Life goes on...

Wow, we are already into our second week of school! How did that happen? It's been a crazy ride... educational Zoe is doing amazing... best grades but I guess it has been a little challenging on the social aspect of it for her. Since day 2 she tries to find all kind of ways to not needing to go to school. She sits with some kids that are not as well behaved and are ruining her 'table points' (the best behaved table gets a treat at the end of the day or a star or a recognition). She just has to get used to it that she can only do her self best and is not in control of what the others ruin unfortunately. I feel sad for her but on the other hand it makes her learn life lessons too. The first week was very rough it seemed like all the contentment during the day came busted when she got home. It's slowly starting to get a little bit normal again and today she actually didn't come up with any excuse not to go to school. Yesterday she actually got to go to the principals office with just one other girl in her class for very well behaving and doing in school (the two best of her class) and the principal gave her a candy treat!!! She's doing amazing... I just wish she could brush off the teasing and stupid behaviors from her class mates but I was never able to either... and I hated school all my life so what can I say?! 

We try to do fun things when time allows... our first trip to the orchard for play time and a donut :)

On the weekend we spend some time with our great friends... they had a blast and Silke and I got to talk a bit

We got the house... celebrating with a giant ice cream chocolate and sprinkles dipped waffle cone on top!!! Henry wasn't even able to finish his *lol*...

Zoe in school at Assembly... I was just checking how she was really doing in school and in action I thought she did amazing, even checking in with her teacher she said she seems happy... so I kind of feel like I hear a different story than from what I hear and see in school... but I guess I'm the mom and kids always try to squeeze out every last drop they can

House wise we're moving forward. It still was a lot of back and forth the last few weeks and I'm literally exhausted. Now we're waiting on the appraisal of the house to see if the market value is the same or above from the amount we agreed on buying it for and then it should be all green flags going forward. We're anxiously waiting to hear the appraisal results because WE WANT THE HOUSE NOW *lol*... no, we're very excited and we cannot wait but since we will probably own both houses for a few weeks at least we can very relaxed move and I can start painting the rooms. Zoe has the request of pink and purple pattern while the room she gets is already a great light green I asked her if we could do green /purple / pink pattern... that would make it a bit easier on my side and I think it would look awesome too. She loved it and she wants to do a fairy theme too. Henry on the other hand wants a white room (which is already white anyway) and big trucks / airplanes etc. but that's great. You can just buy these decals (stickers) and I just put them on the wall and be done with it. curtains on and voila.
Our bedroom will get a light grey color matching our bedding and then we might add some dark red splash somehow... at least some color because all our furniture is already white. I'm so excited....
I'm already thinking where I should put what in my new kitchen... and how I'm organizing the slow pace move the best. I guess I'll just pack up my car every time I go there and work on some things... our house is not that filled up so by the time I'm done painting and cleaning it all I'm sure I have already most of the boxes in the new house and we'll then just hire somebody to move the furniture.
Exciting time...

School started!

Regarding our new home we're still going back and forth on one item that needs repair. So I am really hoping that by tonight we know if we got a new home or not! Meanwhile we went to the house again to look at it and it's just gorgeous... I took some pics of the landscaping around the house so I can already think of some ideas how to pep it up :). It needs a little overhaul but it's not too bad. We could do the very least amount of work and just get rid of the weeds and put down some fresh mulch or I can pep it up some and I am thinking already about some great ideas how to make it look pretty and more us. I want to make a border around the beds that is the same around the house and bring in some color with plants that bloom. I also have two or three plants that I totally need to have in our yard that remind me of my childhood and that need to be planted no matter what...

Over at the neighbors... Zoe holds Fay and the kids are begging and begging us to get a pet when we move. They each want their own of course!

The new shirt for Frank :). Thought that was suitable :)

And school started. Yesterday was Zoe's first day of 1st Grade. She did awesome and Henry was ok being alone with me the whole day. He was a little clingy going back to the gym day care on his own this time but after a big cuddle he was fine and he had a blast while I had an even better time at Zumba :)... OMG... Zumba is the best thing ever... specially with the instructors that I have at the gym I go to...

Today was Henry's first day of Pre-School. He didn't want a new teacher and he wasn't very excited to go to school at all but hey... he only goes two half days... 6 hrs total per week... that's nothing. But man was that a cool feeling with all kids in school and I get to enjoy the house to myself... so screaming kids, no fighting, no TV on... just me myself and I and my coffee... today is just enjoying these three hours to myself and then going forward I'll work on the 'to do list' for things to take care of without kids... urgh... I should keep one day for myself and one day for getting stuff done *lol*... I'll manage it...

Hope everybody has a great start into the new school routine and the kids are happy and make lots of friends...

End of Summer!!!

Oh man, already the end of summer?

Yes, unfortunately on TUE we're back to serious business. School opens at 750am and we gotta be there no matter what! I'm not really looking forward to the school schedule... we have so much fun just doing what we want to do, spontaneous trips to wherever we want to go. Kids can sleep in and we're having a good time... 

We had the home inspection done on THU on our 'new' home and we're waiting to hear back from the seller if they're going to 'fix' the items we'd like them to. Meanwhile we've had an open house today in our current home and despite the holiday weekend we actually had about 8 families show up so I'm very hopeful. 

While I was trying to get ready to get us out the door the two were playing a game with their teddies ;)... so instead of two players they were four. That game 'Wuerfel Bohnanza' is sooo awesome... I could play it all day long and we do every free minute we have.

Chilling at the pool. Unfortunately I didn't get the right shot. He was chilling there, crossed legs but I must've pushed the button when he was changing faces *lol*... it's hard to see what picture comes out when you're sitting in the sun with your phone

Zoe the fish

Spontaneous play date with our friends. Kids are waiting for dinner to be served... I guess they're hungry *lol*

A last summer trip to the Toledo Zoo with our friends

The Toledo Zoo already started putting up Christmas Lights :)... oh I cannot wait for fall and winter :)... Every single season has sooo many cool things to look forward to. It's just a joy to live here in Michigan

Touching sea stars...

The Toledo Zoo got a new 'splash park' which is in my opinion crazy! Why would I need a splash park if I want to go to the zoo?! But ok... it's pretty cool for locals I guess but I'd rather just see the animals and not get wet ;)

The new playground... a giant structure (that you cannot climb on or anything) with one little tire swing.... who designed this new playground / splash park wasn't right in his / her head... what a waste of money

Colorful birdies

Today I took the kids to Greenfield Village. They played at the playground, rode the carousel and chilled at this pond. Unfortunately they didn't listen when it was time to leave the pond and we cut the trip shorter than I wanted it to be but it was ok... we still had a great time and they have to know not to be messing around with me ;).