Karnival and Other Adventures

Week 1:
So Monday March 7 was the Karnival parade. Patrick, the boys and I dressed up and the Grandparents tagged along. We caught a train into Bonn with the boys in the TioStroller. The trains were packed! We got off a stop earlier than we would have because the ramp at the main station is currently under construction and there was no way we were going to carry that stroller up the stairs. We followed Patrick through town until he found a good spot. The parade itself was very interesting. It reminded me of the 24th of July meets Halloween. Why the 24th you ask well the parade consisted of tractors pulling floats, marching bands, and horses pulling covered wagons! As for the halloween comparison well everyone was dressed up and the people in the parade were throwing TONZ of candy. The parade lasted 2.5 hours and in that time we got 4 bags of candy (the reusable grocery bags). After the parade Patrick was taking the boys and his parents for a walk so I decided to head home. Might I also just say that I was the only Giraffe that I saw in Bonn! I am in love with my costume and will be wearing it for years!!!

The rest of the week was pretty normal. The Grandparents left Tuesday morning. Patrick was out of town Tuesday night at a conference.

Friday the boys had violin on the schedule until Nico got a birthday invitation. So I picked up Finni in the TrioBike with Nico riding his bike and we met Koko at the bridge where we divided and conquered. She took Nico to the party and I took Finni to violin group. After violin group Finni had a playdate scheduled at the Bishop's house. The bishop's wife was going to pick Finni up at the church where we have violin right after the lesson at 3. The lesson went really well I even got to participate in playing the rhythm sticks. After the lesson we hung out on the grass out in front of the church waiting. We played tag while we waited. We ended up waiting until 3:45 when I called Koko to find out what happened. She made some calls and Patrick called me back saying that the Bishop's family had forgotten and that I should take Finni to Koko's office. After I dropped him off I came home to hang out and folded laundry while I waited for the boys to get home.

Saturday night Koko left for Ethiopia for 10 days. Sunday Patrick at Night Duty so he was able to take the boys to church but then within the first hour he had to leave. But first he pulled me out of Relief Society to give me a calling in the ward. I am now the Ward Music Director. This is by far the biggest calling I have had at church before. So Patrick gave me the calling then he had to leave. After relief society I was heading into my sunday school class and was caught by the other counselor of the bishopric asking about an interview for the ward newsletter. He said that he had asked me about it weeks ago but had not received anything yet... so I guess I was supposed to write a statement about myself for the newsletter but misunderstood him so he got my e-mail address and let me know that the newsletter was already done for now but if I could respond to the newsletter with my statement. I again tried to go toward my sunday school class when I was caught by the Bishop. He wanted to have a new to the ward interview so that he could get to know me better. We talked a bit and he told me the importance of the young single adults in the ward. After our chat it was time for Sacrament meeting. So I got the boys together and we were about to sit down in the chapel when Ben came over to tell me that he was translating in the Primary room. So I gathered the boys up and we moved. Nico was saying that he was tired and didn't feel too great so he laid on my lap during the first half of the meeting then there were so many kids that had come into the room that Ben was getting frustrated at not being able to translate over the noise so we moved to the nursery. Finni stayed in the Primary room but Nico came with me and laid down on the floor. After church Brother Engstrom offered us a ride home which we gladly accepted. When he dropped us off as soon as Nico stepped out of the car he got sick. I brought him inside laid him on the couch with a trash can next to him and he fell asleep. Finni and I played for the rest of the afternoon and I just kept checking on Nico. A funny moment was that evening Patrick called to check in and suggested that I give Nico some tea to settle his stomach. We went downstairs and I made the tea and Nico went into auto pilot just chatting away and sipping his tea. At one point I had taken Finni upstairs to his bed because he had fallen asleep at the table and when I got back downstairs Nico was still talking a mile a minute to me even though I wasn't there. Needless to say it was a very long night because Nico had trouble sleeping so that meant I was up too.

Week 2:
Monday morning I took the boys to school then I had German class. Afterwards I came home and slept for hours to make up for the night before. Patrick was home in the afternoon to take the boys to their swim classes and Nico to his psychomotorik.

Wednesday I was getting ready to go pick up Finni from Kinderhaus when Finn's mom called and asked if Finn could come over to play with Finni. I said that would be awesome if she didn't mind Finn coming with us to play at Nico's soccer practice. It worked out well because Finni usually just sits up by the fence watching the practice but this time he had a friend to play with. During the course of the practice Nico fell and scraped up his side and Finn fell and cut his finger. Both were accidents but I felt like a horrible caretaker that 2/3 kids I was responsible for ended up bleeding. But they all had fun.

Thursday the boys had swim class with the next door girl Lena. I picked up Nico from school we had lunch then I went and picked up Finni at 1:30. I had everything ready to go so the boys went next door to get Lena. The 4 of us caught the train and I had the name of the station we were to get off at. From that station the kids knew the rest of the way so I just had to follow them. I got them checked in and changed. Then I watched their lesson and then they swam afterwards for a few minutes.

Friday we took the train to violin group and on the way I remembered that I had the Aquarium passes with me so I asked the boys if they wanted to go to SeaLife after their lesson. They thought it was a good idea so they did their best at the lesson then we headed to SeaLife. We were cutting it kinda close because the front desk closes at 4 and we were running to get there just in time. We got in and spent about an hour. We beat Patrick home by about 5 minutes and he said that we were going out to dinner. So we went to Vapiano for dinner. It was a really cool place that was fast food style service but fresh Italian food.

Sunday was my first week leading the music in Sacrament meeting. Patrick had to take Finni to a birthday party half way through but Nico and I played the dot game. Since the headset system is down I no longer know what is going on. I just follow the cues from the pianist about when I am supposed to be on the stand. I think it went pretty well. Afterwards I found a substitute for the next week as I will be in Brussels. The Engstrom's offered to give me and Nico a ride home. Coreen gave me some tips about what to see in Brussels.

Week 3:
Monday the boys had swimming again but Lena's mom took them. She even picked up Finni from Kinderhaus so it was really nice for me. I had some time to myself to read a book and just hang out. A guy from our ward came over to clean the windows. When the boys got back from swimming Patrick came by to pick up Nico for an Orthopedic appt. and then took him to psychomotorik. I had Finni and Lena had come over for an hour. They were both so tired, Finni and I played Hali Gali while Lena sat on my lap and watched. Then after the game they ran around and played some before Lena's mom came to get her. Once Lena was gone Finni found the face paint we had used for Karnival and asked to be made into a pirate.

Tuesday Koko got home in the morning and took the boys to school. I went and picked up Nico but I didn't take any bikes. It was such a beautiful day I wanted us to enjoy it. I gave him 2 choices of ways to get home and he chose the "street train" that takes us into the center of Bonn. While we were on our way I asked if he wanted to stop and get lunch at one of the kiosks in town. He thought that was a good idea so we went to my favorite sausage stand and I asked Nico what he was getting. He wanted the Currywurst which is apparently his favorite so I decided that I would try it too. Lets just say that Nico has very good taste. It was delicious, and we ate it in the main plaza in Bonn. It was a fun adventure! When we got home we did homework then Nico had a playdate at his friend Vincent's house which was on the way to Kindergarden to pick up Finni. I got Finni and we went straight to his psychomotorik but we were early so I let Finni sleep in the buggy outside in the sun. After psychomotorik we went and got Nico from the playdate. Patrick had meetings that night so it was just Koko, me and the boys for dinner and I made sloppy joes from scratch.

Yesterday nothing overly exciting happened the morning was pretty standard. Nico and I did homework and caught up on some things from his school. Then we went and got Finni who took a nap on the way home and a bit after that. Nico had soccer practice and Finni found some friends from his psychomotorik class at the field so they played during Nico's practice. We got home and I made noodles with pesto, candied carrots, and peaches for dinner. Patrick had night duty so again it was just Koko, me and the boys.

Which brings me to today.