I (Heart) Water

While waiting at the bus stop on our way to church this morning Ez spotted this awesome advertisement so we snapped a few pictures.  Below are a couple of close-ups.

Translation: Because only water really makes clean.

Translation: The toilet that cleans you with water.

(I love the action shot of the water.)

Would you believe that we're lucky enough to have this very same toilet at our flat in our little European WC.

Best. Toilet. Ever.

Faschings

Some of our friends invited Ezra and I to the Fat Tuesday parade in their town just outside of Vienna. After living in New Mexico for a few years I became somewhat familiar with Catholic traditions. Side note: My first year living in New Mexico I almost told a coworker that they had some dirt on their forehead on Ash Wednesday, embarrassing! In any case, we had a lot of fun dressing up for the parade and taking in the whole experience. Ezra even got a porcupine stuffed animal and an apple handed to him at the parade. I'll take those for my one-year-old over candy any day!

Poor Ezra had to suffer through my first attempt at making a costume. He has some cute tiger pajamas that I thought I could just add a hat to, to make a costume. Unfortunately one of our friends thought he was a viking at first glance. Better luck next year!

Dutch Cocoa

For a long time I thought cocoa powder didn't exist in Vienna. But, as I often find, I was just looking in the wrong place. Not in the baking section, but by the coffee and hot chocolate of course! 

I also found out that Ezra is partial to cocoa powder. We were having a great time playing grocery store/kitchen with my spices, until I stepped out of the kitchen for a minute and everything got a little too quiet.

I think he missed playing in the sand at the park. 

My only regret is that I didn't get pictures of him in the act. However, after reading my sister-in-law's most recent blog post I have no doubt we will have plenty more photo ops in our future.

Risky Business

 

 

Inside Ideas

Since it's so stink'n cold outside, I've been racking my brain for creative inside activities (a kid can only handle so much play-dough and crayons). The flavor of the week, or two, has been a game called "CRASH". Keith invented it and it consists of putting all the blankets and pillows from our bed in a pile on the floor and then running from the opposite end of the room and "crashing" onto all the pillows and blankets while yelling "CRASH". I know, super original :), but Ezra loves it and there are a surprising amount of variations to the game.

Another recent discovery involved Ezra's little car (pictured) that he can ride on around the house. We were tempted to get the trailer that went along with it, but we balked at the price tag. Keith got another stroke of genius this weekend and added Ezra's wagon to the back of the car, the rest of what's pictured below was Ezra's idea. He preferred "Paddington" drive so he could take the back seat.

'Da Cubs

We're gearing up for Spring Training at our house--well, actually we were just trying on clothes in the next size up and realized that Keith's old Cubs jacket fits Ezra already. Unfortunately it's a huge understatement that it is still too cold for just a jacket. We're hoping that Ezra can slow down growing until at least May so he can wear it.

Temperatures have been below freezing in Vienna. Somewhere between New Mexico and Vienna I must have forgotten my cold weather roots. I remember winters in Utah with temperatures near or sometimes below 0 degrees. Now just 25 degrees feels like -25 to me. Thank goodness for scarves, wool socks, and raspberry tea.

I took these pictures the other weekend when we were having a lazy Saturday.  Keith always obliges Ezra in one of his favorite activities--looking out our front window.  We have a fairly busy road in front of our apartment which is perfect for spotting all kinds of cars, dump trucks, and motorcycles. Often we hear sirens which causes Ezra to stop whatever he's doing and head for the window. Keith will scoop him up so they can hurry and spot the ambulance or police car before they're out of view.