We are now in a cozy and comfortable stage. Especially Alexis as you can tell! Things are way better now that we have discovered our neighborhood. It is growing on us.

WE GOT A MICROWAVE!!! Whoo hoooo!!! Alexis got the boot out of her stroller and the microwave got strolled 35 mins home through Munich. I know we’re silly needing one, but when you got an 11 month old screaming to eat, anything that helps heating up things faster helps! J

Alexis - We also finally (after a month of looking) found shoes small enough for Alexis that she “can not get off”. She’s been in socks and it has been in the 50’s/60’s here. She hates it that she can’t pull them off. It was pretty funny when we first put them on her. She still manages to chew on them (she’s very flexible).She is doing well with the food; she’s had spatzle and weisswurst (white sausage). She also had tofu for the first time – loved it. She’s so funny – OK, mom and dad like to blow on her stomach and tickle her when we change her or randomly pull up her shirt and blow on her tummy. Well now she does it to us all the time. She literally pulls up our shirt (if we are lying on the floor) and finds our belly button and tries to do what we do to her. A few times she actually made the blowing sound. Hehehe! We put up some new videos of her laughing – hope it makes you laugh too!

Things that we are not accustomed to in the grocery store: Eggs, OJ and milk not refrigerated (I guess it is safe). Formula is in cardboard boxes (spent quite a few trips to different stores looking for metal canisters – thinking no one sold formula, only to discover what I thought was cereal was the formula). No A-1 or BBQ sauce (Oh man – how do they survive eating meat w/o! That’s my Texan coming out…Hehehe). Ladies, only one brand o.b. – cardboard – enough said. Diapers – Alexis is on her 5th brand of diapers since we got to Europe – “Baby Love” is the winner. “Royal Comfort” did not fit her well – that was a surprise! Hehehe. You can only pay with cash – no cards – M.Ackerman you’d appreciate that!

We now venture out, even in the cold and rain, since we are accustomed to walking now. We can’t stand to be indoors, so we brave the weather as does everyone else here. Once you get to the Marienplatz (a marketplace dating back from the Medieval Times – where public events, proclamations, tournaments and executions took place) (a 15 min walk from home) there is so much to do, you are fine. A few times there were violinist playing and we just sat and watch. One time we danced (yes I felt silly) as they played – Alexis was smiling so big. She is so fascinated with watching the musicians. At the Marienplatz, there is always some sort of acting or music performance going on. All this free entertainment, it is great. It gives us a reason to get out! We walk out there around 3ish, and then wait for Ronnie to get off work 6ish and walk home with him. It's very nice.

Oh another thing about Paris we forgot to tell you was a dish they serve – One time I thought I ordered a hamburger and fries, it came out seared on the outside and cold raw inside. I did not eat it thinking it was a mistake. Ronnie’s co-worker said at least you got the one that was seared, usually they aren’t even that. Well I found this on the internet, a guy who had the same exact experience and thoughts as me – I love the way he put it: “The French version of a hamburger differs slightly from the American version. On my plate was a pile of raw ground meat, red juices flowing freely round. This was topped with a raw egg in all its bright yellow and jiggly white gelatinous glory. No bun. No cheese. No tomato, onion or pickle slice. And worst of all…no French fries! I carefully observed hamburger guy. How on earth did one eat such a dish? He was happily mixing the raw meat and egg into a red and yellow streaked mess and appeared to be completely delighted with his entrée. Now I enjoy a rare steak as much as the next person. And I have eaten steak tartar (granted it was a smallish portion served atop a nice little bit of garlic toast). But a huge mound of raw meat with a raw egg atop? In America, there was no eating sin more cardinal than raw meat (except maybe raw eggs). People had died eating these foods when they were merely undercooked and here they were serving it fresh from the animal without even a momentary stop over a friendly flame.”

Also Ronnie’s favorite was when you order pizza; it comes with a “sunny side up” egg on the top of it. It’s actually really yummy! We love you guys! - Us3