Fun & Games

Our publishing company had a big party in the lobby and on the plaza in front of our office tower. The motto was "Western", so there was no question the boys had to stop by. Both tried out their best movie star poses (I guess Karll will go into action comedy, Henri into romantic drama, even though in private they do switch genres).

There were free ribs and sausages and sodas from very Western town looking stalls, some rodeo games and a mechanical bull (for cowboys 8 and up only though). Of course it was a success.

There's been a distinct summer camp atmosphere settling over our new digs lately. There's nightly ball games (especially since "Opa" grandpar Paul brought the boys and original soccer A-league ball) and water gun battles, the kiddie pool and of course the ice cream parlor next door.

Soon to post - our expedition to the surrounding lakes and ponds. This year summer vacations definitely started early.

Witness The Fitness

Saturday Morning Paradise

Karl Style

Henri Style

A Star Is Born (The Karl Chapter)

Today it was Karl's turn to shine at his Kindergarten's summer party. He had applied (and gotten) the role of lead owl in a production of the Gruffalo.

There was some real choreographed dancing and on-mike lines.

Being "father owl" he was one of the leads who got to be center stage through the whole piece (which all in all took about 45 minutes).

Afterwards there was a tournament of games, which was a great way to let off steam. There was some downhill beer crate racing (we are in Bavaria after all).

Karl learned a hard lesson in teamwork - when you're doing the double ski game with a partner who doesn't know left from right you better develop some instant leadership skills, even if you're in the tail-gunner position.

Henri had better luck. While not really in control he had the world's best co-pilot on board.

Who's also a great motivator.

There were also some handyman skills required, which Henri nailed pretty well (pun intended - game supervision courtesy of Laura and her mom by the way).

And yup, downhill beer crate racing was the fave.

Since you got to pick a little prize as soon as you finished the circle of five games Karl actually went for three tournaments in a row.

He sure was exhausted when we got home tonight. And mightily proud.

A Star Is Born (The Henri Chapter)

Yesterday there was the big summer party at Henri's daycare. The kids had rehearsed a great muscial based on the Katzentanzlied (cat dance song) from the ever so popular "Anne Kaffeekanne" album by Fredrik Vahle.

Henri was all focused backstage. Well as he should - he had landed the romantic lead. The storyline is about a kittycat who doesn't want to dance with any of the animals until finally the tomcat shows up.

The tomcat knows how to treat a kittycat right - he licks and kisses her.

And in the happy end scene kittycat and tomcat dance.

Of course we were bursting with parental pride that Henri had the only role that required some acting (you go and lick a kittycat with a straight face and follow it up with a gracious dance, you'll see).

Even Karl was proud of his little brother.

And nothing says celebration like a lap of honor on the dance-floor with mom.

Henri did thoroughly enjoy his shining moment.

Karl's been a bit nervous ever since. Because today it's his turn - he will play the owl in a staging of the Gruffalo. To be continued....

The Boys In The Band



 Yesterday our office band finally played an afternoon show, so the boys finally got to go see dad do a rock show. It was a pretty packed open air event down at the Tollwood Festival. And of course they had to do that cute kids-on-the-stage-thing that seems to be a staple of every self-respecting open air concert since Woodstock (funny enough Crosby, Stills & Nash played Tollwood the day after, albeit on a slightly larger stage).



 Henri was really into the saxophone (which might have had something to do with the fact that dad was manning that back in the horn section). Karl was more into the electric guitars (despite his aversion to loud noises, which made them retreat back up to the grassy knoll above the festival grounds, where he had some pretty impressive air guitar battles with his brother).