This whole "living in Europe" adventure is still sinking in for me. I don't know that I ever thought I'd actually ever see these places - Florence, Rome, Prague, the Alps, Pisa, Paris, Salzburg! I'd obviously hoped I would, but as a home town Kennewickan gal (Is that what you'd call us? Weird!), I've felt pretty pleased with myself for making and taking advantage of opportunities to see a bit of this big world. As I got accepted to BYU, I remember Nana saying, "Why do you need to go so far away to go to school?" BYU didn't seem very far away then and I wanted to see so much more!
When Ryan and I got married and started our family, I just assumed it'd be quite some time before big travel opportunities would present themselves. I was fine with that, the time would come later. Now I'm drowning in possibilities in a good way, trying to keep my chin above water!
Ryan is the gung-ho booker of trips and works up a very general outline of what we'll do in his head. Thank heavens, because he makes us get out and go! I'm a pretty happy home body. Six months into our adventure and I'm just now getting the hang of how our little family travels. How to pack, what to pack, what snacks everyone prefers, who makes what plans for the trip, what our limits are and so on. After a couple trips, I figured out that I want more meat than a general list of places we'd like to see - a more detailed understanding about the places I was seeing. Apparently, I need to do a bit more than checking out outdated tour books from the library the week of the trip and perusing them en route to our destinations. But who has time to research?
Each trip has felt like finals week in college and induced the same sort of anxiety! I'm not kidding! What happens the week of finals? Frantic studying, packing, and partying. Well, there's not so many last minute parties round here, but packing and "studying" are quite the frenzy. Consider that we've done a big trip at least once a month practically and try to head out most weekends to see something closer to home. My days are so filled with just tending to the kids and trying to keep our living area in decent shape that doing trip research (that has to be retained to be useful) just hasn't really happened.
The packing part of the Finals equation always sneaks up on me. It's different than when in college for one big reason: I'm packing up my roommates in addition to myself! These lil' roommates of mine are still quite dependent on me. I can't just throw all our dirty clothes into suitcases to wash for free at home cuz we'll kinda need clean ones while out and about town.
On the studying end, if I don't know about the place we are, I have little patience for wandering around a city to see the sights. That would be my experience with Salzburg yesterday sadly. I yearn for context. It has to be worth enduring the children's complaints for piggy back rides and snacks! On the trip to Paris, I had little to no knowledge of the City of Lights beyond knowing we'd see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame and beautiful, scenic bridges. I yearned to know more, but there's just not enough coherent hours in a day! Oh, how I ache over this now that I've done a bit more reading and gotten my feet wet seeing the sights!
Wanna hear something dumb? To goad myself into doing better pre-trip research, one of the books I checked out from the library for the Paris trip was actually "Paris for Dummies." The hideous, worn, black and yellow large paperback was an ornery traveling companion. Pulling that book out in Paris was kinda like putting a pebble in my shoe on purpose. It was an uncomfortable reminder, wounding my ego just a tad each time I had to look something up. I'm no dummy!
This traveling mom isn't making any promises to turn over a new leaf, I'm just chronicling the experiences as I sort it them out. I can't even seem to keep up with our calendar of proposed trips let alone study up for them. Hopefully I'll get better at this before our time here is done!
Tuesday, June 30
Monday, June 29
Paris, Day 1: Versailles and Getting Settled
Back in early June, we drove our crew the six hours to Paris for an extended weekend to see all the sights we could cram into five days. We left Thursday morning around 9am and walked onto the grounds of Versailles Palace at 4pm. I wish we'd had more time, but we enjoyed what we were able to see. Ah, traveling as a family!
The opulent Versailles Palace with beautiful gardens. The palace's self-guided audio tour worked out great for our crew where you just had to point and click as you went along. It was fun to imagine extravagant pageantry back in it’s hey day with powdered wigs, round rouged cheeks, elaborate corseted gowns and fancy duds. Though I’d have loved to see all that in person, I’m sure glad I’ve never had to wear one of those get ups or give birth in a full room of courtiers like Marie Antionette! YIKES!!!
Easton, Morgan and me in front of the grounds of Marie Antionette's retreats from the palace. This lovely tree lined avenue leads to the Petit Palace and then on back to her hamlet where Marie Antionette liked to "play peasant."
I'm currently enjoying absorbing what I can of European history and what life was like for these ruling families. I finally finished reading "The Life of Elizabeth I" by Alison Weir which took me forever but I really enjoyed it. Now I've just begun an audio book about Maria Therese and her daughter, the infamous Marie Antionette. Ryan enjoys the tidbits I share with him but wants to hear about kings, the MEN! I guess you could say I'm also intruigued by women's roles and influence though out time, so I find this all very fascinating.
The hamlets lie around a lily pad lined pond stocked full of fish and one lone swan, at least while we were wandering back there. I wish we'd brought a picnic to enjoy!
Me and the kids playing some tag back in one of the small gardens behind one of the huts. Hearing my kids' give a real good excited gut laugh is one of my favorite things in life! Games of chase are one way to ensure hearing that fabulous sound!
After Versailles, we headed into Paris to find our apartment on the Champs Elysees. Ryan took this picture of the Arc d' Triumph from the Eiffel Tower the next day, but just wanted to give you an idea of what we were driving into during rush hour. Traffic looks pretty tame in this mid-day shot. When we hit it at 7:30pm, there were at least twelve unmarked “lanes” of traffic, some cars just sitting perpendicular to the flow of traffic as they waited for an opening to cross "lanes." I’m so glad Ryan likes to be our driver! He’s pretty much my road trip hero!
Then you should have seen him load up the stroller with our bags, food, and Morgan’s porta-crib! It was as tall as me, quite the balancing act to say the least, and we had a couple of blocks to walk from where he short-term parked the van! You go, Lover Boy! The Champs Elysees is a famous fashionable shopping and eating street so we were quite the sight on this main thoroughfare! Writing this paragraph reminds me of camera worthy moments I need to keep in mind on our trips! However, when in these "moments" I tend to be trying to keep my cool as a navigator for my driver or keeping an eagle eye on my youngins so as to not lose them in an unfamiliar bustling crowd. I know, sorry - tsch-tsch - priorities, priorities.
Our apartment was located within one of the gallery malls and worked out fabulously! It had a couple couches that converted to real comfy beds in the living room, a small kitchen with a washer/dryer, and a bathroom. We spend so little time in our rooms that to be able to sleep, bathe, prepare breakfast, and pack lunches is all we need. The location of this place was just perfect for us on our trip! Love that vrbo.com site!!!
Once Ryan dropped us at our room, he headed off to find long term parking while I headed out with the kids to find a grocery store even though it was 9pm. Turned out the grocers were closed, but we found where they were. We settled in for a good night’s sleep, eager to take on the Eiffel Tower in the morning!
Monday, June 15
She's 8 months today . . .
with a new skill!
I went to pick her up from her afternoon nap and she was STANDING there, holding on for dear life to the railing! She's been pulling up for about a week now, but this was the first time in her bed which means she's also mastered rolling from her back to front, something she's pretty lazy about. I was so excited for her that I tried to call Ryan at work. I would have run to grab the camera but I know that'd induce an abandoned screaming fit and McKay was still napping so we couldn't have that! Instead, I caught her later when Ryan was home to witness it and fear of waking McKay was no longer an issue.
Many tears have been shed this past week. It's been a rough week of tough love around here as she practices her new skill. If I try to protect her from every fall, every tight spot, or even try to console her after each bump, I'd go crazy . . . er, I mean, she'd never learn to be confident and self sufficient. See, I'm all about teaching life skills. But seriously, she scares herself good sometimes and makes my heart stop many times a day with all these hard floors.I've had many thoughts lately relating to how different each of the kids' lives as babies has been. With Easton I was working full-time and he spent his first year in the office at my feet and many of my loving coworkers doting on him. McKay enjoyed the idyllic days of us being home until I had to go back to work when he was four months old. He too learned to crawl and be spoiled at NRLC. I've always felt a little sad that the boys didn't get my undivided attention, but they seem none the worse for the experience. Now Morgan has survived our crazy move and has the perfect baby life with mom and brothers home to see to her every need. Her plight is these hard floors. I've pondered a couple different metaphors related to this. How each of us comes into the world in different circumstances with unique relationships with our parents and our Father in heaven. How our abilities to communicate our wants and needs evolves.
As Morgan has become more mobile, each time she comes to find me I have a flood of thoughts. Sometimes she crawls all the way to me, whining, especially if I appear to be waiting for her. I love how grateful she is when I come to her rescue and even gives kisses now. I can think of so many instances in my life when I've felt like I was crawling to my Savior seeking relief from a trial, probably a bit whiney. Sometimes I am the approacher and other times He is. Either way, I always know He is there.
Tonight we made a poster for FHE about the Plan of Salvation. Ryan gave this lesson yesterday in Sunday School so I thought it was perfect timing to make it into an art project for the boys. I know I'm a visual learner and this might hold their attention longer. At the end as we were reviewing it with the boys, Easton said, "Well, I want to make good choices so I end up in the golden place." We've seen a lot of beautiful, ornate palaces lately. Our celestial kingdom was a yellow circle he'd cut out to be a sun. His words have stuck with me and I'm glad we have our poster on the wall to keep the discussion and reminder fresh for a bit. In the end, I'm just so grateful for my understanding of eternal progression, repentance and mercy, and eternal families! Now if I could just get these kids to stop growing up so quickly!
Friday, June 12
The Prowler
Ahhh, McLay enjoying a nice picnic lunch in the park at Ludwigsburg Palace. [Que the theme music from "Jaws."]
Morgan is on a mission.
Introducing the Prowler and her usual victim. This pretty well describes many of McKay and Morgan's interactions.
Mom fixed it and Morgan is off on her next adventure . . . or is she?
What, Mom? You talkin' to me?
Soooo, whatcha got there, big brother? Wanna share? (ie. the diplomatic approach)
Huh? You wanna share?
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. Hmmm, this is different, refreshing but I can't quite put my finger on it. . .
Let's take a better look at what we've got here . . .
Now back to business.
Monday, June 8
Where Am I?!!!
I'm not really a techie, by I married a guy who loves gadgets and gets a hankering for a new one at least once a year. A couple years ago when Ryan ran his first marathon, his bosses gave him a brand new iphone. We've grown quite accustomed to this gadget and I've coveted it for quite some time now, although I'm not a huge phone user. It's all about the features!!!
I took that first new iphone on my birthday day out back in 2007. I think I posted about it. I used that phone to call and check in with Ryan. I took pics with it on my shopping spree of things for our house that I liked but didn't want to buy without knowing Ryan's opinion. I remember using the internet function to check prices on a few items. I was in heaven, not only because I was a free woman for a day, but that was one useful gadget! Here in Germany, I use the unit conversion, map, and weather tools a lot when it's around.
Ryan and I just saw a news clip about a new compass feature on newer iphones! A map lover, I have always loved how many cars have your direction on the dash somewhere. I don't know what it is about being in Europe but I can't seem to get my bearings! I continually feel like I've surfaced from a metro stop in New York or DC. It's very disconcerting!!! I've always kinda prided myself on my sense of direction and use of the sun to get my bearings. I have to wonder if I've always lived in homes that primarily faced either north, south, east or west. Or is it how most US zoning for home building is done? Here in Germany, our apartment faces northeast which really throws me off. Growing up, the house faced north. I spent my college years in Utah and with those gorgeous Wasatch mountains in the east, you always knew where you were. Our town home in Virginia faced east and I loved having the morning sun in the kitchen, but once I hit the roads I was easily lost since streets change names and wind around this way and that.
I know my Dad will enjoy this next statement. It seems the further East I go, the worse my sense of direction becomes. I don't mean this as some large metaphor, it's all about that internal, literal compass. Does anyone else feel their internal compass is out of whack? Is it a post-pregnancy thing? Perhaps shell shock from our quick move so close to just having a baby? Or is it just that the perfect North-South grid layout of my youth set me up for disorientation in the wider world? I don't get it because Ryan's sense of direction doesn't seem to have been affected.
I'm telling ya, that new compass feature along with dropping the price really are silly selling points for me! Now I just wish the service plans were more affordable AND that these European versions allowed the web functions to work continent-wide since we're in travel mode! In my perfect world . . .
I took that first new iphone on my birthday day out back in 2007. I think I posted about it. I used that phone to call and check in with Ryan. I took pics with it on my shopping spree of things for our house that I liked but didn't want to buy without knowing Ryan's opinion. I remember using the internet function to check prices on a few items. I was in heaven, not only because I was a free woman for a day, but that was one useful gadget! Here in Germany, I use the unit conversion, map, and weather tools a lot when it's around.
Ryan and I just saw a news clip about a new compass feature on newer iphones! A map lover, I have always loved how many cars have your direction on the dash somewhere. I don't know what it is about being in Europe but I can't seem to get my bearings! I continually feel like I've surfaced from a metro stop in New York or DC. It's very disconcerting!!! I've always kinda prided myself on my sense of direction and use of the sun to get my bearings. I have to wonder if I've always lived in homes that primarily faced either north, south, east or west. Or is it how most US zoning for home building is done? Here in Germany, our apartment faces northeast which really throws me off. Growing up, the house faced north. I spent my college years in Utah and with those gorgeous Wasatch mountains in the east, you always knew where you were. Our town home in Virginia faced east and I loved having the morning sun in the kitchen, but once I hit the roads I was easily lost since streets change names and wind around this way and that.
I know my Dad will enjoy this next statement. It seems the further East I go, the worse my sense of direction becomes. I don't mean this as some large metaphor, it's all about that internal, literal compass. Does anyone else feel their internal compass is out of whack? Is it a post-pregnancy thing? Perhaps shell shock from our quick move so close to just having a baby? Or is it just that the perfect North-South grid layout of my youth set me up for disorientation in the wider world? I don't get it because Ryan's sense of direction doesn't seem to have been affected.
I'm telling ya, that new compass feature along with dropping the price really are silly selling points for me! Now I just wish the service plans were more affordable AND that these European versions allowed the web functions to work continent-wide since we're in travel mode! In my perfect world . . .
Home Again, Home Again, Jittity-Jig
The kids and I in Versailles' Hall of Mirrors
We rolled into town around 5pm tonight, officially concluding our family trip to Paris. Our maiden voyage as an entire family in the minivan! Well, I mean as in a long distance trip anyhow - about six hours. I'm sold! The kid's had their dvd player in the back watching a Scooby Doo flick over and over while Ryan listened to Angels and Demons. I was in and out as usual, but loved having the option of sitting next to Morgan to feed or entertain her or sit up front with Ryan. I'm all about options!
I think that Morgan was the happiest to be home! She spent two hours surveying her stomping grounds on the homefront, literally not caring where I was. When I rolled up the roulunds (exterior window blinds) in the playroom, she actually squealed with delight and crawled her little bug of a self on in. Ryan and Easton headed off to catch the last showing of "UP" on base as promised while McKay continued his nap in bed. We really wear our kids out on these trips trying to see as much as we can with late nights! I started unpacking and doing laundry, listening to a new audiobook, and then viewing our trip's pictures.
It'll take a bit of time to sift through the 550+ pictures, but I have finished writing up yesterday at the Louvre and just need to attach pictures which is my least favorite chore when posting. ARGH, it just takes so long to upload and place them!!! I'm so sad to realize we ever got a picture of all of us together. I was able to jot down memories of our entire trip last night when Ryan called his mom. They'd made a trip to France last fall and Ryan was just like a little kid reporting on a fun day at school!
Our accommodations were very basic, a studio apartment on the Champs Elysees, close to the Arc de Triumph. I must say we're sold on the VRBO site forever now. It's worldwide Vacation Rentals By Owners at vrbo.com. Here's Morgan enjoying the fresh air out our windows after somehow navigating the sheer curtain. Traveling with a young family is so much easier and cheaper when you have your own kitchen and laundry! And we've usually found it to be cheaper than staying at hotels. This place was small, but considering we only slept and ate breakfast there before heading out from 9ish-midnight typically.
We lucked out once again with the weather! I can't get over how much cooler Europe's weather is! I can't remember the last time I needed a jacket every day in JUNE!!! Ah well, I'm not complaining since I'm not a fan of being hot. Good thing I remembered the sunscreen! Even with it, we all had nice sun-kissed faces which looks real cute on my lil ones and my man.
Alright, posts with pics are coming - I promise! Stay tuned!
We rolled into town around 5pm tonight, officially concluding our family trip to Paris. Our maiden voyage as an entire family in the minivan! Well, I mean as in a long distance trip anyhow - about six hours. I'm sold! The kid's had their dvd player in the back watching a Scooby Doo flick over and over while Ryan listened to Angels and Demons. I was in and out as usual, but loved having the option of sitting next to Morgan to feed or entertain her or sit up front with Ryan. I'm all about options!
I think that Morgan was the happiest to be home! She spent two hours surveying her stomping grounds on the homefront, literally not caring where I was. When I rolled up the roulunds (exterior window blinds) in the playroom, she actually squealed with delight and crawled her little bug of a self on in. Ryan and Easton headed off to catch the last showing of "UP" on base as promised while McKay continued his nap in bed. We really wear our kids out on these trips trying to see as much as we can with late nights! I started unpacking and doing laundry, listening to a new audiobook, and then viewing our trip's pictures.
It'll take a bit of time to sift through the 550+ pictures, but I have finished writing up yesterday at the Louvre and just need to attach pictures which is my least favorite chore when posting. ARGH, it just takes so long to upload and place them!!! I'm so sad to realize we ever got a picture of all of us together. I was able to jot down memories of our entire trip last night when Ryan called his mom. They'd made a trip to France last fall and Ryan was just like a little kid reporting on a fun day at school!
Our accommodations were very basic, a studio apartment on the Champs Elysees, close to the Arc de Triumph. I must say we're sold on the VRBO site forever now. It's worldwide Vacation Rentals By Owners at vrbo.com. Here's Morgan enjoying the fresh air out our windows after somehow navigating the sheer curtain. Traveling with a young family is so much easier and cheaper when you have your own kitchen and laundry! And we've usually found it to be cheaper than staying at hotels. This place was small, but considering we only slept and ate breakfast there before heading out from 9ish-midnight typically.We lucked out once again with the weather! I can't get over how much cooler Europe's weather is! I can't remember the last time I needed a jacket every day in JUNE!!! Ah well, I'm not complaining since I'm not a fan of being hot. Good thing I remembered the sunscreen! Even with it, we all had nice sun-kissed faces which looks real cute on my lil ones and my man.
Alright, posts with pics are coming - I promise! Stay tuned!
Sunday, June 7
Louvre Logistics
I wondered how our kids would fare in the Louvre, did you? (Internal groan.) How long would they last? (Big sigh.) How could we possibly bribe them in order to see what we wanted to see? (Heart palpitations.) Would certain areas be closed for Michelle Obama and her daughters coming through? (Anxiety mounting.)
The first Sunday of every month, most museums in Paris are free. We had hoped to get two in today - the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay (famous impressionists like Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne) . . . but after the Louvre, a beyond-horrific diaper blowout, lack of sufficient wipes for said disaster, and impending rain caused us forgo the Orsay and head back to the apartment. I'm sure you understand.
We did take a scenic, unrushed walk back including some feeding and chasing of pigeons and ducks and watching the mini-sailboats in the Jardin de'Tuileries. None of us are bummed. Ryan got to watch the final two sets of the French open before taking a nap. McKay was already sacked out in the stroller but in need of a bath for the aforementioned reason. Morgan was soon napping after a bottle. Easton was only too happy to enjoy popcorn and hot chocolate with Ryan and myself before getting to play a game on Ryan's iphone, and I thought it was a nice break and a chance to collect my memories of this trip. The impressionists will have to be devoured on another trip. One museum a day is quite enough for us at this stage of the game!
Ryan and I each had a few things we really wanted to see and saw others on our audio tour. We opted for the "45 minute" Masterpieces tour plus some other side trips before, in the midst of, and after. In all, we spent three hours there. I feel pleased with what we accomplished but know we barely even scratched the surface of all there is to absorb. It pretty much parallels my feeling about most endeavors I have in this stage of young motherhood. So much in the world I'd love to absorb and learn, but now isn't exactly the right season.
Here's how we survived.
CONTAINMENT
Containment of our wandering, chasing, climbing crew is paramount! This crash course of a couple hours in the world's largest museum on free Sunday just wasn't the right time to instill a love of the arts in my children. On a couple occasions I did point out some details to Easton who was semi-interested, like the massive "Napolean's Coronation by David." I would actually really enjoy detailed trips to the Louvre to study these masterpieces, without children.
We stuck the boys in the stroller, strapped Morgan to me in the BabyBjorn, picked up our audio guides, hit the bathrooms and finally after that 45 minutes, we were off!
We felt pretty good about our strategy and it worked well. Well, it worked well until we had to navigate this tricky spot around Winged Victory which is surrounded on all sides by sets of stairs and crowds of people on each landing. Ryan came up with a plan. He went and took his gander first while I entertained the children and then I got my turn - uninterrupted by needy little ones. Then we tackled the stairs and landings all together on our way to the next site which meant going past the "Winged Victory" and up to the next landing. Man was it warm in the Louvre today! ARGH!
When we have to do stairs, we have the boys hop out and Ryan hefts the back while I heft the front. Our dear double stroller is pretty heavily loaded down with our needs for the day - snacks; lunch; waters; umbrellas; jackets; sanitation essentials; Morgan's fare of bottles, cereal, and baby food; passports; extra clothes; travel guide; maps; first aid kit and drugs . . . no wonder it takes almost three hours from waking up to make it out the door! I'd do more the night before, but we never get in until midnight so we all just crash.
Back to my story. The boys followed us up the stairs to the WV landing and amongst the crowd and our load, Ryan and I both lost site of McKay for a moment. In horror, we realized McKay was climbing on the edge of the WV! We pull him off and are in the process of scolding him when we see Easton doing the same! This is why containment is necessary! I mistakenly directed us up to the wrong landing and we had to go by the WV once again - down and then up again. You can be sure we had eagle eyes on the boys and they knew it!
APPEASE
Thanks to my personal assistant, the cheapo, ugly but highly functional marathon Timex, I started them with a couple gummy letters every five minutes until Ryan and I just started handing them out on demand so we could finish the audio commentaries. I hate placating whiners, but we're talking survival instincts here, folks!
THREATEN
When all resources (candy and water) have been exhausted, we had to pull the movie card. Ryan promised the boys that if they behaved well on this trip he would take them to see the new 3D "UP" movie at the theater on base tomorrow. Easton has been real excited about this which means McKay thinks it's a pretty good thing too. I can remember at least twice when this card was played today which really isn't too bad in the large scheme of things.
We all survived and enjoyed the gardens afterward, especially the little sailboats in a big fountain.
The first Sunday of every month, most museums in Paris are free. We had hoped to get two in today - the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay (famous impressionists like Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne) . . . but after the Louvre, a beyond-horrific diaper blowout, lack of sufficient wipes for said disaster, and impending rain caused us forgo the Orsay and head back to the apartment. I'm sure you understand.
We did take a scenic, unrushed walk back including some feeding and chasing of pigeons and ducks and watching the mini-sailboats in the Jardin de'Tuileries. None of us are bummed. Ryan got to watch the final two sets of the French open before taking a nap. McKay was already sacked out in the stroller but in need of a bath for the aforementioned reason. Morgan was soon napping after a bottle. Easton was only too happy to enjoy popcorn and hot chocolate with Ryan and myself before getting to play a game on Ryan's iphone, and I thought it was a nice break and a chance to collect my memories of this trip. The impressionists will have to be devoured on another trip. One museum a day is quite enough for us at this stage of the game!
Ryan and I each had a few things we really wanted to see and saw others on our audio tour. We opted for the "45 minute" Masterpieces tour plus some other side trips before, in the midst of, and after. In all, we spent three hours there. I feel pleased with what we accomplished but know we barely even scratched the surface of all there is to absorb. It pretty much parallels my feeling about most endeavors I have in this stage of young motherhood. So much in the world I'd love to absorb and learn, but now isn't exactly the right season.
Here's how we survived.
CONTAINMENT
Containment of our wandering, chasing, climbing crew is paramount! This crash course of a couple hours in the world's largest museum on free Sunday just wasn't the right time to instill a love of the arts in my children. On a couple occasions I did point out some details to Easton who was semi-interested, like the massive "Napolean's Coronation by David." I would actually really enjoy detailed trips to the Louvre to study these masterpieces, without children.
We stuck the boys in the stroller, strapped Morgan to me in the BabyBjorn, picked up our audio guides, hit the bathrooms and finally after that 45 minutes, we were off!
We felt pretty good about our strategy and it worked well. Well, it worked well until we had to navigate this tricky spot around Winged Victory which is surrounded on all sides by sets of stairs and crowds of people on each landing. Ryan came up with a plan. He went and took his gander first while I entertained the children and then I got my turn - uninterrupted by needy little ones. Then we tackled the stairs and landings all together on our way to the next site which meant going past the "Winged Victory" and up to the next landing. Man was it warm in the Louvre today! ARGH!
When we have to do stairs, we have the boys hop out and Ryan hefts the back while I heft the front. Our dear double stroller is pretty heavily loaded down with our needs for the day - snacks; lunch; waters; umbrellas; jackets; sanitation essentials; Morgan's fare of bottles, cereal, and baby food; passports; extra clothes; travel guide; maps; first aid kit and drugs . . . no wonder it takes almost three hours from waking up to make it out the door! I'd do more the night before, but we never get in until midnight so we all just crash.
Back to my story. The boys followed us up the stairs to the WV landing and amongst the crowd and our load, Ryan and I both lost site of McKay for a moment. In horror, we realized McKay was climbing on the edge of the WV! We pull him off and are in the process of scolding him when we see Easton doing the same! This is why containment is necessary! I mistakenly directed us up to the wrong landing and we had to go by the WV once again - down and then up again. You can be sure we had eagle eyes on the boys and they knew it!
APPEASE
Thanks to my personal assistant, the cheapo, ugly but highly functional marathon Timex, I started them with a couple gummy letters every five minutes until Ryan and I just started handing them out on demand so we could finish the audio commentaries. I hate placating whiners, but we're talking survival instincts here, folks!
THREATEN
When all resources (candy and water) have been exhausted, we had to pull the movie card. Ryan promised the boys that if they behaved well on this trip he would take them to see the new 3D "UP" movie at the theater on base tomorrow. Easton has been real excited about this which means McKay thinks it's a pretty good thing too. I can remember at least twice when this card was played today which really isn't too bad in the large scheme of things.
We all survived and enjoyed the gardens afterward, especially the little sailboats in a big fountain.
Saturday, June 6
When in Paris, do as the . . . Obamas do?
Ever had to plan your vacation around what the Obamas were up to? We're in Paris for the weekend and have run into the security barricades and motorcade each evening. We actually had to get online tonight to make sure we could avoid the hassle on our last day and not be thwarted in our plans. See link to see what they're up to this weekend. We had planned to do the Louvre tomorrow, now we know to go early!
Tuesday, June 2
Sleepless in Stuttgart
A note: This was written last Wednesday before our Paris trip where complete exhaustion from tromping all over the City of Lights with children made uninterrupted sleep a non-issue.
Day three of three hours or less sleep per night. This is not good. Here I sit on one of the kids' bean bags in the kids playroom at 5:45am. I have been awake since 2:30 and just now gave up the fight for sleep.
This fretful night I got the full onslaught of nature's call, leg cramps, hungry Morgan all one after the other between midnight and 2:30am. There's currently more than three post-it notes brimming with scribbles so I could "let go" and try to catch some zzzzz's. I was close to sleep at 4am when Easton woke up having wet the bed. Fabulous.
I tried reading which almost worked, although I'm to the part of "Life of Elizabeth I" where Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots is finally beheaded for decades of plotting against Queen Elizabeth. As I was dozing off, I turned off the lamp and closed my book which activated my brain. Oh why couldn't I just let myself doze off?!!! Then Ryan started snoring due to allergies and the game was up.
So what keeps me awake once I'm awake? Manic brain activity. I think of things to add to my To Do lists. Errands to run. Stuff around the house I want to conquer and how like an herb garden and more flowers, better filing system, clutter free drawers, fix the plugged-up kitchen sink, what to pack for Paris trip tomorrow! Stuff I'd love to blog about because I'm having clarity on a topic or two, or seven but I know my time today will be all too finite.
I think the greatest amount of my thoughts which also produces the most anxiety is how my mind drifts from person to person I know and love. People I really want to call or email to let them know I'm thinking of them, admire them, love them, have burning questions relating to their awesomeness. My parents, grandparents, other relatives, Ryan's family, old friends, new friends, personal notes I want to write to my kids or about my kids.
I think a lot about each of my brothers and sisters and their spouses. I want to know what they're up to because I love them so much and think of each of them daily. I'm so glad a few have blogs now and with Matt soon to go on a mission to BRAZIL, that means regular email updates from my folks! YAHOO!!! I'm so sad I'm going to miss Nick's wedding in August!!! Take a look at these family pictures: 2001, 2006 Reid family reunion, and last summer 2008 at the double reception for Brooks & John and Ben & Elizabeth. Man, we've grown!
Ben was on his mission, but compare it with last summer!
We're all getting so growed up, it's amazing and so exciting to me! Soon six of us ten will be married! Chad and I both have three kids a piece now . . . anyone besides Chris and Tricia adding to the Bare Bunch??? Married college kids, a missionary, high school busy bees. I often think of where each of my siblings are in their lives, what I was doing/thinking/being challenged by at that time in my life, and what they might be up to now. Stop keeping me awake guys! Sheesh!
But someone I've thought of almost every day for months and months and months now is my Grandpa Bob. He's probably the smartest person I'm directly related to. I always want to ask him his opinion on this whole economic crisis although I don't even feel like I grasp it enough to ask the questions that will satisfy my desire to understand his wisdom. Since I listened to James Bradley's two books "Fly Boys" and "Flags of our Fathers", I've had so many questions I'd love to ask about this chapter in his life and how the WWII era affected him then and shaped him into who he has become. I'd like to know what it was like to live in DC around the Watergate era. I want to sit around and hear him talk about our family history work he has done so much of. How all the technology, politics, culture and what not have changed over the years and what he thinks about it all. The life he's lived has seen so many advancements and decay, I find it intriguing!
I want to say how much I love and admire who he is and how he is caring for the love of his life, my Grandma Honey. She doesn't quite know who he is all the time anymore which has made for some cute stories mom has told me of their conversations. How would it be to go through this? Ryan and I hope we're there for each other like this as we grow old together. Most of my favorite childhood vacation memories are of our visits to Tillamook. It will be a sad day when they leave that house of dreams (for a grand-daughter who doesn't have to keep it up and running), but I haven't been able to visit in forever and so much there has changed.
The memories will last forever and I'm so grateful for them! The tree swings, playing dress-up in the garage with cousins, walking to the bridge beyond the cow pastures, our salamander circus, forts in the woods, visits to great grandma Reid's picking berries or looking for beaver dams, being beaten at every board game by Grandpa Bob, driving to town in the Mercedes to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream, 4th of July fireworks on the beach, clam digging early in the morning - - it was so idyllic! Good thing I never really ran away from home because I would have landed on their door just begging to live on the porch. Don't worry, I'd have shared with the raccoons.
I love you, Grandpa Bob! Wish I could join everyone headed your way for the 4th of July!
Day three of three hours or less sleep per night. This is not good. Here I sit on one of the kids' bean bags in the kids playroom at 5:45am. I have been awake since 2:30 and just now gave up the fight for sleep.
This fretful night I got the full onslaught of nature's call, leg cramps, hungry Morgan all one after the other between midnight and 2:30am. There's currently more than three post-it notes brimming with scribbles so I could "let go" and try to catch some zzzzz's. I was close to sleep at 4am when Easton woke up having wet the bed. Fabulous.
I tried reading which almost worked, although I'm to the part of "Life of Elizabeth I" where Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots is finally beheaded for decades of plotting against Queen Elizabeth. As I was dozing off, I turned off the lamp and closed my book which activated my brain. Oh why couldn't I just let myself doze off?!!! Then Ryan started snoring due to allergies and the game was up.
So what keeps me awake once I'm awake? Manic brain activity. I think of things to add to my To Do lists. Errands to run. Stuff around the house I want to conquer and how like an herb garden and more flowers, better filing system, clutter free drawers, fix the plugged-up kitchen sink, what to pack for Paris trip tomorrow! Stuff I'd love to blog about because I'm having clarity on a topic or two, or seven but I know my time today will be all too finite.
I think the greatest amount of my thoughts which also produces the most anxiety is how my mind drifts from person to person I know and love. People I really want to call or email to let them know I'm thinking of them, admire them, love them, have burning questions relating to their awesomeness. My parents, grandparents, other relatives, Ryan's family, old friends, new friends, personal notes I want to write to my kids or about my kids.
I think a lot about each of my brothers and sisters and their spouses. I want to know what they're up to because I love them so much and think of each of them daily. I'm so glad a few have blogs now and with Matt soon to go on a mission to BRAZIL, that means regular email updates from my folks! YAHOO!!! I'm so sad I'm going to miss Nick's wedding in August!!! Take a look at these family pictures: 2001, 2006 Reid family reunion, and last summer 2008 at the double reception for Brooks & John and Ben & Elizabeth. Man, we've grown!
Ben was on his mission, but compare it with last summer!
We're all getting so growed up, it's amazing and so exciting to me! Soon six of us ten will be married! Chad and I both have three kids a piece now . . . anyone besides Chris and Tricia adding to the Bare Bunch??? Married college kids, a missionary, high school busy bees. I often think of where each of my siblings are in their lives, what I was doing/thinking/being challenged by at that time in my life, and what they might be up to now. Stop keeping me awake guys! Sheesh!
But someone I've thought of almost every day for months and months and months now is my Grandpa Bob. He's probably the smartest person I'm directly related to. I always want to ask him his opinion on this whole economic crisis although I don't even feel like I grasp it enough to ask the questions that will satisfy my desire to understand his wisdom. Since I listened to James Bradley's two books "Fly Boys" and "Flags of our Fathers", I've had so many questions I'd love to ask about this chapter in his life and how the WWII era affected him then and shaped him into who he has become. I'd like to know what it was like to live in DC around the Watergate era. I want to sit around and hear him talk about our family history work he has done so much of. How all the technology, politics, culture and what not have changed over the years and what he thinks about it all. The life he's lived has seen so many advancements and decay, I find it intriguing!
I want to say how much I love and admire who he is and how he is caring for the love of his life, my Grandma Honey. She doesn't quite know who he is all the time anymore which has made for some cute stories mom has told me of their conversations. How would it be to go through this? Ryan and I hope we're there for each other like this as we grow old together. Most of my favorite childhood vacation memories are of our visits to Tillamook. It will be a sad day when they leave that house of dreams (for a grand-daughter who doesn't have to keep it up and running), but I haven't been able to visit in forever and so much there has changed.The memories will last forever and I'm so grateful for them! The tree swings, playing dress-up in the garage with cousins, walking to the bridge beyond the cow pastures, our salamander circus, forts in the woods, visits to great grandma Reid's picking berries or looking for beaver dams, being beaten at every board game by Grandpa Bob, driving to town in the Mercedes to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream, 4th of July fireworks on the beach, clam digging early in the morning - - it was so idyllic! Good thing I never really ran away from home because I would have landed on their door just begging to live on the porch. Don't worry, I'd have shared with the raccoons.
I love you, Grandpa Bob! Wish I could join everyone headed your way for the 4th of July!
Monday, June 1
Better Expressed by Others
A few other blog posts I've read recently that beautifully express thoughts or feelings I keep meaning to blog about but they expressed it so well I'd rather you read theirs. Just click on the title to read them. I don't know any of these three LDS women, but appreciate how they are able to express their adventures in motherhood with the light of the gospel.
The Hourglass Theory
This speaks to thoughts I've had over the years about the time old questions of When Does Life Begin and End here on earth? A great read by one of my favorite bloggers.
So, Are You Done?
Ryan and I both don't think so and are very happy with that. I found this post today after a couple months of feeling strongly we're not done, but I share her perspectives on wanting to be a mom and how I think I will know when we're done. I've been wanting to blog about this feeling, but she did a great job and saved me the effort! I don't know her but liked her posts this month - she could be a kindred soul I've never met.
Before I read this, I'd been talking about this with my mom, wondering when she knew she was done after ten kids since she originally thought five sounded about right. She told me a story I hadn't heard her tell before. Much before most of kids were born, she was with my Aunt Linda who is married to my dad's brother, cute Uncle Danny. Aunt Linda had asked mom a question about the church and members having large families. Mom amusedly replied with something like,"It's not like we each have to have ten kids!" And in that moment, she said she just had this gut feeling like she'd sealed her fate or at least been given a personal little confirmation! Oh my lands!!! Still giggling over that one, Mom!
The Labor
Expressed exactly how I feel about labor and my sheer admiration for women who endure it! Great description, not too gory, but beautiful.
The Essence
How can we embrace our role as nurturers and still pursue our personal goals? Her last question, but the one that's had me thinking A LOT, can ya tell?!
Enjoy!
The Hourglass Theory
This speaks to thoughts I've had over the years about the time old questions of When Does Life Begin and End here on earth? A great read by one of my favorite bloggers.
So, Are You Done?
Ryan and I both don't think so and are very happy with that. I found this post today after a couple months of feeling strongly we're not done, but I share her perspectives on wanting to be a mom and how I think I will know when we're done. I've been wanting to blog about this feeling, but she did a great job and saved me the effort! I don't know her but liked her posts this month - she could be a kindred soul I've never met.
Before I read this, I'd been talking about this with my mom, wondering when she knew she was done after ten kids since she originally thought five sounded about right. She told me a story I hadn't heard her tell before. Much before most of kids were born, she was with my Aunt Linda who is married to my dad's brother, cute Uncle Danny. Aunt Linda had asked mom a question about the church and members having large families. Mom amusedly replied with something like,"It's not like we each have to have ten kids!" And in that moment, she said she just had this gut feeling like she'd sealed her fate or at least been given a personal little confirmation! Oh my lands!!! Still giggling over that one, Mom!
The Labor
Expressed exactly how I feel about labor and my sheer admiration for women who endure it! Great description, not too gory, but beautiful.
The Essence
How can we embrace our role as nurturers and still pursue our personal goals? Her last question, but the one that's had me thinking A LOT, can ya tell?!
Enjoy!
TIME for a Schedule
So I’m having trouble sleeping lately – usually after 3:30am. A child wetting the bed, waking up scared of the dark, or Morgan’s midnight hunger and then I’m awake and can’t shut off my brain. I can’t tell if it’s due to the current round of steroids treating my ulcerative colitis flare or Heavenly Father’s way of helping this mom get a little bit more quiet time to conquer life’s challenges. A combo of the two I’m thinking!
The stuff swirling around in my brain was things that I wanted to add to lists: groceries, errands to run, things to research online, goals I wanted to accomplish. This happens to me a lot during the day while buzzing around chasing kids or doing chores. If I don’t write it down as I think of it, it just won’t happen. Writing it down doesn’t mean it will happen, but it increases the likelihood. These recent early mornings this past week have been pretty wonderful actually because it’s felt like an outpouring of Heavenly Father’s love for me and our family as I pull this head of mine together.
As a side note, I’m currently teaching Sunday School to the 10 and 11 year olds right now and I love that we are learning about the revelations in the Doctrine & Covenants. Many of these revelations as the church was being restored were in direct response to prayerfully studied questions and concerns the prophet or others had as they desired to do the Lord’s will. As we study the Doctrine & Covenants, I am continually impressed with and feel the need to point out and discuss how often the Lord answers our inner-most questions and concerns. The Lord was regularly answering the needs of the Saints then and I know He still does today through the prophet on behalf of the church as well as He does for each of us to help ourselves and our families. I can’t even express how grateful I am for this!
So what have I been working on in the wee hours of the morning you might ask? Besides the fabulous bonus of being able to personally welcome each of my munchkins to a bright new day (light by 5:30) with a lot of snuggling? Ah, sweet joy! Morgan always gets this because she requires her morning bottle, but the boys seem to be enjoying this a lot and I admit it helps me start the day loving them more and being a better mom – at least until 1pm when I really need a nap or at least a Tylenol for the tired headache!
The Schedule
There’s a new daily/week schedule on the fridge for me and the boys. I was talking to my mom a few weeks ago and she’d made a list of everything she wanted to accomplish each day - even the most routine and basic items were listed. When you write it all down, it really is amazing how many tasks each day your cup runneth over with! I’ve been mulling it over and I had a few goals that knit together in my brain at 4am Saturday morning until I had to get up and write them down in hopes that I could then go back to sleep.
Last October, Elder Bednar spoke about a concept I’ve been thinking a lot about in connection to a book I read in January, Merilee Boyack’s “Parenting Breakthrough: A Real-Life Plan to Teach Kids to Work, Save Money, and Be Truly Independent.” She advocates writing out a family plan so you can do the work over the years toward your desired outcome of self-sufficient, happy, grown children. There were many ideas I wanted to incorporate into our family but I’ve struggled with how. I decided I needed our plan written and broken down as a daily, weekly schedule for me and our boys to see and use.
Elder Bednar’s talk is entitled “Pray Always” and I totally recommend it if you want to up your game in the prayer department and make it more meaningful. But I liked how this section of the talk is helping me focus my prayers and efforts through the day with the newly posted Schedule.
From the talk:
“In The third chapter of the book of Moses we learn that all things were created spiritually before they were naturally upon the earth. And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were created, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth” (Moses 3:4–5).
"We learn from these verses that the spiritual creation preceded the temporal creation. In a similar way, meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day. Just as the temporal creation was linked to and a continuation of the spiritual creation, so meaningful morning and evening prayers are linked to and are a continuation of each other.”
Guiding me on Saturday were the following desired outcomes:
- Train my slaves . . . er, I mean teach the boys basic cleaning skills and incorporate them into a predictable daily routine of independence and contributing to our family
- Stop letting housework haunt me, filling me with contempt for my housekeeping role and those makers of messes, large and small
- Make better use of free moments to accomplish goals
- Take more opportunities each day to teach my kids life skills and the gospel
Hopefully having our one page Schedule will “free my mind, and the rest will follow.” Can you name the random song these lyrics are from? I am proud to report that the said schedule is now printed and posted on the fridge. This is a big deal since I’m great at letting the ideas flow, but to get it printed and posted is akin to me getting things in the mail - an inherited, somewhat universal challenge for me. (Even at this moment, I have no idea if we even have stamps in the house! German or USPS. Add to the errand list.)
As I write this, I already need to print a new Schedule with more of my goals better defined. It’s now 10am on day 1 of our new Schedule and nothing has been started. I just put some Cheerios on the newly swept floor for Morgan to buy me a couple more minutes to finish this. I'm such a great mom! Now she's got a Cheerio hanging from her lip by the snot flowing from her nose. Teething or cold, I'll never know. Glad I gave you that visual? I've got Mother of the Year all wrapped up!
There’s no school today so I’ve got plenty of time to begin my day, right? Besides, journaling this process is important and I feel it’s been a good use of my morning even if it wasn’t on the Schedule! I’ve always resisted having a schedule because I love a laid back life not running here and there, creating busy-ness. I knew that our life would become busier as the kids got older and had activities, so I’ve tried to stave it off as long as possible. But with Easton starting school in the fall and McKay starting to go to kindergarten with Easton this week, it’s time. Time to make better use of my greatest gift – TIME. Anyone hearing a Mormon ad with a roll of the eyes or a faint half smile? "Family . . . isn't it about, Time?" Sorry, couldn't help it! If ya wanna see the Schedule, post a comment or email me and I'll send it on. It's nothing fancy, but I hope it works!
The stuff swirling around in my brain was things that I wanted to add to lists: groceries, errands to run, things to research online, goals I wanted to accomplish. This happens to me a lot during the day while buzzing around chasing kids or doing chores. If I don’t write it down as I think of it, it just won’t happen. Writing it down doesn’t mean it will happen, but it increases the likelihood. These recent early mornings this past week have been pretty wonderful actually because it’s felt like an outpouring of Heavenly Father’s love for me and our family as I pull this head of mine together.
As a side note, I’m currently teaching Sunday School to the 10 and 11 year olds right now and I love that we are learning about the revelations in the Doctrine & Covenants. Many of these revelations as the church was being restored were in direct response to prayerfully studied questions and concerns the prophet or others had as they desired to do the Lord’s will. As we study the Doctrine & Covenants, I am continually impressed with and feel the need to point out and discuss how often the Lord answers our inner-most questions and concerns. The Lord was regularly answering the needs of the Saints then and I know He still does today through the prophet on behalf of the church as well as He does for each of us to help ourselves and our families. I can’t even express how grateful I am for this!
So what have I been working on in the wee hours of the morning you might ask? Besides the fabulous bonus of being able to personally welcome each of my munchkins to a bright new day (light by 5:30) with a lot of snuggling? Ah, sweet joy! Morgan always gets this because she requires her morning bottle, but the boys seem to be enjoying this a lot and I admit it helps me start the day loving them more and being a better mom – at least until 1pm when I really need a nap or at least a Tylenol for the tired headache!
The Schedule
There’s a new daily/week schedule on the fridge for me and the boys. I was talking to my mom a few weeks ago and she’d made a list of everything she wanted to accomplish each day - even the most routine and basic items were listed. When you write it all down, it really is amazing how many tasks each day your cup runneth over with! I’ve been mulling it over and I had a few goals that knit together in my brain at 4am Saturday morning until I had to get up and write them down in hopes that I could then go back to sleep.
Last October, Elder Bednar spoke about a concept I’ve been thinking a lot about in connection to a book I read in January, Merilee Boyack’s “Parenting Breakthrough: A Real-Life Plan to Teach Kids to Work, Save Money, and Be Truly Independent.” She advocates writing out a family plan so you can do the work over the years toward your desired outcome of self-sufficient, happy, grown children. There were many ideas I wanted to incorporate into our family but I’ve struggled with how. I decided I needed our plan written and broken down as a daily, weekly schedule for me and our boys to see and use.
Elder Bednar’s talk is entitled “Pray Always” and I totally recommend it if you want to up your game in the prayer department and make it more meaningful. But I liked how this section of the talk is helping me focus my prayers and efforts through the day with the newly posted Schedule.
From the talk:
“In The third chapter of the book of Moses we learn that all things were created spiritually before they were naturally upon the earth. And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were created, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth” (Moses 3:4–5).
"We learn from these verses that the spiritual creation preceded the temporal creation. In a similar way, meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day. Just as the temporal creation was linked to and a continuation of the spiritual creation, so meaningful morning and evening prayers are linked to and are a continuation of each other.”
Guiding me on Saturday were the following desired outcomes:
- Train my slaves . . . er, I mean teach the boys basic cleaning skills and incorporate them into a predictable daily routine of independence and contributing to our family
- Stop letting housework haunt me, filling me with contempt for my housekeeping role and those makers of messes, large and small
- Make better use of free moments to accomplish goals
- Take more opportunities each day to teach my kids life skills and the gospel
Hopefully having our one page Schedule will “free my mind, and the rest will follow.” Can you name the random song these lyrics are from? I am proud to report that the said schedule is now printed and posted on the fridge. This is a big deal since I’m great at letting the ideas flow, but to get it printed and posted is akin to me getting things in the mail - an inherited, somewhat universal challenge for me. (Even at this moment, I have no idea if we even have stamps in the house! German or USPS. Add to the errand list.)
As I write this, I already need to print a new Schedule with more of my goals better defined. It’s now 10am on day 1 of our new Schedule and nothing has been started. I just put some Cheerios on the newly swept floor for Morgan to buy me a couple more minutes to finish this. I'm such a great mom! Now she's got a Cheerio hanging from her lip by the snot flowing from her nose. Teething or cold, I'll never know. Glad I gave you that visual? I've got Mother of the Year all wrapped up!
There’s no school today so I’ve got plenty of time to begin my day, right? Besides, journaling this process is important and I feel it’s been a good use of my morning even if it wasn’t on the Schedule! I’ve always resisted having a schedule because I love a laid back life not running here and there, creating busy-ness. I knew that our life would become busier as the kids got older and had activities, so I’ve tried to stave it off as long as possible. But with Easton starting school in the fall and McKay starting to go to kindergarten with Easton this week, it’s time. Time to make better use of my greatest gift – TIME. Anyone hearing a Mormon ad with a roll of the eyes or a faint half smile? "Family . . . isn't it about, Time?" Sorry, couldn't help it! If ya wanna see the Schedule, post a comment or email me and I'll send it on. It's nothing fancy, but I hope it works!
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