Holiday - Part I - Disney World

We got in late Saturday after a not-so-easy 9 hour flight and 2 lost carseats. With two sleeping children, we stumbled into the hotel. We would have slept in, perhaps, if Delta had not called at 10pm, midnight and again at 2:30am to let us know the status of our missing carseats. Are you for real Delta??? I would have screamed at the delivery guy if I was SO tired! Andrew was up for good at 2:30am Sunday morning and for those of you that know Andrew - Well, when Andrew is up, the whole house (or in our case, hotel room in our case) is up. He is not a quiet child.

After Sunday, it got easier. How could we stay grumpy when it was 88 degrees outside and sunny? Yeah. October can be kind of dicey with hurricane season, but we lucked out. We hit the hotel pool, complete with cheesy DJ, and dowtown Disney to help get over our jet lag. Then -

Monday. Disney Park #1. ANIMAL KINGDOM

Katie and I got soaked on the Kali River Rapids

Rainforest Cafe

Tuesday and Wednesday. Disney Park #2. MAGIC KINGDOM

The highlight of Katie's Florida vacation was Cinderalla's Royal Feast at the castle. I think it was my favorite park of Disney as well. We had our picture with Cinderella and Ariel, Belle, Aurora, and Snow White came to our table. The food was better than expected and the princesses were wonderful. So true to character.

A classic. The flying Dumbos. And, strangely, the ride we waited in line for the longest. 25 minutes. While Grammy, Katie, Andrew and I waited to ride the Dumbos, Ned walked from Fantasyland to Tomorrowlandm rode Space Mountain, and walked back.

Prince Charmings Royal Carousel

We were disappointed to learn that It's A Small World was closed for renovations but pleasantly surprised that it opened two days earlier than expected. My favorite as a child and still a wonderful ride.

Katie and Grammy in awe

Andrew taking it all in

Adventureland: Swim Family Treehouse
(Don't you just love the matching tees?)

I think it was a tie between the Barnstormer mini roller coaster and Tomorrowland Speedway ride for Andrew. Check this out - what a terrible driver! Luckily for Ned it was on a track, but Andrew still had quite a bit of steering capability!

Ned turned 30-something the second day we were at Magic Kingdom so we stayed for the evening parade and firework display. Well worth it!

Grumps and a worn out Andrew.

Thursday. Disney Park #3. EPCOT

Outside "Apricot" as both Katie and Andrew called EPCOT all day...and thereafter.

Bruce the shark from Finding Nemo

Mexico

Mexico

The kids (all three of them....and me too, actually) loved the "jumping water" outside the Imagination Pavillion. We stayed there for a LONG time laughing great big belly laughs and squealing with anticipation for the water to "jump" again. What fun!

Tokoyo

Pumpkins!

Last fall we were here a total of 4 months (because we left for 7 weeks in the summer) when pumpkin season came around. If you recall, we were not truly successful at finding pumpkins. I settled for the small very expensive ones at the grocery store. This year we found a farm with BIG pumpkins. Great ones for carving!

How many languages can You say "hello" in?

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

The idea came to us (in an IM skype to be precise) very late Friday night. Friends of ours were headed with their two boys to Luxembourg and, on a whim, invited us to tag along. These friends, unfortunately, are only here 6 months. Great people. Really great and our kids love each other. Ned and I figured...why not?? Saturday morning we packed our bags and off we went on yet another exciting European adventure!

For those of you not familiar with Luxembourg (as I wasnt not that long ago either...) Luxembourg is a small country that neighbors Belgium, France, and Germany. It covers less than 1,000 square miles. Small. Very small. Blink and you are through it. It is about a 2 hour drive for us.

It ended up being a great mini getaway. The kids loved hanging out with each other in, as Andrew called it, our new house. aka hotel room. Saturday, we visited downtown and took in the sites via a super adorable train through old city and the park. Breathtaking views. Lots of history, but I was busy making Andrew sit in the moving train. Sunday we went to the most amazing playground I have ever seen (see below) and then to a phenomenal castle.

Luxembourg

The amazing playground...


Me, Katie and Andrew at the top of a climbing tower with a HUGE twist-ie slide

Happy Fall

International Peace Day

Tomorrow is International Peace day and in celebration the children at Katie and Andrew's school have been asked to dress in white. Katie had homework that included coloring a dove and both kids came home Friday with poems and songs about lighting candles and peace. Here are two separate conversations we had on Peace Day:

Sunday night.
Mom: Tuesday is International Peace Day so remind me that you need to wear white to school
Katie: OK, well they will probably have peas to eat and I don't like peas.
Mom: (gets a good laugh)

Monday night.
Mom: Remember, tomorrow is Peace Day at school so I picked out your clothes. They are white.(She likes to choose her own clothes, so I had to warn her)
Katie: Well, shouldn't I wear green since it is Peas Day?
Mom: Not Peas day it is Peace Day.
Katie: Whats that?
Mom: Peace means that people get along with one another and don't fight. They compromise on issues, like when I tell you and Andrew to compromise on picking a DVD, and they try to be kind to one another.
Katie: Well, I hope we don't have peas at school tomorrow. I don't like peas.

Think she missed the point on this one? Hopefully it will become clearer to her at school tomorrow.

Gotta love her...

Movieland

Last weekend we hopped in the car to Movieland in Germany. Just about an hour and half away. I recommend it for people with small children (at least 90 cm, that is). They have a Nick Jr. themed area that our kids loved. Blues Clues, Wonder Pets, Dora, Diego, etc.

Swiper's Sweeper Ride - like a mini scrambler

Diego's Jeep - bounces and "drives"

We saw a Shrek 4-D short movie. The 4-D aspect is that you feel the movie. ie when Shrek rides a horse, the seat gallops. When Dragon sneezes, you get wet! We wore silly glasses that made the movie jump out at us.

So brave - Andrew with Shrek

There was also a Santa Monica Pier area. Complete with a Jaws exhibit. There was also a Jet Ski ride that Katie and Ned had a lot of fun on.

Ned and Katie on the Jet Ski ride

Back to School

Week one of school was a success. A whole day and half for Katie and half a day for Andrew.

Katie started Senior Kindergarten, the equivalent of kindergarten in the United States. Last year she did Junior Kindergarten, like a pre-k. She loves her teacher and was so excited to see friends she hadn't seen since July. She walked right in proud and confident. Her teacher told me she likes to be the helper. She likes to take care of the kids that are sad for their parents by holding their hands and comforting them. She also thinks it is pretty cool that she wears a necklace when she goes to the bathroom and puts it back when she comes back. She very proudly told me that it lets the teacher know where she is.

Andrew couldn't wait for Ned and I to leave the preschool classroom. He walked in, sat down at the playdough table and waved at us. His way of say, "ah, you can leave", I guess. He had started at the end of May, a total of 5 weeks (twice a week) and loved it then too. His one gripe - that he didn't get to paint his first day because the teacher couldn't find the aprons (smocks).

Our babies

Walking to school (from the car)

His expression - looks annoyed-

at Katie and I for not keeping up

Outside in line waiting to go in - Excited!

Home Sweet Home

We are back on this side of the pond now and it was probably the easiest flight thus far. It was an overnight flight and both kids slept for about four hours at the same time. (That last part is key). At one point, and I wish I had the camera accessible, they were lying toe to head on two seats next to each other. It was adorable until Katie kicked Andrew in the head!

It is about a seven hour flight but takes about 16 hours door to door. Exhausting....And, when you get there that is when the real fun begins! Jetlag. I have heard that it takes children 1 day per hour of time difference from the place of travel. I don't know who told me this, but it is pretty accurate. We are on day 7 now and completely over jetlag. (there is a six hour time difference)

Now what is keeping us up is back to school jitters! More to come on that soon.

The kids resting watching a movie

Vacation on the Jersey Shore

No, I did not see Snookie. (from the Jersey Shore reality show). That show is not a depiction of my fond childhood memories of the Jersey Shore. I have been going there since I was a baby. Haven't missed a summer. It's the best!

This summer was extra special. We got to meet the newest member of the family, my nephew, James Michael who was born on June 24th. So sweet, so small. Katie was very interested in him. Andrew, well, he wasnt all that exciting to him. He was much more into his older cousin (by 5 months), Charlie.

Katie, so proudly, holding James

The four grandbabies. Charlie, Andrew, Katie and James.

The proud Godmother

We had perfect beach days, there by 11am, exhausted the kids followed by a long nap. We made lots of swimming "pools" and castles, collected shells, and went "in the deep", as my kids called it.

Digging, Making cupcakes.

My favorite beach picture.

Cool dude

Grandma. Oh no a wave!

Swimming in "the deep"

Sandy. Crunchy ocean dried hair. Love it.

An Ocean City summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to Gillian's Wonderland Pier - the rides! My kids, spoiled as they are, went twice in one week. Once with 2nd cousin, Audrey (18 months) and once with cousin Charlie.

Katie, Andrew and Charlie

Audrey, Katie and Andrew

Andrew's first roller coaster. Katie is a pro.
My little thrill-seekers. They didnt get that from me!

Science mixed with F-U-N

At the start of "our summer" (which is the day we set foot in the United States), Katie and Andrew received 10 caterpillars and a few dozen ladybugs from their Grammy and Grumps. ( In kits, of course)

As most of your know, when we are in the US, we travel a lot. Well, so did the caterpillars and ladybugs. They went from New York to New Hampshire to Pennsylvania to New Jersey. It wasnt the easiest of things. Neither could be in direct sunlight, get any condensation on their habitats or, of course - be dropped or manhandled.

We were very happy that almost all of the ladybugs matured into adult ladybugs and that all 10 caterpillars turned into Painted Lady butterflies. It was a great learning experience for both kids, but especially Katie. She checked her bugs every morning and told everyone about how they had changed. Did you know that ladybugs don't look like ladybugs until they are in the adult phase? I didn't. Before the adult phase they look like ordinary black little bugs, almost like an ant. We watched the caterpillars turn into chrysalids and hang from the top of the cups and then carefully moved them to the netted cage (picture below). The first cocoon hatched (?) on the drive from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania. It was VERY exciting! (I was relieved that I hadn't screwed up and killed them, honestly)

We set them free on our last day of vacation in New Jersey. It was a great end to "our summer."

Happy Birthday to Grandma!

My parents, brother, sister in law, nephews and our family were lucky enough to be together again for my mom's birthday. Third year in a row. Celebrating 60-something!

Andrew, Katie and Charlie
(I have no idea why Katie has that on her head!)

Fish!

Katie has always LOVED swimming. When she was just 18 months old, she would jump off the side, go under, pop back up with a huge smile on her face and then swim to the side of the pool. (with a swim bubble on). Three years later, she is still enjoying the water and swimming unaided.

Swim lessons in the Netherlands, like everything else, are different. So, I decided when we were back she would take lessons. She took lessons Monday through Friday at 8am the first two weeks we were in New Hampshire. Yep, 8am, but I figured that we might as well since we were all up between 4-6am due to jet lag! She was the youngest and smallest in her class but the best student, most determined and the one with the least amount of fear!

Katie in the lead!

Here she is jumping off the diving board. The other children - all boys, all older, all taller - either did not jump at all or had to have the instructor walk out with them and talk them through it.

That's my girl!

Two and a Half

Andrew turned two and a half on July 24th. We landed in Boston July 23rd so it has taken me this long to get around to updating the blog!

At two and a half, Andrew weighs 24.4 lbs and is 34.5 inches tall. He is at about the 50th percentile for both.

He is a very curious, energetic and active boy. And, with those traits, he almost always has a bump or bruise somewhere on his body at all times. Just this past month he chipped both of his front teeth! His knees are both scraped up at the moment. On top of being very busy, he is also very chatty. He has been talking in full sentences for a long time but still confuses his pronouns. "Me want to go to the playground, me not tired, me no do that" Very cute, in my book :)

Andrew and Katie play very well together, but also fight extremely well together. Andrew is quick to tell me "Katie started it." I think I will be hearing this (both ways) for many many more years!

Here us a picture and a short video clip from our family celebration on his Half Birthday.