Halfway

We are one month into our stay in Germany. The novelty is gone, and we are all still enjoying it. The kids are starting to miss their friends, and Sam misses his cozy bed at home, but nobody is homesick. Thanks to our great neighbors, the Wallaces, who sent us some photos of our house and yard back in Texas. Everything is still standing, and the new trees Dave planted before we left are thriving. Apparently we got some good rain back home since we've been gone, so it's a green Texas summer. (I'm still glad we're here.)

Friday was a sporadically rainy day, but it cleared up enough in the afternoon for us to run our usual errands. Sam got to go to the market twice - he can't get enough of the spinning toys in the market plaza.

Dave took these pictures at the end of the day. They document everyone happy, well-fed, and quiet.

And of course, all that makes Dave very happy.

Today, Saturday, Sam did some awesome reading from the book "Three by the Sea." We all enjoyed his reading and he was so proud.

The weather was as beautiful as can be. While Isaac and Grace were napping (they are both still not feeling top-notch), I went out to the garden with Sam and Katie.

They played ball and explored the hedges while I wrote out some postcards.

On the way home from dropping the postcards in the mailbox down the street. This is the street where we live. The building on the left is student housing. All the apartments have these neat exterior translucent sliding walls of orange or yellow glass.

On the stone wall in the front yard.

This is our entryway/the stroller corral. You can see that we are not the only occupants of our apartment building with babies.
The view as we head out the door. The kids love to peak in our mailbox through the slot to check if anything has been delivered.
Grace enjoyed an afternoon snack of popcorn. We don't usually eat off the floor, but since Grace keeps the floor so shiny by scooting around on it all day (she's our personal Roomba!), I figured it was okay.
Isaac and Grace enjoying their evening spa treatment.

Tomorrow we are headed to Halle, in the former East Germany. It is the birthplace of the composer Handel, and tomorrow is the last day of their annual Handelfest.