Big Help

The kids were collecting conkers by the playground today. They were very grateful for some big people help by Pops who was throwing sticks into the tree to help.

Nanny and Pops Are Here!

Sophie has been looking forward to this day for about a week now. Today, we traveled to the airport to pick up Nanny and Pops who are visiting from California for the next two weeks.

After the forty minute bus ride all across town and a tour through our home, we all strolled over to the bakery, then had a leisurely early afternoon breakfast. 

While Pops stayed at the house testing our couch, Sophie insisted on showing Nanny how well she was riding the bicycle without training wheels. It turned into a trip to the playground.

Needless to say, everyone was in bed early at night.

A Quick Visit from a Hamburger

Berit is moving into her new studio about 2 km from our house and our dear brother Stefan came down from Hamburg to help her. He brought along his son Thore. Sophie was happy to practice being a "big sister" to him. She even read him a story at one point. Really cute. 

Here is a picture of the two of them eating some ice cream at the playground.

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.

Feeling Hot Hot Hot

It is possible even here, if only for a couple of days a year: the temperatures hit a toasty 99° F / 37° C and no clouds in sight. I am not complaining.

Here is what the kids where up to after some indoor play time during the greatest midday heat.

(Actually this shot was taken a few days ago; today the kids were naked.)

A New House for the Kids

Big changes are happening in our neighbor's back garden! Could that be a play structure?!

While the neighbor boy, Andrés, is visiting his grandmother for a few days together with his dad, his mum Gabi and her mother (abuela) visiting from Mexico have been working almost around the clock to set up this fantastic play house for him. It needed to be done by this afternoon when Andrés was coming home. It was an incredible amount of work and I admire the two ladies for having been so disciplined to follow through so diligently. 

 Apart from having had the pleasure of watching little Adrian for a couple of hours here and there, this was the only time we were all asked over to help put the roof on. 

Adrian busy supervising.

 I think Andrés was really happy to discover his new toy. 

 ... unfortunately, I'm afraid he will have to share it with the two girls as there is no fence between our gardens.

This is a very quick slide and even faster when wet. 

Who needs to go to the playground now?

Musical Chairs

Sophie has been making more friends as two more girls have joined our neighborhood. They are Sissi (6) and Jessica (3) who moved here from Shanghai with their parents - talk about culture shock. 

It was Sissi's birthday today and she invited the kids from the neighborhood to celebrate with her.

 There was cake and candy and a few games such as a potato run and musical chairs.

(I apologize for the terrible picture quality)

Sissi's dad explaining the rules...

...and off they go. 

When has musical chairs ever not ended in tears?

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.)

The First Annual Robertson 4th of July BBQ

There was no question though we left the U.S. that we would continue to celebrate the American holidays like Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. Any reason to have a party, right? 

Our friends and neighbors were happy to hear that and we managed to get quite a fun crowd together for our first 4th of July BBQ in Duesseldorf. 

The planning was half the fun. 

I am quite proud of my little cheese cake creation. Not quite 50 stars, but 13 stripes! And it must have tasted ok, as it was gone in a heartbeat.

We went all over town trying to find a flag post to properly hang the flag Andrew had purchased on Long Island. We could only find fixtures for boats, so our bedroom window had to make do. 

Ah, the master of the beer and the burger meat fairy, alias uncle Ralph and aunt Helga, have arrived. Let the party begin.

Well, we opted for German beer instead of an American brew. That's understandable, right?

I think this was 8 lbs of ground beef. Twelve hours later, there was none left.

We could not have lucked out more with the weather. Probably the only nice day with California blue skies in the first three weeks of July. The rain arrived two hours after the end of the party and was to stick with us.

Two of Berit's friends - Li and Dennis hanging out in the beach basket.

We extended an automatic invitation to next year's BBQ to everyone who was present today.

More red, white and blue than I ever used to wear in the States.

Let me guess, airplane talk by the grill?

Kids' corner was in our neighbor's garden.

Lina's little brother Philip taking a siesta. He was to have a rude awakening when he was in the line of fire of a water pistol squirt from his big sister.

Andrew wearing his Hawaiian airplane shirt (making sure the grill does not catch on fire?)

Caught the kids finishing the candy underneath our dining table.

Finally, sparklers for the kids. For next year, we will save some proper fireworks from New Year's. 

The party went on for many more hours. Our margarita was flowing faster than the beer until we ran out of all three bottles of tequila. 

We thank everyone for coming and celebrating and look forward to next year's bash. 

Acquiring Essentials on Andrew's Birthday

We had our big helpers coming to visit for a few days: Oma, Aunt Helga, and Uncle Ralph. Armed with a drill, wrench and other handy tools, they were ready for our to-do list (not the honey-do list as I know better not to let Andrew near these fiddly tasks).

 First priority: setting up our Strandkorb (courtesy of Oma) while it was still mostly dry out. With this Strandkorb (literally beach basket) we have become very German. It really does block out the wind and some rain. And there is even a little table for our gin and tonics and apple juice of course - very clever design. Did I mention the foot rests?

 Quick break for the helper, Uncle Ralph. We beat the estimated set-up time of 2 hours by 15 minutes.

 My mum already promised that she would be spending quite some time in the Strandkorb this summer.

 Next, we headed to one of the numerous DIY-stores (the Germans have more than the Italians, British and some other country I can't remember put together) and to our surprise were met with excellent customer service by a first generation Italian-German. She sold us the "Bakersfield" grill. We downsized a little from our U.S. "monster" of a BBQ, but it can still cook good old American hamburgers. Andrew is happy.

 We had our neighbors (Andrés and Lina) over for our birthday dinner.

 ... as well as Berit and her friend Li.

I have to say, I was quite proud of my birthday chocolate cake creation. In never thought that baking could be so much fun. 

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

While Daddy is hurrying home, ...

 ... the kids in the neighborhood were gearing up for the Veenpark (where we live) Easter egg hunt.

 Here are Sophie and her friend Lina, buckets in hands, ready to go.

 And off they run - very good teamwork

 Lina's bucket was getting too small and eggs started spilling over.

The two girls enjoying the cake at the subsequent brunch. What in the world happened to the warm spring weather we had last week? We had to pull our winter gear out again.

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/

In Line For the Swings!

The only drawback with the gorgeous weather to which returned in Germany this week: 

Sophie actually has to line up for the swings.

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.