Geno´s Christmas Program

Today was the Christkindl Market for the Beehive International School. Since they will be moving to a new location on December 12th, what better than to have the Christkindl Market at the new location. The new school is located in Lindencham and was previously used by two kindergarten classes. It has two spacious rooms, a nice playground, as well as a place downstairs that has a lot of space for teacher planning and storage.

The Christkindl Market took place from 2 pm until 4 pm. The students immediately noticed the playground. They now have six swings, a wooden train, and a rope jungle gym in front of the school as well as all of the other equipment the Beehive International School already has at it´s current location.

When all the parents and students arrived, parents were able to look at all of the books at the Book Fair on display. If you purchased anything from the fair, they would automatically give a certain percentage to the school to buy even more books for their current library. The teachers also posted their wish lists for the classroom and seemed well received by the parents.

Soon after, it was ready for all of the children to put on their costumes and get ready for the program. All the children had a green velvet coverall and a red velvet hat to represent Santa´s little helpers, and one student was dressed in a beautiful red velvet dress with white trim, and she represented Santa. Once into costume, the children walked into the room set up for the performance singing their first song which was the Fire Truck, after Ms. Richarz announced the afternoon events. Although this song was not so Christmas orientated, the students have been learning about fire, candles, and matches, so it fits in with their thematic unit. Her is a youtube video of the song:



The next song was one entitled I am Special. Which the children sang and also had certain movements to. The next song, was This Little Light of Mine where the older students held real lit candles and the younger ones held cardboard replicas of a candle. They also learned and performed a song called Oh Light that they learned in English and German.







The last song of the performance was Feliz Navidad where the students wore their paper hearts around their necks and would have been a moving performance if you ignored Geno and his sidekick causing mischief. Look at the video below:



Afterwards, the teachers were presented with a gift and then we all proceeded to the next room for refreshments, conversation, and snacks.

The students clearly have spent a lot of time preparing for their performance and it was definitely a job well done. Thank you to the teachers for all of their hard work in putting this event together. It was greatly appreciated by the parents and students equally.

Grandma Lucca's Cinnamon Rolls

One of my fondest memories growing up, was visiting Grandma Lucca's house and waking up to the smell of fresh cinnamon or caramel rolls from the oven. I finally decided that it was time for me to try and make these myself using her recipe. They turned out pretty good I think. Check out the picture above. Thank you Grandma Lucca!

Geno Playing at School

 

Geno Having Fun at School

A Day in the Life of Geno

Geno is doing well in school. He is just shy of three years old now, and is talking up a storm. His favorite things to do are playing with his trains, toy cars, leggos, and watch the British children's television station CBeebies.

He is also s BIG fan of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and thinks his big sis is the best thing in the whole wide world. He loves to go for a walk to the playground and ride his bike in the neighborhood.

He also has a thing for anything football which includes wearing any of his football jerseys every day. We are using football interchangeably here since he likes European football (soccer) and American football.

Some of his favorite things to eat are chicken nuggets, potato fries (as he calls them), apples, carrots, and peanut butter toast. He loves popcorn and will pretty much do anything I ask if he is given this reward. He loves apple juice, but will still drink milk and water if I convince him that there is nothing else.

He still loves to be read to, but has a few favorites which are Dr. Seuss and The Humor Man which is about an ice cream man in the neighborhood. He calls him the Hama Man."

His favorite sayings are as follows:

• "No way Mommie!"
• "I need apple juice please."
• "Peanut butter toast please."
• "Share the toy cars" which he needs to remind himself of when he is at school.
  
• Love you always Mommie."
• "Geno is mad."
  
• Cari (Coretta), you go to school?"
• "Cari, you want to play?"
• "Geno is happy"
• "Poo is happy" which means he does not have any poop in his diaper.
• "Go away Charlie" when Charlie tries to grab his food out of his hands.
• "Mommie, you are a mother." Which is what he tells me when I do not look happy. Apparently mothers are always happy.
• "Time to bed."
• Daddy is a mean old bear." Still my favorite which he said to his Dad when we were in Europa Park and Geno woke us up in he middle of the night.
• "I need more Cari" (Coretta) which he said today when she was gone at school.
  

He is definitely coming into his own unique personality every day. He loves life to the fullest. He is independent, strong willed, opinionated, funny, and not afraid to show his emotions. For instance if he is mad, he will stomp off into the corner of the house, cross his arms, and stick his bottom lip out so far, it almost touches the ground. All of this just far enough away to make sure we are seeing him.

Most of all, he is just my special boy who I love with all of my heart. Here is a link to the web blog that I have created for Geno's preschool: Beehive International Preschool

Coretta and Green Day

Coretta is off to Zurich for her first rock concert: Green Day. We bought the tickets months ago when we saw that they were playing in Switzerland. Coretta, Nick, Ron, and Seamus all left at 5:30 to catch the bus and train into Zurich for the concert at 8 pm. Considering Nick's first concert was REO Speedwagon and mine was Warrant, her first experience may be better.

Coretta's 4th Grade School Picture