How did you find out?

I have a lot of family visiting right now (all of my siblings, their significant others and parents) and won't be blogging much the next couple of weeks. My holiday season has been interesting as "Christmas in Berlin 2008 Experiment" has been underway. Interesting tidbits about "What to do when the weather outside sucks in Berlin?" and "Why do Germans refuse to admit it is cold here?" posts to come soon.

On another note, Baby Bird was so happy to see his grandparents...and I am enjoying the little bit of extra rest the grandparents being around has provided me with!

For a little trip down nostalgia lane...I don't know about you folks but my story about who Santa really was was a teensy bit different and certainly less depressing...

Funny Foto Freitag

I think Santa needs some prune juice...

As seen on top of a stall at Dresden Weihnachtsmarkt 2008

BUSTED!

Some things never change no matter what country you are celebrating in!

One way to become infamous...

is to jump into Knut the Polar Bear's pen. Luckily, Knut is more interested in a leg of beef than humans...

Just another day in Berlin...

Maybe it is the Ricola?

For the past month or so, the alarms would go off when I walked through a store. When I walked in, they would go off. When I walked out, they would go off...and I would get my bags and pockets thoroughly checked. When I go into department stores, the alarms go off on (almost) every floor.

The Germans are surprisingly chill about this which confirms my not-scientifically-tested belief that Germany is the safest country to live in. They do almost always search but they are almost embarrassed to do so and are so polite about it.

This has provided me with anxiety about leaving the house not to mention the embarrassment and the TEASING from friends and family that comes with this problem.

Me: I can't do the Christmas shopping this year
The Scientist: Why???
Me: All of the stores think I am a shoplifter
The Scientist: (smirking and pausing) well, are you?

The store personnel or security would also search me. I, of course, had nothing there but I do carry some Ricola cough drops with me for this blasted cold/cough. (which I feel like I have had for 1 month now) Curiously, these cough drops were blamed by all who searched me.

However, last week, a fine clerk at DM finally helped me. She said that sometimes older cosmetics can cause the alarms to go off and she scanned my bag through her check out scanner.

For the record, I only have some lip balm in a metal tin which I bought almost a year ago in my bag which is now thrown away.

Since then, Ich klingle nicht!

So, THANK YOU anonymous worker! You have certainly found a customer for life!

Funny Foto Freitag - Dr. Suess edition

Mmmm...The Germans love their cheese! In fact, traditionally they eat it twice a day. Once in the morning for breakfast and for dinner, both with assorted breads.

But Green Cheese? Where is my Green Ham and Green Eggs?

Pesto Gouda Cheese

When I asked Baby Bird if it tasted good, this is how he replied:

Guess that is a YES!

An important message from your neighborhood scientist...

I interrupt the hustling and bustling of the Holiday Season to bring you ~2,000 newly discovered species from the island of Vanuatu.

This cockle uses the 2 small holes to pump and release filtered seawater through its gills.

For other pictures of these beautiful newly discovered animals, click here.

Let's stop and appreciate the little things...

Thanks to GrrlScientist for the heads up on this amazing find!

How NOT to name your child...

Choosing a name is a very important part of having a child. In fact, when we named "Baby Bird," the Scientist and I almost felt like we had TOO much power to influence future events. For instance, we could have given him a name like the story in Freakonomics where they named their kid "Temptress" who then was arrested for having men in the house when no one was home or "Amcher" for what the parents saw in the delivery room. (the list can go on and on thanks to their research!)

However, for a bakery to deny making a cake for a child named after a infamous former German leader...this must be bad!

The best defense...

Inspired by Heidelbergerin's Shokolade Weihnachtsmann, I bring you my Shokolade Weihnachtsmann ARMY and their Lebkuchen Bear!!!

Be afraid...be very afraid!

Note: Baby Bird keeps receiving these as gifts everywhere we go and I am just not that comfortable giving him so much chocolate at one time! I know I am a mean, mean mom...

Weihnachtsleid Concert Tonight...

Are you hankering for some good 'ole Christmas music but can't understand the German words? Do you ever wonder if British and American carols have the same words but different tune??

Then, come on down to the Marienkirche tonight at 7:30pm for some show-stopping fun if you are in Berlin! The Embassy Singers will be there singing in English and a little German! Hearing the organ is worth the trip alone!

What could help with your holiday spirit? :)

And if you can't make this one, enjoy the Dresden Weihnachtsmarkt, buy your famous Dresden Christstollen and listen to us at the famous Frauenkirche on Sunday!

Eintritt frei! (Entrance is free!)

Sankt Nicklaus Tag

We recently celebrated Sankt Nicklaus Tag. This is a holiday celebrated on Dec. 6 traditionally. (and yes this is a VERY late post!)

Here are some step-by-step directions to help you celebrate it if you are not familiar with this European holiday!

STEP 1: Find the biggest show you have (So Sankt Nicklaus can fit lots more stuff!) Then you have to clean your shoes really well!

STEP 2: (only if you are 2) you act really silly and throw your cloth at the boot and of course laugh hysterically.
STEP 3: you can put your shoe outside of the door in hopes that if you were a good child, he will leave you sweets, nuts and an orange. If you were bad, he will bring you a branch!
STEP 4: Wait and go to sleep! Will Sankt Nicklaus bring Baby Bird sweets or a branch?
STEP 5: Wake up and literally run to the door to see what he brought you!

STEP 6: Open the door and tell you parents "Nein, do it myself." Continue trying to open the locked door for 2 more min and then finally ask for help.

STEP 7: YEA, What did he bring!?!?!

STEP 8: Hold up only chocolate Santa and Stegosaurus ball because you are so excited! (He was also given an orange, nuts and spekulatius cookies.)



STEP 9: PLAY!!!


Great idea Sankt Nicklaus! Give a bouncy ball to a 2YO to throw in the house!

Our first Sankt Nicklaus Tag...SUCCESS!

soon to come...how do they celebrate Sankt Nicklaus in other countries in Europe???

Animal Identification Lesson #1

1. Horses are mammals. Butterflies are insects.
2. Butterflies don't have hair or big teeth.
3. Horses can't fly.

Do you think you could figure out which animal is which? Try your luck below!

Funny Foto Freitag

This post is dedicated to my Dad. Sorry Dad-these are cooler than your Harley!

as seen at the local Adventsmarkt on Richardplatz

yes that is fake snow on the motorcycle!


and yes those are blinking lights you see...

How do you get into the holiday spirit? Paint you clothes all white with fake snow? Strap a santa to your bicycle?

A Thanksgving...in London!

The Scientist, Baby Bird and I packed up again and headed off to London to visit my sister, and some very good friends.

The Scientist and I have already been to London a few times so our goal was a little different than most. We wanted to visit instead of sightseeing. We did get a little sightseeing but mostly just to make sure that we can tell Baby Bird later in life that he HAS seen Big Ben, even if he doesn't remember.

The Scientist and Baby Bird got in trouble with the Bobbies...
Westminster Abbey which was closed and it was dark AND cold. We really wanted to pay tributes to Darwin so we were a bit disappointed.
One can't visit London without the typical "talking in a red phone booth" picture. We could hardly get Baby Bird out-he wanted to stay there!

There was a peace demonstration going on near Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. I thought at first it was a homeless camp but then looked closer at the signs.

Baby Bird really wanted to sit near the lion in Trafalger Square but once he got up there, he wanted to get down!
While in London, we were dying to eat Indian food (or curry as the Brits call it). We went to a street called Brick Lane and ate at a restaurant called Papadam. Eating on Brick Lane is an event within itself. Most restaurants have people standing outside calling out to you and offering you discounts like 20% off or free round of drinks. It can seem overwhelming, but it was very fun. Luckily my sister has frequented this street before and knows where the good places are. She did give us a tidbit of advice-only eat where it is busy!

The food was amazing...and SPICY! YEA!

Bode eating an actual papadam

We also went to the Natural History Museum or Dinosaur Museum as Baby Bird kept calling it. They have an exhibit with a Tyrannosaurus Rex which moves and growls. Baby Bird's eyes were as big as apples!
He liked the Baby dinosaurs.
and the Blue Whale
We also had a most delicious Thanksgiving dinner with our dear friends from high school and his wife. Even though we hadn't seen them in years, we picked up where we left off and had a really fun evening. Unfortunately, we had so much fun we plum forgot to take pictures! They pitied our lack of spices in Europe and sent us off with some hot sauce!

Thank you London...we will be back!

1,000 kids + fire + reindeer ...

1,000 kids + fire + lanterns + reindeer sleigh + dog sled + Sankt Nicholaus + Angels + free hot chocolate in boots mug = TROUBLE!

Well - that about sums up our night!

At the Schloss or castle near our house, we heard there was to be a little Sankt Nickolaus parade. We arrived in time to get our free lantern with a candle. Immediately the Scientist and I looked at each other wondering if it was safe to give a 2 1/2 year old a lantern with real fire. We looked around and decided to be sheep because every other German parent had given their child one. What could happen we thought???? (insert foreboding music here)

We first almost got run into by a reindeer with HUGE antlers. They stopped every couple of minutes and gave the opportunity to change children. We eventually got Baby Bird in there. (He is the one in the back row in the middle with the blue and red striped goofy hat)

Yes that is a real reindeer pulling the sleigh! The reindeer wasn't totally domesticated and kept throwing his head around almost once goring a woman next to stroller who didn't hear him coming!

Do you see the dog sled in the picture? The guys in the green vests were riding on it. Can anyone say chaotisch?
The man of the hour. Was this parade crazy? Does the pope wear a funny hat? He was also carrying quite the entourage. He had a horse and 2 angels following closely behind him. He stopped at the end of the parade to talk with the children but soon left and got in the hot chocolate line.
Afterwards, Baby Bird and our friend's 2 year old decided to battle with their lanterns.
They had the Schloss all lit up. The picture does not do it justice.
This is a typical Weihnachtspyramid. The nativity scene on the top was actually spinning around. Below they sold a very common drink called Glühwein, a type of warm mulled wine that can be VERY alcoholic. Don't let its delightful smell fool you! 2 of these babies can easily give you a hangover. (especially with Schuss!)
Here is the conclusion of the life of a toddler's lantern. See if you can spot the burn marks where it set on fire and the foot prints when we stomped on it.

At least the gave the children free heisse Schokolade (or hot chocolate for those of you who couldn't figure that out) and the parents Glühwein in these cute boot mugs we got to keep!
Ahh...keepsakes that serve as memories...These will always remind me of...burning! (Sorry Fireman Jim!)

A little Christmas Geschenk?

Warning: more shameless promotion



A very talented friend of mine recently uprooted and in Germany now sews these lovely, quality backpacks.

She makes them in a range of sizes (age dependent), and will make something to order should you have something specific in mind (flowers, butterflies etc). She can make boy ones too (trains, balls etc). She will make a sample of your idea for you with no purchase obligation.

If you are interested, please email her at dicremer at gmail dot com or leave me a note in the comments and she will get back to you. She ships all over the world.

http://berlin.de.craigslist.org/bab/921087349.html

Unplug Your Kids Fluffy

To explore the concept of fluffy this week, I am sure I made just one of many Santa projects. But as an extra bonus, we also threw a Rudolph in there for good measure.

I have been compiling toilet paper tubes for quite awhile now so I thought we should try to use some of these.

First, we rolled up Santa in red construction paper and the reindeer in brown.


Then we let them dry for a little bit. We then cut out a face for Santa. Baby Bird drew a face and then we pasted it on the tube.
Then we pulled apart some cotton balls for the beard, Santa hat top and liner. Baby Bird soon discovered that fluffy and glue don't go well together.
I rolled up a square of red paper for the hat. He attached the cotton to the bottom and top. We also attached the stretched cotton for the beard.
While that dried, we worked on the reindeer. I cut out four slits for legs. I left them big enough so it would still be able to stand up. Then we used a hole punch to make 2 holes on either side of the head. Baby Bird stuck a pipe cleaner through and then we fashioned these as antlers.
We then painted the feet black.
We cut 2 white big white circles. Baby Bird pasted these on the head. He drew the black iris dots with paint. We also coiled up a pipe cleaner (or chenille strips as they are now known as) for Rudolph's nose! The nose was attached by using a small hole in the front and attaching the chenille strip through it.

A picture is worth 1,000 of my words!

He liked them so much, he took them in his favorite place- his Zelt or tent! ("Watch out-they still might be wet!" we yelled.)
Now these are some classy decorations!!


You can find directions for the Santa here and the reindeer here. For all other fluffy projects, check out Unplug your Kids.