Busy as a bee!

Hello Everyone!
Sorry that I haven't written in a long time! My family and I have been so busy with all sorts of things. In September we went to Italy for a long weekend. Papa took a few days off of work and we hung out on the beach and filled up for the last time this year on sand, sun and yummy Italian food. Our friend Reini came with us and that was really fun.
When we got back to Graz fall had started, but lucky for us it has been really nice lately and we have been able to spend everyday playing outside. A few weeks back we went to Schöckl (the "house" mountain of Graz). We rode up in a cable car and I loved it. It was a bit cold, but I was dressed for the occasion. I took my baby with and she rode in a "tragetuch" (baby wrap) just like my brother rides on Mama and Papa. There was a really great playground up at the top and I had a great time swinging and sliding.





Speaking of Nils, my brother is getting really big and cute by the day. He smiles a lot and keeps us all in a great mood. Mom says he is a pretty "laid back" baby. Not sure exactly what that means. It doesn't make much sense to me, becuase he likes to sit the whole day. But it seems to be a good thing. :) He has a cool cowboy outfit from Uncle Bill's mom and dad and its really cute. He also has a girlfriend....my baby, Lora. We tried to tell him he is too young, but he really likes her.








Any my VERY VERY VERY biggest news:
I got a "laufradala" (balance bike). I have been wanting one for a very long time and worked really hard to learn to ride my trike because Mama and Papa said when I could pedal on my trike I could get a balance bike. Well, I have one now and I am really fast. Mama says its good exercise for both of us. She tells everyone how fast we can get from school to home now..twice as fast as when we both walk!

We are getting so excited about our trip to the US. Just over one month until we leave and then we get to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for one month...do you think they might spoil my brother and I???
A last little piece of news: my Papa is now Dr. Maletz. Yup....he finished up his work at the University in Germany and now he has a published book (Integrated Requirements Modeling: A Contribution towards the Integration of Requirements into a Holistic Product Lifecycle Management Strategy). We are super proud of him!!!
Have a great fall. Love,
Zoe