First let me apologize for the delay in posting. Our computer was down for a couple of days, and then I had a rather busy weekend, but finally, tonight I can catch you up on the latest happenings.
This past Wednesday, the Primary Presidency in our ward threw a Fasnacht party for all the children. First, you probably need to know what Fasnacht is. In some countries it is known as Carneval, in the States it would be Mardi Gras. Pretty much the last big party before Lent starts. Yeah, why a bunch of Mormon kids are celebrating what is universally known as a drunken Catholic bash, I am not sure. When Sarah asked what Fasnacht was, I just told her it was a big party to celebrate the coming of Easter and that it was a lot like Halloween with costumes and candy. That seemed to be all the information she required, and off she went to choose her costume.
The ladies had gone to a lot of work to organize this party for the children. They played several group games to start out with, then the children rotated through several booths that were set up around the cultural hall, then we finished off with a big candy throwing extravaganza.
It is traditional in Swiss Fasnacht celebrations to have a large parade where grownups throw candy to the throngs of children watching on the sidelines. Rahel and Rosemarie (the two primary leaders) had turned two little wagons into parade floats and all the children took turns riding on them and tossing candy out to the others. Some of the other American mothers and I commented that such an activity would never take place in the States. For one, it isn't "fair", there was no regulating the amount of candy one child got over another. If the bigger kid got there faster, then he took the candy, no worrying about the toddler going empty handed. Also, it was kind of dangerous. More than one kid got whacked pretty hard in the face with flying candy. Yet, at the end of it all, the kids seemed pretty happy with their haul of goodies, and the pain seemed pretty short lived. Sarah and Nicholas both made me very proud by voluntarily sharing their candy with Noah, who only managed to pick up about 3 pieces on his own. I didn't even hint that it would be a good idea, they just walked over and handed him some of theirs. Aaww!
Sophie and Sarah also got their faces painted, albeit in designs that had absolutely nothing to do with their costumes, and loved it. I had to reassure them several times that I had gotten pictures of the artwork before they would let me wash it off for bed. It was a great party, and the kids are already looking forward to next year.
On Friday, Noah and I spent the afternoon spending money and crying in pain. I was attending a baby shower that evening, the girls were going to a birthday party Saturday morning, and on Tuesday Noah will also be attending a birthday party. So that was three gifts I needed to buy. While shopping for them, I found nice warm pajamas for all the kids on clearance and then noticed that they still had some winter jackets and snow pants leftover from the big after Christmas clearance. I decided to look for a new jacket and pants for Noah for next year, but by this time my arms were getting pretty full. I had Alexandra in her big fluffy snowsuit in one arm, four pairs of pajamas in another, plus two presents and my purse. I didn't have any hands free to rifle through all the jackets looking for the correct size. So I told Noah to sit down under the coat rack and placed the pajamas and my purse on the floor next to him. I asked him to stay right there and don't move, while I went to the other side of the rack to look some more. I turned to step over him at the same time as he decided to adjust his position a little further away from the rack. Yeah, I totally tripped over him, kicking him in the head in the process. Remember, I have Alexandra in my arms, so I can't throw out my hands to stop myself. I only had time to hold her up as high as possible in the air, before we both came crashing down on my left knee on the marble floor. My momentum kept me falling forward, so I did land on her legs with my shoulder, and her head just missed crashing into a display on the other side of the aisle. So she is crying from the fright, Noah is crying from the kick in the head, and I am fighting back tears because my knee is hurting like nothing I have felt in a long time.
There were several people shopping in that same area, but they all magically drifted away. Perhaps the sight of our huddled, sobbing forms scared them off, or maybe we were simply being too loud for their delicate ears. At any rate, there were no offers of help, but I did catch at least one disapproving glare before my sight got too blurry. Two days later my knee is still very sore and stiff, but hey, I did manage to find a great coat for Noah with coordinating snow pants for half off!
Well, at least you got the snowsuit, that's the important thing right? I love how kids know just where to move to create the biggest problem. I do that kind of thing to Ethan all the time. Last night I was dishing him up some scalding hot lasgnia at the exact moment he decided to point at his zuccini to say he doesn't like it. I was too far gone, and burnt him. Poor kid. I felt so bad. I've hit him with car doors and stepped on him too many times to count. The one time I fell on him (my knee on his stomach) with all my weight (because I was holding Elle) and he just laughed! Good thing he's tough.