Happy Halloween

Last weekend, after reading the 'Great Pumpkin' to Quinn and Emily, we decided to head to a pumpkin patch in the area and get our own Halloween pumpkins.

As with some things, the trip didn't exactly work out like we expected...but we did find a few pumpkins that we could carve.

As with previous years, Quinn really didn't want to touch the guts of the pumpkin, so I got stuck with the dirty work.  This year, I actually roasted the seeds like when I was a kid.

This year we had a real pumpking carving knife, so the chances of me cutting off a limb was slightly lower, and the knife made the cutting super easy.  But, of course, Quinn picked out one of the most difficult designs. 

Quinn also wanted to help.  When he had the knife, I was petrified that he would cut himself.

I ended up doing most of Quinn's pumpking due to my unfound fear of him cutting himself.

   

I let him, however, do all of Emily's pumpking.  Slightly simpler design.  But, both kiddoes were stoked.  Emily ran around most of the next days pointing at her pumpkin saying 'mine, mine, mine'.  I think Quinn was also really proud that he could do this for Emily. 

Fädeln

We got a pic of Quinn in Kindergarten yesterday.  Looks like he is threading a needle of some sort.  I always love pics that show Quinn fully concentrated on a task.

But, what is on his head?

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Last weekend, after having dinner with our friends Robin and Anne, we constructed a plan for Sunday:  I'll get up early and head out on a (relatively long) trip on my bike.  Eva will pick up Anne and head out to the Fränkische.

Activities for the kids would be flying kites and geocaching.

Quinn has his kite...and (from an earlier post) was really interested in flying it.  This time, there was some wind.  I really love these pics of Quinn in full concentration mode.

Emily had a blast as well.

Bob the Builder kite.  Quinn and Emily's hero.

As the kids were playing, I was lost in the sticks.  My 3 hour ride turned out to be over 4.  I had a blast as well.  We met at a biergarten in the area, which was super kid friendly, with a great playground.

Emily messin' (spielen) with Anne's iPhone.  Amazing how kids can figure out how to use these things.

A great halloween package came in on Friday from my parents (Thank you!!)...among the items were a few chocolate pumpkins for the kids.  Emily's aftermath is pictured below.  If that is not a devilish face, I do not know what one is...

German for Beginners

It's been a while since I posted a German Long Word of the Day, but in my yearly compulsory safety workshop, I came across a good one.

At first glance, I didn't even notice it.  But, then I got back to my US roots and realized that this was a really long bloody word.  46 letters.  Here it is:

Auslandsreisekrankenversicherungsbescheinigung

Pretty scary...but just a bunch of small works stacked together...which still reinforces my theory that Germany just don't like using the 'space' button.

The meaning:  Foreign travel insurance identification (more or less).  So, who wants to learn German?

Geiselwind

Emily can now climb on the animal rides at the stores.  She had this devilish sort of face when she climbed on the Obi beaver.

Last weekend, we had a great opportunity that we couldn't turn down:  heading to the Amusement Park (Freizeitpark) in Geiselwind with a friend of Quinn's from kindergarten.  Eva wasn't feeling too good, so I went it 'alone' with the other family to give Eva a better chance to rest.  The weather was cold, but sunny.  It was also the last day the park was open for the season, so it was pretty empty, which meant no waiting in line for the rides.

I was surprised by the amount of rides they had for kids...even in Emily's age group.  The first ride after the entrance was this mini train.  Quinn and Emily rode this like 7 times.  We tried to get them to try something else (tons of rides in the park), but they were stoked with the train.  I think that they thought that this was the only ride in the park.

Emily on a sort of swing.

Yes, to Eva's surprise, we went on this ride...even Emily.  It looks worse than it was, and the kids had a blast.

The kids loved this huge slide.  They even had mats to make you go faster.

Quinn, the pilot.

Emily even flew.  In a matching airplane.  Coincidence?

Quinn liked this ride the best:  a huge mushroom that spun and twirled the swings.  I was amazed that Quinn was allowed to ride this (alone).  He had a blast.  I even rode it a few times, and I have to say, my stomach was a bit queezy afterwards.  Have no idea what Quinn's stomach was doing?

A sort of dinosaur train...pulled by a tractor.

Growing up in the States, every amusement park had a teacup ride (from Alice in Wonderland?).  Here in Franken...a wineglass ride.  The ride was the same...and it was super wild.  I had to ride with the kids, and I have to say that we were really spinning around.

All in all, it was a great weekend, and we are thankful that our friends invited us.  Quinn is already asking when we will go back...

Teach Your Children Well

As I was somewhat getting ready to go home from the office on Thursday, the phone rang in the office, and Quinn was on the phone.

Eva pretty much never allows Quinn to call, so I knew it was important.  It was, Quinn wanted me to help him fly his kite.  He asked me if I was on my way home.  Not really, I thought...but I knew the answer needed to be Yes.  So I told him I was on my way home...and quickly finished a few items and headed home.

On the ride home, I noticed the absolute lack of wind.  Not really the weather you are looking for to show your son how to fly a kite.  After all, Quinn had never flown a kite before, and I couldn't remember the last time I flew a kite (and wasn't really sure if I had done it at all).

I did know that wind was a necessary ingredient.

As I walked in the door, I saw Quinn...kite in hand.  Quinn, I tell him, there is no wind...the kite won't fly.  This didn't phase him.  If I didn't get changed from my suit quickly, he was going to pull me out of the condo in my suit.  I tried every type of argument...to no avail.  Quinn wanted to fly the kite...wind or not.  Kites just don't fly without wind.

It wasn't that there was a lack of wind...there was NO wind.

So, I told Quinn we'd try, so that he could figure out for himself that kites don't fly without wind.  I changed, Quinn and Emily got all bundled up, and we headed out to fly a kite on a windless day.

I got the kite ready, put the kite in my hand, and handed over the roll of string to Quinn.  I told him to run.  He ran...and ran...and ran.  The kite didn't really fly, but it didn't exactly drag on the ground either.

So, I tried.  It sorta got in the air.  I gave it some more string.  It got higher in the air.  Quinn tried...then Emily (which was so cute, I wish I had the video camera)...and after a few more tries (and lots of running), I got it up in the air.  As long as we kept running, it would stay in the air.

Quinn and I handed off the kite for a few 'laps'.  Man, that child ran, and ran, and ran.

He was so happy.  He got to fly his kite.  And, thankfully, he didn't tell his Papa:  I told you so.

Sometimes kids ... in their innocence and desire to DO ... are not blocked by boundaries, and are successful, even when adults say otherwise.  Definitely a wise lesson for me as well.

Setting the Standard

When it comes to parenting, I'm not the type that tries to keep up with the Jones':  our kids have nice clothes, but not the best.  Our kids have lots of toys, but not the most.

Same is true for birthday parties:  while we feel (and hope) that we have provided for nice and memorable birthday parties, the neighbors aren't exactly talking about how we went overboard.

One of the fathers (with whom we went camping) definitely set the bar for the rest of us dads:  for his son's 5th birthday, he made a submarine in their living room -> that all 10 kids could fit into.  They had an 'underwater' party with all sorts of themes, etc.  First of all, I give him tons of credit for the creativity and doing it himself instead of just buying something.  Second, he's not the type of guy that is trying to one up everyone.

It was just cool.  Super cool ... I just hope that Quinn doesn't want me to build a castle or something in March.  Talking to another dad, he has the same fear.

Playmobil Fun Park

Since I'm not as regimented with downloading pics from my cell phone, this post will be mostly random pics.  Hope you enjoy.

Emily LOVES Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Hello Kitty.  Fell out of my chair laughing seeing her in one of her favorite T-Shirts and her galoshes.

A few weeks ago, I was on a business trip in Canada and the States.  Got to go do an onsite presentation at a customer, who was way up north in Canada (where all the dams ... and power generation is).  This was my first time at a hydro plant, and it was amazing!

Due to a very wet summer, they had most of the spillways open, which almost never happens in summer.  You can get an idea of the scale of the whole thing when you consider that the two pics above are taken on opposite sides of the generating station.

I stayed the weekend at friends in DC...and we went to another friend's bar to watch the CU game.  I really liked the title under the TV:  Hippie Bowl:  CU vs. Cal.  Unfortunately CU lost.  They played great, but lost in OT.  It looks like it will be another long season :-(  At least CU 'fits' better in the Pac 10.

When I landed in Munich, my heart leaped a beat when I saw my name under the Lotus (on the left).  I thought I got an upgrade.  It would be super fun to drive a Lotus on the Autobahn from Munich to Nürnberg.  Unfortunately, I didn't see the arrow pointing to the car on the right:  a run of the mill Ford.

Eva and I actually try not to get too much pink clothing for Emily.  Trust me, it is HARD find clothes for girls that is not pink.  Despite this effort, this is how Emily went to Day Care one day...Pretty in Pink.

Quinn had his first soccer practice almost two weeks ago.  He's a bit young, but close enough, especially considering how hard he can kick the ball.  He had a blast and has gone since then.  He needs to grasp the concept of kicking the ball in the right direction.

It is amazing how 'well' the kids (not just Quinn) play:  I remember 'JungleBall' as a kid growing up, where the coach was continually trying to get kids to move away from the ball.  The 6-7 year olds definitely know what they are doing.

Only my parents will understand this and think this is funny: even though Quinn runs A LOT and knows how to run, at the practice, he basically skipped the whole time.  No, he didn't run...just skipped...which will remind my parents of my first soccer game where I ran the whole time without bending my knees.

They must have been so embarassed.  What kid can't run?

Two weekends ago, we took advantage of the great fall weather and headed to Playmobil Fun Park.

Thankfully, neither Quinn nor I ended up in the water.

I'm also grateful that Emily likes playing with boy toys:  this construction area with rubber 'rocks' and the conveyors was super cool!

We tried to get Emily and Quinn in front of one of the Playmobil people...but Emily wouldn't have anything to do with it.

Perhaps next time.

Emily turns 2

It is hard to believe that our little girl is now 2 years old. Our little Emily is no longer a little baby.

She is definitely developing into her own person...that we are learning to handle as a separate person.

She now understands the concept that presents are to be unwrapped. She no longer needs Quinn's help unwrapping her gifts.

Quinn is bummed by the development, but even on Emily's birthday, he got a few gifts to unwrap.

Blowing out the candles is still a highlight!

I absolutely love her face in this picture! Fast forward about 16 years, and this is the face of a party grrrl.

Emily on her first laufrad (walking bike...basically a small bike without pedals, which helps kiddoes learn to balance on a bike-like device).

Of course, there is cake and coffee in the afternoon.

Emily is, well, a girl. She loves wearing skirts (even though they are rather unpractical for her level of activity), and REALLY loves Hello Kitty. She also loved the hair accessories...she just needs more hair.

I still comb her hair and try to give her a pony tail (Pferdeschwanz). She loves them so much, that she can't keep her hands off of it...which causes it to unwind and fall apart.

The joy of a birthday!

Getting ready for being a school kid ... with her own backpack!

...let's go ride a bike.

Emily also hit another milestone two days ago: she peed (and pooped) in her training toilet! Yeah!

Now, the gross time comes when we have to clean out that thing after each use :-( But, we're one step closer to getting Emily out of diapers.