We would like to introduce Julia Schenkel from Plauen, Germany. She currently lives with her mother and her pug Alvin in this small village central east Germany near Prague, Czech. She is studying to pass her A levels at Gymnasium, and swims and coaches swim team in her spare time. She has also cared for her 3 year old nephew Toni on a regular basis since he was born. She will be arriving to our home here in Seattle on 24 July 2019, after landing in New York on the 22nd and having a few days’ crash-course orientation (don’t drink while on duty, don’t do drugs, and don’t shake the baby!) and a brief, but exciting tour of the Big Apple.

Julia will be our third German au pair for Lake and our family! We love working with our agency Au Pair in America, as well as our regional coordinator Terry. Nevertheless the au pair search can be nerve racking process. Not only are we searching for the perfect match for our family, and for the au pair, but we are navigating a 9 hour time difference, and juggling three different work schedules to schedule the video conference interviews. We tend to offer a first as well as a second interview for appealing candidates. We’ve gotten better over the years, but it can be an imperfect process. We have oscillated between being overly enthusiastic about the Seattle au pair lifestyle (it is simply the best city with the best families for au pairs, but it doesn’t always sound believable or authentic), and being overly overbearing (we send four pages of “house rules”). For Julia we focused on letting her lead the interview by giving her room to ask all her questions first, instead of us delivering an hour long infomertial. Luckily, it worked really well for her since she had a bunch of great thoughtful questions (how would you describe Lake’s personality? what’s your parenting style and what kind of parenting style are you looking for in your au pair?)… Later, we tried it again since it went so well with Julia, and it fell flat… the interviewee had no questions. Needless to say, Julia quickly became our top choice!

Lake was with NanaBaba this go round, which freed us up to really dive into researching and interviewing the candidates, however then Lake wasn’t present for the interviews, so after vetting them, we’d refer them to Nana to set up a “meet and greet PlayDate.” Then, there are the various modes of communnication to set up and confirm: Skype, WhatsApp, or Facetime? Which is the au pair comfortable with? Also, do they wish to speak with one of our former au pairs? Then we get feedback from Jo or Luisa. When the appointed time arises (typically super late for you, or super early for them), you grab your coffee, try to look presentable and cross your fingers and hope for a good internet connection! The work pays off. It’s a real pleasure speaking with these lovely bunch of mature women aged 18-26. We enjoy it quite a lot, in spite of the roller-coaster feeling. In the end, we’re always very pleased with our selection.

We have never before had so much lead time to choose our au pair, which made it more relaxing, in spite of the rigorous interview schedule. This time the matching process lasted about 2 and 1/2 weeks with interviews almost every day. With Jo, we weren’t totally decided that we were going to have an au pair. We thought perhaps Lake would be going into the Bright Horizons daycare at Harborview full time (which he did for the 7 weeks between end of maternity leave, and until Jo arrived, but it was never guarenteed that he would gain entrance, so ultimately we couldn’t count on it, and Michael wasn’t a big fan.) With Luisa, we were holding off too long, optimistically hoping Jo would extend 6, 9 or 12 months with us. Not so lucky! So for both Jo and Luisa, after we matched, it was a big flurry of activities for them: getting the visa, flights/documents in order, packing, good bye parties, etc. We made great matches ultimately, however it was like a big rush to find someone from Germany before it was too late. The big worry was always that Lake would be sitting home alone with no one while we were all at work. Especially when he was younger and still breastfeeding he needed to be nearby and have someone devoted to his care. Now that he’s older and more independent, we can be a bit more relaxed since he’s happy as a clam to be with NanaBaba for weeks on end. So, actually we’ve planned in a summer vacation for Lake to spend with NanaBaba for a few weeks between when Luisa returns to Germany and Julia arrives.

Meanwhile we have a full six months still to get to know Julia, as well as to continue enjoying Luisa being here without the stress of wondering what’s next after she leaves. We are thrilled! Thank you so much for choosing our family, Julia! Match day was a perfect day, I’m glad we matched with you!

We sent 2018 out in a whirlwind of family parties and festivities, including a night out at the theater. Nana treated Lake and Lake’s parents to the Lion King musical playing at The Paramount! It was truly captivating. The costuming and dancing were beautifully portrayed. Lake was fully absorbed the entire show. Thank you for all the treats and traditions, Nana and Baba! Happy New Year, my dear readers. 2019 is going to be fantastic!

Lake receives a quintessential red tricycle from NanaBaba for Christmas! Look at that joy! And the best part is, Lake gets to spend ten whole days with NanaBaba in Aberdeen riding that tricycle and so many other important events! To help Baba make the fire in the morning… what joy! For Lake it’s the simple pleasures and surprises of each moment that infuse his days with the spirit of wonder and delight, and give life its meaning. Baba reports from the homefront:
I was crumpling newspaper this morning when Lake hailed me from high up on the stairs where he could first spy the living room. With glee! We had talked about building the fire in the morning, and here he was, ready and raring to go!

That’s our Santa Baby, do’in the present moment, having a grand time with NanaBaba, and going on lots of adventures… to Quinault, the neighbors, and surely to the ocean…

It was a special advent this year with Lake. It was really his “first” Christmas where he was aware of the distinction that it was Christmas and that there are traditions and rituals therein. He definitely got into the spirit of the season more and more as the themes emerged and repeated. Gifts. Sweets. Presents. Cousins. We had many family parties, dinner parties and socializing throughout the month of December. It was a veritible whirlwind of hosting and events. We are creating the VanLaanen Family tradtions for Lake and it’s both weighty and joyful to be able to do that for and with him.

First we have the tradition of the tree. Nana has developed the beautiful tradition of picking out a tree in the field and bringing it to our home right after Thanksgiving (and then taking it down again after Christmas!). This year Nana and Baba cut down the tree from a Christmas Tree Farm in Bellingham, and it reached right up past 3 meters to brush the ceiling. A glorious sight to behold! Lake loves how the tree is dripping with toys and loves to visit them and show them off. I was also proud and happy to host with such a beautiful tree!

Our second tradition is compliments of Nana’s ingenuity and generosity as well. It’s the advent calendar. She found a wooden star advent calendar with 12 wooden drawers on each side and filled it up with 24 treats last year. She takes it with her at the end of Christmas to have it in her home to get it ready for the next year. So this year, it came all chock full of tiny gifts while we were in Ketchikan for Thanksgiving. The Advent Calendar Star was ready and waiting on Lake’s closet bookshelf. It was full of treats and how he grew to adore the “star,” as he simply called it, over the course of the month. Morning and night, he was often asking for the “star” and he’d climb up on his stool, and I’d help him pick the right drawer for the day. Here were a cluster of tiny baked cookies, there a few nuts and overall tiny animal toys and stickers. It was so exciting to have a near continuous flow of treats building up to Christmas.

One new tradtion this year was to celebrate Der Nikolaustag (December 6th/Saint Nicholas Day) in honor of having our German au pairs as part of the family. We put oranges and candy out for Luisa the night before.

Also, this year, Lake attended his first George Balanchine’s Nutcracker ballet at McCaw Hall.

Another new tradition built onto our tradition of celebrating Christmas Eve with a big family dinner and a few small gifts. This Chistmas Eve, we were blessed to be able to be on good enough terms as to be able to invite Santa Claus to pop in after dinner/before dessert. Even on such a busy night as Christmas Eve, his timing was impecable and Santa Claus arrived with his elf just as the milk and cookies were being set out on the table. He distributed the bulging Christmas stockings. It was a nice over-the-top gesture for our German visitors. Luisa’s brother and sister were here for the Christmas holidays and we wanted to show them a touch of American holiday flair. I’m not so sure about Magdelena, however, Lake was overjoyed of course.

Especially since Santa Claus bought play dough, and especially since Santa Claus was none other than Lake’s best friend Tom (of Tom Park fame).

Christmas morning brought Langley, and the rest of the week, there were Presents. Presents are wonderful things to be opened containing delightful surprises, usually Toys, but also sometimes Pants, Books, or Sweets, all glorious discoveries. Christmastime brought many Sweets, such as cake, cookies, pie, and ice cream. Lake honed his eye over the course of the month, to where if there was any trace of cake visible, he would spot it immediately and innocently ask, “what’s that? cake for Lake?” Here he is with his very own “it’s a baby Newfie!”

Our final developing tradition is to host my brother and family for their annual post-Christmas visit. This is a real treat and affords the cousins a nice opportunity to play. And, well, that’s a wrap!

Lake loves his Mr. Cat. He loves to cuddle and play house and jump on him. He really does all this, and somehow Mr. Cat tolerates it all. Mr. Cat is a true friend to Lake, and in return, Lake is very devoted to Mr. Cat. He will cuddle up next to Mr. Cat at every opportunity. He plays “house” with Mr. Cat on the bed by burying Mr. Cat in stacks of pillows. And then he somehow manages to come flying through the air and jump on Mr. Cat (over and over again), without really landing on Mr. Cat, just coming down to completely cover him. Too Funny! Lake doesn’t get much more joyful that this.

Lake loves his Mr. Cat! Happy Boxing Day! A great day to cuddle up with your “Mr. Cat,” (or equivalent), and feel cozy, joyful and blessed. A perfect every-day, I’m glad I spent it with you!

Lake and Langley are quite a pair.

“There’s a Bear sleeping in our house” says Lake. Langley’s 150 pounds to Lake’s 30 pounds… they’re quite a pair. Lake likes to help walk him and likes to hold on to the leash. If you ask him, he will say yes that Langley is his dog. He’s all snuggles and smiles. They both are… unless… when Langley is wet from the rain or just from drinking water, Lake says “Stop it!” when Langley comes near.

We love to take Langley to the University District Farmer’s Market, and to walk around the neighborhood. Langley seems to make the day of everyone he meets. Langley, like Lake, is a harbinger of joy!

And for us, the joy is doubled on this Best Christmas Day Ever, when Mark and Karen Rupert offer us 75% of a Langley Time Share. They retain ownership and medical power of attorney, and we provide room, board, and walking. Langley will spend one week per month with his Family of Origin, the Ruperts, getting tuned up and basking in the comforts of home. We’re all new to this Langley Time Share, and are optimistic that it’s a great win win for everyone, especially for Langley. He gets to be the “only dog” contentedly living out his golden years in the VanLaanen Family Rest Home.

A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you all!

Bellevue turns out quite a celebratory Americana Christmas parade when Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 8th Streets turns into a snowing fantasy world complete with music, dancers, floats and festive lightning! This free showstopper features flurries of snowflakes falling all through the sky every night from 7:00pm-7:30pm through Christmas Eve! Come early (we arrived at 6:30pm) to stake a spot on the sidewalk, feel the anticipation and be greeted by parade members handing out candy and welcoming guests to Snowflake Lane!

Oh, we left Lake home with Nana and made it a date, but I have the feeling Lake would have been mind-blowingly amazed. Especially by the giant stuffed twing twings (penguins). Snowflake Lane, Bellevue, Bellevue Square, thank you!, I sense a new tradition coming on.

Lake’s first Nutcracker ballet! We took a calculated risk of inviting Lake to his first ever full length ballet or other theater event. We stacked the odds in our favor: fifth row, mid-day performance, and we invited Nana to join us. He was rapt and attentive for both halves. He did a stellar job at being a respectful and appreciative ballet patron. Clearly awed, he said succinctly,

I never seen that before.

as we were leaving the theater. How was it, I asked?

Pretty good.

It was quite an experience for him and met with the Lake’s stamp of approval.

We’ve been listening to Tara Brach’s meditations to go to sleep at night and remedy the bedtime blues. We relax into the present moment. We wake up to the present moment and therefore have sweet togetherness for falling asleep. Then I need to wake up to get to back to sleep in my own bed!

Lake says meditation, and Tar’Brach! Tar’Brach! Tar’Brach! Over and over again. He also says so many other cute things related to the meditations. Tara Brach is talking on the Buddha. The Buddha is laughing. Meditation. I touch it? Touch The Buddha?

And the best part is… we get to all fall asleep!

Well-rested and on the path to enlightenment. Sometimes I’m not sure which is more attractive. A perfect day… I’m glad I spent it with you.

In addition to the Ketchikan tousins Benjamin and “Oviler”, whom he adored playing with at Thanksgiving, Lake loves his tousin Hazel and tousin Maicy from Portland!

When my best friend “Auntie Jessica” and her girls were up visiting a few weeks ago, we all had the best time (as always!) And at the end of the month he’ll get to play with his Spokane tousins! Tis the season for Tousins!