ClaudiaNeilandFinn: November 2008

Out of the mouths of babes (well, toddlers)

Finn is growing up so fast. He talks really well now, and conversations with him can be a lot of fun. Well, except when all his sentences start with, "But, Mama ... !" when I want him to do something or not do something. Here are some examples.

On the phone with my sister the other day:

Finn: "Ulli, will you come and spend Christmas with us? Mama has a present for you!"
Ulli: "Really, what is it?"
Finn: "It's ...!" (can't write it down, but he said the right word!)
Ulli: "What? I didn't understand that! What did you say?"
At this point I grabbed the phone. Thanks buddy, that was close.

I told him we are going to arrive in Canada on his uncle's birthday next year.

Finn: (with evil look) "I'm gonna eat all of Karl's chocolate birthday cake! He can't have ANY!"
(Sorry Karl :-)

Dinnertable talk

Finn: "What is this?"
Me: "Chicken."
Neil: "Lily, don't throw your food on the floor!"
Finn: "Chickens can run REAL fast!"
Neil: "Lily, we don't throw spoons on the floor!"
Me: "Yes, the farmer did a good job catching the chicken."
Finn: "And did he take the beak and feet off first?"
Neil: "Lily, I said DON'T throw your food on the floor!"
Me: "Yes, he did."
Neil: "LILY!!!"
Finn: "I think next time we have chicken I will take the beak and feet off with one big RRRRIPPPP!"
Neil: "Baah, I think I'm not hungry anymore."

Two days (!) after I had a slip of the tongue, shame on me:

Finn: "Mama, if you say sh... again you're only going to get a piece of coal for Christmas!"

To be continued...

Guess who's sleeping in a big girl bed now?

Right! Our littly Lily! So far she's doing very well.

And guess who went to get his hair cut with Daddy? Exactly. (I love his new "do". My little monk :-)

And guess who pushes chairs into the kitchen as soon as I start cooking? Right again! They love to "help", but at some point they usually get into a fight that results in two chairs with kids on them being pushed right out of my kitchen again.

A few November pictures

Just thought I would share some more pictures of Finn and Lily!

No wonder people keep asking if they are twins! (They are starting to look more alike, and even though Finn is taller they weigh the same now - 27 lbs / 12.5 kg!)

This was their "art" project for a rainy afternoon: to make a bed for Baby out of an old box.

And this is the finished product. Doesn't look like much, but they sure had fun making it!

And a picture of me, believe it or not. (I'm usually the one behind the camera.) I'm holding Ethan here, our friend Luci's third son. Norma and Kurt will remember her!

A visit from Ohemaah

One of the many advantages of marrying into the family of the (now retired) University of Saskatchewan International Student Advisor is that you get to meet great people from all over the world. Spend any time at all ANYWHERE in this world and you will inevitably run into someone who knows Grandpa Kurt. Okay, this might be slightly exaggerated, but I assure you - only slightly.
Ohemaah is the daughter of Barbara and Charles, friends of Kurt and Norma's, and former exchange students to the U of S. Originally from Ghana they now live in the US, and Ohemaah is studying in L.A. - the lucky girl! We were so happy to have her with us - she is on a study abroad program in Bonn until December and we hope she can come visit us again soon! We had a great weekend, and the kids fell in love with her instantly. We had fun going for walks and to the zoo in Munich. Here are a few pics from our visit.