We're back...

to frog and turtle catching!

It's catch and release but it is really fun and enjoyable for all ages.

Nasuuna was really unsure at first so she watched Geremu...

Which really isn't the best idea considering his unique technique...

We usually bet on how long it will take Gere to fall into the water. His first fall was much more spectacular than the second. As luck would have it I only captured his second slip/fall on film...

The water was pretty grimy and gross but I don't even think my kids noticed.

It was warm enough to have a water fight, another first for Nasuuna. She had several buckets of cold water dumped on her head. I debated stopping the boys from dumping the water on her head but she continued to scream and giggle in excitement with each bucket that was dumped on her. She had no problem going right back at them. I don't think she successfully got anyone wet. Which might have something to do with the neighbors flip-flops she insisted on wearing around that are roughly 5x's too big for her.

Missing Camera Cord

I'm so frustrated that I lost my camera cord, it's part of the reason I haven't been blogging. The other part is really because life has been getting in the way of blogging:) Speaking of life, all is well. Actually I'm not going to lie to you, all is better than well. We have been busy enjoying the company of each other and the beautiful weather.

Geremu and Nasuuna's relationship has come a LONG way in the last 3 1/2 months. They are the best of friends. I can't quite pin-point when this happened but I would say in the last 3 weeks I have noticed just how much they do together. For a while Geremu's guard was up ALL the time, that is no longer the case. They make things for each other when they are at school and at home. They play together, read together, share food, toys, etc. When Nasuuna first came home she certainly preferred Cullen to Geremu but now she really enjoys spending time with both of them. The majority of her time is spent with Geremu because they are both in school together for a half day then home with Amanda our sitter the other half. I'm loving how well my kids play together and am thankful that they have each other.

Almost everyday I hear Nasuuna say, "I no no that" (I didn't know that) about something she is learning. Yesterday I heard her say that about a magnetic book she was reading, it's fun to watch her learn new things and figure out just how things work. She recently started riding a bike with training wheels all by herself. This is quite an accomplishment, as it took a lot of hard work on her part. I missed the first time she was able to bike alone by herself, as I was at school, but I heard all about her first bike ride around the block from Amanda and how by the end of it her "wegs urt" (legs hurt).

We spent today enjoying the largest St. Patty's Day parade in Wisconsin. Then had friends over for corn beef, corn and potatoes. The weather was beautiful, 70's, and the kids spent entire day outside. Looking forward to another beautiful day tomorrow. Happy St. Patty's Day!

Weekend Apart

This past weekend I took Nasuuna and Cullen to my parents house. Some how I managed to go across the state without any coats for the kids- thankfully I remembered my own. I did however manage to leave my coat at my parents house- ugh...

Nick decided to stay home with Geremu, he was showing some signs that he need a little special alone time. Geremu and Nick had a great time together swimming, playing at the gymnastics center, going out to eat, etc.

Nasuuna and Cullen also had a good time getting extra attention. Aunt Kathy spent a morning with Cullen, she has a little something special up her sleeve for his birthday... To be shown at a later date.

Nasuuna LOVES Kennedy, actually Nasuuna had a hard time leaving her alone. Thankfully Kennedy doesn't seem to mind too much. They danced together...

Watched a movie together...

Nasuuna would even try to sneak in a kiss once in a while.

Which resulted in uncontrollable laughter...

Cullen was quite happy as always....

Pop took Callan and Cullen to the hometown "Mall of America". I was a little confused trying to figure out where they went. Turns out he was referring to the Pawn Shop- LOL. It pretty much made Cullen's weekend...

Granny and Nasuuna also snuggled it up...

It was nice that the kids all got a little special alone time this past weekend. They were quite happy to be reunited again by the end of the weekend...

Last week we were eating and Geremu asked for another roll. It was the end of the meal and Nasuuna was walking toward the sink to clear her plate. She stopped mid-step grabbed the roll off her plate and threw it at Geremu. He wasn't even looking up and it hit him right in the head. I was so shocked by what I saw I said, "NASUUNA" She looked at me and honestly had this look like she had no idea what she did wrong. Cullen fell off his chair laughing, "Mom, I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing. She is so funny." Geremu was chewing on the roll that hit him in the head. He didn't care how it was delivered he was just happy to have another roll. It appears we can't have company over anytime soon for a meal- I wish I could say this sort of incident only happens once in a while but every night I find myself shaking my head at how dinner plays out.

I'll leave you with two videos, one is a new song Nasuuna learned at school...

The other is Geremu telling Nasuuna how tough she is, this happens anytime she gets hurt...

Just Another Day...

Events of the day included:

Getting the mail...

Waiting for their brother to get home...

Eating...

Dishes= Licking the bowl clean...

A mean game of Old Maid...

It's never much of a mystery with who has the Old Maid. Cullen practically cries when he gets it, Geremu gets mad and Nasuuna screams.

That's all for today.

PJ Day!

Today was pajama day at Gere & Nasuuna's school. They could not have been more excited to wear their pj's & slippers and bring their blankets to school.

They had so much fun that when they came home and Amanda took them to the Children's Museum they just had to stay in their pajamas for that too.

Baby Easton

As promised earlier this week I want to introduce you all to our babysitter Amanda's new bundle of joy.

Meet baby Easton...

Seriously can you stand the cuteness?

And that head of hair, oh that hair... No hat necessary when you've got a wig that thick. I love how dark and long it is already. Not only is he cute but he is such a good baby too.

My kids are as in love with him as I am. If I play my cards right and I come up with things I need to "talk" to Amanda about everyday then I get to sit and hold him for awhile before they leave. Nasuuna seems to watch every move Amanda makes while she is caring for Easton. Then she likes to mimic the moves after Amanda leaves with her baby Musi. Geremu seems to think he has a new job of entertaining (or just overstimulating) Easton.

Speaking of jobs, my littles LOVE to get the mail. This can become a fight if the same kid gets the mail two days in a row. So Team German came up with a solution...

Team German Wins Again!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A very Happy Valentine's Day was had in our house today. We don't do V-day gifts per say for the kids but instead opt for fun V-day meals. So it started off with red heart shaped pancakes with heart sprinkles added. Delicious, if you love syrup like my kids do! Nasuuna could not figure out what the sprinkles were... I think she asked me 50 times, "What disssss be?" during the course of her breakfast.

For dinner we feasted on heart shaped pasta with tomato sauce, fruit, hot bread and sparkling grape juice. Cheers to good food, family and friends!

Nasuuna is really into ask questions as she is starting to master the language. She loves to ask everyone in the family, "Dooo yaaaa wuvvvvve meeeee?" So stinkin' cute the first time. After Cullen was asked about 10 times in 5 minutes if he loved her he said, "I already told you I did."

Cullen is also into questions about songs. He recently was singing "I'm sexy and I know it."

Then asked, "Hey Mom, what does sexy mean?"

"Um, it means good looking"

To which he responds by killing himself laughing.

He also was singing, "I'm addicted and I just can't get enough."

"Mom what does addicted mean?"

It means you like something so much you can hardly stand it.

Now addicted is his new word, "I'm so addicted to the snow!"

Great.

Today was my first day of our families new reality... Nick went back to work. Everything went well, I got the kids off to school and our awesome babysitter Amanda was at the house when Gere and Nasuuna got home around around lunch. Speaking of Amanda I don't think I've mentioned yet that she recently had a baby. Let me snap a few pictures of this adorable little boy and introduce him to you later this week- stay tuned, he's got a wig you don't want to miss seeing!

In other news now that things in our life are settling down I just finished presenting at a few Global Awareness Assemblies in the schools around the area talking about the world water crisis. As we have done in the past we are selling t-shirts again with all the proceeds going directly to charity: water. Here is the 2012 design....

If you're interested in a shirt they are unisex shirts in light blue with navy blue ink. $10.00/shirt and since I'm not printing them myself (I just don't have the time) the shirt cost for production is a bit higher than the past. But $6.00/shirt will go directly to charity: water. E-mail me if you are interested at ancgerman@gmail.com

As always, thanks for reading!