Ice Hockey

It's been really cold here lately. It's 14 °F in the mornings and heats up to about 41° in the afternoon. It's so cold that everything is frozen. It looks like snow but it's just ice. Everything looks really pretty and white. We drove to a small frozen lake near our house where Charly, Marcus and Klaus (Charly's friend) did some ice skating and played ice hockey. We forgot Maxwell's ice skates at home :( so he just slid around on the ice. I just drank my gluhwein (warm spiced red wine) and took pictures.

Frozen trees on the road in Vaihingen (see castle in background)

on the playground at the lake

on the frozen lake

Marcus playing ice hockey

Charly, Marcus and Klaus

Max sliding around

Klaus pushing Maxwell around the ice in a chair

Video - Max sliding across the ice

Christmas 2007 part 2

Here's a few pictures at our house on Christmas.

Our tree decorated by M&M

playing Playstation

Charly opens a present

Christmas 2007

We had a small family Christmas lunch at Oma's house with Ellen, Reimund and Maurice. We had pancake soup, roasted duck, spätzle (homemade noodles), schnitzel (fried breaded pork chops), knödel (potato dumplings), red kraut (cabbage) and a fruit dessert with vanilla sauce. Sounds yummy, huh? I know...

Lunch is served

hanging out after lunch

opening presents

Family Circus Day

Oma (Grandma) invited us to lunch with Charly's sister Ellen, her husband Reimund and her son Maurice. First we went to Ellen's house, then drove to the restaurant then back to Ellen's for coffee and Christmas cookies. Later we went with Oma to the circus. It was a nice day with the Hauser family.

Charly, Marcus & Maurice

Ellen & Reimund

Ellen & Charly

Oma

Marcus, Charly & Maurice

me & Marcus at the restaurant

Maurice, me & Marcus

Max, Marcus, me and Oma at the circus

Marcus rides a pony at the circus

Tightrope Walking Circus Girl

Christmas Cookies

We baked Christmas cookies. M&M liked rolling and cutting out the cookies. They were yummy too!!!

Maxwell's Yellow Judo Belt

Maxwell completed the test for the yellow Judo belt. He had to do a variety of throwing and holding techniques. Here's some pics...

His group greeting

Warming up

Holding technique

this head-stand was just for fun...

getting the award certificate and yellow belt

the new yellow belts!

First Snow

We had our first snow of the year. It snowed very lightly two days but it didn't stick because it was too warm. We took a few pictures. Check them out...

Maxwell on his way to school

Can you play basketball in the snow?

Maxwell can try

Marcus doesn't like to sleep alone so he gets in Maxwell's bed

Marcus' 8th Birthday

Marcus turned 8 years old on November 25!!! Boy, how time flies. We celebrated by going to Jumpinn, an indoor playground, with 8 of his friends. They ran, jumped, played and ate for 4 hours then we took everyone home. This place is the best because Mommy doesn't have to clean, cook, entertain or anything. And the kids have a great time!