Weather comparison between Dublin and Heidelberg

The problem with easy access to information is that it’s just too easy to get jealous of other people’s weather.

Like when I looked at these two pictures this morning:

Not fair.

Tired Children

We went for a walk today near Burg Frankenstein, and yes, it was Mary Shelley's inspiration. The effort was all a bit much for Liam and Rosalie though, for the last third of the walk they chose to get some sleep in the buggy.
It was a tight squeeze, but they didn't seem to mind!

Studio pictures of Kieran plus family

We made the effort last week to get some photos made professionally of Kieran, and the results are in my opinion worth it.

Judge for yourselves…

Painting Easter Eggs

Liam and Rosalie took some time out today from revering the new little brother, and did some creative artwork instead.

From 2010-04-03 - Painting Easter Eggs

Starting with some basic white eggs and food dye, and continuing with special edible paint concoction, they produced what a proud father can only term works of art. The Tate Modern displays stuff that looks worse.

From 2010-04-03 - Painting Easter Eggs

Here are the two creative geniuses hard at work. 

From 2010-04-03 - Painting Easter Eggs

It has to be said that not all of the artistic materials were used for a higher purpose, some were used to prove a point to any parents who might dare to question the artistic direction.

From 2010-04-03 - Painting Easter Eggs

At the end of the day though the balance was positive: 24 brightly coloured eggs, many of whom had not been thrown on the floor in frustration.

From 2010-04-03 - Painting Easter Eggs

Imperial measures of Kieran

3720 grams = 8.20119615 pounds

53 centimeters = 20.8661417 inches

Sources:

• http://www.google.com/search?q=3720+grams+in+pounds
• http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=53+cm+in+inches

Liam and Rosalie visit Kieran

Liam and Rosalie dropped into the hospital together with Anne from across the road. They were happy to see their new baby brother, but not all that keen to share. I’m hoping they learn that before they pull him apart like a rag doll.

Kieran Patrick Günther Cassidy

At 08:11 this morning I was thrilled to be handed a slightly cheesy and blood-stained son. Kieran arrived Macduff-style, namely by Caesarean. Despite being more than 2 and a half weeks before term, he weighed in at a very healthy 3720 grams, and 53 centimetres, making him bigger than both of his siblings on their birthdays.

Here he is still covered in the cheese-like moisturiser so popular among new-borns:

From 2010-03-29 - Kieran Patrick Günther

and here with his mother, both tired after all their efforts:

From 2010-03-29 - Kieran Patrick Günther

I was able to dress up for the day too - here I am in my operating theatre gear (I ditched the hat and face mask at the earliest opportunity

From 2010-03-29 - Kieran Patrick Günther

The important news is that Heike and son are well, if somewhat exhausted by the whole procedure

From 2010-03-29 - Kieran Patrick Günther

Günther Schwab celebrates his 75th birthday

Heike’s father Günther turned 75 yesterday, and the family congregated to help him celebrate. My pictures are in the Picasa slideshow below.

Careful observers will note that Heike seems more pregnant than ever. It won’t be long now!

Selva Val Gardena

Liam, Rosalie and I joined up with my dad for a week of skiing in Selva Val Gardena (Dolomites) last week.

Heike was ordered by the doctor to stay home and rest, which was lucky for her as she would have gone mad on the drive there. Snow caused traffic chaos through Germany and Austria on that day, so that we were on the road a total 13.5 hours getting there!

Below are some pictures of the kids both in the apartment and on their sledges, and a video of Liam skiing.

 

Weekend in Berlin

We are just back from a very enjoyable weekend visiting friends in Berlin. A highlight for the kids was the Museum für Naturkunde. In particular the brachiosaurus and diplodocus on show in the main foyer prompted much gushing from Liam about these being "my favourite dinosaurs".

Also popular were a row of Russian tanks and artillery on show a few minutes walk from our friends’ house in Karlshorst. The building where the German unconditional surrender was signed in 1945 is now a German-Russian museum. We didn’t bother going inside, the tanks were really all the kids wanted to see.

Kids love snow (shock)!

The winter has finally delivered with a nice dump of snow, so the kids and I headed up the hills outside of Heidelberg for some sledging. Some pictures below…

From 2010-01-09 - Sledging at Lingental

From 2010-01-09 - Sledging at Lingental

From 2010-01-09 - Sledging at Lingental

BBC News - Road grit levels 'critically low'

This is "leaves on the line" for roads...

BBC News - Road grit levels 'critically low'

Atheist Ireland Publishes 25 Blasphemous Quotes | blasphemy.ie

Lots of blasphemy worth a 25,000€ fine to be found here...

Atheist Ireland Publishes 25 Blasphemous Quotes | blasphemy.ie

Google Chrome Extensions: Blog This! (by Google)

Google Chrome Extensions: Blog This! (by Google)

a cool Chrome extension allows me to blog items with unnerving rapidity.

Baking Xmas Cookies

Below Rosalie and Liam display their culinary skills as the family got together to bake the traditional Weihnachtsplätzchen.  Rosalie manned the Fleischwolf, while Liam was responsible for cutting off the extruded cookies at the precise length required.

From 2009-11-22 - Baking Xmas Cookies

The end results look and taste pretty good, below are the Spritzgebäck they created:

From 2009-11-22 - Baking Xmas Cookies