Prince of Hipsters

Boys' Day Off

Karl had a day off today, so while Henri and Fred had to go to their respective employers we roamed the greater neighborhood. Took a bus to the library, where we ran into Karl's library buddy Laura (who obviously had the same return dates than we did from our outing two weeks ago). After we returned our last loot and stacked up on some new stuff there was pizza lunch with deserts and reading in the cafe.

And why not get a quick haircut while we're already out. Now we're back home lounging. I can hear some loud giggling from upstairs, so I guess he made the right library choices.

Partytime

It was partytime for Henri who had his buddies Julie, Nicholas and Charlotte over to celebrate his birthday. So there were strawberry cakes and presents and snacks and of course the by now customary puppet show.

The audience was definitively receptive to the story of Kasperl and the princess looking for the robber king Hotzenplotz who robbed the real king's treasure, meeting various dangerous animals and creatures along the way who turned out to be friends.

Karl and I had practiced in the morning, but there were some last minute changes. Karl decided he finally wanted to watch a puppet show (since he had spent the ones at his parties backstage), while Henri followed his brother's lead and insisted on being part of the production side. So there were some new twists and turns in the story to incorporate, but Henri was a great fellow player.

After the main show was over the story continued in a free for all multiplayer session of improvised murder and mayhem.

Henri in the menatime used his newfound stage fame to woo the ladies.

Quite successfully I'd say.

Three

This adorable little person is three years old today.



As much as it is unbelievable where all the time went, it is also completely impossible to imagine life without Henri (and Karl of course). The happiest of birthdays to you my love!



I know you can't hear me. You're busy checking out the goods... (Thank you Maria for the book!)

Art Installation

Back To Paradise

Today was finally the day Karl got his library card. His good friend Laura from Kindergarten tagged along. Laura is a seasoned library veteran, so she was able to show Karl around and explain to me, how to use the fancy new checkout computer. Karl got himself a stack of books, CDs and a DVD. Bliss!

You Know Where Paradise Is?

Karl saw paradise today and it's - a library! He couldn't believe that there is a place that has almost everything your heart desires (story books, Star Wars pictorials, science books, all his favorite CD series, childrens' DVDs, even three shelves full of comic strips) and they lend it to you for free!

They even have little stage plays dramatizing popular childrens' books. Which was the original reason we were there.

It was hard to get him outta there.

Random Henri shot - on the phone with grandpa Paul, who made him laugh repeatedly (repetition seems to be the key to pre-fart joke child humor).

Boys' Sunday

Karl decided to open a detective's office on Sunday. He admitted that he will have to grow a bit into his new role.

Henri in the meantime worked on his charme.

Later we went to the movies to see Madagascar 3. Karl loved it. Henri was bit intimidated by the setting and the huge wall of flashing, flickering colors, but evidently liked it too. Both are now hoping for rain, so we can go again.

Afterwards it was off to the old neighborhood. at our old Cafe Karl and Henri recapped the whole film for the proprietor Georg, who was actually rather happy to see them.

After pancakes there was a stroll along familiar streets with familiar seasonal decorations. No sign of homesickness though. Because home is a great, big, green house now.

Spring Sunday

The ice cream parlor next door was packed just like on a regular Summer day. It seemed that nobody noticed that it was only around zero degrees out and there's still lots of snow. Obviously the pure presence of the sun made everybody want to consume ice cream and my sons were no exception. Henri by the way is into the ice cream but not into the sun, therefore the face. Later on we also went for a walk in the forest. By accident, sort of. Long story involving our pellets heating unit, too tired to tell. We're ready for Andrian to come home!

Monkey Business

According to the forecast we were supposed to have a splendid day today, so we planned a trip to the zoo. We had to wait quite a bit for the splendid weather part, but in the late afternoon the sun finally came out. I'm so ready for Spring!



But there was enough to be seen under grey skies as well. A three-week-old gorilla baby,...



lions feeding,...



swings...



...and pelicans in a hothouse.



P.S.:

Mo' Roughhousing Indoors

Reading our blog these days one might be under the impression that we turned into extremely outdoorsy people.



This is not the case. There's still a lot of enjoying the great indoors going on.



Especially when lovely people like Karls frind Laura come over for a playdate.



Muffins were baked, sofas were taken apart, caves were built.



Unfortunately tourists (= Henri) were not allowed in the cave. Aaargh, the cruelty...