Spider-girl, Spider-girl...

So Trudi has become a big fan of the 1967 Spider-man cartoon series. She's always liked watching YouTube videos (with parental supervision, of course) of sharks, snakes, and spiders, and sometimes clicks on the related videos at the right to see more of the same. Well, after watching some spider videos, she saw the link to the Spider-man theme song cartoon and asked to see more. I downloaded some of the original cartoons for her and she was hooked.

This morning, Vanessa was carrying Izzi into the bedroom for a diaper change, but Trudi ran ahead of her, blocking her from entering.
"Wait, I'm Spider-man!", she said, holding up her hand.
"How long do I have to wait?", asks Vanessa.
"Wait one minute", says Trudi.
Trudi enters the room, dramatically looks left and right and then makes a circular motion with her hand. "Ok, you can come in now - I'm making a web!"

How can you not love kids? Something as mundane as a baby sister's diaper change becomes a big adventure with just a little imagination...

Sunday March 14

Hmm, it's been a while since I wrote anything. Oh well. What with Facebook and Taiwanease.com, it's not like I'm off the Internet or anything.

Trudi is now 3 years old, and Izzi is 5 months old. Both of them are gorgeous, and fill my life with joy. It's kind of hard to describe the degree to which they make me happy, because I never imagined it before. It's very strange, but in a wonderful way.

The other day we got home from work and Trudi was still up. Isabel was too, of course. She always gets a midnight feed before we put her to bed for the night. Anyway, after a few minutes of family snuggling on our bed, we told Trudi that it was time for her to go to bed and go to sleep. For the first time ever, she wailed, "but Isabel doesn't have to!!!" She was acutely aware of the unfairness of the situation. We told her that it was different - Izzi is a baby, and therefore has a different schedule, but Trudi went to sleep crying bitter tears anyway.

Still, we're lucky. Trudi is a very doting, loving, sister to Izzi. She takes her role very seriously, and is very happy when she can hold Izzi or help take care of Izzi in some way. We haven't seen ANY manifestations of jealousy yet, and while I know they may come, I'm optimistic that it won't be too bad. Frankly, I get more jealousy vibes from Gustav than I do from Trudi.

After a fairly unpleasant winter, the weather this weekend is rather nice. It's sunny-ish, and almost warm. I think we'll go our for a walk around the lake in a bit, and then I know the girls will have a nap. Tonight Vanessa and I are going to the St. John Passion at the National Concert Hall. Helmuth Rilling is conducting, so I'm looking forward to it. We rarely get to concerts nowadays - usually only once or twice a year, because we only really have Sundays available, and most concerts are on Fridays and Saturdays. It would be nice if this could somehow change in the future. Time for another cup of coffee, and some work on Taiwanease and Taiwanted. Later, gator.

Wehrlos und Verlassen

My grandmother passed away at the age of 89 a couple of weeks ago, and Vanessa, Trudi and I flew to Winkler, Manitoba for the funeral.

The whole family was there - all the relatives, and lots of friends and neighbours. The funeral service was good, but one moment stands out in my memory: We had arranged a small chorus of family and friends to sing a couple of hymns, conducted by my father, and while we were singing Grandma's favourite, the German hymn, Wehrlos und Verlassen, Trudi walked up to the front of the church, stood next to her grandfather and started swaying to the music. It was very touching to see the youngest life bidding goodbye to the oldest.

Wehrlos und verlassen sehnt sich
oft mein Herz nach stiller Ruh
doch Du dekkest mit dem Fittich
Deiner Liebe sanft mich zu
Unter Deinem sanften Fittich
Find’ich Frieden, Trost und Ruh
denn Du schirmest mich so freundlich
schützest mich und deckst mich zu
Selig sind die’ welche trauen dem Gott


When I’m lonely and defenseless
my heart longs for rest and peace
Then you spread Your wings of caring
with Your love You cover me
Under Your gentle wing
I find peace, solace and rest
For You shield me so kindly
Protect me and console me
Blessed are they who trust in God

Young Maestro

Trudi & the Chihuahuas

Vacation Showertime

Every day in Boracay, we'd have to give Trudi several showers to get the salt and sand off.

Boracay Videos!

You can see all the videos of our January trip to Boracay in one spot here, but there are a couple that are especially fabulous that I'll put up alone in this blog. In the meantime, enjoy!

Trudi's funny faces

Bite of Banana

Trudi will go out of her way for a bite of banana (and yes, that's me singing in the shower in the background)

Babydance!

Trudi digs Mozart!

Applauding the sunset

Trudi was very impressed with Boracay's sunsets - every day we'd walk down to the beach to watch them, and every day she would start talking excitedly to the sun.

Paco Park Oasis Hotel in Manila

Slumming it in Manila

Our first night in Manila we stayed in the Paco Park Oasis Hotel. At $30/night it was certainly affordable, and despite the cockroaches and rats, it wasn't THAT bad, but it's not going to make the cover of Condé Nast Traveler magazine any time soon...

Back from Boracay!

Vanessa, Trudi, and I just came back from a much-needed holiday on the beautiful island of Boracay in the Philippines. We took a lot of pictures and videos, and I'll be posting them after I edit and upload them. The picture below was taken at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, while we were waiting to board:


And this is Trudi and me on the plane:

Tickle Torture

Pain!

Trudi on the telephone

Sleeping Beauty

Trudi loves Teddy!

Trudi loves the Teddy Bear that Vanessa and I gave her for Christmas.