This is an intersection near my kids' school:

And, this is what I imagine every time I see the sign:

There is something so right about the marriage of these two minds.

Look what I found written on Jessica's bedroom mirror today:

I don't know when she wrote it, or what prompted her, but I will take it.

(This photo was taken last Friday, but I was so overcome by the pooey car that this post had to wait.)

Adam participated in his school's basketball skills tournament and did especially well on the shooting part of it.  He made 4 out of 5 shots (actually, he made 5 out of 6 shots, but they didn't count the practice shot).  I was very proud of him--even when he wasn't doing as well as he wanted to, he kept his emotions under control and cheered for the other competitors.

1st Advent Sunday

According to the internet, the first advent Sunday symbolizes hope.  So, over dinner, we all shared something we hope for.  Here are our hopes in 2011:

Luke hopes to someday play college football.

Adam hopes we all will do well in school.

Pepper hopes Jesus will come again soon (he gets extra credit for his answer).

Jessica hopes we can all be happy.

And, I hope all my children will make choices in their lives that will make them as happy as I am.

(I also hope that next advent season, Brad will be done with this ridiculous job and can be with us on all four advent Sundays.)

Guess what movie we saw tonight!

(I'll give you a hint:  I actually had to ADD red-eye to this photo)

Yep, we saw Breaking Dawn Part 1.  Only those of us who are actual fans were allowed to go - we had a couple of anti-Twilight friends who thought about joining us, but we didn't want their pooh-pooh attitude towards sparkly vampires and ripped werewolves to spoil our fun.

Just because it's stupid doesn't mean we can't love it.

One of the perks of Brad working for a car company is that they give us a brand new company car every six months.  I'm not going to lie - it is pretty nice (I thought about downplaying it for modesty sake, but then decided that would be ungrateful of me).

So, about a week ago, we traded our six-month old company car (full of old french fries, dead leaves, and forgotten school art work) for a pristine, brand-spanking-new car.  For a few days, we cruised around, basking in the hum of a new engine and the scent of stiff new leather.

Then, on Wednesday when I took the kids to their church activities, Pepper stepped in a huge pile of dog poo on his way to the car.  It was dark, and Pepper was oblivious, so he climbed in the car and proceeded to smear said dog poo all over the carpet on the passenger side.  It took about 10 seconds before all of us in the car were gasping for air and totally grossed out.  

Of course, when we saw the problem, we immediately stopped the car and made Pepper get out and clean off his shoes.  We wiped up the poo the best we could with the packet of tissues I had in my purse (five minutes I never want to relive), and when we got home Jessica took a bottle of sanitizing cleaner to the carpet and gave it a good scrubbing.  Problem solved, right?

Wrong.  

Despite all the scrubbing and leaving the windows open at night when the car was in the garage, for days the car has still stunk.  Reeked.  So bad that every time we drove anywhere, I would look in the rear view mirror and see Adam's head hanging out the window and Luke's eyes watering as he tried to suppress his gag reflex.

So today I couldn't stand it any longer.  I armed myself with a scrub brush, soap, and rubber gloves to attack the offending carpet.  But before I started scrubbing, I found what I believe to be the lingering culprit:

This was hiding under the seat - a big hunk of dog poo wrapped in dead leaves.

Holy Crap.

  Brad is in the U.S.A for work, so he was able to eat turkey with his family in Utah, but the kids and I had an absolutely de-light-ful Thanksgiving dinner with our friends

It's the day before Thanksgiving, so a-shopping I must go!

This is my grocery-store-of-choice.  Kaufland is a grocery store with big wide aisles and plenty of parking - the way God intended.  I will gladly drive 15 minutes out of my way to avoid the tiny shops with 10 parking spots that are so common here.

Years ago, Jessica got a big stuffed tiger as a birthday gift from a friend.  She named the tiger Cutie, and Cutie has been a member of the family ever since.

Well, this week, Cutie has been adopted by Luke.  Luke has been dragging Cutie around with him everywhere - to bed, the dinner table, and of course wherever Lukie is playing.  But, Luke refuses to call him Cutie.  Instead, in keeping with Luke's machismo, the tiger must be called Spidertiger, after Luke's favorite super hero.

Here is Luke making sure Spidertiger eats a good breakfast.

The only thing that kept Spidertiger from going to school with Luke this morning was the fact that he is too big to fit in Luke's backpack.  So, Luke put Spidertiger in Time Out (this is the Time Out Chair at our house), and instructed me many, many times to make sure Spidertiger stayed there until Luke gets home. 

This is our furnace room:

 And, this is why we have to call the handy man every time we want to adjust the thermostat.

Evidence that a five-year-old lives here.

Tonight, we went with friends to a restaurant called The Bird.  They boast "the best burgers in Berlin, perhaps in all of Europe."  How could we not try it?

I think my arteries are clogging just from looking at this picture.

The burgers really were amazing, but it was the fries that blew my socks off.  I love french fries made from real potatoes! 

I had to laugh at the menu:

It's true - people here do eat their burgers with a knife and fork.  

After reading this, I fully intended to eat my burger like a real American, but when my burger arrived, it was too tall to fit my mouth around.  So, as much as I hate to admit it, I actually ate my burger with a knife and fork.  The staff may have given me dirty looks, but I was too busy enjoying my swiss-and-mushroom-heaven-on-a-bun to really care.

Tonight, Brad took me to our adult stake dance.  

One of the things I love most about Brad is that he is always game to take me dancing.  Dance is not a passion for him like it is for me, and I appreciate that he knows how much I enjoy it.  Whenever we take the dance floor, he gives me a look that says, "What dance is this?" and then he basically lets me lead him through a few steps.  

In my book, there is nothing dreamier.

This year, Pepper signed up to play for his school's soccer team.  One of the deals of him being on the team is that we are supposed to help sell concessions at games and house students from other schools when they come to play in tournaments.

Pepper has attended every practice since the season began.  EVERY practice.  And every week, when they post who will play in the weekend game, his name is absent.  Not even an alternate.  Now, I get that Pepper is no David Beckham, but would it really hurt anything for him to play 5 or 10 minutes in an occasional game?

So, all season, I have been passive-aggressive and refused to help with the concessions.  They always post the play list on Wednesdays, and on Fridays when they try to get me to come help, I don't respond.  If my kid doesn't get to play, why should I show up to sell popcorn to all the others?

When they asked me to house some students from another school this weekend, I didn't readily volunteer.  In a moment of weakness, I finally agreed to house two students for one night.

These two very nice girls from southern Germany are staying with us tonight so they can play in the big soccer tournament at the kids' school on Friday and Saturday.  

No, Pepper was not invited to play with the boys' team -- again.

This is the wall in my little entry by the front door.  Looks a little naked, don't you think?

Last weekend, before her sleepover, Jessica did a sweep of the house to remove all evidence that we are at all spiritual.  Usually, we have a nice painting of Christ here, but he disappeared during the sweep.  Several sets of scriptures were also swept out of sight.

I just love having a teenager.

Today, there is much rejoicing on Jessica's part!

For her birthday back in August, we promised Jess a new cell phone.  She wants an iPhone, but we refuse to buy one here in Germany because they are so expensive.  Besides, we don't want to get one with a German charger because then she won't be able to use it when we move back to America this summer.  So, we've been in a bit of a standstill.

 But then, Brad remembered that he has an old Blackberry he can't use anymore.  Jess and Brad took a quick trip to an electronics store, and after purchasing a 5 Euro SIM card and some minutes, Jessica has a new phone.  Yay!

(I'm not sure why she has paint on her face.  Something to do with a construction project at her school.)

I have a confession to make.

I love to spy on people.

It's not as sick as it sounds.  Really.  I just love to look in people's windows when it's dark out and their house is all lit up inside.  Random windows become like movie screens, giving me glimpses into someone's life story.

When we moved here, I found out very quickly that our next door neighbors don't close their curtains.  And, their apartment is level with Adam and Luke's bedroom window on our second floor.

With floor-to-ceiling windows and no drapes, it's like they are just asking me to watch their every move.

The players in this particular show are a 50ish couple who live a very sedate, quiet life.  I have named them Frau and Otis.  Otis spends a lot of time reading in the living room while Frau cooks in the kitchen.  Frau likes to wear a spanky red apron.  Sometimes, a young boy visits, and he apparently likes to color at the kitchen table while Frau and Otis do the aforementioned activities.  

Yes, I get that it's pretty boring.  But I can't help myself.

Maybe it is a little sick.

Brad had to go speak in another ward today, so he dropped us off at our ward about a half hour early, and picked us up afterwards about an hour late.  This is how we filled the time:

We were setting up the RS room and Adam decided he should teach a lesson.  He actually had quite an audience, as many adult members came in to see what was going on.  I'm sure he loved the attention.  My friend Olaf got a kick out of it - he took this picture.

After church, we had more time to kill while we waited for Brad to pick us up, so Luke and his friends E and A made the most of the autumn leaves.

Last night, Jess and her friends had a sleepover party in our tea house out back.

We almost never use the tea house, but it is the perfect place for a sleep over.  Brad brought down a TV and the xbox so they could play Dance Central and watch movies, plus he lit a big fire so it was nice and toasty.

So, apparently today is St. Martin's Day.  This is a holiday I'd never heard of before moving here, so it is all new to me.  From what I understand, St. Martin was a soldier who joined the Catholic church as an adult, and he was so nice that once gave half his cloak to a beggar so he wouldn't freeze to death.  

The tradition here is that on November 11, children carry paper lanterns in a procession after dark while singing some special songs.  It is supposed to be a rather reverent assembly, with children enjoying the magic of being out after dark and lighting the way with their lanterns while everyone sings and remembers nice St. Martin.

Lukie's class made lanterns, and we met at nightfall to join a German school on their procession. 

The flaw with this plan is that none of us knew what in the heck we were doing.  So, basically, we non-Germans stumbled after the singing German children and parents, trying to keep our kids from yelling and having sword fights with their lanterns while the German teachers pursed their lips at us and gave us dirty looks.  Oh, and it was really cold.

It was a special night.

Tomorrow is my last day of German class, and we are having a party to celebrate.  I made chocolate chip cookies for our last party, and it was such a hit that I decided to make some again.  This time, I used M&M's instead of chocolate chips.

You Americans may not think chocolate chip cookies are any big deal, but around here they are a real novelty.  Germans don't have brown sugar like we are used to in the States (this is one of the things I stocked up on last Saturday), so when they make cookies they tend to be a bit hard and crunchy.  Whenever I make soft, moist, yummy cookies, I get lots and lots of compliments.

It's nice when buying friends is so cheap and easy.

Today I had a cold and did nothing all day but lay on the couch and doze off while I watched TV (it was kind of awesome, but I won't go into that now).

Since I was such a slug and didn't actually do anything worth noting, I took a photo of Something About Germany That I Think Is Really Cool And I Wish We Had In America.

I love, love, love the window shades they have here.  Ours are made of wood, and when they are down, they completely block out any light.  They also are a good insulation against the cold, and they are outside the windows so I never have to dust them.  We let them up and down by pulling that strap you see to the right of the window.  They really are rather brilliant.

Last night, I was tidying up the living room, and when I picked up Adam's shoes I nearly died.  The whole front sole of one of them had come detached - I don't know how he even managed to keep it on his foot.  

So, a trip to the shoe store.

We picked out a new pair and I went to pay for them while Adam and Luke watched a German Thomas the Train video.  When I came back to collect the boys, this is what I found.

I'm sorry.  Sometimes my boys are just so stinkin' cute.

The other day, Susanne was telling me about her super-duper hair clippers and how well they work when she cuts her boys' hair.  Then Adam came strolling by, looking like a shaggy dog, so I seized the moment and asked Susanne if she would cut his and Pepper's hair.  

Susanne agreed, so I whisked the boys over to her house this afternoon for haircuts.  Best. Idea. Ever.  The boys look so good, and it only cost me a plate of whoopie pies.

(Technically, this photo was taken last Sunday, but since I didn't get it until this week, I am using it as today's POTD.)

Olaf, a friend of ours in the ward, snapped this photo of me and the kids rushing to make it to church on time.

Today, I took a roadtrip with some of my friends down to Grafenwöhr, an American military base about 3 hours away from Berlin.  Their husbands all work for either the military or the foreign service, so they are eligible to shop at the American stores on base.

You can see that we filled the van up to the rafters!  As a civilian, I was allowed to visit the base, but I couldn't buy anything.  It was still awesome to roam the aisles at the commissary and see boxes of Lucky Charms, Ding Dongs, and Diet Dr. Pepper.  My generous friends bought me a few things I couldn't live without, and it was just fun to spend the day with them.

The commissary is part of a small mall, which of course includes a food court.  We visited it many times.

 I had a moment of silence when I sat down to a couple of Taco Bell tacos.

I wasn't sure how to react when Denise added ketchup to her Popeye's mashed potatoes.  She's Canadian - I guess she can't help it.

Food court, American brands, and delightful friends.  Life is good.

This afternoon, I was in the kitchen and I overheard Jessica reading to Luke in the living room.  She was reading a book we've had forever - an awesome schoolteacher friend gave it to Pepper on his third birthday, and it's been a favorite ever since.  It's a cute book with little pictures in the text, so a pre-reader can say the words along with the reader.

The thing that I loved about this today was that Jessica was doing the exact same sound effects that I always do when I read this book.  Someday, when I die, I will live on in the "ghost who cried BOO, and the cat that screeched MEW!"

It's a good legacy.

Tonight was the 10th grade Drama Night at the school.  Jessica and her classmates each wrote a short play, which they directed.  Everyone acted in each other's plays and they presented them tonight.

Jessica's play was entitled "Writer's Block" and it was about a girl who can't figure out what to write for her English paper.  The girl in front "wrote" different story ideas, and the actors behind her acted them out until the writer got fed up and threw it out.  We're not biased or anything, but her play was by far the best one.

Jessica also got to act in many other plays:

She did a really great job!  I am amazed at how comfortable she is in front of an audience.

A classic post-Halloween shot.

I had to get a picture of my favorite kind of night - the kind of night when nobody has anywhere to go, and we all just chill at home.  Tonight was such a night.

(A somewhat violent side note to an otherwise serene scene:  you'll notice Luke isn't in the picture.  He had to go to bed right after dinner because he got sent to the principal's office today for choking a classmate.)