First things later.

Truly, this blog should be an update of my adventures in Salzburg, and an account of my mother's visit, including pictures and clever descriptions of my surroundings and the astonishingly wonderful weather, but it will not be. Today was Carolin's Geburtstag. She has finally entered her fifth year. I use the word finally not because I have watched her since childhood awaiting this day, but rather because the number of crossed-off days on the countdown calendar that I made for her nearly three weeks ago directly corresponds to the excitement that she has built up culminating in a day of romping about, eating treats, and the general frufurie which accompanies the birthday of a child. Six were invited (if you discount Anja, the former au pair, Felix, myself, and Holger and Sabine), but Lena is ill today; so we will give her the bag of party favors at Kindergarten when she is feeling better. The games included TP the parents (i.e. use most of the klo papier in the house to make them into mummies), bobbing for apples (Josie bobbed for a bananna because she's allergic to apples), search for your hand-picked prize in the garden while the kids shout warm oder kalt, and generally play in the sand, sun and grass. Although by the end of the day everyone agreed that it had been filled rather to the point of stuffing with activity, it was quite a glorious day. I had forgotten what it is like to be five and having a birthday; those days when to run in circles is seen as a prudent use of energy and a galaxy of fun!