Kiera’s 5th Birthday!

I can’t believe my baby is 5.  I can see the changes in her daily. The shape of her face shifting, her limbs elongating, her layer of baby chub melting away. I’m trying not to feel too wistful, because what is emerging is a lovely girl- a baby no longer.  Kiera has always been our little spitfire and I have a feeling she always will be. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to tell you how she wants it- and usually doesn’t care if you like it or not (lol). But her personality is also blooming in wonderful ways- she’s becoming more playful and sweet.

IMG_9303

Wake up Sweetie Pie- it’s your Birthday!!

IMG_9310

 

IMG_9315

Opening her wake up present…

IMG_9324

I think she likes it! (it’s an airplane)

IMG_9328

 

IMG_9348

 

IMG_9354

Kiera had very specific instructions on how her birthday cake should look- there were some long discussions- luckily she’s easy to please (in this case at least!). See that little green plastic horn on top of the presents? I think that was one of her favorite things from her birthday- she cracks me up!

IMG_9333

Face beaming when she saw her cake and decorations. This is the first birthday that Kiera has been REALLY excited about. Every time you mention that she’s 5 now she gets this expression on her face (above). She also mentioned to me, “Mama- I’m 5 now so I can run as fast as Quinnie a little bit!”

IMG_9337

See what I mean about the horn?!

IMG_9370

We brought a huge box of Dunkin’ Donuts to her school for her and her classmates. The teachers made her an adorable birthday crown. After school she got to have an ice cream treat.

DSCF3370

Then we painted party nails and decorated party hats. Kiera has always loved having her nails painted (we don’t do it very often). When I paint the first stroke of nail polish on her nail she always does the cutest breathy laugh- like she can’t contain her joy. I don’t know if it’s because it tickles her, or she’s just so happy that her nails are being painted. I need to get it on video one of these days…

DSCF3350

A few days before her birthday Kiera requested party hats for her birthday. Luckily I had brought some leftover ones from The States because I wouldn’t know where to find them here. She insisted that everybody had to wear one. I cannot tell you how much fun she had with these hats. She spent hours- yes hours- organizing and playing with them. I think she wore every color at some point throughout the day (and the next week). I kept trying to pick them all up and put them away but kept finding them in strange places all over the house.

DSCF3365

 

DSCF3359

Reading her homemade cards from her cousins Madeline and Audrey in America

DSCF3362

 

DSCF3345

 

DSCF3346

Surprisingly, Quinnie  had a hard time with some jealousy issues on Kiera’s birthday- probably because Kiera was getting most of the attention. Tante Ruth was so smart and thought ahead to bring Quinnie the PERFECT consolation present- a stuffed animal Guinea Pig. Thank You Tante Ruth! She loves that thing something fierce!

DSCF3377

Kiera’s absolute favorite present was this Playmobil airplane that you can throw across the room. She never even asked to open the rest of the presents that Simon and I bought her!

DSCF3378

 

DSCF3379

 

DSCF3388

Kiera watching Opa’s every move as he puts the airplane together. Check out her pilot wings on her neckline…

DSCF3381

Hurry up Opa!

DSCF3397

She spent the rest of her birthday throwing it back and forth across the room with Quinnie.

DSCF3406

 

 

 

DSCF3407

 

DSCF3414

Look at Quinnie’s expression (lol!) The next day we had a long conversation about trying to be happy for people we love even when we’re feeling jealous.

DSCF3419

Happy Birthday sweet girl. We love you SO much!!!

 

New Year’s Eve 2013

New Year’s Eve in Köln is kind of like the 4th of July (in America), but on steroids. To most people it means it’s time to go out and buy FIREWORKS! This is a novel idea to us coming from drought- dry San Diego where all (private) fireworks are illegal because of the danger of fire (you can’t even find tiny sparklers!). For New Year’s here, you can find fireworks everywhere.

IMG_1511

Fireworks at the local grocery store…

DSCF2943

Simon is like a kid in a candy store!

DSCF2948

Now THAT’S a Sparkler!!

DSCF2949

 

DSCF2951

Rockets, anyone?

DSCF2956

The girls enjoyed these Böller (they look like dynamite sticks from old Western movies) the most. Kiera even asked if we could save some for her birthday…

DSCF2957

 

DSCF3007

We walked down to the Rhine waterfront in front of our place to set off some rockets earlier in the evening.  Simon and his Dad get excited as little kids about Fireworks- it’s quite a sight to see! There’s the Dom in the background.

DSCF3003

Off it goes!

DSCF3012

Quinnie and her Wunderkerzen (Sparklers/ “wonder candles”).

S0043041

Around this time the pre-celebration fireworks started getting too loud for Kiera and she was so scared she started crying- so we headed back home. Snapped this pic of our place on our way there. We got to watch the major fireworks from the top of the tower. It was AMAZING.

DSCF3244

Bärbel was in town performing a play (she’s an actress) and stopped by with friends. She grew up in The Weckschnapp from the age of 4- her Dad is the architect (Uncle Martin) who designed and built the home around the medieval tower.

DSCF3239

The girls tried SO hard to stay awake until midnight but they just couldn’t do it. Quinnie made it until 11:30. I wish we had woken her up because she would have never forgotten seeing those fireworks from the top of the tower. The next day the first thing she did when she woke up was start sobbing- just distraught that she’d missed them. I hadn’t realized how important it was to her. Once you see the videos below you’ll realize how impressive it was that they actually slept through all that noise. It was INSANE.

DSCF3232

Climbing up the stairs to the top of the tower (this is the room above our bedroom).

DSCF3078

My shadow on building next door (standing on top of the tower between turrets).

DSCF3127

Crowd outside on the street along The Rhine.

DSCF3118

Happy New Year! Let the craziness begin!!

DSCF3168

The pictures don’t do the experience justice so here’s a video that will give you a better idea. Keep in mind that these are all private citizens letting off their own fireworks- not professionals. It went on at this pace for over an HOUR! It was INCREDIBLE- I’ve never seen anything like it. I feel so lucky that I got to experience this from The Weckschnapp- especially since it was our last year to do so.

 

 

IMG_9079

Somebody gave these plants to us for New Year’s. The chimney sweep and the pig (and clover or course) are all symbols of good luck in Germany.

We wish you and yours all the best in 2014. Happy New Year!