I Want to Ride my Bicycle

Sophie's old $20 bike with the training wheels had been on its last legs, when suddenly the inner tube disintegrated. Time for a new and proper bike - without training wheels. 

She picked a pink Princess Lillifee bicycle that matches her helmet.

 And she is doing pretty well. This square in our development is perfect for learning. She just needs some more practice with the starting and stopping, but that's what Daddies are for.

Here she is with Andrés.

(By the way, that house in the background is the one that Ciaran and Sophie helped build.)

Wildpark Grafenberg

Sunshine again, so we packed a picnic and headed to a nearby park with wild animals local to the area. As I took us down the wrong track initially (thus not helping Elly's bad back - sorry), we decided to stop for a snack halfway up the hill (yes, there are indeed hills here) by a very well designed playground.

 Sophie and Ciaran let their imaginations go wild, sailing on pirate ships and sitting in a bird house, while Elly and I soaked up the sun.

 I was waiting for them to discover this reindeer in the woods bordering the playground for some good pictures.

 Is it any surprise she is looking so battered?

 Moving on to the animal park. The kids collected their own walking sticks, copying the numerous Nordic walkers, such as the one ahead of them on the picture.

There were little mice all along the sides of the trail much to our entertainment.

 The long march was well worth it: the young boar were so cute. Munching away on our apples we brought. (You were allowed to feed them with certain foods.)

 There was a steep downhill trail past the boar enclosure, where Sophie's knees kissed the asphalt. She is on the best way to have her knees look like her mother's. Fortunately, a very nice elderly lady had some bandaids for us. By the time we reached the deer enclosure, she was much better.

 The deer walked right up to us.

 Especially if we offered them food (again only certain foods which they normally eat).

After a long walk back to the bus and fueling up on a scoop of ice cream, it was time for a bath!

Sophie has been through the wars. That little bruise under her eye also happened on the playground yesterday. Mummy needs to keep her skills up after all. ;-) 

Again, Elly's link:

http://babyblogging.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/woodland-fun/

Sophie and Ciaran the Builders

On our way to the next excursion today, we passed the construction in our development. Ciaran and Sophie were mesmerized by the crane. One friendly worker (who has little kids of his own) let Sophie and Ciaran have a go at moving the crane to pour concrete. He was very patient with them.

This is the bucket they moved attached to a crane the size of the one in the background. Quite a unique opportunity, I say.

Elly's link:

http://babyblogging.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/ciaran-and-sophie-build-a-house/

To Schloss Benrath With Two Very Special Visitors

Yesterday evening, we picked up to very special visitors from the airport: Sophie's friend Ciaran and his mother Elly arrived for a three day visit. They are thus our first guests from the U.S.. Since they had flown from the U.S. to England a few days before, their jet lag should not be quite so bad. 

Fortunately, the weather is still helping to show Düsseldorf from its best side, and Sophie and I were excited to show our new home to our friends. After a good night's rest, despite Ciaran refusing to share a room with Sophie, we jumped on the bus to go to Schloss Benrath. 

 Ciaran liked riding on public transport very much.

 Who needs a playground when you can run around on the lawn?

 Both displaying their new favorite t-shirts (thank you, Auntie Sandra!)

 But a playground can't hurt. Or can it? Although this seesaw was the cause for a number of bruises on the kids' shins, it was still a major attraction.

 Monkey swings

 Little princess and her pink palace.

 Guards

 All different kinds of chocolate ice cream! Heaven.

As it was our next door neighbor's birthday, we all had a good enough reason to open the 2012 BBQ season with a potluck and keg of cold beer. The kids have been playing all across our three lawns in the nice weather - sharing and fighting over toys. Perfect. Loving it.

Here is also Elly's blog link to the Benrath excursion:

http://babyblogging.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/schloss-benrath/

Children's Discovery Museum with Ciaran

Now that Daddy is back to work, our friend Elly treated us to a very special place - the children's museum in San Jose. We used to have a membership, when we still lived here, and Sophie quickly remembered her favorite spots.

 ... such as the fire engine

 The hat must go on like that

 Lunchtime after the water play.

 Face painting - a ladybug today

 Serving veggie pizza. 

(On another note: this room reminds me more than any other place of some very sleepy mornings trying desperately to stay awake after a busy nightshift)

In the story time tree.

Here is a link to Elly's blog on this trip for more pictures: http://babyblogging.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/the-cdm-with-sophie/

Weekend at Tahoe - Snow, Skiing and more Sunshine

If the snow is not coming to us in Düsseldorf, we have no choice but to go find it ourselves. The weather has been so warm and sunny and there has not been much snowfall in the Sierras, but we took a gamble as at least this weekend the roads were clear. We drove up to Truckee where our friends Elly, Jules, and Ciaran have a townhouse. We had joined them a few times last year before we left California and tremendously enjoy our visits there.

 We stopped in Auburn, where Andrew finally got to satisfy his craving for an In-n-Out Burger. Sophie was more interested in the stickers, ...

 ... but thought that Daddy looked pretty funny devouring his meal.

 We arrived at the house early enough to enjoys the last rays of sunshine for a bit of a snowball fight and a new game called snowball baseball.

 The next morning, we got up early to hit the slopes at Tahoe Donner. Sophie's first run on skis was a bit wobbly, but she quickly remembered to stick her bum out and lean forward.

 Done skiing for now. Ready for a well-deserved lunch in the sunshine.

 Soaking it all in.

 My first snowman of the season. 

 Pizza Dinner and a good time with friends. Andrew is cracking up about his "Donner Party of Four"-joke.

(Jules pulling both Sophie and Ciaran)

 On Saturday, we enrolled Sophie and Ciaran in skiing lessons at Boreal, especially since Sophie so enthusiastically wanted one. And it paid off! Both are now skiing without reigns and learning French Fries and Pizza Slice. In the meantime, the big people had a chance to take the big lift a few times and ski down the bigger hills.

 One proud Sophie. After lunch, we all skied a few more runs. There are no pictures of this because we were too busy chasing after the kids.

 One last sleepover at the holiday house.

It started snowing on Sunday morning, but we caught a window and rolled back down the mountain to Nanny's house. A wonderful weekend was had by all.

Play Date with Fiona

For the afternoon, we were invited to our good friends', the Skagens, house. Sophie had been looking forward to playing with her old friend Fiona and her little sister Maja.

 Maja, Andrew, Sophie, and Ciaran were playing with a rocket toy. Ciaran managed to shoot the rockets to the neighbor's and onto the roof - very impressive.

 Snack time for the girls. Ciaran decided to skip snack and enjoyed having the play structure to himself.

 Fiona had just had a pirate-themed birthday party and Ciaran and Sophie were given left over pirate accessories. 

No, no one is crying. They arrrgh just being angry pirates.

Beach Date with Ciaran

Today, we enjoyed Ciaran's company while Elly was busy with errands. Since it was another beautiful and sunny day, albeit a tiny bit cooler, we headed back to the beach in Capitola. Our original plan was to  meet Nanny for lunch, but unfortunately, she was not able to escape today. So we bought Togo's sandwiches for a picnic on the beach. Ciaran was a little upset at first that he was not going to eat his sandwich right then and there, but he quickly got over it when he set foot on the warm sand.

 Once at the beach, both only had a few bites. There were more important things to do.

 Did I mention that I love this blue sky?

 ... and the smell of the ocean?

 While Andrew and the kids were checking the water temperature, the girl on the picture was about to have her finger bitten and burrito stolen by a seagull. 

 Then Sophie and I baked cupcakes,...

 ... while Ciaran and Andrew played with a giant frisbee.

 Recharging with a bottle of apple juice (or coffee respectively) at a very cute café in the village. 

 Sophie and Ciaran found some kids' books at the café.

A tired boy on the drive home. And the day was not over yet.