P.S.

Please check out the link to the Breast Cancer website.
It has a "click" link that provides a free mamogram everytime someone clicks.

This is a real website, with real support for those who cannot afford healthcare.
I have good healthcare and couldn't imagine life without it-could you?

Go ahead...click up the counter, and help.

umarmen und lieben
e

Checking in:

Happy Birthday Team Leader!

I would post photos, but our laptop with all my pictures on it won't let me go online right now (boo hiss!) so eventually, there will be pictures on this blog, for now I'll do my best to describe the festivites and events of the last week!

Team Leader turned 42 on Thursday...he had been away all week and made it home just in time for "Orange Dreamsicle" cake and Ribeye steaks. Mr. Ben had picked out the plates and party favors, his favorite favor: the trick candles that we put on the cake! (Never let it be said that some of the Harrisons lack a great sense of humor!)

A "Dogtown Skateboard" hoodie is on the way for my 1st child...Team Leader...and when I finally have a paycheck, maybe a new skateboard deck. We all relaxed and sat back to enjoy some 2 seasons ago re-runs of ER.

The new job-love it.
love it.
love it.
Mr. Ben loves having me at school with him, and, truth be told I still like being there with him.

Dollie couldn't be any more excited about volleyball-next big shopping trip is to get her the shoes she needs for her first game in 3 weeks.

This weekend-more of the same-empty the rest of the packing boxes and submit our damages claim as soon as possible. It's not fun, but, the weather is really finicky right now so being inside doesn't bother me too much.

No startling insights this week, Fall is right around the corner and the only thing I am missing is a FIREPLACE!

umarmen und lieben,
essie

Yay Doodlebug!

Guess who was one of the few 6th Graders to
MAKE
THE
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
VOLLEYBALL
TEAM....

Oh yes, she,
DID!
Yay Doodle!!

Well, nothing beats a Monday, folks!

(Side bar: This is my 101st post-yay me!)

It is also the end of my first day here at Patrick Henry Elementary...LOVED it!
I have a "runner" though, so, that means that whoa cute comfy flats are in order
AND maybe a few pairs of whoa yikes pointy flats to keep her in line!
(Just joking-really-that's for VA folks!)

Wahoo, you're right, there is no school anywhere near as great as the one that let us share a magic door with dancing beads...BUT the SPED resources are top notch, and the programming is wonderfully appropriate. I love that-making learning wonderfully appropriate-what a great freakin job!
Not having to deal with report cards or conferences...HUGE bonus for the time being,
PLUS, I get to walk home for lunch!!

Finally after 16 years,
I
get
a
real
lunch
break!!

Two big yippee-ki-yays: the music teacher said that today had been the most receptive day in TWO years with my runner/student and my principal asked me to do an inservice in two weeks!
Today must have been about twos...

No "deer in the headlights" reaction this year.
I miss my 1st grade buddies, and my K-1 feel the love girlfriends...but today, I got to sit with SPED at our faculty meeting!
How cool is that?!

umarmen und lieben
essie

I'm back!

Hallo Friends!

It's been a busy week at Casa Harrison...we went to a wine fest in Bad Durkeheim on saturday-lots of fun, although Ben was crazy mad for not getting on any of "the circus rides of death" and had to eat the largest plate of pasta EVER...however, fun was had by all and photos will be posted later-I promise!

News on the job front has changed: you are reading news from the newest Special Ed ParaProfessional at Patrick Henry Elementary! I get to work with the kiddos I love...Kindergarten and First Grade without any of the headache of report cards and conferences!!

Woohoo!

I get to walk to school with Mr. Ben, and leave school with Mr. Ben.
I have my perverbial foot in the door, and have some (very small mind you) income to contribute to the family coffers! Perhaps we'll make it back to the US this winter afterall!

(Secret wish: I just want to be able to afford some of the yummy purses and boots I've seen since we got here! Shh!! I am that shallow, I'm learning!)

Birthday love to Becca, Jenna, Lori, Luke, Jared, Team Leader, and Mrs. Mary Stright! If I've forgotten anyone, I AM SO SORRY-these are the dates I've got (stuck in the curls, mind you) thanks to my lost calendar!!!!! UGH!!

Preston's big day...next month...14...YIKES!! Still can't believe it!

umarmen und lieben
essie

2190

days ago our world changed completely.

Last year, I wrote about my memories of the day-the early day, and everything that happened next...

Today, for a few minutes, I saw sun in the sky.
Today, for a few minutes, I felt promise in the fresh brisk air
Today, for a few minutes, I heard hope in the sounds of children's voices carrying across the playground.

This year, I write about a break I see in the clouds that are looming overhead-light that is peeking out from behind darkness.

umarmen und lieben
essie

"Dear Gaia"

Please get your papers in order.
Our Momma makes us do all kinds of terrible chores that we KNOW other kids don't have to do!
You must come to Germany and save us!
We are getting dishpan hands, smell like the recyling bins, and our laundry...it's all sorts of colors!!
We need you here!
Make GrandpaDad bring you to us...
We're desperate, and will pay you back with marzipan...
What do you think?!

umarmen und lieben
Biggers, Wee, and Number Three!

I Heart Ladenburg

Back to a favorite place for our first Street Fest!
Uncle John would have LOVED it-
stalls everywhere,
people everywhere,
food vendors everywhere,
the Harrisons...
everywhere!

**blogger is currently being stinky, more photos later!**

Do I or don't I?

Take the assistant job I was offered last week?
It's half day...9-12, in Mannheim...with a VERY experienced Special Ed teacher who is great, and I would learn so so much from...
There is another possibility, and I'm throwing my hat in the ring there too, but this is here now.
What kind of terrible person would I be if I took this job, then got the other one, and left? I honestly have no clue what my chances are with the other job, but I do know that the list of potential applicants is SHORT, so I have that in my favor.

Chime in folks...the bills are coming in, and we aren't used to one paycheck! After last year's nightmare, there isn't a retirement to cash in to float us, and there are things I want to see!!

*UGH*

A year ago

I started this blog-funny how much can change in a year...
naturally, you get older
naturally, the seasons change
naturally, you find ways to stay busy
naturally, you fall into a familiar routine
naturally, you, change.

A year ago, Team Leader and I spent the day making thishappen.
Now we have this
It's nowhere near as fabulous as our house in NC, but this crazy government issue flat is our h.o.m.e.

It's funny how a strange foreign place can feel more like home than you expected...
It's funny how much can change in a year.

S.D. part 3

Had to take a break from life in house and explore yesterday...WHAT a great day!
We ended up in Ladenburg
Ladenburg is what anyone would imagine a German hamlet to be...historic houses built in the 1400's, bright colored hanging baskets, cobblestone roads...lovely and quaint.

As we walked through the town Zentrum (center) I kept wishing my parents were there, exploring with us, watching the kids discover the old and the new-I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

We ate lunch in a local restaurant, back in the biergarten which reminded me of a courtyard in Verona Italy back in the days of Romeo and Juliet> A circular courtyard with trees growing through the floors and small stairwells leading to upper balconies; balconies housing interior rooms with windows opening out for the occupants to view all of the activities downsatirs-
To top it off, we had an extremely understanding (and appreciative) waitress who indulged our (mine and Team Leader) desire to speak German as we ordered and made our way through our meal! We ordered pizzas for Team Leader,the boys, and our friend Tommy, schnitzel for DoodleBug, and spaghetti arribiatta (a spicy bolonesge) for me. With salat, and grosse colas, we stuffed ourselves, as the mid-day meal is the largest meal of the day locally.

Even the kids gave speaking German a shot, with Mr. Ben ending his meal by ordering

a vanille eis mit sahne!
(Mom-that was 100% all for you!)

We went to 2 other eis stores, for soft serve and italian gelatto eis...YUM!

After walking a gabillion miles (or so it seemed) we justified all the eis eating and made our way home down the B3. The B3 took us through the back part of Heidelberg and we ended up driving over the Old Bridge back into Heidelberg's Zentrum and then home.

What a great day-WHAT a great day!
umarmen und lieben,
essie

Intermission

Really quick, some pictures of rolling clouds

A sweet disorder-part 2

**Disclaimer-this will be "post madness" as I owe some serious Germany to family and friends in the States-be prepared!**

The movers came, a week ago, Friday.

The night before at 1700 (which is 5pm: you subtract 1200 from the time to get the civilian time)we got an email from the middle school informing "the sponsor"/Team Leader that his/her child had to get their shot record updated before Monday morning OR he/she could not come to school on the first day-Monday.
Within the text of the email there was information about the Immunization Clinic, most importantly, that it would be closing HALF DAY on Friday! We had no idea which of our two "middles" were in question, b/c the email wasn't that specific. Both would have to go, one HATES needles, this could be a problem!

We decided that I would take the kids to the clinic, b/c Team Leader HAD to be here to receive the 9 shipping crates as HE is the Service Member. (I have learned over these 15 years that if someone on the other side asks to speak to the service member, that I'm going to get nothing accomplished...they want him and no one else!)
We woke the kids up at 6:30, and by 7:20 or so, carrying their shot records b/c we weren't going to show up empty armed (hah!) we were on our way to the clinic.

TL had said "It's easy...just follow my directions" I am not the certified Path Finder in this marriage-he is-and his maps aren't exactly like MapQuest. He did give me enough land marks to make the trip all the while praying "There By the Grace of G-d go I ..." I had only been driving for 3 days, and had actually only gone straight to the PX, never into local traffic!
Needless to say, we made it, in one piece by 7:45.
We walked into the clinic-PACKED-got a number, 67, and stood by a wall to wait our turn. We ended up chatting with a family who had received the same email, and were number 59. It turned out that two hundred and ninety-two families had opened up the same message, no one had contacted the clinic, b/c it was a half day and the clinic was understaffed! While we were there, they called down to somewhere asking for more immunizations twice AND had a second staffing arrive to cover the overflow of questioning parents and their comatose middleschoolers.

It was NUTS!

Pres, fell asleep standing up while we waited, we ended up putting him in a chair for safety reasons after he nodded twice. Doll, hung out, but got very tired as we got closer and closer to their turn. By 9:30 we were on our way, with updated shot records in hand. We made it back to the movers...who were local-only one of whom spoke broken English...and TL directing traffic...and Mr. Ben writing down everything that hadn't been inventoried...

It was crazy, and that, was an understatement!

That was the kitchen. Can you see the floor?!
The dining room-I think! Maybe a bedroom?
I stopped taking pictures after I got the face above...and started taking photos of everything that had been damaged. There was a lot, it was frustrating and because it was such a long day, we're still unpacking.

One box at a time.

We have a "Whoops, You Broke It" list that is now a single space, full page, long.
I promise when the flat is as we want it that I will post "finished" photos for everyone to get an understanding of our new home.

Have to get a fresh cup of coffee-part 3 is next!
umarmen und lieben!
essie