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Showing posts from 2012

your-ami

Simon has a work assignment in the US for a few months and so we are all headed to Miami.  I really couldn't be happier about spending some winter months in the warm Florida sun and seeing my family.  The kids are thrilled, it's all they can talk about.  They started to call it "Your-ami" playing on my and your.  It is pretty cute.  We will update everyone when the kids and I meet Simon later this week.

reading

Auburn has been asking me to teach her to read.  So, I decided to try and just see what would happen.  She just barely turned four and I didn't want to push her, but she was excited so we started.  I am also not a fan of German Kindergarten (preschool here) and I know that she needed some extra stimulation.  Thank heavens for the internet and a knowledgeable sister-in-law.  We have been doing word family crafts, a sight word caterpillar and working on phonics.  There are so many wonderful resources out there to make learning to read fun.  She is really reading now and loves it.  She picks up books and reads the words she knows and asks us for the ones she doesn't know.  She is sounding words out and totally amazes me.  Right now she will read to anyone that will sit down with her.  reading to Uncle Seth and Conley  This is a common scene at our house, and makes me so happy.

Happy 4th Auburn!

 Our little Auburn turned four last month.  She was so excited for this birthday.  She has been on the countdown since Conley's birthday in May.  She got so excited when we moved from months, to weeks and then days.  This lucky little girl had her California grandparents here for the occasion.  We surprised her on her birthday with a trip to Wildlife Poing.  It is a park where you can feed the animals and see some other native animals from Germany.  She loved it.  It was a little bit rainy and overcast, but still great.  We came home to dinner, chicken pillows, potatoes, salad and peas all at her request.  We then opened presents and ate cake and ice cream! Auburn feeding the goats.  This girl has no fear of animals. Talking to the donkey This goat was a little demanding and jumped on all of the adults.   Conley was afraid that this goat would eat him. Conley and Grandpa looking at the bears.  Don't worry, you can't fe

Salzburg Red Bulls

 In August we had a free Saturday and headed out to Salzburg to catch a Red Bulls soccer game. Conley has kind of been on a soccer jersey kick right now, and insisted that he wear on to the game. Well, then Auburn wanted to wear one.   So Conley let her borrow his brand new jersey that is still to big for him. And then of course Daddy had to wear one as well.  Mommy didn't because her jersey is packed up in Florida. The kids loved the game and all of the yummy snacks!

Schliersee to Tegernsee

Simon had a day off of work in August for some Catholic holiday that is celebrated here in Bavaria.  We decided to take advantage of the day off and the beautiful weather to go and to a hike that we had been talking about for a few years.  You can hike from one lake to another lake in the Alps.  It is an hour train from both destinations.  So we woke up early and headed to Schliersee.   Conley at the beginning of the hike in Schliersee. taking a snack break taking another snack break Tegernsee It took us about four and a half hours to finish the hike, including lunch and snack breaks.  Auburn was amazing and walked almost the entire way.  Conley walked a large amount as well, but really enjoyed his time on Simon's shoulders. Auburn really wanted to throw some rocks in the water.  Simon was kind enough to take her the extra 10 minutes down to the water's edge so she could do just that.  Conley and I stayed at the train to save seats for all of

Aunt Carrie

Aunt Carrie came for a visit!  The kids loved having her here.  We went swimming, to the library, the park and saw a castle.  Carrie taught the kids a little bit of sign language, did a science experiment with them and read lots of books.  She is a teacher, can't you tell.  Thanks for coming Aunt Carrie and come back soon!

a weekend away

My sister Carrie came for a visit this summer.  She is a teacher and has spent her last two summers traveling around Europe and seeing us.  We were able to head to Prague for a weekend, just us sisters.  It was great.  Simon came home from a business trip that morning, it was a little tight but it worked.  Having my sister here with me was definitely the highlight a of my summer.  We took the bus from Munich to Prague.  Unfortunately, so did a bunch of people with kegs of beer.  The ride back was much nicer.  I was able to find a 9 euro bus ticket.  We stayed in hostel and I was reminded of how old I am when we started talking to the other girls in our room.  A big thanks to Simon for watching the kids and cleaning the house and a thanks to Carrie for a wonderful weekend. Our first stop was Prague Castle  St. Vitus Cathedral This is my awesome sister Carrie. St. George Bascilica Ceiling of the Prague Castle Charles Bridge This place was packed wi

my little helper

Auburn is my little helper in the kitchen.  She really likes to help me bake. She is wearing a soccer jersey because we were headed to a game later that day.

big boy

This guy is growing up so fast.  We can officially say that he is potty trained.  I started him a few months ago and we have slowly been potty training.  He was two and one month when I started, but his diapers were getting too small.  He has done awesome!  I think we are at three weeks of wearing big boy underwear all the time and no accidents.  He calls them his "big underwear".  I am super proud and excited to be done with diapers. He is also starting to protest the stroller.  I was a little concerned taking both of the kids on the subway without a stroller, but they have done great.  When we have to walk a long way or go to the store then he has to ride. This is a picture of him after a bath.  Simon combs his hair this way.   This is what they call "pelo funky".  Pelo is hair in Spanish.

croatia - part II

Plitvice Lakes National Parks We met up with Scott, Sasha, and Brandon in Zadar and drove to Plitvice the next morning.  We have had some many people tell us about this national park.  The park is so large that they have different routes that you can take that consist of walking, boats and buses.  We spent the entire day and it was incredible.  When we arrived it was much cooler than we expected, so we all did a little changing in the parking lot and then headed out.   Brandon was kind enough to find sticks to entertain Auburn and Conley throughout the trip. There are sixteen lakes and waterfalls everywhere.  The water is this beautiful green color. This is a view from the top looking down.  If you look carefully you can see the walkways that take through through the park.  It was a little nerve wracking with little kids since there is only a walkway without rails.  The kids were very good about holding hands and had lots of time on shoulders, thanks for the