Cooker

Lukas is an awesome kitchen helper. He calls him self cooker (for cook). Yesterday he helped making cupcakes while the earth was shaking (we had a small earthquake in the morning).

1) Crack the egg.

2) Add flower and sugar and whatever else Mommy tells him to put in.

3) Whisk like crazy.

4) Line up the cupcake forms.

5) Voila, ready!!

Cutie alert

No words can describe how cute this little lady is. Muah.

How old are you?

Last Friday we went to Sweet Tomatoes for a yummy lunch after an hour of playing in the park. Everyone was hungry and ready to eat. When I was paying for our meal, the cashier asked "for how many do you pay" and I said for me and my son who is 3. Right there, Lukas yelled out "no Mommy, I am 4!". How true. His 4th birthday was the day before. :) How could I have forgotten?

Celebration - Part 4 - Grand Finale

The celebration is officially over. Done. Finished.

On Saturday, we had lunch and cake with family and that's it. The birthday is over.

Lukas is a happy camper, almost all his wishes came true. I also think he enjoyed all the attention. Since he is usually not an attention seeker, it was good to see how much fun he had and how comfortable he was.

Celebration - Part 3 - I am not kidding

Yesterday, on Lukas' actual birthday, we celebrated with his classmates at Bouncerama. The kids loved it and so did I. Not much preparation was necessary, the house stayed clean and I didn't have to cook. So win-win for everyone.

Celebration - Part 2 - good morning sunshine!

We started the morning with gifts and kisses.

Vielen lieben Dank, Onkel Andreas!! Lukas liebt das Star Wars Buch und die Figur, die dazu gehoert. Kuss vom Lukas.

The celebration has started - Part 1 - more to follow!

Cupcakes at school today.

Sleeping while reading or reading while sleeping?

"Looking" through Lego magazine and scouting for gifts for upcoming birthday.

Peek a boo!

While you were sleeping

Everybody is napping. Yay! So I finally got to do this project that I have read about on Vermillion's blog. I check on Beth's blog few times a week because she has great ideas and projects for the house, the kids and for everything else between.

For the pink/brown flower clip I used the yoonie's peony template and the other clip (brown/blue) is my own creation.


The super model is napping at the moment so here a quick photo of how the hair clips look. Love them and maybe I can design some for my shop on Etsy.

Daddy is back!

Yes, he is back! And I fit in his luggage.

















It even fits two. Who knew?

Coupon clipping

My favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning (after making pancakeeggs - but that's another blog posting, coming soon) is clipping coupons. We save lots of money doing it and I enjoy getting even better deals while using the coupons.
This morning, to keep Lukas busy, I showed him how to cut out the coupons and I know that from now on he will be my best coupon cutter ever. He is very patient, has good hand/eye coordination and is good with scisors.
See you next Saturday, Lukas, at the kitchen table at 9 am!

Button Up

Sleeping time. Lukas and I are reading books, Matilda is already sleeping for a long time. At the moment, he likes to read Madeline and Zen Ties. I had to pick up the phone and when I walked back to the bedroom, he was putting on his PJ's. I saw him trying to button up his jacket, he tried so hard to put the button through the hole. It was so precious seeing his face, focussed and determined. I love him even more now.

Cheerios

Breakfast in our house... No, just kidding.

It wasn't even Matilda's fault. I knocked down the box and the cheerios spilled all over the kitchen. She was quick to enjoy the moment and rolled around in the Cheerios ocean. It was messy but it was fun.

For the Cheerios police: no cheerio was harmed but they all had to go to cheerio heaven.

Concert

Last Sunday, my girlfriends and I saw Paula West in San Francisco. Thanks to Evie for the invitation and to the wonderful jazz singer for a great evening! Listening to her songs made me feel good.

Orla Kiely

Orla Kiely makes these beautiful bags (lucky me, I received one for Xmas) and now she has also designed mugs and other kitchen items for Target. Here is one of my today's favorites (I have four mugs now so it's hard to decide). I am using it daily, for my afternoon tea.

Rainbow

You can barely see it on the picture but we have seen the biggest, brightest and most spectacular rainbow today! The dark clouds above the hills on one side, the sun shining on the other side, nature made the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. Lukas saw it too and kept asking where it is coming from. From heaven.

Happy Friday!

Introducing: Mr. & Mrs. Cool. Enjoy!

Mommy is a winner!

Well, I already know that having such a great husband and beautiful children. :)

But today, I got surprised by the mailman with a box from undisclosed sender. After opening it, I found Martha Stewart's Cooking School cookbook - a price of being semi-finalist in the Hunt's Best Meals Contest. Yeah, I won something! I sent in my lasagna receipe and I guess someone liked it. Don't worry, it wasn't that good. There were 499 other semi-finalists. ;)

Haircuts

Lukas doesn't like haircuts. When he was little, I cut his hair while giving him a bath. Nowadays, we still do the same. He gets a rush when we mention the hair cutting machine.

Yesterday he agreed again to get his hair cut. He is even more handsome today.

But tomorrow...

Whenever Lukas doesn't like to do something like brush his teeth or eat his dinner or whatever else that we tell him to do, he says "But tomorrow... I will not brush my teeth!" or "But tomorrow... I will not eat dinner". He also says some other things that I won't mention. It is not easy being almost 4. :)

Mommy made dinner

I went out tonight to meet my girlfriends and chat chat chat. But before I left, I made quickly lasagna for the kids and Patrick. Can't wait to eat the leftovers tomorrow.

Cookies

It's 9 pm and I am making Xmas cookies. Yup, you heard it right. Our favorite raspberry thumbprint cookies and pecan tassies. I made a batch of the tassies today because I was craving them and Lukas asked right away if I can make him the gelly cookies. Of course, I can, dear Lukas.

The house smells so good, like it is Xmas. I guess with this gloomy weather we can use some comfort food. Lukas also ate two bowls of my potato gratin for dinner. Nowadays, that is unheard of. :)

I will work once more tomorrow and off til beginning of March.

Good night.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Greetings from Lukas and Matilda! Muah!

Dancing Queen

Matilda - our little dancing queen! Every time she hears music, she moves her little body to the beat.

Walk in the park

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in February we went to Lake Elisabeth for a walk and play time. The sun was hanging low but it was still warm. Matilda had fun looking at leaves and trying to catch them. Lukas was climbing on the playground. This was one of those afternoons that I love. No big plans, all of us four spending time together. I could do it everyday.

Rain

Rain, rain, go away, come back some other day.

I know I should be thankful for the rain but is makes me sad and heavy and depressed.

Rain, rain, go away.

Mommy's new ride

New Volvo XC90 for mommy and kids!

Lukas is sick

Lukas has fever. He woke up this morning and when I was giving him a good morning kiss, I noticed how hot his forehead was. Poor fella. He did take some Tylenol after my monologue about how important it is to take medicine when you are sick. I guess he was tired of listening to me so he took it. I hope he naps well and feels better in the afternoon.

Matilda, a good sister as she is, went to nap too. The house is quiet now.

Handsome

Even while sleeping he is the most handsome boy.

Pretty

Big girl!

I moved Matilda to her big girl car seat this morning.





With big brother.

So small but so dangerous

Mommy's little secret: Chocolate filled with caramel. Got it at Ikea on Saturday, finished one roll already. HELP! ;)

Atlas

Shortly before taking his nap, Lukas was looking through the Atlas to find our next vacation destination. He knows where Norway is, where in California we live and where Barrack Obama lives. Yeah, he is well informed.

He saw Maledives and said that is where we will go on vacation. It's warm there and I can play in the water. Daddy, did you hear this????

While mommy was cooking

I knew that the silence would bring something bad... :)






But how could you get mad at this face?

Two more because so cute!

I can't stop smiling when I see Matilda in her tutu so here few more pics of her. I think she likes to wear it.

Party Time!

Today we have celebrated Matilda's 1st birthday with family and friends. She liked the cake, especially designed for her. Our little sweet pea.

Little Lady

Isn't she pretty? Dressed up all in style for her cousin Claire's 1 month anniversary party.

Eating bday cup cakes!

With big brother Lukas.

Happy Birthday Matilda!!

Our sweet pea Matilda turned one year old today! Happy Birthday little girl.