Ideas, ideas, ideas

I need ideas.....do I?
Christel-Ann's birthday is fast approaching. The theme has been decided on:
"Spa Sleepover"
Now what. Guest list is almost complete, we are looking at 8 girls.
My idea is to have different "wellness-stations" (hair, nails, facial), a "spa" buffet (fruit kebabs, cucumber sandwiches, smoothies) for lunch and the well liked junk (pizza) for dinner. A good soak in the Hot Tub for everyone and some chick flicks to watch before bed. A breakfast buffet in the morning and some yoga to wake up.
Now I need to figure out how to pull this off. The beach room downstairs is the main location, the Girls will bring their robes, swimsuits and sleeping bags. I have an idea of little goodies to give to the kids that will be a part of the wellness stations. What I don't know yet is
a) how will I pull this off (assuming Paul is going to hide off-shore)
b) how the invites should look like
c) what kind of goodie holder to use
d) any other detail.
I will ask Christel-Ann to pick colors, decide if she wants a cake or cupcakes etc.
This is where living close to family would be beneficial. I would totally love to enlist the help of my sis', have my niece be one of the guests, or give my favorite sister-in-law a chance to get away from her boys.
Now go ahead and give me your input!
By the way, she is asking for a kayak.

Roger Rabbit & Bugs Bunny

2 very surprised and happy Girls!

Emma-Louise with Bugs Bunny

Christel-Ann and Roger Rabbit

21 Degrees Celsius on Saturday, the Girls didn't really want to put on the long sleeve shirts.

Is it too late to be nice?

My favorite sister-in-law sent this to me. I love her.

When in Savannah, you must eat:

At "The Olde Pink House"
Last night Paul and I had a "Date Night". It was our 13th anniversary and we were looking at doing something really special. And while we have overlooked our anniversary in years past due to other Christmas Parties etc This year we did it! We decided we would go "somewhere else" not to one of our favorite places, we wanted to do something "Savannah". We found parking (wow!) and strolled through a few of the beautifully decorated squares of downtown Savannah. Reservations were a really good idea! We were a little bit early and decided to pay a visit to the bar. Paul treated me to one of my faves (yes, y'all know that now I would describe the perfect Martini) a Rasberry Martini and Paul enjoyed an Alsterwasser. The bartender Josh was a good guy, he just served Paul's special request. The Olde Pink House was built in 1771 as a private residence which makes the dining experience very interesting. We were seated right in front of a fireplace at a table for two. Very romantic. The menu was very southern, heavy on the seafood, Paul had a hard time deciding. We ordered the fried Brie with Red Pepper Sauce, green apple and grilled Baguette as an appetizer. Paul went with our attendants recommendation for his entree. A crispy scored Flounder with Apricot Shallot Sauce, creamy Grits and steamed Spinach. I don't do fish unless I know it is right out of the water and decided to go with a New York Strip Steak, Bordelaise Sauce, caramelized onions, twice baked potato and asparagus. My steak was a perfect medium rare and Paul received expert instructions on his Flounder. very good indeed, I did try it! At one point we must have mentioned the occasion to our attendant. Because our dessert was served on a small platter that was decorated with a Chocolate "Happy Anniversary" and an additional candle was placed on our table. We took a picture with Paul's cellphone, but I am not sure that I can upload it to the blog. After this fantastic Dinner we walked around downtown for a little while. Savannah is such a wonderful city. We really enjoy living here!
Happy 13th to us. And many more.

Laundry room - check

Here is a picture of our laundry area right after we moved in in the late summer of 2006.


We added some storage bins in 2007:



And here it is as of tonight. We took out washer and dryer to lay tiles, then stacked the dryer on top of the washer, cut the shelf in half, put one shelf on top of the existing shelf. Added counter top. We already had all the little hanging basket things and the rack that slides out and holds our laundry soap and bleach.


I think we are going to enjoy the Christmas Season as a Family before going back for more projects.

Help me out! ("challenged" foreigner here)

We got a letter from Christel-Ann's school. Since she has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, exemplified worthy character and has maintained a commendable attitude, she is cordially invited to join the National (junior) Beta Club.
And while I'm a mean googler, I would prefer some real life insight into this Club.

Christmas tree

No picture of ours (yet).
Growing up we had one Christmas tree. It was decorated with many different ornaments, ornaments that my parents had collected through the years, some came from my Grandparents, some were bought traveling, some where made by my sister and I. We always had a real tree and for the longest time nothing but real candles. My Grandfather insisted of a bucket of water next to the tree and preferred to stay in the living room with the tree while the candles were burning. A childhood friend of mine always had a "color theme" for her tree. I admired that (it was in the days when I didn't mind that such things cost a lot of money!).
And then I was introduced to the concept of more than one tree and I was intrigued by it!
To make a long story short, this year I have a second tree! Well actually fourth. Both Girls have a tree in their room. But I have another full size (6.5ft) tree in my house this year. It is in the guest room. It is white. It is getting a theme. Beach. I am ready for my 'rents to send me a ticket to the funny farm. But I love it. Now we have to take a lot of tropical vacations to collect ornaments from all over to decorate that tree. So far there isn't much on the tree, but I am hoping in a week or 2 I will have some ideas and something to show to everyone.

The mistery of the boot

Someone left a comment asking about the pneumatic boot and how it became a member of our family for the past 4 weeks.
Christel-Ann chose not to obey the rules of our trampoline. She injured herself. However throughout the week-end she limped inconsistently and continued to jump on the trampoline, we didn't think much of it. She was "a mess" that week-end, from time to time complaining of a sore throat, a headache, her ankle hurting, but then she played like she was "just fine". On Monday she went to school and by 10:00 am the nurse called to please take her to the Pediatrician. The Pediatrician gave her a shot for strep throat and quickly referred her to the Orthopedist who diagnosed an injured growth plate (luckily no fracture). We are in the run for the parents of the year award. In our defense, Christel-Ann can hear "symptoms" and experience such within seconds. She tried to convince me that she had an enlarged prostate at one point and time after listening to a commercial.
The pneumatic boot was worn "all the time" if she had to take more than 10 steps, she was quite bummed about it (especially because the accident happened right before her cruise) but disciplined.
Thursday night she was so excited about her appointment with the orthopedist. She packed her "other" shoe with her book bag, she was sure that on Friday Dr K would take the boot away from her and diagnose her as healed.

Nikolaus

Once again the Nikolaus made his way to Georgia! Yesterday Christel-Ann had her final appointment with her Orthopedist and after 4 weeks she no longer need the pneumatic walking boot that has been her constant companion for the past 4 weeks. However she decided it would serve one last purpose: to leave out for the Nikolaus that usually finds our children nice enough to treat them to something.

Floor!

The job is done! Tile done, baseboards done. Now onto the next project: our laundry area is getting a little face lift.

Black Friday

I think the "tradition" of getting up way to early (on a day off), waiting in (long) lines in the cold, is a pretty awful one. I don't do it. Well...I did it once. 2006 I got the Target add and they had a great "Early bird" sale on a few items that were on my list so I did the getting up early thing. Last year I was alone with the Girls and this year I wasn't feeling it. But as the day went on I decided to drive to South Carolina (less Sales Tax) and check out a few sales. I was successful for Christel-Ann. I found the object of her desire: a CD Player that she can mount on a wall (slim design). It is also a Radio and an Ipod docking station. Now I am not sure that it will play her Shuffle, but will see. And the best part: I paid less than $50 for it! I found the CD she is asking for and one for Emma-Louise and a CD with Christmas songs to add to our collection. A new decoration for the front yard and then the hunt was on for some "Christmas clothes" for the Girls. I don't do all the miniature formal gowns, we don't have fancy events to attend with our children, and spending that kind of money for pictures? Don't think so. Anyway, Target had nothing suitable, on to the Outlets, where I found less than formal clothes, but again nothing they would wear regularly. I am not quite sure what I was looking for, but I wanted something not necessarily the same thing but style/color wise it needed to match. No such luck. What I found for Emma-Louise wasn't cool enough for Christel-Ann, and really I didn't find anything for Christel-Ann that I thought she'd wear. Eventually I gave up on my idea of red/green something and found some really cute clothes at Old Navy. On Sale. The colors match the Blog. Pink and Green. And plain red shirts. Now how difficult was that? Plain red shirts.
The rest of Black Friday was spent decorating the house for Christmas. Photos should be coming later today.

How do you like it?

The new Blog layout?!

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http://twitter.com/SavFam06

Go ahead, be brave, stalk us and try and keep up with us...

Thanksgiving Meme

1.Do you cook all or part of the meal? Every single bite of the meal will be cooked by either me or someone who is coming over.
2. Do you eat at home or go to someone else’s? This year we are staying home and are having company over. But there is no method to our madness. Last year we went to California, we have eaten at the Dining facility and in Restaurants. It just depends...
3.Describe your perfect bite?Mashed potatoes, , stuffing, tiny bit of turkey and cranberry sauce on top. PERFECT!
4.White meat or dark? White only.
5. Stuffing with giblets or without? Seriously? Disgusting! Oh maybe that's the reason why I only cook Turkey breasts and not the whole bird!?!
6.Anything you won’t eat at the Thanksgiving meal? No, if I put it on the menu it means that I like it and will eat it!
7.Carve Mr. Gobble at the table or serve on a platter? On a platter!
8.Favorite pie? Pumpkin Streusel Pie
9. Formal or Country China? Formal
10.Your menu:
Turkey
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Sweet Potato Casserole
Rolls with Butter
Green Bean Casserole
Stuffing
Cranberry Chutney
Cranberry Sauce
Ham
Orange Jalapeno Glaze
Pumpkin Streusel Pie
Pear Cake
Pumpkin Mousse Cake
11. Favorite leftover? Everything
12. Extended family, friends, both or just the immediate family for dinner? Just the immediate family and friends this year. But the more the merrier!
13. Do you dress up a bit or just dress casual? We usually dress "nice" but casual. This is one holiday that's about family relaxing and enjoying, not being prim and proper for me.
14. After dinner, do you go to the latest movie or watch football on TV or just a turkey induced snooze? The guys will surely be watching football, however no TV during Thanksgiving Dinner!
15. Do you watch the Macy’s Parade? Always have it on in the background.
16. Christmas decorations up before or after? No Christmas until the day after!
17. Black Friday shopping or sleep in? This year: sleeping in and then it's time to decorate for Christmas and bake Christmas cookies with the Girls! No Black Friday shopping this year.
18. Any special Thanksgiving tradition? Not really. We just go with the flow.
19. Favorite thing about Thanksgiving? It’s such a wonderful day and usually surrounded by family and loved ones! I do most of the prep the day before. The meat, rolls, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing are the only things that need prep that day. We spend it playing, talking, relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. I LOVE THANKSGIVING!
20. Favorite Thanksgiving memory? I don't think I have one special one....every Thanksgiving is my favorite Thanksgiving. Well except for Thanksgiving 1997, that went seriously wrong.

Christmas Wishes

What are the kids asking for this year?
Christel-Ann would like to have her own computer, a CD Player that she can put against the wall, several CD's, a few books, beading stuff, clothes, a subscription to National Geographics Jr to name a few of her "ideas".
Emma-Louise is asking for: everything her sister put on her list and a Nintendo DS, like her sister has.

The Amazing Race

The world stands still on Sunday night.
20:00, Chanel 6, I am watching "The Amazing Race".
It would be so totally awesome to be able to participate.
My Sis'. I think we would totally rock. Who knows, maybe I will apply for the 14th season. Maybe we will get picked. Sis' be ready!
There are such adverse teams. I admire the mother and son team. No question, I would go with my Papi in a heartbeat. My Mom? Never ever. By the way, she would never ever want to do it either.

Promise

We promise that we will keep our "Day Jobs". But we do a really good job laying tiles.
After we ripped out the old flooring. Old...our house is new...we prepped the floor and laid out the tiles, figured out how they had to be put down and then we got busy with the chalk line, mixing quickset, laying the first tiles, putting down the accent tiles, cutting tiles, mixing thinset, laying down more tiles, and the evening went on until it was 10pm and we decided to call it a night. Friday the work continued, and Saturday I decided I had enough. I skipped out on Paul, who had only the most difficult to cut tiles left to do. My friend and I went to "Christmas in the South" Bazaar where way too creative people sold their mostly overpriced merchandise that had a Christmas spin to it. One of my favorite: wooden rockers. I dared to inquire about the price. $899.00 and up, I quickly got up and wished that fella a good and prosperous life! The there were the signs, coasters and wall hangings with beautiful and funny sentiments, lots of jewelery, some food, hideous sweaters, great toys, and lots of things Christmas, making me wish I was just a little more creative. Hummingbirdfeeders made of interesting old bottles, windchimes made of old silverware and talking about old bottles (think wine), they seem to be the "latest and greatest" reshaped into a flat surface, they were sold as cheeseboards.
Today the 4 of us took the day off and spent it at nearby Ft McAllister with our friends Alex and Cassie. We went one a hike through the woods, including me jumping on Paul's back when an Armadillo spooked me, Emma-Louise getting a "big hug" by a Staffordshire Terrier (yes I was terrified) and Christel-Ann doing all of this with her pneumatic walking boot. Back at the house we enjoyed Cassie's homemade chicken noodle soup, the girls watched a really cute movie about fairies and leprechauns in ireland featuring Whoopie. Cassie and I enjoyed the fireplace and Alex took Paul for a bikeride.
Tomorrow our project will be closer to finished as we will grout the area and by the end of the week the grout will be ready to be sealed and we can move all of our things back and go on living until we have another great idea for a project. The new rule is as follows: don't start a project unless you are prepared to spend twice the money and at least twice the amount of time completing it!
By next week-end you may get to see a picture. Don't hold your breath, Thursday is Thanksgiving. The girls and I will be off on Wednesday, doing some of the cooking/baking that can be done ahead of time.

Runway

A couple of years ago a runway extension project of Runway 9 was planned, Runway 9 is the main east-west Runway at the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport(which, by the way, has no scheduled commercial travel going to international destinations at this time). The Runway needed to run through a small family plot, and when the family of the deceased was contacted about relocating the graces, they denied. Those graves are of the original owners of the property that has now become the airport. The gave markers remained exactly where they were. Runway 9 is the only runway in the United States (worldwide?) that has grave markers in it.

I find that story fascinating and really need to find one of our pilots and hitch a ride to take a picture!

Sneak Preview

That is the accent tile.

We opened one of these last week.....

It started simple. We painted the kitchen. Same color, just washable paint. Then we had leftover paint and the hallway needed some touch ups. We had just a little bit of paint leftover...just enough for the small entryway downstairs, when you first come in from the Garage. That was the project for Tuesday, Paul and the Girls were off, I went to work. By break time Paul called to inform me that he was taking off the door frame. We used to have a door at the bottom of our stairs, but never really liked it, it was always in the way, we took the door off in January and never regretted it and were not planning on putting it back. Once the door frame was off, Paul had to get drywall etc to fix the wall. More paint because now he had a much bigger area to paint. AND: underneath the door frame there was not flooring. We were planning on tiling that area "eventually". Now we had to do it. And not just the entryway, but now we have to tile the entire area that has the Linoleum flooring. Shoe closet and the laundry room. That means I had to decide on tiles that I will like "forever". Research about the different kind of floor tiles, price comparison, what color grout to pick. We went to Home Depot and found a lot of tiles that were "out of the question". And I was certain that Granite was the right choice for us. Nancy (Coworker) suggested that I look on our Intranet Discount Page. Several businesses in the area give discounts to our Employees. I did and there was one wholesale flooring company that operates as a Club (think Sams/Costco etc) that offers free membership and 30% off the final price to GAC employees. Yesterday I asked a friend of mine who had recently finished a tiling project (and has learned some valuable lessons along the way) to give us her opinion. Natural stone/granite was quickly out of question...$20 a tile wasn't going to happen even after the discount. Pech. We did find a tile that both of us like and I got my heart set on an accent tile that we "have to have". While the can of worms is open, Paul will stack our washer and dryer and install more shelving in the laundry room. Since we are busy down there...why not? But please, please, please let that be it. I would really prefer not doing any home improvement projects during the Thanksgiving Holiday! I am hoping all will be complete next Sunday and I can post some pictures for everyone.

Back from the Bahamas

Do you know why 2 beautiful girls do that to their faces? Me either!



The three Ladies got their hair done. Definitely Different, maybe their way of preserving a little bit of the summer feeling.

Christel-Ann had an awesome time on her first cruise, and really enjoyed the Bahamas. The Girls had a great time together and they explored the ship, enjoyed unlimited food and drinks, a lot of entertainment and time spent together!

Election '08

Paul has exercised his right to vote per absentee ballot a while ago, so election day meant nothing to us, but the end to the political messages on radio and tv. And I am so glad that election day has come and is almost gone.

Both Girls had the day off from school and in the evening we started watching the election coverage. While I was in the kitchen cooking Christel-Ann would yell out certain states and who was in the lead. Emma-Louise was playing with her marbles in the kitchen.
Christel-Ann:"If it's up to Kentucky McCain will be our new president"
Emma-Louise:" John Wayne is our new president?"

That's all from me on the election '08.

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good-bye

Christel-Ann is packing her suitcase again.
Going on vacation again.
Not taking along her sister or parents. Again.
Her friends parents invited her along on a cruise to the Bahamas next week. They are leaving Thursday and returning on Monday.
So here it goes....departing from Jacksonville on Thursday, they will spend a "Fun day at sea" on their ship, the Carnival "Fascination". Saturday they will spend all day in Nassau on the Bahamas, Sunday they will spend a half day in Freeport on the Bahamas and return to Jacksonville on Monday. The ship has a Hollywood theme and amenities such as a Minigolf course (yeah, not kidding!) to only mention one...
Must be nice being Christel-Ann.
Go ahead and click here for more info...or don't or you will want to go.
http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/ships/carnival_fascination/default.aspx?shipCode=FS
Paul is trying to convince me that cruises are for the newly wed, overfed or almost dead and we fit into none of those categories and simply won't be able to take a cruise...

Cousins

Emma-Louise, Granddaughter #3 for both Paul and my parents


Christel-Ann, Paul's parents first Grandchild, #2 for mine but Granddaughter #1 for both


Kaitlyn, Grandchild and Granddaughter #2 for Paul's parents.



The three female Ramus Cousins. Christel-Ann, Kaitlyn and Emma-Louise.
Julia (Paul's sister) is Kaitlyn's Mom.
When Paul was in California with the Girls, he met his parents and niece and they had these pictures taken.

$$$ Rant $$$

The Girls started dance class in the beginning of September, our neighbor did the studio shopping for us and found a dance studio in relative close proximity with reasonable prices, discounts for siblings, convenient class hours. We were aware of some start up costs as the girls wanted to do "dance" rather than just ballet. "Dance" consists of classical Ballet, Tap and Hip Hop. They needed leotards, tights, Ballet shoes, tap shoes, all times 2. So far so good. Once we paid for registration, September classes and initial clothes, October rolled around and their first performance for which they needed the performance clothes. Leotards with embroidery, different color tights, black shoes. More money. Now we are getting close to November, and if we thought that we would only pay for classes this month, we were wrong. Costumes for the End-of-year recital (May 2009) have to be ordered this month...and you guessed it! Paid. $85 per girl. This stopped being fun a couple of weeks ago when Paul was joking that he can never go without paying for one thing or the other. No joke!

Halloween!

Friday is Halloween and we are invited to a "BYOP" (Bring your own poison) and Potluck Party. This is an adult party....I am thinking about doing some Jello shooters with Gummiworms as our poison, and as far as food goes I think this is pretty creepy:

"Moldy" Bread simply add green and blue food coloring to pieces of french bread, and then lightly dust with flour. Yuck!


Or how about some Lady Fingers and Men's toes??


We have a Pumpkin Party at the Girls' school to attend and since I will be coming straight from work, I will just dress in all black and have a witches hat in the car. My contribution will be a lot less spectacular, simple but oh-so-good pumpkin bread.
In the evening Paul will take the Girls around the neighborhood, as usual, I will hand out candy. Then the Sitter is coming, and off we are to see our (g)hosts Kim and Dave.
For the evening I think I will be going as "High Maintenance", Paul doesn't think that requires me to dress up....for that I will fix up his toolbelt with roses, chocolates, pretend cash and he will be the "High Maintenance caretaker". Best halloween costume ever was a lady toting around a box of Lucky Charms with a knife stuck in the middle and blood running from the knife. What was she?
A cereal killer!

I'm not 34

Just sayin'....
I had a great birthday, my children made breakfast for me and served it to me in bed (a little early, but the thought counts, right!?), my employer had a Family Day during the day and in the evening we met a few friends for Dinner, Drinks and Dancing. The picture was taken early in the evening while we were waiting at the bar for people to arrive....



And this is one of the last pictures of the evening

Shark

Tongue Fold

My Mom can fold her tongue, I can not. Paul can fold his tongue, Emma-Louise can not.
And Christel-Ann can not just fold her tongue, but twist it sideways at the same time!
I don't know if I should admire this strange ability? It was worth photographing and posting a message. Now try it and post a comment if you can do this!

Herb Garden

I have been growing my own kitchen herbs in various containers, but usually ended up at the grocery store for one herb or another "all the time". I finally dedicated an area to be our herb garden and Paul built it for me!

Fall in Georgia

Fall is the reward for surviving summer! The hot and humid summer days that have been blanketing Savannah for the past couple of months are no longer, the air is crisp enough to think "Fall", baking apple pie instead of eating heaps of ice cream.
This past week we had several "less than ideal" days, the convertible stayed closed, the umbrella came a long on most days, but that was okay, because the week-end rewarded us with the most gorgeous weather. An awesome breeze and we have the air condition turned off and the windows open instead. It's been months since we've been able to do without the a/c. The Girls are playing outside, Christel-Ann went to a sleepover to a friends house and Emma-Louise is playing "only child" and loving the attention! She has the neighborhood children to herself, doesn't have to share.
Saturday night Paul and I went with friends on a little "cruise". Put the boat in at Houlahan's Boatramp on the Savannah River and cruised through the port.
Dave, who is a former Navy guy was finally captaining a boat, who knew he had to get out of the Navy to do that!

Felt like home, seeing the giant container ships loaded with "Hamburg Sued" containers and the industrial development on one side of the river. That there's a wildlife preserve on the other side was not like Hamburg, but I was looking on the port side.

It was a very nice late afternoon, warm enough to be out in short sleeves and sandals (uhm yeah shorts too).


We cruised along the Savannah River and looped around Elba island

as the sun started to go down it got cooler on the water

we headed to River street, docked the boat and headed to Wet Willies for some chocolate Thunder (sorry, no picture) and then to the Oyster Bar for Dinner.
Back to the boat

and cruised back to the boa tramp. We idled along a container ship that was unloading a yacht

I played captain some

but really preferred being with the passengers

Back to the boat ramp, said our good-byes and went home. Emma-Louise had planned to sleep at her friends house, but when she saw that we were home decided that she would rather enjoy some time being an only child. In the morning she requested her favorite breakfast and now she is anxious to be a little sister again! She sent Paul to pick up Sissi! Sunday afternoon and time to think about the week ahead. Monday the two ladies are starting Dance class and Christel-Ann's band practice will start this week as well. She is continuing to play the violin in the school orchestra but is also going to play the clarinet for the band.
Lots of things going on, life as usual.

Sea World

Just a few pictures from Sea World! It is what Emma-Louise wanted. She wanted to celebrate her birthday with Shamu, she received a special button that read "It's my birthday". She was tall enough to go on a real ride! More details about the Sea World trip in the next few days.

Savannah, Cocoa Beach, Sweden and back

Friday evening we drove to Cocoa Beach on the "Space Coast" of Florida.
Along came Gilberto, one of Paul's soldiers, and Lauren, our neighbors daughter and very good friend of Christel-Ann and Emma-Louise.
We drove to Cocoa Beach and spent the night. Saturday we got up early and went to Sea World. Sunday we first went to Sweden. Ikea. We spent a couple of hours at the beach, then headed back to Savannah. More about Sea World later....

Weather

This time of the year is wonderful in Georgia! When I take the Girls to the bus stop at 7:30 it is a mellow 21C and during the day the day the temperatures don't rise much over 33C anymore, the evenings we enjoy on our deck without long sleeves. We are still weeks (months) away from true sweater weather, but I have bought a cute fall outfit...couldn't resist.
I run in the cooler morning hours and after getting home it is light long enough for a training bike ride. Did I mention that I got a bike? If any of you would like to see the beauty, google Giant OCR3 for women. Fast. Fun. I will likely add a picture later!
We are off to Florida for the week-end!

Daddy, was machst Du? (Daddy, what are you doing?)

This is good! Paul took the Girls to school this morning. He walked the Girls to their classroom and Christel-Ann quickly dissapeared and Paul took Emma-Louise into her classroom and said "good-bye" then walked across the hallway into Christel-Ann's classroom to say "bye" to her. Upon entering, there was a slight look of panic in Christel-Ann's face. Paul exchanged some words with her teacher, looked around (I guess he was trying to see if he spotted "Alex") and then Christel-Ann asked in German, so that noone else would understand "Daddy, was machst Du? *pause* Du kannst jetzt gehen" (you can go home now).

Life as we knew it may be over!

Emma-Louise's birthday and life as we knew it is over. Christel-Ann got a "note" in class today. A note from Alex (short for Alexander). Asking for her phone number and if it would be okay to call. But right now he is in trouble and not able to call (now personally I think that is funny) but as soon as he has phone privileges again he would like to give her a call.
Yikes! We are lucky that Christel-Ann shows us everything that happened at school, including the note.
This shall be interesting!

4 no more!

She is 5! And ready to go to school!

Her first piece of Real Estate!

Happy!

More about the birthday later!

4

Emma-Louise is still 4 years old...

Birthday Wishes

Emma-Louise has always been a bit "strange". And she has always known what she wants. Wishes, if she has them, are precise. Christmas of 2006 she asked for 2 things. A pink Jogging Outfit and a pink Camera.
Yesterday she invited a friend and was asked what she would like and she immediately said "a stuffed animal". Just so happens that she has received a few stuffed animals from the friend and loves them all dearly (read: bed companions!). Another friend asked her today what she would like and she answered without a doubt in her voice "a brown Hairdryer to blow dry my hair". Isn't that great?

You never know what you are made out of.....

...until you TRI!

I paid the bike store a visit today. Ordered the shoes. Tried on some TRI-gear and couldn't help but feeling like I was wearing "female hygiene products". Not sure if I will get used to "that" feeling and decided I will be able to swim, bike and run in the stuff I already own. Found a bike that I like....
October 26th. 3rd Savannah Triathlon. Still wondering if I should find some folks and do a relay team, but isn't that "cheating"?

Rock of the Marne Triathlon

Neither of us participated, but we were still active! Active volunteers, all 4 of us. We were in charge of one of the water stops behind the transition area. Emma-Louise was quickly enthused and was handing of water and Gatorade like a pro!




Christel-Ann and Paul were filling the cups, While Emma-Louise and I were handing them to the athletes.

Christel-Ann also made sure that all the cups ended in the recycling container!
Volunteering at a race was a great experience for all of us and we will definetly do it again at local races. But for now I am hooked. I want to do a Sprint-Triathlon. We met some amazing people! My admiration goes to a very nice couple, both well in their 70's that used this event as training for the ironman in Kona! Wow!

What's for Dinner?

That:


Paul is still living the BeachBum kind of life. While I was at work he went fishing with a friend. Spend all day out on the boat on the Savannah River, enjoyed the sun and company.
Did I mention that I was at work?
Anyway, we are looking forward to Dinner.

I want my Uncle Klhani!

Kalani to everyone else but Emma-Louise will clutch her little bottle with pink sand and shells and make that very simple statement. Followed by "I miss my Uncle Klhani".