One of the great things about GSE is that you stay in a Rotarian family’s home. This morning we are all waking up to celebrate Effe’s birthday. Effe (pronounce EEfee) is three years old today. She is a darling little girl who is always smiling.
Effe sits next to the birthday candles
Andreas (her Dad) and Rieke (her Mom), mostly Rieke, have set up a nice traditional German birthday for her. Effe is not allowed to leave her room until everyone else is ready. Her older siblings, Luise, Karl, and Helene walk hand-in-hand with Effe and bring her downstairs to the dining table, where her presents, birthday breakfast muffins with little candies, and decorations were set up the night before by Rieke. Candles are set up on a wooden train, which is used for birthdays. There are about seven candles. It is traditional to have the birthday candles in a wooden base. I am told that it is typical to have the birthday celebration in the morning. Mom is ready with the movie camera and Dad watches intently. The children joyfully enter the kitchen eating area together. Effe sits in the appointed place next to the candles. It is fun to watch.
Momma Rieke directs Effe to open her first present
Mom hands Effe her first present. It takes her a few minutes to open. A doll! The children have a discussion on what to name the doll. Marie is the chosen name for now. It changes later on and this decision process may take a few days. One at a time, everyone is given a present to hand to Effe. After opening all of her presents, Effe, with help from her family, blows out all the candles. Then breakfast is served. We have coffee, juice, rolls with butter and cold cuts of meat. We finish off with a birthday muffin.
Papa Andreas talks to Effe as she opens her present
Effe opens her first present while brother Karl takes picture
Rieke normally walks Luise and Karl to school. Today it is raining., As they walk outside, Mom laughingly starts running to the minivan and the children follow. They disappear. Dad looks after Lene and Effe. They are staying home today from Kindergarten. Their Kindergarten is also nearby. I saw it when Andreas and I took them their yesterday.
It has been a wonderful visit to Wilhelmshaven. The Wagner family is very close. They have all been warm to me. Writing this, I realize how much I will miss them. It is time to pack and move on to Norden, which will be our third visit along the North Sea coast.
No comments:
Post a Comment