I spent two hours this morning going from room to room at the kid’s school for their parent/teacher conferences. Sidney, Max and Emmy are doing great. It was so surprising to hear that Max was the class leader, and just an all around "good boy." Sidney is funny and makes his teacher laugh. She is worried about his voice, that it may hurt him to speak, but other than that she thinks he is very smart, and gets along really well with others. Emmy is a "super star" according to her teacher. She loves to talk, and use big words. Her German is as good as her English. She is popular and so "self confident".
And then there is Lucy. Lucy lucy lucy.....Her teacher told me she is always the last into class in the morning, the last to get dressed in the afternoon. She acts quiet and shy, and only plays when invited. She acts nervous and is scared to make a mistake. If you haven't been over here, and you don't know my house, Lucy is the loudest, biggest, bordering obnoxious, one of the four! I am totally shocked that she acts like she is quiet and insecure. She gets the most playdate invites out of the four, and has kids calling to just talk on the phone to her! Not to mention that she runs this house like she owns it. Scott, our aupair once had a dream that Lucy was controlling him in every sense of the word. From how he moved to what he said. I have always known that Lucy finds different ways to fit into a group. And I really think that she uses her new found shyness in her favor. If you also don't know, Lucy was the last to walk; however, I would catch her secretly walking. When she saw me she would fall to all fours and cry out her favorite word. uppy....
So I am not sure what to do. Jane, her teacher told me that there is nothing to worry about, and that she is doing fine, and I told Jane, to not let her get away with her behavior. I told Jane to challenge her fears a bit. Make her understand that it is OK to make a mistake.
I have decided to sign Lucy up for Ballet. Two of her friends are doing it, and maybe something else without her "over confident" sister will do her some good! She is at a birthday party right now, and I will have some alone time on the train ride home to see what exactly is going on. She says school is great, and she loves her friends. Maybe being without her siblings is hardest on her! But that really surprises me, as my friend mentioned the other day, that Lucy is the one who really suffers in being a quadruplet. She thinks she is always trying to break free of that label. I think that too, and am confused at her approach in doing so!!
Any suggestions??

The birthday party was a huge success! We took the kids, and four of their friends, (20 kids in total) to an indoor playground. The kids all got along, there were no injuries, and no one fought! I actually had a good time too!

The girls have been fighting so much lately, I am at a loss of what to do with them! They act like little monsters. Slamming doors, throwing dolls, screaming....I swear our neighbors must think we are nuts. I try and talk to them,to understand what it is that is making them so mad with eachother. But their logic doesn't make sense. "Emmy says her bed is more comfy!" "Lucy said my hair looks long!" I mean come on!!!! If they are going to fight can't it at least be about SOMETHING!!!!

The boys on the other hand, are so close it is sometimes scary. They call each other brothy, and when one comes back from the bathroom, or the kitchen, or just another area of the house, they scream BROTHY! And hug.....A bit strange, but cute...

I am off to go get my back checked. It's been hurting for weeks. I think I may have pulled something!

Well, It's January 15th. Tomorrow the kids turn 6! I can't believe it! Today they are celebrating at school. I had to bake cupcakes for each class. 5 hours later and too much frosting all over the kitchen, 96 cupcakes were baked! I dreamt last night that I was stuffing my face with them! I had blue and pink frosting all over the place, and I was so upset with myself!

Anyway,

Max broke his toe. (The first break in the Hartmann clan) He is doing fine though and walking around. He uses it as a great excuse. "I can't eat meat because I broke my toe!" Or "I don't think I can color this picture in because my toe is broken!" He is however still chasing his brother around the house!

They have been making really good friends, and they all seem to be very happy in school.

I am working so hard in school, and I am totally enjoying it!

Georg is working on a few shows and he is happy, although he started smoking again!! After 8 years of not smoking! Why? I have to say, although I hate the fact that he is smoking, he seems to be much calmer and happier, so I just think as long as he is happy, so are we!!!

It's cold and has been snowing and icy since before Christmas. The other day I fell on the street. Not only did I crack three out of six eggs I had just purchased, but I was helped up by an old lady in a mink coat! Embarrassing!

I will post some photos of the birthday party we are having on Monday. Each kid was allowed to invite 4 friends. There is no school on Monday, and so all those friends are coming! We are hosting a party at an indoor playground for 20 kids!! I will let you know how that turns out!!

We have officially moved! And like I say every time, we will never move again! But those of you who know us, will know I am lying. We have lived in Berlin for four years and this is our third place! Although we have no kitchen yet,we are happy. Kids and Georg and I get an extra hour of sleep in the mornings, and we walk or bike to school, depending on the weather! I love being right in a mini-city again. Starbucks, bookstore and Woolworth's across the street. I mean what more can I ask for ;)
classes for me are going well. A lot of work... to move, have school, have "duties" for kids school and have four almost 6 year olds fighting with each other every afternoon. I have come to realize that I am not a referee and if they are going to fight, they will have to find a way to make up.

Lucy hit her nose on the wall the other night. I heard her crying, but I thought she was just over-reacting. That is until she came out with blood pouring out of her nose! All over her hands, her PJ's, everywhere. I cleaned her up, and then went to check on her bedding. Not only did she have bloody hand prints all over her sheets and pillow, but our new white wall was smeared with blood!!! We haven't been here a week!! I can't keep up!
I think today I will take a break from my school work and do some shopping. Hanukkah starts on the 11th, and the kids need to start knowing about it. So I am off to find some Hanukkah candles in Berlin! Wish me luck!

I know I don't write like I used to. Things are so crazy here at the Hartmann house that every time I sit down to update, I am distracted by something. So we are moving! December 1st! We found the hugest apartment in the world! Well maybe not, but it's big! We are sad about our house, but excited to be closer to the kids school. Kids love school. They had a celebration of the fall of the wall yesterday. All the kindergardeners had boxes that they decorated. Then they stacked them up and made a big wall. Half the kids were on one side and the other half were on the other. Sid was the only one from the four without the other 3. They had to think about what life was like on the other side. When I asked Sid if he was sad that his brother and sisters were on one side and he was alone, he said, "No, I thought it was great!" So I guess he still secretly wishes he was an only child. Then they knocked down the box wall and had a party.

Each kid is invited to someone's house for thanksgiving lunch. They leave from school on a bus and have a big lunch at some poor suckers who volunteered to have thanksgiving at their house for their child's' entire class of 5 year olds!! I am in charge of making mashed potatoes for both Emmy and Lucy's class. There are 20 kids in each class!! How many potatoes should I use???

From soccer to t-ball, to Judo to belly dancing to swimming.....I am officially turning into a real mom!!! schlepping the kids back and forth like the good driver mom should! I am in my car more then ever! I can't tell you how much easier it will be when we move. Oh but first I have to pack!

It get's so dark so early here right now! 4:30pm.. dark. I guess I prefer summer when it stays light until 11pm.

HMMMM.....Been so busy!! If I am not driving my kids around, I am working on school myself. We are definitely renting out our house and I have mixed emotions about it! on one hand, I will be so happy to be closer to school. The area in which school is in, is nice and fun. But I am so sad, because I love my home!

Leaving next week for NYC and haven't even thought about it! Just now I am getting excited to see everyone. The kids are beyond excited. They keep saying how psyched they are for all the presents from family members they will get!(hint:family members;))

Big Lice problem at my kids school. On Friday they took 40 first graders and sent them home with lice! I have been obsessively checking my kids hair. Last night for example, Georg stopped the car to run into the store, and I noticed a big street light was shining in our car. Perfect lighting. I made the girls get in front so I could search their hair! The people walking by our car were giving me strange looks. I felt like a monkey! I spray them every morning with some "natural" anti lice spray. They all smell bad, but hopefully they will scare off the lice!

Kids are only five, and already their social calendars are full. On Monday Lucy went to a birthday party. On Tuesday, Emmy and Lucy went to their friend Isabella's house for a play date. Today we have belly dancing and judo, and on Sat. Girls are flower girls for our neighbors' wedding! So we have a wedding this Sat. And then a wedding next Sunday in NYC.....I have NEVER been this busy. I am really tired, but enjoying my busy life right now!

OK I know it's been a while. But we have been busy adjusting to being in school. Not just the kids, but me too. With so much writing for school, I haven't found a good time to catch you all up on us! The kids are loving school. They come home with a new song everyday. Sid's is my favorite. He sings it in his high -pitched, a bit easier to understand, voice. "the more we get together, together, together, the more we get together, the happier we'll be!"
I would say that's true, except by the time the end of the weekend comes around, and I have been with the kids 24/7, I am speeding to drop them off at the bus stop!

Speaking of bus stop, the drive is WAY too long for them. I had thought it would take them 40 minutes one way with the bus, but instead,because there are so many kids, the bus takes them at least an hour and a half....one way! Not including the 20 minutes it takes me to drive them to the bus stop! They are the first to get on, and the last to get off. TOO FAR! We love our place, but we think we need to move closer to the school! JFK is the best school for free here in Berlin, and the kids are LOVING IT. and the area of Berlin where it is is cool, but I will be sad to leave the water front. :( We will be renting our place out, so if any of you Berliners knows anyone that needs a beautiful townhouse in Spandau, on the water! Just email me. abbyhartmann@me.com

Getting so psyched for our trip to NYC Oct. 15Th!

OH MY GOD!!!! Kids are off to school! Yikes....now what?? We drove them this morning to a bus stop in the middle of the city. The little white school bus pulled up and a german with a cowboy hat bus driver greeted us. They were loaded on to the bus and disapeared in the distance. My babies! My crazies! I can not believe they are at school. I hope they are at school, and that I put them on the right bus this morning!! I have to wait all day to see if they make it back off the bus.

These past weeks have been so stressful. They have been home driving me and themselves crazy, I started my online classes. So I have been juggiling them being home, with time for my school work. I love being in school. God it took me long enough to like school...better late than never, I guess.

My neighbors are getting married at the beginning of October and I have been invited to go to her bacherlorette party. I don't know any of her friends and what I gather from the german email, is that we have to wear stupid tee shirts and parade Nadine, the bride to be down a busy street! And then eat and then go dancing! I need an excuse. I have got to get out of it! ASAP! Too old to parade down a street wearing a shirt that says Ich Bins nicht....(I am not). What does that mean anyway??

Oh, and my hair is falling out....What's up with that?