Get your motor running...

Carsten and his motor boat!

My morning sunshine

Carsten is always very happy when he wakes in the morning. He chats up a storm and then always give a big smile when you enter the room! Probably the most favorite part of my day.

Laundry basket fun

Lake Travis with the Roddiger's

Chris and Eric traveled to Austin with friends for their annual lake trip. They invited us out to the condo where they were staying, we enjoyed some tasty beverages and yummy snacks. It was great to see them and wonderful to meet their friends. Tks Chris and Eric, looking forward to seeing you in Houston!


Chris and Carsten



He had so much fun exploring the entire deck



Cards were playing the Astros, Chris and Eric came to Lake Travis with friends from Houston. Therefore, we had to show our Cardinals spirit!



Eric and Scott, Lake Travis

The laundry basket is his new favorite toy and walker. He pushes it all around the house at a fast pace, just waiting for the day when he lets go...I wonder if I will be able to keep up with him.



He no longer likes to sit inside, but more enjoys cruising around the outside playing with everything.


Phew! This playing thing is tiring!

Good Morning


Helping Mom with the laundry...BIG help

Busy Week

Carsten has had a very busy week. He has now learned that there is more to Grandma and Grandpa's house than just the living room. And, he thinks he can pull himself up on EVERYTHING! Here are a few successful pull ups this week. Next week we move to Austin! First item on the agenda...BABYPROOFING!

Mom, can we please go outside?

Tks Mom, being outside ROCKS!!!

I want to go over there....

Please....over there....

Mom, let go...it's OKAY!

Seriously...let go!


I'm almost there....Ahhhh, made it. Tks, Mom!!!

Mom saying..."hey, big guy, what are you trying to do? where do you want to go? i'm not going to let go, this is concrete...not carpet!" well, we can see who won :)

Down on the farm

Daddy bought me a new hat, I left it on for a couple of pics....

But, then I had more fun playing with it!

Daddy leaves for Texas

Scott leaves for Texas tomorrow, our long vacation at home is coming to an end...BOO HOO!!! I am headed to Austin June 4-7 to do some house searching, keeping our fingers crossed that we find something in 2 days, lofty goal...but attainable (I hope!). Scott will come back to the St. Louis area a couple times during the month of June and then home for his high school reunion in July. After the reunion (weekend of the 11th) Carsten and I will join Daddy in Austin. Hope to see some of you before we head out and hope that the end of the school year and start of summer is treating you all well.

Need to babyproof the house!

Carsten is on the move...and he is fast!!!

I am a very happy baby! Need a smile, I can light up your day!
Getting big, check out my hamhocks...rice cereal and veggies, yummy!!!

Home

We have been home for about 5 weeks now and have been enjoying every second! We are enjoying spending time with family and friends and just relaxing while trying to coordinate our move to Austin, Texas. That is right, we are on the move again...Texas, here we come. Scott, Carsten and I will be headed to Austin the beginning of June.

Scott will be working in an outside sales position with Watlow...Carsten and I will work on finding a house, getting settled and returning to American life.

We hope all is well with everyone, looking forward to hearing from you all and hope to see many of you before we move!

Carsten is now sleeping through the night, not just 6 hours...but 10 or 12, ahhhh...it is bliss! He is sitting up, scooting all over the place, eating solids, giving kisses, and babbling "da da da da"! He is getting so big...so fast!

Cousins! Ah, it is so nice to be home.

It is with tears streaming down my face as I write to say that the world has lost a dear friend, amazing father, and loving husband. I only met Brian O'Neill one time, but from stories and reading of Angie's blog I feel like I knew him better than some people I have known my whole life. It is today, St. Patrick's Day, that the Lord called him home. Please keep the O'Neill family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Carsten is mobile

Our Trip Down Unda

Scott, Carsten and I went 'down unda' to visit friends and relax. We started the trip in Singapore, Scott did some work, Carsten and I spent the day hanging out on Orchard Rd, lunching with a friend from Shanghai and making a few purchases we couldn't find in Shanghai. It was Carsten's first experience with hot, humid weather...he managed...although, man does he sweat!

After Singapore we flew to Brisbane to meet our friends Beck, Tony, and their son Elliot, who is four weeks older than Carsten. We drove to Beck's parent's place in Toowoomba and had a glorious weekend catching up over a few "cuppa's". Carsten and Elliot had so much fun playing together, we are anxiously awaiting the next time they see one another!

On Sunday afternoon we set out from Toowoomba en route to the Whitsunday Islands. We drove 1000+km and arrived in Airlie Beach on Tuesday afternoon. From Airlie Beach we took a boat to Daydream Island where we stayed at Daydream Resort...ahhh, it was nice. The resort was a step back to 1986 and the food was nothing to write home about, but it was relaxing and Carsten had a wonderful time swimming. Scott and I took a helicopter ride out over the Great Barrier Reef and also landed on Whitehaven Beach for one hour. The sand is so soft and fine and remains very cool, so your feetsies don't burn when you walk, it was glorious! The helicopter ride was definitely a highlight of the trip.Our resort on Daydream Island

Whitehaven Beach

After relaxing in the sunshine we flew back to Brisbane for two nights and one day. We visited the Koala Sanctuary, and then dined at the Belgian Brewhouse. Tasty beverages to cap off a wonderful Aussie vacation!


While on vacation our little man starting rolling over...

Saying goodbye

We had to say goodbye to more friends who are headed back home. Over the past year and half we have become friends with Drew, Heather and newcomer to the family Dominic. We toasted our friendship and good times at Issimo. Carsten had to say goodbye to his new friend Dominic, but we are looking forward to making new memories in a different city in the future.