Dr. Acula and the Ladybug

This Halloween Ian dressed up as Dr. Acula.*

That’s right.  For Halloween this year he wanted to be a foul, blood-sucking, undead, terror-inspiring VAMPIRE.  I tried to dissuade him.  I really did.  I thought it would be fun to go Western this year (don’t you think Naomi would make a darling cowgirl???) but Ian would not budge.  (I don’t really have any objections to dressing up as a vampire – I just thought that the costume wouldn’t be very fun to sew.)  Ergo, this year I got to sew a vampire cloak.  I think he looks pretty creepy.  His makeup was better for the church party because Ben did it that night, but Ben is off partying in Phoenix and Orlando so my second rate blood dribbles had to do.  How does one make fake blood dribble realistically at the corners of the mouth?  I could NOT get it to look right.

Naomi wanted to be a ladybug this year.  Very appropriate, I must say.    Naomi has an uncanny ability to locate and capture ladybugs in the least likely places.  She also, unfortunately, tends to shower just a little bit too much love on them.  This has a detrimental effect on their longevity.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said, “no Naomi, that ladybug is not sleeping…”  Anyway, I was kind of disappointed at her costume choice this year too (I really wanted to try my hand at a fringed vest) but in the end it was a good thing because ladybug costumes are pretty darn easy to make.  Besides, even if ladybugs and vampires have nothing in common, at least they are somewhat color coordinated.

   

I had a really hard time getting Naomi to smile somewhat normally.  I think we must be entering THAT phase.

 

She actually has antennae.  For a long time she called them “Hannah Montanas.”  I don’t know where she came up with that name – she’s never even seen the show.  They’re a little more visible in this picture:

 

So there you have it.  Happy Halloween from Heidelberg!

*Apparently Ian was telling everyone he could at the church party that he was Dr. Acula at the church party and enjoying the puzzled looks on peoples’ faces when they didn’t get the joke. 

A Beautiful Ballerina

This year’s preparation for the annual dance recital was a little rough.  For one thing, Miss Ariana (Naomi’s teacher) tore her ACL and had to have it repaired, so the semester started later than usual.  Then there was sickness.  Then there was a trip to Spain.  Finally there was that Volcano in Iceland….

Why would a volcano in Iceland affect a kindergarten dance recital?  Well, when everything you purchase is shipped by plane, and all of the flights to Europe are cancelled for a week, things get a little backed up.  We were waiting for mail for weeks.  Unfortunately so was CYS (Child Youth Services).  The costumes for the dance recital never came. 

Here are the girls practicing before the recital…

                               
As you can see, there was a serious lack of uniformity.  The girls were very sad not to have their costumes.  The moms were devastated.  At least I was.  What’s the use of living vicariously through your daughter if there is no gold embroidered satin leotard and no tutu? 

                                                          

Fortunately, through some whim of fate, the costumes for the Kaiserslautern and Ramstein programs arrived in time for their recital (which was before ours) and they graciously let us borrow them.  Between the borrowed costumes, leftovers from previous years and some creative draping of fabric, the dance recital was saved.

Doesn’t she look beautiful and so grown up?

                              

Love the posture here.  She must take after her mother.

                              

Here’s the whole group lined up right before their performance…

                               

The performance was a smashing success.  Really, is there anything more adorable (Yes, I just used the word adorable here and I’m completely justified!) than a group of 5 year old girls dressed like princesses, dancing with looks of intense focus on their faces and smiling like they’ve just won an Olympic gold medal when it’s all over?  I sure don’t think so.  

Thank you Miss Ariana!  We love you!

                                                       

World Travelers

So.  Much has happened.  I guess you could also say that so much has happened.  Read into it what you will.  In any case, I’m irreparably behind.  Today the topic of my blog is two world travelers I know.  They are 5 and 8 years old.  Here they are in various locations across Europe…

In Italica (near Seville) with a feline friend…

                              

A gladiator in Italica’s impressive Colosseum…

                             

A gladiatress (?)

                              

In cat heaven in Nerja, Spain…

                             

On the beach in Nerja…

                                                        

Playing at another beach near Nerja…

                            

Visiting a Spanish hilltop town near Nerja…

                             

At the Alhambra…

                                                   

Rescuing donkeys in Nerja…

                             

In front of Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France…

                                                     

On the D-Day beaches in Normandy…

                                                   

At a German bunker in Normandie…

                            

At the American Cemetery in St. James, France…

                           

And that’s it for tonight.  I’ve really wanted to blog more.  I’m trying to figure out a new approach.  Hopefully I’ll be back soon!