The moment you let go

Life is strange. I wrote a post some time ago (actually on the 31st of December) that was called "No New Year's Resolution". Believe it or not - 6 months later I find myself in the middle of that post. It was about how I will live this year of my life doing the things that come easy to me. EASY was to be the theme for the upcoming year. Well, and easy it was. I recorded something in February and it got picked up. Which means: me in front of the camera doing things that come easy to me. And holy God, was I shocked when I looked at me. It was bliss jumping in my face. What can I say? I wasn't the only one, who got it. Interesting enough, all of this happened the very moment I let go. Let go of what I thought was right for me, was my dream all of my life, was something I was trying to achieve. So this is what I got out of the experience so far: If you ever WOW yourself, you better stay on that path. Something else that is remarkable: The girls that got me going were not surprised at all. So this is to you, Julia and Yvi, two of the bravest women I will ever know: Thank you.

Soccer WM

4 goals = 2 flags and 2 happy children.

Unbeatable

Like every mother I adore my children, BUT I SWEAR, my son is the sweetest. He loves to play with my brothers old tin soldiers and gets all excited about it (look at the red cheeks). This time they were fighting dinosaurs - childrens worlds are easy, you can pack together all sorts of items and just let fantasy take you away.

And then there are moments like these, where he jumped in the pool and only came out to eat strawberry cake. He was SO living the moment, I thought it was unbeatable. He always reminds me to enjoy life to the max. And by the way, I love it how he looks just like his Daddy.

Summer of style

There is nothing better than experiencing a summer in style - and by style I mean fresh flowers (at home), great food (at Julias and Phuongs) andfantastic locations (in combination with great food: Le Moissonnier, Cologne, 0221-729479.)

Yummie!

Picture perfect Sunday

We went to the "Maibaumwache", where they prepare a big tree trunk to be put up on May first. Traditionally it is painted blue and white. Today we got to sit on it and take our picture - it is soon going to be put up for 5 years.
Afterwards it was fun in the sun at the lake with friends. Everyone was happy - and is now sound asleep. Picture perfect.

Among friends

The other night, we spent 3 hours talking to friends in Seattle via skype. Lin and Ken - you are extra-special to us and it is always fantastic to talk to you and envision the future!!!
LOVE from both of us!!!

...and the living is easy.

Summertime.

All I ever wanted

When I was pregnant with my first child I wanted it to be a girl. No, this doesn't really explain how it felt. I was desperate for a little girl to come into my life. And God listened to me. He still provides me with moments where I can see crystal clear, why this girl had to be with me. This is one of the rare pictures that show how I feel about her. Every day. Every night. Forever.

Chocolate and blood

We just returned from a short Easter holiday. My children were delighted to spend time with both of their parents, both Grandmas and even one godfather. They ate chocolate day and night and probably think life can stay that way from now on. Bunny number one, executed.Bunny number two, loved.Play doh, freestyle: lake with ducks and rose hedges.View from our holiday home window in the evening.Front tooth number two almost ready to go after a foot-kick from her little brother. How on earth did he get his foot up that high??? You stand, stare and wonder...

Front running

The other day we had lots of fun in the studio. Uwe and I were trying different things in front of the camera. The unbelievably talented Julia (I will write more about her later this week) as well as "Mr. Eye" Phuong were generous enough to waste their talent and time on us. Praise! Location, Location. Uwe talking. Very interesting. Phuong doing what he does. Nobody knows what it is, but it always looks good in the end. Julia eating, before she let out the antagonist. Me in the Make-up department.

Love, unconditionally

I just wanted to check on my kids at night as I always do before I go to bed. They were holding hands while sleeping - and I was in tears. Sometimes it just takes a precious moment like this to make me happy. Life is very nice to me.

Friends

Sometimes all you need is an evening with your friends to catch up, laugh and eat. Actually, I ate so much that I had to get rid of my belt and my shoes. At the end of the meal I couldn't get them on again, almost like after riding in a plane. Well, those girls always lift me up, so it might have been that. Anyway - I had a blast and have to say, that the red-haired girl is the most astonishing 35-year-old I have seen so far. And the blond girl to the right is definitely the only girl I know that orders two chocolate deserts after just having finished 4 courses. My type of women!

Like mother, like daughter

We just went to look at some studios for a planned shooting. It was a very nice daylight studio and amazing Phuong took these pictures in like 2 minutes. Thanks man, you made my day. I look just as young at heart and happy as I feel today.

Tooth fairy

Upper front tooth gone. Been there, done that.

It's my party

On my birthday I invited my girls from Munich for an evening out at my favourite Japanese eatery. Thanks girls for being there and sharing that day with me. It meant a lot.

In the studio

Yesterday we checked out a friend's studio for an upcoming promo we want to do. The children came with us so we had some family fun. Just wanted to share the green screen pictures we took as part of the fun.

Date night

Sometimes you need your husband to take you out on a date. I am not giving you any more details, just a quick look at the bar to let your imagination run wild. Have a wonderful Sunday, my friends.

Girls

Just came back from breakfast with the girls - those who never met in real life but only on facebook before. Actually - I knew them from real life, but they had not yet met each other. It was fun from the very first second on. We went to daylesford organic who just opened a shop/restaurant in downtown Munich. Sad enough, they didn't allow us to take pictures so I can show you only the one that I took before they told us not to. Don't be misled by the nice surroundings. It was cold (the only warm place was the washroom, indeed!) and the waiters were not overly motivated or friendly. Furthermore, the food (eggs benedict) took them 30 minutes - and we were the only guests. My recommendation if you want to go there: Bring fun girls along, otherwise it'll be rather disappointing.

My 100th post

When I started the lilukids project it was planned differently than it turned out - in a good way. Right now I can't believe I made it to post number 100. Hooooray! To celebrate this big number I am posting 2 pictures: This one showing our private little kids fireworks party yesterday at 6 p.m. with the neighbours and this one showing those guys who gave this blog its name: LIs and LUdwig from LILUkids. This year will be special and there will be so many new stories and ideas featured here - I am really looking forward to all of it. Thanks to all my readers - those I do and those I don't know yet - for staying with me for such a long time.

Love, Svenja

Katharina

My husband has a godchild named Katharina. 2008 she lived with us for half a year and then went on to spend a year in the States as an AuPair. This Christmas she returned and we met her and her family on the 26th of December. Katharina was beaming with energy and was so full of new plans and influenced by the way she lived and by what she experienced that past year, so full of stories. It was amazing to see how that young girl turned into a woman while being away. In the picture you see Katharina, Lis and me, all smiles.