Friday, February 22, 2008

trip within a trip

Michelle, her two boys, Gemma and I went on a three day adventure south to the Alps. The mountains were incredible. There were tons of people there to ski and lots of people shopping and eating in the downtown area near the place we stayed.

This the view of the mountains from the lodge.

We had lunch outside at a little restaurant. Even though it is winter, it wasn't too cold -- in the sun we were actually pretty warm. I had the "Bavarian Lunch Special" -- two big sausages floating in warm water and herbs, with a pretzel and mustard.

I encountered this weird creature in a shop that sold all kinds of different things from cuckoo clocks -- to toys -- to swords. It is called a Wolpertinger and reminded me of when I was a kid and went to Jackson Hole, WY and saw tons of Jackalopes. It is a conglomeration of several animals....How many different types of animals can you see? It was also pretty expensive -- about 210 euro.

Because we wouldn't all fit in a car together (and didn't feel comfortable navigating across the country on our own without Erik) we took the train and then a bus. So we had to pack light since we would be carrying all of our stuff plus three little ones. So that pack on my back, that was REALLY heavy, has all of our clothes (two adults and three kids). Michelle had a backpack with food and diapers and those sorts of things for children, plus she was carrying Jack and pushing Ian in a stroller. It was hard getting on and off the trains -- but so satisfying to do so much on our own with the kids.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

I want pink flowers


Don't be too hasty to judge Dad for this fashion crime. Yes, I am entering the third trimester of my 10-day Mr. Mom adventure, but even without the help of Amy, I am capable of dressing our daughter pretty fashionably. But when it comes to picking pajamas, anything goes. Marlow had a hankering for something pink and floral, and this is how she ended up. :-)

Goodnight Gemma


Amy sent me this sweet goodnight snapshot of Gemma and a quick note just before putting her to bed. Due to the 6 hour time difference between here and Germany, it is pretty much impossible for us to video chat during the week. So we wait patiently for Saturday to come so we can video chat in the middle of our day... and we try not to think about how long they've been gone or how many hours are left until we pick them up from the airport Sunday night. I miss you guys tons!

Monday, February 18, 2008

My Sweet Little Boy

Eliot is two. I really like this stage. Sure there is the mischief and defiance that two year olds will forever be stigmatized with, but there is so much good that comes from that age, too. We've been through the two-year old stage 3 times already, but I always tend to forget what happens at which stage until it happens again... Eliot's rapid development of conversational skills has astounded and amused me. I just adore hearing him talk... similar to the fascination some people have with hearing the accent of a Scottish or British person.

I like the way he helps himself to a snack from the pantry (I know I shouldn't. I know it drives Amy crazy, but it's just so cute.) To his credit, he does ask sometimes... Well, maybe it's not exactly asking... He'll walk up to me with a box of crackers and tilt his head and shrug and say, "I'm gonna have a snack, OK?" He got into an almost empty box of teddy grahams today after church. Marlow discovered his find and demanded that he share. So he gave her one. This sent her crying to me. I said, "Eliot, can you give her five?" He complied and counted 5 out. And I thought "Wait a minute... He knows how to count to 5!?" I didn't even think about it when I asked him, but then it took me by surprise to hear him count them.

Back when his vocabulary was not so advanced (like a couple of weeks ago), as I gave him a final goodnight kiss after singing him some bedtime songs, he said something. I couldn't make it out, so asked him to repeat.... "wi do dar do"... "wi do dar do"... I kept trying to guess and was obviously not getting it. Finally I tried repeating the sound back to him exactly as I heard it. "Wi do dar do?" He brightened up. "Yes!" He was so excited... and then I had to burst his bubble and confess that I still did not know what that was. I was just about to turn around and walk out when it struck me and I let out an "Oh!" that startled the poor boy and made him jump. He was saying "Little star, too." He was asking me to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, too.

When I say goodnight to him, there is this whole crazy ritual that has evolved. This would include such things as the simulation of bed bugs attacking his neck after saying "Night night. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite." (These bed bugs, of course, tickle.) And then me saying "Good night, my sweet little boy" and him sincerely echoing back, "Good night, my sweet daddy."

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Our First Video Chat

Everyone was excited today when they got to not only talk to but SEE Mommy in Germany. I know video chatting is far from new, and you would think that someone who spends all day around computers would surely have used this technology by now, but this was actually my first time. And you know it was pretty cool. Amy said the video quality on her end was pretty bad, but on our end, it was so clear and smooth that the kids soon forgot that she wasn't physically in the room.

For example, Marlow wandered away looking for her balloon which had lost its string. After her granddaddy retrieved it from the ceiling, Marlow came running in saying "Mo-meeee, where's the string? I need some string." as if Amy could just hop up and help her out. And then after a while, Eliot said, "I have idea. Let's play with the train track!" I told him Mommy was busy and asked if I could substitute for her.

I was very disappointed that Gemma had to go to bed before we got the audio set up. When we signed on and had video connection, she was there and looked very excited to see us. Looking forward to trying again later in the week...

Missing her brothers and sister

Michelle, Gemma and I went to a cafe after walking around a nearby village and had a little refreshment. There were several families there with kids around my bigger kids ages and Gemma couldn't take her eyes off of them. They all liked her too, kept smiling at her and talking to their parents about her (in German of course -- I couldn't understand them, but they were looking at her and talking and gesturing so I assumed they were talking about her). At one point a bunch of little boys were playing with some toys on the other side of our booth and Gemma was glued, hanging over the side watching them play.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Navigating

Today Michelle drove me around a bit...it was fun to see some of the area. It was also her first time being the main navigator for a guest. Erik generally drives and knows his way around, but with me and Gemma here, we don't all fit in their car, so Michelle got to navigate today and she did fabulously. We got to all the places we wanted to go and only got turned around a little bit, but found our way pretty quickly. To be completely honest, she really panicked when we got lost, but I told her it would be fine, and then said a little prayer that it actually would be fine.


They have tons of stuff out for Easter already -- lots of beautiful flowers and colored hard boiled eggs. The market was mostly fruits, vegetables, meats and breads, but there were a few vendors with handmade goods too. I bought a little basket from a basket weaver -- his helper was Turkish and spoke a little English and was eager to talk to me.


It was a chilly day, but really nice and sunny. They have had lots of dreary gray days, but today there were lots of people out enjoying the sunshine. It reminded me of how Coolidge Park is when there are art festivals in the spring -- everybody comes out to be out in the beautiful weather and it is special bonus to get to shop for and enjoy cool art.

Amy and Gemma at the busy market

Later we went and had lunch at a cafe they love because of the view of a construction site (the food was good too). They call it The Digger Cafe -- I don't know what it is really named.

I love the bright marble colored eggs. They had really bright yolks too, like the fresh eggs we get from my parents chickens.

At The Digger Cafe

She is being such a good baby, and so friendly to everyone she sees. It is amazing how many people will stop to say hi to a baby. After lunch we did our grocery shopping and then drove to a castle that isn't too far from where they live. We got there just as it had closed, but you could still walk around in the courtyard and around the outside -- you couldn't go up to the tower or look around inside. It was still pretty cool. It reminded me of the Robin Hood cartoon where the Robin character is a fox and Little John is Bear and they go to the castle and break all the people who couldn't pay their taxes out of jail.

I can imagine the wolves with their bows and arrows running along the narrow path above the arch I am under -- trying to catch Robin Hood as he makes off with their prisoners and all the gold. Can you tell I've watched a few too many cartoons? I actually watched that one a lot more as a kid, not as much with my kids.

It was really shaded in the courtyard and I was really cold, but Gemma seemed fine all bundled up in her snuggly wrap.

It is super late here so I'm off to bed. I miss the rest of my crew so much. It is weird to have so many adventures without them -- nearly all of my adventures for the past decade have included Joseph and then the kids as they came along. I am glad to have Gemma though, she is a happy, quiet companion. And of course, it is great being able to devote my attention to my sister and her lovely family. It is something I am not able to do often because my children require so much of my attention, so I am super grateful for the opportunity to spend time with her family in this way.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Sisters and Cousins

I slept in this morning...I guess I still have a bit of jet-lag. We had a relaxing day. Michelle and I went on walk and had fun at the thrift store. We are having fun just sitting around and talking -- we have the wonderful gift of being able to make each other laugh until we are crying. It's fun -- I've really missed spending time with her.

The boys are so sweet to Gemma. Jack will bring interesting toys over to her and then play with them and show her what to do. She's generally too little to do things the right way, but enjoys watching.

We found this fun roller thing at the thrift store today.

Ian LOVES babies. He will walk up and pat her foot if I'm holding her, or say, "baby" and smile at her. He was giving her kisses today and is so gentle with her. Little does he know, she can handle a bit of roughness -- she's used to the bigger kids running around and being crazy.

Sweet Ian. He looks like such a big kid with his short hair cut.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Ice clouds and whatnot

So, I made it....I'm here sitting at Michelle and Erik's computer, in their house -- in Germany. It is weird to be here, and yet seems really normal. It doesn't feel like I flew half way around the world to get here. Many things are familiar -- I recognize a lot of their things that have always decorated Michelle's spaces and it smells like them here. It is the first time I have ever been in a place they call home. It is so nice to be with them and get to play with Jack and Ian.

Gemma did fabulously on the flight here....sleeping almost the entire time. I didn't sleep much though because I was trying to keep an eye on her in her special airline bassinet that she could easily crawl out of if she woke up. When I was at the airport in Chicago I called and talked to Joseph and the kids. I told them about flying through the clouds and getting higher than the clouds so that I could look down on them. Ezra said, "Watch out that you don't fly through an ice cloud." It is confusing learning about weather. They learn that snow and sleet and hail come from clouds....so there are ice clouds right? The boys wonder how a cloud made of ice would float. And I imagine, it sounds pretty dangerous to fly through one. I told him the pilot would be careful.

It isn't an exciting picture to the many people who fly often, but I thought it looked pretty neat and wanted to show it to the kids. It was beautiful watching the sun set over the vast blanket of fluffy white clouds....but it was happening outside the window of the guy across the aisle from me and I didn't want to take a picture of him and the sun setting....so maybe I can get one on my way home.
I'm feeling kind of jet-lagged-dopey so I didn't take many pictures today, but I caught a shot of the sweet nephews who are a bit under the weather. Jack showed me a bunch of his favorite toys and we cooked in his kitchen and read a few books. Ian gave me lots of high fives and let me help him with his dinner.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

broken chairs and carousels


Eliot constantly cracks us up....he didn't seem fazed at all that this chair was broken.


Joseph and our sweet baby. Gemma really likes to play with her tongue and can practically turn it upside down.


Marlow, Eliot, Gemma and I went and met Joseph today for a picnic at the park. After we ate we went for a ride on the carousel. Eliot was a little nervous and wouldn't let me take my hand off of him, so I didn't get a good picture of him riding his horse, Tandem. Joseph's was named Midnight and Marlow's horse was named Moriah -- the same as her one of her cousins! Mo, we'll have to take you to the carosel next time you're in town.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Feist Apple MadTV parody

This has been around for a couple of months, it looks like, but I just found it, and it made me smile. If you are a fan of Feist or MadTV or Apple (despite the markup they slap on their stuff just cuz their stuff is cooler than anybody else's) then you might also enjoy:

CNN, Can you post a duller picture?

I can't help it. I've got to complain about this. Why do pictures like this get posted? Look at it! The only thing noteworthy is that there is absolutely nothing noteworthy about it.

I can think of plenty of other boring voting-day photo subjects that would beat the socks off this one. Maybe a picture that shows a really long line of people... Or a close-up of someone who fell asleep while filling out their ballot... but this? What is this? Come on, CNN!

Yawn!