Lia and her guys

Have been chasing my family with the camera again ...

No problem when the weather and the view are that gorgeous.

Please don't make fun of wizard's hat. It's a "Hannover-Must-Have-Hat", made in the capital of Lower Saxony. The poor guys needs to find his own identity, being brutally denied his (well-deserved!!!) American citizenship. Thinking about it, Ben isn't really from Hannover either. Oh man, he's Westphalian. And he'll never forgive us...

A feeling of home

It has been a very warm and sunshiny September, and the onset of fall makes us miss the East Coast very much. The fall has been our most favorite season, and every pumpkin I see stirs up another memory, with lovely little peanuts in adorable costumes coming to mind...

But after almost one year back in Germany we can say with certainty that we have finally settled in and sort of arrived home (again). Beautiful days of fall call for some outdoor activity, no matter where on this planet you are!

Hugs and kisses in the earyly morning sun!

Sort of nonprofessional family portraits.

Again, Hannover is not the worst place to be out and about. We made it to a little 'fall festival', a market that offered food, art, and other fun stuff. Dog show included. Plum cake and coffee anyone?

Sweets for my sweet, pumpkin puree for my pumkin:

This is Lia NOT watching the dog show, but performing herself.

See? A little ballet never hurt anyone.


The guys looking this way and that.


Lia looking that way, too, while eating blueberries.
Sorry, no pictures of the dogs.

And a totally fed up pumpkin who shut out the world around him.

In contrast to his big sister, who never seems to get enough. Color.

Hey Peanut, you missed a spot! And you were also missing your partner in crime, who would have helped you paint this world and your shirt in bright colors. Sometimes I can tell that Lia is missing Lorenzo. For over half a year Lia is friends with a certain little fellow called "Lolli", her imaginary friend, whom she has endless conversations with. According to her own description he is "really biiiig", but I have seen her pick him up from the floor with her thumb and index finger and stick him into her pocket. No kidding. It's the cutest thing. But not as cute as Lia and Lorenzo getting into trouble. If only she could have fit him into her pocket.

Lorenzo and Lia October 08

And he's 7

and certainly old enough to stand on his own two feet!

Most impressive is not Ben's sheer determination, but the loud shrieks of pride he makes when he has managed to pull himself up. Anything works as a stepladder to his success: the stairs, mom's leg, the door frame. Mr. Snoops is not very picky when he wants to work his way up! Also, he has started to explore the world around him with his little index finger. No more grabbing, we are much more civilized now and prefer to point and poke.

And another little tooth is visible! The other lower central incisor is coming in. But that won't keep little Peanut from smiling (and biting his lip). He's too tough a cookie, just like his sister.

Happy 7th, Big Ben!

The Best Of

Lia's summer 09

The more action the better! Needless to say.

After a remarkable spring in Italy, Lia spent the summer months in Hannover. And there's plenty of cool stuff to do in Lower Saxony. It doesn't always take a plane to have some great adventure, sometimes it's enough to walk out the front door (and get into the car, American style) to have some fun!

And while we're at it, we gladly like to pick up some friends along the way.

Uli and Lia walking the streets of Hannover!

A big highlight: horseriding!

Excuse me, these are supposedly (really big) ponies.

It did take her some courage to get on this one, but there is almost nothing Lia won't try. And guess what, pony riding got pretty expensive for the parents! And pretty annoying for all the other kids, who had to wait in line.

After trying out all of them, Cowboy Small fell for the biggest pony, white with black dots. Looks like a horse to me! But who am I to judge, I'm not the horse riding kind of girl. Unlike Carolina ranch girl Lia. "Home, home on the range..."


By car, by horse, by boat!


And if you own your own yacht, better know how to swim!
Lia's first swimming class:


No arm floats for our tough cookie. Those are just for babies.
Waterfall!


Tired and wrapped in a bathrobe, Lia's not ready to wrap it up.


I wonder what the fall will bring??
Forget Hannover, I think I saw some plane tickets!
Get ready for some great adventures in the Middle East! (And I'm not talking about camel riding).