Adventures of TaHos since July 28, 2005

We Moved to California and are in 1st Grade!

2011-10-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

We could even type ourselves if we remembered this blog existed...alas.

We really do the blog ourselves...

2008-12-20T19:40:00.000-08:00

Here is a rare photo of us working on the blog together - Mama just found it today -- its from April!

And while I am toiling away Sofia again seeks inspiration from the bottle...

Tomas, it's only rose give me a break..

Snow - Schnee - Nieve!

2008-12-19T17:48:00.000-08:00

Note the Dreidel Cookie - we are a mixed household after all!

Es Schneit - yippee! Keine Schule ach was spass. Der Tomas zieht keine Kleider heute an - nur Schlafanzug. Ich habe aber mich Festlich angezogen - neue BLumen Bluse von Meme mit gestreiften hosen und dan ein Tinker Bell Kostuem von Madeline unsere Nachtbarin.

Wir haben unseren Weinachts Baum geschmueckt, Hannukah und Weinachts cookies gebacken, schnee gegessen (besser als unsere Spaghetti) . Und wir haben der Mama geholfen mit schnee schaufeln - und dan haben einen kleine schneeball Kampf gemacht - Ich (Sofia) habe aber viel lieber Schnee gegessen...

Jetzt muessen wir aber ins Bett total erschoepft,

Gute nacht....z.z.z..z.z.z.z.

Welcome Back, Welcome Back!

2008-12-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a fairy needs a quiet moment.

Finally now that we are 50% toilet trained Mama is back on posting duty. Yippee. A little catching up - we moved to the suburbs, started school, piano, Karate, got a cousin, made new friends, sleeping in big beds, having serious opinions and have a fine appreciation for local cafes.

Baby cousins are not that interactive.

To catch up here are a few random fotos from the last one and a half years.

Note the same costumes in 2007 and 2008 Halloweens...can't let go of a good thing. Well with a chicken twist.

Anything you can do, I can do better MORE

2007-04-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Anything You can do I can do better, part 2

2007-04-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

I love my brother

Our Mama and Papa sleep funny

Anything you can do I can do better....

2007-04-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

In the last few days we are really getting a hang of this talking adult way thing. We still enjoy sunsets and slow walks by the beach...oops sorry wrong entry. Tomas come one focus here. Sorry Sofia...okay I can now say banana, ball, penis, quack quack with a germanic gutteral sound, no way! (only emphatically) and I enjoy many more foods in greater quantities. We love when Papa comes home, I love playing with screwdrivers and seeing how everything works. Baths are amazing things and I had a small earinfection and pink eye...Okay let me take over -- we also can say share share share all day long but we really mean MINE MINE MINE!! I like to hoard food, say No, wave to everyone from the stroller, Hug mama and Papa and kiss them with a big smack (they love that)

We just discovered that red stuff called dip dip (ketchup) and that I do not have a penis. But I do have hair, I like grapes, fish, beans, helping with my diaper change and Tomas', doing anything to annoy Tomas and them scream when I get caught by him. I had a double earinfection and cried really hard and Mama had to hold me for hours and I slept on her wihcih was really nice but her back hurt and then I got better and now I am mad that I can't sleep on Mama.

Sofia come on, you are all better now and there is no need to be so silly - we had a great day today at the playground. You went up and down the slide by yourself stole plenty of food from Zachary. Papa came to join us and walked us home -- well he carried you on his shoulders and you loved that -- especially you looked at yourself in the shop windows...

How about we offer a few highlights of the last month.

Haus! House! Casa!

2007-04-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

We apologize for the rather long break in our updates - but we have been building our new house. You see it needs so much work that you need to see that we have no walls, new front door location etc. At least we are getting a new bathroom and it will have a closet where we can keep a huge number of bath toys! Mama promises to keep putting a few updates on here so you can see. For those who will be label conscious for appliances and what not please be advised that all new or replacement products where selected with not God as a co-pilot, but rather Consumer Reports!

The pictures featured here are of our new living room kitchen dining area. More to come we promise. We are not keeping the green.

Visit Oma and get a haircut!

2007-02-14T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hello we went to visit Oma and Opa Bob this weekend and we had to have haircuts! Professional ones, yippee I finally got that triangle cut out of my bangs. Only Sofia got her picture taken during the haircut because...oh its too complicated and convoluted.

After we got our haircut Oma took us to the Children's Museum in Norwalk - I loved the drawers with the colorful shapes in them - but mostly I showed Oma how to open and close them and then open them again and close them again. Mama and Sofia also had fun with crayons and the slide and making cars and climbing and making bee sounds and I liked to open and close the drawer and had a drink once in a while.

And we ate -- must be Oma's coooking and Opa Bob's cocktails - makes any meal so much better. Mama why can't we have a martini at Dinner? Oma is funny - thank you for a fun tummy filled weekend. Sofia may even have gained an ounce!

The BedTime Routine - Die Routine zum Bett

2007-02-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

First you have to take a bath or as we say -- BADEN BADEN is not just a lovely place in the Blackforest. Jeden Abend gehen wir nach Baden Baden und natuerlich werden die Zahne gut geputzt - Tomas im Blau und Ich bin mit der Gruene Zahnbuerste.

After brushing your teeth you need to run around naked like a crazy puppy and avoid getting caught by Mama or Papa - 'cause they grease you up and down, put you in a tight suit and offer a sip pf lovin' and then off to dreamland. Nach den Zaehne putzen muss man rum rasen wie eine kleiner Hund and aufpassen das Mama un Papa dich nicht fangen - das es nur Krem von oben nach unten gibt -- und auch alle Falten (auch die privaten Falten) .
But in the morning it's back to kissin bunnies! Morgens kuessen wir den Hasen wieder.

Meme Makes Music via Telephone

2007-02-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

Music is my passion - I love to dance, sing and, play the harmonica, xylophone, tambourine, various bells, kazoo, oinky thingy, recorder. Best of all is when my Meme calls and we can do a duet -- for once Sofia is too stunned to join us.

The only problem is that Meme needs to stop playing and then Mama is hlepful because I can make the sign for more more more more more more and tell Meme.

Darned there she is again. SISTERS

I am a sight to behold...Simon Cowell here I come!

CCCCCCold and BORED!!!

2007-02-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

Okay we are sooo bored by the weather being soooo cold we can't even go out, so I am now wearing a soft bucket on my head and trying on Mama's shoes.

Tomas invited some boys over - Zach and Max. Who are very nice and stared out the window with us for a few minutes.

Then mama starting tacking artsy pix of the living room. PLEASE GET WARM SOON.

Meet The Neighbour and the Mess: Unrelated

2007-01-27T18:18:00.000-08:00

Hello I am Hayes, the young and handsome neighbor. I like to come by and borrow the phone sometimes. I hang with Sofia and Tomas -- though I think Tomas is a bit of bully (just because he is 3 months older, jeezzz). They come to play at my house as well and Sofia has take to doing tickle me Elmo impressions based on my cool Elmo (it makes me giggle.)

Hayes is great and we like playing with him because he has new stuff and we can show him how to do stuff - though we tried to teach him how ot use the Kazoo but he does not quite get it yet. But Tomas you still can't figure out how to use a bubble making thingy or climb on the sofa. Thanks Sofia and who protects you from the evil bubbles in the bath?
Anyway this last pictur eis of us at the end of the day and how we like to redecorate the livingroom - and Mama keeps reorganizing it all every day. Quite annoying.

See you all soon -- hugs and kisses from 27e!

Geschwisterliche Liebe -

2007-01-27T18:12:00.000-08:00

Everyone should have a younger brother...this is the kind of pushing around I like!
But honestly we really like eachother - sometimes it is very good to hug someone your own size and Tomas is always there to give/get a hug. And I always like to make sure all of his bubbles are popped on his head...

Sofia: The Early Teenage Years

2007-01-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

Okay so I was telling Hayes that his 9 month clothing is just so passe and then he pulls out this rattle from his armpit and I was like soooo mortified that I peed in my pants but Mama had a Pamper brand diaper on me so that was ok. Just a second it appears I have to go to the other room because Tomas and Papa are listening in.

Like all young ladies I have my own sense of style and here is one of my most recent creations. Please note: the hat is from Tomas, the jacket was my Valentines Day Coat from last year (now its more a trim blazer), the tights are a little generous in sizing, the dress is from Meme, and the shoes are from Tomas as well.

Mary-Kate and Ashley eat your hearts out!

Woodpecker?

2007-01-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

Papa said there is a bird in this picture - actually Artie our Realtor spotted it outside our new house. It is supposed to be really big - like a chicken, but skinnier and with the ability to fly and it can peck bugs out of trees.

Here in Manhattan we have rats that do that....

Now where is that tissue?

2007-01-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

Really, Mama Papa I was looking for a tissue and all these animals came bounding out....

A Warm, Balmy January Day in New York

2007-01-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

We keep hearing about this thing called snow and to prepare I am now sleeping with my new floral fleecy from Meme but it was 21c today and so we went to play at Central Park and everyone was there...and their fathers.

We had a good time and I like to play peek over the wall with Will -- aka Tongue boy-- and Tomas...well he spent time stealing our pail and shovels back from all the girls who kept taking them. It is very practical to have a brother who watches out for stuff.

And Tio Damian bought us these really cool large balloons whic make a real racket - Auntie Kate did not like it too much, neither did Mama. SO WE WENT MAD WITH THE NOISE...now I have a cold and really need to sleep. Enjoy the spring, maybe we meet snow sometime!

Hey, let me say something! - DANKE GUDRUN fuer das schoene neue Buch mit Gedichtern und Raetzel- Mama lisst schon vor und Ich habe schoen ein paar Seiten ausgesucht dir Mir sehr Gefallen. (TRANSLATION: Tomas' godmother Gudrun sent us a lovely book of poetry and puzzles to enjoy -- see Toronto posting for cool coats from Gudrun.)

Babies New Year!

2007-01-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

Here we are getting ready for the new year...we wish everyone a happy healthy and prosperous 2007.

Tio Damian and Tia Kate Get Married

2007-01-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

Yippee!! We have a new cousin who has a very nice Mummy and now a very nice Husband our UNCLE DAMIAN! We dressed up in our fancy clothes - Meme saved Papa's tie for me from when Papa was as young as us and my godmother - the impecable Gudrun - supplied us with our amazing jackets from Austria. Look at us posing in our finest.

We have decided that we are very happy to attend weddings from now on because the big people let you sip champagne, eat crackers, let you play with candles, and eat grapes with wild abandon.

What Fork??

2007-01-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

Christmas Weinachten Feliz Navidad Hannukah

2007-01-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

Well we celebrate all of them and we have no idea whatr that means except it involves a great deal of colorful paper, presents, verboten foods, new dresses, new books, many photos, a tree in the middle of the room with lights that blink and you CANNOT TOUCH THEM. NICHT ANFASSEN, NEIN NEIN NEIN!!! Warum Mama? Porque Papa?

We also got new pajamas, boots, plates and forks and cups, books, boots, dresses, trains, a huge incredible painting of a rooster, a turtle that lights up the night sky with the stars, tree ornaments, sorting box with KEYS, truck, and canvas bags to store all these treasures in.

To become an incredilbe and belieavable actress I swooned and ooohed and ahhed at all the amazing things that were behind all the papers I could not believe it - in fact I could not take it anymore and had to take a nap. A diva must rest at times - so I asked Tomas to come with me and when we were ready we came back down stairs ate an amazing meal of tenderloin, beans, red cabbage, potatoes -- then we opened more presents. Tomas true to his Opa Bob's nickname of 'T-Bone' was far more interested in eating and eating and eating...I went back to opening presents. Our Cousin Alexandra was very funny because she is sooo cool and she played with me (now that I understand hide and seek I like playing with her) until I fell down laughing. She is sooo intersting because she can talk and do stuff like put on her own shoes. I hope mama can put up a photo of her.

Ok fotos - Mama are there any? Sorry there are not many as soon as I can i will put them up.

Mondays Are Tough

2006-12-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

Let me tell it - Mondays are tough because all weekend we have Papa's help taking care of Mama and then on Monday morning we dress Papa and send him on his way. Mama is not so easy. So we take her to lunch at Wholefoods - Tomas likes the apples there - I usually have a bit of sushi - but I found the eel not to my liking today.

After lunch, we take Mama to Central Park and we have to play in the sand and keep her busy - today an Italian boy tried to take our truck - his beautiful parents scolded him and boy are we glad we get scolded in German (that Italian is rather passionate). I ate a little sand and since Tomas has a cold he ate none and played rather quietly - right now I am laying in my crib, Tomas is asleep and I am dictating through the door to Mama.

Ah Mondays....

So many SANTAS

2006-12-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

Oh my good - we went to the youth concert today (we are way too young - what were Papa and Mama thinking) so we went outside and there were all these people acting very silly and had the most fun clothing on and one gave Tomas a plastic toy Indian and I got a cowboy which I threw away and Tomas chewed on his and it got cold so we went home and oops that was a runon - but I only had one nap today.

Phew that catches up our last few weeks - oh did you see the one in white has a Menorah on her head? But Papa and Mama say candles are dangerous..I guess on your head is not soo bad.

Hey if you are reading this will you send us a comment - we do not think anyone actually reads these things and we get lonely...so just say howdy and if you are shy send Mama a note directly -- no more fotos of Papa's legs sorry.

Opa Hans and Granny Jani Visit

2006-12-16T19:22:00.000-08:00

Who knew that Fettucini could be so much fun -- OPA did. we had fun eating and flinging pasta then we chased Opa around til he took a nap and then he had to go home and then Janice needed a nap. They are so cute when they get sleepy.

Chicago Comes to Town

2006-12-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

The entire Chicago Symphony Orchestra comes to town and who comes to visit us at home THE CRITICS - what does that mean Mama? Sofia I shall explain this to you very carefully - when the critic's Mama comes to town she goes where her son goes (it's a bit like me) So Andrew and Tom came to visit us because Irene (the real Patner Power) wanted to see us. We stayed up long enought to say hello, get some delicious hugs and then took a long nap.

We also got to have our Carnegie Hall stage Debut! we saw many of our friends we have not seen since we were about 10 inches shorter (I still feel short - sofia) and best of all our friend Syneevve is coming to be our NYPR pro (Mama here - can we correct Synneve's name) we like our spelling bye bye Mama.

Stollen Feast

2006-12-16T18:58:00.000-08:00

YUMMY STOLLEN! Thank you Alex -- would you know our Argentine Grandpa gets us our new fav German Weihnachts goody? Tomas go and get your own - I unwrapped this and ate a huge chunk by myself. I am the princess!

So many shoes, so little time...

2006-12-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

Our fab friends Isky and Gill came to visit from London and we had great fun chasing eachother around the apartment and MOMA - where we know we can run faster and scream louder than the grownups.

Here is a still life we call CHOES!!!

Isky was impressed at how perfectly we line up our Choes eachtime we come home (little does he know that we so little else to worry about.) Here I am with Gill . I like her very much - she is cuddly and showed Mama and Papa where to buy better bread for our morning meal.

Oh and the Intrepid finally moved to New Jersey - that's where our cousin Alexandra lives- it took many strong tugs and there were 48,000 horses in the Hudson pulling on the ship - Sofia I did not see any horses in the river did you?

Oh Tomas, you are so silly. They were all underwater that's why we did not see them-hence Seahorses!!! Besides who cares about such a silly thing like a ship - it was grey and bland and now here are some nice pictures of sunsets!

When will there be an update?

2006-12-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

Okay we are having a tough time right now because, well because our translator, often referred to as Mama is too busy going out at night. We know because I make sure that Tomas wakes up most nights (I have a little snoring problem) and checks on who is watching us. In the last two weeks Tomas hung out with Katarina (he really likes her), Tanya (she lets Tomas watch TV- good strategy) and Anne Marie (ok with her we do not get up because she knows us too well). Isky and Gill we did not bother because they were suffering from Jet Lag -- oh by the way we really want to go to MOMA again - did you know that you can scream really wonderfully in the galleries and if you touch the funny pictures made with strings the men and women with dark suits come over very quickly to come and play with you?

Okay nap time and maybe Mama and Papa will load up new pictures tonight or so...

Thanksgiving Sunday at Central Park Zoo

2006-11-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

I found a Polar Bear today because I was checking everything out all the time. None of the big people saw him, but I did that's why I ran away from Papa. There were soo many people to look at at the zoo - we did not see the Pengiuns and Puffins because there were too many people but we saw pigeons and ducks and seals and monkeys with red bottoms and Sofia stopped to smell the flowers too. Even I have to admit she is very cute - for a sister.

Sofia's first party trick - holding her straw cup by her teeth. For someone not feeling very well she sure has moments of cheekiness!

Where are you?

2006-11-27T07:22:00.000-08:00

Tomas where are you? I am looking everywhere for you here at Split lip Park.
I am right here driving a bus -- come get on the bus.

And then lets go hunting for our Christmas Goose.

Alex kisses Sofia and Tomas...where will it ever end?

2006-11-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

Hastings Here we Come: Family Portrait

2006-11-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

It has been nearly a year since we last took an impromptu family portrait and when we were visiting Jan and Alec today in Hastings we had Mama and Papa sit down and smile. See my fun and pretty pink outfit underneath my cool new fuzzy sweater from Meme? Tomas was not paying as much attention because he wanted to see leaves blow. Papa went to look at the house and we played with Alec and Jan. We like their house because it has nuts -- the kind you play with and it has Alec who is very good in spanish and leaf gathering. He can also carry Tomas and run in circles around him.

We also got a new Table and Chairs - we tell that in German because Tante Walli and Onkel Hans got that for us - they are ssoooo cool. Heute Morgen wachte der Tomas zuerst auf und sah einen neues ding im Haus. Einen Tisch und Stuehle zum sitzen, essen und lesen - das taten wir alle ganz schnell. Schaut mal -- wir haben solch eine tolle Tante und Onkel wir lieben unseren neuen Tisch -- habt ihr das Gesicht vom Tomas gesehen? Er war erstaunt und konnte nicht aufhoeren zu lachen fuer 20 minuten. Danke von den Maeusen Tomas und Sofia.

How to Scare Meme in Manhattan...

2006-11-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

Really the windows are child-proofed. As Mama's new magnet says, ...but they keep finding their way in. I am wearing a hat I found and I feel kind of early punkish...

Marna made this hat for us and I really like to wear it, its retro 6 months old. Tomas is so jealous of my growing hat collection..Mama would not let me put the picture of him in my floral pink hat or wearing my hair clasps...she is so 1900's.

Yes, Meme I will not take Sofia's hair thingy...but it looks so much better in my hair really, please...

Meme is Here!

2006-11-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

Papa has gone away to Italy to go clothing shopping - courtesy of British Airways. Meme is here to play with us... Kaleb and I are trying to pop the same bubble and we bopped our heads together..funny. This was our creative play class today and Meme was chatted up by two Japanese Mom's who said she was very very cool. I think she is cool because she bought me a new dress and a new top and a new sweater and Tomas got something as well...mine is prettier. Oh and after a week of feeling pretty lousy - including vomiting brought on by virus and by phlegm Tomas is finally letting me sleep through the night again.

WE MISS YOU PAPA.

Der Erste Kuss - DO NOT TELL PAPA

2006-11-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

The Paparazzi caught it all...Harrison kissing Sofia...and then Tomas as well!?!

We have banished Harrison to New Jersey -- ah innocent love.

Onkel Hans, Tante Wali Schaut Mal

2006-11-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

Hier bin Ich am rennen mit meinem Snoopy Top und meine Snoopy Hosen -- Ich trage sie oft und gerne. DANKE noch mals! Ich mach auch immer sicher das Baby ist sicher im Wagen!

Autumn winds up in New York

2006-11-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

We wanted to show pictures of the Intrepid being moved, but it's stuck in the mud (like the Republicans). They claim they will try again in December - the Intrepid that is

So please enjoy Opa Hans' newest fotos of autumn in New York...he got a new camera...it is so cool and so is he!

If you give a Mouse a Centimeter...

2006-11-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

Sofia we have to get them to buy this house because it has no lawn to mow -- and plenty of woods for us to play in, a downstaird family room for all of our grandparents and aunts and uncles to stay in and Papa can walk to the train station while Mama putters in the garden. Who knows we can even slide down our backyard to sled...

But do you think they will keep the vintage 1950 Kitchen? I hope not - we better reuse our diapers for a while so we can afford all this stuff.

more pictures

2006-10-31T18:00:00.000-08:00

The Bees are Buzzing and we're making Honey

2006-10-31T17:12:00.000-08:00

How many Bees are Buzzing on Halloween?

Happy Halloween to everyone. First we were on fire duty - Papa and Mama burned the toast again...and we came to the rescue.

Here, Sofia and I are deciding wether we should bust open the wall for the source of the toast fire. But all was well and after our nap we went to the Playground to see which of our friends got to dress up as well.

This pumpkin is Sophia and the monster is our friend Zachary - he was not so happy because his superhero status was revealed.

Here is a group of our friends

Yeah I play the blues - I've got a Jeans Jacket

2006-10-29T18:20:00.000-08:00

My harmonica and I, close, but not that close...

Opa Hans and Granny Janny

2006-10-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

These are the socky grandparents - they give us socks and sock our love to them...note how chilly it has gotten in NYC - we had gusts of 50 mph. Mama nearly fell over with Tomas and I, Sofia, loved it when the wind blew through my hair I screeeeeeeeeeched!

We had some coffee (ech!) and water with Oma and Granny Janny and then they had to go grocery shopping - next time they will stay for bath time so they can see how we pour water onto the floor -- Mama always has the oddest expression on her face and weird words to say when we do that. Tomas just laughs so hard he falls on his bottom.

The View from our Perch

2006-10-29T17:48:00.000-08:00

We had a fantastic sunset today and we wanted to share it with you. See the cruise ship on the Hudson - three came today at 730am -- which was really 830am or 630am. Hey, we barely have a sense of object permanente so who knows when the ships got here.

Soon the Intrepid Aircraft Carier will leave and if it is good weather Mama promises to take us to take a look as they move ship that has no engines and has been stuck in the mud for 25 years.

We seerenly pose for photographs

2006-10-29T17:28:00.000-08:00

OMA buys Tomas New Shoes!

2006-10-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

Sofia is getting ready to shop. Old shoes, food, diapers, hoody...

Thank you Oma for the Evian -- we cannot drink that domestic swill...

So Mama lost my shoe, Sofia lost her shoe, and Oma bought me new shoes (THANK YOU) - they are very cool and trendy. We bought them in New Canaan - then we had lunch (fries and chicken). Sorry there are no pix of us buying the shoes -- but look at my feet. And Sofia is wearing her new shoes too.

Am Spielplatz - At the Playground

2006-10-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

At the playground it is a jungle - your sister eats your goldfish, some takes your stroller, and there are always people checking out your wheels.

Am Spielplatz ist es ein Jungle - Sofia ist meine Goldfische, man muss aufpassen das niemand mein Wagen weg nimmt und jeder schaut unseren Wagen an...

Doing Mama's Hair

2006-10-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

Am Samstag muessen wir Mama's Haare schoen machen -- aber was kann man machen mit diese Haare? Meine Guete Kunden - Ich versuche mal..

Saturdays I do Mama's Hair - but what can one do with this hair? My goodness, clients, I try...

Fall Colors/Herbst Farben In New York

2006-10-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Opa Hans and his photo skills here are some of the magical colors of New York. Of course there are pumpkins around here as well. Thank you Opa and Granny Janny.

Oh How Small

2006-10-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Yep once we were this small...

Hand Holding

2006-10-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

After a big exhausting party it is best to fall asleep holding the hands of someone you love.

Nach einer grosse Feier muss man immer einschlafen Hand in Hand.

We are Going To a Party!

2006-10-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Come with us to Princeton - we are going to join the 1st Birthday Party of our dear Chicago Friends - Pippi and Daisy. We are not going to university -- even for Manhattan babies this is early. The last time we saw these ladies they could barely hold their heads up -- and now look at them. Pippi wears pearls and Daisy knows how to strut her stuff.

We are also excited because we will see Pippi more often. She just moved her parents (Marvelous Marna and Zippy Zach) to New Haven. Her Papa is going to go to school again so he can build them a house! Enjoy the cupcakes and our inspection of Marna's historic family house.

This is Marna - she is very happy because her father is lighting the candles on Pippi and Daisy's b'day cupcakes. We had some as well -- If you want to see Pippi's take on the party see http://pippiwhite.blogspot.com/

Helping Papa Get Dressing - Den Papa Anziehen

2006-10-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Gettting Papa to dress in the morning is tough. First, we have to get him out of bed. The we must ensure he showers, eats, makes his coffee and dresses.

So here we are with his shaver, picking out ties and sorting his closet.

Den Papa anzuziehen ist sehr kompliziert - man muss eine Kravate aussuchen (aber nur eine), ihn rasieren, socken suchen. Manchmahl muss man sich einfach hinsetzen und sich ausruhen.

Es Gibt Ein Protest in New York!

2006-10-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

Here we are protesting at Toys R Us - some people at the shop were mean to a lady who was feeding a colleague of ours. So we came had a seat and mama fed us. The nice ashamed people at Toys R us gave us Cherios - In protest we ate in a messy manner.

Wir hatten gehoert das ein Kollege sehr geaergert war weil seine Mama ihn nicht Brust Milch geben koente in einem Spielwaren Geschaeft - so ungeschaemt! ALso wir sassen uns hin - Mama hat uns gefuettert und wir haben unsere Cherrios ganz unordentlich gegessen (sie waren ein Geschenk vom Laden - als Entschuldigung.)

Das ist unsere Mama's Freundin, Natalie, mit ihrem Sohn Pascal.

All boxed up - Kisten Kinder

2006-10-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

Here we are in a box. When we have been very very good we get to play in a box. Usually we laugh but Mama had to stop pushing us around so she could take this picture and that made us stop laughing....

And a little backwards - To Creemore

2006-10-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Here we are back in Creemore Blueberry Picking we really really loved it. Sofia ate so many she could not walk anymore! I, Tomas, turned blue because I ate and ate and ate and was concentrating very vert intently. See how I show my now published uncle how you must enjoy a blueberry just so...

Granny Janny Does our Pajama Runway!

2006-10-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you Granny Janny - here are our latest in designer sleepwear - please note the subtle but vital accessories.

2006-10-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

I can build towers with Papa.

It is just sooooooooooooo much fun.

BUT I CANNOT HOLD BACK TOPPLING THEM.

Sofia Wakens

2006-10-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

Who can resist a young lady waking so peacfully...

Creemore Part 3: Funny Village

2006-10-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

There are very strange things in Creemore - the carrots actually walk! Next year we will be in the vegetable parade PLEASE MEME PLEASE MEME let us be radishes and aubergines.

Really we did not mean to break our Uncle Damian - he has a book coming out and we need him to read it to us... There are very strange things in Creemore - the carrots actually walk! Next year we will be in the vegetable parade PLEASE MEME PLEASE MEME let us be radishes and aubergines.

Papa and Mama look a little tired in Creemore - but I try to explain things very carefully . They are over thirty you know.

Here we are helping Meme to inspect a chair with many holes. We make sure all the holes are the same size by placing pine needles through them and also ensuring that gravity works the same in Canada as in America - just a little kinder and gentler.

Creemore Part 2: Arrival at last!

2006-10-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

Ok these are a bit mixed up since we did not have to take a boat to Creemore -- but here we are in Tall Pines cleaning the windows and preparing our boat for a journey.

Oops here - here is Sofia with Papa coming in from the woods and having been silly in the pool.

Creemore Part 1: Getting there...

2006-10-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

To get to Creemore you must first fly to Toronto and squirm and squirm and squirm and then you get in your new car (thank you Meme and Alex) and then Alex reads the directions to you very carefully. Then you get happy and smell the flowers.

Papa needs help!

2006-10-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

Papa cannot eat without our help so here is Sofia making sure his food does not fall out. Tomas must help Papa with his hat - because it is hot outside and he needs his protection.
But when I do not like to eat something the easiest thing is to open my mouth and wait for gravity to remove untasty things from my mouth!

Pretty Green in August

2006-10-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

Sofia looking pretty in green and Tomas looking a great deal like his Onkel Stephan!

Our Birthday!

2006-10-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

OK this is odd and we will add more foto - there were many family present at the party and Papa took only a picture of the cake - how strange is that?

Catching Up - Mama been very very bad

2006-10-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

Lets go back to July -- we turned one then you know. First we had to clean our home. You can see above that Tomas and Sofia can tidy up very well. They even fluff the curtains at Oma's house. Then the weekend before our birthday Tomas' number one Godmother, Fabulous Gudrun came to visit us before she moved back to -the coffee capital of Europe- Vienna. Note that Tomas is not too happy that he must share a foto with his Gudrun by including his sister. Ah -- otherwise he is an excellent sharer.

We Went Swimming

2006-07-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Uncle Stephan, Tia Karen, and our most senior Cousin Alexandra, invited us to their new pool yesterday and we tried to learn to swim. We had a wonderful time, especially when Opa and Granny Janny came as well. It is very very hot in NYC this was the perfect treat. Then Tia Karen surprised us with an early birthday cake for us, including some new blocks and very nice new outfits - Tres Chic!
Opa bought us some new toys as well, we played with the pull along giraffe and monkey even this morning.
My goodness Mama forgot to tell that we are now walking as well. Tomas learned three weeks ago and Sofia is staggering since Saturday July 15 - she did that for Papa first. We are also having teeth come through and that is making Tomas very grumpy, though Sofia is finally getting some top teeth- which should break through any day.

Adventures of TaHos since July 28, 2005

2006-06-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Meme and Alex Came to Visit

We had a wonderful weekend because Mama and Papa let Meme and Alex come from Toronto to play with us. They brought us a new walking thingy firetruck. I, Tomas, like it because it moves and has a seat that opens and it moves. I like it, says Sofia, because I can sit on it and people drive me around - though when I fell off it was not so funny.

Alex took a very nice picture of me and a nice one of Tomas as well. We tried Goat Yogurt tonight -- because Mama thinks it might not make us be allergic. Today, we also found out that we are allergic to Cinnamon in our applesauce is that weird? We went to the 68th street playground this afternoon after we played in the 10th avenue playground this morning.

We were pooped.

Opa Bob came to visit us as well - he could only stop by for half an hour because Oma had him on many errands -- but we will see him this weekend. Papa promises to have a big BBQ and Sofia's Godmother Lara will come to visit as well. I hope she will make her all bendy again. Sofia always laughs when Mama bends her legs over her head.

We need to go to sleep now. Good night.

2006-06-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

Me and my girls (2)Papa and his handfuls
toot toot

Wait more Pictures...

2006-06-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

Me and my mirror

Me and my girls

Cleaning in the kitchen...

Peekaboo curtains!

The heat is On!

2006-06-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Wow was it hot today - 90 degrees in Manhattan. We got a bit grumpy and dirty (Tomas even ate dirt at the community garden - he thought it was a rock.) but enjoyed our bath because Papa came back in time to help.

Tomas: So much has happened since we last wrote an entry. We spent 9 days in Chicago for the final 3 concerts led by Maestro Barenboim - except Mama and Papa did not take us to any of them because it was too late at night. So instead we stayed at Tante Gudrun's amazing apartment and chased Mama and Papa and Gudrun around the entire flat. Tante Gudrun is soooooo cool because she has many windows that go all the way to the floor, mirrors on walls, curtains that hand low, Chinese furniture that all has hinges, wooden boxes that can be banged on, several remote controls and the best Godmother I could ever have.

Sofia: Tante Gudrun and I had a very funny time eating together - she taught us about blueberries -- I LOVE BLUEBERRIES so much that my poop is now purple. Gudrun's apartment is so wonderful that we choose to sleep much longer there and eat more and play more. And I cleaned at Gudrun's - i do not want to leave a mess. We did not like it when too many people at Papa's old workplace looked at us. I want to look at them -- but then friends came to visit us and that was fun. Mama' s friend Theresa brought us funny books with baby pictures in them - I study them daily. Papa's friend Holly brought us even more books -- I like the friends in the Jungle one very much -- Tomas is still deciding which he likes the most. We also played on the playground by Watertower with our friend Lili and Pippi. And we played with Beatrice at Gudrun's as well - Brian's daughter and Tomas really got along - she is very good at sharing. Pippi was bigger so Tomas was a bit nervous but that was good because he always takes my toys and I scream then.

Tomas: Well okay sorry I will try to not take your toys but Papa says 11 month old have no impulse control so when I hear No in German (NEIN) from Mama then I laugh and so do you. It's just that dirt tastes good and ooops I just lost my control - thank goodness for diapers.

Where is that Food!

2006-06-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend Meme came to visit from Toronto and we shall have a picture very soon - she was a big help because Papa went on a business trip and Mama needed some adult company. Meme brought some fun presents - a cool Giraffe and a real cell phone for us to play with. Then we went to visit Oma and Opa Bob and everyone came to visit: Onkel Hans and Tante Walli, Opa Hans and Granny Janny, Uncle Stephan and Tia Karen, as well including our fabulous cousin Alexandra (she made us a sexy rocking horse when we were born) . Tomas enjoyed his BBQ chicken and Sofia loved all the attention and the fruit salad.

Right now we need to nap because we just had a grand time ast the Playground with Onkel Hans and Tante Walli, Yawn

Memorial Day Weekend - What a wknd!

2006-05-31T17:15:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone - Oma Barbel and Opa Bob invited us out to Connecticut to enjoy the holiday sorrounded by greenery and the hooting of owls and chirping of birds. We certainly enjoyed ourselves and I (Sofia) had a great time getting my strong and charming brother to push me around! He can almost walk now and Oma and Opa have this walker that our cousin Alexandra used before us. THANK YOU for leaving it for us!

Tomas: we had a great time until I woke up on Friday night because I got sick - and then I got sick a few more times, and then I got a bath at 2am and then I was very unhappy and then I played in Mama and Papa's bed and, then I slept, then Sofia got sick and then Mama got sick and then Papa got sick and then Oma got sick and then Opa got sock and then Auntie Ulla felt unwell.

Mama: Tomas I think that was a runon sentence! We are all a little tired now but feeling much better - if you are any Manhattan babies this month you may get this - be careful!

Sofia: I got a little sick and did not wake up until the morning. I liked playing with Papa and Mama and Oma and Opa and Ulla all weekend. When Mama and Papa left us with Oma and OPa (they went to buy diapers but I think they went to eat Gelatto) we had a nice time and Oma taught Tomas how to push me in the walker. I like not having to crawl everywhere. It is very nice in Connecticut and we finally got to drive into Manhattan in our own car. I did not cry at all - Tomas cried - he was bored -- but just a little.

Thank you see you soon. With love

We Are Published

2006-05-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hello/Hallo - Finally Mama and Papa are getting their act together and getting a blog started on our fabulous first 10 months.
"Wait Sofia, we need to show pictures as well, no?"
"Tomas I got out first. I get the first word, and maybe the last one as well!"
Okay that's a photo of the day we were born - JULY 28, 2005 - we were much smaller and quieter. We were both camera shy then. And the lower photo is us now! I, Tomas am 8 inches taller and 12 pounds heavier! Sofia has also grown.

This picture is of us putting the blog on line - we love to work with cables!
"Okay is there any food around here? Sofia don't forget to translate all this into German and Spanish." - Tomas

"Hey all I can say in any language is MamaMamaPapaPapaMamama - I can't do more grownupspeak." - Sofia

Entlich haben Mama und Papa ein Blog angefangen so das unsere ganze Familie und Freunde unsere Welt sehen und erleben koennen. Tomas sagt wir brauchen auch Bilder und Ich weiss das aber Ich darf zuerst sprechen weil Ich zuerst raus kam. Und jetzt sucht Er was zum essen sowieso. Also Mama such mal bilder fuer das Blog!

If I may interrupt (Mama speaking) could this all wait until tomorrow. Its way beyond bedtime and I am exhausted! Die Kinder schlafen jetzt und also Ich auch bald.

Bis Bald - Ciao - Bye