer in Germany, we decided we would begin a tradition of having an annual Oktoberfest celebration. We named it Hinterhof Spassfest (Backyard Fun Festival). We started off small and have hopes of adding to the party each year.

Here are some highlights...

The drink table including a picture of Great Grandma & Grandpa H

at Germantown Spassfest in the 80s.

Friends chose a mug and matching nametag to determine their German identity for the evening,

Grandma and Grandpa H- Grandpa H wearing Great Grandpa H's lederhosen (pictured above). They had Grandma and Grandpa shirts made as well as 'German Princess' shirts for the girls (which unfortunately we do not have a picture of).

Rich behind the keg of Spaten...our new favorite German beer.

Will with Daddy. Will is wearing an original Germantown Spassfest t-shirt that was either Daddy or Uncle Jay's (or both?) Daddy is wearing authentic German lederhosen and his Grandpa's alpine hat.

Love this pic...

It was chilly...Fritz and Eduard getting the fire ready.

Time to eat...Bratwurst, Rindfleisch and Nudeln, Saurkraut, German Meatballs, Kaese Spaetzle, German Potato Salad, Veggies in a German cheese and beer sauce, Beer Bread made with Spaten, German Chocolate Cake, German Chocolate Bars, Apple Kuchen and Apple Streudel.

Rich (Fritz)...busy...probably hooking up another heater for the tent.

Marta (?) and Heidi

Steffi and Bruno

Frieda and Fritz (I am sooo not being Frieda next year).

Some late night friends...

Liesel and Heinrich

A toast...

Everybody loves a German boy. :)

Louisa (?) decided the mugs were a bit too heavy.

Wolfgang and Gretchen

Something was confusing for Wolfgang...

Potato Sack Races seemed like a good idea...

Liesel and Frieda

The winner of the Hinterhof Spassfest '09 Deutscher Geist (German Spirit) award...

Video:

I leave you with this...a video of a potato sack race.

You can't really see anything at all but the audio is pretty funny!

Auf Wiedersehn.

Prosit!

Pics from our First Annual Hinterhof Spassfest coming soon!