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).

Holy Kale!

To all my fellow kale lovers: with the first night frost, kale season finally started in Germany. And here is what I got for €1.50 at the market today.

A Cat's Life

Who said there was no sunshine in Germany?

 Do these cats look content or what?

Irrland Encore

The weather is still nice (albeit cold), Irrland is still open for another two weeks and as there is not much else to do on a Sunday in Germany (all the stores are closed), we headed out for more fun this afternoon. We headed to some of our favorite spots but also tried some new places. My legs had more than a good workout.

 Sophie Vettel taking a spin on a go-cart. 

 Princess Sophie found the tunnel underneath the castle tower. She walked through it more than once even though I tried to tease her a little mentioning spiders and bats. At least she was able to walk upright as opposed to her ladies-in-waiting.

 Back to the horses! I will be nice and not post the funniest horse picture today of Berit trying to mount one of the taller horses.

 Sophie on the horse with the freaky-looking eye.

 Horse-surfing

 The slide tower with a built-in airplane!

 View from the top...

 ... yeehaw!

 Ice cream break.

 The two blondes. This time Berit was dressed to climb and jump and was able to join us on the bouncing clouds.

 About to jump on Mama.

No one left to play with me? She literally walked from one kid to the next and asked them if they wanted to play with her. A good time to head home and call it a day.

Feeding Time at the Zoo

Sophie got to feed Berit's mice today. The cats were so jealous!

 Then off to doing some weird stuff. Listening to Pomp & Circumstance - princess music, hence the princess dress, she started doing some yoga-ish poses.

I think it was her trying to tell us that she wanted to head out to "Irrland."

New Playground at Kindergarten

On Friday, Berit and I joined Sophie at a ceremony for the reopening of the playground at her preschool. The playground had been completely redone. Now the kids get to play outside again just in time for the rainy season. So after the kids prayed for no accidents to happen on the new playground (it's a preschool sponsored by the Catholic church after all) and the priest blessed the slide, swing, climbing structure etc. it was time to get out and try the new structures and toys. The weather again was really sunny. Heaven-sent. 

 On the lazy swing.

 Throwing sand at each other and fighting over toys.

 Choosing a man to pull little Miss Princess.

In the afternoon we went to yet another furniture store where we found and ended up buying our dining room table and chairs. Thanks to camera phones, Andrew had a say in it half a world away, too. Sophie had been to this store before and made a beeline for this kids' bunk bedroom. She felt right at home, taking her shoes and jacket off. I keep telling her that she will not get a bunk bed until she is five. 

Irrland!

This post is of special interest for all our friends with kids who are thinking of coming to visit us. We will take you to Irrland! We came here for the first time during our visit in Germany in September 2010. As it was another gorgeous weekend, we headed out for some fresh air and fun for kids of all ages.

 First stop was the cart rental (we learned on our last trip that regular strollers will get stuck in the sand).

 Then a couple of laps on the bike.

 These wobble lakes (Schwabbelmeer) are all over the place. Filled with water, they make for some good exercise.

 Loads of animals roaming around.

 ...including this tall horse just waiting to give Sophie a ride.

 Berit almost breaking the horse's back.

 The fastest slides I've been on. Sorry about the cabbage head in front, but it's the only picture I have of the really steep slide in the background which I went on (without Sophie of course). This one shows Sophie/Meike racing Berit. Oh, and built into the structure is an old airplane, which are also to be found all over the park.

 Again, again, again!

 Climbing the volcano.

 The summit team.

 Another bouncing mountain. Insurmountable with socks.

 Are we having fun yet?

 We missed the pumpkin patch this year, but at least we found a three-dimensional hay labyrinth.

 Sophie walking on the water.

And last but not least: some hot chicks!