Leaving Europe

Paris, France 2011

It's that time again. It's time to leave Europe and move back to America for the second time in seven years. Matt was selected to attend SAMS (School of Advanced Military Studies). We will head back to Leavenworth, Kansas (we lived there from 2009-2010 and own a home there) in early June. While I'm very proud of Matt for getting into a good military school, I'm heartsick.

I posted about this recently on Facebook. I posted that I was crushed to be leaving Europe and had no desire to move back to America. It created everything from amusement to confusion and, possibly, even some anger or disappointment that I could make the proclamations I did. 

Do I feel entitled? No. I do not. Living abroad under the SOFA agreement has been a privilege. That doesn't mean I cannot be sad. It doesn't mean I should love the idea of moving back and embrace it wholeheartedly, giving up my life here happily, and doing a little dance that I get to move back "home." I feel the way many people feel when they move away from a place they adored, whether that be a place in America or any other place in the world, and that is heartbroken. I'm entitled to that, even if it doesn't make sense to some of my readers.

Living abroad doesn't do a lot for some people. In fact, traveling abroad doesn't do it for a lot of people. Some people are very content to spend their vacations at Disney World, or a campground an hour outside of the town in which they live. Some people don't even like to travel at all. Vacations are spent at home gardening and/or welcoming visitors. Some people think just the idea of military life is the worst idea ever. Who could move every three years (or less)? Insanity! Do you know what? That's okay. I love that. I love that people find happiness in many many different ways. I'm the crazy woman who dives right in to European life, embracing it and the challenges that come with it. I love it!! I feel empowered by all the things I do that presented a challenge and I did it anyway.

Can I be really honest here? I'm still heartbroken about Portugal. I follow various Portugal Facebook pages and I sometimes have to click on "don't want to see this" option when pictures of Sintra or Cascais show up in my newfeed. I become choked up. I'm choked up just writing about Portugal. Damn, I really miss that place! The long walks by the ocean, the evenings with friends at a delicious South African restaurant, the afternoons sitting at a cafe, drinking coffee and reading a book, listening to waves crash, the delicious, inexpensive wines I could buy just at a small grocery store around the corner from my house, which was situated 200-meters from the Atlantic Ocean. Matt had to drag me kicking and screaming onto the plane leaving Portugal and the entire year I spent in Kansas did nothing to ease the pain. While I made great friends, and carried on, I woke up every day with a broken heart. Learning we were moving to Germany helped considerably, but my heart still longs for Portugal. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that I am, once again, feeling so crushed at the mere thought of moving back to America. That's okay. Europe will always be here. My dear friend, Nina, from Heidelberg, has promised she will always have a place for me to come visit. And maybe, just maybe, we'll be lucky enough to get another overseas tour before Matt's time in the military is up.

I thought it would be nice to come up with a list of things I'll appreciate about being back in America:

• Lots of parking lots with big spaces. Much less parking hassles.
• No language barriers, which is actually kind of huge and encompasses everything from reading menus, making travel arrangements, to helping my children with homework (my girls attend German schools).
• I can order something online on Monday and, likely, have it at my doorstep by Wednesday. Even overnight, if I want (I can do that here - but it's paid in Euro and with the US dollar being so weak, it's usually not worth it). 
• I can finally buy some appliances that I've been wanting but didn't want to hook up to a power converter (That doesn't always go over well long-term). Can't wait for my Instant Pot!
• Closer to friends and family. 
• One stop shopping - I can hit up a grocery store, a clothing store, a shoe store, and more all in one stop. There are malls everywhere in America. Here, I have to park in a garage and walk from shop to shop. Malls are far and few between. 

The list could go on. But, you know what? That list is just ridiculous. If I really missed all that crap, if I really needed it, I wouldn't be heartbroken about leaving here would I? 

Less than a year from now, we'll find out where we're moving to next. Hopefully it's a good one, though I don't expect it to be Europe. Back at the top of our list will be Ft. Carson, Colorado, Fort Lewis, Washington, and Scholfield Barracks, Oahu. If there is a possibility of a division staff job (Matt has a division staff commitment after SAMS) in Europe, that will be on our list - but I think there isn't an option. Italy, maybe? I can't remember. Ft. Drum, NY, because it's closer to family, will probably end up in our top five. I have little interest living there though. I spent a considerable amount of time there when Matt and I were dating and thought it was dumpy. Though, there is plenty to do within a one to two hour drive. Family lives within a three to five hour drive. Matt *thinks* it will be easier than before SAMS to get an assignment in our top three, though, we have always gotten one of our top three requests and luck has to run out somewhere. There's a chance Matt could deploy from Ft. Leavenworth for a year.  So, who knows.

How do I feel about Leavenworth? Look, I'm not going to lie. I liked living there four years ago. It's almost a relief we can reintegrate to life in America in a place we have lived previously. I know where my favorite restaurants are, I have a great friend there who is very like-minded.  I even have a hair stylist. I'm about to work on signing up for a milk-shares and order grass-fed meat for the Fall and Winter. However, I didn't love it there. I honestly don't know why anyone would want to retire there, as many military families do (I think post-Army retirement jobs are very enticing, thus the pull to stay?). But, that's probably the Burlington, VT snob in me. It's nothing like Burlington, not in look or feel and let's face it, Burlington area is just a great place to raise a family. Not that we'll raise our family in Burlington (there won't be viable job options for Matt upon retirement there. Not for the line of work he's interested. Which is another whole blog post for a much later date), but, if I were to make a list of fantastic places to raise a family, with easy access to the things our family loves to do, Leavenworth, KS would not be on the list. I'm not bashing Leavenworth. But, Matt is a climber. He needs to be near mountains that have elevation. We need to have access to ski resorts that aren't just bunny hills for beginner skiers (Snow Creek, Missouri will possibly be doable for this coming year, but long term, it would not fit our skiing needs/desires). 

I'm optimistic that 2014-2015 will be a great year for our family, despite having to leave the Europe that I love. It's going to be okay...

The New Guy

Mark Owen McQuilton joined our family on October 30, 2013. Matt was deployed (Afghanistan). I was surrounded by my friend, Amy (her infant daughter was on her back), my midwife and my three children. His birth was at home (Would I do it any other way? Come on now) with Matt Skyping in live during the final half hour of his birth.

He's now just about five-months-old and our easiest baby. He's also our biggest baby. This boy is, surely, going to be bigger than older brother, Colden. Here are a few pictures:

Waterbirth Baby

Point in photo-shoot when everyone is over the shoot.

Home after seven months away

The Need to Eat Well vs Cleaning

Each and every time I intend on spending the day cleaning (which isn't getting easier now that I'm approaching 30-weeks-pregnant), I get side-tracked by the obvious need to feed my children (and myself, of course). Colden, now nearly two, has become quite the little human garbage disposal. He could eat all day. I did not experience this type of need with my two girls. Therefore, it was much easier to keep fruit and nourishing snacks around because they didn't snack more than once or twice a day. Colden keeps me on my toes (they do eat more now than they did then). It would be so easy to just throw junk at him. I could stock up on organic granola bars and fruit snacks (which I admit I do buy for vacations or when I have company because I just don't have as much time to be in the kitchen) and just throw something his way when he cries for food.

Before Matt deployed, I shamefully admit that I did resort to that from time to time because he had such things as gold fish crackers in the house and a few other "junkie" items I don't usually allow and I was too tired to cook (pregnant and all). I tell ya, it is easy to resort to that kind of trashy eating when you are also trying to keep your house up - which is a real struggle for me. Now that Matt's gone, I'm on a mission to up the protein and keep processed foods out of the mouths of my children. I've even given up festing (Germans are all about fests - there is one every weekend around these parts!) so we stay clear of junk food. Colden, however, has challenged me like never before!

Today, as I was in my room unpacking from a recent trip to Austria, he came running in screaming for food. I tried to distract him and he wouldn't bite. So, downstairs we went. I found some yogurt and sat him down. He had about four helpings and still wasn't done. Out of eggs, an easy, quick snack, the girls grabbed him and brought him to our egg guy down the road. He's out until this weekend. So, into the van we went. I dropped off some recycling, picked up the mail, dropped off books at the library and hit up a local store for some good-quality free-range eggs. Back home, after a very quick rest (15-minutes, tops), I ventured into the kitchen and grilled up some pork cutlets and fried up some zucchini using a great recipe from one of my favorite real food bloggers Holistic Squid (Recipes at end of post). Colden ate the zucchini like it was candy. Whew!! But, he wanted more after his meat and zucchini. Enter in a nutrient dense hot cocoa from another favorite blogger, The Polivka Family. Colden had three helpings of hot cocoa before calling it quits. Wow!

I spoke to my mother-in-law the other day and she said that Matt was never a big eater like Colden. In fact, to this day, I would say that Matt isn't a big eater. He's definitely not a foodie. He just doesn't appreciate food like many of us do. It's what fuels him to work, run and climb mountains. If the cocoa bean crop was wiped out tomorrow, he would wonder how that made the news - he cares that little about chocolate or sweets. Oh, how I envy him sometimes!

Tonight, once the kids are in bed, I think I'll whip up a batch of my favorite banana muffins. I'll add some 70% dark-chocolate chunks to them and hopefully one will hold him over tomorrow morning while I make some scrambled eggs or something with lots of protein. I do hate to feed him carb-heavy because it's simply not healthy for any of us nor does it keep him filled up for long.

Backing up a bit to this morning - As I was getting dressed earlier this morning, I realized I was out of deodorant. I no longer use store-bought of any kind. I avoid chemical-laden products as a general rule (I either make my own body lotion or just use coconut oil, sometimes with a few drops of essential oil added. Though, I am on a mission to find a good hair shampoo that isn't filled with chemicals I can't pronounce and actually cleans my hair and scalp). I buy my deodorant from an Etsy seller, Honey Bee Holistics. Her Organic Extra Strength Deodorant is the best all-natural deodorant I have tried. She lists her ingredients - so I suppose I could try to duplicate her recipe. However, I don't know the correct combination of ingredients and I do love to support the stay-at-home mom. So, I buy regularly from her. Her body creams are excellent too. I use them mostly for travel as they don't melt like coconut oil does. Her Organic Coconut Banana Creme Pie Lotion is to die for. I do almost want to eat it! Anyway, I've placed an order with Honey Bee, however, her shipping is a bit slow (but worth the wait - and no, she's not paying me to endorse her products. I just really love them). So, I spend a few minutes making some to hold me over until her product arrives (recipe I used at end of post).

So, how did the cleaning go? Well, I managed to pull diapers out of the dryer, throw a load from washer into the dryer and put a load of sheets in the washer. I cleaned the kitchen and fully unpacked my bag from recent travels. Add in the errands, cleaning up the kitchen and the other things mentioned, that was my day. I'm exhausted and I really feel that I did too little! I can't keep up! I don't know how those of you with clean houses do it!! My house is always just barely presentable. Barely. Well, at least these days. When I'm not pregnant, it tends to be a bit cleaner. But, with a deployed spouse, hungry toddler and two daughters constantly at odds with each other, I probably spend a good 10-minutes crying each day over the things I didn't get to. Maddening!! Today's Recipes:

Fried Zucchini and Squash Rounds (Grain Free)
Knock Your Socks off Hot Chocolate
Banana Muffins (I use Einkorn flour)
Homemade All-Natural Deodorant

The McQuilton Family on the Slopes

We've taken up skiing as a family. Matt and I skied growing up. At one point many years ago, Matt switched to snowboarding. He gave it up this year, however, because he didn't think he was getting any better and felt skiing was easier. So he bought himself, the girls and I new (used for the girls) skis! What a delight! My 20-year-old skis didn't grip frozen granular very well and I was wiping out too often. These skis grip those frozen granular conditions very well and practically turn themselves. I'm in love with skiing once again!

The girls took a couple of lessons last year and a lesson a couple years ago before we moved abroad. This year, however, they finally started looking like real skiers and I feel that we can actually call ourselves a real ski family. Lila wasn't having much fun and complained about her lessons incessantly. Now that she has learned more control and gained self-confidence, she's excited about her new sport. This weekend was her "break-thru" weekend as she finally hit the "big" slopes with Matt and I. In fact, she and Olivia even took a t-bar up on their own a few times and I skied down behind them (we skied at one resort this weekend that is quite old and hasn't upgraded all their t-bars yet - still a fun mountain, however).

As much as they don't always like their ski lessons, they will thank us later. Until they can parallel ski well and stop on a dime, they will remain in lessons each morning of the day (skiing with us on easier slopes in the afternoons). Too many little kids (and adults) get injured by skiing down hills beyond their ability. They need to learn to ski well and ski safely! Matt wants Liv to start taking snowboarding lessons and I am against this until she "masters" skiing. She hasn't perfected parallel skiing and sometimes doesn't stop as quickly as she needs to. I don't see the reasoning behind taking snowboarding lessons when she not only loves to ski, but hasn't mastered it well enough yet to move on.

Hopefully we will hit the slopes at least two more times this season. Matt will be in the field all of March - so if we don't hit up the slopes this weekend, we may only have one more chance in late March. I'm usually a warm-weather girl - but this year, I want the winter to last as long as possible so we can get out as a family on the slopes! When Matt is deployed next winter, I plan on taking a week long ski vacation in Garmisch at our favorite kinder-hotel. Colden can stay with a babysitter at the hotel and the girls and I can ski! I'm already looking forward to it!

Lila on the Magic Carpet

Liv in the glades where she says "it's quieter."

Skiing in the German Alps

Colden napping

Liv and Mom on the Lift

Liv Lesson-Ready

The Facebook Dilemma

I've been "on" Facebook for a few years now.  Everyone who has known me for an extended period of time knows that I'm not a very private person. Years before the invention of social media (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter), I was the one divulging nearly any information anyone would ask me. It's really just who I am. Some people would call me an over-sharer. Some people call me real. My closest friends have been my friends since childhood and they happen to still like me. If I share too much, talk to much, or share too many opinions, they tell me to shut up and that's that. Some people really appreciate my candor and personality. Some people, however, don't operate the way I do and cannot fathom why I would share so much. This leads to problems on Facebook.

Facebook etiquette varies person to person. There is no rule book we all have to follow. Now that every organization and business known to man is on Facebook, dozens and dozens (and more) of people are privy to what we all post on Facebook. Many people don't care to see more than the occasional picture and/or update. A cheery, this world is great, I'm back from Rome, my cat did something hilarious - is all some people want to see - and they don't want to see it every day. More than one update a week and a few pictures a month are considered over-kill. And, you would never share when you're sick, when your child threw a fit and embarrassed you in a grocery store, and you would certainly never ever even hint that your spouse/partner, etc. did something the least bit jerky.

I recently attended an online conference. It was an educational conference for health care professionals, lactation professionals, etc. An expert in social media was one of the speakers. In her lecture, she encouraged us to disseminate evidence-based information via social media (this is how we correct misinformation, spread new research, etc). The main theme of this conference was lactation - so she was obviously referring to lactation, specifically. Key word: Evidence-based. So, on my breastfeeding support group page, I keep it at that. Evidence-based articles. Obviously, mother-to-mother support on that page will have anecdotal information (i.e., XYZ worked for my teething baby) but, I don't share anecdotal research, as a general rule. 

But what about our personal FB pages? Is it okay to disseminate information? If we find a promising study regarding breast cancer prevention, for example, is it okay to share? If we find a study regarding the dangers of consuming GMOs, the new found benefits of breastfeeding or risks of formula feeding, is that okay to share? What is okay and what is not okay to share? Since social media is so prominent in our every day life, many feel that the way to bring about change, to heighten awareness, is to share, share, share.

The problem is that not everyone feels that way. Some feel that sharing things like mentioned above is bullying, bashing or just plain filling up newsfeeds with unnecessary "junk." For me, bullying or bashing is specifically naming someone and verbally abusing them for decisions they made/make. Sharing a medical journal article or even research that is still in early stages, and starting a healthy debate is something I welcome FB friends to do.

For example, I have shared information regarding Baby-Led Weaning on my personal FB page. Parents have seen it, inquired for more information, fed their baby that way and loved it!  Recently, I had the unfortunate experience of a medical professional trying to retract my son's foreskin during an appointment. This is a big no-no. Lots of information, even from the AAP, that this is not necessary and can even do great harm and even life-long damage (taking care/cleaning of an intact infant/child is just as easy or easier than taking care of a girl). I posted about my experience on FB, some links and had a few mothers thank me for the information. Some had chosen to circ because of misinformation. One mother even thanked me and said she had been retracting and would stop due to the information I linked. This post had positive outcomes. Though, for some, I'm sure it had an unwanted shock factor.

All this being said, I recently changed my Facebook settings. I had gotten feedback here and there that my over-sharing was a bit too much. I'm not upset about this. I find it rather amusing, actually, for people to be so concerned about what I post on FB that doesn't pertain to them.  However, for people who I either don't know very well or who I believe have more strict FB etiquette policies (and that's okay!), I have put them into a category in which I can easily block from certain posts. It doesn't mean that I don't like these people, it means that I'm trying to respect their wishes. I didn't want to have a "screw them" kind of attitude. If I know some of the things I post bother some people, I've come to the conclusion that I should spare them and hide them from that particular post. It's win-win. I don't have to worry about offending them and they don't have to see it and feel something negative.

How do I personally feel (if you can't tell already) about what people post? Unless it's an OPSEC violation, I don't really care what people post on FB and, honestly, I'm not sure why other people care so much. If you don't want to join an online debate, don't. If you think someone over-shared, scroll past. It's not about you (most likely). I just scroll past the updates that don't interest me. I really don't give it much more thought than that. If people want to over-share, it doesn't bother me. I gain so much from so many of the posts showing up in my newsfeed - I welcome new information, interesting facts, and even the occasional over-share! On occasion I have blocked people from showing up in my newsfeed (usually this is for extreme cursing or trashy talk - or complaining about election results weeks after it's over) temporarily - but this is rare.

Since we do have the ability to block who shows up in our newsfeed, I do think some people would benefit from only having their very close personal friends and family show up in their feed...

Christmas Market Season

Glühwein season is upon us! All the German school events, markets and most restaurants serve up mulled wine. A warm, slightly sweet alcoholic drink that keeps you warm when walking through a market or your child's school fest. I collect the Glühwein mugs at each market (they are different at each market each year).

I like to go to the markets to watch my kids enjoy crafts and to search for local, handmade items. At the Nuremberg market, I bought Colden a pair of locally handmade pants that are perfect for his cloth diapered bottom. Supporting local is something near and dear to me.

So far, we've hit up the girls' fest (the local kindergartens put it on), Amberg and Nuremberg markets. Aside from Colden's pants, we haven't spotted any great finds - yet. Maybe that will change when we hit up the Munich market later this month...

My Collection of Market Mugs

Harem Pants - Handmade in Nuremberg - Perfect for the Cloth Diapered Baby

If You Give a Mom a Muffin

The entire McQuilton Family loves Laura Joffe Numeroff's books. We have a whole compilation of her books on a CD and have spent countless hours listening to her stories on long car rides. So when I saw this on Facebook the other day, I had to post it here for you all to read. I love it. It's sooo my life!

If You Give A Mom A Muffin

by Beth Brubaker

If you give a mom a muffin,
she’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She’ll pour herself some.
Her three year-old will come and spill the coffee.
Mom will wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry into the washer,
she’ll trip over shoes and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cookbook
(How to Make 101 Things With a Pound of Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The checkbook is in her purse,
which is being dumped out by her two year-old.
Then she’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year-old.
While she is changing the two year-old, the phone will ring.
Her five year-old will answer and hang up.
She’ll remember she was supposed to phone a friend
to come over for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some more.
And chances are,
if she has a cup a coffee,
her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Number Five

Today's post is brought to you by the number five. Five as in how many hours my son cried while I was out yesterday helping a new mom with breastfeeding and dining with a friend at lunch time.

Colden's sisters never developed separation anxiety. Well, none that I remember. I know for certain it skipped Olivia. If you know Olivia at all, you know why it skipped her.  I may, vaguely, remember a time or two when Lila had an issue - but, it obviously never amounted to much because I can't even pull a clear memory of it up in my mind.

Colden, on the other hand, loves to pull at my heart strings. He's a mama's boy through and through (and that's okay). I asked hourly care to call me if he wouldn't stop crying (they didn't). Since he wasn't crying when I left and busy playing with a toy, I thought all was well.  It wasn't. As soon as I walked out, he dropped the toy and began to cry. The boy would not eat or drink a thing for over five hours. At one point he cried himself to sleep for a half hour.

When I picked him up, his eyes were red-rimmed and he became hysterical when he saw me, hugging me tight as soon as I got him in my arms.  Within two or three minutes he was laughing and acting like nothing happened.  His daycare providers were frazzled, to say the least.

I try to attachment parent as much as possible. So, this leaves me wondering if I need to shorten his stays to one hour for the time being. I think it's probably best for him emotionally. Crying for five hours can not be healthy for a little man's heart and mind.

Mama's Boy

 Motherhood has certainly taught me that each child is so very very different!

Goodbye Infancy, Hello Toddler Years

 

Colden turned one on September 22nd.  I wanted time to stand still. I don't want to let go of his days as an infant. He's not yet walking so he's still considered an infant, right? 

Here's a recap of Colden Jack's travels during the first year of his life:

• Colden Jack McQuilton born at home in Heidelberg, Germany on September 22, 2011. 
• Between December and January he had traveled from Germany to NY, VT, PA, NJ and Montreal, Canada. 
• In January we moved from Heidelberg, Germany to Adlholz, Germany.
• In April he traveled with us to The Netherlands.
• In July he traveled with us to Mallorca, Spain.
• In August he traveled with us to Czech Republic
• In September he traveled with us to Poland. 

You've got that right. Between the time he was born and turned one, he knocked seven countries and four US states off his bucket list (he doesn't know he has a bucket list yet - but he does).  Wow!

What's he up to now? Well, he's not walking (daddy is away the next month so he's not allowed to walk just yet) but he is cruising around furniture and just today learned how to push his Pewi YBIKE.

He's still up at least twice a nice to nurse and still nurses several times a day. I'm okay with that. In fact, I'll be sad when he stops nursing in the middle of the night. I don't worry about not getting enough sleep at night. I'm so over that. Fortunately for me, I have two older daughters who attend school, therefore, I can usually nap with him during his morning or afternoon nap if I need to.

Colden has never had a bottle or store bought baby food. He once got a jar of a baby food for free at Legoland, took two bites and wouldn't eat the rest of it. We've followed baby-led weaning and it has brought about a wonderful eater. He'll eat everything. He especially loves strawberries, meatloaf and steamed broccoli. He had his first taste of cow's milk just yesterday (he uses a straw sippy cup). It was organic raw milk and he loved it. We don't drink a lot of milk these days - so I'm not sure when he'll have it again. I view milk, in general, as a non-essential beverage for toddlers. He's still nursing, he'll eat yogurt, cheese, nuts and plenty of other foods packed with calcium and good fats. I hate it when doctors expect and encourage your child to start cow's milk as soon as they turn one. Anyway, that subject could turn into a full-on rant so I'll stop while I'm ahead.

Colden has horrible separation anxiety (his sisters never got it). When I leave him at hourly care to go work out and run errands, he cries for me the entire time. Fortunately, however, he is fine with a sitter at home because his best girls (Olivia and Lila, whom he adores!) are there to ease his anxiety and keep him occupied.

I'm not sure what year two holds for Colden.  I know I'd like to finally make it to the UK (Visiting Gibraltar didn't really count) this year, or Greece, or Scotland, or half a dozen other places. We're sure to be here in Germany for at least another year - so maybe he'll pick up a little German. His sisters sure do speak enough of it around him...Whatever the year brings, it's sure to be fun and full of little-boy surprises!

My Little Locavores

There are many things I love about living rurally as I do. Over the past couple of weeks, local food finds have tumbled into my kitchen and into our mouths. Small as our town is, we've been able to find many things locally - as close as our own backyard.

This week the girls have gotten their hands on a ton of pears from their neighbors (organic, etc), and apples from our yard. When that wasn't enough, they went foraging and came home with chestnuts and walnuts (pictured here).

Last weekend I drove past plumb trees, stopped and picked a few. This weekend, I picked up local, wild venison salami and free range eggs. The eggs from the farm varied in size - some very small - but big on taste!!

Next we'll be in the lookout for locally grown pumpkins....Fall is here. Let the Fall baking commence!!

Deutsch Schule

First Day of Second Grade

Despite the eye rolls we sometimes get when people learn our children attend German school ("They will be so far behind when they get back to American school. How will you manage?" - We will manage just fine. Our children are bright. They are not sitting for their SATs any time soon. Do some research on the long-term benefits of language immersion and get back to me. Enough said.), I'm excited about Olivia's second year in German elementary school. She has no idea how great she has it. Here is a summery of what's going on this year:

• Gym twice weekly (this sometimes includes ice skating in the winter months)
• Swimming lessons once weekly (Yes, at school)
• Art once a week for two hours
• Religion twice weekly
• Later on this year she will pick an instrument and begin learning that. This is a departure from most US schools where instruments are not picked up (band) until grade six (unless taken privately before then).

Twice a week she is finished with school at 11:35. Twice a week by 13:10 and once a week by 12:25. She does attend an afternoon homework program five days a week - but we recently agreed to stop going on Friday's so she can have more time at home instead. I'm also considering pulling her out of that program early on her short days - giving her just enough time to have lunch and finish her homework with a German teacher.

She attends classical/modern ballet on Monday's and will soon begin tap/jazz and possibly hip- hop (class has not yet met minimum student requirements). Some have expressed that she is doing too many extracurricular activities outside of school, however, she loves to dance. It is her outlet. Military children, especially, need outlets. For Olivia, dance is therapy of sorts.

I can't wait to see the changes in her that come about due to having such a rich curriculum this year! 

Nuremberg Volksfest

It's fest season in Germany!! Fest bier, crepes, rides...

Time toTurn the Day Around

I had kind of a crappy morning. It's a gloomy kind of day. Very little sun but plenty of humidity. The house still hasn't cooled off much since the 90-degree days we had recently.

I'm attempting to start getting back to the gym after a much-too-long break. I was all pumped up to go this morning when Matt decided he had to go into work.

I did a little of this and that until we had to get ready for an afternoon party. Still low on energy, I whipped this lovely up in my new Czech cup and saucer. The sun decided to peak out a few sips in.

This day is bound to turn around. The gym will be there tomorrow...

Little Boy Blonde

Mean Face

Colden turned 11-months the other day. It seems like yesterday I was laying in an OB's office, just 13-weeks-pregnant, being told that Matt and I were finally getting our boy. Yet, every morning, to this day, I wake up in absolute awe that I have a son. He is my ray of sunshine. Every day he grows more and more from an infant into a little boy. It's bittersweet. I want him to stay little, sweet and cuddly, yet I am eager to see him grow into a young man. As the weeks and months go by, he becomes less of a cuddle-bug and more of an adventure seeker. Climbing marble stars when I'm not looking (yikes!), climbing into the dishwasher, taking clean clothes out of the laundry basket and throwing them onto the floor. Crawling out of his bedroom and directly into his sisters' room. He adores his sisters and will seek them out if they are not in the same room as he is.

Happy Face

He's a happy baby. So happy that we constantly get compliments from friends and passerby. He loves to make funny faces, call out Lila's name (we think Lila refers to either sister), clap and "dance" along to his sisters' nightly dance recitals.

Sibling Love

He Will Eat Anything

No Bed to Nap In? No problem.

He's an adventurous eater. Curry, fish, fruit, veggies, meat; you name it, he'll eat it. No purees for this baby! He wants the real deal. I've never made his food. He's always ate what we ate (starting at 6.5-months). The first couple of weeks were a bit of a learning curve for me - he did gag quite a bit. But, it passed so quickly, I barely remember those "scary" food moments. It's been so freeing, not making purees for him. No steaming, blending, freezing, etc. What a time saver! And, in fact, it seems silly to me now that I went through all the effort with his sisters!

He has learned to travel well. Actually, he's grown into it. In his 11-months, he has traveled to the United States, Canada, The Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic and, of course, Germany. We do not travel with strollers and, therefore, he has found comfort sleeping in the Ergo Baby Carrier or a woven wrap. Matt and I were recently discussing how hard we tried to accommodate the girls' naps while traveling in the past, often completely disrupting our sightseeing to get back to a hotel in time for naps. We've relaxed considerably with Colden and don't give naps a second thought. We know he'll nap in a carrier just fine. He won't necessarily sleep in two hour stretches like he does in his own bed, but he will cat nap often enough. We haven't had too many overly-cranky travel moments with him. He's really quite a pleasure to travel with. More pleasurable, in fact, than traveling with a five-year-old and seven-year-old!

His looks are constantly changing. He went from blue eyes and brown hair to dark hazel eyes with blonde hair. Currently, he looks like I did as an infant - but, I'm sure that will change as his features develop more and more from baby into toddler-boy.

We are now happily nursing. The tongue-tie days of nursing angst are long over. I foresee him nursing for many many more months. I'll let him wean himself - so who knows when that will be?

As his first year quickly comes to a close, I'm eager to see what adventures this little man will take us all on. It's going to be a great journey. I just know it!

How Do You Pin?

I am a pinner. Pinterest has got to be one of the best sites ever. I don't follow businesses or blogs as many people do. I follow plenty of businesses or blogs on Facebook (Mostly to stay on top of recipes, sales and new products from natural living-type businesses and blogs). I use it to find recipes, DIY, travel ideas, etc. I don't want to get overwhelmed with businesses trying to sell me their stuff, rather I really enjoy getting ideas from friends.

I have a dilemma, however.  My pins are getting out of control. For example: I have boards for Paleo recipes.  Do I pin recipes there that I want to try or that I've already tried? I have a board titled, "Pinned it and Did It!" But, I feel that recipes, DIY and other things I've done could get lost in there as the pins add up. 

I really need to organize my pins before I have so many pins that I (and my followers) get lost in the pinclutter. How do you pin? How do organize those pins? If you were to go to my boards, how would you like to see them organized (pins done vs. pins to-be-done).  Help. Please.

Amsterdam

I read Anne Frank's, The Diary of a Young Girl when I was 12 or 13.  I still remember how vivid her story played out in my mind. She was such a talented young writer, so much promise.  I dreamed that someday I would be able to visit the secret annex where she, her family and friends hid during WWII. In April, my dream came true.

The line to tour Anne Frank's house was quite long. Eventually, an employee took pity on us and allowed us to go to the front of the line. Matt had read the story to the girls (a children's version) and they were enthralled. They especially liked the secret door (sorry, no pictures allowed).

After the tour, we picked up various versions of her diary including, Anne Frank TageBuch - The German translation of the book. Olivia is slowly working her way through reading it.  The one "problem" we had is that she eagerly went to school, exclaiming to her classmates (Who are German, remember) that she toured the Anne Frank House.  German children, I'm told, do not learn of her history until they are 12 or 13.  Her teacher told her she was a bit young to learn of her story - that it was too sad and tragic. We had told Olivia not to mention her visit to her teachers and classmates and explained why. Of course, she's Olivia. So, she did not listen.

Bikes and Canals

After our Anne Frank House visit and purchases, we walked a very short distance to The Pancake Bakery and enjoyed Poffertjes and Pannekoek. Two different versions of Dutch Pancakes. The girls and I had sweet, Matt had savory. I fell in love with pofferjes and will now be on the look out for a cast iron poferjes pan.

Many of the apartments had bike ramps (see bottom left).

City of Bikes and Canals

I would love to go back to Holland. There is still so much for us to see!  Hopefully, we'll have the time to make another trip back before our European Tour ends.

The Netherlands - Tulips Galore!

Exhibit at Keukenhof

 In mid-April, the family took a trip to The Netherlands to check out the famous tulips and Amsterdam.  We spent an entire day exploring Keukenhof.  The day started out cool and quickly turned into a glorious day filled with sunshine - perfect tulip viewing weather.  Here are a few pictures:

Wooden Shoe

Tulips Galore!

Struggling to get a shot of everyone happy.

More tulips

We braved taking the kids across a pond

Happy to be riding high

One of the many flower fields around town

The tulips of The Netherlands are a must see. They definitely make my list of places one must see before they die.

It's Been a Long Time...

Wow.  I just opened up my blog and realized it's been nearly five months since my last post. I used to love blogging.  Often, I would find myself going over a potential blog post as I showered each morning. Leave it to Facebook and Pinterest for my prolonged absences.  My intent is to blog more regularly. I make no promises, however.  For now, here is a bulleted list of random happenings within the McQuilton Family.

December 2011

• Visited NY, VT and PA mid-December to early January.
• Colden had his lip and tongue ties released by laser in Albany, NY. They were making breastfeeding troublesome.  Unfortunately, he's made little progress in obtaining a better latch-but he's in cranial sacral therapy weekly and we hope to make progress eventually.
• Lila got her ears pierced (age five)
• I came down with a stomach bug and very promptly passed it on to at least 10 other people, including my little Lila
• Visited with many friends and family members, including a trip to NYC with my family and my mother-in-law. 

January 2012

• Moved from Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (Heidelberg) to Bavaria, Germany (Vilseck).
• Enrolled Olivia in a new German school.
• Enrolled Lila in a US preschool as German kindergartens in this area are filled until the Fall (She will be going to a local kindergarten in the Fall). Lila is not entirely happy with her preschool. I thought it was a phase, as the change was a great one, but she still is not very happy there. She is pleased to be going back to a German kindergarten in the Fall.
•  Matt turned 35

February 2012

• Olivia turned seven.

March 2012 

• I turned 35.
• Colden was left with a babysitter for the first time (just a few hours) and did very well.
• Colden began rolling over.
• Olivia finally started getting a better grasp of reading in English. I'm really proud of her. She is learning to read in two languages simultaneously. That cannot be an easy task. Her little brain is hard at work!

April 2012

This month we are excited to have Jay, Amie and Edward Davis visit us.  Before their visit, however, we are heading to The Netherlands for a few days to see the tulips at Keukenhof and visit Amsterdam. I'll be sure to post some pictures - though, I'm not sure how great they will be as the weather isn't forecasted to be spectacular. But, it is Spring and because weather is so unpredictable this time of the year, we just can't put off a trip and wait for the weather to clear.

Here are a few pictures from our adventures in the North East back in December: 

Visiting NYC with grandma McQuilton

Matt and I spent a night in PA visiting great friends, Laura and Lee

Colden and my baby sister, Andrea, had a chance to meet.

Lila gets her ears pierced

Hope you all are having a nice Spring!

Erste Klasse/First Grade

First Grade Picture

Heading to her classroom

Since we're approaching mid-year break, I suppose it's time to introduce you to my first-grader! 

Olivia started 1 Klasse at Merian Schule in mid-September.  The first day of class was on a Saturday.  There was a brief welcoming ceremony put on by the second graders and then 1 klasse went with their teachers and classmates to their respective classrooms for about 90-minutes.  Upon arrival, Olivia was scared and shy.  It took no time, however, for her to warm up (the welcoming songs and short play helped immensely) and by the time her classmates lined up together, she was ready.  Siblings and parents enjoyed refreshments and snacks outside during this time. 

She could be mistaken as a German

In the weeks since school has started, Olivia has become even more fiercely independent and strong-willed.  She feels very much grown up now and tries to prove it everyday.  She tries my patience constantly. She wants to walk to school by herself or with her older friends (it's too far) or take the bus by herself (we're moving soon - so not worth the trouble to start up) and tries to tell me how her homework should be done even when I know she's doing it wrong and must correct her. She's growing into a little girl with a preteen personality!

She has homework daily and we haven't had too much trouble with translation issues.  She was forgetting things at home or at school for a time - but, I think I've finally gotten a handle on what is needed on what days and I make sure to check over the contents of her bag to make sure she has it all. I'm a little shocked that they have homework every day and even over the weekends. However, she gets most of it done in class lately and, therefore, it is usually less than a half-hour's worth of work.

She already gets in arguments with children at school.  One boy in particular, Phillip, appears to be the center of her attention.  She comes home almost daily telling of a fight she and Phillip got into that day (arguments).  His mother thinks that maybe they are "sweet" on each other. Oh no!

I'm deeply saddened that Olivia will have to change schools mid-year.  Many of her friends in her class are friends from her kindergarten last year.  It's been really nice and an easy transition and I'm not looking forward to watching her heart break. She may be outspoken and strong-willed, but she's also very sensitive and my heart breaks for her.  This is the first time we will move and she'll really feel the pain of losing friends and starting over and I'm sure I'll be feeling this pain right along with her. But, it is military life and as everyone familiar with military life knows, she will have to get used to it.

We have not, however, regretted our decision to put Olivia in German elementary school and will embrace the journey ahead no matter how difficult or not.

We're Moving!

I haven't recently blogged about this or even posted about this on Facebook.  However, we've been waiting for quite some time for news about a job change for Matt that would result in a move.  No, not back to the US.  It will be a move to another part of Germany.  As Matt is an infantry officer, and there is no infantry unit here, his next job would see us moving.

We finally got the news.  We will be moving in early January to Vilsek, Germany. It is in Bavaria and located about two and half hours away from where we are now.  Matt's been dying to work with another Stryker unit - so he'll be happy to be back (He was in a Stryker brigade when we were stationed in Alaska) in a comfort zone. There is no deployment scheduled in the foreseeable future (for those of you wondering).  This move will see us in Germany for a three year assignment, not including the 18-months we will have spent here.

I'm anxious because the girls will have to change schools in the middle of the school year and my heart breaks for them already.  They have recently welcomed a new sibling, which is a big change and then we'll move to a different town, leaving behind friends in schools and dance classes.  The dialect is different in Bavaria, so that will also be a change for them (You can kind of compare it to a New Yorker moving to Alabama).

I have to start investigating dance classes (on or off post), and German schools for both girls.  Liv will be transferring from one German school to another.  The housing situation (there is no housing available on or off post at this time) is tricky and since Olivia has to enter school upon arrival and we don't want her to miss even a day, we're in a bit of pickle.  We're going to try to have a house lined up before we move - which will cost money.  Lots of it.  Military families know finding a house before you arrive at a duty station is near impossible unless it's a Stateside move. We are working on it, however. The school situation is a problem even if we were to put Olivia in American school as there are three elementary schools in the area.  Your child attends the school closest to where you live.

Fortunately, Matt was able to get something called a COT (Consecutive Overseas Tour) and this allows us to fly home at no expense (No airline fees) to us in December.  We are looking forward to introducing Colden to our friends and family.  We are also looking forward to meeting Matt's sister's twin boys who are nearly one-year-old!

Lots of big changes coming for the McQuilton Family.  I still have to update about Olivia starting school, Colden's birth and more.  So stay tuned...