I'm Tucking You In -- For the Last Time This Year!

New Year's Eve has always been a bit special for Tobi and I. With the kids sleeping soundly in their (correction, our) bed, I have time to reflect on our many celebrations - in various corners of the world.

Thinking back, there was our first New Year's together, which we spent at the Berlin Philharmonic back in 1999, the dramatic fireworks display in the Rocky Mountains during our honeymoon trip to Ouray (Colorado), an odd "Silvester" Celebration - at a spa in Bad Griesbach - on the heels of a traumatic Christmas-time miscarriage, and a New Year's in Sydney -- overlooking the stunning Sydney Harbor. And then came the children. Though we've modified our New Year's celebrations a bit, we still try to make a bit of an event out of it. From enjoying a traditional "braai" and watching fireworks go up over the Seal Island in South Africa's Mossel Bay, to celebrating with friends in nearby Heroldsberg, and partying Dutch-style in the tiny Zeelandic town of Oudelande, it just seems to keep getting better.

Tonight we kept it simple for the first time in ages. We celebrated with my sister, eating traditional German New Year's "Raclette" (okay, it's actually Swiss, but the Germans have adopted it as their own), then headed out into the street to set off our own fireworks. Some neighborhood friends came by with their kids and while Lukas covered his ears for the first few explosions, Alexander laughed loudly like an evil scientist plotting to take over the world. :) Truth be told, he's been doing that hearty laugh now for a few days and we just can't get enough of it.

And since we're on the topic of Alex, it's worth mentioning that - lately - he's been dead-set on two of everything. Two chocolates, two donuts, two drinks at breakfast time. Why? He gets great pleasure in being able to present his big brother with something he knows Lukas will like. How cute is that?

After the fireworks we let the boys play a bit, then brought the little guys to bed. By this point, Lukas was slightly hysterical, and Tobi leaned over and told him that there was one last thing that had to be taken care of... and it was kisses on the belly for the last time this year! So cute. Then I did it to Alex, and Alex insisted on blowing loudly on my tummy before he went to sleep.

As I sit here in my PJs, catching up on blog entries and enjoying chocolate ice cream from a local farm, I don't miss the glamo
rous New Year's celebrations of yore. Life is good, and we have much to be thankful for in 2010. What surprises will 2011 hold?

But wait, I can already reveal the first surprise! It was a neighborhood block party at the strike of midnight, where we had the rare opportunity to talk with neighbors in the snow, our champagne bottles chilling in the snow banks at our sides. Germans love their fireworks and they set them off with zeal at year's end, and what a show can be, even in the smallest of villages.

So this spontaneous New Year's adventure ended on an unexpectedly fun note. Sometimes not planning is the key to having a memorable journey... near or far. Happy 2011 to you and yours!

~Liz

Please stop growing up, baby!

Lukas will be five next month, and it is obvious in more ways than one. This past week, he began doing "big boy" things, without so much as an afterthought (as if he's been capable all along, and just realized it). And, though I'm undoubtedly proud, in some strange way it is breaking my heart.

Here's how the week unfolded.

- The apple incident
The other day as I was sitting on the couch, Lukas brought over this finished "apple". He had drawn it, colored it, and cut it out without any help whatsoever. As I praised him, tears began to stream down my face, which made him laugh (somewhat uncomfortably). Tobi's comment? "Man muss nicht alles in diese Welt verstehen." (We can't understand everything in this world... i.e. why someone would start crying when presented with a picture of an apple). Lukas certainly isn't a toddler anymore. He's a (very capable) little boy!

- The walk to school
On Tuesday Alexander and I were both sick, and - not wanting to expose Alexander to the cold - I called a friend (who also walks her daughter to Kindergarten), and asked her if she could watch for Lukas, then walk him the rest of the way to school. As soon as Lukas heard me on the phone, he jumped up, ran upstairs, and dressed himself, excited about this new adventure. He did a fabulous job walking himself (part of the way) to school, and - this time - I was able to reign in the emotions.

- Sounding out, then writing "Alex" (without any help!)
Lukas has been able to write his own name now for about a week (without any help), but I couldn't believe my eyes when - one night at the dinner table - I looked over and saw the letters "A-L-E" already written on paper, at which point he began mouthing the letter "X", then writing it without any real hesitation. I feigned frustration, saying, "This is ridiculous!" and Lukas just laughed and laughed, so proud of what he had accomplished.


- When at first you don't succeed...
For months Lukas has been determined to whistle, and Tobi's mother told him that it would probably be years until he finally could. But that tenacious little man never gave up. Every day he practiced blowing air, and then on Thursday evening, he proudly announced that he really could whistle! In Lukas' case it was a matter of weeks, not years. Why does that come as no surprise? 

In the meantime, it's becoming equally obvious that Alexander is not a baby anymore. Here's why:
-He has to do EVERYTHING himself "Alex do IT!"
-He loves to sing, and some of words in the songs are starting to become discernible
-He can throw and kick a ball like some children triple his age (possibly even better than Lukas).

Though Alexander is crazy about his brother and loves for him to hold his hand as he walks down the stairs or give him a kiss when they say goodbye at school, it's also obvious that he needs his one-on-one time with Mama and Papa. When he doesn't get it, Alexander can be a real handful, and when he does, he's the easiest toddler on the planet. At least we've figured out the formula. :) Now if only we could find the secret variable that keeps babies from growing up...