Prep for Winter

The heat is on, the snowflakes are falling, and we are getting ready for the storms that are coming.  There are lots of clothes that are required for schools in Germany.  All students must have snow suits, rain suits (including boots, pants, and a coat), extra clothes for daily use (pants & lots of shirts being most important, and house shoes of course).

We were counting on waiting until we went to France for half term break before buying a snow suit (with the one from last year being such a hit), but I had to splurge on a Columbia suit for Alexandra when the snowflakes came, and luckily we had purchased a hat for her in Whistler (too bad I didn’t buy the boots as well – they are a fortune here!!!)

Z Update - Spring?

(Sophia trying to keep her grip on a squirmy Alexandra)

Sorry for the silence the past couple weeks, its been a bit crazy! Troy has been on a travel spree, and at the same time Alexandra has been going thru a huge growth spurt!!

The past couple of days has been such a relief for all of us. Alexandra's smile is back, her giggle (which went on for a good 30 min today) is back, and her sleep habits have been returned to their normal 7:30-7:45 wake up. (side note - I don't do very well when both girls are up at 6. There is just something about the time - 6AM! It wasn't bad when I could sleep thru the night, but someone is up in the middle of the night. Either Sophia walks into our room, or Alexandra starts crying & given the teething issue we don't really feel like waking up all of our neighbors...)

Anyway, the time change that happened this past weekend is really wonderful for us - the rooms stay darker later & Troy & I may even have a bit of a lie in this weekend.

But spring is fleeting in Munich. This past week we had a Saturday morning that had amazing sunshine and beautiful sky, only to degrade into a cold, damp, rainy day. Four days before that we had snow. Not just snow falling, but snow piling up! Inches on the grass outside our apartment, and terrible visibility.

Hopefully April brings extended periods of sun, and a lot more travel!

Fasching ski week in Austria

Sophia's school had winter/half term/fasching break this past week & we took advantage of it to introduce her to skiing for the first time.
She LOVED it, and now wants to ammend her career prospects for the future to include Olympic Skier!


Sophia ski week! from Moya Z on Vimeo.

Sophia answers questions in the snow

A quick conversation between Troy & Sophia in the snow this past weekend!


Sophias questions in the snow. from Moya Z on Vimeo.

Snow at the up & down park...

(taken by Sophia!)

Troy was able to brave the cold & take the girls to the park. Sophia was thrilled, and had a great time in the snow. It's just been cold for days!

Skating at Nymphenburg Canal

Although we have had such a great time at the canals at Schleissheim, and the lack of people there, we decided to try out Nymphenburg. There is a 2 euro charge for the ice at the end of the canal (furthest away from the Palace), but the ice is cleared off daily - for skating with musical accompaniment - and is open until 10pm on frozen days. Something fun & romantic to do at night. Sophia was able to use the stroller as her "penguin" for the day. Alexandra was alseep & had a great nap being pushed around by her big sister!

Skating at the Schloss

We spent the afternoon yesterday back at Schloss Schleissheim, this time bringing our skates! Well, at least Troy & Sophia had their skates, Alexandra & I power walked around them. Troy had never skated outdoors before, and I think it was a dream for him to be there, and to have his daughter with him!

Back to Munich

Well, we arrived back in Munich to more cold. -10 the night we arrived at the airport, but no snow. Which was kind of a relief given the past 3 weeks in Seattle.

We had heard of the canals at the varioius schloss around Munich that were frozen over, so we took a trip out to Schloss Schleissheim to check it out. This is the main canal leading between the 2 palaces, and it was completely frozen over - at least 8 inches thick from the bubbles you could see below your feet. Amazing, and we will definately be coming back for some skating.