Snowy February!

... snow ... snow ... snow ... !!!

What a winter this year!
All the lakes were frozen and we took a nice walk on the Wannsee in Berlin.

Torsten and the boys.


Couch Potatoes

Lukas wanted glasses just like Moritz and got creative.



At Karnival (in the middle of February) Moritz' class were supposed to dress for Circus. So Moritz wanted to go as a clown.





Tons of snow; and sticking to the ground like glue for months.

... in front of our house!

On our sidewalk and everywhere ...!



Torsten started running this winter and Moritz just started to join him!

Christmas 2009 !

Lukas and Moritz all ready for Santa! We stayed the week at my mom's but spent Christmas Eve at Torsten's sister house in Witten.


from the left: Achim (Sabine's life partner/boyfriend), Sabine (Torsten's older sister), Achim's aunt, Torsten, Lukas, Moritz, Leonie (Sabine's daughter/our niece) and my mom. I am obviously taking the picture. ;-)





Time for presents:
Leonie got a bunch of dollars for her upcoming stay in Montana this summer.



Torsten and the boys!


................................................................................. my great mom and I


Leonie ................................................................. Moritz got skiing glasses



The boys will start skiing this year in Switzerland at Easter. So they got mostly skiing stuff.

Lukas was all fired up!

October 2009 in Switzerland!

Leukerbad, Switzerland in October 2009

Yet another vacation. Posting all these vacations made me realize I actually had them. As this was such a busy year, I sometimes seem to forget. ;-)
So here we go:
Torsten had to work, so Moritz, Lukas and I took the train down South 11 hours to Switzerland during fall break in October. Roland and his grandson Tim who is the same age as Moritz were in Leukerbad as well. Tim is Tanja's son; some of you may remember her from our wedding.

Going up the mountain!

Yet of course, we love Leukerbad most for its hot springs. It has a big hot spings pool area which is great throughout the year but of course best in the winter when there is snow everywhere and you are sitting outside in the steaming water in middle of snow. Awesome. No snow in sight in fall, but the boys had a blast.




There have this cute little chapel in the middle of nowhere, where people come and light candles for loved ones and special wishes. So we took a walk/hike there as well.

This is the little chapel.

A candle for Baylin.

Summer Vacation 2009

Wangerooge: 'Little Island in the German North Sea'

End of July, beginning of August, my Dad, Moritz, Lukas and I went on our yearly vacation-trip with Grandpa Boto. This year we spent 2 weeks on this cute little island Wangerooge. Nice and small and no cars allowed.







Cute little beachhuts on the beaches and big tidal differences. I would guess at least 100 yards. So when the tide is falling the little tidal puddles are great for the kids to play in and explore.





Lukas and Moritz with the red caps having no trouble finding sand play buddies.





















The tidal spectacle can also be explored with guided tours.


























Too much exitement and too little time for regular naps!
But always enough time for ice cream!

























Moritz having fun!






















Our favorite means of transportation!
Hauling the beach stuff back and forth from the beach.



























On the way to the ferry at the end of the vacation!
















Lukas taking the time for a little nap yet once again!










Bye Bye Wangerooge!

Aug. 29, 2009: Moritz' First Day of School

Moritz will turn six (SIX!!!! need I start whining about how time is just zooming by? No, since everybody around me would just join in and agree) - anyways, in 3 weeks he will turn six and he just started school two weeks ago. A big step into a big new world!

Us four with Karl (Torsten's dad), my mom and cousin Leonie

Sometimes I think I am more wound up about the whole school thing than he is. So far so good. He didn't know anybody when he started since he didn't go to Kindergarten in our hometown but went to a bilingual Kindergarten in Berlin. So I am sure the first couple days weren't easy for him. But since he is in after-school-care with a whole bunch of other kids from class he is finding friends now. By the way, he is attending the same Primary School my dad attended 66 years ago!

Torsten with his sister Sabine, her daughter Leonie and their dad Karl

Here in Germany the First Day At School is a really big thing. Relatives come, the school is hosting a formal welcome address, older students sing and act for the first graders, ... !

So, we too were all fired up for Moritz' BIG DAY.


My dad and Moritz! 66 years ago he was
standing in front of this very school
for his first day of school!!!




Torsten and Lukas in the auditorium




Ready for school?