Holy Communion

The days leading up to daughter's communion were a bit of an emotional roller coaster.

At that time we already knew that husband wouldn't be able to attend and daughter was really heart broken about it.

But then a vulcano in Island started spitting huge amounts of ashes and everything got turned upside down:

Her godmother got stuck on Cyprus after a vacation.

The airline I work for couldn't guarantee anymore that I would be off that Sunday.

Husband would make it after all, IF he could catch a flight home.

On Wednesday, son who noticed that I was very worried about all of this, came up to me and said: "You really shouldn't worry. I will definitely be here and I will take care of everything."

"How would you take her to church?" I asked him, shaking my head. "It is too far to walk!"

"Well," he answered, "I will take my bike and my sister can use my kick scooter. We will be fine. I will handle it."

So, up until Wednesday the plan for daughter's communion was for her to ride a kick scooter to church. Sigh.

But then the good news started arriving. Her godmother arrived back home. Husband got very lucky and caught a flight. And I didn't have to work either.

We were ready to celebrate her day and nobody had to use a bike to get to church.

Practice

Just a quick picture for Grandma:

Two days ago, daughter and I were practicing for her communion this Sunday. It took me forever to get this bun right but once we stuck about 30 pins in it, it did look good.

Spring!!!

Flowers and baby ducklings...a perfect spring day!

Spring Flowers

Daughter and our sweet neighbor raided the garden and picked me these beautiful spring flowers.

I am so glad winter is over.

On another note, husband is stranded on another continent because of the Islandic vulcano ashes. When I told the kids that I don't know when he will be able to fly back home they just sighed. I guess by now they are used to all kind of surprises.

Boats

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On our last day in Freiburg we visited the Art Museum which, at the moment hosts an "August Macke" exhibit. We attended a guided tour and, after letting the little boats swim some more in Freiburg's tiny canals went back home.

More and better pictures of our trip can also be seen on friend's blog: here and here.

Kandern, Black Forest

View of the church and August Macke's painting:

On our second day in the Black Forest we drove to Kandern, which is a small town where the artist August Macke spent a few summers, starting in 1907. There is a great walking tour around the town with stops to show you where he got his inspiration from.

Afterwards we went on a long hike which we enjoyed especially because it was a rare beautiful and sunny day.

Freiburg, Black Forest

"Please, don't feed!"

For spring break my friend and I took our sons and went to the Black Forest, Germany with them. We rented the cutest little apartment downtown Freiburg and went on excursions from there. One of our first purchases were two little wodden boats that the boys dragged on the small canals, called "Freiburger Baechle" all around the old part of Freiburg.

Amsterdam

Yes, I hit the airliner jackpot and got to go to Amsterdam. What a beautiful, beautiful place!

Happy Easter!