Milkmaid

We all hate having no milk for the morning coffee or cereal, because either the milk has gone bad or we just have simply run out.  Well, thanks to smart technology and the Quirky Milkmaid that could become a thing of the past.

Lotus

Yesterday I saw a similar Lotus Exige cruising down the street and I could not help to smile at this sight. Beautiful and so impractical.

Edward Sharpe last night

Amy organized tickets to the Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros performance at The Fillmore in Charlotte, NC last night and we both had a great time.  Here is a little clip I shot with my iPhone towards the end of the show when they performed Home. 

Maurice Sendak

We are very sad that you left us. RIP

Spitzbuben

If you ever wanted to know what the words Spitzbube and Spitzbuben mean, just look below.

Spitzbube

Spitzbuben

Wheels

After a terrible pothole incident the Cooper S needed new wheels and Motegi it is. Sweet.

Edward Sharpe soon

Rumor has it that Amy and I are going to Charlotte on May 16th to see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros live in concert. Thrilled to go there and see them for sure. Below you can see them performing on Late Night with David Lettermann.

Oh my

An almost 2 month run without a single post here. Wow, that is scary. But this blog will not be abandoned, and remember, it is safer to assume that I may know karate.

Schupfnudeln

My mom was very kind and sent us some Settele Schupfnudeln from Germany. This is one of the few bought dishes my mom actually approves of, and boy they are very delicious.

Flip flop

I am not talking about political banter here, but very unique casual footwear from Kusa. I think there will be quite a few envious looks in Abu Dhabi when I show up with these very cool flip flops.

Fighting words

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight or at least don't call out a competitor in an ad without considering the possible response.

Fünftausend

It is a very silly and simple milestone, but a milestone nonetheless.

Christmas in Columbia 2011

This year we ventured to Columbia, SC with Simon and Max so they could experience their first Hildreth family Christmas. Plus my mom has been here for a few weeks and also was able to join us for Christmas, a first for her too.

Amy very relaxed at her mom's house.

If we would have let her, Cheryl would have held both boys 24/7.

Checking out Columbia with my mom on Christmas Eve and we stopped for lunch at Andy's deli.

It is now Christmas morning and this was the first Christmas for my mom in America.

Georgia always looks very festive.

Amy is ready for Christmas.

Cheryl had prepared the tasty breakfast casserole with a bit of help from my mom.

Making sure the boys are never too far from Georgia.

My mom got this stunning scarf from grandmama Georgia.

A beautiful necklace for Amy combines her birthstone and the birthstone of Simon and Max.

Making sure that Amy finally has an image of dad and the boys.

Georgia is now fully digital with this IPad she got from various family members.

My mom got various South Carolina items from Ron and Amy incliding these delicious grits.

Beautiful wooden cutting board for Amy and I from Ron and Amy.

The morning after Christmas and Max seems to have aged quite a bit, mostly of course because of those britches.

Simon also looks like a little old man with this outfit.

It is Advent again

It is almost Christmas again and we are counting down the days with our hand crafted Advent calendar. By now we are on day 3 and since I get to eat the "odd days" it was my turn today. Yummy.

Usually we make quite a few of these for family and friends but this year our hands were full with the twins and we only mad a couple.

Oh my

We are so glad we have boys. :-)

Of course having girls would not mean putting up such a stupid stunt with them.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at home in Winston-Salem and had a few friends over. We are especially thankful to have such great friends as Luke and Liz Burnett and Anna Miller and Greg Lee.

Liz and Luke brought these very nice flowers.

Anna Miller and her husband Greg Lee recently moved into our neighborhood and we are very glad they did.

Greg might have one of the coolest t-shirt collections and he is quite the chef. They brought a great pie, casserole and an interesting brussels sprouts salad.

Liz Burnett prepared an awesome Thanksgiving feast for us with an amazing salad, a delicious turkey, stuffed onions, superb mashed potatoes and lots more and even had time to hold Simon.

It was also great to have Luke Burnett here

Amy with Max after everybody had a meal

Bonding

A bit of bonding time with Simon, who seems to be very fond of dad's big nose. :-)

Big lunch date

Amy and I went on a very nice lunch date to Mozelle's Bistro in Winston-Salem yesterday, understanding that we might not be able go there so easily any time soon. Well, at least not without a babysitter.

Simon and Max

Our sons Simon and Max arrived on this earth on Wednesday morning and we are absolutely thrilled with them. The two of them might turn out to be Spitzbuben, but until that is in fact determined, we decided to give the two their own website.

Warren Buffett's 5 minute plan to fix the deficit

An interesting note from Warren Buffett was posted on CNBC

_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete.