Oma and Opa's visit

Oma and Opa came to visit us in Boston for about 3 weeks. We had a lot of fun with them and took a few special trips to see things in the area--including a weekend on the Cape! Here are a few photos from our time together.

Isabel happily hanging out in her stroller while we took a walk to explore some of the historic houses in our neighborhood. The sun hat is a hand-me-down from her cousin Sophia.

Oma, Isabel and Me (Opa took the photo) at the beginning of the Freedom Trail--a walking tour to see some of the historic places in Boston.

On a beach in Dennis--on the Cape. Lukas loved playing in the sand and water! Beach vacations are perfect with young children. Lukas really enjoyed finding crabs and seashells along the shoreline with Opa.

Isabel patiently waiting alone at our ocean-view table while the rest of us finish preparing the meal. As you can see, the apartment was just a few feet from the shore!

Olli preparing the delicious meat on the grill--YUM!

A family photo in our backyard taken a few days before Oma and Opa returned to Germany

The kids with Oma and Opa

The Six of Us

By this time the kids were tired and couldn't conjure up any more smiles! :-)

Recent Photos of Lukas and Isabel

I'm embarrassed by how infrequently I update our blog! I think about uploading photos quite often actually, but I never seem to find the time to do it on a regular basis. Once a month seems so lame--sorry about that!

Anyway, here are a few photos the kids taken shortly before Oma and Opa's visit.

Isabel "Sittin' Pretty"

Lukas the artist

Isabel contentedly playing with her toys while I did laundry

I probably should have kept Isabel from putting Lukas' shoe in her mouth, but I didn't and here's the proof! Maybe that's why she caught a cold a few days later :-)

Such a cute little face!

Our New House

So I'm finally getting some photos of our new house online.  It's taken us two months!  Anyway, our home is now almost fully set up other than a few pictures on the wall, knick-knack items etc.  Enjoy the photos (especially the one of the guest room; we don't want it to be too lonely--so come visit!).  

By the way, photos of the outside of the house and lawn will be forthcoming since the house is currently being prepared to be re-painted so it's in quite a state of disarray at the moment.

Main Entrance 

This is the left side of the Living Room

This is the right side of the Living Room 

(The French Doors to the right go out to the deck)

The Dining Room (Lovely furniture left by the landlord)

Dining Room with the Fireplace

Family Room/Play Room

Downstairs Bathroom

 

Kitchen (Historic Franklin Stove in the middle)
Kitchen

Kitchen with Eat-in Area and Bay Window

Guest Room

Other side of Guest Room

Guest Room Stairway leading to the Loft/Library

Loft/Library

Guest Bathroom

 Isabel's Room

Other Side of Isabel's Room

Lukas' Bedroom (minus his dresser)

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom (with Window Seat and His/Her Closets)

Master Bathroom

Our Kids' Big Accomplishments

A lot has happened in our lives since our last post. Lukas is now successfully potty trained and Isabel can sit up without assistance! We're proud of them both. I can't believe how fast they're growing up.

Here are some recent photos of the kids. I will post photos of the house once it's a little more "finished", which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks since our first guests arrive September 2!














Isabel sitting up all by herself and loving the freedom it brings














Lukas proudly sporting his German National Team jersey (and new underpants underneath) :-)














Lukas covered in soap suds from playing in a huge pile of suds that the local fire department sprayed onto a field for all the neighborhood kids to enjoy.

We're Still Alive!

With our recent move to Boston, we've been out of our regular routine for almost two months now.  Now that we're in our new home and have an Internet connection and our own computer again, I'm excited to post some recent photos of our kids.  These are photos from the month of June when the kids and I stayed with my parents while we were waiting for our house in Boston to become available. 

I hope to figure out how to upload some photos from our moving days back in Geneva in May (they were sent to us via email from Olli's family) as well as some photos of our new house.  So keep patiently watching this space and hopefully you'll find more photos and updates in the next couple of weeks. :-)

Lukas chillin' with the boys

Lukas painting with water on the outside post.  To quote Olli's host-dad, he was doing a "German Job"

We went to many playgrounds while in Colorado, but this was Lukas' favorite one for sure.

Isabel is growing up so quickly!  She learned to roll over (from back to front), got her first tooth and had her first taste of rice cereal during the month with my family.

Lukas loved helping my parents do yardwork.

Lukas cooling off on a hot day

My little beauty!

Who's that Belle with her Grandpa?

My two kids holding hands.  Lukas was cheering for Germany in the World Cup (as you can see from his jersey) and would often spontaneously erupt in cheering "Deutschland! Deutschland!" for seemingly no reason at all.  I'm glad he's proud of his heritage.

The fascination with technology craze starts young these days!  Isabel was entranced with Olli's Blackberry even though it was only showing an online News column.

Lukas riding a John Deere Tractor

 One of my dad's friends, who happens to own a John Deere, graciously gave Lukas a ride on his tractor.  Lukas' hardcore adoration for tractors lives on! :-)