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2/17/2003 2:05:00 AM
Boulder Creek, CA
In the Santa Cruz mountains and the redwood forrest

Half Year Report July 2002 - January 2003

Once back from Vienna we had still 5 weeks of vacation and we really tried to enjoy the garden, pond and friends who were around for the summer. Robert and I did an 8 day sailing course

Hallo everybody,

oops - I guess I totally had forgotten about my English report.... So the last time you had heard from me was in October with an update from our trip to Europe. Well luckily most of you on this list know roughly what has been going on the last couple of months or even in our daily lives. So I will keep the first part short and translate my last German report (Dec/Jan) in detail later on.

Once back from Vienna we had still 5 weeks of vacation and we really tried to enjoy the garden, pond and friends who were around for the summer. Robert and I did an 8 day sailing course down in Santa Cruz and had a wonderful time, while the boys enjoyed the summer program at the pre-school Sebastian went to and Bejamin was scheduled to start by himself in September. We tried to take out a boat a few more times afterwards, luckily Robert was able to take off some days here and there and one weekend we took the boys and spent even the nights on the boat, once in the harbor and once on a mooring being rocked into sleep...

Then in September Sebastian started Kindergarten and absolutely loves going to school, he definately shows interest in writing, reading and math and I am glad he did not make the cut off date for school (you had to be six before December 1st and his birthday is January 2nd) and it totally shows, because things are so much easier and interesting for him now than they would have been a year ago. Benjamin also adjusted well at pre-school without brother there and is quite happy to see his friends three mornings a week, which gives me a bit of free time, Mondays they both go to daycare in the afternoon and I have the luxury of a full day to myself! So fall was busy with getting back into a routine including icehockey, gymnastics, etc. Robert and I enjoyed quite a few nights out to several concerts like Earth, Wind and Fire, Kenny Logins, Gipsy Kings, Chicago - what a blast, all of them!

On November 5th we received the sad news from Germany that my Grandma had died. Many of you might know that she had reached the proud age of almost 96 and had been in great condition (healthwise and mentally) almost to the last hour of her live. She had lived the last 4 years in a senior citizen home and was quite activ there being the residents representative for a couple of years. In one of my last conversations with her in summer she said to me: "Well, you know they want to elect me again this year but I think I am going to give it up to a younger one now, she is only 80!" What a woman! We are all so grateful that she had such a fullfilled and happy live always being there, not missing out on any family party or gathering and not taking anything for granted, enjoying each day. My aunt Barbie had just arrived to her yearly visit when my grandma got to the hospital complaining about stomach pain. I think she had basically waited for her since they both were very close, to say goodby and know that they had seen each other again for a few days. Even though we all hoped that she would be able to celebrate her 100th birthday we are very grateful that she was albe to fall asleep in peace and quiet with hardly any pain, something we all can only wish for!

When she turned 90 I wasn't able to go to her big party (all the rest of the family was there) since Sebastian was just born 8 weeks early and I was very sad to have missed this occasion. Even though she couldn't see me this time I felt I had to be there with everybody else in in honor of her. So with just two days in preparation I flew to Frankfurt on Thursday for a week. Robert was able to take off two days and since he was working out of town at that time, the boys went to stay with friends for the last 4 days. It all worked out very well and my three "men" enjoyed their time together as well as their sleepovers at their friends houses. I on the other hand was glad to be independent in Germany to help my family with all the preparations and get togethers, to be with my mom who just had had her 70th birthday on November 7th (2 days after her mom's death!), my sisters and nephews who came from Munich and everybody else without watching out for my own family and kids. It certainly was a very sad reason to be there but despite all that it was a get together I  would not have wanted to miss for the world. Even though my family is spread all over the world and we only have few times together we are quite close knit and once we ARE together have a special bonding going on, hard to understand if you don't belong to that clan....

A few weeks later Thanksgiving was to be celebrated - good and sad are so close together... We (one of the very few households in the US probably) had a Fondue feast at our friends Hemma and Christoph together with Paul and Cathrine (our Australian friends) and another couple. Even though I was the only one who really cares for turkey I had a wonderful meal and it was perfect for such a big group. The day after we visited our friends Paul and Ellen at his parents Ranch house in Grass Valley, halfway to Lake Tahoe. We had spent the 4th of July weekend there about 5 years ago and also were there for their wedding in 98, so not too often but it always feels very homey and Pauls parents welcomed us into their family with open arms, wonderful cooked meals and comfortable 2 days. Robert and the boys were crazy about driving on their ATV around the property and I wonder how long it will take until we have to have one of those....?!?!?

I guess I will end this report right here, otherwise it will get way too long and with the pictures too big for you guys to open. Sebastian has a friend over and Benjamin is at a friends house, so I still have enough time to translate the next one and keep you guys up to date. For now big hugs to all of you Niki and Co.

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