Merry Christmas 2011!

We wish you a  Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

And a Happy New Year!

Christmas Market

We attended a Christmas sing along, spent some time at 

the Christmas Market, baked cookies, and visited with friends 

this weekend. Rana is taking in and enjoying more of the festivities 

this year and it is fun to experience it all through her eyes.  

Rain, Rain Go Away!

It started pouring shortly before we left 

for Kindergarten this morning.

While I was dreading making my way through town, 

Rana was very excited to use her Winnie the Pooh umbrella. 

She put up her umbrella and started singing, 

"Rain, rain go away! Come again another day!" 

So cute!

Rana is 3 and a Half!

We've all been battling colds and fevers lately.

Cuddling up to watch a movie

makes staying home with a fever much

more enjoyable, doesn't it, Rana?

Saint Nicholas!

Are you familiar with the story behind St. Nick?

He was a 4th century saint who had a reputation 

for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the 

shoes of those who left them out for him. 

He became the model for Santa Claus, 

but he is still celebrated on December 6 
in Germany and elsewhere. 

Rana was thrilled to find chocolate in her shoes 
this morning and enjoyed the festivities 
at the Kindergarten, too.  

Marburg by Night

After lovely celebrations for Eid and Thanksgiving, 

it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

The Christmas Market opened last night, 

the town is decorated in greens and lights, 

and Christmas treats are available everywhere you turn!  

New Stomping Grounds

The construction zone that has been our neighborhood

for the last two years is just about complete.

Rana is quite pleased with her new stomping grounds,

especially the wide sidewalks and the lovely rose fountain

on Rose Street near the Rose Park Hotel.  ;)

Lantern Festival!

This evening, we once again sang our way though the park

with the families from Rana's Kindergarten

to commemorate St. Martin's Day.

Each child crafted a lantern to carry and light the way.

Rana had a fun time with her friends Emily and Marie

(and Elsa who didn't make it into this picture!).

 Rana was quite proud of her apple lantern,

though the festivities kinda wore her out!

 Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne

Und meine Laterne mit mir!

Da oben leuchten die Sterne

Hier unten leuchten wir.

Rana is 3 Years & 5 Months Old!

Rana had a blast playing with friends at the park yesterday. The cold weather didn't phase any of the kids, who ran around, climbed and played on the swings and slide until it was too dark to play.  As much as I enjoy sunlight in the morning now that we've changed the clocks, it is too bad that dusk falls at 5pm!

Running Errands

Rana is 3 Years & 4 Months Old!

The fair came to town again this weekend.

We had a spectacular view of Marburg

from our perch on the top of the ferris wheel. 

Fall has officially arrived in Marburg -

the leaves are changing colors and the air is brisk. 

We are all keeping busy with our normal routines

 and trying to enjoy the last of the warm weather. 

German American Exchange Program

Back when we were in high school, Katrin and I participated

in a German-American Exchange Program. 

She came to stay with me and my family in Grand Rapids

 and I went to visit her and her family in Hamburg.

Fourteen years later,

I am living in Marburg with Najeeb and Rana,

and Katrin is living in Urbana, IL

with her husband, Daniel, and their two sons.  

It was great to see them last week

(minus Baby Julius, who stayed with his grandparents).

Rana and Anton (2 and a half) were fast friends.

I'm so glad we've remained friends over the years and find it hard 

to believe that it has been fourteen years since our initial exchange!

Rana is 3 Years & 3 Months Old!

Silly, silly, silly!

Rana's First Day of Kindergarten

Rana started Kindergarten today and loves it! She painted and played with babies in strollers, legos, and musical intruments before going outside in the morning. Then she had lunch with her group, listened to a book at storytime, colored, and headed back outside for the afternoon.

There are kids of all ages in her group (3 to 5+) and there were two other new little girls there for the first time today. Rana's teachers, Cordula (who is in the background of the picture above) and Heike, are very nice. An intern named Jonas will be working in their group for the year, too.

Rana seems to be transitioning pretty well. She was a little hesitant in the morning and came back to check in with me from time to time, but she grew more and more confident as the day went on. I stayed in the building today, sneaking away for about an hour and half at one point, and I plan to leave her on her own for a while tomorrow. Rana was sad to leave the Kindergarten today, so I am hoping it doesn't take her more than a few days to transition completely.

Summer Trip - Research in Lancaster, PA

We wrapped up our summer vacation with a stop in "Amish Country"
in Lancaster, PA, where I spent two days researching in the
German-American Imprint Collection in the
Franklin and Marshall College Library Archives.

Franklin College was founded in 1787 by Benjamin Franklin
as the first college with bilingual (German and English)
instruction in the United States...

...and later merged with Marshall College, named after
Supreme Court Justice John Marshall.

A liberal arts school with around 2,100 students today,
Franklin and Marshall houses a extensive collection of
German-American literature, including the documents
I am researching within the framework of my MA thesis.

Incidentially, I was standing between two rows of books in
the library when the earthquake hit. I decided to move to a
doorway when the rows started rocking back and forth.
Thankfully, the quake did not cause any damage,
so the whole thing was rather strange and exciting!

Thank you, Kata, for spending a few extra days with Rana and me
and allowing me to do my research. I really appreciate it -
and Rana very much enjoyed exploring Amish Country with you!!

Summer Trip - Washington, DC

We spent a few days with Kata and Justin in DC

towards the end of our trip. We loved their new house

and spent some time downtown taking in the sites:

the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, the Carousel on the Mall,

the National Zoo and the Air and Space Museum.

Rana savored the extra time with just Aunt Kata

and Uncle Justin once everyone else had left,

and an evening with our good friend, Ruth, too!

Summer Trip - North Carolina

Our family reunion on the Outer Banks in North Carolina

(which ended, thankfully, a few days before Hurricane Irene arrived).

Thank you, Grandmar, for making this reunion possible!

We all enjoyed our stay in this beach house,

and had many hours of fun in the sun at this beach

along the coast of the Atlantic.

The next generation:

Rana, Micah, Elena (all 3 yrs.), Elli (16 months),

and Gabriel (3 months), of course!

Colin and Lerae left before our group photo,

but they spent the week with us at the beach house

before moving to the Boston/Cambridge area.

We wish Lerae all the best as she starts law school

and hope that Colin finds a job that suits him soon!

Nana with her girls

A jaunt to (and in!) the bay

Beach bum!

Cool Dude!

Elena is a great swimmer already!

Micah figured out how get around using his snazzy lifevest.

Rana loved floating around, in the pool and in the ocean!

Elli loved playing in the sand.

Even Gabriel took a swim or two!!

Vacation is definitely less relaxing with so many little ones around,
but it was lots of fun! We're glad that we finally got to meet
Micah, Elli and Gabriel and spend time with the rest of the family.