Waiting For Fall

Somehow it seems as if this year, the seasons are about a month ahead of how it should be. In late March, the girls and I had our first picnic of the year at the playground, wearing short sleeves, which is very, very unusual of Germany. And now, in mid-August, the hight of summer, it basically feels like September. Lily has been asking me when Calvin gets to wear his cute little summer outfits. As it looks now, he won't be wearing them at all  :-(

On the upside, we're definitely entering my favorite season! I am looking forward to this season all year long. I can't wait for the foliage to turn into all possible colors, take walks in the forest to collect leaves, acorns, and chestnuts for crafts, fall cuisine, Halloween with trick-or-treating with the girls, the lantern parades, and in a few months one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving.

Our plans for the coming months:

- visiting my colleague at her alottment with the girls and help her harvesting her apples and giant zucchini.
- going shopping with Lily for her first-day-of-school outfit.
- spending a day at the wildlife park.
- visit my friend in Munich.
- making it to the corn maze before it gets cut down in mid-September.
- taking the girls horseback-riding.
- buying a kite and take it out with the kids.

Am I excited? Totally  :-)  What are your plans for fall?

Sunday Social

Today's Social Sunday is as usually hosted by Ashley; thanks for the great questions!

1. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

 This one depends. If I feel cozy, I might just bake some chocolate cake, make some tea and watch movies with the girls all afternoon. If I have cabin fever because it is the 10th rainy day in a row I might take the girls to the Playmobile Fun Park, the indoor pool, or just meet up with a friend.

2. What is your favorite thing to do on a summer weekend?

 Be outside! Have a picknick at the playground, go to the pool, take a trip to the zoo. Just spend as much time as possible outdoors, because rainy days will come way too soon.

3. What is your favorite spring activity?

Right now I try to get a egg-dying party for a few of Lily's and Violet's friends. We also enjoy the first mild days of the year by coloring the street with chalks and blowing bubbles.

 

4. What is your favorite way to spend a winter day?

 Make some spiced wine and bake cookies with the girls.

5. What is your favorite season and why?

 That would be fall. Most of the time, I just got sick of hot weather and enjoy the first chilly days. And I love watching the leaves change colors. Autumn is simply beautiful here in Germany!

6. What is the best birthday you ever had?  

 I would say my 24th birthday; a few weeks before, our child I was hoping for so long was born. I was cuddling with our newborn daughter, watching The Motorcycle Diaries and Richard made spinach lasagna for us. I was in heaven...

Thanks again to our wonderful hosts for coming up with these great questions. Looking forward to reading other people's responses!

 

When The World Goes Silent...

Folks, we finally have snow again! Indeed, I am one of these people who, even as adults, are still excited about snow. Since mid-December we've been waiting for some more white, and last week, we finally woke up to the finest layer of crackling, sparkly frost covering the ground. I tell you, I was happy as a small child walking to my bus stop and everything glittering around me like star dust! Later that day, it started to snow.Whenever I was looking outside while I was at work, I saw those fluffy, white flakes fall.

Besides the obvious joys this powdery goodness provides to children, big and little, I love the silence that arises when the white blanket covers the landscape. Everything seems to stop for a moment, traffic seems to slow, and the world goes peaceful and quiet.

I do enjoy the awakening of spring, the buzz of summer, and the crispness of autumn, but nothing compares to the silence of winter!