Visit from nature...

We were just playing in the bedroom when we heard a scratching at the front door. At first I thought it was a cat or a dog, but when I peeked out the window I saw a big turtle! A Snapping Turtle! I was really surprised. So we went outside to check our visitor out. His shell was about as big as a basketball and by the time you add on the head and tail that thing was considerable! He got stuck in our flower bed, so our neighbor got him out and after a while he was off to the pond in the back. Wir haben im Zimmer gespielt als wir ein kratzen an der Haustuere gehoert haben. Zuerst habe ich geglaubt es waere eine Katze oder ein Hund, aber als ich aus dem Fenster rausgeschaut habe war da doch tatsaechlich eine grosse Schnappschildkroete! Das war das letzte dass ich erwartet habe. Wir sind rausgegangen um uns unseren Besucher anzuschauen. Sein Panzer war so gross wie ein Basketball und mit dem Kopf und Schwanz dran war das Ding schon ziemlich gross. Er ist im Blumenbett steckengeblieben, also hat unser Nachbar ihm rausgeholfen und nach einer kleinen Weile hat er seinen Weg zum Teich fortgesetzt.

Our neighbor tried to show the kids why they weren't allowed to get close...Jamie got a bit scared...
Unser Nachbar hat den Kindern gezeigt warum sie von der Schildkroete wegbleiben muessen...Jamie hat das geschreckt...

Favorite phrases...

Here are some of my favorite phrases and mispronounciations Lilly has produced in the past few weeks:

* crocodidle (Crocodile)

* I cannot like this!

* Mama, I not a crastinator! (after the 3rd thing she wanted at bedtime, I told her she's a procrastinator)

* Mama, we have to share (whenever Jamie gets a new toy)

* Let's play crispy with Wally (play Frisbee)

* I'm not a crastinator! - It was bedtime and she had to have one more cuddle, one more kiss, "I miss Daddy" (he had just put her to bed), water please, have to go to the bathroom and then she wanted to read again. I told her she is a procrastinator. She disagreed with a smile and the cutest mispronounciation.

* slippely (slippery)

* quickely

...and there are more - I'll post them when I think of them.

Lilly is THREE!

Lilly had been already looking forward for several weeks to her birthday. She waited patiently, declaring every morning that it is her birthday, hoping it would work :) When it didn't work she acted all hurt.
Finally the day came and we started it out with her favorite muffins and a video chat with Omi and Godi, then we talked to Opa and a couple of friends. She got to open her presents and play with them all morning. In the afternoon her friends and grandparents came for her "Horsey" party. She had a great time celebrating with her friends, playing games, unwrapping presents and enjoying her cake.

This photo album customized with Smilebox

Lilly hat schon seit Wochen auf ihren Geburtstag gewartet. Sie hat jeden Morgen verkuendet dass es ihr Geburtstag ist, in der Hoffnung das es irgendwann mal klappt. Wenn's nicht funktioniert hat war sie eingeschnappt.
Endlich ist der Tag gekommen und wir hatten ein schoenes Fruehstueck, haben mit Omi und Godi geskypt, und mit Opa und Freunden geredet. Sie durfte ihre Geschenke aufmachen und hat den ganzen Morgen damit gespielt. Nachmittags kamen dann ihre Freunde und Grosseltern zu ihrer Geburtstagsfeier. Lilly hat sich eine Pferdeparty gewunschen, also haben wir die Kueche und das Wohnzimmer mit Pferden, Hufeisen, usw. dekoriert. Sie hatte ganz viel Spass beim Feiern, Spiele spielen, Geschenke auspacken, und Kuchen essen.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY JAMES!

We have been very busy this past week with three birthday parties, one being Jamie's, going to a show with the kids, making new friends, and enjoying the wonderful weather. So finally I got around to putting a few pictures from Jamie's birthday party together. We had a great time and it was nice to have friends and family over to celebrate. Thanks to all for coming and to many others for all the presents, birthday wishes, cards and phone calls.

Create a scrapbooking design

Lilly 33 months

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am looking forward to a very nice Valentine's Day with Shaun, Lilly and James.
I already got beautiful flowers, a card, and a little present from Shaun, with another one coming... I am getting spoiled.
Ich freue mich auf einen schoenen Valentinstag mit Shaun, Lilly und Jamie. Ich habe schon schoene Blumen, eine Karte, und ein kleines Geschenk bekommen - und eines kommt noch...ich werde total verwoehnt.
Besides other little presents, Shaun got the kids awesome Valentine balloons, shaped like a frog and monkey. They'll love them!


And here are a couple of other cute and funny pictures from the photo shoot... Und hier sind noch ein paar andere Fotos... Thanks Sonja.

Jamie 10 months

James definitely enjoys his snacks...what a mess!

James geniesst seinen Snack...er macht immer einen furchtbaren Saustall!

Very proud on his new tractor...ganz stolz auf seinem neuen Traktor.


He loves the tunnel they got from Opa for Christmas.
Er liebt den Tunnel den sie vom Opa zu Weihnachten bekommen haben.






He was exhausted on the way home from a restaurant - in his new big boy carseat from Opa.
Er war total fertig auf dem Weg nach Hause in seinem neuen Autositz von Opa.
And he cuddles up with his new special doggy from Grandma.

Random December Pictures

Making a gingerbread house. Much of the candy went in a little girl's mouth :)
Ein Lebkuchenhaus verzieren. Viele von den Suessigkeiten sind in den Mund eines bestimmten kleines Maedchens gegangen :)

Finn and Jamie - they are fascinated by each other.

Naked boy...

Playing with Mama...Spielen mit Mama...

Jamie's first tooth - many sleepless nights....
Jamie's erster Zahn - viele schlaflose Naechte...

Videos....

Lilly discovered that the Christkindl came... Das Christkind ist gekommen...

Jamie likes his toys. Jamie mag seine Geschenke.
Lilly's favorite present - her horse. Lilly's Lieblingsgeschenk - ihr Pferd.

Getting our Christmas Tree

According to family tradition we went to get our Christmas tree with Grandma and Grandpa. They found the right tree within minutes - we took over an hour! But we found the perfect tree.
Jamie was cozy in his sling with a big blanket around him. And Lilly helped with the tree search - it wasn't easy.




Afterwards we went to Grandma and Grandpa for dinner and family time.

First snow

Today it snowed for the first time and Jamie experienced the cold white stuff for the first time! He wasn't sure what to think about it, but didn't mind it much either.
Lilly was busy making snow angels and having a snow ball fight with Mama.

Heute hat es zum ersten Mal geschneit und das war auch Jamie's erster Schnee. Er war sich noch nicht so ganz sicher, aber war ganz okay damit.
Lilly hat Schneeengel gemacht und wir hatten eine Schneeballschlacht bei welcher Wally die Baelle gejagt hat.

Visiting Santa!

This was Jamie's first Santa visit and he wasn't too excited about jolly old St. Nick. Lilly took a few minutes to warm up, but then told him happily what she and Jamie wanted for Christmas and even let Santa have her reindeer. In exchange for some candy she even sat on his lap :)
We had cookies and juice and then headed to a friend's house to play. It was a very nice afternoon and now she keeps on asking to go back and see Santa.


Das war Jamie's erster Besuch beim Weihnachtsmann und er nicht besonders begeistert. Nach anfaenglicher Scheuheit hat sich Lilly dazu ueberwunden Santa von ihren Wuenschen zu erzaehlen und hat sich mit ein bisschen Bestechung sogar auf seinen Schoss gesetzt :)
Dann haben wir noch Kekse und Saft gehabt und sind dann zu Freunden zum Spielen gegangen. Wir hatten einen sehr schoenen Nachmittag und die Kinder waren fix und fertig dananch.

Love her smile!

The pictures are 4 months old, but I just ran across them and I love the smile!
Die Fotos sind zwar 4 Monate alt, aber ich liebe ihr Laecheln!

Jamie - 9 months

It's hard to believe that Jamie is already 9 months old! He's been crawling for about 5 weeks, pulls himself up on everything, tries to stick all kinds of things in his mouth - his favorite being leaves. He adores Lilly and wants to be around her non-stop.
Kann kaum glauben dass Jamie jetzt schon 9 Monate alt ist! Er krabbelt seit ungefaehr 5 Wochen, zieht sich ueberall hoch, und steckt sich alle moeglichen Sachen in den Mund - am liebsten sind ihm Blaetter. Er betet Lilly an und will pausenlos um sie rum sein.