Happy 10 years!

July 10, 2010 - 10 years of marriage. Supposedly not many couples even make it to this mark. Hard to believe, for us it feels like it was only yesterday that we exchanged vows.


To mark the special occassion we decided to escape for a few days. Ralph's parents came and took care of the kids and we took of for Stegersbach in Austria to the Balance Resort. It was a beautiful luxury hotel and we were quickly able to forget the everyday stress and could relax and enjoy being together. We wined, we dined, we went on a romatic picnic, played a short round of golf. Everything you could ask for.


Now we're home, our children still love us and Oma and Opa are on their way home. Tomorrow, it's back to reality.

Lea on the move

We all scream for ice cream!!!

The summer weather we have been waiting for has finally arrived! Every afternoon my kids shed their clothes and cool off either in the wading pool or by eating ice cream. Lea in particular tends to get ice cream spread from her head to her toe - but how she loves it. Lucas doesn't like to make a mess (sometimes) so he has even gone as far as to wear nothing but his birthday suit and a bib :) So sorry we can't share that pic on the web. But here a few cute pics all the same.

Date night

We went out for the first time in over a year! It was so nice. As much as I love my children it was nice to eat a meal and really enjoy it. And the conversation. It's amazing how much doesn't get said in a normal day. Although it was  a day before his birthday (German's believe it brings bad luck to celebrate before the date) I think it was the best present I could have given Ralph.


And the best part, we could relax because we knew the kids were in good hands. We found a great babysitter, named Emily, who is here for a couple of weeks. She's a gem! Lea was great for her and was sleeping peacefully when we got home.


Here's to a few more evenings, just the two of us....

Happy 1st Birthday Lea!

 It was a great day! We couldn't have picked it any better if we had tried. On her birthday we had a quiet family celebration in the evening. We gave Lea her own swing so that she could swing with Lucas. She loved it so much she would complain every time it stopped. Dinner was pizza. Not typical but great finger food and she loved it. Dessert was a cupcake. Was actually meant to be decorative but Lea doesn't like to miss out on anything so she tried her surgary treat (or better said smeared it everywhere).


On the 9th we had a children's party. Since all of her little friends have bigger siblings it turned out to be a big party. Her guests were: Maggie and Max, Nina and Anna, Isaak and Elias. It was really hot so the kids stripped down and played in the water to keep cool. Dinner was a BBQ classic: burgers and hot dogs. And for dessert a strawberry cake. Lea seemed to really enjoy her special day.


Here are some pictures from her parties. 
http://picasaweb.google.de/lh/photo/LFmlURzkAYuYEv9reAfeqA?feat=directlink

Lea's trip to the hospital

There's never a dull moment in our household. Just when you think that you might be up for a "normal" day, someone will shake things up.


Last Thursday it was Lea's turn. After a very bad night, she returned to bed shortly after having woken up. When I went to check on her I noticed she was breathing very quickly. After an hour it was clear that this was not normal so we headed off to the pediatricians. Thankfully they were able to squeeze us in. When I got there I couldn't find a parking spot so I parked on the emergency spot in front of the building. Turns out it was reserved for situations just like ours. Lea was having problems breathing and was not getting enough oxygen. So a few tests and phone calls later we were off to the clinic.


Once admitted then had Lea hooked up to a sensor which monitered her oxygen saturation and her pulse. Our poor baby! She quickly became a trooper and put up with the tubes and wires. She didn't however appreciate the inhalation - she put up a fight every time! She is a fighter though. By Friday afternoon her fever was gone and she was able to go off the oxygen for a half-hour in order to go and play. She really was tired of being confined to her crib and the area in front of it. She was quickly returning to her busy self.


By the evening she was doing much better and her appetite had returned. The nurses decided to try the night without oxygen. She got through and in the morning her vitals were good so they let us go home! Thank goodness!


Now she's back to her normal self. Except that she seems to have lost her voice. Lea usually has a very schrill cry when she's upset but I haven't heard it for days now. She has developed the habit of spitting to communicate her dissaproval though. Tomorrow it's back to the doctor's office then. Better to be safe than sorry. We really don't want another trip to the hospital.


By the way. This picture was taken Saturday morning. Little miss is using her breakfast pretzel as a telephone!

Sunny Days

I thought I would post a sunny thought considering how rainy and cold and miserable it is again.

Last Monday was a holiday and Family Huber and Family Nebel went for a bike trip to Forst Kasten. A great beer garden with not only great food but also lots of entertainment for the little ones.

We had a lovely afternoon eating, relaxing and watching the kids play.

Here's hoping that those days will soon return again...