This week I feel a bit all over the place.  In one part of my life time is rushing past and in the other part of my life time seems to stand still.
My four kids are all home with me and that is awesome!  The date where they will leave again to pursue their studies seems to come closer way too fast. We are having fun and don’t pay much attention to the passing of time and time just appears to move so quickly.
On the other hand there are all the changes that have happened since the schools closed on March 13th and getting back to normal which in my case is for example seeing and hugging friends, going to gym classes,  seems to go at a snail’s pace if even.
But I don’t mind really... I have the hope that the slowness of change will ensure our safety and readiness for school this Fall.  I try to focus on the positive...always...

I think time can fly...especially when you are involved in activities that make you excited and that you enjoy.
How are your days going - are you making time fly?  I hope so and that you are having fun this summer.
Need some help make time fly? -- check out the teen center discord server where we have fun activities for you. : )

((hugs)) Sylvie

It has been almost 2 months since the shut down and the first excitement has certainly begun to wear off.
With everyone at home...all the time... the question begs what to do for fun….preferably for free.  Here are some of my favorite free ideas:
 

1.  Watch live video feeds of elephants, giraffes, baboons, polar bears, penguins and so many more from the San Diego Zoo.
2. Learn a new language!  And if you are learning German, you can catch me and other teens at the LATC discord server Tuesdays at 4.00PM to speak German, ask questions, have fun. : )
3. OK...I love animals...here the Alaska Department of Fish and Game lets you watch these livestreams of real wildlife.  This link will take you to many of Alaska’s wildlife webcams.
4. The temperatures are climbing and it is oh so good to be outside.  How about planting a garden? This site has everything you need to learn about gardening, such as growing flowers or veggies.
5. How about visiting the best museums in the world without having to leave Los Alamos?  Follow Google Arts and Culture. This site lets you explore over 2,000 museums from 80 countries. 

Here are links to set your virtual foot into and take a tour of British Museum in London, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, The Guggenheim in New York City,  Musee d’Orsay in Paris, National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Pergamon Museum in Berlin, Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Uffizi Gallery in Florence, MASP in Sao Paulo.  One more...if you are into cars… The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
 

1. You can also explore famous historic and cultural heritage sites.
2. Music:  New York’s Metropolitan Opera is offering free digtal shows every night.  And Live Nation offers daily live streams from around the globe.
3. The Great Courses plus offers a free four week trial where you can take free classes and learn about e.g. The real history of secret societies, Masters of Mindfulness, Everyday Engineering, How to Draw, Algebra I, Astrophysics...just to name a few.

I hope this gave you some inspiration to explore.  And don’t forget...taking a walk or a hike is one of the best things to do for your physical and mental health.  Stay safe, stay healthy.
 
💓Love is the answer💓

I have begun to realize that the more time I spend in my house, the more I spend it in the kitchen…

Marmorkuchen was one of my favorite growing up...it is so easy to make and so so delicious.  Good by itself or with a lot of whipped cream...I personally believe that whipped cream makes everything better. ; )

***Marmorkuchen  - German Marble Cake…very yummy ***      

You will need: (and preheat oven (convection) 320F) -- Ready for High Altitude Baking  
   
200 g Butter (7/8 cup), weich (soft - microwave for 15secs), oder Margarine
200 g Zucker
1 El Zucker (Tbsp)
Prise Salz (pinch)
4 Eier, (Eggs)
300 g Mehl (Flour) (about 2 cups plus 1 tbsp to compensate for high altitude)
2 Tl Backpulver  (tea spoons baking powder)
150 ml Milch (2/3 cup mild)
25 g Kakaopulver (1/4 cup baking chocolate powder)

NEXT: Mix butter, sugar and salt for at least 5 min with mixer. Then you add each egg one by one adding each for about half a minute...Relax....take your time. : )  Mix Flour and baking powder together and add slowly to the butter/egg mixture together with 100 ml of the milk (1/2 cup).

Now you have your dough...take 1/3 and mix the cocoa powder with the remaining mild together.  Half of the chocolate dough you put into your greased pan. Then top with vanilla dough, then top with remaining choc dough.  Now use fork and move it through dough so that you create the marble effect. ....pretty!:)                                                       
 Into the oven for about 50 min.                           
 
 ENJOY!

My name is Sylvie, I am a German American who has been connected with Los Alamos since 1986.

As a teenager I lived in Los Alamos for a year as a foreign exchange student. Life in the Wild West and the American Way of Life appealed to me greatly...I felt right at home. Found the love of my life in Los Alamos and after brief stints in Kiel, Seattle, and Hamburg my journey brought me back to Los Alamos in 2001.  I have four children, two in college, one in high school, and one middle schooler.
 
I have been with the YMCA/Teen Center for about three years and it has been a great place to work with and around teens.  I love my Youth Mobilizers, a wonderful group of teen leaders. Be it meetings to figure out the next events, to hanging out and cooking together -- it is such a joy to spend time with the teens and watch them grow.
 
Please come and find us on our discord server (link to discord server) and join the YM group.  We are there, ready to connect with you.
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And always remember….Love Is The Answer