Thirty-Fifth and Sixth Weeks in Germany

I am just going to hit the highlights. Greg left for the US "on buisness" for ten days. He was working so officially he was there on business but he just happened to catch a U of M Hockey game, go to the Detroit Auto Show, hit a few of our favorite places to eat, etc. We sent a big list of things we wanted him to bring back for us. The girls were trying to figure out a way to hide in his suitcase but then they would have missed their Karneval celebration at school. Karneval in Germany starts the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and is pretty much a big party for six days until Lent starts. It is certainly crazy and the celebration at the girls school was no exception. There was an assembly and a parade of each class so everyone had an opportunity to show off their costumes. Following the assembly was the much anticipated Talent Show that Bailey was insistent on being in. She did a tap dance that was quite fun. On Friday, Greg and his parents flew in. We had been told by many that we had to hit at least one of the Karneval parades that weekend. We chose a small one close to our house in Rüngsdorf, the girls got to yell, "Kamelle" and the people in the parade throw candy out to the kids dressed in costume. Apparently, the parades in Köln are really long, crowded, and crazy.

After the parade, we had to have a Valentines Day Party that Bailey and Avery had been planning for weeks for Nana and Papa's arrival. It was complete with cookies, prayers, a lesson, a hymn, and Valentines Decor. What was so interesting was that in Bailey's lesson she told a story about John Page who told Joseph Smith he could not go on a mission because he had no coat. Joseph took the coat off his back and gave it to him. The same story was told the next day at President Hinckleys funeral.