Summer Camp & Day Date

PJ attended his first summer day camp this year.

God, that sentence makes me feel old.

Anywho.

The camp included football (soccer), baseball, Frisbee, climbing on a ropes course, walks in the woods, tennis, and every other activity that could lead to little boys and girls getting as dirty as they can (and should!).

Patrick flourished. He was excited, energetic, positive, and integrated into his group. After months of the opposite, both the Mr. and I loved watching him blossom. He came home dirty as dirty can be each day.



After months of hearing "I don't know!" to almost every question, we suddenly heard story after story when we asked "How was your day?" and "Who did you play with?" and "What was your favorite part of the day?"

Stories that took minutes to tell, with bright eyes and a big smile, that included names and laughter and all those little details that matter.



By the third day, he even started teaching little Bean how to play new sports. With confidence and pride.

Confidence and pride carry over, of course. Bean took a page out of her big brother's book and this happened:

PJ's positive experience and our shared, increasingly positive family atmosphere, inspired us old people to go climbing on this amazing ropes course for a day date. 

We both climbed around, pushing the limits. After over two hours, with shaking arms and legs as well as heart soaring with pride, I stepped off the course. From the ground, I watched the Mr. take on even bigger challenges, pushing himself even harder.

Together, we ended our day date, tired, sore, and clear-eyed with confidence.

Thank you, summer day camp and awesomely challenging ropes course, for all the confidence and smiles. We needed you. 

XO

Mommy and Me Work Day

Recently PJ has been having a harder and harder time dealing with some attitudes and approaches of the German kindergarten system. It doesn't help that he is still having some challenges health wise that make him feel physically uncomfortable. Some days are good, most days are just average, and some days suck.

Last week was especially rough and on this past Tuesday he had an unusual and especially strong, negative reaction to entering his kindergarten group. He kicked, cried, clung to me. I tried to go but my parental intuition spoke up. Loudly. I got as far as my car, took some deep breaths, and turned around again. I secretly watched my little guy for a few moments and could see he felt sad, uncomfortable, awkward.

It is important that we all learn how to deal with uncomfortable feelings. It is important that we learn to adapt, to grow, to work through situations that cause us difficult feelings. We start developing those skills as soon as we are born and we continue developing them throughout our lives.

And sometimes we just need a break. Sometimes we need to be sheltered and cuddled and given space to not deal with the negative feelings.

So I picked up my almost-four-year old, held him extremely tight, told him how much I love him and that we were going to have an Exception Day together. Thankfully I work at a company that offers infrastructure for tight-moments. I could have worked from home - like I do more than half of the time anyways due to the global natural of my work - but I needed a printer.

So we went to the office and into the dedicated "Eltern-Kind Büro" (parent-child office) space for a few hours.
Side note: how awesome is it that that isn't yet another "mommy&me"?

I had never used the "Eltern-Kind Büro" before and was extremely pleasantly surprised that there is an entire playroom with tons of toys, books, and space. All of this was right next to a quiet, clean, tidy temporary office space with monitors, laptop docking stations, phones, charging units, and more. Actually it was much better stocked than the various office/desk spaces I use when I am in the office.
PJ was stoked. All those signs of sadness, uncomfortable-ness, and awkwardness dissipated. He was excited, proud, curious, active. Which is how I personally want to see my almost-four-year old.

It worked really well. I wrote, edited, and posted an internal blog. I updated a strategic presentation. I held two relatively informal meetings. PJ popped in and out but on the whole he was quiet and focused. Then suddenly I heard a very excited and extremely loud yell of excitement, followed by "Mommy! You have to come now and see what I did!"

This is what I found.

Look at that face. That excitement. That pride. We made the right decision. Everyone won.

The next day he walked into his kindergarten group, had a not-great-but-not-sucky day, and practiced learning how to deal with those uncomfortable moments. If only adults did the same.

XO

Granny's Birthday 2014

Another delayed posting from summer.

Late August is my mom's birthday. This year she got to celebrate it with her husband, two daughters, our (crazy enough to marry into our family) husbands, and both grandkids. Her son also gave her a birthday phone call. Guess which part she was most excited about.

Yup...these two:

While I did enjoy sharing my kiddos with my mom on her birthday, I must admit my sister's gift to her was MY favorite part of the day: 

I really wanted to take fourths (yes, I ate three servings) but Jelly Bean wouldn't give me hers. Sigh.

Afterwards we sat around and made fun of me. Or at least that's how I remember it.

xo

IRL: It Does Happen

When I was pregnant with PJ I got involved in an online group. Three years later, while visiting family in Ohio, three of us got together for a playdate. It was so wonderful to meet these women in person that I've shared some ups and downs with online.

And of course meet those adorable, adorable, adorable little ones!

The three mommies!

XO

First Homegrown Tomato

Last year we tried to grow some tomato plants. We failed. This year the plants were super successful but we failed to get any red tomatoes before we took off for our summer trip. 

So before we took off for Germany, we ate two tiny green ones instead. PJ was so proud of his little tomato. 

It didn't taste all that great but he shared it with me and Jelly Bean. 

Here's to next year! May the plants survive and may we eat a red tomato.

XO

Christmas Tree 2013

Last weekend we finally got our Christmas tree. (my opinion)
Last weekend we already set up our Christmas tree. (the Mr.'s opinion).

Yeah!

Since we now have two kiddos, I insisted we make a bit of thing about it. So we all packed up in our new mini-van, named Frosty, and drove to the largest Christmas tree in the area. There we were greeted by the largest Santa Claus PJ had ever seen.



When we were finally able to entice PJ away from Santa, we started cruising through the already-cut trees. There was a pretty big selection. Thankfully, PJ was willing to help by carefully inspecting all sides of every single tree.



Finally we found our tree: not too tall, slender, and easy to decorate (and un-decorate) for toddler-sized people.



And we all cheered! Okay, Jelly Bean slept, but same thing, right?

Later that same day, the boys put the tree up nice and straight. 

Then PJ and I wrapped the "snow" around the bottom of the tree.

And then the boys cut open the netting of the tree. I'm pretty sure I didn't breathe until the Mr. put those scissors away.

And, finally, right after nap time (and thus PJ was in his adorable monster pjs), we decorated the tree.

Even little Jelly Bean helped out.

And before we knew it, our tree was up and we were all watching a Christmas movie. While Jelly Bean just looked adorable with her papa.

Happy Christmas Decorating!


XO

The Beatles x2

PJ displayed interest in music at any early age and now Jelly Bean is following in his footsteps. However, while PJ went towards harder music, like the famous Metallica lullaby, Jelly Bean is showing preference towards hiphop (Lord, help me) and folk (yeah!). 

Yet, their music taste overlaps in some areas, like Oasis, Martin & James, and - of course - The Beatles. Remember when PJ wore this T-shirt?

Damn, our kids are cute ;)

XO

Fasching 2013!

Finally! Blogger will allow me to upload pictures ... so this is a super heavy picture post. But since we're covering Fasching here, pictures make the story even more enjoyable. Have fun!

Fasching was a multi-day thing for us this year. Dressing up little PJ is too much fun to skip even once. The first day, we attended a parade in the Mr's little village. PJ went as Simba from the Lion King.

The entire Steinbach clan got into the fun. 

PJ fit right into the crowd, picking up candies with the older kids. 

This group impressed PJ the most. Same costume, eh?

The second day we went to a Childrens' Fasching party in our town. PJ went as a Bavarian. Adorable outfit, right?

PJ as a Bavarian; me as a rainbow; the Mr. as a pig. 

PJ was a little overwhelmed by the noise. 

Hum....who looks like who here?

The last day - that I have pictures for - was another parade, this one huge and in our own town. I met PJ's day care group at their place and together we walked to the parade.

Magical M and PJ

PJ enjoying popcorn thrown from the parade wagons.

Wish I could write even more but it took long enough to just get the pictures up. I'll leave it up to your fabulous imagination. ;)

xo

Out with the Old Part 2

A few weeks ago I shared some pictures of our ongoing patio project. The Garden Goddess continues to work miracles; yesterday she cut the strange shaped stones to fill in the gaps that were still there. Today PJ took advantage of another warm spell and a brand new patio to play football (soccer).

I don't know about you but those last few seconds are a.) proof that this kid is a natural in front of a camera b.) a little astonishing because - hello? - PJ is 16 months old, not 20 and/or c.) by far the most adorable three seconds of film I've ever gotten of him.

What do you think?

xo

Rainy Days with Fancy Boots

Little man was finally able to put his favorite boots to good use on a rainy Sunday.

Headed out the door and annoyed with his hobbling momma.

Is it just me or does he have the GQ facial expression down?

"I'm ready for my close-up."

"I know, I'm just too cute."

If only for today, these boots were totally worth it.


XO
p.s. Yes, I know that my blog has basically become the hall of shameless-PJ-adorableness. You are welcome. When these teeth finally break through and sleep returns, the writing will be back.