May 4th, 2024 - Margo's Birthday Party
We didn't really have time to celebrate Margo's birthday properly during the week. Instead, she invited her best friends for Korean BBQ and a visit to a karaoke room afterwards. Of course, we missed the signing, but I am told it was enormous fun. I've thrown in a few photos that I took while we were waiting towards the end.
April 27th, 2024 - Festival of Joy
Margo and I went to the DMA only to discover that there was a huge Indian festival going on in the park. We really enjoyed the buzzing crowd, where everyone had lots of fun and was somehow busy doing something. Every now and then it's really nice to forget that you're in North Texas.
April 14th, 2024 - Margo's Graduation Pictures
Typically when you graduate from high school, you send out cards to friends and family. We took well over 200 shots this mornings and then whittled it down to six which was really hard. Margo look amazing in many of them. Anyway, here is a selection.
March 31st, 2024 - Easter
We celebrated Easter with Alex, Emilia and Massimo this year. This gave Margo a chance to hone her babysitting skills a little bit and it was just incredibly cute to see Emilia explore the house. Great reminder of how it was with Margo and Arno not too long ago. I miss those days.
March 19th, 2024 - Traveling (Again)
This was a very short trip and it blew by in no time. Unfortunately, we did not have any time to see local friends or visit with Malte and Charlotte in Stendal. Next time...
March 16th, 2024 - Duesseldorf
At some point during every trip we end up on the Koenigsallee in Duesseldorf. Don't ask me how, but somehow we all have a honing beacon that sets us on the right course. Margo had already bought a whole bunch of stuff at Zara and now it was Arno's turn to get a really nice pair of Chukka boots and some shirts.
March 13th, 2024 - Dinner with Susanne & Henk
We've had a few nights to get the jet lag out of our system and met with Susanne and Henk this evening for a wonderful steak that he prepared to perfection. It was all great fun and is always really refreshing to get together.
March 9th, 2024 - Traveling
Margo and I flew t Germany to visit with my Mom and also to keep Arno company on the way back. She's an absolute pro by now and knows the ins-and-outs of international travel like the back of her hand. It was great to finally arrive.
February 5th, 2024 - Vegas
A conference, a couple of days, and a crazy city. Everyone was getting ready for Superbowl and there wasn't a lot a time to walk or shoot.
January 14th, 2024 - Antonio's
It's really nice to have Arno at home and feels like we are a family again. Not that that's missing when he's gone, but there just is a part that isn't there. We went to Antonio's in Addison, which is probably the best Italian in town and a joint that I frequented with regularity when I lived in an apartment above the restaurant. Oh, and we had snow. Not a big deal for the rest of the world, but in Texas...
Timeless - A Few Quotes
Arno on aging: Chris: "Does it feel any different to be twelve?" Arno: "Yeah, I felt the twelves creeping up around 9:30 this morning." (2020)
Arno on his identity: "Mommy, don't judge my gender. I'm identifying as an attack helicopter!" (2020)
Arno Knows the Answer: Chris: "How do you prepare for a drug test?" Arno: "You take as many drugs as you can?" Chris: "Yup, right."(2018)
Arno and Margo on Home Cooking: "It's not that your food is bad, we just don't trust you with ice cream or milk shakes, Daddy." (2018)
Margo's Professional Aspirations: "I'm going to be a smack-talking attorney when I grow up, just like Mommy." (2018)
Arno on Margo's new braces: "If boys are interested in you now, they just need to hold up a magnet to get really close to you." (2018)
Arno & Margo on Leadership: "You're not going to decide that, Daddy! Mommy is the dictator in our family. We voted on it." (2018)
Question on Royalty: Arno: "Why aren't we kings?" Chris: "Because our ancestors weren't murderous enough." (2018)
Arno on Greek Gods: "There were three! I know one of them is called Hepatitis" (2017)
Arno on bending the rules in his favor: "Daddy, no! You can't kick me when I am kicking you!" (2017)
Arno on mortality: I showed Arno a golden pocket watch that belonged to my father. His first reaction? "I can't wait to inherit all of this." (2017)
Arno on (my) retirement: Chris: "You'll be rich. I'm going to come live with you when I'm 72" Arno: "Daddy, I don't know you THAT well." (2017)
Margo on mistakes: Chris: "You and I have the exact same genes." Margo: "So, do I have to make as many mistakes in my life as you have?" (2017)
Arno on getting ideas after I put an ice cream in his soft drink: "Daddy! That is totally gross. I wish I had come up with that idea!" (2017)
Arno at the bookstore after picking up a backgammon set: Chris "I thought you urgently needed more books?" Arno: "Let's not dwell on that." (2017)
Arno on activity: "I'm really hyper, Dad! Let's go to the park so that I can run it off. Then we go to Burger House so that I get it back!" (2017)
Arno on violence: Chris: "I'm gonna hit you on the head!" (holding up a fist) and Arno: "That is a lot of child-abusing, Daddy!" (2016)
Arno on being photographed a lot: "You are like a personal paparazzi for me!" (2016)
Arno on inheritance: Chris: "You are very creative!" Arno: "Yeah, you got that from Oma and I got it when you KISSED Mommy!" (2016)
Meredith on foul manners: "Who's the burp-meister here?" Arno: "Daddy, but you burp a lot more than him!" (2016)
Margo on Neurological Issues: "When your brain breaks all of your memories fall out. Then you have to make them all over again!" (2016)
Arno on Spelling: "Daddy, are you going to use the W-word on me now? Chris: "Which one is that?" Arno: "Wrrr-esponsibility!" (2015)
Arno on Dairy Farming: "Margo, you don't have to kill the cow to get the milk out! You just have to squeeze his butt!" (2015)
Update on superpowers: Arno: "I can see the future backwards!", Chris: "So, you can actually see the past?", Arno: "Yup, I can!" (2015)
Arno's Freudian: "Will I get a dinner, if I eat all of my candy?" (2015)
Arno on the future: "Daddy, what are you going to be when you grow up? Chris: "I have absolutely no idea, son!" (2015)
Arno on experience: "Where does sin come from? Chris: "Interesting! You tell me." Arno: "Daddy, you should know this BY NOW!" (2015)
Arno has mastered the art of omission: "[silence, followed by] ... on the positive side, your hair looks beautiful Mommy!"(2015)
Arno on justice: "Daddy, it's UNLEGAL to steal Christmas."(2014)
Arno on gender: "I want a dog. It has to be a female boy." (2014)
Arno on birth: "When Margo was 1 years old, God was still making me." (2014)
Margo on deserts: "Mommy, can I please have a cake with Chocolate MOUSE?" (2014)
Arno on sharing responsibilities while driving to Düsseldorf with me: "Daddy, my job is to watch for cops and your job is to speed!" (2013)
Arno being philosophical: "Daddy, how old was I before I was born?" (2013)
Margo on Superpowers: "Mommy's superpower is "Super-Saving" and Daddy's is "Super-Love" (2013)
Arno on hierarchy: Chris: "Your cupcake is the filet mignon of cupcakes." and Arno: "So, he's the boss of the other cupcakes?" (2013)
Arno spelled his name on my computer and asked towards the end: "Daddy, do you have any "Os" on here?" (2013)
Margo explains why there is always room for deserts: "I can't eat any more noodles, but the ice cream part of my stomach is still empty." (2013)
Margo on getting water in her nose while jumping in the pool: "Daddy, that was not the BESTEST moment in my life!" (2013)
Margo on husbands: "Arno and I are married!" Chris: "Really?" Margo:" Daddy! Not really! We're TWINS, we're not allowed to!" (2013)
Arno prepared me for the harsh realities of Easter: "Daddy, we're gonna have to make a few eggs dead!" (2013)
Margo on repercussions, after being told that she will not get more new books while we're in the store: "You're fired, both of you!" (2013)
On slight misunderstandings: Arno told us today that he can only eat chocolate from here on out because he is highly allergic to chocolate! (2013)
You realize that you have utterly failed as a parent when your four-year-old tells you that he "likes the French Onion Soup in Oldenburg." (2012)
Margo on manipulation: Arno: "Where did you get the chocolate?" Margo: "Talk to Mommy, but don't forget the magic words: I love you!" (2012)
Question in the car: "Who is the biggest boss in the world?" Margo: "Jesus is everyone's boss." ... Arno: "No, Mommy is ...!" (2012)
Margo on my occupation: "Daddy travels too much. He needs a different job. I want him to WORK!" (2012)
Margo explains nail polish: "It's lipstick for your feet" (2012)
Margo will definitely be the intellectual in our family. Why? She's already begun to sprinkle her conversation with quotes from Big Bird ... (2012)
Margo in front of the sushi counter: Margo: "I want one with rice!" ... Chris: : "Can you more specific?" ... Margo: "With FISH, Daddy!!!" (2012)
Margo on vital skills: "Daddy, can you write curse?" Chris: "Yes I can, ... and even in cursive." (2012)
Margo being direct: Chris: "I spy, with my little eye, something that is yellow." (a small table, in fact) ... Margo: "Your teeth?" (2012)
Arno surprised us with an extremely short story: "Once upon a time, there was a Spiderman. And then he passed away." (2012)
Margo upon being reprimanded for cursing: "I can say whatever I want, I'm an artist!" (2011)
Arno on another professional aspiration: "I want to become an airplane driver!" (2011)
Arno on revenge: "When I grow up, I'll become a doctor and then I give Margo a LOT of shots." (2011)
Margo on finer culinary points: "Daddy! This is not milk, it is cheese water!" (2011)
Margo on professional aspirations: "I want to be a doctor, singer, flower, dentist and princess when I grow up. I want all five!" (2011)
Chris on table manners: "It has taken us 7 million years to evolve from animals - you make the return trip in less than 20 seconds." (2011)
Arno's logic: Chris: "I'm hungry." ... Margo: "Me, too." ... Arno: "Me, three." (2011)
Arno after playing the air guitar: "Are you Keith Richards?" - "NO! I am a BAD boy!" (2011)
Arno discovers linguistic redundancy: "You are Daddy, Daddy!" (2011)
Margo on lessons learned from Rapunzel: "There won't be any bad guys in MY castle!!!" (2010)
Arno on priorities: "I don't want to pick up Mommy, I want to eat doughnuts." (2010)
Margo on blue blood: "Mommy, why didn't you make me a princess?" (2010)
Margo on driving in thick Dallas traffic: "Go faster Daddy!" ... "FASTER!" ... "WHAT?" ... "Don't say NO to me!!!" (2009)
Margo on her brother: "You're Chris Hanebeck and Mommy is Meredith Ladd and I am Margo Ladd ... and this is Arno Kowalsky" (2009).
Arno on his identity: "Mommy, don't judge my gender. I'm identifying as an attack helicopter!" (2020)
Arno Knows the Answer: Chris: "How do you prepare for a drug test?" Arno: "You take as many drugs as you can?" Chris: "Yup, right."(2018)
Arno and Margo on Home Cooking: "It's not that your food is bad, we just don't trust you with ice cream or milk shakes, Daddy." (2018)
Margo's Professional Aspirations: "I'm going to be a smack-talking attorney when I grow up, just like Mommy." (2018)
Arno on Margo's new braces: "If boys are interested in you now, they just need to hold up a magnet to get really close to you." (2018)
Arno & Margo on Leadership: "You're not going to decide that, Daddy! Mommy is the dictator in our family. We voted on it." (2018)
Question on Royalty: Arno: "Why aren't we kings?" Chris: "Because our ancestors weren't murderous enough." (2018)
Arno on Greek Gods: "There were three! I know one of them is called Hepatitis" (2017)
Arno on bending the rules in his favor: "Daddy, no! You can't kick me when I am kicking you!" (2017)
Arno on mortality: I showed Arno a golden pocket watch that belonged to my father. His first reaction? "I can't wait to inherit all of this." (2017)
Arno on (my) retirement: Chris: "You'll be rich. I'm going to come live with you when I'm 72" Arno: "Daddy, I don't know you THAT well." (2017)
Margo on mistakes: Chris: "You and I have the exact same genes." Margo: "So, do I have to make as many mistakes in my life as you have?" (2017)
Arno on getting ideas after I put an ice cream in his soft drink: "Daddy! That is totally gross. I wish I had come up with that idea!" (2017)
Arno at the bookstore after picking up a backgammon set: Chris "I thought you urgently needed more books?" Arno: "Let's not dwell on that." (2017)
Arno on activity: "I'm really hyper, Dad! Let's go to the park so that I can run it off. Then we go to Burger House so that I get it back!" (2017)
Arno on violence: Chris: "I'm gonna hit you on the head!" (holding up a fist) and Arno: "That is a lot of child-abusing, Daddy!" (2016)
Arno on being photographed a lot: "You are like a personal paparazzi for me!" (2016)
Arno on inheritance: Chris: "You are very creative!" Arno: "Yeah, you got that from Oma and I got it when you KISSED Mommy!" (2016)
Meredith on foul manners: "Who's the burp-meister here?" Arno: "Daddy, but you burp a lot more than him!" (2016)
Margo on Neurological Issues: "When your brain breaks all of your memories fall out. Then you have to make them all over again!" (2016)
Arno on Spelling: "Daddy, are you going to use the W-word on me now? Chris: "Which one is that?" Arno: "Wrrr-esponsibility!" (2015)
Arno on Dairy Farming: "Margo, you don't have to kill the cow to get the milk out! You just have to squeeze his butt!" (2015)
Update on superpowers: Arno: "I can see the future backwards!", Chris: "So, you can actually see the past?", Arno: "Yup, I can!" (2015)
Arno's Freudian: "Will I get a dinner, if I eat all of my candy?" (2015)
Arno on the future: "Daddy, what are you going to be when you grow up? Chris: "I have absolutely no idea, son!" (2015)
Arno on experience: "Where does sin come from? Chris: "Interesting! You tell me." Arno: "Daddy, you should know this BY NOW!" (2015)
Arno has mastered the art of omission: "[silence, followed by] ... on the positive side, your hair looks beautiful Mommy!"(2015)
Arno on justice: "Daddy, it's UNLEGAL to steal Christmas."(2014)
Arno on gender: "I want a dog. It has to be a female boy." (2014)
Arno on birth: "When Margo was 1 years old, God was still making me." (2014)
Margo on deserts: "Mommy, can I please have a cake with Chocolate MOUSE?" (2014)
Arno on sharing responsibilities while driving to Düsseldorf with me: "Daddy, my job is to watch for cops and your job is to speed!" (2013)
Arno being philosophical: "Daddy, how old was I before I was born?" (2013)
Margo on Superpowers: "Mommy's superpower is "Super-Saving" and Daddy's is "Super-Love" (2013)
Arno on hierarchy: Chris: "Your cupcake is the filet mignon of cupcakes." and Arno: "So, he's the boss of the other cupcakes?" (2013)
Arno spelled his name on my computer and asked towards the end: "Daddy, do you have any "Os" on here?" (2013)
Margo explains why there is always room for deserts: "I can't eat any more noodles, but the ice cream part of my stomach is still empty." (2013)
Margo on getting water in her nose while jumping in the pool: "Daddy, that was not the BESTEST moment in my life!" (2013)
Margo on husbands: "Arno and I are married!" Chris: "Really?" Margo:" Daddy! Not really! We're TWINS, we're not allowed to!" (2013)
Arno prepared me for the harsh realities of Easter: "Daddy, we're gonna have to make a few eggs dead!" (2013)
Margo on repercussions, after being told that she will not get more new books while we're in the store: "You're fired, both of you!" (2013)
On slight misunderstandings: Arno told us today that he can only eat chocolate from here on out because he is highly allergic to chocolate! (2013)
You realize that you have utterly failed as a parent when your four-year-old tells you that he "likes the French Onion Soup in Oldenburg." (2012)
Margo on manipulation: Arno: "Where did you get the chocolate?" Margo: "Talk to Mommy, but don't forget the magic words: I love you!" (2012)
Question in the car: "Who is the biggest boss in the world?" Margo: "Jesus is everyone's boss." ... Arno: "No, Mommy is ...!" (2012)
Margo on my occupation: "Daddy travels too much. He needs a different job. I want him to WORK!" (2012)
Margo explains nail polish: "It's lipstick for your feet" (2012)
Margo will definitely be the intellectual in our family. Why? She's already begun to sprinkle her conversation with quotes from Big Bird ... (2012)
Margo in front of the sushi counter: Margo: "I want one with rice!" ... Chris: : "Can you more specific?" ... Margo: "With FISH, Daddy!!!" (2012)
Margo on vital skills: "Daddy, can you write curse?" Chris: "Yes I can, ... and even in cursive." (2012)
Margo being direct: Chris: "I spy, with my little eye, something that is yellow." (a small table, in fact) ... Margo: "Your teeth?" (2012)
Arno surprised us with an extremely short story: "Once upon a time, there was a Spiderman. And then he passed away." (2012)
Margo upon being reprimanded for cursing: "I can say whatever I want, I'm an artist!" (2011)
Arno on another professional aspiration: "I want to become an airplane driver!" (2011)
Arno on revenge: "When I grow up, I'll become a doctor and then I give Margo a LOT of shots." (2011)
Margo on finer culinary points: "Daddy! This is not milk, it is cheese water!" (2011)
Margo on professional aspirations: "I want to be a doctor, singer, flower, dentist and princess when I grow up. I want all five!" (2011)
Chris on table manners: "It has taken us 7 million years to evolve from animals - you make the return trip in less than 20 seconds." (2011)
Arno's logic: Chris: "I'm hungry." ... Margo: "Me, too." ... Arno: "Me, three." (2011)
Arno after playing the air guitar: "Are you Keith Richards?" - "NO! I am a BAD boy!" (2011)
Arno discovers linguistic redundancy: "You are Daddy, Daddy!" (2011)
Margo on lessons learned from Rapunzel: "There won't be any bad guys in MY castle!!!" (2010)
Arno on priorities: "I don't want to pick up Mommy, I want to eat doughnuts." (2010)
Margo on blue blood: "Mommy, why didn't you make me a princess?" (2010)
Margo on driving in thick Dallas traffic: "Go faster Daddy!" ... "FASTER!" ... "WHAT?" ... "Don't say NO to me!!!" (2009)
Margo on her brother: "You're Chris Hanebeck and Mommy is Meredith Ladd and I am Margo Ladd ... and this is Arno Kowalsky" (2009).