Winter Strolls

We get bundled up pretty well for the walks these days. Victoria never likes just RIDING in the stroller. Usually she wants to PUSH the stroller. But if she must ride, I like to find the bumpiest patches of road to roll over. Or even better, if we go off-roading. The bumpier the better.

Holidays

Christmas and New Year's here were good. I haven't posted in so long I feel the need to post a pic or two from that time now. The first is the tree, after we had unwrapped about half of the gifts. We do half on the 24th (German Beier tradition), and the other half on the 25th (US Blankenberger tradition). The second pic is of a music box that, with the aid of the candle heat, rotates the propellers at the top and the scene inside spins around like a carousel. It's nice. Never seen one in the US.


Oh, New Years. Oooh, always tough for the dogs. The tradition here is to let off fireworks. They are legal, and every household lets em rip. On the hour and then at midnight comes the big stuff. Tasha especially has a hard time, but Leo isn't a fan either.

Simsalabim

Just about a 20 minute drive from here there is an indoor playground for kids called Simsalabim.
This morning (and afternoon) we took Victoria to check it out. We met some friends there who have a toddler Victoria's age. It's great because, aside from being cool people, they are raising their girl bilingual as well. The dad is English and the mom is German.
Here are a couple of pics of this place. It's huge! Just ginormous. They have a few different play areas set up for kids of different age groups. There is also a bit of a restaurant/cafe in there for the parents to sit and chat or whatever, even a couple of pool tables. There was a go-kart area, train, small carousel, several trampolines, a giant playland in the center with ladders and bridges and nerf-ball machine guns, giant slides, giant inflated castles, and so on - you get the idea. It's a big place.
Victoria's favorite was most likely the big slide we went down (together), but she was really eye-balling the go-karts. She kept trying to run over there and get in a car. She's much too small still but that certainly doesn't stop her.
Here are a few pics of the place to give you an idea of the layout and size.


And here is a nice shot of Victoria coming over for a short break. A very short break.


And here is mommy and kiddo with our friends.


All in all a very good day. Victoria had a blast discovering so many things. I think it'll be our new haunt - particularly on cold winter days.

Winter in southern Germany

The winters here are milder than those of Chicago's. It usually hovers around 35-40 or so during the day and rains most of the winter. But on somewhat rare occasion, it drops below freezing and the rain coming down decides to solidify a bit and turn into the white stuff.

Anywho, we had a chance recently to take Victoria, Tasha and Leo out into the yard for some sledding. This was Victoria's first sledding adventure. She loved it, of course.