Thursday, December 25, 2014
Saturday, November 08, 2014
Overby Fall
Happy Fall!
It has been a crazy last couple of months for our family. We've had a lot of fun and have also had some major life events happen. Let's start with the positive.
During our fall break Grandpa Steve and Grandma Sue came to visit us. We had a great time having them here with us and we are so thankful they made the trip out. During their time here we celebrated Steve's 60th birthday, went swimming at the local pool, went bowling, visited Erfurt, traveled to Leipzig to see the zoo, and enjoyed the Weimar Onion Market. Wonderful memories with them.
It has been a crazy last couple of months for our family. We've had a lot of fun and have also had some major life events happen. Let's start with the positive.
During our fall break Grandpa Steve and Grandma Sue came to visit us. We had a great time having them here with us and we are so thankful they made the trip out. During their time here we celebrated Steve's 60th birthday, went swimming at the local pool, went bowling, visited Erfurt, traveled to Leipzig to see the zoo, and enjoyed the Weimar Onion Market. Wonderful memories with them.
Our low point these last couple months was Heather's miscarriage. Heather was 14 weeks pregnant when during a routine check-up the doctor couldn't find a heart beat. That was on October 23, and then on October 24 Heather was able to deliver little Silas. He was only 15 grams and fit in the palm of Heather's hand. It was a time of sadness but also rejoicing that we serve a mighty God who is able to take any circumstance and use it for His glory. This was a path that Heather felt God was going to have us walk down at some point, and the amount of love and support we've received has been truly amazing. It has been a weird year with the death of both Grandma Bettie, Grandma Carlene and now our little Silas. God has been good and has given us hope in the midst of it all.
To end on a fun topic, our Stanley is becoming quite the "Spiderman." He likes to climb the door frames in our home and hang from them. A friend from church was telling me about this bouldering gym in Weimar and how I should take Stanley there. Peter, Stanley and I went there October 31st and absolutely loved it. Stanley's favorite part was the training rings, but he also enjoyed scaling the walls. When we were done, my arms were aching and I could barely hold on any more, while Stanley continued to climb anything he could as we walked home.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
A new school year
Hello friends and family,
This last year has been a busy year and creating blog posts is difficult to find time for in our family. I am sorry for not making ANY posts in the last year. Thank you Auntie Joyce for encouraging me to get back on it and try to post something. A one paragraph post and a picture would be better than nothing.
So today I wanted to give a brief back to school update and a couple of pictures.
Stanley is now in Grade 1, which means he got to have the traditional German (and very Thuringian) celebration of the Zuckertuten Fest. (Sugar Cone Celebration). Cultural note: kids in Germany do not start school until Grade 1. Before that kids are in Kindergarten which is Day Care/Pre-School/American Kindergarten rolled into one (ages baby to 5 years old). For the Zuckertuten Fest (or Schulanfang) kids receive a giant cone filled with school supplies, toys and candy. This is on par in magnitude of importance to the high school graduation in America. Whenever they do "then and now" pictures at our church here in Germany they usually always use the Zuckertuten photo of the child holding his/her cone. So, Stanley got to have his traditional German Zuckertuten Fest August 16. I wore a tie and my suit jacket, Heather wore a nice dress, and our kids all wore their nicest clothes. Here is a video of Stanley being presented with his cone and the professional photos we paid for.
Here are some pictures from the day.
This last year has been a busy year and creating blog posts is difficult to find time for in our family. I am sorry for not making ANY posts in the last year. Thank you Auntie Joyce for encouraging me to get back on it and try to post something. A one paragraph post and a picture would be better than nothing.
So today I wanted to give a brief back to school update and a couple of pictures.
Stanley is now in Grade 1, which means he got to have the traditional German (and very Thuringian) celebration of the Zuckertuten Fest. (Sugar Cone Celebration). Cultural note: kids in Germany do not start school until Grade 1. Before that kids are in Kindergarten which is Day Care/Pre-School/American Kindergarten rolled into one (ages baby to 5 years old). For the Zuckertuten Fest (or Schulanfang) kids receive a giant cone filled with school supplies, toys and candy. This is on par in magnitude of importance to the high school graduation in America. Whenever they do "then and now" pictures at our church here in Germany they usually always use the Zuckertuten photo of the child holding his/her cone. So, Stanley got to have his traditional German Zuckertuten Fest August 16. I wore a tie and my suit jacket, Heather wore a nice dress, and our kids all wore their nicest clothes. Here is a video of Stanley being presented with his cone and the professional photos we paid for.
Here are some pictures from the day.
After the ceremony.
This is the "I am done, don't want to stare into the sun and just want to go home, open this thing and play with my legos" face.
A "Now I am happy to be home, soon to be in first grade, and I get to open my Zuckertute!" smile.
Holly also received a little cone.
Taking more pictures back home
Uncle Peter and Uncle Stephan both joined us for the celebration.
Batta and others got into the building of Legos.
Stuart and Stephan
We did an extra celebration for Uncle Peter's Birthday.
Our extended family in Germany
Thursday, August 07, 2014
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