Like they're rock stars

I think one of the best things about the Disney experience is the chance for kids to meet their idols. Just watching our son's face light up as he saw his favorite characters in person was priceless. And even though he knows they aren't real...you can still tell there is part of his mind that says they are.

But tell me, is it wrong for his mother to be equally excited to see these stars? I think I actually shouted 'look, it's Buzz Lightyear!' louder than the children standing around me.

Where dreams come true

After four long and noisy days here, I am enjoying the quiet of home...and laundry. More to follow.

Bright spots

Yes, the sun did shine last weekend...enough for us to enjoy a nice long walk in the woods. A bright spot after the not-so-bright weather.

And now we are off for a long weekend...to another bright spot...guaranteed to be happy...or so they claim. See you next week!

Let the sun shine

A bit of sunshine

Osbourne House, Isle of Wight, 2007

It's been raining on and off for a week. Everything is beautifully clean. Shades of bright green are striking against the greys...but I'm hoping the forecast of sun this weekend holds true.

Picnic crasher

Curious squirrel

Hyde Park, London, September 2007

Our friends are heading to London on vacation. Since we have spent considerable time in the city, they asked for tips and advice. I told them the one thing I tell all people - if the weather is good, take a picnic to Hyde Park.

I love picnicing in Hyde Park. You can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the truly British art of soaking up any sunshine that sees fit to cut through the clouds. We would grab sandwiches and go find a place to sit in the quiet. However, you never know who may crash your little party...like this curious squirrel who joined my son and I on one such outing. He was not shy and, by the looks of him, very well fed. He would've crawled up on my lap if I would have let him. But my boy told him in no uncertain terms we weren't sharing and he soon scampered off to find another picnic to crash.

Frogger anyone?

You know it's spring in our part of Germany when the frog signs appear.

Honestly, I thought I had a better picture of the frog signs, but after pouring through my photos I couldn't find any, so you will have to settle for this blurry shot captured while driving instead. Every spring these signs return to roads in the area, alerting motorists to migrating frogs. According to this particular sign, the speed limit on the road drops from 70 kph (44 mph) to 30 kph (18 mph) between the hours of 7pm and 4am to protect the frogs. But I always have to chuckle - if you are on the road during those hours, driving in the dark with lights on, would you notice and be able to avoid frogs hopping across the road? Or would it be more like playing Frogger?

Sugar packets

My cappuccino this morning...and the beautiful sugar packet

I normally don't have espresso in the morning, I'm more of a black coffee girl when it comes to the first cup of the day. But today I had some free time on my hands, so I opted to put my moka pot on the stove for a cappuccino. And I normally don't do sugar in my coffees, but as I was putting my breakfast together I noticed a sugar packet that my husband brought me back from a recent trip (from an airport coffee break in Germany or France). This is one of the many reasons I love my husband, he noticed the packet's artwork and knew that I would enjoy it. It's the little things that count. As I looked at the sleeping duck (or is it a goose?), it reminded me of the sugar packets they had when I was a kid. Do you remember them? The small white packets that had photos of different places in the US on the back? I was so enthralled by the concept I collected them...much to the chagrin of my parents. So I guess it's no big surprise then that I kept this empty sugar packet and taped it inside my notebook.

Sun...Fog...Clouds...

A classic spring morning in Germany

We left the house in sun. Halfway into our little morning commute we hit fog. At the end of the journey it was all clouds. I snapped this photo as we entered the fog. It's a bit fuzzy and not well framed, but I loved the light and had to capture it.

Yes, I was driving and snapping photos...but it's a holiday here in Germany and the roads were practically deserted...and I was driving slowly :)