Kenya

Whenever husband travels he collects stories for the rest of the family, staying at home. Son and I get to hear about the people in those far away countries, what they like, what they eat or wear, what currencies they use. 

Husband will take pictures for us so we can see the mountains there, the rivers and cities.    

  

For daughter, however, he collects animal stories because those are the only stories she wants to hear. Husband will try to make friends with animals, he is, in all honesty, not too crazy about, and then document it...

Here is a picture of Charlie Brown, the camel,

  

who, after husband fed him melon pieces (who knew?), did become a friend.

 

And here is a smart little monkey, who hides in a palm tree till people get comfortable on a beach chair. Then, looking left and looking right, he will sneak up behind it and go though the sun bathers' clothes till he finds something edible. Holding it in one hand he will run back up the palm tree and enjoy his meal. 

  

Mount Kilimanjaro 

Walter

Daughter's school takes part in online reading program. The teachers sign up their students and after each child receives a password they can start accumulating points by reading books and answering questions about them. So far, so good. The students are participating, some more, some less.

Last September, at the first parent/teacher meeting one particulary eager father suggested that the teacher hand out an award for the "best" reader at the end of the school year. I remember the teacher making a funny face and replying "but, Walter, your son, will surely collect the most points anyway. He has so many already, the other students won't be able to catch up." To which the father replied: "Well, Walter would really like an award."

Now, this was just a few weeks into the new school year. At the time daughter and her friends hadn't read one single book yet. How on earth did Walter collect hundreds of points? Doesn't he sleep?   

A couple of months ago, daughter was working on said computer program when I sat next to her and mentioned casually: "you know, I think it is great that you are reading books and trying to get points. I just want to let you know that it seems that Walter is reading a REAL lot and he will have the most points at the end of the school year."

Daughter didn't answer for the longest time. But then she said: "Walter, eh? Well, I will at least try to come as close to his points as I can."

She has been reading ever since.    

      

One book after the other. 

Sometimes she will ask for finger food to be put right next to her, so she doesn't have to stop.

She is always reading aloud and insists on me listening to every word, which means I actually do get a lot of housework done. It is amazing how much I can get done when I have my own personal reader, who is too busy to make a mess.   

All this reading has turned her into the best second grade reader I have ever encountered. 

 

Except Walter, of course.

 

Lovely Copenhagen

Hans Christian Andersen and The Ugly Duckling

In Copenhagen there are two huge department stores: the "Illum" and the "Magasin du Nord". I had read that H.C. Andersen had lived in a room under the attic in the latter but couldn't find any further information on it. So, one day while looking at Danish design at the "Magasin" we asked a sales lady. She smiled and sent us to the third floor. 

But even though we searched the whole floor we couldn't find the room. No signs, absolutely nothing but houseware items and books. Again, we asked a sales lady for help. She nodded, smiled and motioned to follow her. Bringing us to an unmarked door, she had it unlocked and we were able to walk into the room that the author had lived in during his youth in Copenhagen.

   

Doesn't it look like he just got out of bed?

Later, during the day, daughter found her own "ugly duckling". 

Copenhagen 2009

A year ago son and I visited Copenhagen and liked it so much, we had to show it to husband and daugher.

After our flight to Copenhagen airport we took the train to downtown...  

checked into the SAS hotel, just like last year...and after trying out Arne Jacobsen's chairs got familiar with the city...

 

Fasching in Assamstadt

Even though it is unbelievably cold outside we drove to Assamstadt and watched the parade there. There were lots of talented musicians...

witches... 

who felt daughter's face needed some soap...

 
and then there was a "Super Mario" float. It was by far the best float. And both daughter and son claim they would feel that way even if cousin and her boy-friend wouldn't have been members of it...

Winter Blues

Weather here is dreary and bleak. To deal with the winter blues I am eating lots of chocolate and Haagen Dazs ice cream (Butter Pecan, Rum Raisin, Vanilla Swiss Almond, White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle and any other kind I can get my hands on).

Husband is arm wrestling Eric Singer and talking guitars with Bruce Kulick.