Black Friday!

Andrin and I joined the early birds for some shopping on this Black Friday ... No, just kidding. Andrin and Mami did some shopping, but it was surprisingly quiet, even though we were early as well. Andrin got some new snow boots and we got a birthday present for one of his friends from day care. Andrin is getting really excited about Papi's birthday and always says "Papi's birthday soon." He is especially excited about all the presents because he is convinced that he will be able to help Papi unwrap the presents.

Papi was fortunate and got to see the Oregon Ducks game against Arizona. This was his first football game and he will have to tell you what he thought about it. Andrin and Mami stayed home, made some cookie dough for the first Christmas cookies, and played.

Andrin is really getting ready for his baby sister - He carried his doll, Wichtel, around the entire time, gave him a bath, changed his diaper, ...

And then he decided that his Wuffi also was his baby. He even went so far to put Wuffi in a timeout for hitting Andrin ...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this blog entry. I simply forgot to take my camera with me. We spent Thanksgiving Dinner with our friends, Dana, Paul and Owen and part of the Oregon Tennis team. We had a wonderful conversations, great food (amazing turkey, Paul), and Andrin had a great time playing with the girls and Owen. He did so well that we did not leave well past his bedtime. He did not fall asleep in the car, but he fell asleep rather quickly once we got him settled in his crib (we put him in pajamas at Owen's house and he already wanted to lay down in Owen's crib). Thank you, Dana, Paul and Owen, for opening your house to all these foreigners (we discovered that there were only two (including Owen and Andrin, then it would have been four) American citizens at our dinner table.

Snow Day!

Today, we had our first Snow Day of the season. Not that there actually was enough snow for the children to sled or build a snowman, but the fear was more about the roads being slippery and dangerous. And I think the weather forecast was right. I was awake (like so many nights lately) and heard the sirens going almost nonstop for the time that I was awake. And then in the morning, we heard on the radio not to take the interstate because all (!) lanes for closed around town due to accidents. I was fortunate to be able to stay home with Andrin and enjoy the day. I rescheduled our appointments and was glad not to have to hit the road. The forecast is not too promising for tomorrow. We had temperatures below freezing for pretty much the entire day and is it supposed to be REALLY cold tonight (17 F, -8C). So no early start for us tomorrow (if at all ...).
But Andrin and I kept busy today and we had a good time. We went for a walk to the grocery store this morning and he did not like it. He complained about the snow being wet and then about being cold (he was all bundled up in snow pants, his gloves, a coat, a hat, ...?!). When I asked him after nap if he wanted to go outside again, he looked at me with amazement and said "NOOOOO." And when I asked him why he did not want to go outside, he said that it was cold.
Well, we still had fun inside.

Looking at the snow.

All ready to go to the grocery store to get milk.

It is snowing again ... Andrin was singing the song he just learned this morning about the snow and how the girls put mittens on and how the boys just walk faster.

A new approach to crocheting.

Working hard on his water coloring project.

Mami's clean water coloring palette had to take some alternations ...

Early Thanksgiving dinner

Yesterday, we had an early Thanksgiving dinner with our parenting group from Birth to Three. The food was amazing and plentiful. Most of the children did not get to eat a lot though, because they were too busy playing with all the new and exciting toys at Prescott's house. Unfortunately, Papi was not able to join us because he decided to stay home and not share his cold with everyone else.

Andrin loved the play kitchen like almost all of the children.

I guess there are many cooks in the kitchen ... Andrin was disappointed that there was not really water coming out of the faucet.

Another of Andrin's favorite toys ... firetrucks. This one even with lights and sounds (something that is rare in our house ...)

Giving my baby sister some love ...

I love to sit on my Mami's lab and drink my evening milk. Lately, I noticed a change and of course had to check it out ... My Mami's tummy is getting big. But I also know why: There is my little baby sister in her tummy. I really love to give her kisses and hugs and I also told my Mami and Papi that I will share my books and toys, especially my train, with her. And it is also OK with me if she gets to sit in the stroller.

Pictures ...

Just wanted to share some pictures that we took recently ... Andrin is playing like crazy at the moment. He just loves to play at the table or in the kitchen while we are cooking or just watching him. He usually will ask us to sit close to him, but then contently play with whatever he finds. This makes cooking so much easier lately ... At the moment, he prefers just to be at home and to play, play, play ... This is goes as far that he has a really hard time (with tantrums) when Mami has to drop him off at day care when she has to go to work. He is a smart boy, because he knows that Mami has to go to work. Because Papi usually is still at home when we leave the house, he mentioned the other day in daycare that he would like to go home and be with Papi ...

Brushing his teeth is sometimes a struggle and we just have to follow wherever our little monkey goes ....

Enjoying a piece of bred with jam ... mmmh ....

Andrin wants to do everything that we do as well ... He asked Papi to shave him as well, but then did not really like the feeling of the shaving cream ...

Mami was cooking some pasta and Andrin enjoyed the box ... no, no, we actually do feed this little boy some real food ...

Andrin has a fascination with hats and everything turns into a hat in his little hands.

Playing with the fire truck.

Home improvement project

Andrin decided today (with Mami's input) that his house needed some improvements. Clemens was initially rather skeptical about Mami's idea, but then had to admit that it was a great idea. Andrin was busy painting his house. After an outdoor paint job, he proceeded to paint inside. He added all his favorite people in the world and then also added Fipsi, the dog out of his favorite book (Zick, Zottel und Zwerg).

Weekend at the Oregon coast

We spent the weekend with our friends at the Oregon Coast and it was wonderful. We left town on Friday and spent two nights in a beach house in Florence. The house was already wonderful and just perfect for our big group with so many children. The children loved the house and especially Henley enjoyed the stairs. The weather was not great, Oregon coast weather, we could call it. But we still had the opportunity for a beach walk (short for Andrin and us) and then went to the Aquarium in Newport. Sunday was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed some strolling through Old Town Florence.

Story time for the children on Friday night.

Saturday morning. All the children (and adults in their pyjamas) enjoying some playtime before breakfast.

One of Henley's favorite things: helping with the dishwasher.

Everybody is getting ready for a walk along the beach. Henley is also checking out the front porch.

Andrin on the lookout for fish.

First stop: mud puddle.

On our way to the beach.

The beach was interesting. Because there was a storm coming in (this is the answer that a biologist at the aquarium gave us), the beach was covered with dead jelly fish (there was hardly a spot that was not covered and it smelled ... disgusting) and starfishes.

Andrin clearly loved the beach.

But our trip to the trip was cut short because Andrin fell in the ocean. He later stated that he was swimming in the ocean and that he would rather not do it again. We took him back to the house and gave him a bath to get all the sand and salt water out of his eyes, hair, and off his body (and clothes).

There was this beautiful little room at the top of the house with a beautiful view of the ocean.

More stories (and crackers).

At the Aquarium. Andrin loved to see all the animals.

The children were a little bit timid around the touch pool.

Henley and Andrin playing on the Walrus.

A rare family picture. Thank you, Becky!

Andrin helping Beau build a fire.

Becky is getting hugs and kisses from all sides.

Now Hazel can enjoy the mud puddles as well ... in her new rubber boots.

Our house ... We actually were at the wrong house in the beginning, walking all over the place until we discovered that we had the wrong address ... Good thing that they were not hostile neighbors ...

Playing with Henley at the toy store in Florence. Of course with the trains ...