Learning can be fun.

Ciqui loves to play board game, and I let him. He doesn't always follow the rules but that is okay. He can play 'Guess Who' all on his own! He totally gets it. He does have trouble with 'Clue', both the kids and the adult version. (And of course, we don't tell him that the adult one is about a murder!) A while ago, he had discovered Daddy's very old game of 'Risk' and loves playing it. Of course not with the real rules. All he really does is matching the card names to the board names. Here is a picture of today's quiet time with (!) him: he had built a 'house' for us and wanted to spend quiet time with me. We played 'Risk'.

Here is a picture of the matching. He either matches the first letters or the shapes on the card with the one on the board. And I discovered today that he actually knows where some cards go. Like America. I was impressed. Also it replaces long hours of learning Geography the hard way. I happen to love geography and my whole family does as well. We are really good at it, too. So I want him to know how the world looks like, where each country is, or at least on which continent to find it. He has an incredible memory and remembers things I taught him last time or the time before. I am very proud of him. And of myself that I have become creative enough to make learning fun for him, and for me.

Random thoughts

Today, I just have a few things to get off my chest, nothing with a theme...

* How come that I love rainy days in Texas? I used to not like those dark, rainy days. Today I am glad that we have them and the sun is not beating down on us.... for a second day in a row. Yeah.

* Potty training my baby is on a halt for a little while. She has done pee-pee, but I think that was just catching her in the right moment. She just won't sit still...

* On the other hand, cloth diapering is going great! I am even venturing out with the cloth on - something I used NOT to do because you really have to change them a lot on the road. I even started using cloth wipes - yippy!

* I am packing because we are going to Mema's house soon..... can't wait!

* Coqui is in a very whinny and yet agressive phase - or at least I hope it is just a phase. Nothing really to complain about, it is all dealable (is that even a word?).... but it is exhausting at times. He doesn't want to eat, everything he used to like he doesn't anymore. He doesn't want to try new things either. And sometimes he just refuses to eat in general. What is going on?

* Peanut is quite mobile these days, I expect her to walk any day now.... she is pulling up on EVERYthing!!! Using anything mobile as a walker! Like the kids chairs, or the sit-on-bus we have.... I even have her walk on only one hand and she is doing okay. AND she is crawling up the stairs! oH YES.....

* And I would love to take Peanut's binkie away, but I am not sure if she is ready.... we tried certainly, but she screamed for about two hours, and I mean "bloody-murder-screaming"!!! So we put it on hold for now as well....

* Have I mentioned that I have two very strong willed children??? (*sigh*)

Okay this is it for today, my parents are on Skype, so we better hurry....

Soccer and German pride gone missing

For those of you who don't know it yet, the World Cup is about to begin. And why do I know that? Well, I am not a soccer fan. But I become one when it is time for the World or the Europe Cup. Then I start to cheer for.... well Germany of course! And I do get very upset if we fail... like the last... eh, let me think about that! Can't actually remember? Well, I do remember 1990! But who doesn't??? Put all this to the side....

My hubby reads the Wall Street Journal, yes, like on a daily basis. So I should be well informed!? Not really, but at least twice or three times the week, I get a link to an article HE thinks I could be interested in. Well, most of the time, I am. Like today when I got an article about the German Eleven not knowing the national anthem.... What's that? Just kidding. But that got me thinking...

Apparently, there is a debate going if, or if not, the national soccer team representing Germany should be able to sign the anthem. What do you think???

I think, and this is just my minor opinion, that they should! I do understand that in times of globalization, not all the players are German anymore. But I actually think they should be! I mean, this is country playing (!) against country, there is some pride involved. SO I (!) think they should be German AND be able to sign our national anthem! But, as I said, this is just what I think.....

I would have eventually written about this some time sooner or later, and that is the comparison of pride of different nations. I lived in France, Germany and America, and the US is by far the leading figure here! Oh yes! Kids get drilled in schools for that. And France is not far behind. So why not in my beautiful homeland???
There is history involved!!! And I am sure that you all can guess what I am talking about! Yep, it is sad to say but since the two world wars, Germans are not really patriotic anymore, more like dispassionate about being German! I am sure that they had to learn it. It must not have been easy. But believe me when I am saying, even in my generation, I was hit with that hatred and it shocked me, because neither I not my parents fought in the war, it was my grandparents! But I was shunned for being German, yes, in France. But nonetheless, as German, you are careful about being too pride. Or at least that's how it used to be not long ago. I also lived for a short period of time through the feeling of not being proud of my country - that must have coincidented with the history lessons we were given at that time!?! There are no patriotic gestures, or at least there were close to none when I left the country! Since then it seems like people are becoming more comfortable with exhibiting national pride, like during sport events, and become a little more nationalistic. The article mentioned that it started with the World Cup in 2006. Who knows. But now, you can go and see some flags up, mostly in regions with large tourism or near borders. But that is a start! And I am glad for it.

And even me, I have become a little more patriotic, living in a different country, and especially at times of the soccer World Cup. So let the games begin! And Germany win for once.....

By the way, here is our lovely anthem called "The Song of the Germans":

The Song of the Germans

Unity and law and freedom

For the German Fatherland

Let us all strive for that

In brotherhood with heart and hand!

Unity and law and freedom

Are the foundation for happiness

Bloom in the glow of happiness

Bloom, German Fatherland

My neighbor

I have a neighbor and she is great. We met about two and a half years ago. And it started off more like being acquaintances rather than friends. Now we are friends and I love to have a friend so close by. Our kids are pretty close in ages, too, so that works out great for play dates and Mami-talking-time at the same time.

She is the one that introduced Veganism to me and I am thankful for that. It changed how I eat and being around her, it encourages me not to give it up. I mean the temptations are big and it would be so easy to fall back and give in. But she shows me that there are so many choices in eating yummy stuff, and also not so healthy cakes and cookies. That makes it easier to stick with it.

Sometimes, we have these amazing days together, where we just hang out all day. It was about two weeks ago - I meant to write about it for a while, but life just constantly caught up with me.... I had her daughter while she went to yoga class. When she stopped to pick her up, the little girl did not want to go home, so they ate lunch over here and even had quiet time together! Then we went to their house for a swim in the (baby) pool. ALL the kids had a blast and so did we, when they started splashing us with the hose.... After that, we had popsicles and just dried off. When it was time to go home, her daughter wanted to come back to our house, so I took her for about an hour. We spend all day together, the kids played together like siblings and we had an awesome time just talking and chatting and sharing dreams. It felt so good that day!!!

Also, we have started a baby/kids swap. She is having my kids for one morning for about an hour and a half. And I get her daughter for one morning (or afternoon) for about two hours and fifteen minutes. I give her a little extra time because her little one is no burden to me, compared to my two kiddos.... it is a little more work for her, especially because Peanut is still small. But it is such an awesome gift for the both of us. The kids know her and feel safe around her, even Peanut!!! And that means alot.

So this morning, I am off to the gym.... hopefully running a little (I don't feel much like it), but definitely speed walking.

Recycling

Today's post is about my favorite color: GREEN or rather 'being green'. I am a little late for earth day, but I believe every day should be earth day anyway!!!

There are three great ways that WE can help protect our environment! And that is:

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle.

What do these mean?
Reduce means in a simple way to reduce the trash we produce. In this case lesser IS better. Reuse simply means not to always buy new but try to reuse things that are already there. And finally, recycle means to process old and used items in order to make new ones. Then less new resources are needed AND less trash ends up on landfills filling those up.

How can that be practical? Or another question: what can WE do? Every single human being on this planet? What can we teach our children?
Well, I think that this is much easier than most people think. It can start with little things and then you grow and adapt and widen it to ALL aspects of daily life!!! Here some examples of what we do in our house:

• recycle all recyclable items, such as glass jars, drink cans, newspapers, cardboard and packaging, and plastic bottles
• reuse some of those as containers around the house! - like jars for storage of leftovers, or even for art projects for kids - there are so many good ones out there to try. Of course you need to wash it before you reuse it.
• recycle batteries and drop them off at a center (we do it about three times a year)
• use less stuff that you only use one time, such as paper plates and cups (that is my biggest thing in America - because it feels like such a waste!) - I understand that for a big party, it is much easier, but there is just no excuse to use them on a regular basis.
• use less paper towels and use regular, washable towels instead (I got really good at this one within the last six months!)
• use less tissues, rather use fabric hankies (we are working real hard on this one, as to me, it feels a waste to use tons of tissues while I can wash the other ones)
• if you have a baby, try (!) to use cloth diapers (I did not do it for my first one, shame on me, but I am sure trying it now!!!) - so less stuff filling up the landfills
  
• the next one is on my own to-do-list: starting a compost pile in our garden (we haven't done it yet, and every time I throw out the kitchen waste, I think of it as a waste, so this is coming soon!) - so you put less garbage in your own bins but also less on the landfills, stuff that is actually good for the garden that you start on my next point
  
• and with that, yes, start your own garden, vegetables, fruits, whatever you prefer! - we have some carrots, radishes, tomatoes, strawberries, dill, mint, cilantro - it's not much but we get more each year.
• hang up your clothes instead of using a dryer - and I am not talking about the big bed sheets and stuff, but little things if you want. For myself, I am not using the dryer for my clothes or both kids. Only the hubby doesn't like the board-like shirts for work, understandable. I have an indoor drying rag, but wish to get my own cloth lines outside. We live in a very warm state, so I could use it all year long.
• give away stuff you don't want anymore, rather than throwing it out when it is still in good shape. I mean there are a lot of less fortunate people who don't feel like being pitied when they get hand-me-downs. There are good organizations that can help distribute your stuff. Garage sales are a great way to even get some money for your old things. Graigslist, ebay, ..... etc.

I think you get the idea. And yes, we are doing mostly all of the above. I am doing it for such a long time that it has become natural to me. But I am still nowhere of where I want to be! So I need to work on myself and this family. I just thought I show off our efforts because it is actually pretty easy, if one tries....

Good luck and save the earth!!! One step at a time.