It’s like a trip-date! Exclaims Lake. We headed down to the Seattle Center on foot to catch the opening night celebration of Gundermann and the German Film Festival in town a few weekends ago.

We rode the bus, the Link, and the monorail to get to the event. The film was more than two hours plus the film director was in attendance so we were privileged to hear him speak and he even played one of Gundermann ‘s songs on his traveling “guitar”, (ukulele). It was quite a full experience and at 10 pm Lake elected to attend the opening night party. We ate a few salamis and shook the directors hand. Then we got back on the monorail-light rail towards home.

The next (and last) film we saw from the German Film Festival lineup was the intense Styx. As we set out, Lake remembered and said, “we’re going on a trip date!” It was being screened at the Northwest Film Forum in Capitol Hill, so no monorail, but otherwise similar trip date adventure. Once again Lake was a great audience member for a gritty emotional action film.

The events were introduced by Arabelle Liepold and sponsored by Goethe Institute Seattle Pop-up. Hot tip: complimentary access to free streaming of 48 German films. Lake is now an unofficial embasator for Goethe Institute

PC Arabelle Liepold

Lake is a funny guy. An entertainer. Inquisitive. Clever. A jokester.

Lake still wears the blue star pants Our first au pair Joanna-Denise Baykal brought for him from Germany when he was seven months old! Yesterday when we were putting them on-he chose them-he wanted to know who made them. “Did Jo make them? Did Julia make them?” I looked at the tag. All it says is “handmade “. Hausgemacht I said. They are handmade but I don’t know who made them. It doesn’t say.

Lake paused a beat “Did hand make them?” he joked, then laughed hilariously. Then he kept asking “Did Hand make them?” “Did Hand made them!?” and laughing. We both thought it was so funny!

The funny guy himself pictured here with Piper enjoying the day at Greenlake. A perfect day. A perfect joke. I’m glad I’m sharing these moments with you.

Lake is “back to school” for the second month now. He is doing really well, engaging in the class and happy for Saturday German Language School. And now for the next three months Mama joins too with the adult class!

We both enjoy the classes at GLS. Mama decided her German could be improved too and why not to join him. Such a School Boy! So inspirational!

Then at the zoo Lake really wanted to visit the Family Farm. He said he wanted to be a farmer with sheep, baby sheep in particular. I said he better keep improving his German so he could move to Switzerland to be a sheep farmer. I think his idea of farming is pretty idealized based on reading German children’s books. He quickly answered back: he speaks German now!

Thank you GLS!

Lake is a cheetah because he is so fast!

He had two parties and two trick or treating sessions: first with me on our block and then with Vivien in the neighborhood!

So much happiness! So much candy! I was pleased that many of the wee trick or treaters seemed most surprised and delighted by the little oranges we had on offer mixed in with the ubiquitous candy. A purrfect cheetah Halloween was had by all in our household. Wishing you all the loveliest and spookiest Halloween as well!

Last night we had Piper’s family over for dinner and play time and Lake tells a bit about his swim lessons:

We scoop the ice cream into our bowl.

He demonstrates a succession of quick dog-paddle like scooping strokes towards his chest. When implored what flavor of ice cream:

Plum.

Plum? What a wonderful three year old life. And it seems by all reports he’s having a grand time at swim lessons.

Perhaps especially since it’s with his friend Piper! Positive peer pressure at work.

It’s a joy and privilege to share my blessing of this pregnancy with Lake. He’s so sweetly engaged. He says he is also pregnant with a baby brother. He says then we will have three kids: two brothers and one sister. Such logical mathematical calculations! Then we’re reminded that he’s three… He says he has eleven babies. Mr. Silky is his baby. Mr. Cat is his baby. Langley is is baby. Then there’s Baby Sister and Baby Brother. So many babies… eleven!

Sometimes Lake asks me when she’s going to pop out of my tummy! Baby Sister is getting bigger… we’re at 23 weeks now and she’s about 12″ long weighing and two pounds. Lake likes to cuddle Baby Sister and is excited to share a room and his toys with her. Big Brother can teach her so much! The whole family is enjoying this blessing and the journey.

A perfect day. A perfectly lovely pregnancy. I’m so glad to share it with you!

Such a beautiful sunny autumn day invited us to celebrate our fourth anniversary by revisiting our proposal day and site. Michael has proposed at Gem Lake, 1.5 miles past Snow Lake (Alpine Lakes Wilderness) in the gorgeous fall sunshine. Lake was very sweet wanting to come with us in our anniversary hike. Instead, Vivien whisked him out to the door to a play date at Piper’s and off we went.

This year a full snow had already arrived graciously turning the area into a winter wonderland.

We walked along Snow Lake to the outlet but determined hiking further up to Gem Lake would have to be for another year. Snow Lake in the snow:

We delighted in the fresh fallen snow, the crisp mountain air and our own strong and resilient relationship.

A perfect four years… I’m glad to have spent them married to you!

NanaBaba sent this picture to Lake. (I think they miss him and were thinking fondly on his summer visits at Newman Lake.) Lake asked what Meerkat was doing in the tractor and Duane Murphy wrote back with this story:

When he heard she was taking swim lessons, Lake was so excited to join his friend Piper at the pool. So after wistfully and exuberantly watching on the sidelines for one week we were able to get him enrolled to join the toddler swim class. He was apprehensive Mostly just about the shower mostly. He did it! Triumphant smiles after the pre-pool rinse. So proud and ready for swimming!

„I‘m going to look like a zebra in the pool“

That’s what he said while putting on his swimsuit.

He told me he doesn’t need a teacher because he already knows how to swim. Such confidence! Baba had taught him a bit over the summers. I told him even Olympic swimmers have swim teachers- okay they’re usually referred to as coaches! He seems to be continuing to take to swimming lessons and the pool like a “duck to water!”

It helps to have a friend to learn and grow with! Today after his third lesson Lake even washed his hair in the shower! I perfect day… I’m glad I spent it with you at the pool -Lake and Piper.

It was a whole family affair getting Lake ready for his first day of school. Mama was more nervous than Lake to get him ready for his first day of German Language School (GLS) as part of Frau Birgit Zischke’s Kindergarten class. There’s a great deal of pressure to achieve die Pünktlichkeit, the prized German punctuality. We did indeed make it right on time! As soon as we arrived we were swept up in the German community and even Michael got into the spirit of things with buying for breakfast eine Brezel! Lake was so excited to be part of the class and hearing his name called out he raises his hand: “I’m right here!” Hopefully that will gradually transition to “Ja, Hier bin Ich!”

The teacher and teaching assistant Zoë had made each student a bouquet filled with candies, school supplies and treats. It’s called a Schultüte or “School Cone” and each child gets one on the first day of their school career, generally when they enter school for the first time at six years old. How special! Lake is starting a little early at three years old, but he fits right in with the four year olds ( and there is one other three year old, a teacher’s son).

Lake is clearly pleased to be part of Birgit Zischke’s Kindergarten class. GLS rents classroom space from the Villa Academy in Laurelhurst, and holds their school from 0930 to 1200 on Saturday mornings. In the Kindergarten classroom on the fourth floor Lake quickly took a seat and felt right at home.

Meanwhile I slipped out, trusting for the best, and walked the extensive Villa Academy property down to the shores Lake Washington to calm and refresh my nerves. We did it! A perfect start to a new school year and new chapter in Lake’s education. I’m glad we’re spending it with you GLS!