December 25th, 2023 - Christmas Day
Round two. We celebrated the American Christmas this morning and exchanged gifts. As always there were a lot of clothes, some shoes, and books. Arno and Margo were both extremely thoughtful with their gifts and we've all been surprised. We finished the day with a nice dinner as we usually do.
December 24th, 2023 - Heilig Abend
Time-honed traditions tend to bring back memories. We have always celebrated Christmas twice at our house given that we run a half German and half American outfit. Everyone will get their German presents on Christmas Eve, or Heiligabend, and the American ones on Christmas Day as is the respective local tradition. I am pretty sure that the kids thought they'd get more presents this way when they were younger. Now it is just reason to have two outstanding dinners in a row. Austin typically joins us for the occasion as well and it was fun to see him, as always.
December 23rd, 2023 - Arno's Shoes
Fun project and quite possibly a weird sensation for Arno as he gets older. We still have a box full of Arno's kid shoes and I've been wanting to photograph them for a while now. The idea is to document his maturing process a little bit through something that he carried with him where ever he went. So many experiences have been had and memories were made in these shoes. We set up the studio today to capture them. They will be framed for the dining room now.
December 21th, 2023 - Germany
I spent a few days in Germany to see my Mom and visit old friends. Arno got out of his school for Christmas as well and we flew home together. It was great to see the place where he now lives and meet some of his friends. Before heading back we visited Hamburg for business meetings and to explore the city a bit. Our first stop was the venerable Cafe Paris, where we just barely got a table (the maitre d'hotel really checked us out before making a favorable decision) and, of course, the Kunsthalle nearby.
August 20th, 2023 - Motherwell
Margo and I are holding down the fortress at the moment while Meredith and Arno are in Germany to get him situated at the new school. We decided to visit Fort Worth this morning for an early lunch and the current Robert Motherwell exhibition. It was truly phenomenal and well worth the trip.
August 12th, 2023 - Last Weekend
This was our last weekend before Arno moves to Germany to attend an incredible boarding school on the island of Spiekeroog in the North Sea. We were all happy and sad, nostalgic and excited, and quite possibly a bit through the wind. This has been a long time coming and we have all started to process his move in our own ways.
July 23rd, 2023 - Walk in the Park
We took some time this afternoon for a quick run to the park. Arno and I had been dying to go for a photo shoot for weeks, but work somehow always got in the way. Well, this was our chance and we had a ton of fun. Arno took one of my older cameras, which was also good practice for his year abroad and I went with the Monochrome.
July 1st, 2023 - Dinner with Henk and Susanne
It is always fun to go to Susanne and Henk's house. They are excellent cooks and always gracious hosts. We have also been friends for most of our lives so that catching up is great fun. I brought my Mom to see their newly built home on the next morning as well. It is located right next to a forest, has a stunning, very modern architecture and fantastic interior design.
May 17th, 2023 - Meeting Astro
I received an invite to try out Amazon's new home robot Astro as a beta version and quickly jumped on it. It's not every day that you get to try new home technology before it goes on sale to the public. Expectations were running high and we were all excited when it finally showed up at our door. The unit looks great and was easy enough to set up. Everyone had to make poses in front of the cameras so that Astro could recognize us later. We quickly found that the applications are very limited though. I could not get useful information while cooking, news were severely limited and video streaming off the table. Astro ultimately only stayed for a few days and will have surely found a new home by now.
April 29th, 2023 - Margo's Birthday
This year we had no choice but to celebrate Margo's birthday a few days early. It was a really nice dinner followed by opening gifts from everyone. It's crazy when I think about it. This is her 17th birthday. The very first one feels like yesterday and I still remember many little details from the day she was born.
Mar 20th, 2023 - Cookie Monster
The following does not require a comment, obviously. Suffice it to say that this was not staged. Things like that actually happen in our home.
Mar 19th, 2023 - Product Shoot
I rarely get the opportunity to make photos that serve a purpose beyond this site. Thus, it was a lot of fun to capture product shots for Carl's new jeans company. The light was great and there is always a lot to see in the workshop.
Mar 12th, 2023 - Downtown
Lazy Sunday. We had to break the routine and get out of our shell. So we traveled downtown, took in the Nasher and then walked around the park for bit. There was a lot going on between a flee market and the regular food trucks. Routine disrupted, I'd say.
Feb 18th, 2023 - Dinner with Adrienne and Joe
It's been a relaxed and pleasant evening. We started early to make Schnitzel which turned out alright. However, as always, the fun was in the company and we had a great time together.
Feb 4th, 2023 - Dinner & Wine
Tonight was Margo's first experience with wine. We wanted to make sure that happens in a safe environment, of course, given that it will happen no matter what. While we were at it, why not begin the journey with a Lafite. She'll surely discover the other end of the spectrum by herself. Meredith had bought four steaks and we made a phenomenal relish, if I may say so, to round out the experience.
Jan 15th, 2023 - Rückenbild
When artists paint a figure from behind, this is called a Rückenbild because it shows the person's back. The intent, of course, is to put the viewer into the position of the person depicted. Today, we had a few of those and we were busy. Two fantastic exhibitions at the DMA, then a stroll through the park, and a BBQ dinner in the Bishops Art District.
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).