Me: “Tobin, what’s that big thing standing next to your train tracks?”
Tobin: “That’s a bad person, writing graffiti.”
Disclosure: the kids love graffiti and we have had a lot of fun spotting great artwork back home and on our train trips in Germany. Recently, Mika has been asking more follow up questions and both have been aware that it can be art and an illegal activity all at the same time. A fascinating and confusing subject for Tobin, who tries to apply his good/bad preschool stereotypes, while admiring the actual graffiti he spots in real life.
Between the two first visits in Bremen we made a dash to Bremerhaven – also known as kiddie heaven. We were generously hosted by Bruno and Sasha’s grandparents and his three resident cousins and their parents. We got to enjoy their beautiful house and garden, as well as a staggering number of toys and age appropriate activities. Thank you again for having us, and for the Brombeermarmelade!
On our second visit, the kids took Omi Hilde’s remote-controlled hospital bed for a ride. They took turns in changing from flat to seated position, which proved to be a source for endless giggles. Omi Hilde will never be able to look at her bed without cracking up herself. Special guests today: the two little bunnies that visited Omi Hilde already in Spring of 2010.
Three weeks ago, Omi Hilde tripped and broke her right arm and her left hand. With both arms in a cast, the fiercely independent nonagenarian checked herself into short term care, until she can handle her own affairs again. We visited her on the premises, which include a little park and playground nearby. The kids, of course, came prepared with a handful of specialty pens to decorate her blue casts.
Opa Addi sacrificed not only a glider airplane, but also worked his right index finger to the point of exhaustion: the kids begged him all afternoon to wind up the motor, and each time they could barely contain themselves until the right level of tension was achieved. Many crashes and small repairs later, the body snapped into two pieces. RIP.
We absolutely had to test Martha Stewart’s eye popping “Fruit Salad Ice Pops“, but the bees (and wasps) were on to us in no time. Mika was particularly cautious, since she has gotten stung once last Summer. Opa Addi came to the rescue, and gently kept the intruders at bay until the last drop was slurped up. Later that afternoon, Tobin came up with his own, bee-repelling creation: mud ice cream cones with salt…
The first of many visits to our local organic farm, which also doubles as petting zoo and playground. The kids fed their favorite animals (baby cows), found the next “Babe“, and collected fresh flowers for Omi Hilde.
Mika and Tobin asked to visit the cockpit before the flight and got lucky. We boarded early enough for the co-pilot to still have a little down time. Mika got to sit in the captain’s seat and the two of them were going through a few maneuvers in perfect sync. Tobin got a bit intimidated by all the electronics and opted to watch from his front row spot.
The flight was fairly easy, as usual, and we woke up to a fantastic sunrise over the Atlantic. Shortly after, the plane touched down in Hamburg for a reality check on northern European climate. Thankfully, the weather improved shortly thereafter.
This week has officially been the worst heatwave since i moved to New York 15 years ago. Friday was the hottest day by far, with record breaking temperatures all over the Northeast. Our plan was to take the kids straight from German summer camp to the pool, but when we arrived at the Double D, it was filled to capacity with a line around the block. We drove over to Red Hook, changed everybody into their swim gear, put sunscreen on increasingly miserable children, and were just about to enter the deck, when a wall of people pushed their way back into the locker rooms. “Emergency water maintenance … the pool will be closed for 1+ hours”. Whaaaaa????
Still in our bathing suits, and dripping wet from sweat alone, we put on a few clothes, got back into the hot car and drove to Anke and Richard’s house. Their ice cold sprinkler brought everybody back to life…
