The Piñata

Yes, a piñata in Germany! Not only did Andrés' and Adrian's Abuela help to build the playhouse in the back garden, she also transported a piñata in her suitcase. Our neighbor Gabi choose one early evening for the kids to have a go at that Elmo face. The closest birthday was little Adrian's, so that was more or less used as an excuse.

 Gabi giving instructions. For some reason, Lina and Sophie thought that they needed to get changed into their princess and fairy outfits.

 Andrés went ahead and showed the girls how to do it.

Then Sophie had a rather feeble go.

 And here is Lina with the piñata still intact.

 The final blow with the goodies spilling out.

 Followed by a mad hunt for the candy and various little toys.

Lina and Sophie found some Elton John-type sunglasses in the fallout.

Thank you, Abuela, please come again. We all enjoyed your visit.

An Important Stop

Before we would join the crowds in the Mall again for more Jubilee celebrations, it was time for a most important shopping trip to 

Hamley's

...of course.

 She spotted this on the second floor, but Daddy would have had to fly quite a bit of overtime for this "yet another Barbie."

Instead he bought her this dress along with the tiara and ring for being such a patient girl on this trip.

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/

What Do Princesses Do All Day?

Ever wondered what princesses do all afternoon?

 Well, first they create a play-doh dinner. (Our neighbor, Lina, two doors down and Sophie)

Then they come over to our house, pull out their fancy dresses and get the watercolors flowing.

A Lovely Visit by a Special Princess

We had my sister Anke and her two boys Luca (11) and Kiron (almost 3) come for a quick visit today. We hope it was the first of many more.

While Anke and I were having our coffee, Princess Sophie and Princess Kiron came down to surprise us.

Using Her Imagination

While Sophie's toys are still making their way to us on the container, she has been making good use of random items Oma's house has to offer.

 This is Frapunzel's tower. She actually balanced her Rapunzel doll on top of it for a while, but I was too slow with the camera.

Prêt-à-Porter: she took a napkin added some Sellotape for the neckline and punctured some holes for the arms. Recession fashion.

The Very Local Castle

If you are starting to detect a pattern in our posts (castle, Irrland, ice cream) and are becoming bored, I apologize, but we are just trying to please our little princess. It's a Sophie World after all, right?

After an extensive German breakfast with loads of cold cuts, cheese, eggs and fresh bread rolls (Andrew and I tend to fight over the pumpkin seed rolls), we needed to get moving a little. So we packed a small picnic and rode our bikes to Schloss Haag just outside the Geldern city limits engulfed by a fancy golf course. Half of the castle is still inhabited by a private party and the remainder houses a restaurant and a golf equipment shop, but there is enough magic left to let a little girl's imagination run wild. 

 Princess Sophie and her prince, as well as her new big Frapunzel.

 Spot the heron.

 This week was probably the peak of the fall colors.

In the evening, we were all rewarded with a professional back massage by Berit. Even Andrew enjoyed his first proper massage (I shall spare you the picture), except that he was a bit sore the next day. Sophie loved it and Mama loved the fact that it took Sophie less than a minute to fall asleep that night.

Daddy's Home

(Sorry, I meant to post this a while ago)

Finally, after three weeks away at work, Daddy finally came "home" (i.e. to Oma's house). Andrew had been gone longer than usual as he was instructing in the simulator in lovely Detroit this month. He had a few days off during this stretch, but it was too short to travel all the way to Germany and back. Sophie and I picked him up at the train station in the late afternoon. 

 Daddy had a bag full of clothes and presents for us (a lot of things are just cheaper in the U.S.). But best of all, he brought with him a big "Frapunzel" and a "Frapunzel" dress for Sophie. He had been teasing Sophie with the doll over skype for a few days now. Somebody was very happy to have Daddy home.

I was happy, too, as I had some help with getting Sophie ready for bed and bedtime stories tonight. 

Princess Tea Party

With Oma being gone on vacation, us girls planned a Princess tea party for tonight and invited a few more (big) girls over. Special treat for Sophie: she got to stay up late to watch the big Disney Quiz show on TV.

 So we started baking muffins from a never-before-used muffin recipe book I found at my mum's. I have to say it was the first time I truly enjoyed baking with Sophie (and she helped a lot - easy-peasy recipes). Not too tired, not a million other chores on my mind, not rushed - I love not having to work. I can't say it enough. And I really appreciate the fact I get to have this time now. 

 OK, enough being cheesy. Here is the result of our baking frenzy: Applesauce & oatmeal, peanut butter & chocolate chip, and Bavarian beer & cheese muffins.

 And if that wasn't enough, we needed piggies in a blanket. Or as Sophie translated to me: "Schweine in der Decke" made with love by Sophie.

 Halfway through that it was time for a little lie down on the couch before we needed to get ready for the party.

 Sophie dressed as Sleeping Beauty, combing Berit's, alias Pocahontas, hair.

 Having a glass of children's bubblies on the teddy bear throne.

TV dinner is served.

Sophie enthralled in the quiz show. Her first (of many I fear).