Chiemsee

This past weekend we went to the Chiemsee area (at the foothills of the Alps) to see our good friends Hansi and Doris. They live in a itt-bitty village called Marwang. It has a cute church, is surrounded by lovely fields and loads of farms. It was a nice little retreat.

Markus and Amelia with the lovely countryside in the background.

When we got there, the weather was a bit of crap, so we decided to go to the indoor pool in Prien. It was nice, but I don't think it 7.90 Euro for 2 hours nice...it is, however, directly on the Chiemsee, so I really shouldn't have expected anything less. The tiles on the floor were so slippery, I almost fell about 5 times with Amelia, Markus the same amount, and Amelia did actually fall 3 times. One positive thing for it is that all of the pools were very warm, so we could go all over the place (i.e. in the baby pool, main pool and the "hot" tub). Markus took Amelia on the slide...I don't know if she was a fan...it was completely dark most of the time...I didn't like it too much. I'm not a fan of the dark though.

"Uncle Hansi...You're tall..."

It was pretty cute in the "hot" tub though...it had the temperature of kid's bath water, so it wasn't a real hot tub. Amelia got plenty of smiles...and she was flirting with this cute gay couple for about 10 minutes. That was pretty funny. Then our 2 hours were up and we had to go.

Amelia being sure we all know that there is a light up there...

When we got back to H&D's house, Doris had already started making homemade pizza. There were two, one with tuna and super spicy and another non-spicy one with ham. I ate the one with ham as I am not a fan of tuna on my pizza...It was lovely!

Mmmmmm...pizza....

Hansi always have lovely wine. He just joined this club where they send you 3 different organic wines every quarter. They are decently prices (between 5 and 8 Euro) and absolutely AMAZING! Check them out! Delinat...seriously good wine. I have already ordered some for when mom comes and they just arrived today! Can't wait to try them out!

Hansi giving Amelia an olive...she loves them.

So, back to our trip...We get Amelia to bed at her normal time, around 8:30 and we stay up chatting until around 11, at which time we were all tired and decided to call it a night. Oh, how I wish it was a good night. Amelia decided to be up at 1 and not want to sleep in her bed anymore...ok, fine, come and sleep with us. That was fine before...before she tossed and turned ALL NIGHT LONG!! Good lord! I think Markus and I really only slept those first two hours and then roughly 10 minutes of every hour...otherwise there was a hand, or a foot, or a farting butt in our face...not fun. Needless to say, there was lots of coffee to be had that morning.

Walking over to the ponies...Amelia likes to walk holding hands when outside...which makes for a seriously cute picture

After our loads of coffee, Amelia was ready for a nap...only after being up for about an hour...not usual, so I am guessing she slept just as horridly. So, I put her down, and she slept for almost an hour and a half! That was ok by me. We got to chat some more without chasing her around and keeping her away from the cats...she LOVES cats, but these two were petrified of her.

Looking at the ponies

So, when she got up, we went to go first look at Hansi's little vineyard that he has planted and look at the Shetland Ponies. In Marwang, there is a Shetland Pony breeder and they are really nice animals. Very sweet and cute. So, if you're in the market for a Shetland Pony, get one here.
Then it came time for us to leave...sad, but I know that we'll see them again soon. They must come up to Weiden for a weekend next summer (or earlier) since we've been there twice now...hint hint Hansi! :)

Look! A Pony!!!

Updates

So, since I have been neglecting the blog, I have a few updates...

Our neighbors from hell are still around. However, after our little altercation, I didn't see them until yesterday, so a good 3 weeks. Mr. Polish Prick was coming home with his dog as Markus, Amelia and I were on our way out with Charlie. Luckily we met them outside and not in the hallway. Charlie really wanted to go over and give the guy a piece of his mind, but we thought better of it and made him sit next to us as they walked by. I gave the guy a pretty neutral look...he, as per the norm, gave me a pretty horrid look. Whatever.

Oh, and have I heard back from housing management about my complaint and if there was anything they could do? Nope. Not a peep. It has been 3 weeks. This doesn't bode well for our new housing management peeps (we just got new ones in July or so...).

Amelia is doing wonderfully though. We had her U6 (her 1 year checkup) on August 31st. The doctor was quite impressed with her development. She was really quick at taking the tower apart and finding the little toy in the bottom...and promptly taking it out. And she also followed directions given to her by the doctor to bang two toys together. That is one of Amelia's fav things to do...that and put objects into other objects...like a ball into box and shake it around until the ball goes flying out.

She is quite small. She's in the 10th percentile for weight and the 40th for height. The doctor even wrote in her notes, "sehr zierliches kind" (very dainty child), but then also wrote down, "sehr gut entwickelt" (very well developed), so I'm not worried at all. She runs around a lot, and eats a lot...so she just burns off everything that she eats. Hey, and it is MUCH better for my back that she's so light...I know with our next one in a few years, I'll be cursed with a giant baby...I just know it.

Amelia's stats as of August 31st:
7720 grams
72.5 cm long
44.5 cm head circumference

So, all in all, the past three weeks have been good...not too eventful. We went to the Chiemsee to visit our friends, Hansi and Doris (post to come) and had a nice weekend. This weekend we have no plans, but then next weekend we have huge plans!

Next weekend is the WEBMU (Whiny Expat Blogger Meet Up). It is in Hamburg and is conveniently over my birthday. ;) I finally get to meet one blogger, Tiffany @ NOH (a fellow Texan I might add!), that I have become friends with because we just started chatting through our blogs (and then on Facebook). And I get to see some bloggers I haven't seen since the last meet up in Munich. Last year was a blast and I can't wait for this years! Especially since it is in Hamburg...Markus sister (and Amelia's godmother), Sabine, lives in Hamburg. She is really great. And my birthday present from her is that she'll watch after Amelia Saturday night (so that Markus and I can hit up some gay bars with the Expats) AND Sunday night (so that Markus can take me out for my b-day...hint, hint Markus). So excited!

Then, two days after we get back from Hamburg, my mom comes!! Talk about an action packed September!! Can't wait!

Sand box with friends

Yesterday, we were in Regensburg for a little brunch and city time with friends. It was quite nice I must say. It wasn't too hot and there was a lovely breeze. We went to Black Bean over near Janda's house (since we were waiting for Jonathan to wake up from his nap so they could join us). At this particular Black Bean, they have a wonderful courtyard, and what did we discover? A sand box. With toys! Score! So, we moved over there and had some wonderful photo ops.

Stinker face...;)

"What?"

With her good buddy Clair...

Clair sharing the toys...such a good older friend!

Sandra and Harald

Our friends, Sandra and Harald, got married this past weekend. It was absolutely lovely. They got married at a little chapel at the Burg Wernberg, and the reception was there as well. It was really a splendid evening. I read a poem by Roy Croft for her at the ceremony (and then I got such compliments for my American English accent ;) ). We had coffee and some wonderful strawberry cake. I also had a piece of this chocolate cake that was so rich and delicious! I need that recipe!

Amelia and I before the ceremony

The happy couple coming out of the chapel.

It was also nice to have Amelia there for only part of the wedding. Marianne and Sabine came and picked her up around 6pm, so that Markus and I could enjoy the wonderful evening. She had loads of fun with Oma and Tante...playing on the bed, chasing Charlie and Findus, walking around...and then an huge treat when she got to sleep with Oma in her bed. I tried to warn Marianne that she moves around a lot and makes loads of noises when she sleeps...she learned this the hard way, but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Walking around the castle.

Where we had coffee and cake...in the little courtyard of the castle.

Daddy and Amelia

We had the most amazing meal that evening too. It was a 5 course meal full of amazingness. We started off with an amuse bouche of smoked fish mousse on an asparagus salad. Then moved on to a speckled trout tartar with a mixed green salad. Next up was the most amazing spinach and ricotta raviolis...seriously, this was so good my mouth is watering just thinking about it! The "main" course was a guinea fowl breast on top of glazed vegetables with potato and olive au gratin. For dessert, we had a buttermilk mouse with a berry sorbet and a most wonderful sauce...I really wanted to lick my plate it was so good, but seeing that we were sitting at a 5 star restaurant, that was probably a bad idea. ;)

The night carried on with dancing and then there was a show put on by Sandra's brother in which he and his friends twirled batons of fire and swallowed fire...it was really cool and pretty amazing.

At 1am, we had to go. I had a huge milchstau and was in loads of pain. For those who don't know what a milchstau is...I'm still nursing a bit and Amelia hadn't nursed in about 12 hours at this point...you get the picture... We appoligized for having to go, but I assured Sandra that this was the latest that I have been up in a LONG time and that we had the most splendid time, which we most definitely did!

So congrats to Harald and Sandra! I hope you have a long, healthy life with each other...and of course, I hope you are blessed with many, many kids. ;)

Onion Creek

Today we went over to my friend, Maria's house...well, ok, her parent's house, but whatever. They have LOADS of land, horses, goats, chickens, dogs, puppies...ok, so really it is ranch. We went mainly for the animals, but ended up taking a dip in Onion Creek that runs through the property.

We started off with the pups since they were running all around and were just happy as could be to see people. There was lots of happy peeing, licking, jumping, tackling...it was adorable. Gavin and Jaxon really liked the pups. Amelia did too...she was flailing her arms and legs in such excitement! Too cute!
Then we went over to the goat area. Gavin pretty much immediately broke out in hives...note to self, Gavin is allergic to goats so next time bring the benadryl. He went back to play with the puppies. The goats loved Jaxon's shorts and they kept coming and nibbling at the tie stings and at the bottom of the shorts. He kept telling them, "Stop eating my shorts, goats!!" It was adorable.
Amelia really liked the goats. She got to pet them and even ride one. We held her on there, no worries. It was cute, the goat she was on was really interested in her sun hat strings and kept turning around trying to nibble on them...then another came over to nibble on them too...it was funny.
After the goats, we were going to head over to see the chickens, but Gavin saw the river and made a bee line for it...well, also since the dogs were down there. :)

The boys walked along the dam there, which they both enjoyed since they were being quite adventurous.
Then Maria had the wonderful idea of just letting them jump in...she jumped in fully clothed and we got the boys down to their underwear and they had a blast swimming around with Maria.
Of course, we couldn't forget about Amelia...we got her naked and she had a blast going around with Maria...and drinking a bit of river water...yum!
All in all, today was a great day. It wore the kids out...it wore grandma out...it wore me out! Amelia was in bed at 8:30, which was quite nice I must say. We are headed over there again on Thursday to see those chickens we missed and, of course, to go swimming! :)

Amelia & Charlie

We were having some family floor time today, which we do just about every day, but today it was special. Charlie was here! We have him for the weekend, and he seriously cannot be any cuter with Amelia! All he wants to do is lick her hands (since there is mommy milk residue on them!) and sniff her face (for probably the same reasons). We were listening to some of her songs while cuddling on the floor and Charlie decided that he also wanted in on the action, so he came over an snuggled right in. I had to get the camera. It was way too adorable! So, here are some pictures of the adorableness!

Cuddle!

I want to snuggle with you!

Nap time??

Ok...Enough with all this sleeping! Let's play!!!

Oh, and I know Charlie's collar is on upside down...I noticed it after I took all the pics...Markus put it on half asleep this morning :)

Amelia has a Boyfriend!

We were at our friend's house for his birthday dinner the other night. It was the normal people there, Hias and Ramona (the hosts), Fischi and Katl, Gonso and Claudia with their two sons, Moritz and Jonas, and Stefan. It was loads of fun. Hias and Ramona made some really awesome lasagne, and this wonderful Italian layer cake thing...kind of like a tiramisu minus the coffee and with lemon zest in the marscapone cheese...quite good. Amelia slept for the first couple of hours, which rocked so that I could eat with two hands instead of one :). Thank you little girl! I finally decided to wake her up so that our friends could see that yes, she is sometimes awake (most of the times that we've seen them, she's just slept)...and I also decided to wake her up becuase my boobs hurt.

Well, after she was well fed and burped, she got passed around to all the ladies and one little man in particular...Moritz. Moritz was absolutely smitten with Amelia. It was too adorable, and I am so happy that I had my camera so that I could snap some pics of the adorableness! Enjoy!

Moritz and Amelia
"Go give her a kiss on the cheek Moritz!" "OK!"
He kept going up to her to give her a hug or a kiss on the cheek...too cute!!!

The Great Pumpkin Party

Yesterday, we were over at our friend Tammy's house for a pumpkin carving party. It was great fun. Amelia got to wear her Halloween costume and Markus and I were able to chat with some of our friends...did I say it was great? I made a cherry pie, a pumpkin cheese cake and some sugar and spice pecans...YUM!

Amelia in her frog costume that Grandma brought her all the way from the US!
It was Markus and my first gathering with friends and loads of kids. One of them, our friend Imani's little girl Aminah was just so infatuated with Amelia...they're going to BFF's I just know it! She was quite cute with Amelia, always going up to her and giving her kisses on her hand...then sticking her finger in Amelia's mouth...yup, that is totally best friend material :)

Amelia and Aminah
Ahh, and then the pumpkin carving. Markus and I couldn't find a decent pumpkin...just these really small ones that were probably just 2 pounds or something...nothing that we could actually carve in to...so this week, I'm going to be on the lookout for a decent pumpkin so that we can carve it here. This may involve a trip to the Wednesday market in town...darn! :)

For Penny, one of the ladies there, this was her first time ever to carve a pumpkin. She said that in Ireland, where she's from, they used turnips...interesting. Never heard of that one, but alrighty :). Anywho, her pumpkin turned out awesome! Not bad for a beginner Penny! Her son Nathan was helping us take out the pumpkin guts and Luca, her other son was busy trying to climb on anything...he was in a devil costume :)

Nathan with his mom's pumpkin
So, the pumpkins were carved and the kids were watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown", so it was time to head over to the food table to try some other of the goodies that were brought. Christina brought some salmon spread that was super good (which reminds me I need to get the recipe!), Tammy and Matthias (our hosts) has a vegetable platter with this awesome dressing (of which I also need the recipe) and Penny brought something Irish, and I don't remember the name, but it never got opened and I wish I had tried it! Next time, next time :)



All in all, it was a great time. The kids were dressed up...we had a fireman (Nathan), a devil (Luca), a knight (Oliver), a bat (Clair), a sweet little girl (Aminah) and of course a frog (Amelia). We parents left our costumes at home...no wait...we were all dressed up as parents...cool parents of course!

Here we are with the pumpkins...unfortunately, Christina had to go home early, so she and her pumpkin aren't here...her's was pretty cool...it was a bat. She's got mad skillz at pumpkin carving :) Well...actually, they all had mad skillz...I was just the cleaner (being sure all the pumpkin guts were out)...

Our Day in Regensburg

Yesterday, Markus and I were in Regensburg. We were meeting up with some other English speakers at lovely Cafe Kona in the Altstadt to have coffee, chat and trade some books. The great thing about Kona is that they have bagels. These aren't just any bagels, they are the best bagels I've been able to find in Germany.

It was really nice. There were some new people there, some that were there last time and my good friend Sarah. She's pretty rockin'. So we were there for a couple of hours chatting and having coffee. Markus enjoyed it and was able to find a book he was interested in. He was the only male there, but he really did enjoy it.

After we were finished there, Markus, Sarah and I decided it would be great to go to this wonderful Middle Eastern restaurant called Exil. YUM! Luckily, I was having a good day yesterday in relation to the nausea, so I was able to enjoy my meal only once. :) Sarah's husband met up with us and so did Christina and An. These ladies are really great and have MANY interesting stories to tell. It was loads of fun and I really can't wait for the next expat meet up. It is nice to have such an eclectic group of friends. I love it!

Today, Markus is in Hamburg for work. I hope that everything is going well. Charlie and I are relaxing here at home. It is snowing (just a little though) so Charlie is a happy puppy.

New Year's 2008/2009

New Year's this year was pretty laid back. We spent it with some close friends and their children. We made Raclette, which was really good. We also had a chocolate fountain and a waffle maker. It was pretty interesting. At midnight we set off fireworks and drank sparkling wine...it was really nice. I, however, only took pictures of Mortiz, my friend's son. I'm sure that Hias will give me some of the photos that he took though. So, without further ado, here is Moritz Forster...

Look at that smile! What a cutie!

BUBBLES!!!