Picking Grapes at Schloss Westerhaus

Last Saturday, we joined some families from the American Women's Club at a wine picking event.  We went to a vineyard in the Rheingau region, just 45 mins from our house, called Schloss Westerhaus.  It is the working vineyard of the family von Opel, of Opel car fame.  It was a gray, misty day but the rains held off so we could get out their and pick some grapes!  There were 30 people picking for 2 hours and we picked 3 1/2 tons of grapes!  "Our" grapes will be made into a Sekt (sparkling wine) and be ready to sell in 15 months.  After 2 hours in the fields and only one cut finger (mine), we headed inside to have lunch and lots of Schloss Westerhaus wine with a few members of the von Opel family. We (of course) ended up buying a few cases, but I did manage to get a discount because Jason works for the family (so to speak!).  Hey 10% off is 10% off ;) 

Heading into the rows of vines

Have buckets, will pick!

You have to be careful not to bruise the fruit or cut your finger!

Jason was SO happy he didn't volunteer to wear the HUGE bucket!  Those men worked like dogs!

Proud of her work

Mmm...I think these will be perfect in a year or two

Just one of the six crates we managed to pick as a group!

Oktoberfest Munich 2010

Although many people thought we were crazy for taking our kids, we wnet to Munich for the 200th Oktoberfest this weekend.  We went with another family from our new school, who have become friends quickly.  It's really a small world as this family is from Plymouth, and if they were still there, their kids would go to Allen where I used to teach!  We all wanted to experience Oktberfest and it was hard to skip it when we live only 4 hours away.  So we decided 2 weeks ago to book a room and train tickets and pack up the kids for an overnight in Oktoberfest.

In all honesty, it was not as crazy as I expected.  New Orleans in the afternoon any day of the year is rowdier.  There were tons of kids there and lots for them to do.  It was a giant carnival with games, rides, sweets, costumes, and a bunch of beer tents.  The really wild thing is that you couldn't even buy a beer unless you were in a tent, so outside the tents were really calm and meant for families.

We did lots of rides and games and looked into a few of the major tents.  Big beers and "oompah" bands were in full effect!  We managed to have a "mass" beer or 2 and a chicken in one of the tents on Sunday so that was fun.  Lainey and I even bought dirndls (dresses) to wear on Sunday, just like all the Bavarians!  I really wanted Jason to get lederhosen, but he wouldn't spend the money and Aidan wouldn have no part of them!

We had a great time with friends and the kids are not scarred in the least!  If we are here next year, we'll be back for sure!

Giant pretzels for sale!

At the dirndl and lederhosen store

Monica and me at dinner with a "mass" ( 1 liter) beer!

Jason and Bob

Impressive waiter carrying so much beer!

Guys in lederhosen

Lainey in her drindl

View from a ferris wheel of the Wiesn fairground.  Every white building is a beer tent!  Some can seat 10,000 people!

View from inside one of the tents

At the entrance



A Complete Turnaround

Last year, I felt like I was constantly busy with stuff at the kids' school or doing drop offs and pick ups.  I was on the Parents' Association Executive Board, occasionally substituted,  volunteered in both kids' classrooms, played tennis once a week, had to pick Lainey up at noon almost everyday, went to Class Coffees, and Neighborhood Coffees, had German lessons once a week, and so on.

This year is the opposite! I made a conscious decision to not get over involved in school stuff this year. I've stayed away from the PA, and have only volunteered 1 hour a week to work with Lainey's class.  The kids are riding the bus to and from school most days and Lainey is full days now.  I have a pretty blank calendar.

Neither of the two scenarios is perfect.  I need to find a middle ground.  I like having free time, and it's been great to get settled into the house and make all the IKEA trips, but my house projects are dwindling.  Two weeks ago, I started running again.  I'm doing well with that, at least!  I'm back up to 7K, and am aiming for 10 by the end of October.  I've also been travel planning, but hopefully I'll find some other things to keep me occupied.   I'm sure I've just jinxed myself and before long I'll be too busy to blog!

A few revelations...

Here are a few things I've come to realize...

I can understand German better than Scottish-accented English.

A Wal-Mart by any other name is still a Wal-Mart.  Just being in Europe and having a different name doesn't make it any better.

Free water out of the tap in my sink tastes much better than the 4 Euro bottled water they force me to drink at restaurants.

I know more people who work for the biggest of the Big 3 here in Europe than I do back in Michigan.

My children sound more English than American and are assumed to be British by most of the people at our new (more American-ish) school.

98% of TV shows on British TV are about finding a new  house or cooking.  The other 2% are really bad American sitcoms like "My Name is Earl" or cheesy 1970's-style melodramas.

When it comes to volunteering at schools, I'm certain I have a glowing neon sign on my forehead that flashes "sucker" over and over.

As much as I love school supplies, teaching, and organizing, reading Facebook posts from my other teacher friends during this week of professional development makes me happy to not be working right now.

It's 9.02.10 day (thanks to a FB friend for pointing that out!), and I miss that show. I hate reality shows and wish there were more pointless sitcoms and such on TV.  Jason is watching "Southland" on English TV right now, but I still wish that actor was Ryan on "The O.C".

Europe would be a better place with a Target and Pottery Barn.

amazon.de does not equal amazon.com

Mystery bruising apparently runs in my family.

And lastly, kids are very observant and honest.  Delainey's "personal story" on the wall at her school: "My daddy goes to work and sometimes brings me an apple from his cafeteria.  Mommy does way more work at home than Daddy.  Aidan is just happy to play "sword".  I like to do ballet.  My mommy will find me somewhere to do ballet this week."