What I've learned so far...

1. There is no limit to the number of things that can spill, break, or get lost on your first day of taking care of two children under the age of five.

2. In Germany, the way you make an elephant noise is to pinch your nose and then say "tier-err" in a nasally, trumpet voice. If you, the "mama" elephant can stick your other arm through the crook of the nose-holding arm to make a trunk at the same time, you really impress the "baby" and "sister" elephants.

3. What makes a biergarten in the "suburbs" different from one in the city? It has a playground in it so that the parents can have a beer together while the children go play.

4. Eating a lot of ice cream is a part of the German culture that I gladly welcome. :-)











It isn't capogiro but it sure was fun to see the Italian lady's face light up when I pronounced "stracciatella" correctly.

And just a few more pics of my family: