yes?

First art class

Since Matilda doesn't attend any school yet, I signed her up for singing and art class. So on two mornings, she is letting her free spirit dance and on another morning she can get messy as much as she wants. Here is her very first painting, hanging now on our fridge.

Spring

Here is Lukas doing his homework last week. The assignment was to draw something that reminds him of spring. Playground and sun!

Monkey see, monkey do

No other comment needed. :)

Kindergarten registration - done

Where did the time go? Just this morning I stood in line in front of Lukas' future kindergarten and filled out the paperwork. This is the beginning of his academical years and I can't believe it's almost here already.

My boy is growing up.

Yoga for kids

Thank you Wii for introducing my children to yoga. I don't think that I will ever attend a yoga class so this is the closest they will get to it. Lukas is totally into it (as reported last year already) and now Matilda starts too.

Too cute watching those two stretching and making funny figures.

I hate playdough!

Judging from the photo below, you wouldn't think that I have a very bad relationship with playdough. I think it is messy and sticky and not really kid and kitchen floor friendly. The kids are allowed to playdough on the kitchen floor only and on the provided mat. But there is always some of it stuck to their socks, to their clothing and the floor. Yak to whomever invented that stuff.

But hey, anything for the kids...

Good read(s)

Zak is a thirtysomething and stuck in his life. Torn between two ladies and with an unhappy childhood lingering in his head and soul, he might be also dead sick. That is all what I will reveal about this great book that I highly recommend to read: "Everything changes" by Jonathan Tropper.

The first book that I read from Tropper was "This is where I leave you". Another messed up guy in search for healing and happiness.

I got both books at our local library. Don't you love the library?

Pear Custard Tart

Hm hm hm hm hm hm. I found the recipe for this pear custard tart in one of Martha Stewart's magazines and it was an instant hit. It is super easy and fast to make (I promise, super easy) and it tastes super yummy. The pears go very well with the custard together.

If you would like the recipe, ping me.

Chinese New Year celebration

Today we celebrated Chinese New Year. Gong Hei Fat Choi to all of you!!



We have taken Lukas to a temple before but Matilda hasn't been yet so this morning we have visited the Budhist Temple in Milpitas and in the afternoon a temple in San Jose.



The temple is San Jose was very busy this afternoon and the air was heavy with burning scent and firecracker noise. Lukas was intrigued by the scents and asked if he can lit one too. Auntie Pauline took him then and showed him around.

Our Valentine's Day dinner ist planned for next week. Let's hope it doesn't fall off the table completely. ;)

Orla Kiely - another good buy

By now you know that I love Orla Kiely stuff. Purses, wallets, reusable bags and mugs. Actually, I own few more items but I will not list them right here because Patrick is starting to get suspicious.

Anyway, now I am a proud owner of a beautiful as well as helpful pouch made out of Orla Kiely fabric. Yay for this find at Sugar Cane on Etsy!

The package arrived from the U.K. wrapped in cute paper and tied with a red ribbon. And the smallest little envelope revealed tiny stickers. Can it get any better?

First time bowling

Last Saturday, we were invited to celebrate Evan's 5th birthday at a bowling alley. First of all, happy birthday dear Evan.

It was the first time that we went bowling with the kids. Lukas has played bowling on the Wii before but you can not compare that to the real experience. He did pretty good for a beginner and when we were leaving he said "I want to come back and play again.".

Since I love bowling too, we can play together soon.

Kung Fu Fighter

Lukas hasn't had a formal introduction to karate or kung fu yet but he is practicing on our sofa already. Here is the flying mantis (or whatever you want to call it).

Sweetest Child

I can't stop taking photos of our sweet Matilda. Here are just few from the Christmas season that I love. She is always so happy and cheerful and just great to have around. I work in the mornings at home and she is keeping me good and quiet company.

brave

Another proof that we have a fearless little girl. The dinosaur was big and scary but she liked to play with him. You go girl!

Winter Gala at Kindergarten

Last Friday Lukas' kindergarten hosted a winter gala. The children were well prepared by Ms. Ilma, their teacher, and sang songs for us parents. Lukas participated beautifuly which is usually not the case. He even wore the costume and sang all the songs.

Belated surprise!

Without any expectation I opened the mailbox yesterday and look what I found: a late birthday present from Joanna, my best friend forever ever. We know each other for over 25 years. We met in high school and became friends right away. After high school, our ways parted and through all these years, we never lived in the same city, for some years not even in the same country. But we kept being best friends through all of it.

Our friendship is true and real, honest and comfortable. We went through hard times and we learned from our mistakes. I consider Joanna my sister that I never had.

The gift is a beautiful bracelet with Lukas and Matilda's names on it as well as E ~heart~ P. I will wear it always from now on.

Vielen Dank liebstes Asku. Ich liebe Dich auch.

Greeting from the Farmers Market

We love to visit the local Farmer's Market in Milpitas. The popcorn, fresh made and sprinkeled with sugar, is the main attraction for the kids. I am happy to buy produce from local farmers and stroll around. Fun fun.

Matilda's 2nd birthday celebration!

Yesterday we finally celebrated Matilda's 2nd birthday in Hello Kitty style. Family and friends came over to hang out and have a good time with Matilda. We had lots of kids to play with and lots of grown ups to talk to. It was a great party.

Matilda didn't nap because of all the excitment so last night she slept 13 hours straight. Partying is exhausting.

She received lots of cool toys and even cooler clothing. Spring can start now!

Family photo.

Yummy Hello Kitty cake.

Living by Martha Stewart

My Christmas gift from my dear friend Jasmine arrived! Thank you so much!

Living by Martha Stewart will now monthly entertain me, feed me with new cooking ideas and just give me few minutes to myself amidst chores and other jobs I have. No, it's not that bad but reading a book or a magazine is a luxury these days.

Expect great things to come! ;)

Happy Birthday to Matilda!

Today is Matilda's second birthday! Hurray! We kissed and hugged her a lot after she woke up late and now we are playing with the instruments that she received as a birthday gift.

She is a beautiful, happy and lovely child. She is always happy, friendly and mostly quiet. She loves to play with Lukas, she follows him everywhere he goes. But she is no push-over and will fight for her own right when it's necessary. She started potty training and is doing very well. She is a good sleeper and eater. She likes to go shopping with me where she patiently sits in the cart and points out all the items in the store she likes.

We love you very much, sweet little girl!!!

cold Friday afternoon

When we got back home from school today, it was rainy and windy outside. So we put Matilda down for a nap and Lukas and I enjoyed a bowl of popcorn and watching Spongebob.

Don't you love a lazy Friday afternoon?

big imagination

Lukas loves Lego. I mentioned that in an earlier post. Well, here is his newest creation. I think it's super cool. Can you guess what those things are? A hint: they live under the water in a pineapple house. :)

"Julie & Julia" Movie

The other day, Patrick and I finally managed to watch "Julie & Julia" movie. Oh, what a nice movie that was! Even Patrick enjoyed it, I guess because of all the good cooking. I also liked how the scenes from the past and today were flowing into each other.

Now I am inspired to cook well again! Maybe I should get the Julia Child cook book but not sure if I am really a French cook. I will look through my other cook books to find some good recipes.

Bon Appetit!

Our Christmas morning to remember

Too bad Christmas is over. I love this time of the year and especially the Christmas morning when we open the presents and spend most of the day assembling Lego toys, playing with and trying on whatever Santa has left for us. This year was even more special since Matilda is now old enough to open her own presents.

Santa was very generous with us, again. Thank you and we can't wait for next year! ;)

Rainy day in Monterey

Our annual trip to the beach during the Christmas holiday was cut short today because of the wind and rain that came down on us. But the visit to the Aquarium made it all worth driving one hour in the car with two impatient children.

We love to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and check on the penguins, the otters and sharks. And play with the water, watch out on the ocean and just hang out. Lovely day.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas celebration!

From our family to yours, bestest wishes!

Huge Surprise!

I have to share with you the biggest surprise I have ever gotten for my birthday. I will turn 40 in 3 days and wasn't really sure if I should celebrate this round birthday this year. Agonizing and thinking back and forth I invited friends for a celebration to later cancel it after all.

So last night Patrick said let's go out. We packed up Matilda (Lukas was with his cousin for the afternoon) and we went to King Crab, a Chinese restaurant here in Milpitas.

After we found parking while crossing the street I said to Patrick that I feel guilty to go to the restaurant without Lukas because he usually likes their food so much. But since he was with Kyle and was supposed to have pizza, I thought it's all good.

When we walked to the restaurant, I was still oblivious. After we walked in, I saw Britta, my friend, sitting in the back of the restaurant. My first thought was "hm, what a coincidence that she is here tonight too!". And then I saw them all! The whole family and my friends Britta and Evelyn were gathered at two tables to celebrate my 40th birthday with me! What a surprise! Tears came to my eyes and I felt so overwhelmed but so happy.

Then we had delicious dinner. I will never forget that evening, the surprise and my heartbeat.

Thank you all for loving me. I love you all back!

Advents-Calendar

It has been always a tradition at my house to receive an Advents-Calendar on December 1. The little chocolates inside the calendar have made each day of waiting for Christmas sweeter.

Of course I couldn't resist to give Lukas and Matilda their own calendar this year. Now we added opening one door from the calendar to the morning's routine.



Lukas is even opening his calendar every other day so that he has two chocolates at once.



So do you have a calendar like that?! :)

Cold

The last few days have been unusual cold here in the Bay Area. Or maybe we just forgot - after months of warmth and sun - that December is still a winter month. So to avoid getting sick and being cold, we wear lots of warm clothes and live with it.

Here is Matilda all bundled up while going shopping with me.

The Christmas Tree is up!

Finally, on Saturday we got our Christmas tree! I couldn't wait to get one and decorate it, and smell it, and enjoy it. This is the most beautiful tree we have ever had. Not only it is perfect size, but it's also well grown, even and thick.

So late Saturday afternoon the kids and us started to go through the Christmas boxes, took out all the ornaments and hang them on the tree. Lukas was a great decorater, he hang most of the decorations on the bottom of the tree.

The damage was minimal. Only two glass balls broke due to unsensitive care by Lukas and Matilda but that's ok.

Here is our pride and joy for this holiday season:

Going to school in PJ's

Only in America you have a PJ day in school. After the kids finished their work, they sat on their blankets, had popcorn and watched a movie. This was a price for all the reading coupons the kids turned in.

Lukas going to school in his PJ's.