Peppermint Tea

Stella loves to go in the garden to smell all kind of different flowers and herbs. She is able to differentiate between peppermint, rosemary,lemon balm, thyme ,oregano ,basil and lavender. She has a bit of her Mami`s skills when it comes to that. Maybe she`ll be a pharmacist, too one day. But I doubt that future pharmacist will have a lot to do with this kind of knowledge anymore.Oh well, Stella enjoys being taught in this field. Ricky cut back the peppermint bushes the other day and we decided to make some fresh tea. Stella had a ball and was impressed by how the leaves made the water turn green. Very educational...and alot of fun for all of us

Outside `Fun`

Stella got a new fun `toy` about two weeks ago. We bought a big trampoline for the garden,mainly for her to have fun but also to wear her out and give Mami and Daddy a chance of more solid sleep at nighttime. Lately, she started waking up at least once a night( in addition to Lulu `s night snack). So far, thanks to the nasty weather over here, she did not get too much use out of it. It`s pouring all day long. But the couple times she went on , she had a blast. I took these pics while they put the trampoline together for the first time.

Checking the springs( you can tell, from her eyes, she was still a little sick by then)

You propably wonder why I write about a first time. Well, cause there was a second time already within the last two weeks.....I think the trampoline was out in the garden for a day or so, when Ricky had enough of her being a typical whiny, not listening 3 year old. He made her sit inside, facing the garden, watching him take that thing apart,again. He was furious, she was crying big tears and it almost broke my heart. But I have to say, he was right and it worked. Daddy is trying to be strict, sometimes. Well, two days later, he spent all that time once more and Miss princess had her trampoline back.( she was listening to us, though) I guess all the boohooing is normal for this age. If anyone out there has something to say or is able to relate to this or has the secret key to it, please leave a comment and share with us. :) We are eager to learn..... ;)


I love that little stinker soooo much

On Top Of Spaghetti

We had Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. We all enjoyed this family time in more than one way....hope you do, too!!!

Liams Birthday Party!!!

Liam and his cool new bike!!!

My sweet godchild Liam turned 6 yesterday and we were invited to celebrate with him. I can not believe he is already 6 and will start school next month. He grew into such a sweet, smart, loving and caring little person. It makes me so proud that we were able to share lots of cute, special moments with him throughout the last years. It still makes me smile when I think about him sneezing a spagetthi noodle out of his nose when he was two. Or when he slept over at our house and fell in love with my mouse socks. He wanted to wear them so bad , he even brought them home and still has them ever since (Imagine a 4 year old with yellow mouse socks that went almost all the way up to his knees).Lots, and lots of memories more, which I will always treasure in a very special place of my heart.



Party Pictures

Big boy being 5 months old

Little Lucien is already 5 months old and such a sweet little man. Still, he smiles all the time, eats very well( as you can tell) every 5 hours or so, sleeps pretty good( usually wakes up Mami only once a night , eats and goes straight back to sleep) He loves his nap on the couch more than sleeping in his bed, though.
Lucien is able to turn on his belly,but is just as lazy as Stella was (it must be a bit challenging to do such sports with them cute chubby legs, even though he can kick with them like a little wild man). Lately, pulling Stellas hair is a cool game ( she is very tough about it) and listening to her reading a book or singing to him makes him smile and Mamis heart melt.
His teeth are bugging him, none are showing yet.
Yesterday was the one and only hot summer day within the last 2weeks. Lucien enjoyed his first refreshing water out of my glass. He did a great job,didn`t spill too much and loved to taste of something new.
Last week, we got his passprt pictures taken. They turned out so cute and proofed once more, what a handsome little guy he is. The tickets are booked for December and we can`t wait for all of you to meet little Lucien.

Lucien being destructive

Lucien just being Lucien

Father Joel

I just read Elijahs morning questions to his mommy, which reminded me to post something about Stellas latest morning episode. She woke up and decided to play church. She lined up all her friends on a chair, sat next to them and asked me : Mommy, could you pretend to be Father Joel and we are the people in church. Lets sing some church songs and then you give me those white things the people eat at church. I loved the way she described communion. After I explained it to her, she decided to go, get her cheerios and gave `communion` to her teddybears. I think it`s amazing how these little brains work. She hasn`t seen Father Joel within the last 9 months, but the day he is leaving St Marks/ Gonzales, that when she thaught of him. So I guess this morning was dedicated to you Father Joel, you made a big impression to Stella.We are very sorry that you didn`t meet Lucien, but I`m sure Stella will teach him all about you.

Stellas first Kindergarten Pics!

Couple of weeks ago, they had a photographer taken the kids pictures at kindergarten. Stella did well and fortunately they let us take some shots together with the little man. But after her single pics, that was it for Miss Priss. She refused to take a group picture with all the other kids. They had to photoshop her image into the picture. I wish I could show you the group pic, but it is not on the cd, we have only a handout copy. This is just so very Stella!!! But I was glad she didn`t do it the other way around. I love the pics we recieved

Happy late 4th of July!!!

I was not planning it, but both cuties wore red and blue that day, funny


Ricky and his buddy Trey( Still with a cast after playing basketball while visiting back home in APRIL!!!!)


We went on a trip to Katjas and Treys house in Nordhorn close to the Dutch border for the weekend of the 4th. Our kids are just the perfect little travel kids. They did great!!! Stella was so excited to see them and enjoyed the little pool, they had gotten for her, very much( Thanks to both of you!) Saturday, Stella woke up being in a very patriotic mood. I heard her singing and this is the video of what I cought. Too funny cause Stella didn`t have a clue about the 4th of July but I guess it was the right little song to sing for that day. We didn`t teach her, she said some kids in kindergarten did.So happy late 4th of July, I hope everyone enjoyed a great weekend!!!!

This and That!!!

Stella was practicing her `TH` with Ricky. Lucien thought it was hilarious and cracked up laughing. This went on forever and they had so much fun

Update!!!

Drank already 2 liters of water today. Yeahhhh!!!!!!!
Stella was so sweet when I picked her up from kindergarten today. It was the very first time, since I had Lucien, that I was wearing a skirt. Stella saw me and said: Wow Mami, du siehst aber so chick aus , das gefaellt mir aber total gut. ( Wow mami you look so awesome, I really love it)
Must have been true, cause right before, I went shopping, a lady stopped me and asked if she could take a picture of Lucien and me. Since I`m usually the one taking pictures, I was more than glad that somebody took a pic of us two. That was the shot.


I guess I add to my list

1. Wear more skirts and dresses!!!
   

Second half of the year resolutions

Wow it is already July!!!! So I thought it is time to say how great, exhausting, inspiring, loving and wonderful this first half of the year was. For the latest update on Lucien: He is feeling better, we went to the doctor yesterday and he got 2 shots/ immunizations. He was being so tough and smiled right after again. He weighs 8960 gramm!!!!!!!! and is happy and healthy as can be. On Monday I went to a PEKIP class( hard to explain, baby gymnastics in a very special way). He had a ball and turned on his belly for the very first time by himself. His fingers are his most favorite toy and everything needs to be discovered by mouth. He is blowing bubbles with his spit and drulls all over the place, mainly on Mami, which increases the Alps of laundry once more.
As you can tell, we / I`m doing good. Nevertheless I made some second- half- of- the- year resolutions. I thought if I would share them with you, I might be more willing to actually follow them:

1. Drink more water( which was on the list for the first half already)
2. Go on a polish pottery trip
3. Keep doing the blog( everyone seems to enjoy it)
4. Go on a date with my hubby once a month( is that too much to ask for, if you have a 3 year old and a baby and a lack of babysitters? Propably so, let`s still try!!!)
5. Don`t stress too much about housework,it`s a never ending story anyway
6. Enjoy 1 hour Mami time and dedicate the rest to my sweet family
7. Read more books ( Thanks Kimber, I really enjoy the ones you shared with me)

That is a lot, I know. I hope to keep up with half of it!!!!