Signs of Spring

 Friday on our way to pick up Hailee from school, James and I decided that the day was too nice and we needed to play outside. It felt like Spring was just around the corner.

 Once we picked up Hailee, James just couldn't wait anymore. He thought Hailee and I were going much to slow and ran ahead of us.

 Unfortunately most of the park had quite a bit of water from all the melting snow. Thankfully the fun see-saw and swing were just fine.

 The kids had a great time playing. Hailee and James love this see-saw. It goes up and down and around in circles. It's like a swing and see-saw in one. I just have to give it a push and they go up and down and around.

Then it was off to go pick up dad so we could have a nice relaxing weekend. There are definitely signs of Spring all around us. I wonder if we'll get any more snow this year. I am looking forward to a little bit warmer weather this next week at least.

Way-go's and other fun things....

James has been talking more and more lately. It seems every time we have company he starts talking more right after company leaves. This time was no different and been a chatty little guy lately. Some of the funny things he's been saying and doing lately...

• "I don't like it." Todd was working late so I got the kids some dinner before he got home. While I was getting their drinks, James came and brought me his un-touched plate of food. When I questioned what he was doing he responded, "I don't like it." When I told him that is what we were having for dinner he said again, "but I don't like it." They funny thing is that it was something that he normally would eat. I finally got him back sitting to the table and he ate a little of it, but I think he ended up filling up on yogurt when Todd got home.

•  "Way-go's." Not to be outdone by his big sister, James loves playing with Lego's. Also know in our house as "way-gos." One particular day he decided he didn't want to do anything but play with "way-gos." Any time I told him it was time to go somewhere he would quickly look up from his legos and say "No no no...I wan a pay way-gos." 

•  He loves playing with his legos, but sometimes his sister's legos look too interesting. One day when he wanted to play with them I made sure I stayed with him so he could carefully play with them. He did really good and we didn't lose even one little hedgehog from Hailee's Veterinary Hospital. I was proud of James for playing so nicely with her sets. Once Hailee got home it took all of 15 seconds for her to notice that something was amiss. "Mom, did someone play with my legos." It was so funny how quickly she recognized her things had been "played" with. She was happy that everything still seemed to be there, so she wasn't too mad and her mom and brother.

• "Strawp" (rhymes with drop).  Hailee has long enjoyed having straws for her drinks. James has decided that he too prefers to have a drink of milk with a "Strawp." Thanks to a late nap on Friday, wasn't ready to go to bed at 7:30 like normal. Todd and I decided to watch a movie while he finish droning off some energy. Half way in the movie just after eight he was starting to get tired and asked for his milk. We paused the movie and got him his milk, right after I got settled down again he started demanding a "strawp." Wanting to avoid the tantrum, have him drink his milk, and go to bed I got up to get him one. I told him he was a little toad and brought him back his "strawp." He just smiled and put his straw in the cup and proceeded to drink without the straw and a big smirk on his face. Which of course made his dad laugh and laugh. He is such a little tease. He then finished his milk with his straw and went to bed. He loves to tease.
• He has also decided to speak out of the corner of his mouth. I'm not sure when it came from and he doesn't do it all the time, but a fair amount of the time he looks a lot like L. Tom Perry when speaking. It's quite funny.
• We have thankfully had a sort of break through with the boy. He is finally understanding what a "time-out" means. He would always sit there, but her never really understood why he was sitting there. I think he mostly just thought his mother was crazy. The last month or so he is finally getting it. We've had lots of talks about what is "appropriate" (and there is nothing cuter than hearing him say "appropriate"). He's not perfect yet by any stretch of the imagination, but he is getting better. Now when I tell him he's done something wrong he understands and will always say "Oh sorry mom." It doesn't always stop the behavior, somethings are just too fun, but it's at least helping.
• "I want to try some pajamas." Saturday night Hailee was putting on her Christmas pajamas. My mom send the kids matching pajamas. For whatever reason, James thought Hailee was putting on his pajamas and became quite upset by it. I had to get his out and show him that he indeed still had his pajamas tucked away in his drawer that he refused to wear. He prefers to sleep in his underwear. Then he surprised us all by saying "I want to try some pajamas."  What? Voluntarily asking for clothes when he knows we're not going outside. True to his word he picked out some pajamas to try out. He kept them on until it was time for bed and then he stripped down again to go to sleep. At least it was progress....right?

He really does keep us on our toes with all his teasing and mischief, but none of us would know what to do without him. He keeps us all laughing all the time.

Königsee & Salzburg

While Kristy and Carl were here we wanted to show them some of our favorites places so we gave them lists of things to do. Two of the things they chose were Salzburg and Königsee. Since they are fairly close to each other we decided we could do them both on the same day. It worked out perfectly.

Königsee was beautiful, unfortunately because of the ice they boats weren't going out to some of the other stops, but from what we could see it was beautiful. We have now seen Königsee in the Summer, Fall, and Winter. I can't wait for the spring to see what it looks like then. It has been fun seeing some of our favorite places covered with snow for winter.

The lake only had ice for about 50 meters or so. It would have been nice to be able to see more, but it was really beautiful. 

 Salzburg was lovely too. Although we've been there a few times we did add a few things that we hadn't done before. We took the funicular up to the top to the Salzburg Fortress. We took a few little tours around, but my favorite were the views from the top. Salzburg is such a beautiful city. Our other favorite place was the new cafe/restaurant where we found the best hot chocolate. It was lovely on a chilly day.

 We did walk around a little bit as well to enjoy the city from below.

 At the fortress James found his favorite room full of robots. He loves the armor rooms. It was also very fun to learn the history of Salzburg.

James was excited to find a door just his size. I need to get a few of the pictures that Kristy and Carl took. Hailee was busy hanging out with them so I didn't get many pictures of her.

Overall it was a wonderful day. Everyone was exhausted by the end, but it was so much fun.

Aunt Kristy and Uncle Carl

We were so excited a few months ago when we find out Kristy and Carl were coming for a visit. We didn't get much of a chance at the wedding to get to know Carl, so we were looking forward to getting to know him better.

The kids thought they were coming just to see them, but we decided to make sure they got to see a little of where we lived as well. They came at the perfect time. The cold spell we've had has finally let up a little bit and we're getting closer to freezing instead of miles away from freezing. Saturday we took them to see our favorite castle in Germany. It was really fun seeing some of our favorite things covered in snow. They look a lot different than during the spring or summer.

It ended up being a beautiful day with some really nice weather. But since there was snow around James decided to start a little trouble. What could be more fun than a snowball fight while we were waiting for our turn to tour the second castle.

 That little face just says it all. He likes causing a little trouble. The only thing he likes more than throwing snowballs is to actually get snowballs thrown at him.

You wouldn't believe the laughter that followed this snowball. He was in heaven. He was sad to say good-bye to the snowball fun and go into the castle, but for the most part he does fairly well on these tours. Of course, Todd and I have to carry him, because there are just too many interesting things that need to be touched.

While James was busy causing trouble Hailee was keeping herself busy (and out of the line of snowballs) building two adorable miniature snowmen. She was thrilled when we came out of the castle and they were still there guarding the castle.

Lego Friends

It's about time, I must say, that Lego finally came up with something this great for girls.

 Olivia's Science Lab

 Olivia's Tree house

Regular lego man vs Lego Friends girl

Todd saw an article in December that Lego was finally launching a girl line of legos that were coming out the beginning of January. We've looked in Germany, but I don't think they have hit stores here yet. The only surprise Hailee wanted from my trip was some lego friends.

 Needless to say, Lego finally hit the mark with their girl line of legos. She was thrilled and still is. She loves the building, but also loves the playing with them afterward.

She also got the Vet hospital for Valentine's day and had fun putting it together with Aunt Kristy when they were here on Sunday. Our little girl could not be happier.

Sick Days

Just after I got back from the US we all started taking turns getting sick. James first, then Hailee and Todd and now I'm finally having my turn. It's not fun to see little ones so miserable, but there are a few advantages, with James especially. For one, he turns into a cuddle bug. I love all the cuddle time I get with him. For another, he puts himself downs for naps and bedtime. I don't have to drag him off to bed ever day. He's ready for a break. So while being sick isn't fun, I do love the sweet time with the guy.

The only thing Hailee wants to do when she is sick is to read a book. The other nice thing is she is much better at taking her medicine than her baby brother. She is also a sweet little bug when she is sick, but she prefers drinking juice and enjoying a book....or ten.

Todd and I when we are sick just try to keep up with what we can. We did have one fun day when Todd got sent home from work (the people in his meeting didn't want him spreading his germs so they sent him home). It's always fun to have a quiet day at home together, even if we were sick.

Aunt Carla

Birth is not the beginning and death is not the end.

At the end of January we lost my Aunt Carla to cancer. I was so lucky to grow up by my aunts and uncles and even luckier that my mom got married young.  I got to enjoy being spoiled/teased by so many of her younger siblings. (My mom is the oldest and got married at 19.) Aunt Carla was always one of my favorites. While some the others loved to tease, tickle, and torment Carla was always the sweetest. She was even my nursery leader for a while.

As we grew aunts and uncles married and started families of their own. They never had as much time for teasing. Carla, however, never married and always stayed the fun aunt. She spoiled us all rotten and the best part was that the sweetness and spoiling even continued to my own children. Unfortunately I didn't live as close we once did when I was a kid. One of my favorite time with aunt Carla in recent years was Christmas 2009. We went to Arizona and for a week before Christmas we got to stay with Carla. It was so fun to see my kids enjoying the same things I did as a kid. They got to enjoy my grandparents and to be spoiled by aunt Carla. Both kids immediately knew that there was something really special about aunt Carla. 

So when I got the news at the beginning of January that she wasn't doing well I was so sad. The thing I don't really enjoy about this life is being so far away. Sometimes it would be so nice to be around the corner from grandpa and grandmas house. But life is about growing and learning and moving about. When I found out she had peacefully past away. I was wishing I could be 'home' but I didn't even let myself think about it too long. Buying a ticket four days before leaving seemed crazy. Before I even got off the phone Todd was checking his work schedule. He really wanted me to be able to go. In the next day miracles happened. Todd has a light schedule and we were able to find reasonably priced tickets (although Todd told me he didn't care how much tickets were). So I left my babies for the first time ever and Todd stepped in to be super dad while I was away. He even made breakfast every morning and learned how to do Hailee's hair. 

So with my children in very good hands I was able to relax and enjoy my visit with my Wagner family. And in true Wagner fashion we enjoyed our time together. There were tears but there were lots of sweet memories and laughter as well. Aunt Carla was right in the very middle of nine kids. Every one was there along with all her nieces and nephews (except for the four that are serving missions right now.) Every single one of us had so many sweet memories of Carla, and in her kind quiet way she touched each one of us.  She will be missed by all of us until we are reunited again. She just got to finish this test earlier than the rest of us. 

Sledding

We are in the middle of quite a cold spell here in Europe. It's been cold to say the very least. But before this cold spell that caused snow to fall in Rome we were having a winter with very little snow. Back in the middle of January we had a little bit of snow and we decided to meet up with some friends to go sledding by our house.  As you can see in the pictures there was very little snow, but it was enough to have a little bit of fun in the morning.

 

I've decided that winter activities are just terrible for pictures. These pictures were taken on our iPod. It's just too hard to take the camera out when we are out sledding.

On the walk back home we noticed Bayern München was having an open practice. We decided to take a quick look.

James would have gladly stayed the entire time. It was fun to be so close to the practice. The soccer player on the right is Arjen Robben, a Dutch football player, who is considered to be one of the best soccer players in the world. While we were there Robben took a corner kick. James thought he was taking too long to take it and jumped out of his stroller to take it. We were about 3 feet away from him, but thankfully I was able to catch him before he made his Bayern debut. I was surprised with how much he really enjoyed watching the practice. We are going to have to check the schedule again as soon as it's warm enough to watch again.

The next week we tried going up to the mountain to sled, but unfortunately it rained on us. We were just a little too early for the season. Now it's the perfect time for sledding. Hopefully we'll get a chance to get up to the mountains before the snow goes away.