Saint Martin

In case you ever wondered who Saint Martin was. According to legend, he was a knight a long time ago who shared all of his food with poor people. When he had no more food left to share, he came across another cold poor person in rags. He then divided his cape with his sword and gave one half to the poor person to keep him warm. 

This act of sharing is celebrated every year in Germany in November. It is also the German festival of lanterns to light up this dreary season a little. There are numerous lantern parades, some with bands, all over the towns. Sometimes the kids will go sing from house to house to collect candy. 

The celebrations started for Sophie at her preschool with a little sing-along and role play. How very special for her: Sophie was chosen to play the poor man this year. She was so proud of having a big part in the play. I had to shorten the video a bit.

Last Day of Preschool in Geldern

Today was Sophie's last day in the Ladybug group at her preschool in Geldern. And although we are looking forward to moving into our own place in Duesseldorf, it was also sad to say goodbye today. Sophie had just started to make a couple of closer friends. We still think that placing her in this preschool for a couple of months has helped her with the huge transition of moving from California to Germany. It's amazing to watch her adapt so well. We could all learn a little bit from these kids. In particular living in the now.

 At the end of the last day, she was given a binder with a little report on how and what she did during her two months and other memorabilia, such as artwork and photographs.

 And a little gift to her big surprise.

 A small purse - perfect for her little pixie books.

 One picture with her favorite teacher Judith. Sophie adored her!

And one big hug for her other teacher Lissy.

We promised to come back to visit soon.

Saint Martin - Part 1

On November 11 children all over Germany celebrate the holiday of St. Martin by taking their usually self-constructed lanterns on a parade and see a short play of the St. Martin story. Very briefly: St. Martin, a well-off Roman soldier with a horse and a warm cape, cut his cape in half a shared it with a cold beggar. The most fascinating part of the parade/play used to always be the live horse for me - turned out Sophie feels the same.

 In the morning, just much too early for my liking, I had joined a group of other mom volunteers to bake 120 traditional Weckmänner - little sweet bread men with raisins. It turned out to be good fun. We were cracking up about the silly shapes of them: most of them resembled edematous aliens.

 Sophie has been counting the number of nights she would have to sleep until she got to walk with her lantern. She was very excited today. After a last-minute hunt on the bike all over town for the lantern stick and safe candles, we were ready to head over Sophie's preschool.

 ...where we started off the festivities with a waffle or two or four. All for a good cause.

 Finally gathering on the school playground and waiting for St. Martin to mount his horse. Or should I say Santa Martina in this case?

 I'm amazed the lantern did not break before the parade. Most girls chose the princess castle theme, although I really liked the frog prince ones. 

 Off we go.

 Wave hello to Santa Martina AND THE HORSE!

 Many houses were decorated en route.

Back at the preschool, Santa Martina handed every child a Weckmann, which looked a lot like a certain edematous alien, to take home and share with the family. Sophie was mesmerized. The lady in the white shirt is one of Sophie's teachers by the way. Her name is Judith and Sophie adores her. 

So this was part 1 with the preschool. Tomorrow is another parade for the entire town with another St. Martin. Sophie is definitely going with Berit. My mum and I have to hurry back from off-loading the container in Dusseldorf. There will be fireworks for this parade.

New Playground at Kindergarten

On Friday, Berit and I joined Sophie at a ceremony for the reopening of the playground at her preschool. The playground had been completely redone. Now the kids get to play outside again just in time for the rainy season. So after the kids prayed for no accidents to happen on the new playground (it's a preschool sponsored by the Catholic church after all) and the priest blessed the slide, swing, climbing structure etc. it was time to get out and try the new structures and toys. The weather again was really sunny. Heaven-sent. 

 On the lazy swing.

 Throwing sand at each other and fighting over toys.

 Choosing a man to pull little Miss Princess.

In the afternoon we went to yet another furniture store where we found and ended up buying our dining room table and chairs. Thanks to camera phones, Andrew had a say in it half a world away, too. Sophie had been to this store before and made a beeline for this kids' bunk bedroom. She felt right at home, taking her shoes and jacket off. I keep telling her that she will not get a bunk bed until she is five. 

The Ladybug Group

So here is our report on Sophie's first day of preschool (or Kindergarten as she calls it now). 

She was assigned to the Ladybug Group, as if they knew that we have a ladybug girl. It's a Catholic Montessori Preschool. We are amazed they accepted her even though we filled out 'Atheist' in the religion column. Pretty much all preschools are sponsored by the Church in Germany (especially in the countryside), unless you go to a Waldorf preschool. I guess we'll deal with the question of who Jesus is, when she asks us. On the other hand, I'm excited with the Montessori part of it. There is so much for her to explore, good discipline, but not too much structure yet. A lot of freedom. 

And thank goodness, they have more than a chest full of dress-up clothes!

 Sophie eating her snack. Fruit is sitting out all morning for the kids to eat, and they can eat their breakfast when they want anytime before ten (with a few gentle reminders by the teachers).
I left her there to play after about an hour. She seemed very excited to come back tomorrow.

 In the afternoon we walked into town. It was a busy day for the munchkin. She was actually dozing off in the stroller on the way home but only after she devoured her spicy ice cream. (Yes, they have peppermint/chocolate flakes ice cream).

 ...as for the boys, still in cat heaven!

On a mission to find more long sleeve/warm dresses for Sophers, as she refuses to wear trousers. She is such a princess.