EUROPE - finally!

OK, this is kind of the lazy way to post about our Europe trip.  I made a photo book from our trip for Marty for his upcoming birthday so I figured this is the best way to get the most bang for my buck time-wise.
Here is the link to view all of our photos from our trip:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=1a6dc685e8bf44e3&sid=0EZNWTNyycMWHo

I hope this works! 

I Love You, Too!!

Hearing "I love you" from your kids has got to be one of the sweetest things.  Benjamin says it all the time now.  Sometimes prompted and it is an "I love you, too" sometimes just out of the blue he will touch my face gently and say "I WUV you, Mama!"  Such a sweet, sweet, boy... Most of the time!!
Another really funny thing he says is if he gets in trouble for something he goes  in another room and says "I'm sleeping" because he knows that when he is sleeping no one will bother him. Or, he says "I'm working" because that must be what he hears Marty and I say all the time when we are trying to work from home.  Anyway, today he was outside when we were calling him in for bedtime.  Newsflash: he HATES to sleep so he said he was working. His work was helpfully pulling the all the petals off of  the roses and making a pile with them.

His not so sweet side lately is throwing.  He has a GREAT arm and aim and has been throwing a lot lately.  Unfortunately, hitting people in the head with a wooden toy or train from across the room or knocking over a glass with a fork from across the table.  Hopefully we can redirect the throwing to balls when he is outside.

Touch a Truck

 As much as Josie loves doing art,  playing dolls and princesses (and Benjamin goes along) Benjamin loves fire trucks, trains, tractors and anything "boy" and Josie goes along.  It really is cool to see them embrace the passions of the other.
Last weekend we went to the Junior League's Touch a Truck event.  It was a hit with both of the kids. There were about 25 different types of trucks: Huge Semi trucks with full living space in the cabin, fire trucks, ambulances, garbage and recycle trucks, a huge crane, a metro bus, a Seattle public library bus where the kids could check out library books etc. etc. etc.  The kids were able to get into each vehicle and push as many buttons as they wanted.  And push buttons, they did!!!  Benjamin was in HEAVEN. Josie liked it too.

 There was even the Comcast repair truck with some freebies.

 Josie loves getting her face painted.To say it was crowded would be an understatement.  Even the playground was swarming with people.   We had a great day touching trucks!

Little Artists

Yesterday we spent some time at a kid's art studio in West Seattle.  The kids spent over an hour silently working on various art projects.  It was a huge hit with all of us :) 

These are just a few of their projects.. octopus, jelly fish, kites, random paintings..etc, etc. etc., 

The woman who worked there gave the kids a leaf to write their names on and then she wanted to add it to the tree on the wall.  Josie really wanted her leaf to be at the very top.  Having an extremely tall daddy, she always assumes these things are possible.  Unfortunately, having an extremely short mommy doesn't always make it so.  Thankfully the woman got out a ladder and put it up high for her.  It made her day.  That girl knows what she wants and won't stop until she gets it.  Frustrating at times but a really good life skill that will pay off in the future I'm sure.  
Young at Art  we will definitely be back!!

THURSDAYS

Thursdays have become my busiest and most favorite day of the week.  I start off with some quality time just Benjamin and me at his co-op preschool.  Here is his first official school photo.  Pretty handsome little guy. 

Benjamin and I race home from preschool just in time to drop him off with Franziska. Josie jumps in the car and we head to her preschool.  Since returning from Europe I've worked my normal Wednesdays in her classroom but also most Thursdays as well either to make up for my missed time or to help out with special events or field trips.  Last week I was able to go on their field trip to Alki and explore during low tide.

Josie and her good friend, Hank

 Teacher Linda going over the finer details of a crab

 Exploring under rocks

Josie and her entire preschool class

The week prior the kids spent a lot of time making their own kites.  After exploring at the beach we walked up to a field and the kids were able to fly them.  I know I've said this before but these few hours with Josie are some of the best hours we spend together each week.  

And if that wasn't enough for my day.. after preschool on Thursdays, Josie and I head straight to dance class after preschool.  Phew!!  Busy but very satisfying day :)

Welcome Franziska!!

This post is 6 weeks over due... Back in Berlin (which I have yet to post about) we met our new nanny, Franziska, and her entire family.  After a not so good experience with our last nanny we were a bit anxious.  We had talked with Franziska through Skype several times but until you meet someone face to face you just never know.  We had no need to worry.  From the moment we met her we could tell she was going to be a super addition to our family. 

We met up in Berlin at Legoland.  Her and Josie hit it off immediately and we had a great time getting to know her parents and her brother.  I know if Josie ever decided to do something like this I would so appreciate the opportunity to get to know her prospective host parents and family.   Here are a few photos from Legoland.

She has been with us for about 6 weeks and fits in so nicely.  Not to mention does a fabulous job with the kids.  Both Benjamin and Josie are singing German songs and speaking/understanding German. Her and Josie spend hours doing art projects and Benjamin enjoys riding piggy back, singing songs and blowing bubbles.  Welcome to our family, Franziska!!

Sesame Street Live

On Sunday Marty got us free tickets to see Sesame Street Live.  Marty couldn't go with us but thankfully, Aunt Liz was able to meet us. On the way there the kids zonked out for pretty much the entire drive from West Seattle to Everett.  

But rest assured, once we got there they were as lively as ever.   Before the show began there were a bunch of things to do in the lobby.  Mostly just a bunch of cut-out Sesame Street figure which all had buttons on them to make them talk.  Benjamin insisted on pushing every single one.  Multiple times. 

Talking Count,  Talking Abby and Talking Oscar

During the show they sat mesmerized by the action on the stage.

And afterward Aunt Liz treated us to "Old McDonalds"  Benjamin's first taste of McDonalds... first if you don't count the two big macs I ate while pregnant.