This was a long time coming, and the kids and I are leaving Neil ...

... behind to go on a "Kur" (rehab) at the Baltic Sea! Our health insurance approved for Finn to go on a rehab to hopefully strengthen his lungs and immune system. So Finn, Lily and I will be staying at a health clinic for 3 or 4 weeks, where Finn will get treatments and we will spend a lot of time outside. The clinic is right by the beach, so we are looking forward to taking long walks by the water and collecting sea shells. I will have very limited internet access, so I probably will not be able to update the blog until we are back. The clinic is also not very far from Oma's and Opa's house, so we are going to their place for a couple days first.

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Today was spent packing, packing and packing some more. I have no idea how we are going to fit all this in the car! Snow suits, rain gear, swim stuff, gym clothes, two extra car seats (for Oma's car) a whole bag full of boots and shoes, toys, books, clothes galore, and I'm still not done.

And here is Neil's pile. Can you tell he will only drive us up north and not stay very long?

Lily did her own packing. I better check those bags later.

As did Finn. Needless to say, his trusted sword "Dragondeath" is a must-have. You never know what those doctors are going to want to do to you.

Lenny and Blue definitely know what's going on.
"How about, I take the car seat and you hide in that bag?"

"Oh no, she saw us. Let's trade places, maybe she won't notice us then."

"That didn't work either. But look, if I hold real still they will never notice me in here!"

In other news, Finn and Lily were absolutely thrilled with their presents from the US. Thank you Luci and Peter! We miss you, and Caleb, Aaron and Ethan. The costumes come in very handy for German carnival in a few weeks. In fact, we will bring them to the clinic, per their request.

Finn and Lily love acting out "Beauty and the Beast" all dressed up. What a pair.

Well, I better get back to packing and cleaning.

And if you want to do a good deed in the coming weeks you could drop by for a chat with poor lonesome Neil. :)

Yum Yum

I recently added this book to my cook book collection, and what can I say? I love it! I bought an array of Indian spices at my favourite organic foods store and can't wait to try out all the awesome recipes.

Neil said he didn't like chickpeas, but when I made this chickpea curry he had no problem eating two huge helpings. Even Finn and Lily liked it!

With our new, healthier eating I find I have to be more creative when it comes to cooking. But with access to the internet, vegetarian cooking is easy as pie!

(Corn, tomato, mozzarella pie in this case :)


And I guess we are lucky in that Finn and Lily both love tofu, especially marinated in terriyaki sauce and then stir-fried with vegetables and noodles.


I also find that although I am buying mostly organic foods now it is not necessarily more expensive. Mostly, it costs time, and I am happy to invest that. I avoid processed foods or "convenience foods" (for instance, I buy dry beans and chickpeas instead of canned), and we eat out a lot less. So, instead of a cheeseburger from that place with the big M we eat black bean burgers at home. This whole pan of organic rolls cost me little more than 1€ to make (70c for a lb of organic flour and 30c for an egg, then some yeast and oil) . Lily liked the bean patty, Finn not so much. But then, to him, McDonald's is more about the toy in the Happy Meal than the food too.



And, as an incentive, there is often a nice dessert if you eat your veggies. Like dark chocolate pudding. I was asked to post these pictures especially for Uncle Karl, because it tasted "even better than Paula". :)
(Kindly ignore the fruit stickers on their foreheads.)

Then, some time ago we visited James, who we know from English playgroup. James is from England and not only runs his own media design company , but is also the proud owner of the famous "British Shop" (and no, he is not paying me for advertising). So while we chatted and Finn and Lily happily played with some Scottish flags and Highland attire (their Auntie Ulli would have been proud!) Neil spotted some HB brand barbecue sauce on the shelf. We bought it (and the Scottish flags), but when we were driving home Neil suddenly said, "I wonder what I will put it on - my chickpeas I guess."

So, clearly it is time for some good beef. And I found some! In the little town next to ours a certified organic farm raises Black Angus cattle. They look perfectly happy standing or walking around in their big pastures. I should know - I see them all the time on my runs. The thing is, the farmer only butchers one when he has enough orders. Well, I placed an order, and now we are waiting for our 13lbs of meat. I told a friend and she placed an order also. So, if you live close to us and want some really good, organic beef (at an affordable price I should add) THIS
http://www.bio-mit-gesicht.de/b1153.html

is the place to get it.

Neil says THANK YOU VERY MUCH! The more orders, the closer he is getting to that steak. :)

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P.S. And somebody asked me (jokingly) if I don't have a problem eating a steer that I know I saw happily roaming a pasture. I guess the answer is no. I have more of a problem eating an animal that I know most likely never even SAW a pasture.

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Still, if you have favourite vegetarian recipes that you would like to share I'll be more than happy to try them out! I remember some very special Canadians mentioning sweet potato burritos. I'd love to have that recipe!

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Finn's World

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"Finn, what did you draw?"

- "Us! This is you, beside you is Papa, in front of Papa is Blue, and this is Lenny. And that is me with Lily."

"What are you holding?"

- "My Babyhasi of course!"

"Why?"

- "Because I take Babyhasi everywhere ...


... and I can't sleep without him."

"Finn, what is your favourite food?"

- "Treats!"

"Your favourite drink?"

- "Lemonade."

"Favourite colour?"

- "Blue."

"Your favourite animal?"

- "Blue!"



"Your favourite person?"

- "Mama." (sorry, Neil! :)

"What is your favourite movie?"

- "How To Train Your Dragon."

"Your favourite book?"

- "Dragon books!"

"Your favourite toy?"

- "Playmobil! Especially the knights, dragons and castle."

"What do you like doing best in winter?"

- "Playing in a snow fort."

"And in the summer?"

- "Being in the swimming pool of course!"

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

- "A deep sea diver."

"Why?"

- "Because I want to dive for pearls."

"What makes you really happy?"

- "Cuddling with Lenny and swimming in a swimming pool."

"And what makes you really sad?"

- "Getting a needle and when someone steals my toys."