Kiel to Norway

 We took an overnight cruise ship to Oslo Norway on Tuesday.  The kids were very excited.

Matthew's birthday was Wednesday morning.  Several weeks ago, he made himself a birthday sign (above), which survived the packing.  

We had a breakfast feast where we opened his presents.  

Our neighborhood

 This is technically not our neighborhood.  But rather the houses behind us and surrounding the field where we walked and had bike rides.  I loved strolling through these houses and barns with their immaculate gardens and timeless architecture.

 I loved this house's vegetable garden.  It was orderly and lovely.  I would sit and stare at it every time we walked by.  

Hof Klussman

Burgdorf is horse riding country and has horse stables at every corner.
 I've always wanted to learn how to ride but thought that was a new hobby for the distant future when all the kids were in school.  However, when we got here and realized that Rick had a more predictable schedule, I decided to take lessons.   

Everyone here rides Hannoverians, which originate from here and are bred here.  They are big and beautiful.  I took group lessons with a group of adolescent girls. I loved horse riding more than I thought I would and immediately got hooked.
Germans are very strict in their riding and riding attire.  Before my first lesson I met with Frau Klussman, the owner of the stable, she told me I had to have riding boots, riding pants, and a helmet to ride that afternoon.  She said, "Americans wear jeans, sneakers, or whatever, when they ride. But that's not what we do here."  So I began my lessons properly attired. 

It was pretty surreal to ride at a stable with century old barns and beautiful surroundings.  The teachers spoke English (some better than others) but insisted that this was a good opportunity for me to learn German.  So when asked to do something in German I had to first think "what are they asking me to do," then try and do it.  For the longest time I did not know the English terms for horse riding but Rick got me horse riding books for Christmas to help me.  I love riding and am so excited to continue this hobby with my family.    In the summer, the lessons were outside and at times we got to ride in the woods.  In the winter they were inside.  The fun things we did were: riding without stirrups, riding over bars that were slightly lifted off the ground, and formations.  The more advanced class would ride bareback, without stirrups, and jump.  I can't wait until I can jump.   Rick took this picture of me getting ready for my first day of riding back in August.  Chrissie is holding a Schleich Hannoverian toy horse since I would be riding Hannoverians. Unfortunately I never got a picture of myself riding.  However, when my mom came to visit in December, she had the good sense to request one.  I rode both of these horses.  The one on the left is Soloist and the right is Ashley.  On Mondays I rode Ashley and on Wednesdays I rode Soloist.

Abschiedsfeier

 Today was Chrissie and Matthew's last day of kindergarten.  The teachers invited Rick, Jane, and I to come at the end of kindergarten for a little farewell party (Abschiedsfeier).  They sang us songs both in English and German.  They gave Matthew and Chrissie this lovely scrapbook/memory book with photos of their time in kindergarten.  In addition to the book were two Schleich Tigers toys since they were in the Tiger group. And they read them a letter,in English, telling them goodbye and that they were sad to see them go.  Today was the first day I actually felt sad to leave.  

 Vorschulekinder: all the 5/6 year olds.  Chrissie did a lot of special activities with these kids.  The parents wanted to get a picture of all them before Chrissie left for the end of the year celebration.  At the end of the school year they do a big celebration with the Vorschulekinder since it's their last year in kindergarten before they move on to the "big" school where they start first grade.  

 My friend Quinn whose son is the kindergarten and is American as well.  Her husband is our bishop and she has been a huge help to me with translating, advice, doctor issues, etc.

Their teachers: Meike and Frau Eppler.  Frau Eppler was so kind even Jane loved her.  

My friend Catherina has a son, Piet, also in the same group.  She speaks English very well and her husband is a Pediatrician and they live down the street.  I used his services once when pink eye was circulating around the kids and he was so kind to let me come to his house where he checked them, gave me some medicine and didn't charge me a penny.