Second Grade!

Gus started second grade today.  He goes solo this week since Cormac doesn't start kindergarten until next week.  We took him to the bus stop and he was nervous and excited all at the same time.

Projects

Every so often I put together some kind of craft (we call them projects) for the kids to do.  Last week we made colossal squid out of toilet paper tubes and socktopus out of old socks.  These days as soon as I come up with something they start to come up with projects of their own and they are really starting to get pretty good.  

Here they are hard at work creating projects for each other.  They like to each make an example for the others to follow.

Gus was working on a jellyfish.

Maggie was overseeing.

Cormac was working on a double-sided light saber project and helping Cadel to finish.

Sometimes they don't always go as planned--a light saber out of paper didn't last long.

But they have a lot of fun trying.

Gus' jellyfish idea turned out really well.  So the others wanted to make one too.

Gus bossing teaching everyone.

The finished product.

Also doubles as a hat.

The school of jellyfish.  Maggie started but got bored about halfway through.  After they finished Gus came up with a sea turtle project that kept them working all the way until bedtime. 

Sandkerwa

We had to make a trip back to Bamberg for Sandkerwa.  Pat finally had an afternoon off so Sunday we headed to Bamberg for their biggest fest of the year (and we will use any excuse to go back to Bamberg for a visit).

On the unterer bruecke.

Pat and Maggie in line for Coburger brats.  A favorite of Pat's.  They are cooked over pine cones.

Sweet Magpie

They love the enormous fest pretzels.

And big bottles of orangen limonade.

Of course there was an ice cream break.

And a stop at Spezi Keller up on the hill for a rauch bier (Maggie is asleep in the backpack on Pat).

It was the perfect day for a stop at the biergarten.

Parsberger Volksfest

Saturday evening Pat made it home from work at a decent hour so we took the kids over to the fest in Parsberg (the neighboring town).  The kids had a good time at this one once they figured out there were games and rides to do.

They loved the fun house and went through three times (if it had been free they probably would have camped in there).

I thought this was a hoot.  The geography was a little off for the train ride...

And they had statues dressed up in ponchos with American flags and teepees in the background.

Maggie was so excited to ride the train and Cormac (the former train boy) offered to ride with her.

They all had fun on this one where they could pick out their own vehicle.

Togetherness

Pat has been working seven days a week for a few weeks now so we have had lots of "togetherness" during these last few weeks of summer.  We went to the pool three times this past week but that has been the extent of our adventures lately.

Parsberg Pool

Friday I took the kids to the pool in Parsberg (next town over) which is about a five minute drive from our house.  Pat and I took the kids last month when we were still living in the hotel.  The kids really enjoyed it then so I thought I would take them back since it is getting pretty hot around here.  There is a wave pool there that the kids really love.  They had a great time and we will certainly go back if this summer weather continues.

Bubbles

Bubbles never get old.  The little bubble machine that Grandma gave Cormac a couple of years ago for his birthday has always been a good time for the kids.  We took it out in the backyard yesterday and they had a blast (again).  I grabbed my camera and took some pictures (lots actually because our lost bag was finally found and I got my camera back!).

First they tried popping them with their mouths.

Then they tried light-sabering the bubbles.

Then they tried using their heads to stop them.

Cormac tried to karate chop them.

Maggie decided to go right to the source and eat them.

Here is Gus sitting up on the balcony off of his room, waiting for some bubbles.