My First Rude "Twin" Comment

It was bound to happen.

People say the stupidest things, why should I be saved from the wrath of their stupidity in a supposed moment of joy for me?

I ran into my neighbor in the hallway of the apartment. She is a somewhat older woman (late 50's, early 60's) who likes to dress like she's 30 and always has different men over "helping" her with home repairs. Mmhmmm.

However, she's usually very pleasant to chat with and always has nice things for Emma and doesn't REALLY complain too much of the noise my little angel can make. Especially when she karate kicks the doors open and screams, "Emma!". Hilarious, note to self: catch this on video!

So, back to the comment... I had only been home a few days, so hadn't really seen her too much. So when she asked me how I was, I told her I was tired and then said, "you know I'm pregnant, right?". To which she replied, "Oh yes, I can SEE", as she points to my belly. Um, okay, that's not very polite, but I figure she's German and learned long ago to re-evaluate my politeness meter to include Germans.

THEN I said, "It's twins". I saw her face turn to horror, as if I had just said that I was giving birth to SAW IIV, and she said (NOW SWITCHING TO ENGLISH!), "How horrible, I am so sorry". It really took me off guard and I had to think how to respond to that. What SHOULD I say to that???? But she took the pressure off of me by continuing on her tyraid of words like, "horrible, awful, sorry, when are you moving??". I told Christian it was like a machine gun of word vomit being fired at me.

I was on my way to work, so I VERY POLITELY just said (IN GERMAN), that "well, we'll see how it turns out and that since Emma was such an easy baby I have high hopes for the twins, too". She looked at me like I was crazy, I looked at her like she was a witch. And I continued on my path.

Can you believe it??????? I swear, I felt like it was a strange episode of German television.

Do you know that the German version of America's Next Top Model (appropriately changed to GERMAN's NTM) is hosted by Heidi Klum here? Oh yes, and when it comes to the end where they tell the girls if they stay or go, over HALF of them are told they are leaving! Yes, half! They cry, they say their goodbyes, they begin their walk of shame out of the hall when Heidi says something stupid like, "Just kidding! Did you think we were really kicking you out?". Um, yes Heidi, she did. Because you TOLD her you were. It's like this awful sense of humor that purports to be funny....in reality makes you feel inferior. Ugh. Another German charm.

What a shitty post to write.

I need a break from looking for airline tickets from behind these sore eyes of mine.

My mom died.

I dont even have a recent pic to post of her.

Who knew a woman who caused me so much pain, would cause me even more pain in her death.

She was my mom.

She was a lover of words - especially when using them to argue her point.

She LOVED her cats, yes she was the perverbial crazy cat lady in her old age.

She was 67.

She loved John F. Kennedy, and the Yankees. How nice she saw them make it to the Playoffs.

She loved me and my brother, in the only way she was capable of.

She met my husband and daughter, and knew I was having twins.

She died alone in Las Vegas.

She served in the Peace Corps building and teaching in schools in Bombay, now Mumbai.

Part of me doesn´t even know why I am crying so much....the other part is just broken.

Carol Elizabeth Stockstill King - I hope you are in a far better place than this.

First day of Pre-School

So, the day has come that Emma Rey is going to school. *sniff sniff*

Okay, okay, its not so dramatic...she actually hasn´t spend more than an hour there yet. We have to do a Eingewohnungszeit which means an Adjustment Time. So we go there every day, for an hour, and then just start to leave the room she is in for increasing amounts of time so that she is adjusted to being alone there. I hate it. I find it counter productive to her actually ADJUSTING to being there. Oh, did I mention this goes on for 4 to 6 weeks?? Yeah, kill me. Oh well, in the end she will be there from 9-2, and then when the twins are here, from 9-5. That will be a nice relief.

But she is doing fabulously, and enjoys the other kids. Although they very nicely decided to share with her their colds and she has a nasty one, in the moment. But, I guess I can expect that...

Anyways, here is Emma Rey on her first day!

With Papa, and her favorite Baby Doll, Baby

In her Playroom

The sign says: The Children move Free willingly, haha.
Emma enjoying her "after school treat"!

Expectations

Is your life exactly how you expected it to be? Is it a little? Did your expectations change as you rolled with life´s punches?? I am definitely feeling a bit of SOMETHING now, as I reflect on my life and where I am...both physically and literally.

Although I loved travelling to different countries...I never thought I would actually move to one to raise my family! It has been a fun-filled, and at times scary process. There are so many things that are different here from EVERYTHING I had come to know. I really have to remind myself sometimes that just because Germany doesn`t have a Target, doesn`t mean the end of the world. Yes, the weather sucks. But I got to spend 1 year at home PAID with my newborn baby! It would be unheard of in the U.S.

And now, my expectations are once again shattered. I thought it would be interesting to share this news here on the blog, and see how many people it reached BEFORE I sent out the email to my friends (but yes, family already mostly knows!). If you haven´t already guessed it, I am pregnant with baby number 2!!!




oh yeah, number 3 is chillin´in there too! Its TWINS.

Yes, I am scared shitless. Literally (and again physically!). I am sick as a dog, and barely can function in my duties as mommy (and pacifier!) to Emma for 7 hours before I have to go to work and be a somewhat strict mommy to these fools learning English! Its rough, and did I mention I am scared? We are alone...I never expected that, nor did I expect Twins.

But hey, I am putting serious stock in what I have said to my friends & family struggling with their individual problems my whole life: God would never give you something that you couldn´t handle. I either live by that, or I realize I am fake. And I´m not ready for that.

So, coming soon to Frankfurt...nowhere NEAR you....Baby Spoerhase´s!!
Wish us luck, and if you have tips on weaning...send them my way!!!

xoxo 4 eva.

Meine kleine Funny Face!

Its so funny sometimes the images you capture with your camera!

Emma makes such funny faces that I usually miss them within the few seconds that it takes the camera to click. However, the best times are when I am able to catch these crazy faces!

I thought I would share some with you.

Emma reading a text from her buddy Giosue!

She looks so confused about something.
But I really think she was just pooping!

Emma recently got a haircut (like her 8th!), and I finally saw a bit of me in her! Everyone always tells us that she doesn´t really look like either of us - mkthanks - but, with this new haircut, it reminded me of my good ol´hair days.

Here is a pic of me when I was 3, do you see it?? Deia, do you remember? You were sitting to my left!! Aren´t you jelly of my Raggedy Ann & Andy themed Birthday motif?

Intolerance vs. Stupidity

I may not be the first person to jump wholeheartedly into a Political Discussion. However, things have been happening here in France and I am not sure if the world outside of Europe knows about it.

In France, the Government has decided that they want to break up the Romanian camps (yes, literally camps where Romanian people group together to live-work). There is alot of prostitution going on within the camps and the Government has "had enough" of the Roma´s (shortened word for Romanian people), and want them to go back to their homeland.

Hmmm, sound familiar people??

The French Government has a displacement policy (read: when they force you back to where you came from, a little money to start you on your way again), where every adult receives 300 euros, and every child,100. They chartered a flight and took back about 100 Roma´s. Almost 75% of them interviews said they would be back in France within the week. One man said this was his 7th time making this trip! HOW CAN THAT BE, you ask?? Because legally, France cannot kick them out of France! They are apart of the European Union, which means they have every right to live and work anywhere between those borders! France just seems to be trying to take a shortcut from THE LAW and hoping that they will just peacefully leave on their own.

Now I dont have a problem breaking up these camps where they are all living together. Because there really is prostitution and child prostitution happening there. But the bigger picture is the intolerance for these nomadic people. In Europe, they are called Gypsies. We all know about Gypsies....well,we have seen them on the movies.

But let me tell you. Gypsies stay together, they do not mix with society, they are tight knit and dont want anything to do with immursion. They do, however, beg on the streets. They do send their children up to you to ask, instead of them, for some money. They do keep horribly malnurished animals (on purpose!) to tug at your heartstrings and attempt to get more money from you...these are all things that do not sound appealing...I get it. But to say that you want them TOTALLY out of your country because of that? I dont get it. And what I dont get is the lack of outpour from the European Community. It is barely a blip on the radar here.

Which leads me to SB1070. Otherwise, or more commonly known as, the Arizona Immigration Law. Let me just say...I am 100% in support of this law. I think the way Obama is handling the situation is appauling. Arizona is trying to deal with a major problem in a way that is OK for the Federal Government, but apparently not for the State.

The influx of illegals is DRAINING their resources! Why should they not be allowed to attempt to control this situation? In EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD...when asked to show your papers (passport or visa) by an Official...you must, immediately! If I am stopped by a Police Officer here in Frankfurt for WHATEVER, I am supposed to give him my passport. To prove that I am legally allowed to be here. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?? Am I naive enough to think that there wont be an abuse of this law by some people? No. But with such scrutiny of it, I dont think there will be much. And I am willing to take on that small amount of "abuse" of the law if it will begin to secure our borders.

America needs to stop trying to solve every other country´s problems, and get on with working on their own. We are a melting pot....but our pot will just melt away under all this debt we are accruing through these losses.

OK, my rant is over. Sometimes I just think in America we spend so much time debating because WE CAN. But in reality, we should pick our battles wiser.

Intolerance and Stupidity ARE two seperate things!

Back to the Grind

In an effort to "get the most out of my vacations", I would always book the return THE DAY BEFORE I had to return to work...thinking that I would enjoy myself on the vacation so much and then plop myself back into work and be reminded of all the fabby memories I just made.

Uh-huh....its not that easy with a baby. We arrived home in the evening on Sunday, and I had to work Monday morning. To top it off THERE WAS NO CREAM OR MILK FOR MY COFFEE! That was true hell.

That being said, we had a really nice time in France. The weather was (mostly) good, and we enjoyed good food, celebrated Christian´s birthday with family, and had some nice finds at the Flea Markets. A few "typical" French dresses for Emma, and a Le Creuset Dutch Oven for 4 Euros for us! It was definitely the find of the year!

Emma learning to Boule, when in France...do as the French!
Actually, she was learning how not to steal the IRON balls once the others threw them!

With the Family

This was how we bathed...when the weather was good!

How Marilyn-esque!!

Emma´s preferred method of transportation around the garden.
This is one of her French dresses from the FleaMarket. Super cute, I think!