Easter Break

It is Easter and Birthday season for our family. Holly just celebrated her 5th birthday, Stanley is about to celebrate is 7th, and then Scott's after that. Life is crazy but good with 3 active little kiddos running around our small apartment. The weather hasn't helped, staying just below or above freezing and never getting more than 5 Celsius (40 Fahrenheit).

A rare day (March 11)

A normal day (March 1)

A "what time of year is it?" day (April 2)

Easter break is a much needed break for our family. Sorry to make all you who work in America jealous, but we get two full weeks off for Easter. Some friends here actually thought I was joking when we told them that in Oregon you only get a normal two day weekend for Easter. In Germany unless you work in a restaurant, everyone gets Good Friday and Easter Monday off. Plus, (I want to say by law) every worker gets 5 weeks of vacation a year in Germany. It is a good way to avoid burn out.

Our kids love to dress up just because.

 How I spend most of my evenings.

 Heather working on one of her craft projects

For Holly's birthday this year she actually had four birthday celebrations. On the day of her birthday her class went on a field trip. Then she had a mini party at school on Friday, on Saturday she had three friends over and they had a Princess Tea Party, and that evening we had Uncle Peter, Stefan, and Emily join us for a family party. Holly had a great time and it is fun to see her growing up. She is enjoying learning to read, being able to recognize letters and sound out words. In her class at school she is in the "Pre-K" group (American terminology) which they are lovingly labeled as "Ladybirds" (British for ladybug). This means that their teacher is not pushing them hard academically but they are starting with basic reading, counting, colors, shapes, and just getting them excited about learning. It is perfect for our little girl (sorry she keeps correcting me in that she's not little anymore).

The birthday girl

Princess was the birthday theme

The birthday cake Heather made using a Barbie top

During our first week of break our focus was to not be focused and to just rest and relax. We did do one IKEA trip on Wednesday where we bought more shelves for the kid's room. We took out the dresser that we acquired when we moved into this apartment 3 and a half years ago. I then installed the new shelving units which matched the other existing shelves. This created a specific spot for each kid to have their clothes and better organization of toys, games and puzzles. The kids love it and it has created a better place to play and be.

Here is their room before (notice the dresser on the right corner) and yes we did put loops in the ceiling so they have rings or a trapeze bar in their room.

And here are the new shelves with plastic bins for clothes.

On Thursday we had a surprise snow storm! We had a dusting of snow April 1st, which was funny in an April Fool's Day sort of way. But the snow storm was just a little discouraging. We were walking to the shopping center in snow suits to visit the Easter Bunny. Later Stanley decided to make an enormous snow ball just because he could.

Coming back from grocery shopping

About to go to the shopping center

Stanley's enormous snowball

On Friday we celebrated Good Friday at church in the morning and I helped out with the first and second grade group and Heather helped in the 0-3 year old group. It is encouraging to be able to serve our church here in Germany even if it is in minor ways. That afternoon Heather was able to spend some time with our friend Emily as I took the kids to the park.

On Sunday we had the joy of celebrating Easter and our Savior's resurrection. When we talk about Easter, God, and Jesus often people will have different definitions of the same words and people. So here is what we mean we talk about Easter and our beliefs. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God Yahweh. We believe that Jesus came to the earth, became fully man (while still being fully God), lived a perfect life, and died on the cross as payment for our sins as the perfect sacrifice. He chose to do this because we are sinful people and as sinful people we have no place in the presence of a perfect and Holy God. However He loves everyone and wanted to rescue us. Through the payment Jesus made on the cross we can be washed clean and have a relationship with God if we confess our sins and believe in Jesus and that his sacrifice is enough to save us. We cannot earn or work for this salvation. It is by grace through faith alone. We also believe that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day to prove that He did conquer death, He did pay the price for our sin and that God is not dead but alive and active. In our conversations with different people we find it more and more important to define what you believe because you can be using the same words but have different meanings.

So for Easter we had several friends over to join us for an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, a Potluck dinner, and Settlers of Catan. It was a very fun night with a very international group (people from USA, Germany, Nigeria, and Ethiopia).

Our morning egg hunt

Excited for the afternoon egg hunt

Even Stuart got into it

Dinner (and the dessert fruit bunny Anna made)

Catan night. Yes there are 7 people, Heather and Emily were on a team.

The second week of break we have been more intentional to get out and do things. On Monday we took a family bike trip to the local park and had a picnic and mini Easter Egg Hunt. I brought 7 eggs to hide and as Stanley and Holly found them I would re-hide them. They knew what I was doing and absolutely loved it.

Picnic with Subway sandwiches

On Tuesday we took a trip out to the Erfurt Zoo. This was our last trip to the zoo with the Year Pass that Papa Gene bought us last Easter. It was fun to see the animals, play at the playground, and just be out. Plus it was the first really nice day of Spring. Sunny and over 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit). We also had a treat to see the new baby Giraffe which was only allowed out for about 30 minutes per day.

Notice how two of the lion are looking at Stuart

Amazing kids

Inside the monkey enclosure with the Lemurs

Bratwurst lunch

Baby Giraffe

Tired family

Beautiful kids

On Wednesday we took the kids to Andilli which is an indoor play place. Yes it was nice out, but this was one of the things the kids really wanted to do. By the time we were done all three of them were super red faced from running around. They all fell asleep easily as a result that night.

Red faced kids

As we wrap up our vacation we are thankful for where we are at and thankful to have this break. Now we have 11.5 weeks of school left. We are looking forward to summer vacation but also looking forward to the adventures between now and then. Here are some more pics

Stanley out with his remote controlled car

Having fun with Uncle Peter

Stuart made that stack by himself

Holly has really been into puzzles

Stanley and Stuart out looking for a Geocache

We have been doing several Geocaches recently

Another Geocache

Stuart just having fun

St. Patrick's Day

Stuart loves music

ThIS is Cool

We just want to say that we are so thankful for the school that Scott works at and Stanley and Holly get to attend. Great Colleagues, Teachers, and friends. They are getting a great education and doing so many fun things.

Holly giving her first book report on "Frozen: A Tale of Two Sisters." She dressed up as Elsa, and her doll as Anna. Her teacher Mrs. Mari is incredible and absolutely adores all the children.

Stanley's teacher Kay is also incredible. He is loves to read and is always talking about the fun activities they do in class.

On January 23rd our Thuringia International School had it's annual Winter Arts and Music Festival. Stanley and Holly were both performing with their respective classes and it was a lot of fun. The theme was 80's and Stanley's class sang a classic German song "Ich Möchte ein Eis Bär sein" (I want to be a Polar Bear), and Holly's class did a freeze frame slide show to the song, "Time of My Life."

Holly as an 80's ballerina for the Winter Arts and Music Festival.

Stanley dressed as a Polar Bear

Stuart just loving life with his two foxes.

Here is a recent promotional video about the school.

Good-bye 2014, Hello 2015

2014 was a year full of blessings in the Overby home.  We are so thankful to be a family, to be living in Germany, to be ministering where God has us, and to be enjoying life together.

We have been blessed this year with several visitors. Heather’s dad Gene visited us at Easter, Scott’s mom came out in June, both of his parents in October, and to finish the year Heather’s mom Cinda and her husband Ron were with us for Christmas. We have enjoyed our time this year with family.

Gene was with us for Easter

Grandma Sue was with us during the summer

Grandma Sue and Grandpa Steve were here in October on his 60th birthday

Nana (Cinda) and Grandpa Ron were here for Christmas

We have also said goodbye to family members this year. Scott’s Grandmas, Bettie Mills and Carlene Overby both passed away during the summer. Heather also had a miscarriage in October where we said goodbye to our little Silas at 14 weeks. But even in the hard times we can still praise God for His blessings.

Grandma Bettie's European trip summer 2012

Grandma Carlene and Grandma Bettie Fourth of July picnic summer 2013

Grandma Bettie holding Stuart summer 2013

Grandma Carlene wearing Holly's hat summer 2013

Grandpa Stan and Grandma Carlene summer 2013

Scott is blessed by his job at Thuringia International School where he teaches mathematics to upper school students. He also loves that Stanley and Holly are both able to go to the school where he teaches.

Class trip to Berlin

Heather is thankful to be home with Stuart and has many opportunities to minister to other women in our community. She also loves learning new things pertaining to homemaking, crafting, and hospitality.

Heather and her best friend Susanne

Stanley is our intelligent first grader who loves to climb everything, play LEGO, and get dirty at recess.

Stanley has enjoyed the bouldering gym in Weimar

Stanley has been riding his new bike to school this year.

Can you already see him as a teenager? He's growing up quickly.

Holly is thriving in early primary and has already learned so much. She enjoys imaginary play (always in German), playing with dolls, and being a princess.

Holly's new doll (Heather's old one)

Stuart enjoys going on outings with Mommy, swinging, music, dancing, and applesauce packets.

During the year we were also able to travel a little bit. We visited Berlin with Grandma Sue, Switzerland to visit some relatives, Leipzig with Grandpa Steve and Grandpa Sue, and of course Erfurt here and there.

Brandenburg Gate Berlin

Berliner Dome

Erfurt

Leipzig

Leipzig Zoo

Heather trying out an Alp horn

Lake of the Jewel

Summer swimming fun

Another Grandma for Stuart

Switzerland with Rochet family

We thank the Lord every day for how he has blessed us and we pray that you are enjoying His blessings as well.  Merry Christmas and God’s blessings in the New Year!