Today is the last day of 2008. I have to constantly remind myself that it's only a matter of hours before the year is over. Actually, it's already 2009 in Australia.Having an active Golden Piglet means 2008 has flown by doubly fast for Mama Pig and Papa Pig.
The 3 Lil' Pigs are staying home this freezing new year's eve.
No parties, no countdowns, no firecrackers. Just a simple early dinner at home and playing with Piglet before hitting bed.
The 3 Lil' Pigs were thrilled that Marlen + Philipp = Liselotte visited them this afternoon. The last Stephan and I saw Marlene and Philipp was a little more than 3 years ago in Paderborn when we just got married. How time flies and now the 4 of us are parents to 2 adorable toddlers! Liselotte is a real sweet heart. She is almost 2 months younger than Midori.Midori was glad to have Liselotte around, otherwise she might have felt left out and bored by us. The film below shows Midori showing Liselotte her treasure aka mommy's trash.
Thank u for your visit, Marlen + Phillip = Liselotte. Hopefully we'll see u in France!
Mama Pig brought her Precious to meet other lady expats and their kids in Cafe Oriental this afternoon. Too bad most of them have left town by now, the 2nd Advent Sunday.
Above: R (Indonesia), Mama Pig (Indonesia), Golden Pig (Germany), J (Peru), J (USA)
Below: A (China), Mama Pig (Indonesia), Golden Pig (Germany), J (Peru), J (USA)
Hopefully, the turnout will be much better at the next meet.
It's Nikolaus Tag (St. Nicholas Day) today. Kids in Germany love this European festival because Santa will put gifts and sweets in the boots (Nikolaus-Stiefel) which the kids have left outside the front door the night before.We wanted to get our Sweetie Pie acquainted with Santa, so we went "hunting" for one in the local supermarket.
Now, doesn't it look like Mini Mrs. Santa was out doing Xmas shopping with her not-so-dwarfish black elf? Ha ha ha.
Unfortunately, we missed Santa because he had "Feierabend" (knocked off) some 4 minutes earlier than stated, so Mrs. Santa Jr. had to call Rudolph on Palm Centro to pick her up.Luckily our Piglet was too young to realize what she missed, but Papa Pig was very disappointed and chided Mama Pig for not remembering Santa's office hours. Sorry Precious, Mama Pig will do better research and planning so you won't miss Santa and will get lots of sweets next year.
Our Precious Piglet stood confidently today after her first stand about 2 months ago. Midori loves to practise standing up on the bed.Our Golden Piglet finally did it! She stood tall and made Mama Pig and Papa Pig so proud of her.
Today our Golden Piglet is 1 year, 1 month, 1 week and 1 day old. The 3 Lil' Pigs didn't celebrate the occasion, instead Mama Pig brought Golden Piglet to a birthday while Papa Pig rested at home on Buß-und Bettag day, a state holiday in Saxony.
Nathalie turns 1 today so her Mexican mom and German dad threw her a real kiddy birthday party complete with pinata.Midori and Mama Pig had so much fun. We tried hitting the pinata, but too bad we couldn't break it. Mama Pig got to know many Spanish-speaking lady expats in Görlitz and Midori made many new friends too.
3 is the magic number today. Because today is the 3rd of November. Because Stephan and I tied the knot in Denmark 3 years ago. Because there are 3 Pigs in our sty.
Mama Pig + Papa Pig = Golden Piglet
The 3 Lil' Pigs celebrated the occasion at home over homemade Sprinkles-inspired cupcakes. Oink Oink oink.
Quentin Tarantino was in town over the weekend to shoot the Inglourious Basterds, starring Brad Pitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Kruger and even Maggie Cheung.
Görlitz was once again in Hollywood fever and we were thrilled to watch extras roaming around, dressed in WWII costumes. Almost a year ago, we were over the moon seeing Kate Winslet filming The Reader in town. We'll definitely watch the film which is scheduled for release in February 2009.
Too bad, those big names weren't in town this time around for the shooting scene in what is to depict Nazi-occupied France during World War II. It is definitely cheaper to film here than in Paris, given the numerous well-preserved prewar buildings in this town, which largely escaped the Allied bombing in WWII.
And too bad we didn't see Q too. But we heard him yelled "Action!" & "Cut!". That's a consolation.
It's Halloween! Oh, how fun it would be to go trick or treating. Too bad there isn't such a tradition in this small German town. However it's Reformationstag (reformation day), a religious holiday observed only in the protestant former East Germany. It was on this day almost half a millenium ago that Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of a church in Wittenberg, Germany to debate the doctrine and practice of indulgence. That was the start of Protestantism
Anyhow, I wanted to introduce our Sweetie Pie to this fun American tradition, so I dressed her up as Mrs. Santa Claus and baked some cookies. Even though Papa Pig was out of town and we stayed at home, our Pumpkin was having a delicious sweet time. She loved the cookies! And her belly button!
Our Golden Piggy likes to check her belly button and "belly dance".
Today is a very special day because one of my dearest oldest (in terms of friendship) friend, E aka Mrs Tan, was born some XX years ago today.
I'm so grateful to have such a precious friend. E is one of my pillars of support who keeps me in sane by giving me constructive and honest (so much so that some times the truth hurt kinda honest opinion) advices which help me through thick and thin.
So here's me (imagine) singing the following and trying not to go off keys.
Happy Birthday to E Happy Birthday to E Happy Birthday dear Mrs Tan Happy Birthday to E!!!
Midori woke up and started playing with her new toys even before she had her breakfast.
Stephan joined our precious Piglet and it seemed that the old Pig had more fun with the baby toy as he couldn't keep his fingers off it. Poor Midori, she didn't stand a chance with her toy when her Papa was around.
Thank u very much for the wonderful presents and for celebrating our precious moment with us! U know who u are.
Time flies. Midori turns 1 today! I can still recall vividly how we were in the hospital anxiously waiting for the arrival of our Golden Piglet last year.
Our Piglet is happy cruising and crawling around the apartment, exploring every corner and studying everything like the great detective Sherlock Holmes. She understands a few commands, words and names of her toys. Our Precious can also say "mama", "papa", "baby" and "bye-bye".
Midori's hearing is very keen and any noise will immediately catch her attention. She also has eyes of a hawk which enable her to spot and eat tiny crumbs off the floor.Our Piglet adores her belly button and feet like no other. Oh, she also loves babies and dogs and will point them out to us and squeal in delight whenever she sees them on the streets or on tv.
We threw a birthday party for Midori this afternoon and invited friends over for brownie popsicles, lime cream cheese cupcakes served in ice cream cones and Thai curry sausage rolls washed down with mango lassi served in baby food bottles with straws. Yeah, lots of carbs and cals, but what the heck they were yummy. The guests showered Midori with presents and she loved it! Her new toys kept her busy and happy through out the day.
Our Piggy loved her vanilla and chocolate mango birthday cake. Then again she loves anything sweet because our Pumpkin has sweet tooth just like her Mama. Actually, 8 sweet teeth (4 each on top and bottom)! We let the birthday girl stayed for as long as she wanted, but by 8:00 pm she was too tired and had to call it the night.
Too bad Midori's dearest Opa, Oma, Tanten, Onkel, KongKong, MahMah, 11, 99s, 99mas, cousins and cool Aunties (u know who u are) weren't here. Wished u were here!
Happy Birthday, Sweetie Pie!
Mama & Papa wish Midori health, happiness, love, beauty, intelligence, wealth (toys) and peace always.
It was a glorious day today. The warm sun lured the 3 Lil' Pigs out their cozy sty for a stroll in the fresh cool autumn air. Thank God, there was no big bad wolves.
A walk in fall is like no other. The cool fresh air spices up the romance, while the colorful fall foliage with its bright orange, red, yellow and brown on the trees is a treat to the eyes. Walking on thick piles of crisp fallen leaves is very therapeutic too.
We chanced upon a free admission to the local museum of natural history so we thought we'd just drop in for a quick 5-min look around. In the end, we stayed for almost an hour as our Golden Piglet squealed in delight and pointed at the exhibits as we went from hall to hall. Midori was totally fascinated by the museum.
Today is Germany's unification day. It is a national holiday, commemorating the day that East and West Germany re-united.
We stayed at home, which by the way is in the most eastern part of Germany, and I made takoyaki. I know, it has nothing to do with Einheitstag nor Germany. But who cares! They are so oishiiiiii!
Today is the last day of 2008. I have to constantly remind myself that it's only a matter of hours before the year is over. Actually, it's already 2009 in Australia.
Having an active Golden Piglet means 2008 has flown by doubly fast for Mama Pig and Papa Pig.
No parties, no countdowns, no firecrackers. Just a simple early dinner at home and playing with Piglet before hitting bed.
