Wednesday, April 24, 2013

März 2013: Ostern / Easter

Die Vorbereitungen für Ostern liefen ein paar Tage vorher an: Eier färben. Da hatten alle ihren Spass und konnten kreativ werden.
As we prepared for Easter and the arrival of our American visitors, we dyed Easter eggs the old-fashioned way: with good-old food coloring! The kids really enjoyed it, even Henry, who was running a high fever (see his pink cheeks).



 Nils hatte wenigsten bunte Punkte auf seiner Jacke, Eier malen war noch nicht...
Nils looks a bit like a jelly bean . . . 
Ostersonntag überraschte uns der Winter mal wieder, und wir hatten eine weisse Winterlandschaft draussen. Das machte das Ostereiersuchen zu einem besonderen Spektakel.
On Easter Sunday winter surprised us with one last joke (well, it was just one day before April Fools'!). The South Carolinians were thrilled, and it did make the Easter Egg Hunt memorable!

Auch Parker hatte richtig Spass, seinen ersten Schnee der Saison (naja, Winter mit Schnee gibt es in South Carolina ja auch nicht wirklich) zu erleben.









Nils und Papa blieben drinnen und haben auch unseren Spass gehabt.
Nils and his dad stayed inside and enjoyed each other's company.

Gefunden!
Found one!


March 2013: Joshua's Geburtstag /Joshua's 5th Birthday


Joshua's Morgen startete mit einem Geburtstagslied und Luftballons.

On Joshua's birthday morning we sang to him and played with birthday balloons.



 Dann ging es ins Wohnzimmer zu den Geschenken.
Then Joshua got to open his presents in the living room.
 Besondere Gäste: Tante Meredith und Cousin Parker kamen pünktlich zum Geburtstag und blieben eine Woche bei uns.
It was extra-special to have Joshua's Aunt "Dede"and cousin, Parker, arrive the day before and stay for the week.
 
 
Es gab viel Lego für grosse Jungs, also die kleinen Legosteine.
Joshua liebt es, alles mögliche aus Lego zu bauen.
With this birthday, Joshua "graduated" from Duplo to the small "big kid" Legos. Building things from scratch is what he loves to do.
 
Mama Emily hat den von Joshua gewünschte Schokoladenkuchen gebacken! Mjam!
Mommy managed the chocolate cake that Joshua wished for. (Then he declared it "too sweet". Henry, the chocolate monster, didn't seem to mind.)
  Am Nachmittag ging es dann in den Circus Krone. Leider war Henry nicht fit genug um mitzugehen.
Aber zusammen mit Lolo (Loraine) und den anderen Geburtstagsgästen war es ein fantastischer Nachmittag für Joshua!
Joshua's wish was to go to his first big circus, the world-renowned (and largest in Europe) Circus Crone. Andy skipped because of his horse allergy, Henry was sick and couldn't come, and Nils decided he'd wait a year or two. Joshua's other godmother, Aunty Lolo joined us for some clowning around.

Aunt Meredith is Joshua's other godmother. Now only Uncle Daniel was missing, but we couldn't blame him -- his wife was due to have their first baby just days later!

So ungefähr hat Joshua die ganze Zeit geschaut... :-)
Joshua was beyond thrilled. We're still talking about all the acts.

Incredible animals.

Great live music! The atmosphere was fantastic.

The lions must be English-speaking, cuz that's what their trainer spoke!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum 5. Geburtstag, Joshua!
Happy 5th birthday, Joshua!