Christmas Presents and a slide

Finlay with Christmas ornaments and presents and Finlay and Christine on a slide at a park nearby right after Christmas.

Finlay and Grandma

Here is Finlay with his Canadian grandmother over Christmas, which we now refer to as the Festival of Airport Delays...

Daycare

We're in the "Let's get used to things, so mom has to stay the whole time" phase. The Kita (daycare) is great and Finlay seems to enjoy himself very much. Dealing with other kids is new challenge - other small people who shout "nein!" when you take their toys away....

Here is Finlay investigating a Finlay-sized sink at daycare and finding a way to make the most of a slick floor.

More Finlay (Finally...)

Sorry about the delay in posting (once again...). This time it was poor Internet connections to blame. We accuse the neighbours downstairs of live-streaming video on demand through our wireless. Hard to blame them, when Finlay keeps them up at all hours. Actually, it is more of an issue of downloading photos, then not being able to find them again. It's immensely frustrating. Andrew - when are you visiting again?!

Here is Finlay last week eating bread. Or rather, waving bread around in the air.

News: This week is take two at daycare, after Finlay was sick for a week with a stomach bug that caught all of us. Two shots from daycare to follow.

PS - message to Zurich tax advisor - if you're reading this once in a while, please send an email or post a comment. You've obviously left work, but no-one has forwarding contact details for you.

Stockings!

Not sure if it is a tradition in the UK, but in North America, stockings are "hung by the chimney with care" on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, Santa has filled them with small presents, often including oranges and candy. This year, our stockings came from Canada - thanks Mom! Here is Finlay enjoying the oranges in the bottom of his on Christmas morning. More Christmas photos to follow.

"Leuchtende Kinderaugen"

Christine was once asked what she hoped for in having children. Her answer was "shining eyes at Christmas". Here they are! More Christmas photos to follow soon.

More Grandparents!

The grandparents decend for the birthday! Here is a good photo of Finlay with his German grandparents, relaxing on the chesterfield. Finlay's grandparents braved horrible storms and fierce travel delays to journey to Berlin to see him for his birthday. They also brought presents and baking for all. We're grateful they could be there to see him and to spend time with him over the holidays.

@ Jupp - good decision on the airplane!

(Photo by Cäthy)

More Birthday Cupcakes

These, of course, were the cupcakes for guests. The good ones were already eaten up in the kitchen...

Birthday Cupcakes!

Someone celebrated a birthday two weeks ago! Here is Finlay decorating cupcakes (which he helped bake) with jellybeans for his special guests - the grandparents and Johannes, Lena and Ella, along with Annette and Lara! It was quite the day (capped, of course, with a quick trip to the hospital due to an attack of croup).

Finlay is one year old! Happy birthday, Finlay!

Apology - and Advent

We have been extremely delinquent in posting photos. Partly this is due to our celebrating a birthday, Christmas and then New Years together (with many visitors, some of whom stayed longer than expected) and in part we have had problems uploading photos. Half the world seems to want to use blogspot (and perhaps our Internet connection) over the holidays.

Many more to follow! Here is Finlay enjoying his advent calendar on December 19. He and Christine shared the chocolates each morning!

Much more to come! Thanks to Cathy for the great photos!