What an Evening!

We just experienced one of the most special and memorable nights that we have ever had in Germany.

As a Christmas gift to us, Per's PA, Nicola, prepared a beautiful three course authentic German meal and personally gave us a professional wine tasting of different wines from the Rheingau region, the area of which is is from.


We learned about the different tastes in the mouth like sweet, salty, bitter and sweet and where they fall on the tongue. Nicola came with five different wines and each one had a story behind it, which I thought was fascinating. I certainly didn't know that moldy grapes made good wine and that only Proseco which was from Italy could be called Proseco. The equivalent of that in Germany is called a Sekt.



After sampling the five different wines, we got to choose the one which we thought was our favorite and that was the one we had with our dinner.

The dinner menu was the following:
The first course was something called Spundekäs- which Nicola described as a secret from the Rheingau area - but, it was a fantastic fattening cheese dip with chives, garlic and lots of creamy stuff in it. It was to die for.


The main course was called Beef Olives which was a secret recipe that her mother has shared with her. It was very yummy. The only sad thing was that we had eaten too much of the first course and were so full that we were only able to finish half of the second course.

The dessert was called a Bavarian Cream dessert which would give us a "summer feeling" and it certainly did. Although it hadn't fully geled yet, it was still good and the raspberries on the side added an extra special flavor.


Nicola went all out. She had prepared so much beforehand. She was up at 7am preparing the food and the dishes and came with flowers, a present for Keira and just such beautifully prepared food. She brought the special glasses from which the wine was served, as well as the dishes. Her father had helped her with an explanation on each of the 5 wines in German and Nicola had spent most of the night before using Google Translate and trying to make sure that she got it all correct in English.

We were very impressed and extremely honored and touched that she went through so much trouble. We had a fabulous evening and we truly enjoyed ourselves. It was one of the best Christmas presents we have every received!

It's been one hell of a week

Why?

1. Potty training
Potty training SUCKS. Don't let anyone tell you any different. All those parents that say that they didn't have any problems and all they had to do was to put their kid on the toilet and the kid took it all from there...are full of crap.

We've not left this house for 4 days so far and counting. I use a timer set to go off every 20 minutes. When the bell rings, it's time to go. Keira walks around commando and I have to pay attention and focus on her every move. I anticipate that every movement she makes means that she needs to go to the potty. If she even wiggles her hand I think that she's giving me a signal that she needs to go. I sweep her up, I run to the toilet and I plop her down on it. We sit and wait. And wait. And wait. Sometimes we're lucky (like this morning). Sometimes we're not. That's when you see me on all fours with Lysol spray cleaning and wiping up the floors.

Why is it that every time I get on the computer or I take a phone call, she suddenly lets go. Why is that when I am 100% focused on her, she can just hold her pee for hours? Why? Sigh.

My mother says it'll take one week. My sister says it's going to take two weeks. I've heard others that say that it takes months. Years. I'm not going to focus on that or I'll get depressed. Think good thoughts...yeah. Good thoughts. She will be potty trained by tomorrow. Ha Ha!


2. "All by myself"
My little one has fed herself dinner all by herself. What was the first meal? Chicken parmesan. She is so cute. She got it all in her mouth and enjoyed every last bit. Sigh. First it's potty training, then she can feed herself, next thing you know, she'll leave us to get married and have kids. How do they grow up so fast?


3. Laundry woes
In order to get things done, us moms usually have to wait until the kids are in bed to get some free time to ourselves or to do our chores. One of these chores, of course, is the laundry.

In Germany, the washer/ dryer is in the basement 3 1/2 flights down from the apartment. In order to do the wash during the day, I have to carry Keira down as well as the clothes. Back and forth. Back and forth. So obviously, I prefer to do the wash at night.

All this time, Per has told me that we are not allowed to do wash past 10pm in the apartment building because all the tenants will get mad because it makes so much noise. So, if Keira goes to bed around 8pm and I have to eat dinner, clean up and so on, it only leaves me an hour to do the wash. Basically, I get to wash, but I don't get to dry.

We leave Germany for good next Friday. I just found out today from one of the neighbors that I could do the wash all day and night long if I wanted to. She didn't understand where Per's comment came from.

I come home and I confront my husband. What does he say? He tells me that he made it up so that I wouldn't do the wash all night. Puh. Want to know how I feel about that one?!

4. Snowing like crazy
Nonstop. All week. It's cold. I thought that I'd be a good mother and take Keira outside for a little bit. I bundled her up like the Michelin man and took her out. She didn't like it. Not one bit. She just wanted to go back inside. Yes, a girl after my own heart. That's my baby.

Back in Dortmund

Yes, back in Dortmund again. I came back on Sunday night. And, can you believe that it's freaking snowing here? What the hell? I thought it didn't snow much in Germany? I know that this is a conspiracy.

The weather was cold while I was in Texas and the minute I leave town to come back, it gets warm. It was ok here in Dortmund until I showed up. And then it starts to snow. I don't get it. All I want is just a lot of sunshine. Why is that so hard to understand?

The weekend was great. I'm glad that I went to the work event. There were all day meetings on Friday and Saturday and an event each night. Friday night, the event took place in a huge tent outside in -8 degree celsius weather. We walked about 5 minutes from the hotel down a path and then up before us was a huge white tent. The inside was decorated so cozy with tables covered in white linen tablecloths and candles flickering on every table.

Saturday night was an almost black tie event. I say "almost" because the guys could choose whether or not they could wear a black tie or a dark suit, which, of course, made if very difficult for the ladies to decide on what to wear. Some wore short dresses, some wore long. I wore a beautiful, long, strapless, midnight blue gown. I look damn good, if I do say so myself. I was pretty proud.

I got very little sleep over the weekend and needless to say, when I got back Sunday night, I was petered out. I had meant to start potty training bright and early Monday morning, but I could barely make the coffee. So, I indulged myself and took and hour and half nap with Keira and started her on the potty training at 2pm yesterday.

We've been at the whole potty training thing all day today. I feel like I am the pee-pee wiper upper. I'm constantly watching her and asking her if she needs to go. She doesn't really know that she needs to go until she's made a little accident on the floor. I'm pretty happy that she made it to the potty twice today without any mistakes...let's just hope that it continues. This is hard work, this potty training stuff. You can't let your attention wander. Not one bit. Because if you do,...wham! You got a little accident on your hands.

Well, I'll just have to give us some slack. We've only been at this for 1 1/2 days.

Back in Germany

Yes, we're back. We've been back for a couple of days now and I just can't seem to kick this jet lag. Hmmmm...maybe it has to do with a little Keira who's schedule is all turned upside down. She's up at night and sleepy during the day. No matter how I try to get her to go to sleep at night, all she wants to do is to watch TV. Wow. She's become such a TV addict. Just like mommy.

It's bittersweet to be back. Honestly, I feel a bit sad to be back, yet glad at the same time.

When I'm in Houston, there's so much noise, so much family, so much food, so much everything. We are constantly surrounded by people and are so busy that I don't even have time to breathe until midnight. Sometimes the "busyness" drives me nuts, yet when I'm back here in Dortmund, the "non-busyness" of not having family around leaves me feeling a bit bereft.

I'm sure there's a happy medium somehwhere...

Well, I'm leaving for Oslo tonight for three days for a work meeting and will be back on Sunday evening, so you won't hear from me for a few days.

This will be the first time that I've been without Keira since we've gotten her. I think that I am the one who will have more separation anxiety than her. Hey, at least I know that I'll get some sleep tonight and it'll be Per who's dealing with a jet lagged Keira. Ha ha! :) Poor Per. He doesn't know what's he's in for.

Let's recap the week

Yes, folks, time for a recap of this week since yours truly didn't have a lot of time to update the blog.

Keira and I have been with Judy and the girls since Wednesday. It's been busy, busy, busy here. Weekdays are a little tough to get things done because we only have the hours from the time the kids go to school and when they get back at 3pm. I mean, after coffee, a little pitter patter around the house, change of diapers, feed Keira, shower..we leave the house around 10am/ 11am and then we've got to be back at the house by 3pm. Then, there's homework, showers, etc.

Yeah, yeah, you single people will say that that's a lot of time, but lunch takes up and a half and then you've got a couple of hours at one store and then it's time to go home. Sigh, tough life huh?

Well, what's happened this week? A couple of exciting things:

1. Got my money back from that crappy haircut from Toni and Guy
I was in despair, let me tell you. That Stephanie chick totally messed up my hair..too much texturizing in the wrong places, too short and hair sticking up in all the wrong places.

I told the manager that this was the worst haircut I've ever had in my life and I couldn't believe that this person was supposed to be their "best hairdresser" in the salon. What crap.

Come to find out, she's only the best hairdresser in the salon on Mondays. Who would've thunk that? Whether or not your haircut is good depends on which day of the week you go into the salon. I asked for the "best hairdresser" they had in the salon and I got Goofy on Monday.

Well, I have to say that the manager was pretty nice. She had her Wednesday "best hairdresser" (how to determine who's best? by the price you pay. Wed. "best hairdresser" costs $85 while Monday "best hairdresser" costs $70) to look at it and even she said that it was too short and the cut was not good and the only thing I could do was to let it grow.

Needless to say, got my money back. Got more molding wax for free. What used to take only 10 minutes and two products now takes 20 minutes and five products.

NEVER EVER GO TO THAT SALON. IT SUCKS.

2. Got my dress for the work event
Finally! I have been on a hunt for a dress for the work event that I'm going to in a couple of weeks. It has taken me forever to find something.

It's a BCBG strapless dress with ruffles on the bottom and's some shade of blue that reminds me of the ocean. My fantastic sister gave me a pair of strappy, spakly Stuart Weitzman shoes to go with it. Now all I need is a cool shoulder wrpa and some big diamond earrings.. haha! :)

3. Got my sushi fix
Yes, gobbled up a couple of orders of uni, salmon and tuna. It was sooooo good, we rolled out of the restaurant.

4. Found a super cool pair of Ugg slip on's...ON SALE.
Last size waas 6 and it was ALL MINE!!!!

Only one more week left and then we are flying back to Germany....Got to make the best of every single day! :)

A normal Saturday?

Had a fun trip back to Norway from Germany last night (read ”not”). Landed at Oslo airport at 9 PM, took the shuttle to the long term parking, -22 degrees Celsius outside (-6 Fahrenheit). Ok, car was started, and running (yeahh). The car park people said they had to let it run since it didn’t start, no wonder, it was now -25 Celsius/-13 Fahrenheit and the car had been sitting there for 3 weeks. Flat battery. Ok, I was up and running, car was charging….. Starting to drive home, then the coolant light came on, shit, there must be a small leak, since this also happened last time, no problem, just to stop at a gas station and add a coolant that is rated for this cold weather. Done, stopped at gas station, cannot open the hood, the cold has made something with the snap hinges. Finally, after freezing my fingers off, I got it open, added liquid (still with the engine running, charging the battery hopefully). Driving home. Hitting a cold spot, -31 degrees Celsius/-24 Fahrenheit close to Lillestrøm. COLD….. Hear crackling sound in the car. The car body is frozen stiff, and the small bumps in the road make it crack.

Get home at the house at 10:30 PM. WOW, lots of snow in the drive way. Hmm, snow blower has a broken part….. Need to call on the neighbor to park the car in their driveway. Done, she want to get out at 9:30, so if I can have the card moved by then. Fine. No problem. Wade through snow up to my thighs into the house. 12 degrees Celsius/53 Fahrenheit inside. Not too bad. Have been a power shortage while we were gone. All heating that is split into several heating zones had been automatically reset to the above mentioned temperature. Good. Expected it colder. Have to re-program the central control unit, takes 30 minutes. Done going to bed. ….Waking up, fixing broken part on snow blower, taking 1 hour to get the drive way and steps cleared of snow. Still in good time to get the car moved… it’s now 8:10. Yes, early riser….. Tried to start the car, flat battery ¤%#¤%#¤##”¤#”. Called a friend, asked for a jumper start, he arrived 10 minutes later, car started OK. Need to go buy new battery. Drives to the battery store, leaves the car running (battery is flat/not charging. They are sold out of batteries……. More people than silly me have battery problems in this cold. OK. New solution, across the street is a boat supply store. They have batteries for boats.. Going there, buying a 70Ah one, get it to the car, it’s too big, returning it for a smaller 60Ah one. Drives home, broken lamp sign comes on the dashboard…Checked, it’s the halogen headlamp. Drives home. Still not eaten breakfast, can’t stop and buy groceries until the battery is fixed (can’t stop the car). Taking the old battery out, putting in the new, attaching the cables. Whoops. What happened, the – and + are mirrored from the old battery? Typical, it is a trick to keep the car batteries and the marine batteries separated. i.e to create an artificial segmentation. Have to drive back and return the battery, then drive another 35 minutes to find a correct car battery that will fit the Volvo (not all does). Get a new battery, and a new halogen headlamp, freezing my fingers off changing the headlamp. Finally done, can change the battery and drive to the grocery store and buy some food and eat breakfast. How was your day? Ha ha

Mexican food and Margaritas

When in Texas, you must do as the Texans do...yum yum...

Happy New Year!

Ooops...I see that it's been almost a week since I have posted. My, how time flies here in Texas. I don't know which day is which while I've been here because the days have just been filled with so many family activities and shopping fun.

Highlights from this week:

1. Got a horrible haircut
I had the haircut from hell on Monday at the Toni and Guy at the Galleria. I look like a little rat. My hair is all this way and that. It sticks up where it shouldn't be sticking up and it lays flat where I should have some volume. I think I might actually look like I'm balding if the light hits me in a certain way.

Just in case you're thinking of going there, the hairdresser's name was Stephanie. She's supposed to be a Art Director V or whatever that means. When I was booking my appointment, the guy at the counter told me that she'd worked there for 12 years and had lots of experience. Yeah. Right. Lots of experience doing what? A hatchet job on hair? Why go to Toni and Guy and pay $70 when you could go to Sport Clips and probably get the same thing or maybe even better for opnly $5?

I did my research....I Googled Toni and Guy at the Galleria. I read the reviews. I thought that it was going to be a good haircut. It wasn't. I am so depressed I could cry. I thought that I'd go and have someone fix it, but my hair is so short, it's impossible to fix. Crap. Crap. Crap. Never go there to get your hair cut. Texans can't cut hair anyway. What was I thinking? I miss my guy in Oslo. Boo hoo.

2. Booked tickets to extend our stay
Yes, Keira and I are staying another couple of weeks. Woo hoo! We were going to stay until the end of January, but I had to get back to Oslo for a three day meeting and so we had to cut it down to a two week extension instead. But, hey, it's better than nothing! That means WHAT? Oh yes, two more weeks of shopping fun...hee...hee..:)

3. Stomping Grounds for Keira
Sandy invited us to a place in Sugarland where the kids could crawl and climb and generally just make a lot of noise and have a good time.





4. Enjoyed a great New Year's Eve dinner with the family
My dad cooked up a storm in his kitchen in the garage. It was a fantastic meal and we gobbled everything up to the last bite. Thanks for cooking a great dinner Dad and Mom!