Kids and crafts

Finn and Lily love to create. They cut, color, paint, draw, glue, shape and mold for hours at a time. Paper and sticky tape are always in high demand around here. Their drawers at Kindergarten are chock full with the things they made that day, every day. Then they come home and make some more. I have been taking pictures of some of their artwork. Fortunately, it seems they are both following in Neil's footsteps when it comes to artistic talent. Their teachers at Kindergarten say that Lily's drawing skills are better than those of some 6-year-olds and that she is way ahead of the other 4-year-olds, and that for a boy Finn draws and colors exceptionally well. Most of the other boys don't spend a fraction of the time that he does at the coloring table.

Here is Blue, as seen by Lily. He is a she and needs a flower in his "hair".

One of her 3D-creations. It's me watering my flower. :-)

This knight riding up to his castle she made for Neil.

Finn made this for Lily because Lily loves unicorns.

Also by Finn: animals running through the jungle being chased by a dinosaur.

This is supposed to say "Lily to Mama". The princess is waving to her flying unicorns.

More castles, princesses and unicorns. Do we notice a theme here?

One of Finn's smaller 3D projects, a horse and wagon. He made a big Viking ship one day, complete with people, cannons and lots of other things, all in 3D and all out of paper. I didn't take a good picture though.

Apart from outfitting their cuddly animals in crowns, bracelets, shields, swords and other armour, Lily also makes her own clothes and accessories. Flip flops,

headbands, and more. The girls at Kindergarten all wanted Lily to make them such neat head bands, too.

She'd go to Kindergarten in a paper dress and paper flip flops if I let her, but since it's too cold for that right now a little crown to fit over the pompom on top of her hat will have to do.

One morning Neil left a note for Finn wishing him a good day. Finn came home from Kindergarten with this:

Folded up in the little envelope on the left was this picture.

And one more from Finn!

And, last not least, Sundays as seen by Finn. This one somehow cracked me up.

Bye for now!

 

Friday Night Quote

Have a good weekend, everyone!

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And a video

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Isn't she just the cutest little thing? (And the other two aren't so bad, either, if I might say so myself.)

January - come and gone!

Hello there! Long time, no see! ☺
It has been a month since our last update, so this one will have a lot of pictures.
January started with a BANG. Finn lost his first tooth, and was SO proud. Admittedly, I don't do the loose tooth thing well at all. It completely grosses me out. The night before the tooth finally came out (and it bled quite a bit!) I helped Finn brush his teeth and he screamed when I brushed in the front. I saw that little tooth coming out, and with incredible presence of mind just pushed it back in with the toothbrush. It hung on for a whole other day. Lily was VERY taken with her brother's new, improved look. Now she can't wait for her teeth to fall out. I sure can.

And I lost something too, namely this finger nail. (I hope you are not eating right now.) I pinched it in a sliding door some time ago, and it started to grow out a bit but then decided to leave me. Now that black portion has fallen off and the tip of my finger is very tender. I just hope it will grow back normally again and I won't be stuck with half a nail forever. Careful with those sliding doors!

We also introduced the kids to the skating rink. It was a lot of fun! Thanks to those little polar bears helping them a bit at first they did really well.

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Neil finished reading the whole Chronicles of Narnia book to the kids at bedtime, a sure way to put Lily right to sleep. Finn enjoyed it very much, though!

 

The kids (with Jana) also enjoyed baking

 

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and cooking.

 

Baby is doing very well. What a happy, precious baby!

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And just in case you wonder who is really King of the Castle around here - it is this guy. Sitting on his throne by day

and by night.

AND - much to Finn's and Lily's delight we finally had some snow! It is supposed to stay cold so it will be here for a while. We were afraid it would all melt the next day, but not so.

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Baby (and I) mostly enjoy the fun from the inside looking out. Although Baby loves to nap on the patio all bundled up in her sheepskin-lined pram. Out in that fresh air she can sleep for hours!

Hooray for the street lights right by our yard. Who cares if it gets dark before 6pm?

And with that, good night. ☺

Last pictures of 2011

2011 - A Year in Pictures

January

"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."

(Sir Edmund Hillary)

Definitely true for Finn!

February

A 4-week-stay at the Baltic Sea to help cure Finn's asthma.

March

Ina comes to stay with us.

April

Celebrating Easter with Grandma and Grandpa!

May

Three people in this family share a love of horses and riding. The fourth starts saving for those ponies he will some day have to buy.

June

Our beautiful Lily of the West Bavaria.



July

What would I do without you?!

August

Summer fun at the Baltic.

September

Enjoying life in Europe. Castles, pedestrian zones, brunch at the street cafés, people watching.

Oktober

Schloss Fuschl castle in the Austrian Alps, two kids, two sisters, a spa and a lot of relaxing.

November

Our newest addition steals our hearts in the blink of an eye.

December

All good things are wild and free! Like Finn, Sophia, and Indigo at this awesome Christmas party.