Saturday morning (almost noon actually), and I somehow have made my way out the bed. It's been a fairly quiet week, but still with many things to be thankfu for. This week's top ten:
1. The hubby for letting me have the last piece of pie.
2. Finding out that our state is going to pay for Lily's kindergarten fees as it's the last year before school and they want to encourage as many kids as possible to go as kindergarten is still voluntary in Germany.
3. Crafting fun fall decoration with the girls.
4. Hubby's reading my mind when it comes to dinner ;-)
5. Having an awesome pediatric optometrist who takes so good care of Violet. Her eyesight hasn't improved and she has also developed a serious astigmatism during the last 3 months, but we know that these professionals will do their best to help her.
6. My coffee date with my coworker on Monday. Insanely expensive Pumpkin Spice Latte!!
7. A great friend who thinks about me when she's going shopping at the military post and brings me stuff.
8. A quiet cup of pumpkin spice cappuccino while writing this.
9. Lily being absolutely excited about singing with her kindergarten class for the people from the old folk's home. She gave me a little sneak peak of the concert in the morning, and she has the sweetest singing voice ever. And I don't just say that because I'm her mom!!
10. The coffee maker overflow this morning. Really makes me appreciate my first-world problem. If the worst thing happening to me this morning is a mess of coffee grounds on my counter, I'm luckier than most.
Have a great weekend everyone! And thank you to Lizzi for hosting this wonderful link-up!
Lily sounds like Emma and she keeps singing me the jack-o-lantern song now everyday that she will singing for her pre-school Halloween sing-a-long. Kevin and I each videoed her and I keep watching it when I can, because it so darn cute. Happy Weekend, Stephanie!! :)
ReplyDeleteI bet it' cute. A couple of years ago, Lily had a kindergarten class song, which was so abolutely cute, all stored on video ;-) I think he hated that song in the end, because I asked her so often to sing that one ;-)
DeleteLove how a lot of these revolve around your husband and coffee... Two great things every woman should have!
ReplyDeleteI couldn'T agree more, Jenni ;-) How could I NOT write about coffee with a great huge mug of it standing next to me..
Deleteall that talk about pumpkin lattes might just get me out the door to do what I need to do today because I can stop and get something like that on the way! How exciting!
ReplyDeleteDo it, do it :-) Take advantage of it not being QUITE as ridiculously expensive in the States as it is here (€4.10 for a small one, which is more than $5.50). At leat I hope it's not that expensive in the States now, too!!
DeleteIt's definitely good when a messy counter is the worst of it. Hope your weekend continues this way- without the mess!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely ;-) Weather is supposed to be nice all weekend long; today, we even had t-shirt weather!! There's going to be lots of outside time..
DeleteIt is always exciting watching a child become excited about everything! Thanks for sharing this awesome list with us!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Michelle! I love seeing the girls getting excited, it's always so uplifting ;-)
DeleteGreat that you do not have to pay for kindergarten! This is good news!
ReplyDeleteWe have a very good pediatric optometrist, too, so I totally get why this is so important! This is our third one, we had to try around a lot before we found him!
I bet Lily is singing like an angel! <3
Have a wonderful weekend!
It definitely is, I was SO surprised! We were lucky enough to find our optometrist at the first try, but I agree, it's so important to find a doctor who just feels right for the kids.
DeleteLily is actually singing so well, even her teachers were commenting on that. At least one of our kids inherited Daddy's musical talent ;-)
Have a great weekend yourself, and enjoy your vacation, Joy!
hey, you're making Autumn sound not as awful and horrible that (most) of my brain is reminding me of… it being. lol
ReplyDeletecool to have school be the enjoyable experience for your daughter that it should be for children.
That's maybe because autumn in Germany is simply beautiful... As I was walking to the bakery this morning to get breakfast, the leaves were falling all around me as it was quite windy, SO beautiful!!!
DeleteI am glad as well that both girls love kindergarten. And Lily can't wait to start 1st grade next year, won't stop talking about it ;-)
There is nothing like pumpkin spice coffee in the fall! Absolute favorite. And you are so right about #10. If our first world issues are the worst things we have to whine about, we're doing OK. Great list! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why it hit me like that just that moment, but it indeed felt somehow like a revelation. So many things don't matter, because I know that I have a stable job, that allows me to provide food, shelter, clothes, and tons of amenities and even some luxuries to my family. So why cry over a little bit of spilled coffee? Doesn't make sense..
DeleteHave a great new week, Lisa!!
How nice that Lily's class gets a chance to sing for the senior citizens, and that she is excited about it! I bet everyone will enjoy the experience.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kristi, she had a blast. Even our mayor attended, and the kids were rewarded with candy afterward, but all she was talking about making all the "grannies and grandpas" happy. Love this girl!!
DeleteVery interesting about the kindergarten situation in Germany. Kindergarten isn't mandatory in many states in the US, but most people don't know that. In Indiana, it is becoming the norm for kids to go to all day kindergarten, and many do it because they don't think they have a choice.
ReplyDeleteYou know you married a great guy when he lets you have the last piece of anything. :)
I pray the doctors are able to find something to help Violet with her eyesight.
Really? I also thought that kindergarten in the U.S. is mandatory, that only preschool is optional, since they are always talking about the school system as k-12.. Thanks for sharing that insight, Christine! Kindergarten in Germany is actually a 3-year program mostly in mixed-age classes (age 3 till 6). The first two years is more about learning to be away from home and the parents (if the kids haven't been to daycare before), adapting to a group situation, social skills, etc. The last year focuses a little more on preparing for 1st grade, but the necessary skills for school are lower than in the US (at least in Washington State, the kids have to know the alphabet, count to 35, write their first and last names, etc. before starting school, that's crazy to me!).
DeleteI definitely have married a great guy who takes so good care of me. I really hope that the two scans they ran this week were somehow wrong and it's not as bad as it looked. We'll see.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Christine! Have a wonderful new week!
I want to add my own thankfulness this week!
ReplyDeleteI am thankful to have the opportunity to live here in Australia.
I am thankful for our most excellent trip to Melbourne! (Pics to follow on my blog)
And I am thankful to be back home in Brisbane!
Peace, Karen
Thanks for sharing, Karen! My best friend's sister is currently in Australia for an internship. Living there sounds so exciting!! I'll definitely go and check out those pictures!!
DeleteOh, that sucks!!! Usually, pumpkin spice contains both cinnamon and nutmeg (plus ginger and allspice, whatever that is), but a coworker of mine also noted on the pumpkin bread that the cinnamon is a little to dominant. Being from Germany, where pumpkin has only become "en vogue" a couple of years ago, I only know it the American way. You know how you can easily make a pumpkin spice latte you like? Just mix some nutmeg in the coffee grounds before brewing the coffee. The smell, SO delicious!!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! Interesting about no mandatory Kindergarten in Germany but really great that it's encouraged. I am also glad to hear that you a good doctor for you little one because that is terribly important! I tried a pumpkin spice latte once and wasn't a fan which shocks most people. While the whole list is fab, I absolutely love #10 because I am in total agreement!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by, Sandy! I think it's safe to say that most kids attend kindergarten, but it's especially important for "disadvantaged" children. I think this is why our state government decided to pay for the last year of kindergarten.
DeleteWe are really thankful to have this doctor, and again to live in a country with access to care. She was only 2 when she got the glasses, and without our pediatrician advising us to go see an optometrist with her, she would have gone even longer not seeing much of the things around her.
It's fine you don't like the PSL, I'm totally disgusted by the peppermint mocha, or peanutbutter no-bake cookies ;-)
I just had to include the no. 10, because I forget way too often how lucky I am having the petty problems I have and not having to worry how to survive another day.
I hope you have a great new week!
I am VERY impressed that your husband let you have the last piece of pie! I would have to hide it somewhere to get the last piece around here!
ReplyDeleteFurther to what Christine said, the compulsory education age in the U.S. varies from state to state. In Missouri, it is 7 years, making kindergarten optional. All public schools in Missouri have all day kindergarten as well, but, since it isn't technically required, a parent can send the child for only half a day if they wish, although the school districts don't advertise this.
So good you have a pediatric optometrist that you can utilize! And that your regular pediatrician knew there was a problem when Violet was so young.
Enjoy a lovely week of autumn colors and crafts and good times!
I was definitely excited to see one last piece in the pan when I got home from work ;-) Thanks, ladies, for giving me so much insight on the U.S. school system!!
DeleteI am definitely glad we found that lady, she's awsome and everyone in the office is just so great with the girls. Even if we hadn't had the appointment beforehand, we would have definitely made an appointment at the optometrist when her left eye wasn't able to focus any more..
Have a great new week, Dyanne!
Hi Stephanie! I am glad to get to know a little about you. I sympathize with your daughter as I also have astigmatism which is not fun because it puts a shadow around words making them appear fuzzy. I am too young to wear bifocals but that is what I have to wear. I hope you have a great night!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Rachel! I actually don't know much about astigmatism yet, waiting for the new test on Thursday and hoping for a better result. Violet is luckily doing very well wearing her eye patch almost all day long. I'm sorry you can't get the glasses you need yet. It must suck not being able to see properly. Not wearin gmy glasses always irritates me..
DeleteHope you have a great new week, Rachel!
It's amazing how you're living the life I'd love to. It sounds so peaceful in comparison to mine. Pumpkin spice cappuccino ... I used to love it. I was a daily cappuccino drinker. Then, diabetes stepped in and ruined much. I tried to drink one last Sunday driving home from my father's birthday. I couldn't do it. It was so thick and sweet that I had to toss it out after only a couple of drinks. Ah, another one of life's pleasures out the window ... literally! lol Your attitude, even about the coffee maker overflowing, is one I'd desire to have. It's the old "is the cup half empty or full" stigma. Great optimism! Good post!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried making a cappuccino yourself? I rarely ever buy one, and rather make it myself, that way I can also control the sugar in it.
DeleteActually, I'd call myelf an optimistic pessimist. I usually expect the worst and try to make the best of it. Oh, and I prefer the tequila over lemonade when I get dealt a bucket full of lemons ;-)
Have a great week, Rich!
As someone who has (and grew up with) terrible eye sight, it is *sooo* important to find a solid pediatric optometrist/ophthalmologist. Glad you found one for Violet.
ReplyDeleteMmmm coffee and pumpkin spice. Love fall for all those delicious flavors and festivities.
Glad someone else also has a partner who reads their mind when it comes to food. Isn't it great?!
I wished fall lasted at least 6 months out of the year ;-) But the good thing is that in about a months, holiday baking season starts, yay!!
DeleteWe are very glad we have such a great optometrist; the entire team is actually awesome. The kids are even happy to go to the optometrist ;-)
Have a great new week!